Slider electronic device

A slider electronic device includes a first body, a second body, and a connecting member fixed to the first body. The first body includes at least one control member rotatably disposed on the first body and at least two first sliding members. The second body is slidably coupled with the first body. The second body includes at least one restricting member and at least two second sliding members. The connecting member defines at least two guide portions corresponding to the at least two first sliding members. The at least one control member is capable of blocking the at least one restricting member of the second body. Each first sliding member includes a sliding surface angled relative to the axis along which the second body slides. Each second sliding member passes through the corresponding guide portion to slide along the sliding surface, and be elastically deformed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly, to a slider electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Currently, slider electronic devices, such as mobile phones, are becoming increasingly popular. A slider electronic device is generally configured with a first body, a second body and a slide mechanism connecting the first and the second bodies. A keypad is configured in the first body, and a display is configured in the second body. The second body slides over the first body via the slide mechanism, thereby opening or closing the slider electronic device.

A typical slide mechanism includes a main plate, a slide plate and two springs. The main plate is fixed to the first body and the slide plate is fixed to the second body of the slider electronic device. Opposite ends of each spring are fastened to the main plate and the slide plate respectively.

However, the structure of the conventional slider electronic device is unduly complex and complicated to assemble.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, an embodiment of a slider electronic device100includes a first body10, a connecting member20, and a second body30. The first body10is slidably coupled with the second body30, and capable of sliding along an axis40relative to the second body30.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the first body10is molded, and includes a bottom surface101, two opposite sidewalls102extending from two opposite edges of the bottom surface101, four first sliding members103, and a pair of control members104.

Each sidewall102is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface101. Each sidewall102defines a receiving hole1021. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving hole1021is a rectangular through hole.

Each first sliding member103is substantially a wedge-shaped block, and includes a sliding surface1031at a top thereof. Each first sliding member103is positioned on the bottom surface101, and the sliding surface1031forms an angle relative to the axis40. In the illustrated embodiment, the four first sliding members103are divided into two pairs, where each first sliding member103is located near to a sidewall102. Angles defined by the sliding surfaces1031relative to the axis40are the same.

Each control member104is activated by pressing. Each control member104includes a contact portion1041and two pivot shafts1042extending from opposite sides of the contact portion1041. Each pivot shaft1042is made of an elastic material such as polycarbonate, or ABS. Each control member104is received in a corresponding receiving hole1021and connected to the sidewall102via the two pivot shafts1042. An end of each control member104adjacent to the first sliding member103protrudes from an inner surface of the sidewall102.

Each connecting member20is a rectangular plate, and defines two guide portions201, in which each guide portion201corresponding to each pair of first sliding members103. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the guide portions201is a guide slot defined in the connecting member20extending along the axis40. The two guide portions201are spaced apart.

The second body30includes a fixing board301, four second sliding members302, and two restricting members303. Each second sliding member302is positioned on the fixing board301corresponding to each first sliding member103. The four second sliding members302are molded integral with the fixing board301.

Each second sliding member302includes a fixing portion3021fixed to the fixing board301, a connecting portion3022, a resisting portion3023, and a reinforcing portion3024. The connecting portion3022is angled from an end of the fixing portion3021. The resisting portion3023is angled from an end of the connecting portion3022away from the fixing portion3021. The fixing portion3021and the resisting portion3023are on the same side of the connecting portion3022. The resisting portion3023includes a resisting surface3025angled relative to the fixing board301by an angle exceeding that which is cooperatively defined by the sliding surface1031and the axis40. The reinforcing portion3024is substantially V-shaped, and interconnects the fixing portion3021and the resisting portion3023.

Each restricting member303includes a latching portion3031and a restricting portion3032. The restricting portion3032extends from an end of the latching portion3031. Width of the latching portion3031is less than that of the guide portion201, and the width of the restricting portion3032is greater than that of the guide portion201, such that the latching portion3031can pass through the corresponding guide portion201, and the restricting portion3032cannot pass through and is blocked by the guide portion201.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIG. 6, in assembly of the slider electronic device100, each restricting member303is at a predetermined position on the first body10, and the restricting portion3032abuts the bottom surface101and an end of the restricting portion3032abuts the end of the control member104protruding from the sidewall102. The connecting member20is fixed to the first body10; and each latching portion3031passes through the corresponding guide portion201. The second body30is mounted on the connecting member20, and each second sliding member302passes through the corresponding guide portion201and is received in the first body10. Pressure applied on the second body30deforms the second sliding member302, such that the resisting surface3025of the second sliding member302abuts the corresponding sliding surface1031of the first sliding member103, and an angle β cooperatively defined by the resisting surface3025and the axis40is equal to an angle α cooperatively defined by the sliding surface1031and the axis40. Then, an end of the latching portion3031away from the restricting portion3032is fixed to the fixing board301.

When the first body10is closed relative to the second body30, the restricting member303is blocked by the control member104, which further prevents the second sliding member302from moving along the sliding surface1031. The second sliding member302is compressed and the resisting surface3025resists the sliding surface1031, thus elastic potential energy is generated.

Referring toFIG. 6andFIG. 7, in order to open the first body10relative to the second body30, external force exerted or applied on one end of the control member104away from the first sliding member103rotates the control member104around the pivot shafts1042out of a receiving space cooperatively formed by the bottom surface101and the sidewall102. Concurrently, the second sliding member302is released and is driven along the sliding surface1031by the elastic force of the second sliding member302, to a predetermined position. The second sliding member302returns to its original shape; an angle γ is cooperatively defined by the sliding surface1031and the resisting surface3025and the angle α equals the angle β.

Referring toFIG. 7andFIG. 8, in order to close the first body10relative to the second body30, an external force applied on the second body30along the axis40slides the second sliding member302along the guide portion201. At the same time, the resisting portion3023of the second sliding member302resists the sliding surface1031and slides along the sliding surface1031. When the second sliding member302slides, the resisting portion3023is deformed, such that the angle β decreases, and a distance between the fixing portion3021of the second sliding member302and the sliding surface1031decreases as well. While continuing to slide, the restricting member303biases the control member104, and the control member104which rotates around the pivot shafts1042, is twisted and deformed accordingly. When the restricting member303slides away from the control member104, the resisting surface3025contacts the sliding surface1031, the control member104rotates around the pivot shafts1042in an opposite direction to block the restricting member303. The second sliding member302is gradually compressed and an elastic potential energy is generated while impelling the restricting member303to resist the control member104.

In the slider electronic device100, when the control member104blocks the restricting member303, the second body30is securely closed relative to the first body10. When pressure exerted or applied on the control member104releases the restricting member303, the second body30slides to the predetermined position relative to the first body10when driven by the elastic potential energy of the second sliding member302, such that no pressure need to be applied on the second body30to open the second body30relative to the first body10.

The slider electronic device100can be opened or closed by controlling the relative sliding of the first sliding member103or the second sliding member302. The structure of the slider electronic device100is relatively simple, thereby can be easily assembled. The first body10is molded, such that the slider electronic device100may be more easily manufactured at minimal cost.

It should be pointed out that two or more first sliding members103, rather than four can be provided, such as, for example, having a total of two first sliding members103, and each first sliding member103can be fixed to the opposite sidewalls102respectively, whereby the number of the second sliding member302is changed correspondingly. The slider electronic device100may employ one control member104and one restricting member303.

The fixing portion3021, the connecting portion3022, and the reinforcing portion3024may be omitted, whereby the resisting portion3023is fixed to the fixing board301directly.