Foldable Display Protective Cover With Interlocking Buffer Hooks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible displays in foldable electronic devices are prone to damage, such as scratching or cracking, when portions of the display contact each other during folding due to the potential displacement or shifting of the buffer member under external forces.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a protective cover with a buffer member featuring a pair of hooking parts that cross over each other, secured by fastening protrusions and holes, enhancing the coupling force to prevent display damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hooking-type buffer member is fitted into the protective cover, then the buffer member can be easily installed, but the buffer member may come off or displace under external forces such as vertical force or shear force
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member is divided into multiple functional segments: hooking parts for insertion through holes, locking protrusions for engagement with the protective cover, and fastening protrusions for additional securing. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while maintaining overall attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking protrusions are disposed to cross each other in a nested configuration, where at least a portion of each locking protrusion overlaps with the other. This nested arrangement creates mutual interlocking that prevents displacement under external forces while maintaining ease of installation.
2Device complexity
If the buffer member is secured with simple hooking, then the installation is simple, but the coupling force between the buffer member and protective cover is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening mechanisms are merged into a single buffer member structure: hooking parts for initial insertion, locking protrusions for engagement with the protective cover, and fastening protrusions for additional securing. This combination provides strong coupling force without requiring multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer member integrates multiple functional elements (hooking parts, locking protrusions, fastening protrusions) into a composite structure that combines the advantages of each element to achieve both strong attachment and reasonable complexity.
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 effectively prevents display damage by ensuring the buffer member remains securely attached, protecting the flexible display from external forces during folding and unfolding.
Implementation Method 1
the pair of hooking parts include each locking protrusion disposed to cross each other such that at least a portion of the each locking protrusion is configured to overlap each other
Implementation Method 2
a fastening protrusion and a fastening hole respectively provided in the pair of hooking parts may be fitted together
Implementation Method 3
an elastic buffer member disposed on the protective cover
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A foldable electronic device according to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a first housing, a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing by a hinge module, a protective cover coupled along edges of housings and including a pair of through holes and a fixing portion provided between the pair of through holes and, a buffer member including a pair of hooking parts inserted into the pair of through holes and disposed to surround the fixing portion, and the pair of hooking parts include each locking protrusion disposed to cross each other such that at least a portion of the each locking protrusion is configured to overlap each other.