Abstract:
A slide mechanism includes a main plate, a slide plate, a locking module, a releasing module and a button. The slide plate is installed on the main plate and slidable relative to the main plate. The locking module locks with the main plate and the slide plate. The releasing module is attached to the slide plate to unlock the locking module. The button operates the releasing module to force the locking module to unlock the slide plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application (Attorney Docket Nos. US29060, entitled “SLIDE MECHANISM FOR SLIDE-TYPE PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE”, by Yu Zhang, which has the same assignee as the present application. The above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally relates to slide mechanisms and, particularly, to a portable electronic device with two or more housings using a sliding mechanism that allows one housing to slide relative to another housing in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Slide-type portable electronic devices have been increasingly used among diverse designs for portable electronic devices. The slide-type portable electronic device have two housings, of which one typically slides over the other to open/close the portable electronic device. 
         [0006]    A slide mechanism is generally used in the slide-type portable electronic device for driving the sliding between the two housings. However, the slide mechanism needs firstly to be slid to a predetermined position by hand, then the mechanism takes over to automatically open the portable electronic device. It can be inconvenient to operate the portable electronic device in this manner. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the slide mechanism for slide-type portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the slide mechanism for slide-type portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded and isometric view of a portable electronic device using a slide mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  but showing another aspect of the slide mechanism. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a locking module in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, exploded view of the releasing module in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a button assembled to the second housing. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the portable electronic device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7  along line VIII-VIII. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing the slide mechanism in an unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary slide mechanism  20  used in a slide-type portable electronic device  100  such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc. The portable electronic device  100  includes a first housing  10  and a second housing  30  engaging with the first housing  10 . The slide mechanism  20  provides an elastic force sufficient to slide the first and second housings  10  and  30  relative to each other. The slide mechanism  20  includes a main plate  21 , a slide plate  22 , an elastic member  23 , a locking module  24 , a button  25 , and a releasing module  50 . The slide plate  22  and the main plate  21  are fixed to the second housing  30  and the first housing  10 , respectively. The locking module  24 , the button  25 , and the releasing module  50  are configured for releasably locking the slide plate  22  to the main plate  21 . 
         [0018]    The first housing  10  may be a cover of the portable electronic device, and includes a first surface  111  and a second surface  112 . The first surface  111  may have a function key and a display. A mounted plate  13  is fixed to the second surface  112  of the first housing  10 . 
         [0019]    The main plate  21  includes a recessed portion  211  and two generally L-shaped rail portions  212  extending from two opposite edge ends of the main plate  21 . One of the rail portions  212  defines a first through hole  213 . The main plate  21  is configured for being fixed to the mounted plate  13  of the first housing  10 . 
         [0020]    The slide plate  22  is shorter than the main plate  21 . The slide plate  22  includes two slide portions  222  at two opposite borders thereof. The two slide portions  222  are generally U-shaped bars defining a slide groove  224  corresponding to the two rail portions  212 . The rail portions  212  can slide along the slide groove  224 . The slide plate  22  defines a second through hole  223  corresponding to the first through hole  213 . 
         [0021]    The elastic member  23  includes connecting portions  231  at it&#39;s ends. The connecting portions  231  are configured to be respectively secured to the main plate  21  and the slide plate  22 . The elastic member  23  are designed to have a predetermined torsion force to drive the main plate  21  to slide relative to the slide plate  22  in a closed state. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the locking module  24  is configured for locking the slide plate  22  to the main plate  21  in a closed state. The locking module  24  includes a first elastic sheet  241  and a first column  242 . The first elastic sheet  241  is configured for being fixed to the mounted plate  13 , and includes a body  2411 , and two arms  2412 . Each arm  2412  respectively extends from each of two sides of the body  2411 , and together constitutes an arched shape. Each arm  2412  has a distal end  2414  configured for being fixed to the mounted plate  13 . The body  2411  defines a bore  2413 . The first column  242  has a thinner end  2422 . The thinner end  2422  is configured to be tightly engaged in the bore  2413 . When the main plate  21  is assembled to the mounted plate  13 , one end of the first elastic sheet  241  opposite to the thinner end  2422  is received in the first hole  213  of the main plate  21 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the releasing module  50  includes a second elastic sheet  26 , a second column  262 , a cylindrical spring  27 , a contact block  28 , and a fixing member  29 . The second elastic sheet  26  is similar to the first elastic sheet  241 , and both may be made of metal. The second elastic sheet  26  is configured for being fixed to the slide plate  22 , and includes a body  2611  and two arms  2612 . One arm  2612  extends from each of two sides of the body  2611 , and together constitute an arched shape. Each arm  2612  has a distal end  2614  configured for being fixed to the slide plate  22 . The body  2611  defines a bore  2613 . The second column  262  is shorter than the first column  242 . The second column  262  has a thinner end  2622 . The thinner end  2622  is configured to be tightly engaged in the bore  2613 . When the second elastic sheet  26  is assembled to the slide plate  22 , one end opposite to the thinner end  2622  is received in the second hole  223  of the slide plate  22 . 
