Phone Case With Sliding Elastic Strap For Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern cell phones with smooth outer cases often slip out of users' hands, and existing phone cases do not effectively allow for secure and comfortable rotation of the phone without releasing it from the hand, especially during tasks like photography or gaming.
Innovation Solution
A phone case design featuring a case body with walls or clips for securing the phone, an elastic strap that slides through arcuate slots, allowing for easy rotation while maintaining grip, and adjustable holes for different finger sizes, enabling the user to rotate the phone by up to 180 degrees without dropping it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a smooth outer case is used on the phone, then the phone is sleek and modern, but it slips out of the user's hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a strap as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the phone case. The strap wraps around the user's fingers and the phone case, providing additional friction and grip security without altering the smooth surface of the phone case itself. This mediator allows the phone to remain sleek while preventing it from slipping out of the hand.
2Reliability
If the phone is held securely in the hand, then the phone does not slip, but the user cannot rotate the phone without releasing it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements including an elastic strap that can stretch and flex, and arcuate slots that allow the strap to slide and pivot. When the user needs to rotate the phone, they can momentarily increase tension on the strap to slide it along the arcuate slots, enabling rotation. After rotation, the strap automatically re-tensions to secure the phone in its new orientation. This dynamic system maintains grip security while enabling easy rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap is divided into multiple segments or sections, with the arcuate slots creating discrete adjustment positions. The strap can slide between these segmented positions along the arcuate path, allowing the user to rotate the phone to different angles (e.g., 90 degrees for photography, 180 degrees for gaming) while maintaining secure grip at each position.
3Reliability
If a strap is added to prevent slipping, then grip security improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin, flexible strap made of elastic material that can be easily integrated into the phone case design. The strap is not a bulky or complex mechanical component but rather a simple flexible element that wraps around the user's fingers and the case. The arcuate slots are simple openings in the case body that guide the strap's movement. This approach adds minimal structural complexity while effectively improving grip security.
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 phone case securely holds the device and allows for effortless rotation, reducing the risk of dropping the phone during use, enhancing user comfort and reducing hand fatigue, especially during extended tasks like taking photos or playing games.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic strap extends from a strap connector on the inside of the case body proximate the phone
Data Source
AI summary
A phone case designed to secure a phone to a user's hand while permitting the user to readily rotate the phone and case relative to his hand without requiring the user to release the phone from his hand. A case body has at least one slot, a portion of which is arcuate. A strap extends from a strap connector on the inside of the case body, outwardly through one of the slots, across a portion of the outside of the case body, and inwardly through a slot. The size of the strap permits a user to slide one or more fingers between the strap and the outside of the case body. The strap slides within the slot(s) when the phone case is rotated relative to a user's hand.