Hard-to-deform Card Tray with Metal Outer Face

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing card trays for electronic devices are prone to deformation due to their resin composition, which makes them susceptible to deformation under force from the push-out lever, leading to instability and potential water ingress issues.

Innovation Solution

A card tray design featuring a frame-shaped tray body section with a metal outer face and resin inner face, providing additional stiffness and resistance to deformation, while maintaining flexibility for easy insertion and ejection, and ensuring water resistance by using metal and resin extensions in a combined structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the tray body section is entirely composed of resin material, then ease of manufacture is improved, but stiffness and resistance to deformation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tray body section is constructed as a composite structure with a resin inner face and a metal outer face. The metal outer face provides high stiffness and resistance to deformation when force is applied by the push-out lever, while the resin inner face maintains ease of manufacture and provides necessary flexibility for card insertion and ejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the tray body section have different material compositions tailored to their specific functional requirements. The outer face that receives force from the push-out lever is made of metal for high stiffness, while the inner face that contacts the card is made of resin for flexibility and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the tray body section is entirely composed of resin material, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to deformation susceptibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure of metal outer face and resin inner face ensures that the tray body section maintains its shape and does not deform under force from the push-out lever, thereby improving reliability while the resin inner face maintains ease of operation for card insertion and ejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metal outer face is specifically positioned at the region that receives force from the push-out lever to prevent deformation and ensure reliable operation, while the resin inner face maintains the operational flexibility needed for easy card handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the tray body section is entirely composed of resin material, then device complexity is reduced, but water resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidwater resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The metal outer face of the tray body section provides inherent water resistance and structural stability, preventing water ingress while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure. The combination of metal and resin materials addresses water resistance requirements without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11043777B2Hard-to-deform card tray and electronic device

Publication Date: 2021.06.22 SHARP KK

AI summary

A frame-shaped tray body section of a card tray includes: a first extension connected to a lid section; and a second extension opposing the first extension. The second extension has an outer face thereof being composed of a metal material, the outer face being opposite from an inner face of the second extension where the second extension opposes the first extension.