Adjustable Cradle Top Clamp for Secure Device Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cradles for portable electronic devices are not adaptable enough to accommodate devices with protective covers, leading to insecure retention and electrical connectivity issues due to varying dimensions and thickness.
Innovation Solution
A cradle with adjustable retaining devices, including a top clamp and a height-adjust release button, and a male electrical connector that protrudes sufficiently to ensure three-point retention and secure electrical contact, accommodating devices of different dimensions and thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective cover is added around the mobile phone, then the phone is protected, but the cradle cannot physically receive the mobile phone and electrical connectors cannot make proper contact
Solution Approach 1:
The top clamp is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust its position to accommodate different phone dimensions. The spring mechanism enables the clamp to dynamically adapt to phones with or without protective covers, maintaining secure retention while preserving electrical connector access.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector is designed with a longer protrusion length to compensate for the additional thickness introduced by protective covers. This parameter change ensures that the connector can still make proper contact with the phone's connector even when a cover is present.
2Reliability
If the cradle is designed for secure retention, then the phone is held firmly, but the cradle cannot accommodate phones with different dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The top clamp with spring mechanism provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the cradle to securely retain phones of various dimensions. The spring allows the clamp to exert consistent retention force while adapting to different phone sizes and protective cover thicknesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention system is divided into separate functional elements: the top clamp for vertical retention, the bottom support for base positioning, and the protruding connector for electrical connection. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently for both security and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A cradle for receiving a portable electronic device installed in the cradle includes a housing, a top clamp slidably installed in the housing for permitting the top clamp to move up and down in the housing, the top clamp securing a top of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the cradle, and the portable electronic device making contact with the housing at two or more points for securing the portable electronic device within the cradle, and a height-adjust release button installed on the housing for permitting the top clamp to be raised when the height-adjust release button is actuated.