Expanding accessory for mobile electronic devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile electronic device grips and stands lack versatility and user-friendly mechanisms for easy expansion and collapse, often requiring complex assembly or lacking safety features.
Innovation Solution
The development of collapsible socket accessories featuring bistable thin-strip springs, conical coil springs, or concentric rings with elastomer skins for safe and comfortable expansion and collapse, allowing direct or indirect attachment to mobile devices or their cases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If existing grips and stands use complex assembly mechanisms, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grip accessory is divided into multiple collapsible segments that can independently fold and expand. Each segment contains its own spring mechanism, allowing the grip to transition between expanded and collapsed states through simple rotational motion at the segment joints, eliminating complex assembly requirements while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip incorporates bistable spring mechanisms that automatically maintain their expanded or collapsed state without requiring user intervention. The springs provide self-locking functionality, allowing the grip to stay in position once expanded or collapsed, eliminating the need for complex locking assemblies or continuous user control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing grips lack safety features, then device protection deteriorates, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip incorporates cushioning elements and flexible materials between the grip structure and the mobile device surface. These elements absorb impact forces and prevent damage to the device during expansion, collapse, or accidental drops, providing protection without requiring complex safety mechanisms or sensors.
3Manufacturing precision
If existing grips require complex assembly, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into integrated units. The spring mechanisms are combined with the segment structures, and the cushioning elements are integrated into the grip housing. This merging reduces the number of separate parts requiring assembly, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining precise functional performance.
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
These solutions provide a user-friendly, safe, and versatile mechanism for expanding and collapsing socket accessories, enhancing usability and safety by allowing easy transition between stable states with minimal effort and protecting the device from damage.
Implementation Method 1
collapsing mechanism in the form of two thin-strip springs
Implementation Method 2
Elastomer skin 212 can surround and protect the strips for safety and comfort
Implementation Method 3
conical coil springs, or concentric rings with elastomer skins for safe and comfortable expansion and collapse
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable socket for attachment to a mobile electronic device. The expandable socket includes a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player, a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable socket includes a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform. The expandable socket also includes a biasing element arranged within the skin between the platform and the button, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration.