Portable Device Cradle Surface Contact Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable communication device cradling apparatuses face issues with separation and damage due to line contact and lack of surface contact, leading to discomfort and reliability concerns during sliding and cradling operations, especially when dropped.
Innovation Solution
The cradling apparatus employs guide members that surface-contact guide portions through the use of pressurizing portions like coil springs and hinge modules with bushes, preventing separation and ensuring surface contact for enhanced stability and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cylindrical guide members are used with line contact coupling, then the device structure is simple, but the coupling between guide members and guide holes is degraded leading to separation and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are designed with a cylindrical shape that fits within guide holes, utilizing curved surfaces to achieve surface contact rather than line contact. This curvature modification increases the contact area between guide members and guide holes, preventing separation and damage while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The contact type between guide members and guide holes is changed from line contact to surface contact by modifying the geometric parameters of the guide members. This parameter change increases the contact area and improves coupling reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
2Device complexity
If no pressurizing component is provided for guide members, then the device structure is simple, but the guide members are easily separated from guide holes when dropped
Solution Approach 1:
A pressurizing component is introduced to apply a continuous counteracting force against gravity and impact forces. This pressurizing force ensures that guide members remain firmly pressed against guide holes, preventing separation during accidental drops without requiring complex active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurizing component pre-loads the guide members against the guide holes before any separation force is applied. This preliminary action ensures that the guide members are already under compressive stress, making them resistant to separation during unexpected impacts or drops
3Ease of operation
If separate cradling apparatus is used for viewing information, then the display can be inclined for convenient viewing, but it is uneconomical for users
Solution Approach 1:
The cradling function is merged with the main device body by integrating the guide members and link portions directly into the housing structure. This combination eliminates the need for separate detachable cradles, reducing cost while maintaining the ability to incline the display for convenient viewing
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated guide members and link portions serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable sliding motion, allow rotation for inclination adjustment, and prevent separation during drops. This multi-functionality achieves viewing convenience without requiring additional separate components
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
This solution improves the reliability and usability of the device by preventing separation and damage during accidental drops and enhancing the sliding and cradling operations through surface contact, ensuring the device remains securely coupled.
Implementation Method 1
the pressurizing portions are coil springs which press the hinge portions and the guide members outwardly by elastic force
Implementation Method 2
the guide members are slidably coupled to the guide portions... the guide members surface-contact the guide portions
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a cradling apparatus for a portable communication device to allow the portable communication device to slide and be inclinedly cradled through pressurization. To this end, a cradling apparatus for a portable communication device includes a first housing, a second housing, and link portions provided between the first housing and the second housing to slide and inclinedly cradle the second housing. The apparatus further includes guide portions coupled to both sides of the first housing, guide members slidably coupled with the guide portions, hinge portions protruding from the guide members, the hinge portions being rotatably coupled with the second housing, and pressurizing portions provided on one ends of the hinge portions to pressurize the hinge portions and the guide members.