Weight Distribution Carrier with Collapsible Jack and Cart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Weight distribution hitches are difficult to install and remove due to their weight, posing a risk of injury, and their cumbersome design makes storage inconvenient, leading to potential accidents and space inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A weight distribution carrier with a cart, jack, and coupler system that allows for easy lifting, storage, and installation/removal of hitches, featuring collapsible handles and wheels for improved maneuverability and space-saving design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If weight distribution hitches are used to provide level ride while towing, then towing capacity and vehicle control are maximized, but the weight and heft of the hitch makes installation and removal difficult and poses injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
A cart is introduced as an intermediary device to facilitate the installation and removal of the weight distribution hitch. The cart includes a platform for receiving the hitch, a jack for lifting the hitch into position, and handles for maneuvering. This intermediary system allows the heavy hitch to be easily positioned and installed without requiring manual lifting by users, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable towing capacity and improving ease of operation.
2Strength
If weight distribution hitches have considerable weight for structural integrity, then they can support towing loads, but lifting them into correct position becomes difficult and increases injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The jack mechanism on the cart provides a counterbalancing lifting force to counteract the weight of the hitch. By using the jack to lift the hitch into the correct position on the vehicle, the system effectively neutralizes the harmful effect of the hitch's considerable weight, allowing users to install the strong, structurally-intact hitch without experiencing lifting difficulty or injury risk.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional weight distribution systems have cumbersome design for stability, then they can function properly, but storage becomes inconvenient and increases risk of falling or tripping
Solution Approach 1:
The cart is designed with collapsible handles and foldable components that allow it to transition from a stable, functional configuration during use to a compact, space-efficient configuration for storage. This dynamic design enables the system to maintain functional stability when needed while eliminating storage inconveniences and safety hazards associated with cumbersome, non-collapsible designs.
4Strength
If weight distribution hitches are designed with fixed components for durability, then they can withstand towing forces, but storage space efficiency is reduced and accident risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cart incorporates collapsible handles and foldable components that maintain structural durability during use but reduce storage volume when not in use. This dynamic design allows the durable components to be compacted into a smaller footprint, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength for withstanding towing forces and reducing storage space requirements to prevent accidents and improve space efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A weight distribution carrier is provided. The weight distribution carrier includes a cart that has a base and a plurality of wheels, such as a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels. Connected to a base of the cart is a jack that can be raised and lowered. In some embodiments, the jack is automated. Mounted to the jack is a coupler that is configured to receive and lock in place a ball of a hitch. The base can include one or more retention units to store sway bars. The weight distribution carrier can be collapsed or folded to allow for easy storage when not in use.