Breakaway Mounting System With Flexible Collar for Secure Reconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interfaces between devices, such as camera accessories, lack a mechanism to securely disconnect and reconnect without causing accidental disconnection due to impact or mishandling, while maintaining electrical and mechanical connections.
Innovation Solution
A two-part linkage or mount with a rigid mechanical and magnetic interface that 'breaks away' under sufficient force, combined with a flexible collar to ensure continuous engagement, allowing automatic reconnection and providing a secure, flexible interface for devices like cameras and accessories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid mechanical and magnetic interface is used to securely connect devices, then connection strength is improved, but accidental disconnection due to impact or mishandling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into two functional interfaces: a rigid mechanical and magnetic interface for secure connection, and a flexible collar interface for maintaining engagement. This segmentation allows each interface to specialize - the rigid portion provides strength while the flexible portion prevents complete disconnection, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and properties of the connection interface by incorporating a flexible collar that can deform elastically. This parameter change from purely rigid to semi-flexible allows the interface to absorb impact forces while maintaining engagement, preventing accidental disconnection while preserving connection strength.
2Reliability
If a secure mechanical interface is used to prevent accidental removal, then connection reliability is improved, but ease of disconnection for intentional removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates dynamic characteristics through the flexible collar that can elastically deform. When intentional removal force is applied, the collar dynamically responds by stretching and allowing the rigid interface to disengage. This dynamic behavior maintains reliability during normal use while enabling easy intentional disconnection.
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 ensures minimal and temporary disconnection of devices, maintaining electrical and mechanical connections, and preventing accidental removal, even under impact or mishandling, while allowing for easy reconnection.
Implementation Method 1
a first rigid mechanical and magnetic interface
Implementation Method 2
the collar has elastic or recoil properties to encourage the components to automatically reconnect
Data Source
AI summary
A mount for joining a base object to an ancillary object is provided. The mount includes a top layer, a bottom layer, a key, a lock and a collar. The top layer is engaged to the ancillary object and the key extends therefrom. The bottom layer is engaged to the base object. The lock is a recess defined by the bottom layer and has a shape complimentary to that of the key such that the lock and key are mechanically and removeably engaged to one another. The collar extends from a top end to a bottom end. The top end is fixedly engaged to the top layer and the bottom end is fixedly engaged to the bottom layer. The collar is disposed about the lock and the key. The mount may be configured for electrical and mechanical communication and may include an interface for communication with a camera hot shoe.