Resilient Bumper Case with Central Finger Ring for Secure Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cases for portable electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, fail to adequately protect against drops, leading to damage, and are difficult to hold securely, increasing the risk of dropping and losing the device.
Innovation Solution
A protective case design featuring resilient outwardly extending corner bumpers and a central ring, allowing for attachment of lanyards and keychains, enabling the device to be safely held with fingers or worn around the wrist or neck, providing enhanced protection and ease of handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rectangular cases are used to protect portable electronic devices, then the devices are protected from some damage, but the cases still fail to adequately protect against corner and edge drops, and are difficult to hold securely
Solution Approach 1:
The case is segmented into distinct functional zones: corner bumpers at each corner for impact absorption, side edges for lateral protection, and a central lanyard attachment area. This segmentation allows each zone to specialize in protecting against specific drop scenarios while the central area provides a dedicated gripping point that improves holdability without compromising overall protection.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the case have different properties optimized for their specific functions. The corners have enhanced bumper structures with higher impact resistance, the sides have protective edges, while the center maintains a smoother profile for lanyard attachment and finger gripping. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing maximum protection where needed while maintaining ease of handling where required.
2Shape
If rectangular cases with corners are used, then the devices are enclosed, but the cases do not fully protect when dropped on corners or sides
Solution Approach 1:
The corner bumpers and side protective edges are pre-positioned on the case structure before any drop occurs. These elements are permanently integrated into the case design, ensuring that protection is already in place and activated immediately upon impact, regardless of which corner or side contacts the ground first.
Solution Approach 2:
The case incorporates cushioning elements in the form of bumpers at all four corners and protective edges along the sides. These cushioning structures are built into the case design beforehand, so when a drop occurs, the impact is already absorbed and distributed by these pre-positioned protective elements, preventing direct transmission of impact forces to the device.
3Ease of operation
If the entire rectangular case must be held in the palm, then the device is supported, but all fingers are needed to grip securely, increasing drop risk
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping function is extracted from the entire case surface and concentrated into a specific central location where the lanyard attaches. This creates a dedicated interaction point between the user's finger and the case, allowing secure holding with minimal finger engagement while the rest of the case maintains its protective enclosure without requiring full palm contact.
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 cushions the device during drops, reduces the risk of damage, and allows for secure one-handed or wrist-held use, preventing drops and loss.
Implementation Method 1
resilient outwardly extending bumpers and/or corner eye lit rings and upper center protruding rings, which protect the portable electronic devices when they are dropped
Data Source
AI summary
Cases, devices, and methods for protecting and holding portable handheld devices, such as cell phones and smart phones, in separate protective cases having outwardly extending resilient bumper corner eye lit rings which cushion the case and function as bumpers when the portable electronics device is dropped. The outwardly extending bumpers/eye lit rings can also support lanyards and keychain rings, and the like, so that the cases with portable electronics devices can be easily and safely held in one's finger, about their wrist, or on their neck. A central ring can be formed from an upper middle portion of the case for allowing the forefinger of a user to be inserted therein with the back of the hand supporting the case, and the lanyard wrapped about the user's wrist. The novel cases can also be used to safely protect other types of portable electronic devices, such as tablets and laptop computers, and the like, in similar manners. Portable electronic device housings can be initially manufactured and built with the outwardly extending resilient rings offering safe protection from being dropped and for being held, carried or worn.