Windshield Mount with Pivoting Jaw for One-Handed Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal electronic device mounts for vehicles, such as cell phones and tablets, often obstruct removal and reinstallation due to their design, which requires vertical direction access that is hindered by the slanted windshield angle, and no existing mount allows for one-handed operation.
Innovation Solution
A mount with configurable jaws that can switch between open and closed configurations, allowing for rearward removal and secure attachment to a windshield, featuring sliding and pivoting mechanisms with detenting structures for tactile feedback, enabling one-handed operation and adjustment to fit various device widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device is mounted close to the windshield interior surface to maintain driver focus, then the driver's line of sight is not diverted, but the device cannot be removed or reinstalled due to the slanted windshield angle
Solution Approach 1:
The mount employs a dynamic jaw mechanism that can transition between open and closed configurations. The first jaw is hinged to pivot between a closed position (securing the device) and an open position (allowing device insertion/removal). This dynamic transformation enables the mount to adapt its structure based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount is divided into separate functional components: a base, a first jaw with hinged movement, and a second jaw with lateral sliding capability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the first jaw handles the opening motion for device access, while the second jaw provides width adjustment and lateral securing, collectively solving the removal and reinstallation problem.
2Ease of operation
If the first jaw is hinged to pivot between open and closed positions, then one-handed operation is enabled, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first jaw is equipped with a spring-loaded detent mechanism that automatically engages with corresponding features on the base to lock the jaw in either open or closed position. This self-servicing mechanism eliminates the need for continuous manual force or complex control systems, allowing one-handed operation while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the second jaw is laterally slidable to adjust width, then adaptability to different device sizes is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral sliding mechanism of the second jaw utilizes a simple cam-and-follower arrangement where a cam surface on the base interacts with a follower on the jaw. This replaces complex multi-component adjustment mechanisms with a single-cam system that provides smooth width adjustment and automatic positioning, enhancing adaptability while minimizing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A windshield mount for a personal electronic device has a first support plate that pivots relative to a base and a second support plate that stays in the same plane but slides to fit the width of the device. Using one hand, the user pinches opposed finger tabs to snap the mount to an open configuration. To install the device in the mount after it has been affixed to a vehicle windshield, the user need use only one hand to press the back of the device against the pivoting support plate, snapping the mount back to a closed configuration.