Abstract:
A handheld electronic device includes a housing, and a camera lens. The housing has a hole, and a camera lens is accommodated within the housing and exposed through the hole. The device includes a slidable panel and a retractable panel. The slidable panel is slidable relative to the housing between a covering position and a uncovering position. The camera lens is covered by the slidable panel when the slidable panel is at the covering position. The camera lens is uncovered when the slidable panel is at uncovering position. The retractable panel is movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an unretracted position. The device further includes a mechanism configured to move the retractable panel from the unretracted position to the retracted position as the slidable panel slides from the covering position to the uncovering position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application under 35 U.S.C. §365(c) of International Application No. PCT/KR2008/006388, filed Oct. 29, 2008 designating the United States. International Application PCT/KR2008/006388 was published in English as WO2009/057949 A1 on May 7, 2009. This application further claims the benefit of the earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C. §365(b) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0109783 filed Oct. 30, 2007. This application incorporates herein by reference the International Application No. PCT/KR2008/006388 including the International Publication No. WO2009/057949 A1 and the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0109783 in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a safeguard apparatus for covering a camera lens. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Related Technology 
         [0005]    In recently years, as the expense for use of a mobile communication terminal (hereinafter, referred to as ‘mobile phone’) becomes cheaper due to advance in communication technologies and high quality communication is possible even in a traveling vehicle due to enhancement of communication quality, mobile phones are being popularly used. Moreover, multi-functional mobile phones are being distributed and used so that telecommunications companies can satisfy various demands of consumers. 
         [0006]    The commercialized mobile phones generally perform various functions such as playing of games, search of the internet, transmission and reception of e-mails, payment for goods, as well as voice communication, and recently, the function of video communication for transmitting a photographed image to the counterpart using cameras embedded in mobile phones is added to the mobile phones. 
         [0007]    The camera including a lens mounted to a mobile phone has only a window UV-coated for protection of a camera and shielding from UV rays. Accordingly, as the camera lens are usually exposed to the outside, the surface of the lens is contaminated by foreign substances such as dust when the mobile phone is being carried and used, or is damaged by friction or an impact from the outside. 
         [0008]    In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, cover apparatus for protection of lenses of cameras embedded in mobile phones are being continuously developed. As an example, Korean Patent No. 10-649734 discloses a mobile phone having a lens protecting cover that comprises a hole formed at the sheath of the mobile phone so that an image can be photographed through the lens of a camera module, a cover member disposed between the camera module and the hole, and one end of which is rotatably mounted to the inner surface of the sheath of the mobile phone and the opposite end of which has a knob, and a window member mounted to a portion of the cover member and made of a light transmitting material so that the lens of the camera module can photograph an image through the hole when the window member coincides with the hole. The hole can be closed by rotating the cover member or an image can be photographed by the camera module when the window member coincides with the hole. 
         [0009]    However, the camera lens protecting apparatus has a knob protruding to the outside from the cover member, so the knob may be easily damaged. Moreover, the damage to the knob makes the protection apparatus useless. 
         [0010]    The foregoing discussion in the background section is to provide general background information, and does not constitute an admission of prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    One aspect of the invention provides a handheld electronic device. The device can comprise: a housing comprising a hole; a camera lens accommodated within the housing and exposed through the hole; a slidable panel slidable relative to the housing between a covering position and a uncovering position, wherein the camera lens is covered by the slidable panel when the slidable panel is at the covering position, wherein the camera lens is uncovered when the slidable panel is at uncovering position; a retractable panel movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an unretracted position; and a mechanism configured to move the retractable panel from the unretracted position to the retracted position as the slidable panel slides from the covering position to the uncovering position. 
