Hinged Cover for Stylus Storage and Screen Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tablet covers fail to provide secure, internal storage for different types of styluses or other input devices, often leading to loss or misplacement, and do not adequately protect the touch screen from damage when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A cover with a three-piece hinged section that articulates around the tablet's edge, allowing secure storage of styluses and other objects between the cover and the tablet, while also providing protection by bending to cover the touch screen and maintaining a gap for shock absorption, made from flexible and rigid materials with a clasp for attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid cover is used to protect the touch screen, then protection capability is improved, but the cover cannot accommodate objects of different shapes and sizes on the back side
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into three separate cover sections (first, second, and third cover sections) connected by hinges, allowing each section to be positioned independently to accommodate objects of various shapes and sizes while maintaining protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cover transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic articulated structure with hinges, enabling the cover sections to move and adjust their positions to adapt to different object configurations on the back side of the computing device
2Ease of manufacture
If the cover is made completely flat when no object is present, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the cover cannot provide shock absorption gap when objects are present
Solution Approach 1:
The cover maintains a flat configuration during manufacturing and storage for simplicity, but can dynamically adjust to create gaps and contours when objects are placed on the back side, providing shock absorption while returning to flat when objects are removed
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cover articulates around the tablet edge to store objects, then object storage capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into three sections connected by hinges, allowing the articulation and storage functionality to be distributed across multiple simpler components rather than requiring a single complex mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated cover structure serves multiple functions: protecting the touch screen, accommodating objects of various shapes and sizes, providing shock absorption, and maintaining a flat profile when not in use, reducing the need for separate dedicated components
Data Source
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AI summary
A cover for a mobile computing device is described. The cover comprises two or more hinges so constructed that the hinges are substantially rigid when in-plane and flexible when out-of-plane. The cover includes segments made of a rigid material disposed between the hinges. The cover, when swiveled to the back side of the computing device, forms a contour around an object such as a stylus to secure the object to the back side of the computing device when the object is present. The cover becomes substantially flat and parallel to the back side of the computing device when the object is absent.