Unitary Protective Case With Integrated Hand Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective cases for mobile computer devices require additional manufacturing steps and materials, such as overmolding and riveting, which increase production costs and complexity, making it desirable to have a resilient case with enhanced features requiring minimal fabrication techniques.
Innovation Solution
A unitary body protective case with integrated features like a one-piece assembly, shock-absorbing corner members, a built-in hand strap with corrugated expansion members, and a 4-point keyboard restraining system, all fabricated using a single mold process without overmolding, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional protective cases include additional features through overmolding or separate fabrication steps, then the functionality and protection capability are enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple protective features (hand strap, corner protection, keyboard restraint) into a single unitary body made from one material, eliminating the need for overmolding or separate assembly steps. This merging of previously separate components into a single monolithic structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining protection capability while dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides shock absorption, includes an integrated hand strap for carrying, incorporates corner protection, and features keyboard restraining slots. This multi-functionality within a single component achieves enhanced adaptability without increasing device complexity, as all features are inherent to the single-piece construction rather than requiring separate parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional protective cases use overmolding processes with multiple materials, then enhanced features are achieved, but production time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple features that would traditionally require separate manufacturing steps into a single injection-molded unitary body. This eliminates sequential processes like overmolding, riveting, and adhering, allowing all features to be produced simultaneously in one manufacturing cycle, thereby significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining feature integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates all protective features and structural elements directly into the mold tooling, so that during the initial injection molding process, the hand strap, corner protections, and keyboard restraining slots are formed in their final configurations. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent assembly operations, directly enhancing productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional protective cases require separate installation steps for components, then customization is possible, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the hand strap, corner protections, and keyboard restraining features as inherent parts of the unitary body structure, eliminating the need for separate installation steps. All features are built-in during the single molding process, reducing manufacturing time to zero for assembly operations while maintaining the ability to customize features through mold design variations.
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 cost-effective, efficient, and robust protective case with integrated features that enhance protection and usability, while minimizing manufacturing steps and costs, offering improved shock absorption and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
corrugated expansion members may be disposed at distal end portions of the integrated strap. In another embodiment, the corrugated expansion members may be configured to outwardly expand with minimal tensional forces to the integrated strap
Implementation Method 2
each shock-absorbing corner member may include ribbed members having raised bands or alternating stacked layers for increasing strength and impact-absorbing properties along each of the four corners. In addition, each shock-absorbing corner member may have a hollow interior forming air pockets for the purpose of absorbing impact and reducing shock
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a resilient protective case for mobile computer devices. In particular, the protective case includes a unitary body having a one piece assembly. The unitary body includes an outer frame having retaining members for securing the mobile computer device therein and a backside support member disposed between two side portions of the outer frame. The backside support member includes an upper slot and a lower slot. An integrated strap is disposed in the backside support member, separating the upper slot from the lower slot.