Abstract:
An electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing covering the first housing, a tilt mechanism, a first hinge bar, and a second hinge bar. The tilt mechanism connects the first housing to the second housing. A first end of the first hinge bar rotatably connects to the tilt mechanism, a second end of the first hinge bar rotatably and slidably connects to the first housing. A first end of the second hinge bar rotatably connects to the tilt mechanism, a second end of the second hinge bar rotatably connects to the first housing. When the second housing slides relative to the first housing, the second hinge bar rotates relative to the first housing and the second housing, and supports and tilts the second housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and particularly to a slide and tilt mechanism for an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are widely used. Slide-type portable electronic devices have been increasingly used. A slide-type portable electronic device has two housings, of which one slides relative to the other by a slide mechanism to open/close the portable electronic device. 
     However, the slide-type portable electronic devices typically only allow the two housings to slide parallel to each other. Therefore, when the slide-type portable electronic device is positioned horizontally, it can be difficult for users to view a display screen disposed on the housing. 
     Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the slide and tilt mechanism for 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 slide and tilt mechanism for electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but shown from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the housing taken along line III-III of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in a closed state. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the housing taken along line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the electronic device of  FIG. 3  in an open state. 
         FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but shown from another angle. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the housing taken along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 6  in an open state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device  100 , such as a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant. The electronic device  100  includes a first housing  10 , a second housing  20 , a tilt mechanism  30 , a first hinge bar  40 , and a second hinge bar  50 . In a closed state, the first housing  10  and the second housing  20  overlap each other. In a tilted state, the second housing  20  may be angularly adjusted relative to the first housing  10  for better viewing of a display screen. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first housing  10  defines a receiving chamber  104  for receiving the first hinge bar  40 , and the second hinge bar  50 . A sidewall of the receiving chamber  104  defines a sliding slot  106  along a longitudinal direction thereof. A positioning rod  108  is positioned on the sidewall of the receiving chamber  104  away from the sliding slot  106 . The positioning rod  108  is configured for slidably connecting to the second hinge bar  50 . A first protrusion  107  and a second protrusion  109  are positioned on two ends of the sliding slot  106 , and are configured for latching the first hinge bar  40 . 
     The second housing  20  includes a first surface  202 , an opposite second surface  203 , a first edge  205 , and an opposite second edge  207 . The first surface  202  includes a display screen  204  positioned thereon. The second housing  20  can be angularly tilted relative to the first housing  10  for better viewing of the display screen  204 . A receiving slot  205  is defined in the second surface  203 , and configured for receiving the tilt mechanism  30 . 
     The tilt mechanism  30  includes a fixed plate  31 , a sliding plate  33 , and a resilient element  35 . The fixed plate  31  includes two guides  312  bent from the two sides thereof. The sliding plate  33  includes a base  332 , a first positioning portion  333 , and a second positioning portion  334 . Two ends of the base  332  are respectively bent into a guiding slot  336  for slidably matching with the guides  312 . The first positioning portion  333  and the second positioning portion  334  are disposed at two ends of the base  332 . The first positioning portion  333  defines a slit  3332  at a top portion thereof. A removable first post  60  spans the slit  3332  and is configured for rotatably connecting the first hinge bar  40  to the tilt mechanism  30 . The second positioning portion  334  includes two opposite protruding plates  3342  and a removable second post  62  spanning between the protruding plates  3342 . The second post  62  is configured for rotatably connecting the second hinge bar  50  to the tilt mechanism  30 . The resilient element  35  may be a wire spring, a pressure spring, a torsion spring, or a spring plate. The resilient element  35  includes a first connecting end  352  and a second connecting end  354 . Both the first connecting end  352  and the second connecting end  354  are ring shape. A hole  39  is respectively defined in the fixed plate  31  and the sliding plate  33 . Two pins (not shown) are respectively inserted into the first connecting end  352 , the second connecting end  354 , a hole  39  defined in the fixed plate  31  and the sliding plate  33 . Thus, the fixed plate  31  and the sliding plate  33  are connected by the resilient element  35 , and a sliding distance of the fixed plate  31  relative to the sliding plate  33  can be limited by the resilient element  35 . 
