Laptop Protective Cover With Removable Locking Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective covers for laptops, especially 360 degrees foldable models, lack effective securement mechanisms, leading to potential damage during transport and use due to brittle materials and easily removable or broken snaps/tabs.
Innovation Solution
A protective cover design featuring a shell with upright sides, removable locking clips with flanges that insert into slots, and holes for screws to securely attach to the laptop, preventing separation and providing internal locking without exposed snaps or tabs, utilizing resilient and flexible plastic materials for impact absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional plastic protective covers are used, then the cover can be easily manufactured and fitted, but the cover is brittle and may break upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates foam material between the plastic shell and the laptop to provide cushioning before impact occurs. This foam layer absorbs impact energy during drops or collisions, preventing the brittle plastic shell from breaking while maintaining the ease of manufacturing the cover structure.
2Ease of operation
If snaps or tabs are used to secure the cover, then the cover can be easily attached and removed, but the snaps or tabs may break or be easily removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the securement function into multiple components: the plastic shell with integrated slots and the separate foam material with protrusions. This segmentation allows the foam protrusions to engage with the slots in a distributed manner around the laptop perimeter, creating multiple attachment points that distribute stress and prevent any single point from failing, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two different materials - the rigid plastic shell and the flexible foam material - to create a composite securement system. The foam material provides flexibility and shock absorption while engaging with the rigid plastic slots, creating a securement mechanism that is both reliable and easy to operate without breaking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the laptop is made 360 degrees foldable, then the laptop can be used in multiple modes, but there is insufficient space to secure rear and side snaps or tabs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attaching snaps or tabs to the laptop and having the cover secure around them, the patent inverts the approach by integrating slots directly into the plastic shell and having foam protrusions on the laptop engage with these slots. This inversion allows the securement elements to be positioned optimally for 360-degree foldable designs, securing the cover effectively without requiring additional space that would interfere with the laptop's folding capability.
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 solution provides enhanced protection against drops and impacts by ensuring the cover remains securely attached to the laptop, preventing damage to internal components and maintaining functionality without interfering with the laptop's operation.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing resilient and flexible plastic materials for impact absorption
Data Source
AI summary
A protective cover for an electronic device including a shell having upright sides that position the electronic device within the shell, a first slot and a second slot formed in the upright sides of the shell, a removable locking clip selectively coupled to the upright sides and including a first flange and a second flange that are receivable within the first slot and the second slot, respectively, a first hole extending through a portion of the upright sides, and a second hole extending through a portion of the upright sides. The removable locking clip overlaps a first portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the shell and the first and second flanges are received within the first and second slots, respectively.