Abstract:
A slide mechanism includes a main plate, a slide plate, a locking module and a button. The slide plate is installed on the main plate and slidable relative to the main plate. The locking module is attached to the slide plate and locks with the main plate. The button operates the locking module to unlock the main plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application (Attorney Docket Nos. US31230, entitled “SLIDE MECHANISM FOR SLIDE-TYPE PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE”, by Yu Zhang, which has the same assignee as the present application. The above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally relates to slide mechanisms and, particularly, to a portable electronic device with two or more housings using a sliding mechanism that allows one housing to slide relative to another housing in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Slide-type portable electronic devices have two housings, of which one typically slides over the other to open/close the portable electronic device. 
         [0006]    A slide mechanism is generally used in the slide-type portable electronic device for driving the sliding between the two housings. However, the slide mechanism needs firstly to be slid to a predetermined position by hand, then the mechanism takes over to automatically open the portable electronic device. It can be inconvenient to operate the portable electronic device in this manner. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the slide mechanism for slide-type portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the slide mechanism for slide-type portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded and isometric view of a portable electronic device using a slide mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  but showing another aspect of the slide mechanism. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a locking module in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a button in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled view of the locking module fixed to the main plate in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the button assembled to the second housing. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the portable electronic device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7  along line VIII-VIII. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , but showing the slide mechanism in an unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary slide mechanism  20  used in a slide-type portable electronic device  100  such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc. The portable electronic device  100  includes a first housing  10  and a second housing  30  engaged with the first housing  10 . The slide mechanism  20  provides an elastic force sufficient to slide the first and second housings  10  and  30  relative to each other. The slide mechanism  20  includes a main plate  21 , a slide plate  22 , a group of elastic members  23 , a locking module  25 , and a button  28 . The slide plate  22  and the main plate  21  are fixed to the second housing  30  and the first housing  10 , respectively. The locking module  25  and the button  28  are configured for releasably locking the slide plate  22  to the main plate  21 . 
         [0019]    The first housing  10  may be a cover of the portable electronic device, and includes a first surface  11  and a second surface  12 . The first surface  11  may have a function key and a display. A mounted plate  13  is fixed to the second surface  12  of the first housing  10 . 
         [0020]    The main plate  21  is configured for being fixed to the mounted plate  13  of the first housing  10  by way of, for example, hot melting. The main plate  21  includes a recessed portion  211  and two generally L-shaped rail portions  212  extending from two opposite edge ends of the main plate  21 . One of the rail portions  212  defines a first through hole  213 . 
         [0021]    The slide plate  22  is shorter than the main plate  21 . The slide plate  22  includes a slide portion  222  at each of two opposite borders thereof. The two slide portions  222  are generally U-shaped bars defining a slide groove  221  corresponding to the two rail portions  212 . The rail portions  212  can slide along the slide groove  221 . The slide plate  22  defines a second through hole  223  corresponding to the first through hole  213 . 
         [0022]    The group of elastic members  23  are made of a plurality of torsion springs having connecting portions  231  at their respective ends. The connecting portions  231  are configured to be respectively secured to the main plate  21  and the slide plate  22 . The group of elastic members  23  are designed to have a predetermined torsion force to drive the main plate  21  to slide relative to the slide plate  22  to a closed state. 
         [0023]    The locking module  25  prevents the slide plate  22  from sliding relative to the main plate  21  when in a closed state. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the locking module  25  includes a elastic sheet  26  and a column  27 . The elastic sheet  26  may be stamped or punched from a elastic sheet, and includes a disk body  261 , two arms  262 , and two ribs  263 . Each arm  262  respectively extends at an angle from two sides of the disk body  261 , and together constitute an arched shape. Each arm  262  has a distal end  2621  configured for being fixed to the slide plate  22 . Two ribs  263  are positioned at two sides of the disk body  261 . The disk body  261  defines a bore  2611 . When the elastic sheet  26  is assembled to the slide plate  22 , the bore  2611 , the first through hole  213 , and the second through hole  223  are aligned with each other. The post  27  has a thinner end  271 . The thinner end  271  is configured to be tightly engaged in the bore  2611 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the button  28  includes a button portion  281 , two rods  282 , and a resisting portion  283 . The button portion  281  includes an operation portion  2811  integrally formed with a support portion  2812 . A rod  282  extends from each of two ends of the support portion  2812 . A distal end of each rod  282  is substantially circular, and defines an aperture  2821 . The resisting portion  283  is formed on the support portions  2812 , and is positioned between the rods  282 . The resisting portion  283  includes a plurality of wedge blocks  2830 . Each wedge block  2830  forms a wedge surface  2831 . 
         [0025]    The second housing  30  has a shape substantially corresponding to the first housing  10 . The second housing  30  includes two sidewalls  32 . One of the sidewalls  32  defines an opening  331 , and forms a post  332  at each of two sides of the opening  331 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 9 , when the slide mechanism  20  is assembled, the main plate  21  is mounted to the mounted plate  13  of the first housing  10 . The connecting portions  231  are respectively secured to the main plate  21  and the slide plate  22 . The slide plate  22  covers a part of the main plate  21  and can slide relative to the main plate  21 . The rail portions  212  are received in and can linearly slide within the slide grooves  221 . Then, distal ends  2621  of the elastic sheet  26  are fixed to one side of the slide plate  22  far away from the main plate  21  by way of, for example, hot melting. The thinner end  271  of the column  27  is tightly engaged in the bore  2611 . Another end of the column  27  extends through the second through hole  223  and the first through hole  213 . Since the arms  262  are tilted, the elastic sheet  26  is spaced from the slide plate  22 . The button  28  is attached to the second housing  30 . The operation portion  2811  is received in the opening  331 , and the rods  282  are fixed to the posts  332 . The second housing  30  is attached to the slide plate  22 . The wedge block  2830  abut against the ribs  263 . Thus, the slide mechanism  20  is in a closed position and the portable electronic device  100  is in a closed state. 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 3-5 , when the slide mechanism  20  is to be driven from the opened position to the closed position, the operation portion  2811  is pressed to force the wedge blocks  2830  to push the ribs  263 . The ribs  263  move away from the slide plate  22 . The column  27  is released from the first through hole  213  to unlock the main plate  21 . Accordingly, the slide plate  22  can automatically slide further relative to the main plate  21 . 
         [0028]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary 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.