Abstract:
A slide mechanism includes a first plate defining two first guiding slots, a second plate defining two second guiding slots, and two connecting bodies. Each connecting body passes through the first guiding slot and the corresponding second guiding slot to connect the first plate and the second plate, and the connecting body is slidable relative to the first guiding slot and the second guiding slot. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device applying the slide mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to sliding mechanisms and, particularly, a sliding mechanism used in portable electronic devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The slide-type portable electronic device generally includes a housing, a cover, and a slide mechanism connected to the housing and the cover. The slide mechanism allows the cover to slide over the housing to open/close the portable electronic device. The slide mechanism includes a second plate and an first plate engaging with the second plate. One of the second plate and the first plate defines guiding grooves, and the other forms rails accordingly engaging with the guiding grooves. 
     Typically, one of the second plate and the first plate forms a post, and the other forms a stopper to engage with the post, to prevent the rails sliding out from the guiding grooves after the second plate slides a predetermined distance. The configuration of the post and the stopper increase the structural complexity of the slide mechanism. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the exemplary slide mechanism for portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the slide mechanism and the portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the diagrams. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the slide mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a guide body isometric view of the slide mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the slide mechanism shown in  FIG. 1  in a closed state. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the slide mechanism shown in  FIG. 1  in an opened state. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of a portable electronic device applying the slide mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a slide mechanism  10  used in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a digital camera, etc. The slide mechanism  10  includes a first plate  12 , a second plate  14 , two connecting bodies  16  connected to the first plate  12  and the second plate  14 , and a plurality of guiding strips  18 . 
     Each side of the first plate  12  forms a first flange  122 . Each first flange  122  defines a first guiding slot  124 . The first guiding slot  124  extends longitudinally along a portion of the first flange  122 . 
     The second plate  14  engages with the first plate  12  and forms a second flange  142  at each of two sides. Each second flange  142  defines a second guiding slot  144  near the middle of the second plate  14 . The second guiding slot  144  longitudinally extends along a portion of the second flange  142  and has substantially the same width as the first guiding slot  124 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the connecting body  16  can be made of elastic materials, such as rubber. The connecting body  16  engages with the first guiding slots  124  and the second guiding slots  144  to connect the first plate  12  and the second plate  14 . The connecting body  16  is shorter than the first and second guiding slots  124 , 126  and can slide relative to the first and second guiding slots  124 , 126 . The connecting body  16  includes two opposite sidewalls  160 . Each sidewall  160  defines a first groove  162  and a second groove  164  parallel to the first groove  162 . Accordingly, a first spacing wall  1622  is formed between the two opposite first grooves  162 , and between the two opposite second grooves  164 . A second spacing wall  1624  is formed between the first groove  162  and the second groove  164  on each sidewall  160 . The first spacing wall  1622  has substantially the same width as the first and second guiding slots  124 ,  144  and can be received in the first and second guiding slots  124 ,  144 . Thus, the first grooves  162  can engage with the first guiding slots  124  to connect the connecting body  16  to the first plate  12 . The second grooves  164  can engage with the second guiding slots  144  to connect the connecting body  16  to the second plate  14 . 
     The guiding strip  18  enables smoother sliding of the connecting body  16  by decreasing the friction between the connecting body  16  and the upper and second plates  12 ,  14 . The guiding strips  18  are thin and long strips secured inside the two sides of the first guiding slot  124  and the two sides of the second guiding slots  144 . 
     To assemble the slide mechanism  10 , the guiding strips  18  are respectively adhered to the first plate  12  and the second plate  14 , and positioned at two sides of the first guiding slot  124  and the two sides of the second guiding slots  144 . The connecting bodies  16  are assembled with the first plate  12  and the second plate  14 . Due to the elasticity of the connecting bodies  16 , the connecting bodies  16  can be pressed into the first guiding slots  124  and the second guiding slots  144 . The first spacing walls  1622  are received in the first guiding slots  124  and the second guiding slots  144 , and the first grooves  162  correspondingly receive the two sidewalls of the first guiding slots  124  therein, the second grooves  164  correspondingly receive the two sidewalls of the second guiding slots  144  therein. Therefore, the connecting bodies  16  connect the first plate  12  to the second plate  14 , and the connecting bodies  16  can slide relative to the first guiding slots  124  and the second guiding slots  144 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the slide mechanism  10  in a closed position, where the first plate  12  completely covers the second plate  14 . The connecting body  16  is located at an end of the first guiding slot  124 , and simultaneously located at an end of the second guiding slot  144  overlapping the end of the first guiding slot  124 . When subjected to an external force, the first plate  12  slides along direction A, the second plate  14  slides along direction B. When the first plate  12  is completely opened relative to the second plate  14  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), the connecting body  16  is positioned at the other end of the first guiding slot  124 , and simultaneously positioned at the other end of the second guiding slot  144  overlapping the other end of the first guiding slot  124 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the slide mechanism  10  is applied to a portable electronic device  20 . The electronic device  20  includes a cover  22  and a housing  24 . The cover  22  has a display  22  formed thereon, the housing  24  has a keypad  242  formed thereon. The cover  22  secures to the first plate  12 , and the housing  24  secures to the second plate  14 , accordingly, the cover  22  can open or close relative to the housing  24  accompanying the opening or closing of the slide mechanism  10 . 
     As described above, the first plate  12  connects the second plate  14  by passing of the connecting body  16  through the first guiding slot  124  and the second guiding slot  144 . Thus, the configuration of stopper and post as described in the Background can be avoided. The sliding distance of the first plate  12  relative to the second plate  14  is about equal to the sum of the length of the first and second guiding slots  124 ,  144 , and accordingly can provide more sliding distance than the typical sliding mechanism. 
     In other embodiments, the connecting body  16  can be made of metallic materials. In order to assemble with the guiding slots  124 ,  144 , referring to  FIG. 2  again, the connecting body  16  can be separated into a top potion  161 , a middle portion  163 , and a bottom portion  165 . During assembly, the middle portion  163  can be welded to the top portion  161  and the bottom portion  165 . 
     In other embodiments, an elastic member, such as a torsion spring, can be arranged between the first plate  12  and the second plate  14  to provide a pulling force when the first plate  12  slides a predetermined distance relative to the second plate  14 . 
     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assemblies and functions of various embodiments, 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 present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.