Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mobile phone slide module, and more particularly to a mobile phone slide module in which scratches and noise do not occur during the sliding operation of a mobile phone. The mobile phone slide module according to the present invention is installed between a movable plate fixed to an upper body where a display unit is installed and the fixed plate fixed to a lower body where a keypad is mounted, and provides elasticity when the movable plate slides on the fixed plate. The mobile phone slide module comprises a first body of which one end portion is coupled to the fixed plate and allows movement thereof, a second body of which one end portion is coupled to the movable plate and allows movement thereof, and a linear wire spring of which both ends are unrestricted by the first and second bodies and are connected to the first and second bodies through insertion

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a mobile phone slide module, and more particularly to a mobile phone slide module, in which scratches and noise do not occur during a sliding operation of the mobile phone. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A general slide type mobile phone performs sliding operation in a manner that an upper body on which a display unit is mounted slides relatively on a lower body on which a keypad is mounted. 
         [0005]    For such sliding operation, a slide module is installed in the mobile phone. Specifically, the mobile phone slide module is installed between a movable plate that is fixed to the upper body and a fixed plate that is fixed to the lower body. As the movable plate slides relatively on the fixed plate, the upper body slides on the lower body, and in this process, the slide module provides elasticity. 
         [0006]    The mobile phone slide module typically includes an elastic spring. One example of such an elastic spring may be “an elastic spring for a slim slide module” disclosed in Registered Patent No. 10-0669990, which has been filed and registered by the applicant of the present application to cope with a slim mobile phone. 
         [0007]    The registered patent relates to a wire spring that includes a bending portion having a circular arc shape, and spiral portions formed to be bent at both ends of the bending portion. One of the spiral portions formed at both ends of the bending portion is fixed to a fixed plate, and the other of the spiral portions is fixed to a movable plate, so that the spring generates an elastic restoring force when the movable plate slides on the fixed plate. 
         [0008]    The above-described registered patent greatly contributes to a slim mobile phone since the slide module that is built in the mobile phone can be remarkably thinned by the wire spring. 
         [0009]    However, it is actually required to somewhat improve the sensation of sliding of the slide type mobile phone. 
         [0010]    Specifically, when the movable plate slides on the fixed plate, the wire spring touches the movable plate and the fixed plate to cause friction between them. The wire spring is typically made of a metal wire having high rigidity, whereas the movable plate and the fixed plate are made of aluminum or the like, which has a lower rigidity than the wire spring. Accordingly, during the above-described friction process, frictional wear (scratches) of the movable plate and the fixed plate occurs with noise. Further, in attendance with this, the sensation of sliding is lowered. Accordingly, there is a need for solving the above-described problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a subject to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a mobile phone slide module, which can prevent the occurrence of frictional wear and noise by preventing a wire spring from touching a movable plate and a fixed plate during a sliding operation of a mobile phone. 
         [0012]    Another subject to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a mobile phone slide module, which has a simple structure through the use of a linear wire spring that is bent with a predetermined curvature. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mobile phone slide module that is installed between a movable plate fixed to an upper body on which a display unit is mounted and a fixed plate fixed to a lower body on which a keypad is mounted to provide elasticity when the movable plate slides on the fixed plate, which includes a first body of which one end portion is movably coupled to the fixed plate; a second body of which one end portion is movably coupled to the movable plate; and linear wire springs of which both ends are unrestrictedly inserted and connected to the first and second bodies, respectively. 
         [0014]    Insertion grooves, to which the both end portions of the wire springs are inserted and connected, may be formed on side surfaces of the first body and the second body in the other directions of the first body and the second body. 
         [0015]    Cut grooves, which communicate with the insertion grooves, may be penetratingly formed in upward and downward directions on center regions of the first body and the second body. 
         [0016]    At least two insertion grooves may be formed on the side surfaces of the first body and the second body in the other directions of the first body and the second body, and at least two wire springs may be provided to correspond to the number of the insertion grooves. 
         [0017]    The wire spring may have an arc shape. 
         [0018]    A first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, which are movably coupled to each other, may be formed to extend from the other ends of the first body and the second body. 
         [0019]    According to the mobile phone slide module according to the present invention, the linear elastic wire spring has a structure that is inserted and connected to the first and second bodies, and thus no friction occurs between the fixed plate and the movable plate, which are made of a metal material, and the wire spring, which is made of a metal wire. Accordingly, frictional wear and noise do not occur during the sliding operation. 
