Rear-View Mirror Phone Mount With Retractable Support Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile device usage while driving can lead to distractions and loss of focus from the road, as users often need to handle their devices, which can obstruct their view and prevent them from maintaining both hands on the steering wheel.
Innovation Solution
A retractable mobile device holder for a vehicle's rear-view mirror, featuring a support arm that can be deployed from a stored position to a usable position, with telescoping arms and a deployment mechanism, allowing for adjustable mounting and charging via USB, keeping the device in a non-distracting location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile device holder is deployed in the driver's view area, then the driver can easily access and use the mobile device, but the driver's view is obstructed and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with a retractable support arm that can dynamically change position between a retracted state (stored within the mirror housing) and an extended state (deployed for device placement). This dynamic positioning allows the holder to adapt between providing easy device access and maintaining clear driver visibility, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and view obstruction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a retractable support mechanism is added to the mirror housing, then the device can be positioned without obstructing the driver's view, but the device accessibility and ease of use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is segmented into multiple functional components: a mirror housing, a retractable support arm with telescoping segments, a deployment mechanism with pin and slot, and a device cradle. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently - the telescoping segments enable compact storage while the deployment mechanism provides easy extension, collectively maintaining both view clarity and device accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable support arm acts as an intermediary between the mirror housing and the mobile device. It provides a mechanical connection that allows the device to be positioned in an optimal location for driver access while maintaining a safe distance from the driver's direct line of sight. The support arm mediates between the conflicting requirements of device accessibility and view obstruction by creating a flexible positioning interface.
3Ease of operation
If the support arm is extended further out to improve device visibility, then the mobile device is more accessible, but the structural stability and strength are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm employs a telescoping design with nested segments that can extend and retract. When extended, the nested segments provide structural reinforcement while maintaining a compact profile when retracted. This nesting principle allows the support arm to achieve the necessary length for device visibility while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the nested segment configuration that distributes mechanical loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm is constructed using composite material structures that combine different materials with complementary properties. This composite construction provides high strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the support arm to extend sufficiently for device visibility while maintaining the structural strength needed to support the mobile device securely. The composite materials allow the arm to be both lightweight for easy retraction and strong when extended.
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 allows users to interact with their devices without losing focus on the road, maintaining a clear view and keeping the device out of the way when not in use, while providing a secure and adjustable mounting system for various device sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a deployment mechanism connected to the support and including a pin configured to rotatedly hinge the support from the stored position to a deployed position extending out of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device holder for a rear-view mirror of a vehicle may include a mirror housing, a mobile device bracket arranged on a support, the support arranged at least partially within the mirror housing in a stored position, and a deployment mechanism connected to the support and including a pin configured to rotatedly hinge the support from the stored position to a deployed position extending out of the housing.