Tray Cover Conceals Reset Hole Without Extra Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic apparatuses, such as laptop PCs, face challenges in designing a reset hole that is both invisible for aesthetic purposes and secure to prevent unintended operations, without increasing the number of components.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus with a tray holding a communication card, a card socket, a cover integral with the tray, a reset switch, and a reset hole, where the cover covers the reset hole while the tray is in the card socket, thereby concealing the reset hole without adding extra components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a dedicated cover is provided to cover the reset hole, then the reset hole is concealed and design aesthetics are improved, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcealment of reset holeVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is merged with the tray to form an integrated structure. The tray's cover portion extends to cover the reset hole, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated cover component. This merging approach achieves the concealment goal while reducing component count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray serves multiple functions: it holds the communication card, provides structural support, and its integrated cover portion conceals the reset hole. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Shape

If a dedicated cover is provided to cover the reset hole, then the reset hole is concealed, but the cover may fall off or be lost due to its small size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcealment of reset holeVSAvoidcover retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the cover with the tray into a single integrated structure, the invention eliminates the problem of the cover falling off or being lost. The integrated design ensures the cover remains securely attached as long as the tray is in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the reset hole is placed in an inconspicuous location, then unintended operations are prevented, but the design aesthetics are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunintended operationsVSAvoidvisibility of reset hole

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed to be in place by default, preliminarily concealing the reset hole. The reset hole is only exposed when the tray is removed, preventing unintended operations while maintaining aesthetic appearance during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12316365B2Electronic apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

AI summary

An electronic apparatus has: a tray holding a communication card; a card socket accommodating the tray; an eject mechanism that ejects the tray in response to an operation of inserting a pin; a cover which is provided integrally with the tray and in which an eject hole through which the pin is inserted to operate the eject mechanism is formed; a reset switch for resetting a system in response to the operation of inserting the pin; and a reset hole into which the pin is inserted to operate the reset switch. The card socket and the reset switch are provided adjacently to a position along a first edge of a flat rectangular chassis, and the reset hole is covered by the cover while the tray is in the card socket.