         [0020]    Further, the mobile phone slide module according to the present invention has a simple construction including the first and second bodies and the wire springs, and can be conveniently assembled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a partial exploded perspective view of a mobile phone showing the assembling state of a mobile phone slide module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective views of the mobile phone slide module illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective views of the mobile phone slide module illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an elastic rotatable state of the mobile phone slide module illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a view explaining an operation of a mobile phone slide module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a mobile phone slide module according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the mobile phone slide module showing another example of a coupling portion illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a view explaining an operation of a mobile phone slide module according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1 : mobile phone slide module 
               10 : fixed plate 
               15 : rivet 
               20 : movable plate 
               100 : wire spring 
               200   a : first body 
               200   b : second body 
               201 : insertion groove 
               202 : cut groove 
               203 : coupling hole 
               210   a ,  210   b : coupling portion 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same members having the same functions or the same shape features. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  is a partial exploded perspective view of a mobile phone showing the assembling state of a mobile phone slide module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective views of the mobile phone slide module illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective views of the mobile phone slide module illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an elastic rotatable state of the mobile phone slide module illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 5  is a view explaining an operation of a mobile phone slide module according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a mobile phone slide module according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the mobile phone slide module showing another example of a coupling portion illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 8  is a view explaining an operation of a mobile phone slide module according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0043]    A mobile phone slide module  1 ′ according to an embodiment of the present invention includes wire springs  100 , and first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b.    
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a linear wire spring is used as the wire spring  100 . The wire spring  100  may be in an arc shape so that the gap between the first and second bodies is narrowed and thus the width of a fixed plate  10  and a movable plate  20  is narrowed. 
         [0045]    As described above, the wire spring  100  is in the arc shape, and if both end portions of the wire spring  100  are straightened or further bent, the wire spring  100  generates an elastic force for restoring to the original arc shape. 
         [0046]    Further, since the wire spring  100  according to this embodiment is simply linear unlike a complicated elastic spring that is included in a mobile phone slide module  1 ′ in the related art, manufacturing of the wire spring is completed only by a work of bending the wire spring with a predetermined curvature to cause convenience in manufacturing, and the wire spring is very advantageous in manufacturing cost, reduction of the thickness of the slide module, and easy assembling. 
         [0047]    Both end portions of the wire spring  100  are connected to the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b.    
         [0048]    Prior to the detailed description of the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b , the wordings “one side” and “the other side” in the following description regarding the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b  are indicated on the assumption that the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b  are independent constructions rather than being commonly indicated according to a certain absolute reference direction. 
         [0049]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , on end portion of the first body  200   a  is movably coupled to the fixed plate  10 , and one end portion of the second body  200   b  is movably coupled to the movable plate  20 . Further, the first body  200   a  is connected to an end portion of the wire spring  100 , and the second body  200   b  is connected to the other end portion of the wire spring  100 , so that the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  interlock with each other via the wire spring  100 , that is, while receiving an elastic force from the wire spring  100 . 
         [0050]    Since the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b  have a symmetric structure or shape as illustrated in the drawing, detailed explanation will be made with respect to the first body  200   a , and this explanation of the first body  200   a  will replace the explanation of the second body  200   b  except for necessary explanation. 
         [0051]    The external shape of the first body  200   a  is not necessarily limited to a certain specified shape, but it is preferable that the first body  200   a  is in the shape of a thin flat plate in consideration of the reduction of the thickness of the mobile phone slide module F. Further, the material of the first body  200   a  is not necessarily limited to a certain specified material, but it is preferable that the first body  200   a  is made of a plastic material that can minimize the occurrence of friction wear and noise even though the first body  200   a  touches the fixed plate  10  and the movable plate  200 . 
         [0052]    The other side of the first body  200   a  is connected to one end portion of the wire spring  100 . As an example of a connection structure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , insertion grooves  201  are formed to extend to the inside of the first body  200   a  with a predetermined length. The wire spring  100  is connected to the first body  200   a  as one end portion of the wire spring  100  is inserted through the insertion groove  201 . 
