Abstract:
Provided is a stopper device for a sliding swing type portable communication device, in which a stopper is made up of a small number of parts capable of restricting the swinging operation after sliding operation as well as the sliding operation after the swing operation. The stopper device includes a body housing and a sliding housing opened or closed by sliding or swinging in relation to the body housing, a first sliding member coupled to the sliding housing, a second sliding member coupled to the first sliding member to enable the first sliding member to slide, a swing member coupled to the body housing, installed between the first and second sliding members, to allow the first and second sliding members to swing, and a stopper unit provided to each member, restricting the swinging of the sliding housing when the sliding housing slides and the sliding of the sliding housing when the sliding housing swings before sliding.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to an application entitled “Stopper Device for Sliding Swing Type Portable Communication Device” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 19, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0076825, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a stopper device for a sliding swing type portable communication device, in which a stopper comprise of small components to restrict a swing operation after sliding operation as well as the sliding operation after the swing operation. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, a “portable communication device” refers to an electronic device that a user can carry around to perform wireless communication with a desired party. In consideration of portability, the design of such a portable communication device must be compact, slim, hand-held, and light, but also capable of increasing the use of multimedia having various functions. In future, portable communication devices will be used for many other functions and purposes for various multimedia or Internet environments. 
         [0006]    The portable communication devices are typically classified into a bar-type, a flip-type, or a folder-type. Further, the portable communication devices are also classified into a neck wearable-type or a wrist wearable-type according to wearing position or method. In addition, the portable communication devices are also classified into a swing-type or a sliding-type according to opening/closing method. 
         [0007]    Such conventional portable communication devices are designed to allow for a voice communication function as well as a high-speed data communication function. A camera function is incorporated in the portable communication device, so that it is possible to transmit an image signal. Such a device is provided with a camera lens module of an internal or external type, so that is possible to perform image communication visually or to photograph a desired subject. 
         [0008]    Currently, it is inconvenient to watch a video or a television (TV) through the portable communication device. This is because, in the case of a TV watching mode or a video watching mode, a wider display screen is required for a display device through which information is displayed. 
         [0009]    Recent portable communication devices allow the display device to be moved and then swung. For example, the sliding swing device of the conventional portable communication device is disclosed in detail in Korean Patent No. 0681068, which has been filed and granted by the present applicant. It discloses a body housing, a sliding housing sliding facing the body housing and then rotated, first and second hinge frames, first and second plates, a slide bar, and coupling means. However, it has a drawback in that the sliding housing is rotated regardless of the intention of a user in the state where the sliding housing slides. Another drawback in that the sliding housing slides irrespective of the intention of a user in the state where the sliding housing is slid and swung. 
         [0010]    To overcome these drawbacks, a separate locking device composed of a plurality of parts must be installed in the portable communication device. Thus, due to an increase in the number of parts, the number of processes of assembling the portable communication device is increased which in turn increases the production cost. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there is a need for a portable communication device with a small number of parts capable of restricting swing operation during sliding as well as sliding operation during swinging modes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art and provides additional advantages, by providing a stopper used in a sliding swing type portable communication device, in which the stopper is made up of a small number of parts for restricting swing operation after sliding operation as well as the sliding operation after the swing operation, thereby minimizing components of a product to improve an assembling process, reducing the cost of production, facilitating the sliding or swing operation for a sliding housing of the portable device, and improving sliding or swing operation of the terminal. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a sliding swing type portable communication device includes a body housing, and a sliding housing opened or closed by sliding or swinging of the body housing, and a stopper device. The stopper device includes: a first sliding member coupled to the sliding housing; a second sliding member coupled to the first sliding member, for allowing the first sliding member to slide; a swing member coupled to the body housing, installed between the first and second sliding members, and allowing the first and second sliding members to swing; and a stopper unit provided to each member, restricting the swing of the sliding housing when the sliding housing slides and the sliding of the sliding housing when the sliding housing swings before sliding. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a stopper device for a sliding swing type portable communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating first and second sliding members in the configuration of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a swing member in the configuration of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the state before the sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view illustrating the state before the sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the state after the sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view illustrating the state after the sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating the swing operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of part A of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view illustrating the sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals although they are shown in different drawings. Further, various specific definitions found in the following description, such as specific values of packet identifications, contents of displayed information, etc., are provided only to help general understanding of the present invention, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without such definitions. For the purposes of clarity and simplicity, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted as it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 11 , a stopper device for a sliding swing