Patent Publication Number: US-2010124954-A1

Title: Slide structure

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application Serial NO. 097220393 filed on Nov. 14, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a slide structure, and more in particular to a slide structure which is implemented in slide electronic device. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Speaking of development of electronic devices, human-machine interface is getting more and more important. Electronic devices can be cellular phones, notebook computers, handheld game consoles, personal digital assistants (PDA). To increase operating area for implementing human-machine interface, slide or clamshell electronic devices are developed. Slide electronic devices usually have quality look, but mechanism of the slide electronic devices are usually much more complicated. 
     Recently, quite a few mobile phones are equipped with “slide” structures. In the beginning of slide mobile phones, users need to use thumbs to manipulate the slide mobile phones so it is not comfortable for users to manipulate the slide mobile phones. Then, a better active slide structure is provided at the end of sliding stoke, and that is, slide portion of the mobile phone will be resiliently biased when the slide portion is pushed to the end of slide stroke. Thus, manipulation of the slide mobile phones will be improved. 
     To improve manipulation of the slide mobile phones, slide-typed or liked structure is developed. Referring to  FIG. 1 , it illustrates a perspective view of a slide structure  2  of the prior art. Two metallic components  4  and  6  are respectively moved back and forth because of resilient members  8  so that it is comfortable for users to manipulate the slide mobile phone. As shown in  FIG. 1 , because the two metallic components  4  and  6  are respectively moved back and forth, interference between the resilient members  8  happens. Due to limited receiving space, how to implement the resilient members  8  to this receiving space is troublesome. Even worse, the kind of resilient members only rotate along one direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise) so when the resilient members rotate along the opposite direction, the resilient members are prone to have plastic deformation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , it illustrates a perspective view of a slide structure  2   a  of the prior art. Similarly, two metallic components  4   a  and  6   a  are respectively moved back and forth because of several overlapped resilient members  8   a . It is much more comfortable for users to manipulate the slide mobile phone because the resilient members  8   a  have stronger structure and higher resilience. Besides, gradient magnitude of resilience is not large so it is ideal and comfortable for users to manipulate the slide mobile phone. However, several overlapped resilient members  8   a  are thicker and have shorter slide stroke, so it is disadvantageous for compact and light-weighted design. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , it illustrates a perspective view of a slide structure  2   b  of the prior art. To increase slide stroke of elastic deformation, two metallic components  4   b  and  6   b  are respectively moved back and forth because of resilient member. The resilient member is two symmetrical wave sinus springs  8   b . It seems to have longer slide stroke, but when two metallic components  4   b  and  6   b  are respectively moved back and forth, part of the wave sinus springs  8   b  concave downwardly extends. Resilience of compressive side of the wave sinus springs  8   b  is better, and other part of the wave sinus springs  8   b  concave upwards extends so resilience is not good and the wave sinus springs  8   b  is also prone to have plastic deformation. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a slide structure which is implemented in two moveably connected components of electronic device to improve above disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a slide structure which is implemented in electronic device. Two components of the electronic device are moveably connected so that it is comfortable for users to manipulate the electronic device. Besides, the electronic device has ideal resilience, longer slide stroke and a more durable linear spring. 
     The present invention relates to a slide structure which is implemented in electronic device. The slide structure includes a first slide component, a second slide component, and a linear spring. 
     The second slide component is moveably connected with the first slide component so that the second slide component is moved with respect to the first slide component. 
     The linear spring includes two ends and is positioned within a clearance which is defined between the first slide component and the second slide component. One end is fixed to the first slide component, and the other end is fixed to the second slide component. The linear spring extends from one of the ends along a first turning direction so that a first spring portion is formed. Then, the linear spring extends from the first spring portion along a second turning direction to the other end so that a second spring portion is formed. The first turning direction is opposite to the second turning direction. 
     When the first slide component is moved to a first position with respect to the second slide component, both the first spring portion and the second spring portion are compressed and deformed so as to establish a resilient force. Then, both the first spring portion and the second spring portion will be extended and deformed by the resilient force so that the first slide component is moved to a second position with respect to the second slide component. The first position is the midpoint of the slide stroke, and both ends of the slide stroke are called the second position. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a slide structure which is implemented in electronic devices such as mobile phones. Components of the electronic devices are moveably connected and biased by linear spring with two opposite spring arcs so that it is comfortable for users to manipulate the electronic device, and ideal resilient force and longer slide stroke are obtained. Furthermore, the linear spring of the present invention is more durable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be specified with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first slide structure of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second slide structure of the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third slide structure of the prior art; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a slide mobile phone with a slide structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the slide structure of  FIG. 4  which is moved to one of the second positions according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a linear spring which is implemented in the slide structure according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the slide structure of  FIG. 4  which is moved to a first position according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the slide structure of  FIG. 4  which is moved to the other one of the second position according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of a slide structure according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a linear spring which is implemented in the slide structure according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a linear spring which is implemented in the slide structure according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a linear spring which is implemented in the slide structure according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a linear spring which is implemented in the slide structure according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , it illustrates a perspective view of a slide mobile phone  20  with a slide structure of the present invention. The present invention relates a slide structure which is implemented in the slide electronic device such as mobile phone, notebook computer, handheld game console, personal digital assistant etc. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mobile phone  20  includes an upper housing  22  and a lower housing  24 . The upper housing  22  is movably coupled with the lower housing  24  by the slide structure. Then upper housing  22  is moved with respect to the lower housing  24 . 
