Summary
Designed a unibody battery door housing for the classic iPod, utilizing a push-push mechanism for button-less access and integrating a snap-fit structure with the original display.
Prioritized user accessibility with features like a 3° lid angle, and components such as a stainless steel case and sealing rubber, tailored for 2x AA batteries.
Optimized the design to be 1.6x the original size, adopting a screwless assembly and validating through iterative FDM 3D-printed prototypes.
Designed an experimental battery door housing structure for the classic iPod, seamlessly merging Apple's core design philosophy with modern engineering. Drawing inspiration from the "Less is more" philosophy, the unibody design offers a sleek appearance without the need for a separate visible button. The structure introduces a user-friendly replaceable battery housing tailored for 2x AA batteries. With a lid angle set at a precise 3°, it optimizes user accessibility while adhering to a modular approach focused on Design for Manufacturability (DFM). The push-push mechanism requires an actuation force of 11.5N and achieves a displacement of 0.12", ensuring user ease. The battery door is meticulously crafted, comprising a stainless-steel case, sealing rubber, 2x AA batteries, and a dedicated battery housing. The new assembly, consisting of four main components, integrates effortlessly with the original front display using a snap-fit structure, emphasizing both aesthetic and functional coherence.
