Electronic device with first body and separable second body

Provided is an electronic device including a first body, a second body, and a support member. The second body is separably installed such that at least a part of an area thereof overlaps a mounting surface of the first body. The support member is installed on the first body to open at a predetermined cradling angle, thereby cradling the second body on the first body to improve user convenience, maximize portability when the electronic device is coupled, and protect the electronic device from external forces, thereby contributing to improvement of reliability of the electronic device.

PRIORITY

This application is a National Phase Entry of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2015/000099, which was filed on Jan. 6, 2015, and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0001539, which was filed on Jan. 6, 2014, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a detachable electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

With the development of electronics and communication industries, electronic devices (e.g., mobile communication terminals (smart phones), electronic organizers, personal compound terminals, televisions (TVs), laptop computers, tablet PCs, etc.) have become necessities of modern life and have become important means that impart rapidly changing information. These electronic devices may make users' works convenient and may provide various forms of multimedia based on web environments through Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) using touch screens by which data input/output can be performed in the same area.

The aforementioned electronic devices have changed in various ways according to the current trend to maximize portability, and have convenience of use in order to perform various additional functions. For example, an electronic device may have a support member installed on the rear surface thereof, which is foldable at a specified angle, and may be inclined at a specified angle for watching videos by virtue of the support member. Alternatively, an electronic device may have a separate protection case installed thereon to cover at least a part of the electronic device, and the protection case may protect the exterior of the electronic device while the electronic device is being carried.

These various additional devices enable the electronic devices to be more conveniently used, and have been developed to be more useful.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a detachable device.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a detachable electronic device that may be used while being detached or coupled, thereby enhancing convenience of use.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a detachable electronic device in which detached bodies operate in conjunction with each other, thereby enhancing convenience of use.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a detachable electronic device in which one body may be conveniently used by making use of the other body when the bodies are detached from each other.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a detachable electronic device that may prevent an attachment from being damaged by an excessive external force greater than a specified force, thereby contributing to the enhancement of the reliability of the product.

Technical Solution

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide an electronic device that includes: a first body that includes a support member installed to be unfolded at a specified mounting angle; and a second body detachably installed in such a manner that at least a part thereof overlaps a mounting surface of the first body, wherein the second body detached from the first body is mounted on the first body using the support member.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a cover device that includes: a mounting surface on which at least one electronic device is mounted to overlap the same; one or more stoppers formed along the outer periphery of the mounting surface to surround at least a part of the outer periphery of the electronic device; and a support member installed to be unfolded away from the mounting surface at a specified mounting angle, wherein the electronic device that is detached from the cover device is mounted on the mounting surface using the support member.

Advantageous Effects

According to the various embodiments of the present invention, the detachable cover device includes, for example, the foldable support member, thereby enhancing portability and preventing damage caused by an external force.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, in the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The terms which will be described below are terms defined in consideration of the functions in the present invention, and may be different according to users, intentions of the users, or customs. Therefore, the definitions of the terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a cover device that includes a foldable support member, and the cover device may include an accessory device that may be coupled with a different electronic device.

An electronic device that may be divided into two bodies will be illustrated and described in the various embodiments of the present invention, but the electronic device may be divided into two or more bodies.

In the various embodiments of the present invention, it will be exemplified that at least two bodies serve as electronic devices and operate in conjunction with each other, but the two bodies may be electronic devices that may separately operate without interworking therebetween. Further, at least one of the bodies may be an accessory device that does not include an electronic component.

According to the various embodiments of the present invention, at least one body serving as an electronic device will be exemplified by a tablet PC having a display, but the body is not limited thereto. For example, a portable electronic device having no display may be employed. According to an embodiment, these electronic devices may be applied to various electronic devices, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a smart phone, a net-book, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), a tablet Personal Computer (PC), a navigation device, an MP3 player, a wearable electronic device, a flexible electronic device, etc.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bare a perspective view and a side view showing a state in which an electronic device, according to various embodiments of the present invention, is used.FIG. 2is a perspective view showing a coupled state of the electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is a perspective view showing an illustration in which the electronic device is coupled with another electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A detachable device10, according to various embodiments, may have another electronic device20mounted thereon at a specified angle. The two devices may be coupled to each other to form a single device. Hereinafter, the detachable device10is referred to as the first body, and the other electronic device20is referred to as the second body for the convenience of description.

