Fold-Out Panel Stand for Portable Device Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a portable and versatile support system that allows for convenient use of devices like tablets and notebooks in situations without a desk or table, such as in cars or other locations, where a stable surface is not available.
Innovation Solution
A creative stand apparatus featuring a front panel, a back panel, and a side panel that folds out from the gap between them, with a pivot coupling allowing the side panel to move from a stowed position to an open position, providing a stable surface for devices and accommodating accessories like cell phone holders and extendable supports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable stand is designed with foldable panels to improve portability, then the device can be easily carried and stored, but the structural complexity increases to accommodate folding mechanisms and multiple panels
Solution Approach 1:
The stand is divided into multiple independent panels (front panel, back panel, and side panels) that can be folded relative to each other. Each panel can be independently positioned and secured, allowing the stand to be collapsed into a compact form for portability while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The side panels are designed to nest within the gap between the front and back panels when folded, creating a compact storage configuration. The pivot couplings allow panels to be nested together, reducing the overall volume when the stand is not in use while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a side panel is added to provide additional support surface, then the stability and versatility of the stand improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side panels are designed with pivot couplings that allow them to dynamically adjust between different positions - folded against the main body when not needed, or extended outward to provide additional support surfaces. This dynamic configuration allows the stand to adapt its stability and surface area based on the specific usage scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The side panels serve multiple functions: they can provide additional support surface area for larger devices, act as structural reinforcement when extended, or be folded away to minimize space requirements. The same panel structure provides different functional benefits depending on its position and configuration.
3Ease of operation
If pivot couplings with slots are used to enable panel movement, then the adjustability and ease of operation improve, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment and secure locking
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot coupling design allows panels to self-align and self-lock through the interaction of the pivot element with the slots. The geometry of the slots and pivot coupling is designed so that proper alignment and secure locking occur automatically during the folding and extending operations, without requiring external alignment tools or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a front panel that includes a front slot along an edge of the front panel and a back panel fixedly coupled to the front panel. The back panel includes a back slot along an edge of the back panel. The front slot and back slot align. A side panel is configured to fold into a gap between the front panel and the back panel, and a pivot coupling at a corner of the side panel. The pivot coupling is slidably coupled to the front and back slots. The corner of the side panel slidably moves along the front and back slots via the pivot coupling, and the side panel is movable from a stowed position in the gap to an open position to the side of the front and back panels by rotating the side panel and moving the pivot coupling along the front and back slots.