Wearable Display Bi-Stable Band Nesting Flexible Substrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional informational displays, such as maps, are bulky, difficult to access, and degrade quickly, lacking sentimental value and engagement for users.
Innovation Solution
A portable informational display device featuring a bi-stable band that allows for easy storage and deployment on the wrist or ankle, utilizing a flexible substrate that can be concealed and accessed without external power or signals, providing a low-tech alternative to smartphones and GPS devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional informational displays are used, then information can be provided to users, but the displays become bulky and difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate containing informational indicia is nested within the bi-stable band structure. When the band transitions to its first configuration, the substrate is revealed and accessible; when the band transitions to its second configuration, the substrate is concealed and protected within the band, eliminating the need for separate pockets or containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The bi-stable band provides dynamic transition between two configurations, allowing the display substrate to be easily deployed and stowed on-demand. This dynamic mechanism replaces static storage methods, enabling quick access to information without bulk handling.
2Reliability
If conventional displays are stored in pockets or backpacks, then they are protected from damage, but they become difficult to access while on the go
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function and the display function are merged into a single integrated device. The bi-stable band serves both as the structural housing for protection and as the display medium itself, eliminating the need for separate protective containers like pockets or backpacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The device protects itself through the bi-stable band's inherent structural design. When in the second configuration, the band automatically conceals and protects the substrate without requiring external protective elements. The user simply needs to activate the band's configuration change to access or protect the display.
3Loss of information
If conventional displays are used, then information is provided, but the displays degrade quickly and lack sentimental value
Solution Approach 1:
The use of a flexible substrate within the bi-stable band provides enhanced durability and resistance to degradation. The flexible nature allows the display to withstand repeated configuration changes without cracking or breaking, while the band's structure protects it from environmental factors, extending its lifespan and making it suitable for repeated use and sentimental keeping.
4Volume of moving object
If a flexible substrate is concealed under a bi-stable band, then the device is portable and concealable, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanism is extracted and isolated to the bi-stable band component, which is a well-established mechanical element. By using an off-the-shelf bi-stable band rather than designing a custom deployment mechanism, the overall device complexity is reduced while maintaining the desired portability and concealability functions.
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 device offers convenient, portable, and concealable access to information, enhancing user engagement and sentimental value while being durable and inexpensive, eliminating the need for bulky maps and providing customizable options for various locales and events.
Implementation Method 1
a bi-stable ribbon defining a first extended configuration and a second retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portable informational display device capable of being worn by a user. The device comprises a body-mounted band, wherein said band has a first outwardly facing surface and a second inwardly facing surface and a substrate having a first end and a second end whereby said first end depends from said second inwardly facing surface, wherein said substrate contains an informational display.