Card Holder Clip With Elastomeric Contact-Pressure Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card holders are inadequate for holding cards of various thicknesses, as they either fail to securely retain thinner cards or require excessive force to insert and remove thicker cards, potentially damaging the holder.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a contact-pressure pad made of a softer material on at least one holding arm that bulges towards the other arm, allowing for frictional and positive engagement with cards, enabling secure holding of cards with varying thicknesses without predetermining a minimum slot width and maintaining consistent insertion and removal force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holding elements with fixed slot width are used, then thin cards can be held securely, but thick cards require excessive insertion force and may damage the holder
Solution Approach 1:
The contact-pressure pad is made of elastomeric material that changes its effective contact width parameter based on the thickness of the inserted card. When a thin card is inserted, the pad maintains a narrower contact width for secure holding. When a thick card is inserted, the pad deforms to increase the contact width, distributing the insertion force and preventing damage to the holder structure.
2Strength
If rigid holding elements are used, then structural strength is maintained, but adaptability to various card thicknesses is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element comprises a composite structure combining a rigid support component (maintaining overall holder strength) with a softer elastomeric contact-pressure pad (providing adaptability). The rigid yoke and holding arm provide structural integrity, while the elastomeric pad deforms to accommodate cards of various thicknesses, achieving both strength and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact-pressure pad transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic deformable element. The elastomeric material allows the pad to change its shape and contact area dynamically in response to the thickness of the inserted card, enabling the holder to adapt to various card dimensions while maintaining holding security.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-width reception slot is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but frictional engagement effectiveness varies with card thickness
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire reception slot variable-width (which would complicate manufacturing), only the local contact area is made deformable using the elastomeric pad. The majority of the holder structure remains rigid and simple to manufacture, while the localized pad provides adaptive frictional engagement that maintains effectiveness across various card thicknesses.
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 holder clip effectively grips cards of different thicknesses with adequate holding force, preventing damage from excessive insertion or removal force, and allows for easy insertion and removal of both thin and thick cards with identical energy expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
the bulging shape of the contact-pressure pad allows, thanks to the elasticity of the pad, a frictional and nonpositive engagement with the item to be gripped
Implementation Method 2
a frictional and nonpositive engagement with the item to be gripped at certain points thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a holder clip (1) for cards, such as identification cards, comprising two holding arms (3, 4) interconnected by a yoke (2) and defining between them a card reception slot (5). In order to be able to hold also cards of various thicknesses with adequate holding force by means of the holder clip (1), the present invention is so conceived that at least one of the two holding arms (3, 4) is provided with at least one contact-pressure pad (6) bulging, at least in certain sections thereof, towards the respective other holding arm (3, 4), said contact-pressure pad (6) consisting of a material that is different from the material of the holding arms (3, 4).