Extendable Universal Case With Tessellated Elastic Sidewalls
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cases for portable electronic devices struggle to accommodate the slight physical variations that occur between different generations of devices, leading to compatibility issues and inadequate protection.
Innovation Solution
A case design featuring extendable corners and a tessellated structure made from materials with high elasticity, allowing for frictional engagement and adjustable dimensions to secure and protect devices of varying sizes, including the use of discrete series of grooves and reinforcing members that can stretch to fit different PED dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a case is designed with fixed dimensions to provide precise fit and protection, then protection reliability is improved, but adaptability to different device generations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The case incorporates elastic sidewalls that can dynamically adjust their dimensions through frictional engagement mechanisms. The sidewalls include grooves that allow controlled deformation and extension, enabling the case to adapt to different device sizes while maintaining secure fit and protection through friction-based holding forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The case design utilizes materials with high elasticity coefficients and incorporates structures that can change physical parameters such as length and cross-sectional area. The sidewalls can be extended or compressed along their lengths, and the grooves allow for parameter adjustments that enable the same case to accommodate multiple device generations with varying dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a case is designed with extendable and flexible structures to accommodate different device sizes, then adaptability is improved, but structural stability and protection capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The case is divided into modular components including front walls, rear walls, and sidewalls that can independently adjust. The sidewalls are segmented with discrete grooves that allow controlled deformation at specific locations while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation enables localized flexibility without compromising global stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The case utilizes composite construction combining materials with high elasticity coefficients for the sidewalls with more rigid materials for the front and rear walls. This composite approach allows the flexible sidewalls to accommodate size variations while the rigid walls maintain structural stability and protection capability.
3Strength
If a case uses rigid materials to provide strong protection, then strength and durability are improved, but flexibility to accommodate dimension variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the case have different material properties tailored to their functional requirements. The front and rear walls use rigid materials for maximum protection strength, while the sidewalls use elastic materials with high elasticity coefficients to provide flexibility for dimension adjustments. This local differentiation of material quality allows the case to simultaneously achieve strong protection and adaptability.
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 case effectively secures and protects portable electronic devices by accommodating slight variations in dimensions, ensuring compatibility with both original and new device generations, while providing enhanced flexibility and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The sidewalls and rear wall may be made of a material with a high elasticity coefficient further allowing the case to stretch and accommodate tablets of different sizes
Implementation Method 2
The discrete series of grooves in the rear wall may allow the rear wall to extend, and thus allow the case to accommodate slight variations in PED dimensions
Implementation Method 3
These sidewalls and rear wall may be configured in size and shape to frictionally engage and retain a PED
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a case for portable electronic devices. According to various embodiments, a case may be capable of extending to accommodate different portable electronic devices. A discrete series of grooves within the case may provide the case with additional elasticity. A pattern of tessellations within the case may provide the case with additional elasticity. The increased elasticity may allow the case to be configured to frictionally engage and retain various portable electronic devices with slightly different physical dimensions.