Cover opening and closing apparatus for electronic appliances

A cover opening and closing apparatus of an electronic appliance is provided. The apparatus includes a body comprising a container-shaped housing with an open side configured to insert and remove at least one electronic component, a cover configured to open and close an opening of the housing, and a moving hinge hinged to the cover, received in the body, and movable. When the cover rotates over a threshold angle, the cover rotates on a rotation axis being a protrusion contacting the body and a hinge connector between the cover away from the rotation axis and the moving hinge moves out of the body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jun. 3, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2013-0063408, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cover opening and closing apparatus of an electronic appliance, which is used to attach or detach an electronic component such as battery or memory card.

BACKGROUND

In accordance with advances in electronic communication industries, electronic appliances such as a cellular phone, a digital organizer, a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, and an electric shaver have become widely used. Such an electronic appliance includes a battery as a power source. In some electronic appliances, it is necessary to include a separate a case to exchange the battery. Most of the electronic appliances include a battery cover used to allow the battery's insertion and removal from the case.

Accordingly, an apparatus and method to increase an opening angle of a cover is required.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus and method to increase an opening angle of a cover.

Another aspect of the present is to reduce disturbance caused by a cover when a battery is attached or detached by increasing an opening angle of the cover.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to prevent cover breakage by increasing an opening angle of the cover.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to enhance opening of a cover.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a cover opening and closing apparatus of an electronic appliance is provided. The cover opening and closing apparatus includes a body comprising a container-shaped housing with an open side configured to insert and remove at least one electronic component, a cover configured to open and close an opening of the housing, and a moving hinge hinged to the cover, received in the body, and movable. When the cover rotates over a threshold angle, and a hinge connector between the cover away from the rotation axis and the moving hinge moves out of the body.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a battery cover opening and closing apparatus of an electronic appliance is provided. The battery cover opening and closing apparatus includes a body comprising a container-shaped battery housing with an open top side, and a container-shaped hinge housing disposed beside the battery housing with an open top side, a battery cover configured to open and close an opening of the battery housing, and lock the opening of the battery housing, a hinge cover coupled to an opening of the hinge housing and forming a gate by joining the opening of the hinge housing, a moving hinge hinged to the battery cover, the moving hinge gliding along a round bottom of the hinge housing, and bending circularly along a movement direction, a first shaft for hinge-connecting the battery cover and the moving hinge, a second shaft penetrating the moving hinge, the second shaft protruding to either side of the moving hinge with either end, and disposed in parallel with the first shaft, and a tension spring secured to a spring connection hook formed in a side of the hinge housing with one end, and secured to the second shaft penetrating a spring connection groove opened to one side in the moving hinge with the other end. The hinge housing includes an open hole formed lengthwise in a movement direction of the moving hinge at either side standing upright from the bottom, either end of the second shaft is disposed in the open hole and moved under guidance of the open hole, and when the battery cover rotates over a threshold angle, the battery cover rotates on a rotation axis being a protrusion of the body, a hinge connector between the battery cover away from the rotation axis and the moving hinge rotates on the rotation axis and moves out through the gate, and the moving hinge connected to the hinge connector is moved according to tension of the tension spring.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device including a removable electronic component is provided. The electronic device includes a body including a housing configured to receive the removable electronic component, a cover configured to open and close over the housing, the cover in a closed position covering the removable electronic component, and an extensible hinge configured to rotate the cover up to 180°, the extensible hinge formed in a semicircular shape attaches at a rotation point to the cover on one end and a tension spring on another end. When the cover is in one of a closed position and rotated around the rotation point to an open position of 90° or less, the extensible hinge is held fully retracted by the tension spring attached on another end to the body. When the cover is rotated around the rotation point to an open position beyond 90°, the extensible hinge extends out of the body along a track corresponding to the semicircular shape of the extensible hinge, the tension spring applying increased tension on the extensible hinge as the extensible hinge is extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is an exploded view of a cover opening and closing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 2is a perspective view of a cover opening and closing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS. 3 and 4depict operations of the cover opening/closing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,3and4, the cover opening and closing apparatus1may include a body10, a moving hinge20, a hinge cover30, a cover40, a first shaft50, a second shaft60, and a tension spring70.

