Mobile Device Case with Through-Wall Cushion Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile device cases fail to provide adequate impact resistance and vibration reduction, leading to potential damage from drops and slips, especially in varied environments where users may encounter hard surfaces and slick hands.

Innovation Solution

A protective case design featuring a base wall and side walls with cushion devices that extend through apertures to absorb forces, providing shock absorption and reducing the transmission of impact to the mobile device, while also allowing for removable cushion devices to customize shock resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a case merely protects mobile devices from dirt and scratches, then the device is protected from surface damage, but the device remains vulnerable to impact damage from drops and slips

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidcase structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The case is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer shell for structural protection, cushion devices for shock absorption, and vibration reduction elements. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific protection functions, achieving comprehensive impact resistance without requiring the entire case structure to be overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The case employs composite material construction combining hard outer shell materials for structural integrity with softer cushioning materials for shock absorption. This composite approach enables the case to simultaneously provide scratch resistance, impact protection, and vibration reduction while maintaining a manageable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If cushion devices are integrated into the case, then shock absorption capability is enhanced, but the case design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection reliabilityVSAvoidcase component count
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion devices are merged with the case structure through integration strategies where cushioning elements are incorporated into recesses or cavities of the case shell. This merging approach enhances protection reliability by ensuring the cushion devices work in unison with the case structure, while the integrated design minimizes the increase in overall case complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the case is designed for maximum impact protection, then device safety is improved, but the case may become bulkier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact force absorptionVSAvoidcase volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The case implements local quality enhancement by placing cushion devices and vibration reduction elements specifically at high-impact zones such as corners and edges, rather than uniformly distributing protection throughout the entire case. This targeted approach effectively absorbs impact forces where they are most likely to occur, improving device safety without significantly increasing the overall case volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 case effectively reduces the likelihood of damage to mobile devices by absorbing and dissipating impact forces, enhancing protection against drops and slips, and allowing for customizable shock absorption based on user preferences.

Implementation Method 1

Cushion devices extend through the apertures and are configured to cushion the mobile device from a force exerted upon the case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8909309B2Mobile device case with cushion devices
Publication Date: 2014.12.09 SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS INC
  • US8909309B2 patent drawing
  • US8909309B2 patent drawing
  • US8909309B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A case for a mobile device including a base wall and a plurality of side walls extending from the base wall to cover side surfaces of the mobile device. A plurality of cushion devices may pass through the side walls to cushion the mobile device from a force exerted upon the case.