     Referring  FIG. 5 , it illustrates a perspective view of the slide structure  30  which is moved to the second position  88   a  according to the present invention. The slide structure  30  includes a first slide component  32 , a second slide component  34 , and a linear spring  36 . 
     The first slide component  32  is fixedly coupled with the upper housing  22 , and the second slide component  34  is fixedly coupled with the lower housing  24 . The second slide component  34  is movably connected with the first slide component  32  so that the first slide component  32  is moved with respect to the second slide component  34 . The upper housing  22  is moved with respect to the lower housing  24  accordingly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 ,  FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of a linear spring  36  according to the present invention. The linear spring  36  includes two ends  80 , and one of the ends  80  is fixed to the first slide component  32  and the other of the ends  80  is fixed to the second slide component  34 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first slide component  32  and the second slide component  34  of the slide structure  30  have a rivet  38  respectively. The two ends  80  of the linear spring  36  are respectively interwined at two rivets  38  so that two ends  80  of the linear spring  36  are respectively fixed to the first slide component  32  and the second slide component  34 . 
     The linear spring  36  extends from one of the ends  80  along a first turning direction  82  so that a first spring portion  3602  is formed. Then, the linear spring  36  extends from the first spring portion  3602  along a second turning direction  84  to the other of the ends  80  so that a second spring portion  3604  is formed. The first turning direction  82  is opposite to the second turning direction  84 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , both the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  are arc-shaped so that a symbol for Taiji is formed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , it illustrates a perspective view of the slide structure  30  of  FIG. 4  which is moved to a first position  86  according to the present invention. When the upper housing  22  is moved by external force, the first slide component  32  is moved to the first position  86  with respect to the second slide component  34 . Then, both the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  are compressed and deformed so as to establish a resilient force. The first position  86  is the midpoint of the slide stroke in which the first slide component  32  is moved with respect to the second slide component  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , it illustrates a perspective view of the slide structure  30  of  FIG. 4  which is moved to the second position  88   b  according to the present invention. Comparing with the  FIG. 7 , the first slide component  32  is moved over the first position  86  so that both the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  will be extended and deformed by resilient force. Thus, the first slide component  32  is moved to the second position  88   b  with respect to the second slide component  34 . 
     To the contrary, if the first slide component  32  is pulled back to the first position  86  with respect to the second slide component  34 , then resilient force is restored. Then, the first slide component  32  is pulled away from the first position  86  so that both the first slide component  32  and the second slide component  34  will be moved back to the second position  88   a  by resilient force. The second positions  88   a  and  88   b  are respectively two ends of the slide stroke in which the first slide component  32  is moved with respect to the second slide component  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , it illustrates a cross-section view of the slide structure  30  according to the present invention. A clearance  90  is defined between the first slide component  32  and the second slide component  34 , and the linear spring  36  is received within the clearance  90 . 
     A guide groove  60  is formed at each of two opposite edges of the first slide component  32 , and a slide fringe  62  corresponds to and is received at the guide grooves  60 . Thus, the first slide component  32  is moved with respect to the second slide component  34 . 
     The first slide component  32  and the second slide component  34  are metallic and manufactured by punch process. Each of the guide grooves  60  also includes a plastic guide rail  64 , and each of the slide fringes  62  is moved within along the guide rail  64 . In the light of this, the slide structure  30  is much more stable, precise, and durable. 
     According to the linear spring  36 , there are several embodiments in the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 10 , it illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the linear spring  36  according to the present invention. Similar to  FIG. 6 , the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  are arc-shaped. However, difference between  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 10  is that  FIG. 6  illustrates a more symmetrical symbol for Taiji and  FIG. 10  illustrates the linear spring  36  with two extended S-shaped ends. According to the present invention, the slide structure  30  with the second embodiment of the linear spring  36  has longer slide stroke. The linear springs as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10  have different resilient force and manipulation, and need to be adjusted for practical uses. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 , and  12 ,  FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment of the linear spring  36  according to the present invention.  FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the linear spring  36  according to the present invention. According to the present invention, the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  can be arc-shaped or circular. If the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  are circular, the linear spring  36  has a larger resilient force and is durable. Before the linear spring  36  of the slid structure  30  is shipped to market, the linear spring  36  is subjected to one hundred thousand times tests. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates middle portion of the linear spring  36  which is positioned between the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  is arc-shaped so resilience is better and manipulation is smoother.  FIG. 12  illustrates middle portion of the linear spring  36  which is positioned between the first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  is a straight line so rigidity is higher and manipulation is sturdy. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a linear spring  36  which is implemented in the slide structure  30  according to the present invention. The first spring portion  3602  and the second spring portion  3604  are circular and have a plurality of layers so the linear spring  36  is durable. 
     Furthermore, the slide structure  30  of the present invention also includes two linear springs  36  within the clearance  90  which is defined between the first slide component  32  and the second slide component  34 . Therefore, the first slide component  32  is moved with respect to the second slide component  34  in a smoother way, and life expectancy of the linear spring  36  is longer. 
     Therefore, the slide structure  30  of the present invention is implemented in electronic devices such as mobile phones  20 . The upper housing  22  is moved with respect to the lower housing  24  because of linear spring  36 . In the light of this, manipulation is good and resilience and slide stroke are ideal. Besides, the linear spring  36  of the present invention is durable. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.