         [0012]    In the foregoing device, the retractable panel is at its unretracted position when the slidable panel may be at its covering position. When the slidable panel is at its covering position and the retractable panel is at its unretracted position, the slidable panel and retractable panel may be next to each other at about the same level from the housing. The retractable panel may be at its retracted position when the slidable panel is at its uncovering position. When the slidable panel is at its uncovering position and the retractable panel is at its retracted position, the slidable panel and retractable panel may be next to each other at different levels from the housing. The slidable panel may cover the retractable panel when the slidable panel is at its uncovering position. The retractable panel is not covered by the slidable panel when the slidable panel is at its covering position. 
         [0013]    Still in the foregoing device, the mechanism may comprise a lever configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the retractable panel may be at its retracted position when the lever stays at the second position. The slidable panel may be configured to move the lever from the first position to the second position as the slidable panel slides in an uncovering direction that is from the covering position to the uncovering position. The lever may be configured to reach the second position before the slidable panel reaches the uncovering position during its sliding in the uncovering direction. Once the lever has reached the second position, the slidable panel causes the lever to stay at its second position while the slidable panel is sliding in the uncovering direction and when the slidable panel stays at its uncovering position. The lever may be configured to move from the second position to the first position as the slidable panel slides in a covering direction that is from the uncovering position to the covering position. 
         [0014]    Yet in the foregoing device, the sliding panel may be configured to cause the lever to stay at its second position while the slidable panel is sliding in the covering direction until after the slidable panel has reached a predetermined position located between its covering position and its uncovering position. The mechanism may comprise a spring that biases the lever toward its first position, wherein once the sliding panel has passed the predetermined position during its sliding in the covering direction, the lever is configured to begin moving from its second position to the first position. With action of the spring, the lever may be further configured to push the sliding panel toward the covering position after the sliding panel has passed the predetermined position. 
         [0015]    Further in the foregoing device, the retractable panel may be configured to reach its retracted position before the slidable panel reaches its uncovering position. The mechanism may be further configured to move the retractable panel from the retracted position to the unretracted position as the slidable panel slides from the uncovering position to the covering position. The retractable panel may be configured to stay at its retracted position until after the slidable panel has reached a predetermined position located between its covering position and its uncovering position. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of the invention provides a method of operating a handheld electronic device. The method comprises: providing the foregoing device, in which the slidable panel is at its covering position, and the retractable panel is at its unretracted position; and sliding the slidable panel toward the uncovering position, which causes the retractable panel to move from the unretracted position toward the retracted position. 
         [0017]    In the foregoing method, the retractable panel may reach the retracted position before the slidable panel reaches the uncovering position, wherein the retractable panel may stay at its retracted position when the slidable panel stays at its uncovering position. The method may further comprise: sliding the slidable panel from the uncovering position toward the covering position, wherein the retractable panel stays at its retracted position before the slidable panel reaches a predetermined position between the uncovering position and the covering position; and further sliding the slidable panel to pass the predetermined position, which causes the retractable panel to move from the retracted position to the unretracted position, and further causes the slidable panel to spontaneously slide toward the covering position without external force to slide the slidable panel toward the covering direction. 
         [0018]    Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens that can simply and easily open and close the camera lens embedded in a mobile phone in a slide manner. 
         [0019]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safeguard apparatus for opening and closing a camera lens by sliding the camera lens and protecting the camera lens, comprising: a support body having a lens hole for exposing the camera lens; a cover member slidably mounted to the support member to open and close the camera lens exposed through the lens hole; a plate member movable upward and downward from the rear end of the support body to provide a resilient force to the cover when making contact with the cover member while the cover member is being slid; and a drive unit provided in a support frame to be operated by rotary links, ends of which are caught and rotated when the cover member is slid, so as to accommodate and automatically return the plate member. 
         [0020]    Here, the support member includes an exposure plate having a lens hole for exposing the camera lens and fixing bars fixed to opposite sides thereof to fix the exposure plate to a case of the mobile phone. The cover member includes guide bars fixed to the fixing bars respectively, and a cover plate opposite sides of which are slidably inserted into the guide bars. 
