Magnetic Shuttle Stand for Protective Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective cases for electronic devices lack a compact and easily deployable stand that can be quickly set up and securely hold the device at a convenient viewing angle.
Innovation Solution
A substantially flat chassis with intersecting upper and lower channels is integrated into the protective case, featuring a deployable stand with hinged panels and a magnetic shuttle mechanism that uses attractive and repulsive forces to deploy and retract the stand efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a deployable stand is integrated into the protective case, then the device can be held at a convenient viewing angle, but the case structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The deployable stand is nested within the protective case structure, with panels that fold into the case body when not in use. The stand mechanism is integrated into the case layers, allowing the case to maintain its compact form while containing the stand functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand is divided into multiple hinged panels that can independently fold and deploy. This segmentation allows the stand to be compact when stored and easily deployable when needed, reducing the overall structural complexity while providing viewing angle adjustment.
2Volume of moving object
If the stand is made compact for portability, then the case remains portable, but the stand becomes difficult to deploy quickly
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic elements are pre-positioned in the case structure and stand panels before deployment. When the stand is deployed, the magnetic forces automatically engage to hold the panels in the correct viewing angles, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and reducing deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical hinges and locking mechanisms are replaced with magnetic attachment systems. The magnetic forces provide automatic positioning and securing of the stand panels, reducing the mechanical complexity and enabling faster deployment without compromising structural integrity.
3Productivity
If magnetic elements are used for deployment, then the stand can be deployed rapidly, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic elements are designed with specific strength parameters and positioning tolerances that balance rapid deployment with manufacturability. By optimizing the magnetic force parameters and positioning requirements, the system achieves fast deployment without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
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 rapid, secure, and compact deployment mechanism for the stand, ensuring easy setup and use while maintaining the protective case's compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
magnets which have an opposing orientation, i.e., one magnet is oriented north-south, while the second magnet is oriented south-north
Implementation Method 2
the two magnets in the middle panel of the deployable stand are superimposed above those located in the shuttle... the magnets in the shuttle have the same polar orientation from those in the middle panel... such that the two pairs of magnets attract each other
Implementation Method 3
a second magnet having an opposite magnetic alignment is brought into proximity directly below the magnet located in middle panel so that in the second position the magnets exert a repulsive force
Implementation Method 4
The opposing end of the shuttle is attached to a spring... When the shuttle actuating lever is released, the spring attached to the opposite end of the shuttle as the shuttle actuating lever exerts a force causing the shuttle to return to the first position
Implementation Method 5
Each adjacent panel is connected by a hinge... the lower panel is hingedly connected to the lower edge of the upper channel at its bottom edge
Data Source
AI summary
A support having a magnetically assisted deployment and retraction mechanism which is designed for use with protective covers for personal electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet computing devices featuring a segmented support structure that deploys from a first channel when a shuttle located in a second channel disposed under the first channel is moved from a first position to a second position. The shuttle contains a first magnet and a second magnet, and the segmented support contains magnets which generate either attractive or repulsive forces depending on the position of the shuttle, which forces cause deployment of the support.