Magnetically Assisted Kickstand Latch for Damage-Free Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems lack a reliable and damage-free mechanism for automatically deploying and manually opening kickstands, which are often prone to damage and can scratch surfaces due to exposed hooks or latches.
Innovation Solution
A latch with magnetically-assisted operation that uses a combination of magnets and a spring-loaded hinge to automatically deploy and manually open a kickstand, employing a carrier with a compression bracket, guidepost, and actuator bracket to translate magnetic devices between attractive and repulsive forces, allowing for concealed and balanced deployment and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-loaded kickstand with exposed hooks or latches is used, then the kickstand can be deployed and retained, but it may scratch surfaces and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful exposed hooks or latches are extracted and replaced with concealed magnetic retention mechanisms. The magnets are hidden within the chassis structure, eliminating the need for exposed mechanical elements that could scratch surfaces while maintaining reliable kickstand retention through magnetic attraction.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic fields are introduced as an intermediary force between the kickstand and chassis, replacing direct mechanical contact with field-based interaction. This allows retention without physical contact points that could cause surface damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a magnetic deployment mechanism is used, then surface integrity is maintained, but the internal volume is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic retention components are nested within the existing chassis structure. The magnets are positioned in recesses or integrated into the chassis housing, utilizing existing internal space rather than adding external volume, thereby maintaining surface integrity without significantly increasing the overall device footprint.
3Ease of operation
If magnets are used for automatic deployment, then damage-free operation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field automatically exerts attractive force on the kickstand when the lid is closed, enabling self-service deployment without requiring complex mechanical latches or switches. The system uses the natural magnetic attraction to hold the kickstand in place and releases it automatically when the lid opens, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
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 a break-safe, damage-free mechanism for kickstand deployment and retention, maintaining surface integrity by using concealed magnets and minimizing internal volume, while ensuring stable attachment and easy manual operation without damaging the system.
Implementation Method 1
the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device may have a same polarity orientation along a common axis... interact under a predominantly attractive force... interact under a predominantly repulsive force
Data Source
AI summary
A latch with magnetically-assisted operation is described. In some embodiments, a latch may include: a first magnetic device fixedly coupled to a first portion of an Information Handling System (IHS); a second magnetic device coupled to a second movable portion of the IHS; and a carrier, comprising: a compression bracket fixedly coupled to the first portion of the IHS, the compression bracket having a slot configured to accommodate the second magnetic device, at least one guidepost configured to receive a return spring, and at least one stopping pin; and a actuator bracket movably coupled to compression bracket, the actuator bracket having a button configured to translate the second magnetic device with respect to the first magnetic device, at least one orifice configured to engage with the at least one guidepost, and at least one detent configured to engage with the at least one stopping pin.