Vehicle Key Fob Holder With Magnetic Interlock Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inconvenience of carrying large vehicle key fobs and the difficulty in finding a suitable place to stow them while operating a vehicle.
Innovation Solution
An integrated keychain assembly featuring a keychain fob and a receiver-base that mechanically interlock and magnetically attract each other, providing a secure and convenient way to stow vehicle key fobs within a vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pants pocket is used to carry a large key fob, then the key fob can be carried, but it becomes inconvenient especially when the key fob is on a keychain with other items
Solution Approach 1:
The key fob system is segmented into two parts: the key fob itself and the receiver-base with mechanical interlock structure. The mechanical interlock structure acts as a separate functional component that provides attachment capability, allowing the key fob to be carried without needing a pants pocket or carrying other items in the same pocket.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from horizontal carrying (in pants pocket) to vertical suspension (hanging from receiver-base). The mechanical interlock structure enables the key fob to be positioned in a different spatial dimension, eliminating the need to share pocket space with other items.
2Ease of operation
If a large key fob is carried in a pants pocket, then the key fob is accessible, but it is difficult to find a suitable place to stow it while operating the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver-base is pre-installed in a convenient location within the vehicle (such as on the dashboard or center console) before the driver needs to stow the key fob. This preliminary placement eliminates the need to search for stowage locations during vehicle operation, as the stowage point is already prepared and accessible.
3Reliability
If a mechanical interlock structure is used to secure the key fob, then the key fob is held securely against gravity, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic attraction mechanism and mechanical interlock structure are merged into a unified attachment system. The magnetic mechanism provides the primary holding force to secure the key fob against gravity, while the mechanical interlock structure serves as a secondary backup to prevent accidental detachment. This combination achieves high reliability without requiring an overly complex mechanical system, as the magnetic field handles the primary retention function.
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 integrated keychain assembly effectively secures vehicle key fobs against gravity and allows easy removal, addressing the issues of carrying and stowing large key fobs while operating a vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
magnetically attract one another, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, when in the conformal mechanical interlocking fit with one another so as to hold the keychain fob in the conformal mechanical interlocking fit
Data Source
AI summary
Integrated keychain assemblies that each include a keychain fob and a keychain holder for removably receiving and holding the keychain fob. In some embodiments the keychain holder is configured to hold a single instantiation of the keychain fob at a time and is useful, for example, for allowing a driver of a vehicle to conveniently stow a vehicle key fob while operating the vehicle. In some embodiments, the keychain fob includes a body having a mechanical-interlock structure and the keychain holder includes a receiver-base having a mechanical-interlock structure that provides a conformal mechanical interlocking fit that holds the keychain fob against gravity when the integrated assembly is in use. The body and the receiver-base include complementary magnetic-attraction elements that attract one another to hold the keychain fob in the conformal mechanical interlocking fit.