Multi-Use Wheel Chock Assembly for Soft-Surface Tire Restraint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire chocks are cumbersome, difficult to assemble, and inefficient on soft surfaces, requiring significant storage space and often fail to securely hold wheels, especially on uneven or partially rested surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A pair of multi-use chocks joined by a groove and protrusion that can be easily separated to form versatile tools for various tasks, including tire restraint, lifting, and emergency situations, utilizing strategically placed holes and spikes for enhanced functionality and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tire chocks are used, then tire restraint function is provided, but storage space is significantly consumed and assembly is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The chock assembly is divided into two separate chock members (first chock member and second chock member) that can be stored independently in compact spaces. Each chock member can be stored separately in the vehicle, reducing the overall storage volume requirement compared to traditional single-piece chocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The chock members are designed with multiple functions: they can be used individually for tire restraint, combined together to form a more stable restraint system, and can be positioned in various orientations (upside down, on side) to adapt to different vehicle and terrain conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate tools.
2Reliability
If traditional tire chocks are used, then tire restraint is provided, but assembly requires skill and time
Solution Approach 1:
The chock members come pre-formed with specific geometric shapes and features (flat surfaces, curved surfaces, holes) that enable immediate use upon removal from storage. No assembly or configuration steps are required before deployment, eliminating the skill and time requirements associated with traditional chock assembly.
3Reliability
If traditional tire chocks are used, then tire restraint is attempted, but stability fails on soft or uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The chock members are designed to be adaptable to different ground conditions and vehicle positions. They can be dynamically positioned in various orientations (upside down, on side, at different angles) to optimize stability for the specific terrain and vehicle configuration, rather than relying on a fixed design that assumes ideal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The chock members utilize composite geometric features combining flat surfaces for stability on hard surfaces and curved surfaces for better engagement with tires and soft ground. This composite design allows the same chock to effectively perform on both hard and soft surfaces without requiring separate specialized tools.
4Reliability
If traditional tire chocks are used, then tire restraint is provided, but removal becomes difficult when vehicle moves slightly
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design with two separate chock members allows for easier removal compared to traditional interlocking chocks. Each member can be independently extracted from under the tire, and the modular nature enables simple repositioning or removal without the complexity of disassembling integrated components.
Data Source
AI summary
PROPCA is a multi-purpose tool composed of two chocks joined by groove and protrusion. Installing the handle (bolt and spike) through the bottom of PROPCA could be used to remove dirt or snow, separate, each can perform various tasks due to particular form and drill holes in specific areas. The reduction in size allows the creation of different and more manageable tools, with better efficiency helping each other in the accomplishment of different task. To separate PROPCA, the spike and bolt should be removed and both chocks slide apart. That single chock could be used as a jack, hammer, nail remover, scraper, pickaxe, or as a tire catapult or tire restrainer. Both chocks could work together to remove the rim from the flat tire. Ordinary vehicle tools are limited in performance. A multi-purpose tools could be the difference when physical integrity is at risk.