Abstract:
A latch release for allowing two latched members to be unlatched from each other. The latch release includes a bubble body comprised of an elastic material. The bubble body is adapted to deform such that depressing of a first section of the bubble body in a first direction deforms a second section of the bubble body to push the latched members apart.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a system for moving two members apart and, more particularly, to a portable electronic device having an opening system. 
         [0003]    2. Brief Description of Prior Developments 
         [0004]    Flip-phones, such as having a general clam shell design, are well known. These types of telephones have two housing members that are pivotably connected to each other. A communicator device, such as the NOKIA Model 9200 series of devices, also have keyboards and a locking latch to prevent the housing members from inadvertently opening. Slide mobile telephones, where one housing member slides upward or downward, are also known to have housing position retaining latches. In the past, locking mechanisms have been usually quite complicated systems, and unreliable due to miniaturization. There is no room for further miniaturization because of dimensional limitations. 
         [0005]    There is a desire to provide a mobile telephone with movable housing members and a housing position retaining latch, but without the number of parts required in the past for such a latch. There is a desire to provide such a latch and a release that is easier and less expensive to manufacture, and which is less prone to mechanical failure. There is a desire to provide such a latch and a release which can accommodate miniaturization with providing good reliability. There is also a desire to provide such a latch and a release which can accommodate reduced dimensional limitations resulting from mobile telephone miniaturization. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a latch release is provided for allowing two latched members to be unlatched from each other. The latch release includes a bubble body comprised of an elastic material. The bubble body is adapted to deform such that depressing of a first section of the bubble body in a first direction deforms a second section of the bubble body to push the latched members apart. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a portable electronic device is provided comprising a first housing comprising electronic circuitry; a second housing movably connected to the first housing; a system for locating the second housing relative to the first housing at a closed position; and an opening system for moving the second housing from the closed position. The opening system comprises at least one body of resiliently deformable material at a lateral side of the first housing. The body is adapted to be inwardly deformed by a user&#39;s finger in a first direction to automatically bubble deform in a second direction and thereby move the second housing away from the closed position. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a portable electronic device is provided comprising movably connecting a second housing to a first housing; providing a system for locating the second housing at a closed position on the first housing; and connecting a first resiliently deformable bubble body to the first housing. The bubble body comprises a first section which is adapted to be depressed inward causing a second section of the bubble body to automatically bubble outward to thereby move the second housing in a direction away from the closed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mobile telephone comprising features of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the telephone shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front plane view of the telephone shown in  FIG. 3  being held in the hand of a user; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a component of the an opening system used in the telephone of  FIGS. 1-3  shown in a home state; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the component of  FIG. 4  shown in an actuated state; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the telephone as shown in  FIG. 1  with the opening system actuated; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the telephone shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a portable electronic device  10  incorporating features of the invention. Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
         [0018]    In this embodiment the portable electronic device  10  is a mobile telephone. More specifically, the telephone has a flip-phone type of design. However, features of the invention could be used with any type of telephone having housing members which are movable relative to each other, such as a slide phone for example. In addition, features of the invention could be used in any type of portable electronic device having housing members which are movable relative to each other, such as a gaming device, a PDA, etc. 
         [0019]    The telephone  10  generally comprises a housing  12  having a first housing member  14  and a second housing member  16 . Referring also to  FIGS. 2-3 , the first and second housing members  14 ,  16  are pivotably connected to each other by a hinge  18  between a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and an open position. In this embodiment the hinge  18  is a living hinge. However, in alternate embodiments the hinge could comprise any suitable type of pivotable connection. As noted above, features of the invention could be used with a slide phone. Therefore, the connection of the housing members to each other might not be a pivotable connection. The hinge  18  connects the top ends  20 ,  22  of the housing members to each other. 
         [0020]    In this embodiment the first housing member  14  generally comprises electronic circuitry  36 , a battery, and a keypad. The second housing member  16  generally comprises a display. When the first and second housing members are in their closed position, the display is protectively covered by the first housing member  14  and the keypad is protectively covered by the second housing member  16 . 
         [0021]    In order to use most features of the telephone, the second housing member  16  must be unlatched from the first housing member  14  and moved to its open position. This uncovers the display and the keypad. In this embodiment the telephone has springs  23  which are adapted to bias the housing members  14 ,  16  towards the open position. However, any suitable system for biasing the housing members towards an open position could be provided. Alternatively, a system for biasing the housing members towards an open position might not be provided. 
         [0022]    The telephone  10  also comprises a latch system  24  for latching the first and second housing members at the closed position. In this embodiment the latch system comprises a permanent magnet  26  in the first housing member  14  and a suitable magnetically latchable ferromagnetic member  28  in the second housing member  16 . The magnet  26  and latchable member  28  are located proximate top and bottom sides  30 ,  62 , respectively, of the bottom ends  32 ,  34  of the housing members  14 ,  16 . The magnet  26  and the latchable member  28  function as a latch to retain the second housing member  16  against the top side  30  of the first housing member  14  at the closed position. In an alternate embodiment, the latching system to retain the first and second housings in their closed position could comprise any suitable type of latching system including, for example, a resilient latching snap or other mechanical design. Thus, the type of latch is not limited to merely a magnetic latch. 
         [0023]    In order to overcome the latching system  24  and move the second housing member  16  from the closed position, the telephone  10  comprises a latch release or opening system  38 . With the magnetic latch system in this embodiment, the latchable member  28  need only to be moved away from the magnet  26  a relatively small amount to substantially overcome the magnetic holding force of the magnet. Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment the opening system  38  comprises two bodies  40 . However, in alternate embodiments more or less than two bodies could be provided. The first housing member  14  comprises two cavities  42 ,  44  located at opposite lateral sides  46 ,  48  of the first housing member. The bodies  40  are mounted in the respective cavities  42 ,  44 . 