The body10may secure and support internal electronic components (e.g., Printed Circuit Board (PCB), lens). The body10may include at least one first housing11for accommodating at least one electronic component (e.g., battery or memory card) in a container shape of an open top side. An opening12of the first housing11may include fixing grooves121and122hooked to the cover40. The body10may include a second housing13(hereafter, referred to as a hinge housing) which may accommodate the moving hinge30and is formed in a container shape with an open top side. A bottom131(gliding surface) of the hinge housing13may be round. The bottom131of the hinge housing13may include a guide groove1311formed lengthwise in a certain width along a gliding direction of the moving hinge20. Either side132and133standing upright from the bottom13of the hinge housing13may include open holes1321and1331formed lengthwise in a certain width along the gliding direction of the moving hinge20. A spring connection hook14may be formed in a side of the hinge housing13. An opening of the hinge housing13may include hook fixing grooves1322and1332.

The moving hinge20may be received and moved in the hinge housing13of the body10. The moving hinge20may bend along a moving direction of the moving hinge20. A bottom of the moving hinge20is round to contact the bottom131of the hinge housing13of the body10, and may glide over the bottom131of the hinge housing13. The moving hinge20may include a center portion13, and a pair of hinge arms22and a pair of shaft arms23which protrudingly extend from either side of the center portion21in either gliding direction of the moving hinge20. A guide protrusion211may be formed in the bottom21of the center portion21of the moving hinge20. The guide protrusion211may be inserted to the guide groove1311of the body10and guided by the guide groove1311of the body10. The moving hinge20may include a first shaft hole221for penetrating the pair of the hinge arms22. The moving hinge20may include a second shaft hole231for penetrating the pair of the shaft arms23. The center portion21of the moving hinge20may include a spring connection groove212with an open side. The second shaft hole231may communicate with the spring connection groove212.

The hinge cover30may be coupled to an opening of the hinge housing13of the body10. The hinge cover30is of a size that does not totally cover the opening of the hinge housing13. When the hinge cover30and the hinge housing13of the body10are coupled together, a gate301may be formed such that the moving hinge20enter and exit. A lower surface32near the gate301of the hinge cover30is round. Hence, the moving hinge20may smoothly glide between the bottom131of the hinge housing13and the lower surface32of the hinge cover30without clearance, and the movement of the moving hinge20may attain mechanical ruggedness. The hinge cover30may include hooks33hooked to the fixing grooves1322and1332of the opening of the hinge housing13of the body10.

The cover40is fitted into the opening12of the first housing11to thus cover the opening12of the first housing11. A side of the cover40may include a hinge arm41which is hinged to the pair of the hinge arms22of the moving hinge20. The hinge arm41of the cover40may include a shaft hole411disposed between the hinge arms22of the moving hinge20and communicating with the first shaft hole221of the pair of the hinge arms22of the moving hinge20. The cover40may include through holes42in a side. The cover40may include an open hole43penetrating a top side and a bottom side.

The first shaft50may penetrate the pair of the hinge arms22of the moving hinge20and the hinge arm41of the cover40, and the moving hinge20and the cover40may be hinge-connected. A torsion spring (not illustrated) may be disposed in the hinge connector between the cover40and the moving hinge20. When the cover40is unlocked from the opening12of the first housing11, the cover40may be automatically opened by the elastic support of the torsion spring.

The second shaft60may penetrate the pair of the shaft arms23and the center portion21of the moving hinge20, and protrude to either side of the pair of the shaft arms23of the moving hinge20. The second shaft60may be disposed in parallel with the first shaft50, and penetrate the spring connection groove212of the center portion21of the moving hinge20. Either end of the second shaft60protruding to either side of the pair of the shaft arms23may be disposed in the open holes1321and1331of the body10and guided by the open holes1321and1331.

The tension spring70may be received in the hinge housing13of the body10. One end71of the tension spring may be disposed in the spring connection groove212of the center portion21of the moving hinge20, and secured to the second shaft60. The other end72of the tension spring70may be secured to the spring connection hook14formed in the side of the hinge housing13of the body10. When an external force is removed, the moving hinge20may return to the moving hinge's20original location according to the tension of the tension spring70.

Referring now toFIG. 3, when a user moves a control portion82exposed through the open hole43of the cover40and detaches his or her hand, the cover40may automatically open at a certain angle (e.g., 90 degrees) based on the first shaft50hinge-connected to the moving hinge20. The torsion spring disposed in the hinge connector or between the cover40and the moving hinge20may automatically rotate the cover40.

