Rotatable Bracket Mounting for Hands-Free Mobile Terminal Viewing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users experience poor convenience and user experience when watching videos on smartphones as they need to hold the device with their hands, which can be cumbersome and inconvenient, especially when trying to support multiple units simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal design featuring a main unit with a rotatable bracket that allows for detachable mounting of sub-units at various angles, enabling edge-on or stacked combinations, thus freeing the user's hands and providing stable support for improved viewing experiences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users hold smartphones with hands to watch videos, then video viewing is enabled, but user convenience deteriorates due to occupied hands and poor ergonomics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidhand occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal is divided into a main unit and multiple detachable sub-units. The sub-units can be separated from the main unit and mounted on external surfaces, allowing the main unit to be placed hands-free while sub-units provide additional functionality. This segmentation enables users to free their hands while maintaining access to video playback and other functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A bracket mechanism serves as an intermediary between the main unit and external surfaces. The bracket allows the sub-units to be detachably mounted on surfaces like tables or desks, providing stable support and enabling hands-free viewing. The bracket acts as a mediator that transfers the weight and position of sub-units from hand-held to surface-mounted configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sub-units are mounted on the main unit, then functionality is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-units are designed with universal mounting capabilities that allow them to be attached to various surfaces using the bracket mechanism. Each sub-unit can serve multiple functions (video playback, communication, etc.) and can be mounted in different configurations (edge-on, stacked, angled), providing functional versatility without requiring complex dedicated structures for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of sub-units. Users can detach and remount sub-units in different positions and orientations based on their needs. The rotatable and detachable design allows the system to adapt its structure dynamically rather than being fixed, reducing the perceived complexity by allowing flexible assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If sub-units are detachably mounted, then ease of assembly is improved, but stability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidmounting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket mechanism is designed as a simple, lightweight component that prioritizes ease of assembly and disassembly over permanent fixation. While the bracket itself is a durable component, its design allows for quick attachment and removal of sub-units without requiring complex fastening mechanisms, tools, or permanent modifications to the main unit or sub-units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting system combines different material properties in the bracket structure to balance stability and ease of assembly. The bracket appears to use materials and structural designs that provide sufficient friction and mechanical interlocking for stable mounting while allowing simple manual operation for attachment and detachment, avoiding the need for screws, adhesives, or complex locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3886406B1Mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3886406B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3886406B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3886406B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a main unit, a first sub unit, and a second sub unit. The first sub unit is communicatively connected to the main unit. The second sub unit is communicatively connected to the main unit. The first sub unit is provided with a touch screen. The main unit includes a peripheral side surface, and a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The peripheral side surface is connected between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface has a bracket groove recessed therefrom. The main unit is provided with a bracket. The bracket is rotatable relative to the first surface to be rotated into or out of the bracket groove. When the bracket is rotated out of the bracket groove, the first sub unit is mountable to the first surface, the second sub unit is capable of detachably leaning against the bracket, and a first angle is formed between a touch surface of the touch screen and a display surface of the second sub unit. The first angle is greater than 90°. When the bracket is rotated into the bracket groove, the first sub unit is mountable to the first surface, and the second sub unit is detachably mountable to the second surface. The mobile terminal can be configured in a light and thin manner.