Foldable Support Frame With Curved Groove for Quiet Pivoting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing support frames for electronic devices, such as tablets, experience excessive knocking noises due to rapid pivoting caused by elastic potential energy, negatively impacting user experience and comfort during folding and unfolding.

Innovation Solution

A foldable support frame design featuring a substrate with a notch and a first elastic sheet having a curved groove structure, where a support sheet's protruding plate interacts with the groove edges to generate torque, allowing controlled pivoting to support or folding positions, reducing collisions and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the support frame is continuously driven by elastic potential energy to rapidly pivot to the folding or support position, then the user saves time and effort in folding or unfolding the support frame, but the support frame collides with the electronic device at an accelerated speed, resulting in excessive knocking noises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of folding/unfoldingVSAvoidknocking noises

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved groove structure is pre-formed on the elastic sheet to define a specific motion path for the support frame. This preliminary structural design guides the support frame through a controlled pivoting trajectory, ensuring that the frame follows a smooth arc that prevents sudden collisions with the electronic device while still utilizing elastic potential energy for rapid movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The curved groove structure acts as an intermediary element between the elastic potential energy storage mechanism and the support frame. It mediates the force transmission by converting the linear elastic recoil into a controlled rotational motion, thereby reducing impact forces and knocking noises while maintaining the rapid pivoting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If the support frame is driven rapidly to the folding position, then the user saves time in folding the support frame, but the support frame collides with the electronic device, significantly influencing the user's operational experience and comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for foldingVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The curved groove structure is pre-formed on the elastic sheet to define a specific motion path for the support frame. This preliminary structural design guides the support frame through a controlled pivoting trajectory, ensuring that the frame follows a smooth arc that prevents sudden collisions with the electronic device while still utilizing elastic potential energy for rapid movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The curved groove structure acts as an intermediary element between the elastic potential energy storage mechanism and the support frame. It mediates the force transmission by converting the linear elastic recoil into a controlled rotational motion, thereby reducing impact forces and knocking noises while maintaining the rapid pivoting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design enables smooth and quiet operation by minimizing collisions and enhancing user convenience during folding and unfolding, while maintaining stability and reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing an elastic potential energy accumulated by a support frame continuously interfering with an elastic sheet while pivoting relative to an electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the protruding plate rubs against the first curved groove structure, or the protruding plate selectively interferes with one of two opposite first edges of the first curved groove structure in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the shaft, for generating a torque

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20250306642A1Foldable support frame and electronic device thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 QISDA CORP

AI summary

A foldable support frame includes a substrate, an elastic sheet, and a support sheet. The substrate has a notch and a platform. A fixing portion of the elastic sheet is fixed to the platform to make a flexible portion of the elastic sheet suspended above the notch. A curved groove structure is formed on the flexible portion and faces the notch. The support sheet has a foot, a shaft and a protruding plate. The shaft is pivoted to the notch to make the foot pivotable to a support or folding position. The protruding plate protrudes from the shaft toward the curved groove structure. During pivoting of the foot, the protruding plate rubs against the curved groove structure, or interferes with one of two opposite edges of the curved groove structure in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the shaft, for driving the foot to the support or folding position.