Electronic Cover Engagement Structure for Stable Detachment Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional covers for electronic devices, such as scientific calculators, face challenges in adjusting the ease of removal from the device main body, leading to instability and difficulty in detachment due to inconsistent gap sizes and elastic deformation, which can result in unstable engagement forces.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a cover with extending parts and engaging parts that form gaps of specific dimensions to allow for controlled elastic deformation, ensuring consistent engagement forces and stable attachment regardless of the cover's orientation, maintaining equal ease of removal whether attached to the front or back side.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover is pressed at its center toward the electronic device main body to detach the engaging part, then the engaging part is moved outward, but the ease of detachment becomes difficult to adjust appropriately due to inconsistent gap sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of detachmentVSAvoidstability of engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into multiple regions with different gap sizes: a first gap at the center portion and a second gap at the end portion. This segmentation allows the center region to provide ease of detachment while the end region maintains stable engagement, resolving the contradiction between easy removal and reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the cover are designed with different gap characteristics: the center portion has a first gap size optimized for detachment ease, while the end portion has a second gap size optimized for engagement stability. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function, solving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the gap between the electronic device main body and the cover is not appropriate, then it is difficult to appropriately adjust the ease of removal of the cover

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removalVSAvoidgap adjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gap between the cover and main body is segmented into different regions with different sizes. The first gap at the center and the second gap at the end portion are designed with different dimensions, allowing the cover to be removed easily from the center while maintaining stable engagement at the ends, thus simplifying the overall design without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the cover is elastically deformed during detachment, then the engaging part is moved outward, but the deformation may change the ease of detachment inconsistently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of detachmentVSAvoidconsistency of deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cover structure implements local quality by designing different gap sizes at different locations. The center portion with the first gap allows controlled elastic deformation for easy detachment, while the end portion with the second gap maintains consistent engagement, reducing the need for high manufacturing precision across the entire cover.

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 solution stabilizes the engagement force and ensures consistent ease of removal, preventing unintended detachment and protecting the device from accidental removal during use, while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

the cover is pressed at its center in the vertical direction toward the electronic device main body and is elastically deformed so that the engaging part of the cover is moved outward

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4571454B1Electronic device including cover
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP4571454B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4571454B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4571454B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An electronic device (100) includes: an electronic device main body (10); and a cover (20). The main body (10) includes a stopper (15a) on lateral faces at both ends in a longitudinal direction. The cover includes an engaging part (22) that engages with the stopper in a first state where there is a gap between the cover and the main body at a central part in the longitudinal direction. The gap is formed such that a front-side attachment engagement amount which is an engagement amount (H2) of the engaging part and the stopper when the cover is attached onto the front side of the main body in a second state where the cover is elastically deformed to contact the main body and a backside attachment engagement amount which is an engagement amount (H2) when the cover is attached onto the back side in the second state are substantially equal.