         [0053]    In this case, the one end portion of the wire spring  100  may be inserted and connected through compulsory fitting or without being restricted within the insertion groove  201 . This can be applied in the same manner in connecting the other end portion of the wire spring  100  to the second body  200   b.    
         [0054]    The latter structure, that is, the structure in which the wire spring  100  is inserted and connected to the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  without being restricted, can be provided by forming the insertion groove  201  so that the inner diameter of the insertion groove  201  becomes larger than the outer diameter of the wire spring  100 . 
         [0055]    According to the former structure, that is, according to the structure in which the both end portions of the wire spring  100  are inserted and fixed to the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b , since the both end portions of the wire spring  100  are fixed to the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  when bending deformation of the wire spring  100  occurs due to the relative sliding movement between the fixed plate  10  and the movable plate  20 , a tensile force or compressive force acts on the wire spring  100  in the length direction of the wire spring  100 , and this causes plastic deformation of the wire spring  100 . This is not a preferable phenomenon in relation to the durability of the wire spring  100 . Of course, by manufacturing the wire spring  100  with a material having high durability, the above-described problem may not occur. 
         [0056]    However, it would be preferable to adopt the latter structure, that is, the structure in which the wire spring  100  is inserted and connected to the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  without being restricted therein, in solving the above-described problems. In this case, even if a relative sliding movement is made between the fixed plate  10  and the movable plate  20 , that is, even if the bending deformation of the wire spring  100  occurs, the tensile force or the compressive force does not act in the length direction of the wire spring  100  since the one end portion of the wire spring can freely move within a range in which the one end portion of the wire spring  100  does not deviate from the insertion groove  201 . In this case, only an external force that bends the wire spring  100  acts. Accordingly, more preferable connection structure than the former structure can be provided from the viewpoint of the durability of the wire spring  100 . Such operation state may be referred to in  FIG. 4 . If an external force acts in a direction indicated by an arrow as illustrated in  FIG. 4(   a ), the end portions of the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  are gathered together to provide the elasticity. In this case, only the bending deformation occurs in the wire spring  100 , but the tensile force or the compressive force does not act in the length direction. 
         [0057]    On the other hand, even in any one of the above-described connection structures, the thickness of the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  should be larger than the outer diameter of the wire spring  100 . Accordingly, even though the first body  200   a  touches the fixed plate  10  or the movable plate  20 , the wire spring  100  does not touch the fixed plate  10  or the movable plate  20 , and thus no friction occurs between the wire spring  100  and the fixed plate  10  or the movable plate  20 . 
         [0058]    On the other hand, a cut groove  202  that is penetrated in the upward and downward directions (on the basis of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) may be formed on the center region of the first body  200   a . Further, the cut groove  202  communicates with the insertion groove  201 . 
         [0059]    Accordingly, one end portion of the wire spring  100  that is inserted into an area of the cut groove  202  through the insertion groove  201  is put in a space of the area of the cut groove  202 , and thus even if the wire spring  100  is drawn out or inserted through the insertion groove  201  in the deformation process of the wire spring  100 , no friction occurs between the wire spring  100  and the first body  200   a  within the area of the cut groove  202 . Accordingly, the movement of the wire spring  10  becomes free, and the sensation of sliding is improved. 
         [0060]    On the other hand, one insertion groove  201  may be formed on the side surface of the first body  200   a  in the other side direction of the first body  200   a , or plural insertion grooves  201  may be formed to be spaced apart from each other along the length direction of the side surface. 
         [0061]    In the case where one insertion groove  201  is formed, one wire spring  100  is provided to be connected to the first body  200   a.    
         [0062]    In the case where plural insertion grooves  201  are formed, at least two wire springs  100 , the number of which is within the number of insertion grooves  201 , may be provided. The wording “to correspond to the number of insertion grooves  201 ” described in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention means the above-described conditions. Since plural wire springs  100  are provided, a necessary elastic force can be secured even if the manufactured wire springs  100  are maximally thin, and more improved effect can be obtained from the viewpoint of the reliability in elastic movement of the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b.    
         [0063]    The first body  200   a  is movably coupled to the fixed plate  10 , and as an example of the coupling structure, a structure, in which a coupling hole  203  is formed on one end portion of the first body  200   a  and a fixing member such as a rivet  15  is coupled to the fixed plate  10  through the coupling hole  203 , may be proposed. 
