Expandable Grip Locking Mechanism for Secure Phone Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expandable devices for portable electronic devices lack a secure and efficient mechanism for attaching and detaching the expandable body from the platform, leading to instability and ease of detachment during use.
Innovation Solution
A locking device comprising a connecting disk and a hub, with a platform that deforms to secure the expandable body in a locked configuration, utilizing a radial wing and protrusions to engage with the hub, ensuring the body remains attached until intentionally released.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple attachment mechanism is used, then the device is easy to assemble and disassemble, but the attachment stability and security are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device utilizes dynamic movement between locked and unlocked configurations. The platform deforms elastically during the locking process and then maintains a stable locked state, providing both ease of operation during attachment/detachment and reliability during use. The body can rotate freely when locked, demonstrating dynamic functionality while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform's physical state changes during the locking process - it deforms when the locking device is inserted and then returns to its original shape, creating a secure locked configuration. This parameter change (deformation and recovery) enables the transition from an easy insertion state to a stable locked state, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and attachment stability.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then the attachment stability is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is self-actuating - when the body is inserted into the platform, the platform automatically deforms and locks the body in place without requiring additional components or complex mechanisms. The elastic deformation of the platform itself provides the locking action, minimizing added complexity while ensuring secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform utilizes elastic deformation of its structure to create the locking effect. The platform's material properties allow it to flex during insertion and then maintain a secure locked state, providing reliable attachment without requiring complex mechanical locking components. This flexible approach simplifies the overall mechanism while ensuring stability.
3Ease of operation
If the body is made rotatable when locked, then the usability and functionality are enhanced, but the risk of accidental detachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system distinguishes between dynamic rotation (when locked) and dynamic detachment (when unlocked). The locked configuration allows free rotation for usability, while the unlocked configuration allows removal. The transition between these states requires intentional action (inserting or removing the locking device), preventing accidental detachment while maintaining rotational freedom during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device prevents accidental detachment by requiring a specific action (insertion or removal of the locking device) to change the attachment state. This preliminary protective measure ensures that the body cannot accidentally detach during rotation, as the locked configuration maintains secure attachment while allowing free rotation. The system is designed so that normal rotation operations cannot trigger detachment.
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 provides a secure and reliable attachment mechanism that maintains the expandable body's position during use, allowing easy detachment by rotating the locking device, enhancing usability and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The platform may be configured to deform when the locking device moves between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
An expandable device includes a body with a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The body is movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. A button is coupled to the first end of the body and includes an inner surface and an engaging member carried by the inner surface. A platform includes an outer surface and a collar extending away from the outer surface and the collar defines a cavity. A locking device is carried by the second end of the body, and a portion of the locking device is adapted to be removably disposed in the cavity of the platform for releasably coupling the body to the platform. When the body is in the collapsed configuration, the engaging member of the button engages the locking device such that the locking device is rotatable relative to the platform between an unlocked and a locked configuration.