Slide Spring Mechanism for Keypad Cover Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide assemblies for handsets, such as mobile phones, face challenges in maintaining sliding components in extreme positions without intermediate stops, as over-center mechanisms are less suitable for sliding elements and often require additional locking means.
Innovation Solution
A slide assembly utilizing a slide spring and plug member configuration that urges the sliding component to either extreme position via a predetermined intermediate position, eliminating the need for additional locking means by using a leaf spring with a rising and falling segment or diametrically opposite springs to apply forces for stable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If over-center mechanisms are used to bias sliding components to extreme positions, then the components can be retained in open and closed positions, but the mechanism is less suitable for sliding elements and requires additional locking means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from a separate mechanism and integrates it into the slide spring itself. The slide spring's deformation characteristics create inherent retention forces at extreme positions without requiring distinct locking components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining reliable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the biasing function and locking function into a single slide spring mechanism. The spring's non-linear deformation profile simultaneously provides the restoring force to return the component to extreme positions and creates stable retention points, merging multiple functions into one integrated element.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional locking means are added to retain sliding component in extreme positions, then stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves stable positioning by changing the deformation parameter profile of the slide spring. The spring is designed with specific non-linear characteristics where its stiffness varies with deformation, creating natural stable equilibrium points at extreme positions without requiring additional mechanical locking structures, thus maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Force
If slide spring deforms significantly to urge sliding component to extreme positions, then positioning force is improved, but intermediate positions become more stable than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different deformation characteristics at different stages of spring compression. The slide spring is designed so that its resistance profile varies locally along its deformation path, providing high restoring force near extreme positions while creating unstable equilibrium at intermediate positions, ensuring the component returns to extremes rather than settling in the middle.
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 solution provides a reliable, user-friendly, and mass-producible sliding mechanism that maintains the sliding component in extreme positions without intermediate stops, ensuring stability and simplicity in design.
Implementation Method 1
a slide spring disposed along the slide path... The plug member may be guided along the path to engage and deform the slide spring
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding assembly for a keypad protection cover of a telephone handset including at least one slide spring to urge the keypad protection cover in either the open or the closed position.