         [0021]    Extension pieces are formed on opposite side surfaces of the plate member, each extension piece has first and second connection holes for connecting the extension piece to the drive unit, a fixing hole for fixing a fixing pin of the drive unit is formed in the plate member between the first and second connection holes, and a downwardly inclined contact piece is formed at the front end of the plate member so as to softly move the cover member during slide of the cover member and to provide a resilient force when the cover member slides back to the original position and then makes contact with an end of the plate member. 
         [0022]    A connection hole and a fixing hole are diagonally formed in each side surface of the support frame to connect the drive unit to the support frame, and first and second movement guide holes are formed on opposite side surfaces of the support frame so that the first and second connection holes of the connection pieces and the first and second connection links of the drive unit are connected to each other and the drive unit is moved forward inside the support frame when the plate member is inserted into the support frame. 
         [0023]    The drive unit includes movable bars ends of which are connected to extension pieces of the plate member respectively so as to be moved on opposite inner surfaces of the support frame along first and second movement guide holes of the support frame, rotary link ends of which are rotatably connected to the front end of the movable bar and the opposite ends of which are rotatably connected to the support frame, and resilient members ends of which are connected to the extension pieces of the plate member and the opposite ends of which are connected to side surfaces of the support frame to provide a resilient force to the plate member and automatically return the plate member to the original position. The safeguard apparatus for a camera lens in accordance an embodiment can simply and easily open and close the camera lens embedded in a mobile phone in a slide manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  from the bottom; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  from the bottom before the operation of the safeguard apparatus; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  from the bottom after the operation of the safeguard apparatus; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  before the operation of the safeguard apparatus; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  after the operation of the safeguard apparatus; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention from the bottom; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an operation unit of the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a side view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 7  before the operation of the safeguard apparatus; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a side view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 7  after the operation of the safeguard apparatus; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating installation of an operation unit in a support frame of a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the operation unit of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a side view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 11  before the operation of the safeguard apparatus; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a side view illustrating the safeguard apparatus of  FIG. 11  after the operation of the safeguard apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the same reference numerals indicate the same elements or parts. In the following description of embodiments, persons of those skilled in the art will appreciate that the detailed description of the already known structure and operation and the certain details not related to the subject matter will be omitted in this detailed description so as not to obscure the relevant details of the present embodiment and for greater clarity. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 1 to 6  are views illustrating a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the safeguard apparatus  10  for a camera lens according to the embodiment of the present invention opens and closes a lens (not shown) of a camera embedded in a mobile phone by sliding the lens. 
         [0041]    The safeguard apparatus  10  includes a support body  11  fixed to a case (not shown) of a mobile phone and having a lens hole  111  for exposing the lens of the camera, a cover member  12  slidably mounted to the support member  11  to open and close the lens exposed through the lens hole  111 , a plate member  13  movable upward and downward from the rear end of the support body  11  to provide a resilient force to the cover  12  when making contact with the cover member  12  while the cover member  12  is being slid, and a drive unit  15  provided in the support frame  14  to be operated by a rotary link  154 , one end of which is caught and rotated when the cover member  12  is slid, so as to accommodate and automatically return the plate member  13 . 
         [0042]    Hereinafter, the safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the support member  11  includes an exposure plate  112  having a lens hole  111  for exposing the camera lens at a central portion thereof, and fixing bars  113  fixed to opposite sides thereof to fix the exposure plate  112  to the case of the mobile phone and longer than the exposure plate  112 . 
         [0043]    The cover member  12  opens and closes the exposure hole  111  when it is slid upward and downward along the fixing bars  113 . The cover member  12  includes guide bars  121  fixed to the fixing bars  113  respectively, and a cover plate  122  opposite sides of which are slidably inserted into the guide bars  121 . 
         [0044]    Here, guide grooves (reference numerals omitted) for accommodating opposite sides of the cover plate  122  are formed on facing surfaces of the guide bars  121 , and guide bosses (reference numerals omitted) having cross-sections corresponding to the guide grooves are formed on opposite sides of the cover plate  122 . 
