Adjustable Closure Magnet for Consistent Hinged Device Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinged electronic devices face challenges in securely holding the closed position while allowing easy one-handed opening, with magnetic closure devices exhibiting inconsistent performance due to manufacturing variations.
Innovation Solution
A closure device with adjustable magnets, allowing translational and rotational adjustments to alter magnetic forces, ensuring consistent closure and ease of opening by adjusting the position and orientation of a second magnet relative to a first magnet using various mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnetic closure device is used to hold the device in closed position, then the device can be securely closed during travel, but manufacturing variations produce a large range of closure device performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adjustable magnet mechanism that allows the second magnet to be repositioned in at least one translational direction or at least one rotational direction relative to the housing. This dynamic adjustment capability enables compensation for manufacturing variations by allowing technicians to manually tune the magnet position to achieve target closure forces, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and closure force consistency.
2Reliability
If a secure latch is used to hold the device closed, then the device can be securely closed, but it is difficult to open, particularly with one hand on small electronic devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biased or assisted hinge that changes the mechanical parameters of the hinge system to ease opening once the closure device is overcome. The hinge provides an assisted opening mechanism that reduces the force required to open the device, resolving the contradiction between closure security and opening ease by decoupling these two functions: the magnetic closure provides secure closing while the biased hinge provides easy opening.
3Reliability
If a closure device with strong magnetic force is used, then the device can be securely closed, but it risks unintended opening and damage of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adjustable magnet mechanism that allows for precise tuning of the magnetic closure force. By providing feedback control through manual adjustment, the system can optimize the magnetic force to be strong enough for secure closing but not so strong as to cause unintended opening or damage, resolving the contradiction between closure security and unintended opening risk.
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 provides a secure closed position with adjustable magnetic forces, facilitating easy one-handed opening and consistent performance across manufacturing variations.
Implementation Method 1
a closure device biases the hinge toward the closed position. The closure device includes a first magnet positioned in the first portion of the electronic device and a housing with a second magnet positioned therein
Implementation Method 2
at least one adjustment mechanism connected to the housing that moves the second magnet in at least one translational direction or at least one rotational direction relative to the top end of the housing. The movement of the second magnet relative to the top end of the housing adjusts the position or orientation of the second magnet relative to the first magnet to alter a magnetic force between the first magnet and the second magnet
Implementation Method 3
An open biasing element biases the hinge toward the open position
Data Source
AI summary
A closure device includes a first magnet and a housing with a second magnet positioned therein. The first magnet is configured to be position in a first object and the housing is configured to be positioned in a second object. The housing has a top end and at least one adjustment mechanism connected to the housing that moves the second magnet in at least one translational direction or at least one rotational direction relative to the top end of the housing. The movement of the second magnet relative to the top end of the housing adjusts the position or orientation of the second magnet relative to the first magnet to alter a magnetic force between the first magnet and the second magnet when the first magnet is positioned proximate the top end of the housing.