type portable communication device includes a body housing  10 , a sliding housing  20 , first and second sliding members  30  and  40 , a swing member  50 , and a stopper unit  60 . The body housing  10  is configured to slide or swing the sliding housing  20 , and the sliding housing  20  is installed on an upper face of the body housing  10  so as to be opened or closed by sliding or swinging motion with respect to the body housing  10 . The first sliding member  30  is screwed to the sliding housing  20  so as to be slidably coupled with the second sliding member  40 , which will be described below. The second sliding member  40  is coupled with the first sliding member  30  so as to be able to slide the first sliding member  30 . The swing member  50  is coupled to the body housing  10  so as to be able to swing the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 , and parts of the swing member  50  is interposed between the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 . The stopper unit  60  is provided to the first and second sliding members  30  and  40  and the swing member  50  so as to restrict the swinging of the sliding housing  20  during sliding as well as the sliding of the sliding housing  20  during swinging before sliding. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first sliding member  30  is provided with first and second guide rails  31  and  32  on opposite sides thereof which are slidably coupled with guide ribs  41  formed on the second sliding member  40 . The first guide rail  31  is wider than the second guide rail  32  so as to be able to integrally form a stopper recess  61 , which will be described below. 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first elastic member  70  is installed between the first and second sliding members  30  and  40  to provide an elastic force to the first sliding member  30  so as to be able to slide the first sliding member  30 . One end of the first elastic member  70  is fastened to the first sliding member  30 , and the other end of the first elastic member  70  is fastened to the second sliding member  40 . A second elastic member  80  is installed between the first and second sliding members  30  and  40  to provide an elastic force to the first and second sliding members  30  and  40  so as to be able to slide the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 . One end of the second elastic member  80  is fastened to the second sliding member  40 , and the other end of the second elastic member  80  is fastened to a first stopper member  62 , which will be described below. 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , the swing member  50  includes a swing plate  51 , a rotary member  52 , and a rotary washer  53 . The swing plate  51  is coupled to the body housing  10  so as to be fixedly fastened to the first stopper member  62 , which will be described below. The rotary member  52  is fixedly fitted into a hole formed in the second sliding member  40 , and faces the first stopper member  62  so as to be swung together with the first and second sliding members  30  and  40  when swinging the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 . The rotary washer  53  is installed between the second sliding member  40  and the rotary member  52  so as to support rotation of the rotary member  52 . The rotary member  52  is provided with at least one coupling protrusion  52   a  so as to be fitted into the holes  42  and  53   a  formed in the second sliding member  40  and the rotary washer  53 . 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , the stopper unit  60  includes a stopper recess  61  and first and second stopper members  62  and  63 . The stopper recess  61  is integrally formed with the first sliding member  30  so as to be detachably coupled with the first stopper member  62 . The first stopper member  62  is fixedly fastened to the swing plate  51  so as to be separated from the stopper recess  61  when the sliding housing  20  slides or swings to restrict the sliding or swing of the sliding housing  20 . The second stopper members  63  are formed on the second sliding member  40  and in the swing plate  51  so as to restrict the swinging of the sliding housing  20 . 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 through 11 , the stopper recess  61  has a semispherical shape, and the first stopper member  62  has a disc shape. The first stopper member  62  is provided with a first stopper contact face  62   a  on one face thereof which is contacted with and guided along the first guide rail  31  of the first sliding member  30  when the sliding housing  20  slides so as to restrict the swing of the sliding housing  20 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 11 , the first stopper member  62  is provided with a second contact face  62   b  on an outer circumference thereof so as to be inserted into the stopper recess  61  when the sliding housing  20  swings to thereby restrict the sliding of the sliding housing  20 . The first contact face  62   a  has a linear shape where the stopper member  62  is partly cut off. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , the second stopper contact face  62   b  has a circular shape. The second stopper members  63  are divided into a stopper knob  63   a  and a guide stopper slot  63   b . The stopper knob  63   a  is formed in the second sliding member  40  so as to swing along the guide stopper slot  63   b , which will be described below, when the sliding housing  20  swings. The guide stopper slot  63   b  is formed in the swing plate  51  so as to guide and contact the stopper knob  63   a  to thereby restrict the swing of the sliding housing  20 . 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 11 , the second sliding member  40  is provided with a stopper click stop  90 , which is detachably coupled with a detachable protrusion  62   e  protruding from the outer circumference of the first stopper member  62  when reaching at a swing initial position of the sliding housing  20 , and not only restricts the swing of the sliding housing  20  but also provides a clicked feeling. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first stopper member  62  is provided with at least one fastening protrusion  62   c  so as to be fastened to a fastening hole  51   a  formed in the swing plate  51 . The first stopper member  62  is provided with screw holes  62   d  that are located adjacent to the fastening protrusion  62   c  and are screwed to screw holes  51   b  formed in the swing plate  51 . 
         [0037]    Note that the teachings of the present invention may be applicable to various portable communication devices, such as a flip-type, a folder-type, a bar-type, a sliding type, a sliding swing type depending on external geometry or its operating modes. 
         [0038]    A sliding swing type portable communication device according has been representatively shown for illustrative purposes, but should not limit the scope of present invention. Examples of the portable communication device may include all information communication appliances or duplex systems, such as portable multimedia players, MP3 players, digital broadcasting players, person digital assistants, smart phones, and so one, multimedia appliances, and applications thereof, including all mobile communication terminals operated based on communication protocols corresponding to various communication systems. 