Referring toFIG. 4, when the user further rotates the cover40standing upright (seeFIG. 3), the cover40may rotate on a rotation axis601(seeFIG. 3) being a projection contacting the body10. Since the hinge connector between the cover40and the moving hinge20is away from the rotation axis601, the cover40may rotate on the rotation axis601to protrude outward through the gate301and the moving hinge20connected to the hinge connector may move under the tension of the tension spring70. The cover40may rotate 180 degrees, and the cover40rotated to 180 degrees contacts an outer surface of the body10and cannot rotate further.

When the user removes his or her finger from the cover40(seeFIG. 4) rotated 180 degrees, the cover40may return to the position ofFIG. 3. The cover40automatically stands upright according to the torsion spring of the hinge connector between the cover40and the moving hinge20, the moving hinge20moves into the hinge housing13according to the tension spring70, and the hinge connector between the cover40and the moving hinge20may move into the body10. When the user further rotates the cover40ofFIG. 3toward the opening12of the body10, the cover40is hooked to the opening12of the body10to cover the battery housing11.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bdepict a locker installed to the cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 5A and 5B, a bottom402of the cover40may include a movable cam80and a vertical cam90for cam motion. When the movable cam80moves straight, the vertical cam90may move straight by crossing (e.g., orthogonally) the movement direction of the movable cam90. The movable cam80may include a smooth uneven outline81in a side. The vertical cam90may include a protrusion91for smoothly contacting the uneven outline81of the movable cam80. The vertical cam90may include round elastic supports92extending to either side of the protrusion91. The elastic supports92may exert elasticity for restoring the vertical cam90into the cover40. When the movable cam80moves straight out of the side of the cover40, the protrusion91of the vertical cam90contacts a convex portion811of the uneven outline81of the movable cam80and the vertical cam90may move straight out of the side of the cover40. When the movable cam80moves straight into the side of the cover40, the protrusion91of the vertical cam90contacts a concave portion812of the uneven outline81of the movable cam80and the vertical cam90may linearly move into the side of the cover40according to the elasticity of the elastic supports92. The movable cam80may include the control portion82of a certain height which vertically extends to penetrate the open hole43of the cover40. The user may move the movable cam80in the open hole43of the cover40by applying the force to the control portion82of the movable cam80exposed through the open hole43of the cover40. The movable cam80may include an elastic fit83in a side. The elastic fit83may include a pair of elastic pieces84protruding to face each other and forming a circular arc. The elastic fit83may include a hole85formed lengthwise in the linear movement direction of the movable cam80and interposed between the elastic pieces84. The hole85of the elastic fit83may include the relative narrow center portion. The cover40and include a protrusion44vertically extending from the bottom42and penetrating the hole83of the elastic fit83of the movable cam80. When the user moves the movable cam80by applying the force to the control portion82, the protrusion44of the cover40may pass the narrow portion of the hole85of the elastic fit83and the pair of the elastic pieces84of the movable cam80may elastically bend. Unless the external force is applied, the movement of the movable cam80may be limited by the protrusion of the cover40and the elastic fit83of the movable cam80. The movable cam80and the vertical cam90each may include hooks86and96in their side. When the movable cam80and the vertical cam90are moved outwards from the side of the cover40, the hooks86and96may move out of the side of the cover40. When the cover40is fitted in the opening12of the first housing11of the body10and the movable cam80moves outwards from the side of the cover40, the hooks86and96of the movable cam80and the vertical cam90may be hooked to the fixing grooves121and122of the opening12of the housing11to thus lock the cover40.

FIG. 6depicts the second shaft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 6, the second shaft160may penetrate the pair of the shaft arms23and the center portion21of the moving hinge20and protrude to either side of the pair of the shaft arms23of the moving hinge20. The second shaft160may penetrate the spring connection groove212of the center portion21of the moving hinge20. The ends of the second shaft160protruding to either side of the pair of the shaft arms123may be disposed in the open holes1321and1331of the body10and guided by the open holes1321and1331. The ends of the second shaft160may have a cross-sectional shape partially following the path of the open holes1321and1331. The second shaft160may be a column having the cross section partially following the path of the open holes1321and1331. Hence, the second shaft160may reduce the gap between the moving hinge20and the open holes1321and1331of the hinge housing13, and improve the mechanical ruggedness.

