Vehicle Holder with Interlocking Flexible Frame for Device Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing holders for securing flat, rectangular devices like tablets and smartphones in vehicles are inadequate, as they fail to securely hold devices of varying sizes, leading to potential injury and damage during accidents, and are aesthetically unpleasing with excessive space usage.

Innovation Solution

A holder with a mounting system featuring complementary connection elements that interlock to prevent movement, using a holder frame with soft or flexible materials for secure attachment, and adjustable clips to accommodate various device sizes, ensuring stable and aesthetically pleasing installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the receiving tray is sized to accommodate the largest device, then large devices can be held, but smaller devices create excessive empty space and the holder becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice size accommodationVSAvoidholder stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The holder frame is designed with flexible sides that can dynamically adjust to different device widths. The frame transitions from a static fixed-size structure to a dynamic adaptive structure that conforms to the inserted device, maintaining stability regardless of device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dimensions of the holder frame are made variable through flexible materials and adjustable connection elements. The frame width can change to match the device width, transforming the holder from a fixed-parameter structure to one with variable parameters that adapt to different devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid mounting structure is used, then the holder is stable, but it cannot accommodate devices of varying sizes securely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoiddevice size adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holder combines rigid components (mounting base, connection elements) with flexible components (frame sides). This composite structure provides the stability of rigid materials while incorporating the adaptability of flexible materials, allowing secure mounting of various device sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is divided into rigid mounting components and flexible frame components. The rigid parts provide stable attachment to the vehicle, while the segmented flexible sides can independently adjust to different device widths, achieving both stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the holder uses a thick rear wall for coupling, then the mounting is strong, but it obscures the coupling view and complicates attachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling strengthVSAvoidattachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling function is extracted from the rear wall and implemented through separate connection elements on the holder frame sides. This removes the need for a thick obscuring rear wall, allowing clear visibility and easy access to coupling points while maintaining mounting strength through the distributed connection elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If point-like attachment is used in the center, then the structure is simple, but the tray becomes highly unstable especially with soft materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structure complexityVSAvoidtray stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment is distributed from a single point in one dimension to multiple points across two dimensions (both sides of the holder frame). This dimensional distribution of connection elements provides significantly improved stability while maintaining relatively simple structure through the use of flexible frame sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11025762B2Holder for flat, approximately rectangular devices, such as tablet computers or smartphones

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 KINETIX

AI summary

A holder is provided for releasably securing a flat device, such as a tablet computer or a smartphone, to a component, in particular a component of a motor vehicle. The holder comprises a mounting which can be secured to the component and a holder frame which can be releasably secured to the mounting for receiving the device. The mounting comprises a carrier having first connection elements, and the holder frame has second connection elements at two opposite edges. The first and second connection elements are designed in a complementary manner with respect to each other such that the first and second connection elements interlock for the purpose of mutual fixing when the holder frame is inserted into the mounting such that the holder frame cannot be moved out of the mounting in the holder frame plane and/or perpendicularly to the holder frame plane.