Abstract:
A foldable electronic device ( 100 ) has at least two components hinged together by a hinge assembly. The foldable electronic device includes: a cover ( 10 ), a rotating element ( 20 ), an elastic element ( 30 ) and a frame ( 40 ), a set of magnetic elements ( 50 ) and a body ( 60 ). The rotating element has two notches defined therein. The elastic element has a latching portion. The elastic element is fixed in the rotating element. The frame slidably engages with the rotating element. The frame is engaged with the cover. The rotating element rotatably connects with the body. The magnetic elements make the cover close relative to the body. When the latching portion of the rotating element engages in different notches of the rotating element, magnetic force between the magnetic elements decreases so as to open the cover relative to the body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to foldable electronic devices and, particularly, to a foldable electronic device with a conveniently openable cover. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     With the development of wireless communication and information processing technologies, foldable electronic devices such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are appearing in abundance, and consumers may enjoy the full convenience of high technology anytime and anywhere. Foldable electronic devices are liked by a wide range of consumers because of their small size, novel design and ease of storage. Use of a foldable design can also avoid accidental activation of keys/buttons of the electronic device during transportation/storage. 
     One kind of typical foldable electronic devices opens automatically through a button activated release. Foldable electronic devices usually consist of a hinge assembly that connects a body with a flip cover. The hinge assembly includes a control member, a cam, a shaft and an elastic member. The control member is connected to a button. When the button is pushed, the control member is released. The cam then rotates relative to the shaft of the hinge assembly under the elastic force of the elastic member. In doing so the cam causes the flip cover of the foldable electronic device to rotate with it. Thus, the foldable electronic device opens automatically. However, the button of this kind of foldable electronic device can easily be activated accidentally whilst being carried in a bag or in a pocket, and accidental activation of the electronic device itself can result from this. 
     Therefore, a new foldable electronic device is desired in order to overcome the above-described problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present sliding structure includes a rotating element, an elastic element and a frame. The rotating element is configured for rotatably attaching to a main body of an electronic device. The rotating element has two notches defined therein. The elastic element has a latching portion. The elastic element is fixed in the rotating element. The frame slidably engages with the rotating element. The latching portion of the rotating element selectably engages in one of the notches of the rotating element so as to limit the frame in different positions of the frame relative to the rotating element. 
     One embodiment of the present cover assembly includes a cover and a sliding structure. The sliding structure includes a rotating element, a frame and a control mechanism. The rotating element is configured for rotatably attaching to a main body of an electronic device. The frame slidably engages with the rotating element and is rotatable with the rotating element. The frame is engaged with the cover so that the cover is slidable relative to and rotatable with the rotating element. The control mechanism is configured for releasably locking the frame in a predetermined position relative to the rotating element. 
     One embodiment of the present foldable electronic device includes: a main body, a cover assembly rotatable between a closed state and an open state and a locking mechanism. The cover assembly includes a rotating element and a cover. The rotating element rotatably connects with the main body. The cover is attached to the rotating element in a manner so as to be slidable relative to and rotatable with the rotating element. The locking mechanism forms between the main body and the cover assembly. The cover is slidable between a locked position where the locking mechanism locks the cover assembly in said closed state and an unlocked position where the locking mechanism releases the cover assembly so as to allow the cover assembly to rotate to said open state. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present foldable electronic device will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the foldable 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 principles of the present foldable 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 embodiment of the present foldable electronic device; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the cover shown in  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the sliding member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the elastic member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the cover assembly without the cover in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the cover assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is the foldable electronic device in a position corresponding to a closed state; and 
         FIG. 9  is the foldable electronic device in a position corresponding to an open state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  shows a sliding structure  200 , applied to a foldable electronic device such as a flip type mobile phone  100 . The sliding structure  200  cooperates with an automatic hinge assembly (not shown) to be used together in the flip type mobile phone  100 . 
