Interlocking Portable Stand for Multi-Device Ergonomic Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices often cause users to adopt poor posture due to their screen being below eye level when placed on traditional supports, leading to back and neck strain, and existing stands are not versatile or portable enough to accommodate multiple devices without requiring multiple stands or tools.
Innovation Solution
A portable stand with interlocking panel-shaped top and bottom pieces that can be configured into multiple positions to support laptops, tablets, and e-readers, featuring a compact design for easy transport and use with a built-in extender piece for adjustable height and a handle for convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional support structure is used for portable electronic devices, then the device can be supported, but the screen remains below eye level causing poor posture and back and neck strain
Solution Approach 1:
The stand employs adjustable components that allow dynamic reconfiguration of the support structure. The top piece can be positioned at different angles and heights, enabling the screen to be raised to eye level while maintaining stability. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction by allowing ergonomic positioning without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand introduces vertical dimension adjustment by elevating the device screen to eye level through its multi-level support structure. This dimensional change transforms the traditional horizontal viewing position into a vertical arrangement that eliminates the need for users to lean forward, thereby preventing back and neck strain while maintaining device support functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a stand is designed to be portable and easy to carry, then it can be transported conveniently, but it may lack versatility to accommodate multiple device types
Solution Approach 1:
The stand incorporates universal support surfaces and adjustable geometry that can accommodate multiple device types including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The top piece can be configured in various positions to suit different device sizes and viewing requirements, allowing a single portable stand to replace multiple device-specific supports while maintaining ease of transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand is divided into separable components (base piece and top piece) that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation enables portable carrying while maintaining versatility, as the modular design allows flexible reconfiguration for different device types without requiring multiple complete stand units.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a stand uses multiple parts and fastening devices, then it may provide better stability and adjustability, but it requires tools and multiple fastening devices to use
Solution Approach 1:
The stand integrates the fastening mechanism into the structural components themselves. The top piece and base piece feature interlocking elements that combine structural support and fastening functions in a single integrated design, eliminating the need for separate tools and multiple fastening devices while maintaining structural stability through the unified construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand employs self-latching or friction-fit mechanisms that automatically secure the top piece to the base piece without requiring external tools. This self-service approach maintains structural stability through inherent design features while minimizing the number of parts and eliminating the need for additional fastening devices, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments a portable stand for supporting portable electronic devices when the portable stand is resting on a flat surface includes a panel-shaped top piece and a panel-shaped bottom piece. The top and the bottom pieces are configured to be interlocked to form an interlocking structure with an X shape when viewed via a view substantially orthogonal to the flat surface when resting on the flat surface in a first position. The interlocking structure is configured to be interchangeably positioned in the first position for presenting a support structure for supporting a laptop computer and at least one of a second position for presenting a tablet slot for supporting a tablet computer, or a third position for presenting an e-reader slot for supporting at least an e-reader.