Abstract:
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprising: a first casing including a retaining hook; a second casing including a stopper edge; and a sliding unit including a base frame and a slider, the base frame coupled to the second casing, the slider separably coupled to the first casing; wherein the slider is slidable on the base frame so that the second casing is movable between an open position and a close position, the close position for covering the first casing with the second casing, the open position for exposing the first casing; wherein the retaining hook engages with the stopper edge if the second casing is at the close position; and wherein the slider has an engaging part that is engageable with the retaining hook if the first casing is separated from the second casing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-330841, filed Dec. 7, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    One embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic apparatus comprising a body casing and a lid casing assembled via a spring-assisted sliding unit to allow the lid casing to slide between a closed position where the body casing is covered and an open position where the body casing is exposed, and its manufacturing method. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    For example, among cell phones as an example of electronic apparatus, there are provided a so-called slide-open cell phone where a body casing and a lid casing are coupled via a sliding mechanism in order to provide ease of handling in use and a compact design as a carry-along tool (for example, refer to JP-A-2006-165854). 
         [0006]    As shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 , a related art slide-open cell phone A comprises a body casing B including operation keys Bk, Bk . . . and a transmitter Bm, and a lid casing C including a liquid crystal display Cd and a receiver Cr. The body casing B and the lid casing C are coupled to each other via a spring-assisted sliding unit U. The lid casing C moves in a sliding fashion between a closed position where the lid casing C is overlaid on the body casing B to cover its entirety as shown in  FIG. 11(   a ) and an open position where the operation keys Bk, Bk . . . of the body casing B are exposed as shown in  FIG. 11(   b ). 
         [0007]    The spring-assisted sliding unit U interposed between the body casing B and the lid casing C includes a unit body Ua having a base frame Ub on which a pair of guide rails UI, UI is formed side by side and an energizing spring (not shown) and a slider Us movable between a closed end position ( FIG. 12 ) and an open end position ( FIG. 13 ) along the guide rails UI, UI of the unit body Ua. 
         [0008]    The slider Us is energized toward the closed end position and the open end position from the center region of the travel range by way of the energizing spring (not shown) of the unit body Ua and is also energized by a spring (not shown) to remain in the closed end position and the open end position. 
         [0009]    The body casing B of the cell phone A is composed of an inner case Bi and an outer case Bo assembled to each other. The lid casing C is composed of an inner case Ci and an outer case Co assembled to each other. The spring-assisted sliding unit U includes a unit body Ua (base frame Ub) mounted on the inner case Ci of the lid casing C and a slider Us mounted on the inner case Bi of the body casing B. 
         [0010]    The inner case Bi of the body casing B has a retaining hook Bh protruding therefrom. The inner case Ci of the lid casing C has a stopper edge Cs formed thereon. As shown in  FIGS. 11(   a ) and  13 ( a ), while the lid casing C occupies the closed position with respect to the body casing B, the retaining hook Bh of the body casing B is engaged with the stopper edge Cs of the lid casing C thereby preventing isolation of the body casing B from the lid casing C. 
         [0011]    In the manufacture of the slide-open cell phone A, in a process for assembling the body casing B and the lid casing C to each other, the unit body Ua (base frame Ub) of the spring-assisted sliding unit U is screwed into the inner case Ci of the lid casing C and then the inner case Bi of the body casing B is screwed into the slider Us of the spring-assisted sliding unit U. 
         [0012]    When the inner case Bi of the body casing B is assembled to the slider Us, in a state where the slider Us occupies the closed end position, the stopper edge Cs of the inner case Ci of the lid casing C is in close proximity to the edge of the slider Us. It is difficult to insert a retaining hook Bh between the stopper edge Cs and the slider Us to place the inner case Bi of the body casing B on the slider Us. 