     The flip type mobile phone  100 , in the embodiment illustrated, includes a cover  10 , a sliding structure  200 , and a body  60 . The sliding structure  200  includes a rotating element  20 , two elastic members  30 , a frame  40 , and four magnetic elements  50 . The rotating element  20 , the elastic members  30  and the frame  40  are assembled in the cover  10 . The assembled cover  10  and the body  60  are connected with each other by means of the automatic hinge assembly. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the cover  10  is substantially a board. The cover  10  includes a main wall  102 , two sidewalls  104  and one end wall  106 . The main wall  102  is substantially rectangular, which together with the sidewalls  104  and the end wall  106  defines a space therebetween. Opposite to the end wall  106 , the main wall  102  has a cutout  108  defined at one end thereof. Each sidewall  104  has an inner surface  112 . Each inner surface  112  has a block  114  disposed on the inner surface  112  so as to be positioned opposite the block on the opposing surface. Each block  114  has two spaced projections  1142  formed at a free side thereof. Adjacent to each block  114 , two protrusions  116  are disposed at two sides thereof. A containing portion  118  is formed in a proximal end of the sidewalls  104  adjacent to one of the protrusions  116 . The containing portion  118  has some height relative to the inner surface  112 . The containing portion  118  has a containing groove  119  defined therein. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the rotating element  20  has a substantially U-shaped configuration and includes two rod portions  22  and a connecting portion  24  integrally formed with the rod portions  24 . The connecting portion  24  connects with one end of each rod portion  22 , each rod portion  22  has two spaced rod notches  222  defined in a center toward an inside direction. The connecting portion  24  has two opposite connecting sleeves  242  disposed at two ends. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the elastic element  30  is substantially strip-shaped with a surface bent to form a wave-pattern. The elastic element  30  includes a main section  32  and two extending sections  34 . The extending sections  34  are perpendicularly formed at two opposite ends of the main section  32 . The main section  32  has a pivotal hole  36  defined adjacent to each of the extending sections  34 . The main section  32  includes two concave portions  37  and one convex portion  38  between the pivotal holes  36 . The concave portions  37  and the convex portion  38  are formed through bending. The concave portions  37  extend in a direction similar to that of the extending sections  34 . The convex portion  38  extends in a direction opposite to that of the concave portions  37 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 5 , the frame  40  includes a main board  42 , two connecting boards  43  and two side boards  44  perpendicularly connected with each other. The main board  42  is substantially rectangular in shape. The fame  40  includes a space. The connecting boards  43  and the sideboards  44  respectively perpendicularly extend from an inside of the main board  42 , and surround the space together. The main board  42  has a rectangular opening  45  defined at a proximal end thereof. Two extending boards  46  extend from the side boards  44  opposite to the main board  42 . The extending boards  46 , the side boards  44 , and the main board  42  cooperatively form a receiving cavity  48 , which receives the rod portions  22  of the rotating element  20 . The main board  42  has two stoppers  422  defined at two sides thereof. The stoppers  422  extend some height from the main board  42 . Each of the stoppers  422  has a positioning groove  4222  defined in an outside thereof. Two spaced latching slots  424  are defined between the two stoppers  422 . The side boards  44  respectively has two spaced slits  442  and two long openings  444 . The two slits  442  are located at two sides of the long openings  444 . The side boards  44  has two posts  446  disposed at one side thereof opposite to the stoppers  422 . The posts  446  are located between the two slits  442 , and are adjacent to two sides of the long openings  444 . Each of posts  446  engages in the pivotal hole  36  of the elastic element  30 . The extending sections  34  of the elastic element  30  are received in the slits  442 , and the two concave portions  37  of the elastic element  30  are accommodated in the two long openings  444 . Opposite to the rectangular opening  45 , the extending boards  46  intersect with the main board  42 , forming a step  49 . 
     The magnetic element  50  is substantially rectangular in shape. The two magnetic elements  50  are disposed in the containing grooves  119  of the cover  10 . Another two magnetic elements  50  are disposed in the body  60  of the mobile phone  100 . When the cover  10  is closed relative to the body  60 , the magnetic elements  50  attract each other by magnetic force. 
     The body  60  is used for accommodating keypads and printed electronic boards. The body  60  has a pair of recesses  62  for receiving two magnetic elements  50 . A barrel  64  is disposed at one end of the body  60 . A hinge assembly may be put into the barrel  64  of the body  60 . 
