Pivotable USB Drive Cover With Elastic Stopper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB drives with pivotable caps often face issues with accidental pivoting and cap loss due to complex designs and materials that are prone to damage or loss.
Innovation Solution
A USB drive design featuring a cap that is connected to the housing and pivotable between two positions, with elastic stoppers that deform to prevent accidental pivoting and ensure easy exposure of the connector, reducing material costs and enhancing protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is made complex to prevent accidental pivoting, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap structure is divided into functional segments: the cap body, the stopper mechanism, and the connector protection portion. The stopper is a separate elastic element that can independently deform to control pivoting, while the cap body provides structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without over-complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper's elastic properties are utilized to dynamically change the mechanical parameters of the cap assembly. When the cap is in the stored position, the stopper's elasticity provides sufficient resistance to prevent accidental pivoting. When intentional force is applied, the stopper deforms to allow pivoting. This parameter-based approach (using material elasticity) replaces complex mechanical locking mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cap structure is simplified to reduce material costs, then ease of manufacture improves, but reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is designed as a self-regulating elastic element that automatically provides the necessary protection without requiring additional control mechanisms. The cap structure itself, combined with the simple stopper, creates a self-service system where the elastic deformation of the stopper naturally prevents accidental pivoting while allowing intentional access. This eliminates the need for complex motors, sensors, or multiple mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
By utilizing the elastic properties of the stopper material, the design achieves reliable protection through material parameter selection rather than structural complexity. The stopper's elasticity coefficient is chosen to provide sufficient resistance under normal conditions while yielding under intentional force, thereby maintaining reliability through material science rather than mechanical complexity.
3Reliability
If elastic stoppers are used to prevent accidental pivoting, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper function is merged with the cap structure itself rather than being a completely separate component. The stopper can be integrated into the cap body as an inherent feature, combining the protective function with the existing structural elements. This merging reduces the total component count while maintaining the accidental pivoting prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic stopper serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides accidental pivoting prevention, guides the cap's movement during pivoting, and can even assist in returning the cap to its stored position. This self-service capability of the single elastic component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 design effectively suppresses accidental pivoting and cap loss, while protecting the connector and reducing material costs by simplifying the cap structure and using elastic deformation for easy pivoting.
Implementation Method 1
a first stopper that, when the first cover pivots from the first position to the second position, comes in contact with the connector and that is elastically deformable in a direction that is a pivoting axial direction of the first cover
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, an electronic device includes: a housing including a first face facing a first direction, a second face on an opposite side of the first face, and a third face adjacent to the first and second faces; a connector protruding from the third face; and a first cover connected to the housing, including a fourth face, and being pivotable between a first position where the fourth face faces the first direction and a second position where the fourth face faces the first face. The first cover includes a first stopper that, when the first cover pivots from the first position to the second position, contacts the connector and is elastically deformable in a direction that is a pivoting axial direction of the first cover and is a separating direction from the connector.