Abstract:
A portable electronic device comprises a main body, a sliding cover slidably mounted on the main body, a flipping cover rotatably mounted on one end of the main body, and a transmission mechanism connecting the flipping cover to the sliding cover such that when the flipping cover rotates relative to the main body, the sliding cover slides relative to the main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to portable electronic devices and, particularly, to a flipping and sliding type portable electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the development of wireless communication and information processing technologies, portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, mobile phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are now in widespread use. These electronic devices enable consumers to enjoy high technology services almost anytime and anywhere. Rapid development in the field of information and telecommunication technologies has made it possible for portable electronic devices users to use a variety of functions and types of portable electronic devices available on the market. Generally, these portable electronic devices can be classified into three or more types including bar type, flipping type and sliding type. 
     A sliding type portable electronic device usually includes a first body, a second body and a sliding-type mechanism. The first body has a display disposed thereon. A plurality of keys is located on the second body. The sliding-type mechanism is used to drive the first body to slide on the second body between an opened state and a closed state. However, the sliding distance of the first body is limited by the sliding-type mechanism. The sliding distance of the first body usually cannot exceed ⅔ length of the second body. Therefore, the second body only has ⅔ area to define the keys thereon. Due to the area of defining the keys being relatively small, the size of the keys may be limited. Such small keys may be inconvenient to be operated by users. 
     Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a portable electronic device. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of III shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the portable electronic device in an opened position. 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed in a closed status. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIGS. 1 and 2 , show a portable electronic device  100  including a top body  10 , a bottom body  20 , a flipping cover  30 , a sliding cover  40 , a transmission mechanism  50 , and a sliding mechanism  60 . 
     The top body  10  is a substantially rectangular structure including a body portion  11 , a periphery portion  12  vertically extending from peripheral edge of the body portion  11 , and a sleeve  13  positioned at one end of the body portion  11 . The body portion  11  has a plurality of operating keys  92  disposed thereon and a guiding slot  14  defined therein. The guiding slot  14  passes through the body portion  11 . The periphery portion  12  includes four sidewalls  120  defining a chamber  122 . The sleeve  13  defines a notch  132  communicating with the chamber  122 . One of the four sidewall has a rib  124  secured thereon. The rib  124  is horizontally positioned along one of the sidewalls and is parallel to the body portion  11 . The body portion  11  and the rib  124  define a sliding slot  126  therebetween. 
     The bottom body  20  is substantially rectangular and includes an upper surface  21  facing to the top body  10 , and a positioning post  22  perpendicularly positioned on a corner of the upper surface  21 . 
     The flipping cover  30  is substantially rectangular including a first surface  31  and a second surface  32  positioned opposite to the first surface  31 . Two sides of the flipping cover  30  are respectively bent to form an edgefold  33 . The second surface  32  defines a plurality of keys  90 . Each edgefold  33  has a clasp  34  inwardly defined thereon, and an extending piece  35  perpendicularly extending therefrom. Each extending piece  35  is configured for facilitating opening of the flipping cover  30 . Each of two sides of the flipping cover  30  extends a junction  36  located apart from the extending piece  35 . Each junction  36  is a substantially circular structure extending a shaft  361 . Each shaft  361  is inserted in the sleeve  13  to assemble the flipping cover  30  on the top body  10 . 
     The sliding cover  40  is substantially rectangular including a top surface  41 , a bottom surface  42  at an opposite side of the top surface  41 , and two side portions  47  located opposite to each other. The top surface  41  has a display  43 . A protruding portion  44  is positioned on a corner of the bottom surface  42 . The protruding portion  44  can be slidably received in the guiding slot  14 . Each of the side portions  47  includes a recess portion  45  defining a blind hole  46 . When the flipping cover  30  is closed, the clasp  34  is inserted into the blind hole  46  to secure the sliding cover  40  to the flipping cover  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  together, the transmission mechanism  50  includes a first gear  51 , a second gear  52  and a rack  53 . The first gear  51  is a bevel gear, and assembled on the shaft  361 , and revolves with the flipping cover  30 . The second gear  52  is a bevel gear, and revolvably assembled on the positioning post  22  and engages with the first gear  51 . The rack  53  is received in the sliding slot  126  and engages with the second gear  52 . The second gear  52  drives the rack  53  to slide in the sliding slot  126 . 
     The sliding mechanism  60  includes a base  61  fixed on the top body  10  and a sliding plate  62  fixed on the sliding cover  40 . Each of two sides of the base  61  is bent to form a sliding guide  610  parallel to the base  61 . Two ends of each of the guiding parts  612  are fixed on the base  61 . Each of the guiding parts  612  is a generally arc-shaped flexible structure. The distance between two guiding parts  612  decreases from the ends to the middles thereof. 
     The sliding plate  62  includes a substantially rhombic guiding portion  620 . The guiding portion  620  has two function portions  622  facing to each other. Each of the function portions  622  is a L-shaped structure and configured for resisting the guiding parts  612 . A guiding block  624  is fixed on two sides of the sliding plate  62 . Each guiding block  624  is a generally U-shaped bar and defines a slide groove  626  configured for linearly and slidably receiving the sliding guide  610 . When the sliding plate  62  is pushed on the sliding guide  610  by an external force, the sliding plate  62  slides on the sliding guide  610 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  together, in assembly of the portable electronic device  100 , the second gear  52  is assembled on the positioning post  22 . The top body  10  is mounted onto the bottom body  20 . The second gear  52  engages with the first gear  51  and the rack  53 . The sliding cover  40  covers a part of the body portion  11  and the sliding guide  610  engages with the guiding block  624 . Each sliding guide  610  is linearly and slidably received in the slide groove  626 . The function portions  622  respectively engage with the guiding parts  612 . The protruding portion  44  is received in the guiding slot  14 . Therefore, the sliding cover  40  is slidably assembled on the top body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the portable electronic device  100  is opened, the clasp  34  departs from the recess portion  45 , and the flipping cover  30  is revolved by external force exerted on each extending piece  35 . The first gear  51  rotates with the flipping cover  30  and revolves the second gear  52 . The rack  53  slides in the sliding slot  126  by the second gear  52  and moves away from the sleeve  13 . The rack  53  resists the protruding portion  44 , and the sliding cover  40  is slidable on the top body  10 . When the second gear  52  engages with an end of the rack  53 , the rack  53  reaches its maximum movable length, and the flipping cover  30  reaches its maximum flipping angle. At the same time, the function portions  622  reach the middle of the guiding parts  612 . The guiding portion  620  can automatically slide by the guiding parts  612 . Therefore, the protruding portion  44  moves away from the rack  53 , and the sliding cover  40  is automatically opened. 
     When the portable electronic device  100  is closed, the sliding cover  40  slides back to the sleeve  13 . When the function portions  622  reach the middle of the guiding parts  612 , the guiding parts  612  are maximally deformed. The function portions  622  can further automatically slide by biasing the guiding parts  612  to return to their original states. The protruding portion  44  resists the rack  53  and drives the rack  53  sliding in the sliding slot  126 . The second gear  52  revolves with the rack  53  and drives the first gear  51  to reversely revolve. 
     It is to be understood that the top body  10  and the bottom body  20  can be seems as a main body of the portable electronic device  100  when the top body  10  and the bottom body  20  combine together. 
     It is to be understood that the rib  124  can be omitted, the sliding slot  126  is defined in one of the four sidewalls  120 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.