         [0024]    The bodies  40  are identical, but could be different. Each body  40  has a general block shape. However, in alternate embodiments any suitable shape could be provided. In this embodiment the block shape is generally rectangular. Each body is comprised of an elastic material such that the bodies form resiliently deformable structures. More specifically, and referring also to  FIG. 5 , each body  40  forms a bubble body or bubble mass which is adapted to have a first side  50  depressed inward as shown by arrow  54  which automatically resulting in a second side  52  bubbling outward as shown by arrow  56  and resulting in a mound  58  being formed. 
         [0025]    When the bodies  40  are mounted to the first housing member  14 , they are located in the cavities  42 ,  44  such that each first side  50  is at the lateral sides  46 ,  48  respectively, and that each second side  52  is located at the front or top side  60  of the first housing member  14 . In this embodiment the first and second sides  50 ,  52  are substantially flat in a home state. However, they could have contoured or shaped surfaces. When the second housing member  16  is located at the closed position, the first sides  50  are exposed at the lateral sides  46 ,  48 . The second sides  52  are directly opposite the inner facing side  62  of the second housing member  16 . The rest of the sides of the bodies  40  are contacted and supported by the first housing member  14 . The surfaces of the first housing member  14  contacting the bodies  40  are rigid, such that the rest of the sides of the bodies are prevented from bulging outward when the first side  50  is depressed inward. Thus, when the first side  50  is depressed inward, only the second top side  52  is able to bulge or bubble outward. Alternatively, the thickness of the wall at the second side  52 , such as in a balloon style configuration of the body  40  described in further detail below, could be thinner than the other walls of the body. 
         [0026]    As seen with reference to  FIG. 3 , when the telephone  10  is in its closed position, it can be held in the hand of a user with the user&#39;s thumb  64  and one other finger  66  located on the first sides  50  of the two bodies  40 . By squeezing the two fingers inward as shown by arrows  68 , the user can depress the first sides  50  inward with a single hand. As seen with reference to  FIG. 5 , this will result in the second side  52  of each body  40  bulging or bubbling upward. Referring also to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , because the second side  52  is located against the side  62  of the second housing member  16 , the resulting mounds  58  push the second housing member  16  away from the closed position as indicated by arrow  70 . This moves the second housing  16  relative to the first housing  14  to unlatch the latching engagement of the latching system  24 . Because of the different distances from the hinge  18  of the mounds  58  and the latchable member  28 , the relatively small height of the mounds  58  result in much a larger resultant spacing distance  74  of the latchable member  28  away from the magnet  26 . With the latching system  24  unlatched, the springs  23  can bias the second housing member  16  further towards the open position. In this embodiment, the leaf springs  23  are adapted to slide into the first housing member  14  as indicated by arrow  72  as the housing opens to its open position. 
         [0027]    Once the initial latching force of the latching system is overcome by the opening system  38 , the user can reduce the force exerted by his or her fingers  64 ,  66 . The user no longer needs to depress the first side  50  of the bodies  40  inward after the latch system  24  is initially overcome. The bodies  40  can return to their home states as shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the user can close the telephone again without the bodies  40  interfering with the latchable member  28  engaging the magnet  26 . 
         [0028]    As noted above, each body  40  is comprised of an elastic material. The material could be substantially solid. Alternatively, the material could have a generally honeycombed construction with internal pockets. In another alternate embodiment the body could comprise a balloon construction with an internal sealed area filled with gas, such as air. More than one internal sealed area or pocket filled with gas could be provided. In another alternate embodiment the body could comprise one or more internal sealed liquid filled pockets. These are only some examples. The important aspect is a body or mass which functions as a bubble body which can bubble or bulge in one location when depressed inward at another location. The ratio of bubbling or bulging to depression by a user is preferably 1:1, but could be more or less. 
         [0029]    This invention describes how to use elastic material in a latching mechanism of an auto-open folding device. The invention can use deformation of an elastic part to release the locking mechanism. The device could be locked with a magnet or snaps for example. Elastic parts can be placed to sides and between the bottom and top housing members. The locking mechanism will be unlocked by elastic deformation when pressing the elastic part. Deformation of the elastic part will push the blocks apart. 
         [0030]    Advantages include:
       A simple design requiring only a bubble body and a pocket on the first housing member;   The design enables ergonomic one-hand use of a very slim folding device, and also enables the same use by either a right hand or a left hand to accommodate both left and right handed users equally;   Cost effectiveness is provided because of the simplicity of the design;   There is a reduction in the amount of parts which are needed versus a convention design;   The design reduces manufacturing costs because it is relatively easy to manufacture the bubble bodies in bulk and very easy to assemble them into a housing cavity;   The invention enables new themes for industrial design; and   The invention provides reliable because, among other features, there will be no dust problems or the like which can result from conventional mechanical parts in a latch/release system.       
 
         [0038]    Features of the invention could be used as a latch release for a latch system which holds housing members at an open position rather than at a closed position. The body  40  could be located at a location other than a lateral side of the first housing member. For use with a slide phone for example, the second side of the bubble body could push towards the top or bottom end of the telephone rather than towards a major face of the second housing member. The generally rectangular shape of the bubble body could be replaced by any suitable shape including, for example, a shape with a larger first side and smaller second side, or a shape with merely a shaped or patterned second side. The orthogonal relationship of the depression  54  to the bulging  56  could be replaced by a non-orthogonal relationship. The body  40  could work in cooperation with another member to open the telephone or for performing some other action. 
         [0039]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.