         [0013]    Thus, the slider Us of the spring-assisted sliding unit U is caused to occupy the open end position and the inner case Bi of the body casing B is screwed into the slider Us. In the process, it is necessary to screw the retained inner case Bi into the slider Us while positioning the inner case Bi with respect to the slider Us. This makes the assembly work quite cumbersome. Further, it is difficult to accurately position the inner case Bi with respect to the slider Us. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus comprising: a first casing including a retaining hook; a second casing including a stopper edge; and a sliding unit including a base frame and a slider, the base frame coupled to the second casing, the slider separably coupled to the first casing; wherein the slider is slidable on the base frame so that the second casing is movable between an open position and a close position, the close position for covering the first casing with the second casing, the open position for exposing the first casing; wherein the retaining hook engages with the stopper edge if the second casing is at the close position; and wherein the slider has an engaging part that is engageable with the retaining hook if the first casing is separated from the second casing. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus includes: a first casing including a retaining hook, a second casing including a stopper edge, and a sliding unit including a base frame and a slider, the base frame coupled to the second casing, the slider separably coupled to the first casing; the slider is slidable on the base frame so that the second casing is movable between an open position and a close position, the close position for covering the first casing with the second casing, the open position for exposing the first casing; the retaining hook engages with the stopper edge if the second casing is at the close position; and the slider has an engaging part that is engageable with the retaining hook if the first casing is separated from the second casing; the method comprising: engaging the retaining hook with the engaging part if the first casing and the second casing are separated from each other; moving the second casing in an opening direction to relatively move the slider to the opening direction with respect to the second casing; inserting the retaining hook into the second casing to bring the first casing into contact with the slider; moving the second casing in a closing direction to engage the retaining hook with the stopper edge to position the first casing and the second casing with each other by pressing the retaining hook onto the stopper edge with the slider in the closing direction, and fixing the first casing to the slider. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1(   a ) is an exemplary external perspective view showing the closed state of a slide-open cell phone as an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1(   b ) is an exemplary external perspective view showing the open state of the slide-open cell phone as an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary top plan view showing the upper case of the body casing of the cell phone of  FIG. 1  together with a spring-assisted sliding unit. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3(   a ) is an exemplary plan view showing a state where the slider of the spring-assisted sliding unit of the cell phone shown in  FIG. 1  occupies a closed end position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3(   b ) is an exemplary plan view showing a state where the slider of the spring-assisted sliding unit of the cell phone shown in  FIG. 1  occupies an open end position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary bottom plan view showing the lower case of the lid casing of the cell phone of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5(   a ) is an exemplary sectional view taken along line Va-Va of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5(   b ) is an exemplary sectional view taken along line Vb-Vb of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary side view of a cross section at relevant part showing the relation between the body casing and the lid casing in the closed state of the cell phone shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary sectional view at relevant part showing the assembly process of the cell phone of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary sectional view at relevant part showing the assembly process of the cell phone of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary sectional view at relevant part showing the assembly process of the cell phone of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary sectional view at relevant part showing the assembly process of the cell phone of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 11(   a ) is an exemplary external perspective view showing the closed state of a related art slide-open cell phone. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11(   b ) is an exemplary external perspective view showing the open state of a related art slide-open cell phone. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is an exemplary external perspective view showing a state where the body casing is separated from the lid casing of a related art slide-open cell phone. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13(   a ) is an exemplary sectional view of the closed state of a related art slide-open cell phone. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13(   b ) is an exemplary sectional view of the open state of a related art slide-open cell phone. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The invention will be detailed referring to figures that show an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 1 through 11  show an embodiment where the invention is applied to a cell phone as an aspect of electronic apparatus. The slide-open cell phone  1  comprises a body casing  2  and a lid casing, the body casing  2  including operation keys  2 K and a transmitter  2 M, the lid casing including a liquid crystal display  3 D and a receiver  3 R. The body casing  2  and the lid casing  3  are coupled to each other via a spring-assisted sliding unit  10 . The lid casing  3  moves in a sliding fashion between a closed position where the lid casing  3  is overlaid on the body casing  2  to cover its entirety as shown in  FIG. 1(   a ) and an open position where the operation keys  2 K,  2 K of the body casing  2  are exposed as shown in  FIG. 1(   b ). 
         [0037]    The spring-assisted sliding unit  10  interposed between the body casing  2  and the lid casing  3  includes a unit body  11  having a base frame  11   b  on which a pair of guide rails  11   g ,  11   g  is formed side by side and an energizing spring (not shown) and a slider  12  movable between a closed end position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3(   a ) and an open end position shown in  FIG. 3(   b ) along the guide rails  11   g ,  11   g  of the unit body  11 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the slider  12  is energized in a closing direction (arrow mark V) toward the closed end position and in an opening direction (arrow mark W) toward the open end position from the center region of the travel range by way of the energizing spring (not shown) of the unit body  11  and is energized in the closing direction (arrow mark V) in the closed end position also to remain in the closed position as well as energized in the opening direction (arrow mark W) in the open end position also to remain in the open position. 
         [0039]    The body casing  2  of the cell phone  1  is composed of an inner case  2 I and an outer case  2 O assembled to each other. The lid casing  3  is composed of an inner case  3 I and an outer case  3 O assembled to each other. The spring-assisted sliding unit  10  includes a unit body  11  (base frame  11   b ) screwed into the inner case  3 I of the lid casing  3  and a slider  12  screwed into the inner case  2 I of the body casing  2 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), the inner case  2 I of the body casing  2  has a retaining hook  2   h  protruding therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 5(   b ), the inner case  3 I of the lid casing  3  has a stopper edge  3   s  formed thereon. As shown in  FIGS. 1(   a ) and  6 , while the lid casing  3  occupies the closed position with respect to the body casing  2 , the retaining hook  2   h  of the body casing  2  is engaged with the stopper edge  3   s  of the lid casing  3  thereby preventing isolation of the body casing  2  from the lid casing  3 . 