Referring toFIGS. 1A to 3, the electronic device1may include the first body10and the second body20coupled with the first body10. When the second body20is not used, the second body20may be coupled with the first body10, as shown inFIG. 2, in such a manner that the first body10is overlaid with the second body20, thereby enhancing the portability of the electronic device1. According to an embodiment, the second body20may be coupled with the first body10in such a manner that the display21of the second body20is placed in contact with the mounting surface101of the first body10. According to another embodiment, the second body20may be coupled with the first body10in such a manner that the rear surface of the second body20is placed in contact with the mounting surface101of the first body10. According to an embodiment, the second body20may be coupled to the first body10in all directions of the second body20.

According to an embodiment, when the second body20is used, the second body20may be detached from the first body10and may be used while being mounted on the first body10at a specified angle by a support member16that is disposed on the mounting surface101of the first body10. According to an embodiment, the rectangular first and second bodies10and20have substantially the same shape and size, but are not limited thereto. For example, the first body10may receive the second body20therein using only a part of the mounting surface101thereof.

According to various embodiments, the first body10may include, for example, a communication module, an antenna, a processor, a memory, a battery, a connector, a button, a camera, etc. According to various embodiments, the first body10may include a key assembly13(e.g., a keyboard device) that includes one or more key buttons131for inputting data through the second body20. According to an embodiment, the first body10may be wiredly or wirelessly connected with the second body20by a short-range communication means. According to an embodiment, the first body10may be wiredly connected with the second body20through a connector, a contact point, a cable, etc. According to an embodiment, the first body10may be connected with the second body20by a well-known short-range wireless communication means, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, NFC, etc.

According to an embodiment, the first body10may further include a connection button132by which the first body10is connected with the second body20. For example, the connection button132may be used to connect or disconnect communication between the first body10(e.g., an accessory device) and the second body20(e.g., a tablet computer).

According to various embodiments, the first body10may be turned on or off according to folding/unfolding of the connection member16. In some embodiments, when the connection member16is unfolded, the first body10may establish a communication connection with at least one specified second body20. For example, when the connection member16is folded, the first body may disconnect the communication with the at least one specified second body20. In some embodiments, the power of the first body10or the communication with the second body20may be controlled according to the degree (e.g., angle) to which the connection member16is folded/unfolded.

According to an embodiment, the first body10may include the support member16that may be unfolded at a specified angle θ relative to the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, when the support member16is not used, the support member16may be maintained in a folded state in such a manner that the support member16is coplanar with the mounting surface101of the first body10. When the support member16is used, the support member16may be unfolded away from the mounting surface101and may be maintained at the specified angle relative to the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, the first body10may include a support member extraction groove122that is formed in the mounting surface101to extract the support member. According to an embodiment, at least one damper123may be additionally installed on the mounting surface101of the first body10. According to an embodiment, the damper123may support the second body20mounted on the first body10in order to alleviate an external shock.

According to an embodiment, the first body10may be configured in such a manner that a front case frame12and a rear case frame11are coupled to each other. According to an embodiment, the front case frame12may be used as the mounting surface101for receiving the second body20, and the rear case frame11may serve as a part of the exterior of the electronic device1.

According to an embodiment, the first body10may include a plurality of stoppers14and15that prevent the second body20from being unintentionally detached from the mounting surface101in the state in which the second body20has been mounted on the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, the plurality of stoppers14and15may be integrally formed with the rear case frame11. According to an embodiment, in order to confine the four corners of the rectangular second body20, the stoppers14and15may be formed on the four corresponding corners of the first body10(in areas A and B ofFIG. 3). Without being limited thereto, however, a varying number of stoppers may be disposed in various positions according to the shape of the second body20.