         [0039]    Now, the operation of the stopper device for the sliding swing type portable communication device, having the aforementioned configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater details  1  with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 11 . 
         [0040]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the sliding swing type portable communication device includes the body housing  10  having a keypad  11 , the sliding housing  20  having a display device  21 , the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 , the swing member  50 , and the stopper unit  60 . 
         [0041]    In this state, at least one coupling protrusion  52   a  formed on the rotary member  52  of the swing member  50  is fitted into the hole  53   a  formed in the rotary washer  53 . Then, the coupling protrusion  52   a  is fitted into the hole  42  formed in the second sliding member  40 . 
         [0042]    The rotary member  52  faces the first stopper member  62  and is rotatably coupled to the first stopper member  62 . 
         [0043]    Here, the detachable protrusion  62   e  protruding from the outer circumference of the first stopper member  62  is coupled to the stopper click stop  90  formed on the second sliding member  40 . 
         [0044]    The first and second guide rails  31  and  32  formed on the opposite sides of the first sliding member  30  are slidably coupled to the guide ribs  41  formed on the second sliding member  40 . 
         [0045]    Here, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first elastic member  70  providing an elastic force so as to be able to slide the first sliding member  30  is installed between the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 . The second elastic member  80  providing an elastic force so as to be able to swing first and second sliding members  30  and  40  is installed between the first and second sliding members  30  and  40 . 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the swing plate  51  is located under the second sliding member  40 . The fastening protrusion  62   c  formed on the first stopper member  62  is fastened to the fastening hole  51   a  formed in the swing plate  51 . 
         [0047]    The first stopper member  62  has the screw holes  62   d , which are located adjacent to the fastening protrusion  62   c  and are screwed to screw holes  51   b  formed in the swing plate  51 . 
         [0048]    The screw holes  62   d  are screwed with screws (not shown), the first stopper member  62  is fixedly fastened to the swing plate  51 . 
         [0049]    Here, the stopper knob  63   a  formed on the second sliding member  40  is in contact with the guide stopper slot  63   b  formed in the swing plate  51 . 
         [0050]    In this state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 8 , when a user slides the sliding housing  20  on the body housing  10 , the guide rails  31  and  32  of the first sliding member  30  slides along the guide ribs  41  of the second sliding member  40 . 
         [0051]    At this time, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first stopper contact face  62   a  of the first stopper member  62  is guided along the first guide rail  31 , thereby restricting the swing of the sliding housing  20 . The first stopper member  62  is separated from the stopper recess  61  formed in the first sliding member  30 . 
         [0052]    Here, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the user slides the sliding housing  20  again, the sliding housing  20  returns to its original position so as to face the body housing  10 . 
         [0053]    At this time, the first sliding member  30  having the stopper recess  61  slides together with the sliding housing, then the stopper recess  61  faces the first stopper member  62 . 
         [0054]    In this state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 through 11 , when the user swings the sliding housing  20 , the first and second sliding members and the stopper click stop  90  swing together with the sliding housing  20 . 
         [0055]    At this time, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 through 11 , the detachable protrusion  62   e  formed on the first stopper member  62  is separated from the stopper click stop  90 . 
         [0056]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the stopper knob  63   a  formed on the second sliding member  40  is guided and swung along the guide stopper slot  63   b  formed in the swing plate  51 , and comes into contact with the opposite end of the stopper slot  61 , thereby restricting the swing motion. 
         [0057]    At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the first sliding member  61  having the stopper recess  61  is swung together, and thus the second stopper contact face  62   b  of the first stopper member  62  is inserted into the stopper recess  61 . 
         [0058]    In this state, when the sliding housing  20  is swung, its sliding movement is restricted. 
         [0059]    Here, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the user swings the sliding housing  20  again so as to face the body housing  10 , the first and second sliding members  30  and  40  and the rotary member  52  swing together. 
         [0060]    At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the sliding housing  20  reaches its initial position, the detachable protrusion  62   e  of the first stopper member  62  is inserted into the stopper click stop  90 , thereby providing a clicked feeling. The stopper recess  61  of the first sliding member  30  faces the first stopper contact face  62   a.    
         [0061]    Further, the stopper knob  63   a  of the second sliding member  40  is guided and swung along the guide stopper slot  63   b , and comes into contact with one end of the guide stopper slot  63   b , thereby restricting the swing of the sliding housing  20 . 
         [0062]    In this manner, the stopper unit  60  restricts the swinging of the sliding housing  20  when the sliding housing  20  slides, as well as the sliding of the sliding housing  20  when the sliding housing  20  swings before sliding, so that it is possible to easily slide and swing the product, particularly the sliding housing. 
         [0063]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.