Patent ID: 6157717
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A portable phone, comprising:a phone housing having a keypad and opposite first and second ends;a cover rotatably mounted at the first end of the housing for movement between opposite end positions, one of said end positions comprising a closed position covering at least part of the keypad and the other of said end positions comprising an open position of said cover; anda hinge assembly rotatably connecting the cover to the first end of the housing;the hinge assembly comprising a hinge pin rotatably mounted in the first end of the housing for rotation about a hinge axis, the hinge pin being secured to the cover, and a spring member secured in the first end of the housing and biased against the hinge pin;the hinge pin having a cam portion and the spring member having a bearing portion contacting the cam portion, wherein the spring member comprises a spring strip having at least one convex bearing portion bearing against the cam portion, the spring strip has a central portion secured to said housing and a pair of convex bearing portions, the hinge pin has a pair of spaced cam portions against which the respective bearing portions act, and a pair of enlarged flanges, the spring strip having end tabs for engagement over the respective flanges to restrict axial movement of the hinge pin; andthe cam portion having a flat face against which the bearing portion acts in one of said end positions of the cover, the flat face having a first spacing from the hinge axis, and a side edge at one side of the flat face having a second spacing from the hinge axis greater than said first spacing, whereby rotation of the cover from said one end position towards the other end position rotates said side edge against said spring bearing portion to bias the spring member away from the hinge pin, and said spring bearing portion snaps said cover into the other end position when said side edge starts to rotate away from said spring bearing portion.