         [0045]    The plate member  13  is located at the lower end of the exposure plate  112 , and the fixing bars  113  longer than the exposure plate  112  are located on opposite sides of the exposure plate  112 . Extension pieces  131  bent in one direction are integrally formed on opposite side surfaces of the plate member  13 . Each extension piece  131  has first and second connection holes  132  and  133  spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to connect the extension piece  131  to the drive unit  15 , and a fixing hole  134  for fixing a fixing pin (reference numeral omitted) connected to resilient members  155  of the drive unit  15  between the first and second connection holes  132  and  133 . 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a downwardly inclined contact piece  135  is formed at one end of the plate member  13 , i.e. at the front end of the plate member  13  close to the exposure plate  112  so as to softly move the cover member  12  during the slide of the cover member  12  and to provide a resilient force when the cover member  12  slides back to the original position and then makes contact with the end of the plate member  13 . 
         [0047]    The upper, lower, and front faces of the support frame  14  are opened to install the drive unit  15  and to insert and withdraw the plate member  13  connected to the drive unit  15  by the medium of pins passing through opposite side surfaces of the support frame  14 , i.e. the first and second connection holes  132  and  133  of the connection pieces  131 . 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , a connection hole  141  and a fixing hole  142  are diagonally formed in each side surface of the support frame  14  to connect the drive unit  15  to the support frame  14  by the medium of pins (refer to  FIG. 2 ). First and second movement guide holes  143  and  144  are formed on opposite side surfaces of the support frame  14  so that the first and second connection holes  132  and  133  of the connection pieces  131  and the first and second connection links  151  and  152  of the drive unit are connected to each other by the medium of pins and the drive unit  15  is moved forward inside the support frame  14  when the plate member  13  is inserted into the support frame  14 . 
         [0049]    The first and second movement guide holes  143  and  144  have substantially L-shaped cross-sections, and the front sides of their horizontally punched portions are downwardly inclined so that the drive unit  15  can be moved more easily. 
         [0050]    The drive unit  15  is operated when the rotary link  154  caught and rotated by slide movement of the cover member  12  is rotated to move the plate member  13  downward and to automatically return the plate member  13  when the cover member  12  slidably returns to the original position. 
         [0051]    The drive unit  15  includes first and second connection links  151  and  152  movable on opposite inner surfaces of the support frame  14  along first and second movement guide holes  143  and  144 , and having connection holes  1512  and  1522  at ends thereof so as to be connected to first and second connection holes  132  and  133  formed in the extension pieces  131  of the plate member  13  and having rotation holes  1511  and  1521  at the opposite ends thereof so as to be connected to movable bars  153  by the medium of pins, movable bars  153  in which holes  1531  and  1532  rotatably connected to the rotation holes  1512  and  1522  formed in the first and second links  151  and  152  by the medium of pins are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and movement holes  1533  is connected to ends of rotary links  154  through pins at the front ends thereof, rotary links  154  ends of which are rotatably connected to the movement holes  1533  by the medium of pins using holes  1541  and the opposite ends of which are rotatably connected to the connection holes  141  formed in the support frame  14  using rotation holes  1542  and protrude further than the support frame  14  so as to be caught so that the cover member  12  is slid, and resilient members  155  ends of which are connected to the extension pieces  131  of the plate member  13  and the opposite ends of which are connected to fixing holes  142  formed on side surfaces of the support frame  14  to provide a resilient force to the plate member  13  and automatically return the plate member  13 . The resilient members  155  are torsion springs whose central portions are wound. The holes  1541  of the rotary links  154  are elliptical holes for moving the movement bars  153  by the operation of the drive unit  15 . 
         [0052]    Hereinafter, the operation of the safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . As illustrated, when the user is to photograph a subject using a camera of a mobile phone, if the user pushes the cover member  12  covering the camera lens in one direction, i.e. downward as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the cover plate  122  of the cover member  12  is slid along the guide bars  121  whereby the camera lens is exposed to the outside and the rotary link  154  of the drive unit  15  provided in the support frame  14  moves. 
