Foldable Housing Lock Assembly for Thin Side-Button Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable electronic devices face challenges in achieving a thin and light design due to the thickness requirements of traditional locking mechanisms, which are necessary for the stroke of buttons or locking components.
Innovation Solution
A housing assembly design that incorporates a side button and a locking mechanism within a side wall, eliminating the need for additional thickness to accommodate button strokes, and utilizes an accommodating mechanism to house electronic components, ensuring a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional locking mechanism with button stroke is used, then the locking function is reliable, but the housing thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a linear stroke motion in the thickness direction to a rotational motion in the lateral direction. The button rotates within the side wall plane rather than moving linearly through the housing thickness, enabling locking functionality without increasing the housing thickness dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The button is designed with rotational movement capability within the side wall, allowing it to pivot between locked and unlocked positions. This dynamic rotational motion replaces the static linear stroke requirement, maintaining locking reliability while minimizing thickness requirements.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism requiring button stroke is used, then the locking mechanism is functional, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the button motion from the thickness dimension to the lateral dimension within the side wall, the design eliminates the need for additional thick structural components that would increase overall device weight while maintaining locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall structure is designed to accommodate rotational button movement within its plane, utilizing thin-walled construction that would be insufficient for traditional linear stroke mechanisms, thereby reducing material usage and device weight.
3Reliability
If additional thickness is provided for button stroke, then the locking mechanism works properly, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The button stroke requirement is transformed from a thickness-direction linear displacement to a lateral-direction rotational movement within the side wall plane, allowing the locking mechanism to function without increasing the housing thickness and overall device volume.
4Ease of operation
If the button is exposed on the housing surface, then the operation is easy, but the housing thickness must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the locking mechanism, and houses the rotatable button. This multi-functionality allows the button to be accessible for operation without requiring additional thickness beyond the side wall structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The button is positioned within the side wall plane rather than protruding through the housing thickness, allowing users to access and operate the button on the lateral surface without increasing the housing thickness dimension.
Data Source
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AI summary
A housing assembly is provided in implementations of the disclosure. The housing assembly includes a first housing, a locking mechanism, and a second housing. The first housing includes a side wall, a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The locking mechanism includes an engaging portion, a transmission portion, and a side button. The side button is drivingly connected with the engaging portion via the transmission portion. The second housing is rotatably connected with the first housing, so that the second housing and the first housing are selectively folded or unfolded relative to each other. The second housing is provided with a matching portion matching the engaging portion. When the first housing and the second housing are folded relative to each other, the second surface is in contact with the second housing, and the engaging portion is selectively engaged with or disengaged from the matching portion under the driving of the side button. The side button is movably disposed at the side wall of the first housing, so that a breakdown in an integrity of the second surface can be avoided, and a thickness of the first housing is not required to additionally increase to meet the stroke of the side button generated when the side button extends out of or retract into the first housing, which is beneficial to reducing the thickness of the whole machine and realizing a thin design. A foldable electronic device is further provided in the implementations of the disclosure.