Elastomeric card case holder device and method
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that involve a plastic housing having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is configured to house a magnet that is adapted for placement above an electromagnetic assembly for levitation. The upper portion extends at least partially above the lower portion and further includes a slot. An elastomeric structure is disposed along an interior perimeter of the slot and includes a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs. Each rib includes a flexible portion and a retention portion. The flexible portion of the first plurality of ribs and the flexible portion of the second plurality of ribs receive an encasement and align the encasement in the slot. The retention portion of the first plurality of ribs and the retention portion of the second plurality of ribs secure the encasement within the slot.
1 . A system comprising:
a plastic housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to house a magnet that is adapted for placement above an electromagnetic assembly for levitation, and wherein the upper portion extends at least partially above the lower portion, and wherein the upper portion further comprises a slot; and
an elastomeric structure disposed along an interior perimeter of the slot, wherein the elastomeric structure comprises a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs, and wherein:
each rib of the first plurality of ribs and each rib of the second plurality of ribs comprises a flexible portion and a retention portion such that the flexible portion of each rib of the first plurality of ribs is arranged along a first direction and the flexible portion of each rib of the second plurality of ribs is arranged along a second direction,
the flexible portion of the first plurality of ribs and the flexible portion of the second plurality of ribs are configured to receive an encasement and align the encasement in the slot,
the retention portion of the first plurality of ribs and the retention portion of the second plurality of ribs are configured to secure the encasement within the slot, and
the retention portion of each rib of the first plurality of ribs and the retention portion of each rib of the second plurality of ribs further comprises a lip and a retaining wall.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of ribs are along a first half of the elastomeric structure and the second plurality of ribs are along a second half of the elastomeric structure.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first half of the elastomeric structure is disposed along a first interior wall of the slot and the second half of the elastomeric structure is disposed along a second interior wall of the slot opposite the first interior wall of the slot.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first half of the elastomeric structure further comprises a first horizontal portion attaching together at least two ribs of the first plurality of ribs, and wherein the second half of the elastomeric structure further comprises a second horizontal portion attaching together at least two ribs of the second plurality of ribs.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric structure has a Shore hardness between 30 Shore A and 60 Shore A.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric structure comprises a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), wherein the TPV comprises fully cured ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber particles encapsulated in a polypropylene (PP) matrix.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of each rib in the first plurality of ribs is arranged between 120° and 150° with respect to a first side of the encasement secured within the slot, and wherein the flexible portion of each rib in the second plurality of ribs is arranged between 120° and 150° with respect to a second side of the encasement secured within the slot.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a space between the lip and the retaining wall of the retention portion of each rib of the first plurality of ribs comprises a first alignment slot configured to receive a protruding portion of the encasement secured within the slot, and wherein a space between the lip and the retaining wall of the retention portion of each rib of the second plurality of ribs comprises a second alignment slot configured to receive the protruding portion of the encasement secured within the slot.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each rib of the first plurality of ribs is spaced between 4 mm and 8 mm from an adjacent rib, and wherein each rib of the second plurality of ribs is spaced between 4 mm and 8 mm from an adjacent rib.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the retention portion of each rib of the first plurality of ribs and the retention portion of each rib of the second plurality of ribs further comprises a lead in structure having a rounded top that is configured to enable the encasement to pass upon insertion of the encasement within the slot.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the retaining wall of each rib begins at a depth that is closer to a bottom of the slot than a depth of the lip of each rib.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bumper pad attached to an underside of the lower portion of the plastic housing, wherein the bumper pad is configured to absorb energy.