         [0053]    The rotation of the rotary link  154  operates the drive unit  15  whereby the plate member  13  provided at the rear end of the cover member  12  is moved downward inside the support frame  14 . In other words, the rotation of the rotary link  154  moves the movable bars  153  ends of which are rotatably connected to the holes  1541  to the front side of the support frame  14  whereby the first and second links  151  and  152  ends of which are rotatably connected to the holes  1531  and  1532  of the movable bars  153 . 
         [0054]    The rotation of the first and second connection links  151  and  152  accommodates the plate member  13  connected through the first and second connection holes  132  and  133  formed in the extension pieces  131  by pins downward and to the front side toward the support frame  14  along the first and second movement guide holes  143  and  144  of the support frame  14 . 
         [0055]    Then, the resilient members  155  of the drive unit  15  are maintained compressed as the plate member  13  is moved downward and to the front side. In this state, i.e. with the camera lens being exposed as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the subject is photographed using the camera provided in the mobile phone. 
         [0056]    On the other hand, if the use of the camera is completed and the cover member  12  is slid to protect the camera lens, the drive unit  15  and the plate member  13  return to the original position by the forces of the compressed resilient members  155 . In other words, if the resilient members  155  provide a resilient force to the plate member  13  as the cover member  12  is slid when the rotary link  15  is rotated by the cover member  12  and is caught by the bottom surface of the cover member  12 , the plate member  13  is moved to the rear side and upward on opposite side surfaces of the support frame  14  along the first and second movement guide holes  143  and  144 . As the plate member  13  moves, the movable bars  153  also moves, and the rotary link  154  rotates and returns. 
         [0057]    According to the safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the user can open and close the lens by manipulating the cover member once, the lens can be simply and easily opened and closed. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 7 to 10  are views illustrating a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the safeguard apparatus  200  includes a support body  210  fixed to a case of a mobile phone and having a lens hole for exposing the camera lens, a cover member  220  slidably mounted to the support member  210  to open and close the camera lens exposed through the lens hole; a plate member  230  movable upward and downward from the rear end of the support body  210  while the cover member  220  is being slid; and a drive unit  250  provided in a support frame  240  to be operated by a rotary bar  252  rotated when the cover member  220  is slid, so as to accommodate and automatically return the plate member  230 . 
         [0059]    In the following descriptions, since the support body  210 , the cover member  220 , and the plate member  230  have the same or similar structures to those of one embodiment of the present invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the upper and lower surfaces and one surface of the support frame  240  are opened, the support frame  240  is fixed to opposite side surfaces of the plate member  230  by pins and is spaced apart from the opposite side surfaces of the plate member  230 , and a pair of longitudinal holes  241  and  242  are formed on opposite side surfaces of the support frame  240  respectively so that the plate member  230  is moved downward and inserted when the cover member  230  is slid by the operation of the drive unit  250 . 
         [0061]    Rotary bar holes  243  for rotatably connecting the rotary bars  251  of the drive unit  250  by the medium of pins are formed on the front side of the opposite side surfaces of the support frame  240 , and a pair of hinge holes  244  and  245  for the operation of the drive unit  250  are formed on the opposite side surfaces of the support frame  240  and are separated from the longitudinal holes  241  and  242 . 
         [0062]    The drive unit  250  is operated by the rotation of the rotary bar  251  caught and rotated by slide of the cover member  220  to move the plate member  230  downward and automatically return the plate member  230  when the cover  220  slides and returns. 
