Folding Watercraft Carrier Handle for Upright Lock Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watercraft carriers for vehicles lack an efficient mechanism to fold and unfold the upright support, leading to increased wind resistance, noise, and difficulty in accessing the locking mechanism when in use.
Innovation Solution
A watercraft carrier design featuring a base with an outboard pull handle that releases a locking mechanism, allowing the upright support to rotate from a closed position to an open position, facilitating easy access and reducing wind resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the upright support is kept in a fixed extended position, then the watercraft carrier provides stable support, but wind resistance and noise increase when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The upright support is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, capable of rotating between an extended position (when watercraft is loaded) and a retracted position (when empty). This allows the carrier to adapt its profile to minimize wind resistance during transport while maintaining structural stability when in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is divided into separable components including the base, upright support, and locking mechanism. The upright support can be independently positioned relative to the base, allowing it to be extended for support functions or retracted to reduce aerodynamic drag.
2Reliability
If the locking mechanism is placed at the distal end of the base, then the upright can be securely locked, but the locking mechanism becomes difficult to access when in use
Solution Approach 1:
A handle is introduced as an intermediary element that connects the user to the locking mechanism. The handle transmits user force to the locking mechanism at the distal end, allowing secure locking without requiring direct access to the mechanism itself. The handle acts as a lever that bridges the gap between user reach and mechanism location.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle extends the operational reach of the user in a direction perpendicular to the base, allowing access to the locking mechanism from the side rather than requiring direct access at the distal end. This dimensional change in access path resolves the accessibility problem.
3Ease of operation
If the upright support rotates more than 90 degrees, then wind resistance is reduced and accessibility is improved, but the locking mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the upright's position. When the upright rotates to the retracted position, the mechanism self-locks without requiring additional user intervention. This reduces operational complexity despite the increased rotation range.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses a wedge and gear system that converts rotational motion into locking action automatically. The wedge geometry and gear engagement provide inherent mechanical advantage, reducing the need for complex control systems while enabling the greater than 90-degree rotation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the upright support to rotate more than 90 degrees, reducing wind resistance and noise when not in use, while also simplifying the process of folding and unfolding the carrier, enhancing user accessibility and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
In some embodiments, a spring can bias the handle in a distal direction opposite the outboard direction.
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, an intermediate element can be coupled to the handle and to a wedge disposed in the hub. In some embodiments, displacing the handle in the outboard direction can displace the wedge in the outboard direction.
Implementation Method 3
In some embodiments, the block can displace a gear from a first position to a second position such that the upright can rotate when the gear is in the second position.
Data Source
AI summary
A watercraft carrier includes a base, a hub, an upright, and an actuator. The base includes an outboard end, a distal end, and an upper surface. The hub is disposed at the distal end of the base. The upright is coupled to the hub and configured to rotate with respect to the base. The actuator is configured to release the upright from a locked configuration such that the upright can rotate from a first position to a second position. Displacing the actuator in an outboard direction releases the upright from the locked configuration.