Tubular Mounting Link With Snap Lock and Cable Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mounting solutions for mobile devices like card terminals and tablets lack compactness and minimal slack, especially when rotated or tilted, and fail to securely orient the device in typical operating positions.

Innovation Solution

A tubular mounting link with a snap lock mechanism and modular design, featuring a tubular base and body section with specific snap lock configurations and cable channels to prevent pinching or kinking of cables, allowing for rotation and tilting with minimal slack and adjustable height, and incorporating a rotation limiting channel and cable channel openings for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a mounting link is made compact with minimal slack, then the device can be securely oriented in operating positions, but the link becomes difficult to rotate and tilt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveminimal slackVSAvoidrotation and tilting

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting link is divided into multiple tubular sections (base section and body section) that can rotate relative to each other around a common axis. Each section contains cable channels that guide cables through the segmented structure, preventing pinching or kinking while allowing rotational movement. This segmentation enables the link to maintain compactness with minimal slack while facilitating easy rotation and tilting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mounting link is made rotatable for various operating positions, then device orientation flexibility is improved, but cable pinching or kinking occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating positionsVSAvoidcable damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cable channels that extend in the longitudinal direction of the tubular sections, providing a third dimension for cable routing. Instead of cables being constrained in the radial plane where pinching would occur during rotation, the channels guide cables along the length of the link, allowing rotational movement in multiple operating positions without cable damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a snap lock mechanism is used for secure attachment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidsnap lock mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The snap lock mechanism is integrated directly into the tubular sections of the mounting link, merging the attachment function with the structural components. The locking lips and corresponding engagement features are formed as part of the tubular base and body sections, eliminating the need for separate attachment mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining secure attachment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11371645B2Mounting link for supporting a piece of hardware

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 ERGONOMIC SOLUTIONS INT

AI summary

The present invention relates to a mounting link (100) for supporting a piece of hardware. The mounting link (100) comprising a tubular base section (200), and a tubular body section (300), wherein the tubular base section (200) comprises a first part of a snap lock mechanism configured as a locking lip (210) and a first female/male component (220), the first female component (220) configured to removably receive a first male component (320) of the body section (300).