     In assembly, referring to  FIG. 6 , the elastic element  30  is assembled into the frame  40 . The extending sections  34  of the elastic element  30  are respectively inserted into the slits  442  of the frame  40 . At the same time, the pivotal holes  36  of the elastic element are aligned with the posts  446  of the frame  40 , and the posts  446  are inserted into the pivotal holes  36 . One concave portion  37  is accommodated in each of the long openings  444  of the frame  40 . Accordingly, the elastic element  30  is fixed onto the frame  40 . After that, the two rod portions  22  of the rotating element  20  are inserted along one end of the frame  40  so as to be accommodated in the receiving cavity  48  of the frame  40 . One side of each rod portion  22  is adjacent to the elastic element  30 , the other side of each rod portion  22  resists the stoppers  422 , thereby holding the rotating element  20  in the assembly. The connecting portion  24  of the rotating element  20  resists one of the connecting boards  43  so as to make the rotating element  20  fit into the frame  40 . The convex portion  38  of the elastic element  30  engages in one of the rod notches  222  of the rotating element  20 . The rotating element  20  may slide relative to the frame  40  so that the convex portion  38  may engage in the next rod notch  222 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the above-assembled frame  40  is combined into the cover  10 . The frame  40  is disposed at an inside of the cover  10 . The rectangular opening  45  of the frame  40  is opposite to the cutout  108  of the cover  10 . Simultaneously, the blocks  114  of the cover  10  are received in the latching slots  424 , and the protrusions  116  of the cover  10  are received in the positioning groove  4222  of the frame  40 . The step  49  of the frame  40  resists one side of the containing portion  118 . Accordingly, the frame  40  is fixed on the cover  10 . In order to prevent the frame  40  from falling off from the cover  10 , the frame  40  is fixed with the cover  10  by means of one or more screws. 
     Then, the two magnetic elements  50  are received in the containing groove  119  of the cover  10 , another two magnetic element  50  are received in the recess  62  of the body  60 . Finally, the hinge assembly is disposed into the barrel  64  of the body  60 , at the same time, two ends of the hinge assembly connect with the connecting sleeves  242  of the rotating element  20 . The assembled process of the mobile phone  100  is finished. 
     In use, referring to  FIG. 8 , the hinge assembly has always a rotating tendency. However, the mobile phone  100  is kept in a closed state by means of the attraction between the two magnetic elements  50  of the cover  10  and the two magnetic elements  50  of the body  60 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , to open the cover  10 , the cover  10  is pushed toward the end wall  106 . Owing to the cover  10  engaging with the frame  40 , the cover  10  then moves the frame  40 . The frame  40  then pushes the elastic element  30 , the elastic element  30  then slides relative to the rotating element  20 . The convex portion  38  of the elastic element  30  falls out from the rod notch  222  and slides into the next rod notch  222 . The cover  10  is automatically opened under the hinge assembly when the magnetic elements  50  of the cover  10  are far away from the magnetic elements  50  of the body  60 . When the mobile phone  100  is closed, the cover  10  is pushed by hand in a reverse direction. The convex portion  38  of the elastic element  30  then slides into the next rod notch  222  so that the magnetic elements  50  of the cover  10  are positioned opposite to the magnetic elements  50  of the body  60 . Accordingly, the cover  10  is closed relative to the body  60 . 
     In the above-mentioned embodiments, the elastic element  30  fixed with the cover  10 , and the notches  222  defined in the rotating element cooperatively act as a control mechanism for limiting the frame  40  in different predetermined positions. In an alternative embodiment, the frame may be fixed with the rotating element, and notches may be defined in the frame. Furthermore, the frame may be even omitted, in which case structures slidably engaging with the rotating element may be formed directly on the cover. Moreover, the control mechanism disclosed above may be replaced with other structures that can perform such limiting function. 
     In the above-mentioned embodiments, the magnetic elements act as a locking mechanism for locking the cover in the closed state. Understandably, the locking mechanism disclosed above may be replaced with other structures such as mechanical latches. 
     As described above, the present invention provides a sliding structure for use with any portable device, beyond the mobile phone illustrated, and/or with other devices needing a sliding structure that selectably facilitates fully open and fully closed positions. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.