Magnetic Rotating Cover for Electronic Device Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic device accessories are cumbersome and difficult to attach/detach due to their heavy, thick, and voluminous design, which complicates the mounting and protection of electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

The use of first and second cover parts attached to electronic devices, which are rotated using magnets to allow for various mounting angles, facilitating easy attachment/detachment and reducing the accessory's thickness, volume, and weight, while enhancing design aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the accessory is designed with a mounting portion and a bent cover to protect and mount the electronic device, then the protective function and mounting capability are improved, but the accessory becomes heavy, thick, and voluminous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective functionVSAvoidaccessory weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory is divided into a body portion and a separate cover portion. The cover can be detached from the body, allowing users to carry only the essential body portion when protection is not needed, thereby reducing the weight of the carried object while maintaining full protective capability when the cover is attached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover is designed to be rotatable relative to the body portion, enabling dynamic adjustment of the cover's position and angle. This allows the cover to adapt to different usage scenarios, providing protection when needed while allowing the cover to be positioned out of the way during charging or other operations, effectively reducing the accessory's volumetric footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the accessory includes a mounting portion with bent cover for device protection, then the protective function is improved, but the accessory thickness and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective functionVSAvoidaccessory volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the cover from the body, the accessory's volume is effectively reduced during carry since the cover can be removed or positioned independently, while full protective volume is restored when the cover is attached for device protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable cover design allows the accessory to dynamically adjust its volume profile. The cover can rotate to a position that minimizes the accessory's overall volume when protection is not required, while maintaining full protective coverage when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the accessory has a mounting portion with bent cover design, then the mounting capability is improved, but the attachment and detachment process becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting capabilityVSAvoidattachment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the cover and body is achieved through magnetic attraction force rather than traditional mechanical fasteners. This substitution of magnetic field for mechanical connection system eliminates complex locking mechanisms, allowing the cover to be easily attached and detached with simple pulling motions while maintaining secure attachment during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the accessory uses magnets to rotate cover parts for various mounting angles, then the adaptability for different angles is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting angle variabilityVSAvoidaccessory structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Traditional mechanical angle-adjustment mechanisms such as gears, cams, or multiple hinge points are replaced with magnetic attraction forces. The magnets embedded in the body and cover create natural alignment points that guide the cover to specific angles through magnetic attraction, eliminating complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms while providing multiple stable mounting angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic system enables the cover to self-align and self-position at desired angles without requiring user intervention or complex control mechanisms. The magnetic attraction automatically guides the cover to stable angular positions, making the system self-adjusting and reducing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution enables convenient mounting of electronic devices at desired angles, simplifies the attachment/detachment process, and reduces the accessory's size and weight, improving user experience and design appearance.

Implementation Method 1

rotated in the attached state to allow the electronic devices to be mounted at various angles using magnets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3633488B1Electronic device comprising accessory
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3633488B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3633488B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3633488B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5B

AI summary

Various embodiments relating to an electronic device comprising an accessory are described. An electronic device according to one embodiment comprises: a first electronic device forming a first curved surface on at least one side and including at least one first magnet on the first curved surface; a second electronic device forming a second curved surface on at least one side and including at least one second magnet on the second curved surface; and an accessory structure including third and fourth curved surfaces facing the first and second curved surfaces, and including at least one third and fourth magnets on the third and fourth curved surfaces, wherein the accessory structure may attach and detach the at least one first and second magnets and the at least one third and fourth magnets by magnetic force, may rotate the first and second curved surfaces along the third and fourth curved surfaces, and may be bent during rotation so as to mount the first electronic device at various angles. Other various embodiments are also possible.