         [0024]    The contact block  28  includes a first resisting end  282  and an opposite second resisting end  283 . A stepped portion  285  is formed on the second resisting end  283 . The contact block  28  defines a cavity  281  at one side thereof, and includes a wedge surface  284 . The cavity  281  is configured to receive the body  2611  of the second elastic sheet  26 . 
         [0025]    The fixing member  29  is configured to receive the contact block  28  and the cylindrical spring  27 . The fixing member  29  includes a base wall  291 , a first latching wall  292 , a second latching wall  293 , and two opposite fixing walls  294 . A cutout  295  is defined at each fixing wall  294 . The fixing walls  294  are configured for mounting the fixing member  29  to the slide plate  22 . A space is defined by the base wall  291 , the first, second latching wall  292 ,  293 , and the fixing walls  294 . The cylindrical spring  27  and the contact block  28  are received in the space. One end of the cylindrical spring  27  resists the second latching wall  293 , the other end resists the first resisting end  282  of the contact block  28 . The stepped end  285  of the contact block  28  is latched in the second latching wall  292 . The second resisting end  283  is exposed from the fixing member  29 . 
         [0026]    The second housing  30  has a shape substantially corresponding to the first housing  10 . The second housing  30  includes two sidewalls  32 . One of the sidewalls  32  defines an opening  331 , and forms two posts  332  at two sides of the opening  331 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the button  25  includes a button portion  251 , two rods  252  and a resisting portion  254 . The button portion  251  is slidably received in the opening  331  of the second housing  30 . Two rods  252  extends from two ends of the button portion  251 . A distal end of each rod  252  is substantially circular, and defines an aperture  253  engaging with the post  332 . The resisting portion  254  is positioned between the rods  252 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 7 , when the slide mechanism  20  is assembled, the distal ends  2414  of the first elastic sheet  241  is fixed to the mounted plate  13 . The thinner end  2422  is tightly latched in the bore  2413 . Then, the main plate  21  is mounted to the mounted plate  13  of the first housing  10 . The connecting portions  231  are respectively secured to the main plate  21  and the slide plate  22 . The slide plate  22  slides relative to the main plate  21 . The rail portions  212  are received in and can linearly slide within the slide grooves  221 . One end of the first column  242  opposite to the thinner end  2422  is received in the first hole  213  and the second hole  223 . After that, distal ends  2614  of the second elastic sheet  26  are fixed to one side of the slide plate  22  far away from the main plate  21  by way of, for example, hot melting. The thinner end  2622  of the second column  262  is tightly engaged in the bore  2613 . Another end of the second column  262  abuts against the end of the first column  242  received in the second through hole  223  and the first through hole  213 . 
         [0028]    The cylindrical spring  27  and the contact block  28  are received in the fixing member  29 . One end of the cylindrical spring  27  resists the second latching wall  293 , the other end resists the first resisting end  282  of the contact block  28 . The stepped end  285  of the contact block  28  is latched in the second latching wall  292 . The second resisting end  283  is exposed from the fixing member  29 . The fixing walls  294  are welded to the slide plate  22 . The body  2611  is received in the cavity  281  and the second column  262  abuts against the wedge surface  284 . The button  25  is attached to the second housing  30 . The button portion  251  is received in the opening  331 , the rods  252  are fixed to the posts  332 . The second housing  30  is attached to the slide plate  22 . The second resisting end  283  abuts against the resisting portion  254 . Thus, the slide mechanism  20  is at a closed position and the portable electronic device  100  is at a closed state. 
         [0029]    Referring back to  FIG. 8 , when the slide mechanism  20  is to be driven from the opened position to the closed position, the button portion  251  is pressed to force the contact block  28  to move. The wedge surface  284  causes the second column  262  to push the first column  242  to move away from the second hole  223  to unlock the main plate  21 . After that, the slide plate  22  automatically slides further relative to the main plate  21 . When the slide mechanism  20  is driven from the opened position to the closed position, the slide plate  22  slides along the main plate  21  until the first hole  213  is aligned with the second hole  223 . The first column  242  is automatically slides into the second hole  223  under the elastic force of the first elastic sheet  241 . 
         [0030]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary 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.