According to an embodiment, the stoppers14and15may include the first stoppers14formed on two adjacent corners of the first body10and the second stoppers15formed on the two remaining corners thereof. According to an embodiment, the first stoppers14and the second stoppers15may also be alternately disposed on the respective corners of the first body10. The stoppers14and15will be described below in detail.

According to an embodiment, the second body20may be a portable electronic device, such as a tablet PC that includes the display21. According to an embodiment, at least one electronic component22may be additionally installed on the outer periphery of the display21. According to an embodiment, the electronic component22may include at least one of a speaker module, a microphone module, a camera module, various types of sensor modules, an antenna module, and a key button assembly.

FIG. 4is an enlarged perspective view of portion A ofFIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, the first stopper14may extend upward (in the Z-axis direction) from the rear case frame11of the first body10. The first stopper14may be formed beyond the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, the first stopper14may extend to a height that is sufficient to receive the thickness of the second body20that is mounted on the first body10.

According to an embodiment, the first stopper14may include a support rib141that extends upward from the rear case frame11and first and second stopping pieces142and143that protrude from the support rib141in directions parallel to the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, the first stopping piece142may be formed on the outer periphery directed in the X-axis direction with respect to the corner. According to an embodiment, the second stopping piece143may be formed on the outer periphery directed in the Y-axis direction with respect to the corner. According to an embodiment, when the second body20is mounted on the first body10, the corresponding corner of the second body20may be confined (e.g., secured) by the first and second stopping pieces142and143.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bare enlarged perspective views of portion B ofFIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5Cis a view showing a state in which the electronic device is used, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 5A and 5B, the second stopper15may extend upward (in the Z-axis direction) from the rear case frame11of the first body10. The second stopper15may be formed beyond the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, the second stopper15may extend to a height that is sufficient to receive the thickness of the second body20that is mounted on the first body10.

According to an embodiment, the second stopper15may include a support rib151that extends upward from the rear case frame11and a stopping piece152that protrudes from the support rib151in a direction parallel to the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, the stopping piece152may be formed on the outer periphery directed in the Y-axis direction with respect to the corner. According to an embodiment, when the second body20is mounted on the first body10, the corresponding corner of the second body20may be secured by the stopping piece152.

Referring toFIG. 5C, the first body10may include the plurality of stoppers14and15, and the stoppers14and15extending upward from the first body10may act as obstacles when a user operates the keypad assembly. According to an embodiment, the first stoppers14, each of which has the stopping pieces142and143formed in the X- and Y-axis directions, may be disposed on the upper portion of the first body10, which is spaced apart from the keypad assembly13, and the second stoppers15, each of which has the stopping piece152formed in the Y-axis direction, may be disposed on the lower portion of the first body10, which is adjacent to the keypad assembly13. Accordingly, the user's palms are less affected by the second stoppers15that have no stopping piece formed in the X-axis direction.

FIG. 6is an operational view showing a process of disassembling the electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 6, the second body20may be mounted on the first body10, for example, in such a manner that the mounting surface101of the first body10and the display21face each other. In this case, the second body20may not be arbitrarily detached from the first body10because the four corners of the second body20are confined by the stopping pieces142,143, and152of the first and second stoppers14and15that are formed on the four corners of the first body10.

According to an embodiment, when detaching the second body20from the first body10, the user may detach the second body20by primarily pressing the first stoppers14of the first body10in direction {circle around (1)} (Z-axis direction) and then pulling the same in direction {circle around (2)}, as shown inFIG. 6. According to the structure of the stoppers14, for example, when the user applies a force in the direction opposite to the Y-axis direction (e.g., −Y-axis direction), the second body20may be separated from the stoppers14. When the second body20is separated from the stoppers14, the user may separate the second body20from the second stoppers15by moving the detached second body20upward while holding the same. Accordingly, the second body20may be detached from the first body10.

