Ergonomic Handle for Tablet Grip and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tablet computers face challenges in ease of use due to their size and physical configuration, leading to awkward one-hand manipulation, limited functionality, and ergonomic issues that can cause orthopedic problems, with existing solutions not fully addressing these issues.
Innovation Solution
A handheld apparatus with an ergonomic contoured handle and electronics retaining portion that provides comfort, confidence, and expandability features such as rotation, rechargeability, storage, and connectivity to peripherals, allowing seamless use across environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tablet size is increased to provide broader functionality, then functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in one-hand handling
Solution Approach 1:
The tablet system is segmented into multiple functional components: the tablet device itself, a protective cover, and a keyboard accessory. This allows the core tablet to remain compact for one-hand handling while optional accessories provide expanded functionality when needed, resolving the contradiction between size and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is designed with dynamic functionality, allowing it to transform from a simple protective layer into an active support surface that propers the tablet at ergonomic viewing angles. This dynamic adaptation enables the tablet to maintain compact size while providing expanded functionality through the multi-purpose cover.
2Shape
If tablet is designed with smooth back surface for aesthetic purposes, then appearance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of grip
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover introduces localized texturing to specific areas where grip is needed, while the tablet's back surface maintains its smooth aesthetic appearance. The textured cover provides enhanced grip without compromising the tablet's original design, resolving the contradiction between appearance and grip.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover acts as an intermediary layer between the user's hand and the tablet surface. It provides the necessary friction and grip texture while allowing the tablet's smooth back surface to remain intact for aesthetic purposes, effectively mediating between conflicting requirements.
3Weight of moving object
If tablet is used without additional support structures, then portability is improved, but ergonomics deteriorates causing orthopedic problems
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover merges multiple functions into a single component: protection, ergonomic support, and viewing angle adjustment. By combining these functions in the cover rather than adding separate support structures, the system maintains portability while improving ergonomics to prevent orthopedic problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover serves multiple purposes: it protects the tablet from damage, provides an ergonomic viewing angle by propping the tablet up, and offers a textured grip surface. This multi-functionality allows the tablet to remain portable without additional support structures while still providing ergonomic benefits.
4Device complexity
If tablet lacks expandability features, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates in changing environments
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is pre-designed with integrated functionality for multiple environments, including textured grip surfaces and ergonomic propping capabilities. This preliminary design allows the tablet to adapt to changing environments without requiring complex on-the-fly modifications or additional accessories.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides dynamic adaptability through the protective cover, which can be configured differently for various environments - providing grip enhancement when held, or serving as a support surface when placed on surfaces. This dynamic versatility allows adaptation to changing environments without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods of the present invention improve the ease of use characteristics of handheld computer, such as a tablet, by providing a handheld apparatus that may be married with the computer to enable the computer to be held in an ergonomic position for use. The apparatus may include a base, an electronic retaining portion (ERP) and a contoured handle having a gripping plane that is substantially parallel to a tablet retention plane of the electronic retaining portion in which the computer is retained with its screen in the tablet retention plane. In various embodiments, the apparatus may include the ERP having a tablet retention plane and a contoured handle cooperating with the ERP, the contoured handle having a shape defining a gripping plane substantially parallel to the tablet retention plane, where the ERP is rotatable relative to the handle. The apparatus may be further configured to provide an office and “on-the-go” experience by cooperating with a functionality expandability station that provides access to multiple peripherals such as a keyboard, multi-monitors, USB ports, speakers ports, batteries or other energy sources and re-chargeability of an on-the-go handheld power source, thereby enabling a desktop/laptop main computer experience.