Rotatable Hinge Mechanical Coupling for Mobile Device Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for attaching and detaching protective covers or devices from mobile computing devices often alternate between providing good protection and ease of removal, failing to balance both effectively, leading to potential damage during various usage scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical attach and retention feature is introduced, utilizing a rotatable hinge and mechanical coupling protrusions that allow for secure attachment while enabling easy removal by a user, mimicking the action of tearing a page, with protrusions designed to resist movement along certain axes to prevent unintended detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional attachment techniques provide good protection, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is divided into separate components: a projection on the cover portion and a corresponding cavity in the computing device. This segmentation allows the cover to be securely attached while enabling easy removal by simply separating the two components along the defined axis.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment function is extracted from complex conventional mechanisms and simplified to a basic projection-cavity interface. This extraction removes unnecessary complexity while maintaining secure attachment through the geometric interlocking of the projection within the cavity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional attachment techniques are easy to remove, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The projection-cavity interface is designed with asymmetric geometry where the projection fits securely into the cavity during normal use, but can be easily removed by applying force along a specific axis. This asymmetric design provides different resistance to forces depending on the direction, ensuring protection during accidental impacts while allowing intentional removal.
3Reliability
If the protrusion resists movement along all axes, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism transitions from a static, equally-resistant-in-all-directions design to a dynamic system where resistance to movement varies by axis. The projection resists movement strongly along axes perpendicular to the removal axis (providing secure attachment) but offers minimal resistance along the removal axis (enabling easy operation).
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical attach and retention feature is described. An apparatus may include a cover portion that is configured to cover at least a portion of a display device of a computing device having a mobile form factor that is configured to be held by one or more hands of a user. The apparatus includes, a first mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the cover portion, a second mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the first mid-spine, and a connection portion that is rotationally connection to the second mid-spine. The connection portion is configured to form a removable physical coupling to the computing device using a projection that is configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device and a protrusion disposed on the projection, the protrusion configured to be received within a cavity formed as part of the channel.