FIG. 7depicts a case frame and a cover opening and closing of the electronic appliance (e.g., digital camera) employing a cover opening and closing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cover opening and closing apparatus may be used to attach or detach a battery and/or a memory card. The case frame90may form the exterior of the digital camera. The body10of the cover opening and closing apparatus1may be a separate member coupled to the case frame90, or part of the case frame90.

Referring toFIG. 7, the cover40may rotate up to 180 degrees from the case frame80of the electronic appliance, and open the housing11for attaching or detaching the battery and/or the memory card.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover opening and closing apparatus1of the electronic appliance (e.g., digital camera) may include the body10including the container-shaped housing11with the open side for inserting or drawing at least one electronic component (e.g., battery memory card), the cover40for opening and closing the opening12of the housing11, and the moving hinge20hinged to the cover40and received in the body10to move. When the cover40rotates over a threshold angle (e.g., 90 degrees), the hinge connector between the cover40and the moving hinge20may move out of the body10.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover40rotates on the rotation axis being the protrusion601of the body, and the hinge connector between the cover40away from the rotation axis and the moving hinge20may rotate on the rotation axis to move out of the body10.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the moving hinge20may be received in the hinge housing13of the body10to slide along the round bottom131of the hinge housing13.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the moving hinge20may include the pair of the hinge arms22bending in the circular shape along the movement direction and protruding from either side along the gliding direction.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover40may include the hinge arm41rotating between the hinge arms22of the moving hinge20.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover opening and closing apparatus1may further include the hinge cover30coupled to the opening of the hinge housing13. As the opening of the hinge housing13and the hinge cover30are coupled, the gate301through which the hinge connector enters or exits may be formed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower surface32of the hinge cover30near the gate301may contact the moving hinge and be round.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom131of the hinge housing13may include the guide groove1311formed lengthwise in the movement direction of the moving hinge20. The moving hinge20may include the guide protrusion211inserted to the guide groove1311. The guide protrusion211may move according to the guide of the guide groove1311.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover opening and closing apparatus1may include the shaft60received in the hinge housing13. The hinge housing13may include the open holes1321and1331formed lengthwise in the movement direction of the moving hinge20, in either side132and133standing upright from the bottom131. The moving hinge20may include the shaft hole231penetrating either side. The shaft60may penetrate the shaft hole213, and the ends of the shaft60may protrude to the sides of the moving hinge20. The ends of the shaft60may be disposed in the open holes1321and1331and move under the guidance of the open holes1321and1331.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the ends of the shaft60may have the cross-sectional shape partially following the path of the open holes1321and1331.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover opening and closing apparatus1may include the tension spring70received in the hinge housing13. The moving hinge20may include the spring connection groove212with the open side to communicate with the shaft hole213. The hinge housing13may include the spring connection hook14in the side. One end71of the tension spring70may be secured to the shaft60in the spring connection groove212, and the other end of the tension spring70may be secured to spring connection hook14.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hinge connector may include the torsion spring. The cover40is elastically supported by the torsion spring to rotate from the moving hinge20.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover opening and closing apparatus1may include the movable cam80and the vertical cam90disposed in the bottom402of the cover40and moving straight to the different sides of the cover40according to the cam motion. The movable cam80may include the control portion82of the certain height for vertically extending through the open hole42penetrating between the top and the bottom402of the cover40and moving on the open hole43. The vertical cam90is elastically supported by the elastic supports92extending on either side, and the movable cam80and the vertical cam90may include the hooks86and96moving on the cover40according to the cam motion. The opening12of the housing11may include the fixing grooves121and122coupled with the hooks86and96at adequate positions.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the cover30rotates 180 degrees, the cover40contacts the outer side of the body10and cannot rotate further.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover opening/closing apparatus may increase the cover rotation angle by moving the rotation axis of the cover. The user may fully rotate the cover (e.g., 180 degrees) such that the cover is restrained by the other side of the case frame and cannot rotate further, and accordingly the opening may be improved. When the cover rotates over the threshold angle (e.g., 90 degrees), the rotation axis of the cover moves out of the case frame as not to block the torque based on a specific point. Thus, the breakage at or around the rotation axis may be prevented.