Tilt Panel Housing Step to Prevent Finger Entry Into Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic devices with tilt panels, there is a risk that a user's finger will enter a gap between the external housing and the apparatus main body when pivoting the panel, leading to unintended contact and potential operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A stepped portion is formed on the apparatus main body adjacent to the gap's edge, which contacts the user's finger before it can enter the gap, preventing unrestricted entry and providing a secure distance or guiding the finger away from the gap with an inclined surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gap is provided between the external housing and the apparatus main body to allow the external housing to enter during tilting, then the tilt panel can pivot smoothly between orientations, but the user's finger can enter the gap unrestricted causing discomfort and operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
A finger contact portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the gap. This mediator makes contact with the finger during tilting operation, preventing the finger from entering the gap while allowing the tilt panel to pivot smoothly. The intermediary element resolves the contradiction by providing a protective barrier without interfering with the intended pivoting motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The finger contact portion is positioned to make contact with the user's finger before the finger can enter the gap. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect (finger entry) from occurring in the first place, while still allowing the tilt panel to achieve its full range of motion. The protective action is taken in advance, before the problematic situation arises.
2Reliability
If the external housing enters into the gap during tilting, then the tilt mechanism can function properly, but user comfort deteriorates due to potential finger entry and restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The finger contact portion serves as a mediator that protects the user from the gap's presence during normal operation. It allows the gap to remain functional for the tilt mechanism while simultaneously preventing user discomfort from finger entry. The intermediary element reconciles the conflicting requirements of mechanism reliability and user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The finger contact portion is localized at the specific position where finger entry is most likely to occur, adjacent to the gap opening. This local protective measure does not interfere with the overall tilt mechanism function while providing targeted protection exactly where needed, maintaining both reliability and comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
A tilt panel apparatus includes a tilt panel capable of pivoting between a first orientation and a second orientation, and an apparatus main body that supports the tilt panel in a pivotable state. The tilt panel has an external housing surface around the pivot center of the tilt panel, the external housing surface being exposed on the outer side of an apparatus when the tilt panel is in the first orientation and entering into a gap formed between the tilt panel and the apparatus main body as the tilt panel pivots from the first orientation toward the second orientation; and a stepped portion is formed in the apparatus main body adjacent to an edge portion that forms the opening of the gap, the stepped portion being a step higher than the edge portion.