Ergonomic Housing with Deployable Handles for Secure Device Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices are vulnerable to physical damage and lack ergonomic grasping points, leading to instability and increased risk of accidental drops, especially with larger display screens that obscure imagery and require insecure grips during use.

Innovation Solution

A modular, advanced ergonomic housing with integral, slidably deployable handles and mounting points that provide enhanced gripability, stability, and protection by allowing multiple grip configurations and orientations, including horizontal and vertical placements, and integration with the device's internal components for secure handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If device display screens occupy nearly the entire frontal surface with diminishing bezels, then screen real estate and visual display capability are improved, but ergonomic grasping points are reduced and users must hold devices by edges, increasing risk of accidental drops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay screen areaVSAvoidergonomic grasping

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple segments including the main body and separately deployable handle elements. These handles can be extended from recessed positions to provide additional grasping points, allowing the device to transition between a sleek minimal form and an ergonomic handling configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing incorporates dynamically deployable handles that can transition between retracted and extended positions. This dynamic feature allows the device to adapt its form factor based on operational needs, providing ergonomic grips only when required while maintaining a sleek profile during storage or display-oriented use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If device display screens extend over to the edges with curved displays, then visual immersion and display capability are improved, but suitable grasping points are reduced and users have less firm hold during manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay screen areaVSAvoidsecure grip

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deployable handles act as intermediary elements between the user's hand and the device body. When extended, these handles provide secure grasping points that prevent direct contact with the edges of the curved display, thereby protecting the display while improving grip security during manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If after-market protective cases and accessories are used to enhance functionality and ergonomics, then gripability and protection are improved, but device bulk and weight increase and convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against damageVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective and ergonomic features are merged into the native housing structure rather than being added as separate accessories. The deployable handles serve dual purposes: they provide ergonomic grasping points when extended and remain recessed into the housing when not needed, maintaining a sleek profile without adding permanent bulk or weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-affected harmful factors

If after-market protective cases are used to protect devices, then protection against physical damage is improved, but device bulk and weight increase and convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against physical shockVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handles are nested within recesses in the housing when not in use, creating a compact form factor. When needed, the handles can be extended outward from these nested positions, providing protection and ergonomics only when required while maintaining a sleek profile during storage or display-oriented use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11132021B2Advanced ergonomic housing for electronic devices

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 DIEHL GORDON J

AI summary

An advanced ergonomic housing for electronic devices providing greatly superior functionality and usability by means of a multiplicity of integral, selectable, and adjustable grasping, mounting, and supporting points.