         [0063]    The drive unit  250  includes rotary bars  251  whose central upper ends are rotatably provided in the rotary bar holes  243  by the medium of pins and protruding further than opposite side surfaces of the support frame  240  so as to be caught and rotated when the cover member  220  is slid, rotational force transfer bars  252  ends of which are rotatably connected to ends of the rotary bars  251  respectively to transfer a rotational force, connection plates  253  rotatably connected to the opposite ends of the rotational force transfer bars  252  respectively and having connection holes  2531  and  2532  at opposite side ends thereof respectively, first and second rotary pieces  254  and  255  ends of which are rotatably connected to the connection plates  252  respectively and the opposite ends of which are rotatably connected to hinge holes  244  and  245  formed in the support frame  240 , first and second movable pieces  256  and  257  ends of which are rotatably connected to the bottom surfaces of the opposite ends of the first and second rotary pieces  254  and  255  and the opposite ends of which are provided in the longitudinal holes  241  and  242  of the support frame  240  so as to be movable upward and downward, and resilient members  258  caught by pins so that ends thereof are fixed to opposite inner surfaces of the support frame  240  and the opposite ends thereof are connected to ends of the first movable pieces  256 , the opposite ends of the first rotary pieces  254 , or both ends of the connection plates (the right side of the connection plates illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 10 ), to return the connection plates  253 , the first and second rotary pieces  254  and  255 , and the first and second movable pieces  256  and  257  that are rotatably provided so as to correspond to the rotation of the rotary bars  251 . Here, the resilient members  258  are tensile springs. 
         [0064]    Catching bosses  2541  and  2551  bent downward to catch the first and second movable pieces  256  and  257  when the first and second rotary pieces  254  and  255  are rotated and returned as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 10  are formed on side surfaces of the first and second rotary pieces  254  and  255 . 
         [0065]    Hereinafter, the operation of the safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 . As illustrated, when the user is to photograph a subject using a camera of a mobile phone, if the user pushes the cover member  220  covering the camera lens in one direction, i.e. downward as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the cover member  220  is slid whereby the camera lens is exposed to the outside and the rotary links  251  of the drive unit  250  provided in the support frame  240  rotates. 
         [0066]    The drive unit  250  is operated by the rotation of the rotary bars  251  whereby the plate member  230  provided at the rear end of the cover member  220  is moved downward inside the support frame  240 . In other words, if the rotary bars  251  are rotated, the rotational force transfer bars  252  ends of which are rotatably connected to the rotary bars  251  are rotated and are moved to the front side as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0067]    The rotation of the rotational force transfer bars  252  moves the connection plates  253  to the front side of the support frame  240  and rotates the first and second rotary pieces  254  and  255  and the first and second movable pieces  256  and  257  connected to the connection plates  253  by pins. At the same time, the plate member  230  is moved inside the support frame  240  along the longitudinal hole  241  and  242  of the support frame  240 . 
         [0068]    Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , as the resilient members  258  of the drive unit  250  are maintained prolonged, if the use of the camera is completed and the cover member  220  is slid, the drive unit  250  and the plate member  230  of the resilient member  258  returns to the original state, in which case since the description of the restoration is similar to that of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 11 to 14  are views illustrating a safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the safeguard apparatus  300  includes a support body  310  having a lens hole for exposing the camera lens, a cover member  320  slidably mounted to the support member  310  to open and close the camera lens exposed through the lens hole, a plate member  330  moved downward to automatically return to the original position by connecting one end of one of resilient members of a drive unit  350  to a connection hole  331  at the rear end of the support body  310  when the cover member  320  is slid, and a drive unit  350  provided in a support frame  340  to be operated by a rotary plate  351  rotated when the cover member  320  is slid, so as to accommodate and automatically return the plate member  330 . 
         [0070]    In the following descriptions, since the support body  310 , the cover member  320 , and the plate member  330  have the same or similar structures to those of the above discussed embodiments of the present invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0071]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 14 , the upper and lower surfaces and one surface of the support frame  340  of the safeguard apparatus  300  for a camera lens according to the embodiment of the present invention are opened to form a substantially U-like shape, opposite side surfaces of the plate member  330  are fixed to opposite side surfaces of the support frame  340  by pins, and first and second substantially L-shaped movement holes  341  and  342  are formed such that the plate member  330  is moved downward when the cover member  320  is slid. 
