Clamshell design is a form factor commonly used in the design of electronic devices and other manufactured objects. It is inspired by the morphology of the clam. The form factor has been applied to ha
The clamshell form factor is based on (and named after) the hinged design of the clam.
Emerson Cordless Travel Clock Radio (model 31P70), Japan (1960s)
StarTrek Communicator (replica of late 1960s design)
Brionvega TS 502 radio, Museum of science and technology, Milan (1963)
The StarTAC is a series of clamshell-style cellular mobile phones developed and marketed by Motorola beginning in 1996. The first notable flip phone, the original StarTAC model was uniquely at the tim
Clamshell design
…a regular plot device called the "Communicator" which influenced the development of early clamshell mobile phones such as the Motorola MicroTAC and StarTAC. The acronym "TAC" is an abbreviation of "Total Area Coverage" and was first used for the Motorola DynaTAC. Early examples of the form factor's use in…
A digital (left) and an analog (right) StarTAC
A StarTAC 85 when closed/folded
Two StarTACs placed next to a Motorola Classic II "brick" phone
The Clip On Organizer attached to the back of a StarTAC 7860W