Accordion Socket Case for Cord Winding and Hands-Free Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for portable media player cases that can perform multiple functions such as storing headphone cords, serving as gaming grips, clipping to belts, and providing hands-free operation without significantly increasing the effective size of the player.
Innovation Solution
The development of portable media player cases with extendable sockets, known as 'accordions,' which include cylindrical or conical membranes with flexural hinges and feet at their ends, allowing for cord storage, adjustable stands, and secure gripping, along with buttons that can extend radially to secure cords and attach to surfaces, enabling various functionalities like belt mounting and hands-free use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functional features are added to portable media player cases, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the effective size and bulk of the player increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the case features movable rather than fixed. The arm extends and retracts to provide standing functionality only when needed, the headset pocket expands to accommodate headsets and collapses when not in use, and the gaming grips extend outward during gameplay and retract when not needed. This dynamic transformation allows the case to adapt its volume to match the actual functional requirements, providing multiple features without permanently increasing the effective size.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is divided into separate functional modules that can independently extend, retract, or transform. Each feature (arm, headset pocket, gaming grips, belt clip) is a distinct segment that can be activated or deactivated as needed. This segmentation allows the case to maintain a compact form when features are retracted while providing full functionality when segments are extended, effectively resolving the contradiction between versatility and size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extendable features are added to provide multiple functions, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible materials and thin-walled structures to create the extendable features. The arm, headset pocket, and gaming grips are constructed from flexible plastics or elastomers that can bend, expand, and contract without requiring complex mechanical linkages, motors, or actuators. This approach maintains structural simplicity while enabling dynamic transformation between extended and retracted states, reducing device complexity compared to rigid mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Several features serve multiple functions simultaneously. For example, the arm can function as a stand when extended, provide structural support when retracted, and potentially serve as a grip. The gaming grips provide both structural reinforcement and ergonomic handling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining high versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1E
Figure 2
AI summary
Extending sockets (24), formed of accordions (2) generally with buttons (1) attached at their distal ends, for attaching to portable media players (200) or portable media player cases (100, 101). Cases having attached sockets serve purposes beyond protection of the player, such as managing a headset, attaching to belts (28) or the like, forming stand legs to prop the player at a desired angle, forming grips for gaming, forming a grip for securely holding and manipulating player with one hand, and forming extended legs for wedging players that are phones between the ear and shoulder. The sockets are structured to allow headset cords (27) to be wound around the accordions when the sockets are extended, to prevent the cords from tangling. Space (15) in an attached case may be provided so that the sockets may be partially or fully retracted with headphone cords wrapped around them to save space.