         [0072]    Rotary plate holes  343  are formed on the front side of opposite side surfaces of the support frame  340  to rotatably connect the rotary plate  351  of the drive unit  350  by the medium of a pin and an accommodation hole  344  for accommodating first resilient members  355  of the drive unit  350  caught by the support frame  340  are formed between the movement holes  341  and  342 . 
         [0073]    Catching bosses  345  for catching ends of resilient members of the drive unit  350  are integrally bent on the bottom surfaces of opposite sides of the support frame  340 . The drive unit  350  is operated by the rotation of the rotary plate  351  caught and rotated by slide of the cover member  320  to move the plate member  330  downward and automatically return the plate member  330  when the cover member  320  slidably returns. 
         [0074]    The drive unit  350  includes rotary plates  351  having holes  3511  so that their central upper ends are rotatably connected to the rotary plate holes  343  by the medium of pins, ends of which are protrude further than opposite side surfaces of the support frame  340  so that catching bosses  3512  are integrally formed to be caught when the cover member  320  is slid rearward, and having holes  3513  at the lower ends of the holes  3511 , rotational force transfer bars  354  in which a hole  3521  is formed at ends thereof so that the ends thereof are rotatably connected to the rotary plates  351  to transfer a rotational force, holes  3542  and  3543  are formed at the rear end and the opposite end of the hole  3521  so as to be connected to holes  333  and  334  formed in extension plates  332  of the plate member  330  and be connected to movement holes  341  and  342  formed in the opposite ends of the first and second connection plate  352  and  353  ends of which is rotatably connected by pins and the support frame  340 , and catching holes  3544  for catching ends of the second resilient members  356  are formed between the holes  3542  and  3543 , first resilient members  355  ends of which are caught by connection holes  331  of the plate member  330  located in accommodation holes  344  formed in the support frame  340  by connecting the plate member  330  to the support frame  340  and the opposite ends of which are caught by a support frame  340  to automatically return the plate member  330 , and second resilient members  356  ends of which are caught by the catching bosses  345  of the support frame  340  and the opposite ends of which are caught by the catching holes  3544  of the rotational force transfer bars  354  to automatically return the drive unit  350 . Here, the first and second resilient members  355  are tensile springs. 
         [0075]    Hereinafter, the operation of the safeguard apparatus for a camera lens according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 14 . As illustrated, when the user is to photograph a subject using a camera of a mobile phone, if the user pushes the cover member  320  covering the camera lens in one direction, i.e. downward as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the cover member  320  is slid whereby the camera lens is exposed to the outside and the rotary plates  351  of the drive unit  350  provided in the support frame  340  rotates. 
         [0076]    The drive unit  350  is operated by the rotation of the rotary plates  351  whereby the plate member  330  provided at the rear end of the cover member  320  is moved downward inside the support frame  340 . In other words, if the rotary bars  351  are rotated, the rotational force transfer bars  354  ends of which are rotatably connected to the rotary plates  351  are rotated and are moved to the front side as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0077]    The first and second connection plates  352  and  353  are moved to the front side of the movement holes  341  and  342  formed on opposite side surfaces of the support frame  340  by the rotation of the rotational force transfer bars  354  and the plate member  330  is moved inside the support frame  340  along the movement holes  341  and  342  by the extension pieces  332  connected to the opposite ends of the first and second connection plates  352  and  352  by pins to open the lens. 
         [0078]    Then, the first resilient members  355  of the drive unit ends of which are caught by the movement holes  331  of the plate member  330  and the opposite ends of which are caught by opposite side surface of the support frame  340  and the second resilient members  356  ends of which are caught by the catching bosses  345  of the support frame  340  and the opposite ends of which are caught by the catching holes  3544  of the rotational force transfer bars  354  are maintained prolonged as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , whereby if the cover member  320  is slid after use of the camera is completed, the operation unit  350  and the plate member  330  returns to the original state by the first and second resilient members  355  and  356 , in which case since the description of the restoration is similar to those of the above discussed embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0079]    Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.