FIG. 7is an exploded perspective view showing an illustration in which the support member is connected to the first body of the electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 7, the support member16may be installed on the first body10in order to mount the detached second body at the specified angle θ. The support member16may be rotatably installed in a receiving slit121that is formed in the front case frame12of the first body10in the longitudinal direction. According to an embodiment, the support member16may include a plate161for supporting the second body20and a hinge arm162that is provided on the lower end of the plate161and is hingedly coupled to opposite sides of the receiving slit121. According to an embodiment, the hinge arm162may be integrally formed with the plate161. According to an embodiment, the support member16may be formed of at least one of metal and a synthetic resin.

According to an embodiment, when the support member16is not used, the support member16may be maintained in a folded state in such a manner that the support member16is coplanar with the mounting surface101of the first body10, and when the support member16is used, the support member16may be unfolded away from the mounting surface101and may be maintained at the specified angle relative to the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, a support member mounting groove124in which the support member16is seated may be formed in the mounting surface101of the first body10, and the receiving slit121may be disposed in such a manner that the receiving slit121extends from the support member mounting groove124. According to an embodiment, when the support member16is folded, the support member16may be coplanar with the mounting surface101of the first body10, or may be disposed lower than the mounting surface101. According to an embodiment, when the second body20is mounted while the support member16is unfolded, the receiving slit121may receive an end portion of the second body20therein in order to prevent the second body20from sliding. According to an embodiment, when the second body20is mounted while the support member16is unfolded, the support member mounting groove124may receive an end portion of the second body20therein in order to prevent the second body20from sliding.

According to an embodiment, a magnet may be provided in at least a part of the receiving slit121to connect the second body20with the first body10.

FIG. 8Ais an enlarged view of portion C ofFIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8Bis a view showing a state in which the support member and a hinge shaft are installed in the first body of the electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8Cis a perspective view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8Dis an enlarged perspective view of portion D ofFIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 8A, a shaft part182of the hinge shaft18may protrude from one side of the receiving slit121. According to an embodiment, the shaft part182may confine the support member16in such a manner that the shaft part182is inserted into a shaft receiving recess163(shown inFIG. 8D) that is formed in a side surface of the hinge arm162of the support member16.

According to an embodiment, a protrusion1731of the retainer17may be installed in the receiving slit121. The protrusion1731of the retainer17may be installed in a position where the protrusion1731is selectively positioned in recesses1621and1622(shown inFIG. 8D) that are formed in the hinge arm162of the support member16.

Referring toFIGS. 8B and 8C, the retainer17may be installed on a part of the rear case frame11, which corresponds to the receiving slit121. According to an embodiment, the retainer17may include a body171having an opening172formed therein, a tension rib173extracted from the opening172, and the protrusion1731that protrudes from the tension rib173toward the receiving slit. According to an embodiment, flanges174having a screw introduction hole1741may be formed on opposite sides of the body171and may be secured to the rear case frame11by a fastening means, such as a screw30, etc. According to an embodiment, the tension rib173may be formed to be bent downward by pressing the protrusion1731.

According to an embodiment, the hinge shaft18may include a head181that is received in the first body10and the shaft part182that is integrally formed with the head181and has a part that protrudes toward the receiving slit121of the first body10. According to an embodiment, the hinge shaft18may be formed of a synthetic resin material or a metal material. According to an embodiment, the head181of the hinge shaft18may be pressed toward the receiving slit by a resilient member19that is installed in the rear case frame11. According to an embodiment, the protruding shaft part182within the receiving slit121may move toward the inside of the first body10while being pressed by the resilient member19. When the pressure is removed, the shaft part182may return to the original position by the resilient member19. By virtue of the above configuration, the support member16may be separated from the shaft part182without damage when being unfolded at a preset angle or more. According to an embodiment, various members (such as a plate spring, a coil spring, etc.) that are capable of pressing the head181may be used as the resilient member19.

Referring toFIG. 8D, the support member16may include: the plate161for mounting the second body20at a specified angle relative to the mounting surface101of the first body10and maintaining the second body20in the mounted state; and the hinge arm162that is provided on one end of the plate161and is hingedly coupled to the receiving slit21of the first body10so as to be rotatable.

