Low-Profile Rotation Mount With Tool-Free Keyed Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounts for electronic devices, particularly in aircraft cockpits, face challenges in securely mounting and orienting touch-sensitive display devices while ensuring portability, protection, and ease of use, with existing solutions often requiring tools for installation and potentially failing under crash forces.
Innovation Solution
A mount system featuring a keyed insert and receiver with a spring plate mechanism that allows for tool-free installation and secure locking of the display device, enabling rotation and alignment without visible interaction, using a combination of retaining rings, key set rings, and a spring plate to engage and lock key features, providing blind alignment and resistance to crash forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mounts use traditional installation methods, then secure mounting is achieved, but tools are required for installation and the mount may fail under crash forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mount is divided into separate components: a keyed insert with key features, a key receiver with receiving notches and locking notches, and a spring plate. These segmented parts can be easily assembled and disassembled without tools, while still providing secure mounting when engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyed insert is pre-configured with specific key features that align with corresponding notches in the key receiver. The spring plate is pre-positioned to automatically engage the locking notches when the insert is inserted, eliminating the need for manual tool-assisted installation while ensuring secure engagement.
2Reliability
If the mount uses a complex locking mechanism, then secure locking is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring plate automatically engages the locking notches on the key receiver when the keyed insert is inserted. The spring-loaded mechanism self-actuates to lock the components together without requiring additional actuators, motors, or complex control systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring secure locking.
3Length of moving object
If the mount profile is reduced, then portability is improved, but the mounting security may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The keyed insert fits within the key receiver, and the spring plate is nested between them. This nested arrangement allows the components to be compact when engaged, maintaining a low profile while still providing secure mounting through the interlocking key features and notches.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism utilizes radial key features extending from the keyed plate that engage with notches in the key receiver. This radial arrangement allows secure locking in a compact axial space, reducing the overall profile length while maintaining mounting security through multi-directional engagement.
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 system ensures secure, tool-free mounting and orientation of display devices, enhances portability, and meets aviation standards by resisting crash forces, while maintaining a low profile and facilitating quick locking and unlocking, thus improving usability and safety in aircraft cockpits.
Implementation Method 1
The spring plate is movable between the key set ring and the receiver base
Data Source
AI summary
A mount includes a keyed insert and a key receiver. The keyed insert includes a key base and a keyed plate mounted to the key base and having one or more key features extending from a periphery of the keyed plate. The key receiver accepts the keyed insert and includes a receiver base, a retaining ring, a key set ring, a key entrance ring, and a spring plate. The retaining ring is connected to the receiver base. The key set ring is disposed between the retaining ring and the receiver base and includes one or more receiving notches and one or more locking notches. The one or more receiving notches is configured to receive the one or more key features the one or more locking notch is spaced away from the one or more receiving notch and is configured to lockingly engage the one or more key features.