         [0041]    In the manufacture of the cell phone described later, the slider  12  of the spring-assisted sliding unit  10  has an engaging part  12 E capable of being engaged with the retaining hook  2   h  of the body casing  2  formed on an edge  12   e  opposed to the stopper edge  3   s  of the inner case  3 I of the lid casing  3 . The engaging part  12 E is provided by protruding the slider  12  outward through the external surface  3 If of the inner case  3 I of the lid casing  3 . 
         [0042]    The following describes, step by step, the process of assembling the body casing  2  and the lid casing  3  to each other in the manufacture of the slide-open cell phone  1  described earlier. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the unit body  11  (base frame  11   b ) of the spring-assisted sliding unit  10  is screwed into the inner case  3 I of the lid casing  3  to cause the slider  12  to occupy the closed end position. 
         [0043]    Next, the retaining hook  2   h  of the inner case  2 I of the body casing  2  is abutted against (engaged with) the engaging part  12 E ( 12   e ) of the slider  12  that occupies the closed end position. Then, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the inner case  2 I is moved in an opening direction (in a direction the lid casing  3  is relatively opened with respect to the inner case  2 I of the body casing  2 ) as shown by an arrow S to move the slider  12  in an opening direction with respect to the lid casing  3 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the inner case  2 I of the body casing  2  is brought near the lid casing  3  in the direction of the arrow I. The retaining hook  2   h  is inserted into the inner case  3 I of the lid casing  3  and the inner case  2 I of the body casing  2  is placed to abut against the slider  12 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the retaining hook  2   h  of the inner case  2 I is pushed by slider  12  energized by the screw (not shown) of the spring-assisted sliding unit  10  in a closing direction (leftward in the figure) and moves in the direction of the arrow R (closing direction). This causes the retaining hook  2   h  of the inner case  2 I to be engaged with the stopper edge  3   s  of the lid casing  3 . 
         [0046]    In this state, the retaining hook  2   h  is pressed by the stopper edge  3   s  by way of the slider  12  energized in the closing direction (leftward in the figure) and the retaining hook  2   h  is held between the stopper edge  3   s  and the slider  12  thus holding the inner case  2 I with respect to the lid casing  3 . Further, positioning of the inner case  2 I with respect to the lid casing  3  (slider  12  of the spring-assisted sliding unit  10  mounted on the lid casing  3 ), or in other words, relative positioning of the lid casing  3  and the inner case  2 I (body casing  2 ) is made. 
         [0047]    In this way, in a state where the inner case  2 I is positioned on the slider  12  of the spring-assisted sliding unit  10 , the inner case  2 I is screwed into the slider  12 . This completes the process of assembling the inner case  2 I and the lid casing  3  to each other, or in other words, assembling the body casing  2  and the lid casing  3  to each other. 
         [0048]    In the configuration described above, an engaging part is provided  12 E capable of being engaged with the retaining hook  2   h  of the body casing  2  at the edge  12   e  of the slider  12  opposed to the stopper edge  3   s  of the lid casing  3 . Even in case the slider  12  of the spring-assisted sliding unit  10  mounted on the lid casing  3  is in the closed end position when the body casing  2  and the lid casing  3  are to be assembled to each other, it is possible to insert the retaining hook  2   h  between the engaging part and the stopper edge  3   s  of the lid casing  3  by engaging the retaining hook  2   h  with the engaging part  12 E and moving the slider  12 . 
         [0049]    By holding the retaining hook  2   h  between the slider  12  energized in the closing direction and the stopper edge  3   s , it is possible to hold the inner case  2 I with respect to the lid casing  3  and position the inner case  2 I with respect to the lid casing  3  (slider  12 ). This readily and accurately perform assembly work of the body casing  2  and the lid casing  3 , thus attaining improved productivity related to the manufacture of a cell phone as well as its quality. 
         [0050]    As described with reference to the embodiment, there is provided an electronic apparatus capable of readily and accurately assembling a device casing to a spring-assisted sliding unit thus attaining improved productivity and quality and a manufacturing method therefor. 
         [0051]    While the foregoing embodiment applies the invention to a cell phone as an aspect of electronic apparatus, the invention is not limited to communications apparatuses such as a cell phone and a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) or portable information terminals such as an electronic dictionary and a PDA (Personal Data Assistance). Rather, the invention is quite advantageously applicable to a variety of electronic apparatuses where a body casing and a lid casing are assembled to each other via a spring-assisted sliding unit and the lid casing may slide between a closed position where the body casing is covered and an open position where the body casing is exposed, and its manufacturing method.