         [0064]    The second body  200   b  is connected to the other end portion of the wire spring  100 , one end portion of the second body  200   b  is movably coupled to the movable plate  20 . The second body  200   b  has the same shape as the first body  200   a , and is connected to the wire spring  100  with the same structure as the first body  200   a . Accordingly, the detailed description of the second body  200   b  is replaced by the description of the first body  200   a    FIG. 5  illustrates an elastic rotation state of the mobile phone slide module  1 ′ according to an embodiment of the present invention along sliding movement of the movable plate  210  in a state where the mobile phone slide module  1 ′ is installed between the fixed plate  10  and the movable plate  20 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 5(   a ) shows an initial state in which an elastic force of the wire spring  100  does not act on the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b.    
         [0066]    If the movable plate  20  slides on the fixed plate  10  by applying an external force to the movable plate  20  in this state, the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b  move as illustrated in  FIG. 5(   b ), as overcoming the elastic force according to the deformation of the wire spring  100 , to reach a state where one end portion of the first body  200   a  and one end portion of the second body  200   b  are gathered. If no external force acts in this state, the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b  return to the state as illustrated in  FIG. 5(   a ) by the elastic force of the wire spring  100 . 
         [0067]    If the movable plate  20  further slides over a dead point in a state illustrated in  FIG. 5(   b ), the sliding movement of the movable plate  20  automatically proceeds by the elastic force of the wire spring  100  even though no further external force acts on the movable plate  20 , and the movable plate  20  reaches a state illustrated in  FIG. 5(   c ). 
         [0068]      FIGS. 6 to 8  illustrate a mobile phone slide module  1 ″ according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0069]    In the drawings, the same description as that according to the above-described embodiment will not be repeated. 
         [0070]    Unlike the above-described embodiment, this embodiment relates to a structure in which the first body  200   a  and the second body  200   b  are movably coupled. 
         [0071]    Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b  receive the elastic force from the wire spring  100  as they move in a coupled state. 
         [0072]    As a mutual coupling structure of the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b , in an example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  extend from the other ends of the first and second bodies  200   a  and  200   b , respectively. 
         [0073]    The first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  are movably coupled. Specifically, penetration holes  211  having the same diameter are formed on the respective end portions of the first and second coupling portions, and the first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  are piled up so that the respective penetration holes  211  coincide and communicate with each other and then are rotatably fixed to each other using a separate fixing member  50 , so that the first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  are movably coupled to each other. 
         [0074]    In  FIG. 7 , as another example of the coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a construction in which the first coupling portion  210   a  and the fixing member  50  are integrally formed is illustrated. Specifically, a fixing portion  50 ′ is integrally formed with the end portion of the coupling portion  210   a , and this fixing portion  50 ′ is rotatably coupled to the penetration hole  211  formed on the end portion of the second coupling portion  210   b , so that the first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  are movably coupled to each other. Further, on the lower portion of the fixing member  50 ′, a step portion  51  and a cut portion  52  may be formed so that the fixing member  50 ′ is rotatably fitted and coupled to the penetration hole  211 . 
         [0075]    On the other hand, in an example illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , step portions  212  may be form on upper and lower surfaces of the respective end portions of the first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  so that the thickness, in which the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second coupling portions  210   a  and  210   b  are piled up to form the same plane, can be minimized when the first and second coupling portions are piled up. 
         [0076]    Further, the fixing portion  50 ′ is formed on the second coupling portion  210   b , and the penetration hole  211  is formed on the end portion of the first coupling portion  210   a , so that they are mutually coupled to each other. 
         [0077]      FIGS. 8(   a ) to  8 ( c ) illustrate an operation state where the fixed plate  10  and the movable plate  20  slide on each other in a case where the mobile phone slide module  1 ″ that is referred to in  FIG. 6  or  7  is installed. 
         [0078]    As described above, according to the present invention, a linear wire spring is used as an elastic body, and this wire spring is inserted into and connected to first and second bodies. Accordingly, no friction occurs between a fixed plate and a movable plate, which are made of a metal material and the wire spring which is made of a metal material, and thus frictional wear and noise do not occur during a sliding operation. 
         [0079]    Further, the present invention has a simple construction including the first and second bodies and the wire springs, and thus can be conveniently assembled. 
         [0080]    While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.