Notebook Casing Foot Reinforcement for Border Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

Notebook PCs experience flexing and potential damage to the casing and electric circuit board when a strong force is applied to the border portion between the cover and the battery unit, due to insufficient rigidity in this area.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a secondary foot portion at the bottom face of the battery unit or cover, positioned near the border where the battery unit and cover face each other, to prevent excessive flexing and enhance structural support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the cover and battery unit are disposed side by side along the plane of the bottom face, then the space utilization is improved, but the rigidity of the casing at the border portion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidrigidity of casing

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing a reinforcement rib specifically at the border portion between the cover and battery unit, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire casing. This localized reinforcement addresses the specific weakness at the border while maintaining the overall space-efficient side-by-side layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure combining the casing material with a reinforcement rib made of a different material or structure. The reinforcement rib acts as a composite element that enhances the rigidity of the border portion without significantly increasing the overall volume or compromising the space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If the cover and battery unit are disposed side by side along the plane of the bottom face, then the compactness is improved, but the resistance to external force at the border portion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompactnessVSAvoiddamage from external force

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement rib serves as a preventive measure that is built into the casing structure beforehand. It provides prior strengthening at the vulnerable border portion, cushioning against potential damage from drops or applied forces before such harmful events occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing a reinforcement rib specifically at the border portion between the cover and battery unit, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire casing. This localized reinforcement addresses the specific weakness at the border while maintaining the overall space-efficient side-by-side layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If foot portions are disposed only at the four corners of the bottom face, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the stability against flexing at the border portion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstability against flexing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing a reinforcement rib specifically at the border portion between the cover and battery unit, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire casing. This localized reinforcement addresses the specific weakness at the border while maintaining the overall space-efficient side-by-side layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 secondary foot portion effectively stabilizes the casing, preventing damage from applied forces and ensuring stable placement on surfaces, while also allowing for smoother insertion into cases or bags due to its design.

Implementation Method 1

foot portions 108 formed of an elastic material such as rubber are disposed to protect the notebook PC from, for example, impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a secondary foot portion provided at the bottom face of the battery unit or the cover, wherein the battery unit and the cover are disposed adjacently along the plane of the bottom face of the casing, and the secondary foot portion is disposed in the proximity of a region where the battery unit and the cover are facing each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStructural support:

Data Source

PatentUS7609515B2Information processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2009.10.27 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a battery unit 4 capable of supplying electricity to a main body of the apparatus; a drive unit disposed at the bottom face of the casing 1 and capable of recording data to or reproducing data from an information medium; a cover 5 capable of covering the drive unit; and a plurality of foot portions 11 to 14 disposed at the bottom face of the casing 1. The battery unit 4 and the cover 5 are disposed adjacently along the plane of the bottom face of the casing 1. A foot portion 15 is provided at the bottom face of the battery unit 4 or the cover 5, and the foot portion 15 is disposed in the proximity of a region where the battery unit 4 and the cover 5 are facing each other. With such a configuration, even if a strong force is applied to the border portion between the cover and the battery unit, the casing can be prevented from being flexed, and the casing and an electric circuit board and the like built therein can be prevented from being damaged.