Electronic portable device shell having an integral stand and stand brace
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shells for electronic portable devices with deployable stands often increase thickness, leading to manufacturing challenges, cost issues, and reliability concerns, while failing to maintain a thin profile when the stand is stowed.
Innovation Solution
A shell with a unitary integral component featuring a pivotable stand and stand brace that moves between deployed and stowed positions, allowing the stand to be securely deployed without adding thickness, accommodating both portrait and landscape orientations, and formed as a single molded plastic unit with optional co-molding for aesthetic or functional purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a deployable stand is added to the case, then the device can be positioned in an upright orientation, but the thickness of the case increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stand and stand brace are designed to nest within the case profile when in the stowed position. The stand pivots to lie substantially parallel to the rear surface of the case, and the stand brace folds to occupy minimal space, allowing both components to be contained within the case's overall thickness without adding bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand and stand brace are designed as movable components that can transition between a stowed position (reducing thickness) and a deployed position (providing upright positioning). This dynamic design allows the case to adapt its thickness based on whether the stand function is needed, resolving the contradiction between versatility and constant thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional parts are added to create a deployable stand, then upright positioning is enabled, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stand and stand brace are formed as a single unitary integral component, combining multiple functional elements into one piece. This eliminates the need for separate parts, simplifies manufacturing to a single molding process, reduces assembly steps, and lowers overall complexity while maintaining the deployable stand functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary integral component serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the case, acts as the pivoting stand mechanism, and includes the stand brace for stabilization. By making one component perform multiple roles, the design reduces the total number of parts needed while achieving upright positioning capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a unitary integral component is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the stand mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stand mechanism is integrated into the case as a unitary integral component, combining the case structure and stand mechanism into a single molded piece. This eliminates separate manufacturing and assembly processes, reducing overall manufacturing cost despite the increased complexity of the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses material and structural parameter optimization in the unitary component to enable the pivoting and folding mechanisms. By carefully designing the thickness, material properties, and geometric parameters of the integral component, the complex stand mechanism achieves reliable operation through the material's inherent properties rather than requiring additional parts or complex assemblies.
Data Source
AI summary
A shell is configured to attach to an electronic portable device (such as a smart phone or a pad/tablet-styled device). The shell comprises a unitary integral component having a stand that selectively moves between a deployed position and a stowed position and a corresponding stand brace that selectively moves between a deployed position and a stowed position. By one approach the stand pivots with respect to a portion of the shell that attaches to the electronic portable device and the stand brace pivots with respect to the stand. By one approach the stand and the stand brace are substantially disposed planar to one another when both are in their respective stowed positions. By one approach a free end of the stand brace contacts the electronic portable device when the stand brace is in its deployed position to thereby bias the stand towards the deployed position for the stand.