     An end of the first hinge bar  40  defines a through hole  42 , the other end of the first hinge bar  40  includes a shaft  44  fixed thereon. The first post  60  can be inserted into the through hole  42 . Thus, the first hinge bar  40  is respectively rotatably connected to the base  332 . The shaft  44  can move in the sliding slot  106  and is latched to the first protrusion  107  and the second protrusion  109 . Two free ends of the second hinge bar  50  respectively define a positioning hole  52 . The second post  62  can be inserted into one of the positioning holes  52 , the positioning rod  108  can be inserted into the other positioning hole  52 . Thus, the second hinge bar  50  can rotate and support the second housing  20  from the closed state to the tilted state. 
     Referring to the  FIGS. 4 to 7 , in assembly, the fixed plate  31  is fixed in the receiving slot  205 , thus the sliding plate  33  can slide relative to the second housing  20 . The first post  60  is inserted into the through hole  42  of the first hinge bar  40 , and two ends of the first post  60  are fixed to the slit  3332 . The shaft  44  moves in the sliding slot  106 . The second post  62  is inserted into one of the positioning holes  52  of the second hinge bar  50 , and two ends of the second post  62  are fixed between the two protruding plates  3342 . The positioning rod  108  is inserted into the other positioning hole  52 . Thus, the first hinge bar  40  and the second hinge bar  50  can rotate and support the second housing  20  from the closed state to the tilted state. In the tilted state, the first edge  205  contacts the first housing  10 , and the second edge  207  is tilted above the first housing  10 . The first hinge bar  40  latches and resists the second protrusion  109 . 
     When the electronic device  100  is to be closed, an external force is applied to the second housing  20  while the first housing  10  is kept stationary. The sliding plate  33  slides relative to the fixed plate  31  and maintains in closed state relative to the fixed plate  31 . The second housing  20  presses the first hinge bar  40  to force the shaft  44  of the first hinge bar  40  to detach from the second protrusion  109 , and move to the first protrusion  107 . The end defining the through hole  42  of the first hinge bar  40  is rotated relative to the first positioning portion  333 . Two ends of the second hinge bar  50  are respectively rotated relative to the second positioning portion  334  and the positioning rod  108 . Meanwhile, the first hinge bar  40  and the second hinge bar  50  are gradually received in the receiving chamber  104 . The first edge  205  slidably contacts the first housing  10 , and the second edge  207  gradually comes closer to the first housing  10 . When the first hinge bar  40  and the second hinge bar  50  are entirely received in the receiving chamber  104 , the second housing  20  overlaps the first housing  10 . The shaft  44  latches and resists the first protrusion  107 . Thus, the second housing  20  is locked to the first housing  10 . 
     When the electronic device  100  is to be opened, an external force is applied to the second housing  20  to move it away from the first housing  10 , and the fixed plate  31  slides relative to the sliding plate  33 . When the fixed plate  31  is fully open relative to the sliding plate  33 , the second housing  20  is continually pushed by the external force. The first positioning portion  333  of the sliding plate  33  pulls the first hinge bar  40  to detach the shaft  44  from the first protrusion  107 . The shaft  44  moves to the second protrusion  109 . Meanwhile, the second hinge bar  50  is respectively rotated relative to the second positioning portion  334  and the positioning rod  108 , and the first edge  205  slides on the first housing  10 . The second edge  207  is tilted above the first housing  10  by the second hinge bar  50 . When the shaft  44  is latched to the second protrusion  109 , electronic device  100  is fully open. 
     It is noteworthy that the tilt mechanism  30  can be omitted. The first hinge bar  40  and the second hinge bar  50  can be directly connected to the second housing  20 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, 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 disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.