Foldable Cardstock Phone Stand for Flat-Pack Stable Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phone stands are costly to manufacture and package due to their 3-dimensional form, and they lack the ability to be easily customized with information or graphics.
Innovation Solution
A phone stand made from a flat sheet of card stock or plastic that can be folded into a 3-dimensional structure with minimal set-up and tooling costs, featuring fold lines, notches, and tabs for easy assembly, allowing for customization and eco-friendly production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If phone stands are made in 3-dimensional form, then they provide stable support structure, but manufacturing cost and packaging cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning the phone stand from a traditional 3-dimensional rigid structure to a 2-dimensional flat card stock structure that folds into 3D form. The stand is designed as a flat piece of card stock with fold lines that allow it to be folded into an L-shaped configuration providing stable phone support, while maintaining the advantage of flat packaging and reduced manufacturing costs associated with 2D materials.
2Reliability
If phone stands are made rigid, then they provide stable support, but packaging and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces packaging volume by changing the stand from a rigid 3D object to a flat 2D card stock structure. The stand folds into its functional 3D L-shaped configuration only when in use, allowing it to be packaged flat alongside phones or other items, significantly reducing the volume required for shipping and storage while maintaining structural stability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat card stock stand can be nested within phone packaging boxes or inserted between phones during shipping, utilizing otherwise wasted space. The stand's thin profile allows it to be stored within the volume already allocated for phone packaging, eliminating the need for separate packaging space.
3Ease of manufacture
If phone stands are made from card stock, then manufacturing cost decreases, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curvature and geometric optimization in the card stock design, creating an L-shaped folded structure with specific angles and dimensions that maximize structural strength. The fold lines create rigid joints, and the overall geometry distributes mechanical loads effectively, allowing thin card stock material to provide sufficient strength for supporting phone weight during video calls or hands-free use.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable phone support is provided as a flat sheet of card stock and is marked or perforated with a template which is removed from the flat sheet then folded into a 3-dimensional structure having a horizontally-extending base portion and a vertically-extending back portion. The base portion has two arms (wings), and features may be provided on the top edges of the base portion to inhibit or prevent the phone from sliding off of the support. Three-sided and four-sided supports are disclosed.