According to an embodiment, the shaft receiving recess163for receiving the shaft part182of the hinge shaft18may be formed in one side surface of the hinge arm162. According to an embodiment, the plurality of recesses1621and1622may be formed in the outer circumferential surface of the hinge arm162at a predetermined interval. According to an embodiment, when the support member16is folded toward the mounting surface101of the first body10, the first recess1621may be disposed in a position where the first recess is positioned on the protrusion1731formed on the tension rib173of the retainer17.

According to an embodiment, when the support member16is unfolded away from the mounting surface101of the first body10, the second recess1622may be disposed in a position where the second recess is positioned on the protrusion1731formed on the tension rib173of the retainer17. According to an embodiment, the support member16may not move while being maintained in the folded or unfolded state by the operation in which the protrusion1731of the retainer17is positioned in the recess1621or1622.

According to an embodiment, when the support member16is unfolded away from the mounting surface101of the first body10, the second recess1622may be disposed in a position where the second recess is positioned on the protrusion1731formed on the tension rib173of the stopper17. According to an embodiment, the support member16may not move while being maintained in the folded or unfolded state by the operation in which the protrusion1731of the stopper17is positioned in the recess1621or1622.

According to various embodiments, the hinge shaft18may be disposed on the left and right sides of the receiving slit121, and the resilient member19that presses the hinge shaft18may be installed to press at least one of the pair of hinge shafts. According to an embodiment, the hinge shaft18may be disposed on only one side of the receiving slit121.

According to various embodiments, the hinge shaft18may be installed on the support member16, and the shaft receiving recess163may be formed in the mounting surface.

FIG. 9is a sectional view showing the state in which the support member and the hinge shaft are installed in the first body of the electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 9, the support member16may be rotatably coupled in such a manner that the shaft part182of the hinge shaft18is inserted into the shaft receiving recess163of the hinge arm162. In this case, the shaft part182of the hinge shaft18may be pressed toward the receiving slit (in direction {circle around (3)} ofFIG. 9) by the resilient member19that is disposed within the first body10. According to an embodiment, when the support member16is to be unfolded at an angle larger than the opening angle θ by an excessive force, the shaft part182may be separated from the shaft receiving recess163of the support member16and may move toward the inside of the first body10(in direction {circle around (4)} ofFIG. 9) to separate the support member16from the first body10, thereby preventing damage to the support member16. According to an embodiment, the shaft part182may have a predetermined length in order to allow the support member16to be separated from the shaft part182when a predetermined force is applied to the support member16.

According to an embodiment, in a case of coupling the separated support member16back to the first body10, the support member16may be coupled by inserting the shaft part182protruding from one side of the receiving slit121into the shaft receiving recess163formed on one side of the hinge arm162of the support member16, pressing the shaft part182, which protrudes from the opposite side of the receiving slit121, toward the inside, and inserting the other shaft part into the shaft receiving recess163formed on the opposite side of the hinge arm162.

FIGS. 10A and 10Bare views showing the operation of the support member, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 10A and 10B, according to an embodiment, when the support member16is folded toward the mounting surface101of the first body10and is coplanar with the mounting surface101, the first recess1621may be positioned on the protrusion1731formed on the tension rib173of the retainer17. According to an embodiment, when the support member16is unfolded away from the mounting surface101of the first body10at the mounting angle θ, the second recess1622may be positioned on the protrusion1731formed on the tension rib173of the retainer17. According to an embodiment, the support member16may be maintained in the folded or unfolded state by the operation in which the protrusion1731of the retainer17is positioned in the recess1621or1622.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the two recesses1621and1622are formed in the hinge arm162of the support member16, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, two or more recesses may be formed in order to unfold the support member at various angles. According to an embodiment, the support member16may be maintained in the unfolded state by using a resilient member (e.g., a plate spring, a coil spring, etc.). For example, in the case where the support member16is maintained in the unfolded state by using the resilient member, the support member16may be fixed using a mechanical structure, which includes a fastening recess, etc., in the folded state.

According to an embodiment, at least one second body having various sizes and types may be mounted on the first body by the support member that rotates at various opening angles.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes falling within the scope of the appended claims may be made to these embodiments. In other words, the embodiments may be implemented in a very variety of ways without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.