Hooked Member Mount for Tablet PC and Smartphone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mountings for portable screen devices, such as tablet computers and smartphones, occupy too much space when a tray is in the down position, restricting user space and are not easily mountable or demountable, making them inconvenient for use on vehicle trays.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system comprising a pair of hooked members made from rigid plastic, with first and second hook portions that can engage a tray's edge and a screen device's edge respectively, allowing for hands-free viewing in both tray positions, and additional means like clips and resilient coupling for stability, enabling easy installation and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mounting is designed to support portable screen devices on drop-down trays, then hands-free viewing is enabled, but the mounting occupies excessive space when the tray is in the down position
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting is divided into two separate hooked members instead of a single bulky structure. Each hooked member independently engages with the tray edge and screen device edge, allowing the mounting to maintain support functionality while minimizing space occupation when the tray is in the down position
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting transitions from a two-dimensional planar support structure to a three-dimensional hooked configuration that engages the tray and screen device at multiple points. This spatial arrangement enables hands-free viewing while reducing the footprint when the tray is lowered
2Stability of the object's composition
If a mounting is designed to be permanently fixed on the tray, then stability is improved, but the mounting becomes difficult to mount and demount
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting employs a dynamic hook engagement mechanism where the hooked members can be easily attached to and detached from the tray edge and screen device edge. The hooks are designed to flex and lock into place during attachment, providing stable fixation without requiring permanent installation
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting utilizes elastic deformation of the hooked members during the attachment and detachment process. The hooks temporarily change their shape parameter to engage and disengage from the tray and screen device, achieving both stability during use and ease of installation/removal
3Ease of manufacture
If a mounting uses simple hook structures, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the screen device may not be sufficiently restrained against relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting combines multiple restraint functions into the hooked member structure. The same hooks that engage the tray edge also engage the screen device edge, and additional engagement points are integrated into the hook design to prevent relative movement in multiple directions simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The hooked members serve multiple functions: they attach to the tray edge, support the screen device weight, and restrain the screen device against lateral and rotational movement. This multi-functionality is achieved without adding separate complex restraint mechanisms, keeping manufacturing costs low
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 mounting system allows for hands-free viewing of portable screen devices on vehicle trays in both up and down positions, minimizing space usage, being easy to set up and use, and cost-effective for mass production, while providing stability and adjustable viewing angles.
Implementation Method 1
resilient coupling means for coupling the or each clip member to a hooked member
Data Source
AI summary
Various mountings are disclosed for holding a portable screen device in an attitude for hands-free viewing. The mountings are particularly, but not exclusively, useful for supporting portable screen devices (522, FIG. 5A) from the seat-back trays (528) found in passenger vehicles, when the trays are in the “up” position. Each mounting comprises a pair of hooked members (510), each hooked member having a spine (515) provided with first and second hook portions (512, 514) arranged on opposite sides of the spine to face in mutually opposed directions. Each hook portion (512, 514) comprises an open end and a closed end bounded by outer and inner, mutually opposed sides of the hook portion. Various embodiments are disclosed that are also capable of supporting portable screen devices when seat-back trays are in the “down” position, see e.g., FIG. 5B. In most embodiments, both hook portions (512, 514) are unitary with the spine (515), which comprises the inner side of both hook portions, but embodiments are also proposed in which the first hook portion (612, FIG. 6) is formed separately from the spine (615) and is selectively positionable thereon. When in use as a mounting, the hooked members 510, FIG. 5 A) are spaced apart from each other and the second hook portions (514) receive the screen device (522), which spans the distance between the hooked members.