Patent Publication Number: US-2011072922-A1

Title: Slid type cover opening and shutting device for mobile phone

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an exemplary embodiment of a portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal that allows the cover to slide up/down from a main body of the portable terminal. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, portable terminals, such as mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, and DMB phones, are widely used for wireless services such as broadcasting and communication in a mobile fashion. 
     The portable terminal is becoming an important necessity for convenience in life with the development in the information industry, while mobile phones being are used by elementary school, middle school, and high school students to the old. 
     A variety of methods are used to open/shut a cover of the portable terminals, and they can be largely divided into a hinge type, a slide type, and a swing type. 
     In particular, portable terminals of which the covers are opened/shut in the slide type have several advantages, such as convenience, ease of operation, and refined design, such that the slide type has been the most widely used in recent years. 
     According to the basic structure of the portable terminal of which the cover is opened/shut in the slide type, the cover with a display slides up/down from the main body with a key pad, and manufacturers have recently manufactured slide-type opening/shutting devices for a portable terminal having various structures based on the basic structure. 
     As an example, a slide-type cover opening/shutting device for a portable terminal is composed of a guide member fixed to a main body, a movable member formed in a plate shape, fixed to the cover, and slidably combined with the guide member, and an elastic unit with both ends rotatably connected and supported to the movable member, wherein the guide member allows the movable member to easily and smoothly slide. 
     As a user applies a force to the cover until the movable member slides on a predetermined section while the cover of the portable terminal is open or shut, the elastic unit allows the cover to smoothly slide on the other section using an elastic return force. 
     However, according to the slide-type cover opening/shutting device of a portable terminal having the above configuration in the related art, a coil spring or a torsion spring is used as the elastic unit, in which the elastic unit contacts the guide member and the movable member when the cover slides to be opened and shut. Therefore, it has a problem in that the guide member and the movable member are damaged, such as by scratches, thereby causing problems in the opening/shutting thereof, such as noise or frictional resistance. 
     Further, the elastic unit in the related art may move up/down, which may cause problems in accurate and smooth opening/shutting. 
     The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to overcome the above problems, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a slide-type cover opening and shutting device that accurately applies elastic force in the opening and shutting direction of the cover of the portable terminal, minimizes a decrease and loss of the elastic force, and stably moves and operates the elastic unit, and that can be easily manufactured with improved productivity. 
     A slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes: a plate-shaped guide member; a plate-shaped movable member that is slidably assembled to the guide member; and an elastic member of which ends are rotatably connected to the guide member and the movable member, respectively. The elastic unit includes: i) a pair of rotary plates that cross in parallel with each other and are rotatably connected to the guide member and the movable member by hinge pins; ii) elastic support plates that are connected to both sides of the rotary plates between the rotary plates to be able to slide and lock, composed of first and second slide sections that are open to opposite directions toward the rotary plates, and that have a plurality of support pins that are partially inserted in the rotary plates at the first and second slide sections; and iii) elastic members that are fitted on the support plates and apply elastic reaction force to the rotary plates. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, the elastic support plates may be formed to open ends of the first and second slide sections, corresponding to both sides of the rotary plates, and have hook protrusions that are hooked to both sides of the rotary plates. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, each of the rotary plates may have a guide rail where the first and second slide sections are slidably connected at both sides thereof, and locking projections are formed on the guide rail to lock the hook protrusions. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, the hook protrusion may have a predetermined inclination to be combined with the locking projection. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, the guide rail may be composed of a first rail facing the inside of open ends of the first and second slide sections from the locking projection, and a second rail facing the outside of the open ends. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, it is preferable that the open ends of the first and second slide sections are rounded. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, the elastic support plate may include: a first rib that is slidably connected to a side of the rotary plate corresponding to the first slide section; a second rib that is slidably connected to a side of the other rotary plate corresponding to the second slide section; and a third rib that is slidably connected to the other side of rotary plates between the first rib and the second rib, and is integrally formed with the first rib and the second rib. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, the elastic support plate may be formed in an S-shape. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, it is preferable that the elastic support plate is formed of a thin metal plate having elasticity. 
     In the slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal, each of the rotary plates may have a main body with insertion holes where the support pins are inserted, and an extension that extends from both sides of the main body at the sides of the insertion holes. 
     Hinge grooves may be formed in the main body of the rotary plates to fit the hinge pins. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not construed to limit any aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing showing an example of a portable terminal having a slide-type cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an elastic unit that is applied to a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing a rotary plate that is applied to a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan schematic view showing an elastic support plate that is applied to a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan schematic view illustrating a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the cover of the portable terminal is fully closed. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan schematic view illustrating a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the cover of the portable terminal is half open. 
         FIG. 10  is a side schematic view illustrating a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the cover of the portable terminal is half open. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan schematic view illustrating a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the cover of the portable terminal is fully open. 
         FIG. 12  is a side schematic view illustrating a slide-type cover opening and shutting device for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the cover of the portable terminal is fully open. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing showing an example of a portable terminal having a slide-type cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to the figure, as a portable terminal  1  having a slide-type cover opening and shutting device  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a up-down slide opening and shutting type of mobile phone can be exemplified. 
     However, the portable terminal  1  is not limited to common mobile phones in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and may be PDA phones and DMB phones. 
     The portable terminal  1  is formed such that a cover  5  with a display can slide up/down from a main body  3  with a key pad. 
     The slide-type cover opening and shutting device  100  for a portable terminal basically includes, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a plate-shaped guide member  10 , a plate-shaped movable member  20  that is slidably connected with the guide member  10 , and an elastic unit  30  of which both ends are rotatably connected with the guide member  10  and the movable member  20 . 
     The guide member  10  has a body  11  formed of a metal plate and a pair of groove members  15  made of synthetic resin, integrally fixed to both edges of the body  11 , and having guide grooves  13 . 
     The movable member  20  is made of metal or a synthetic resin and has a pair of rails  21 , which are slidably fitted in the guide grooves  13 , at both edges thereof. 
     The guide member  10  is mainly fixed to the main body ( 3 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 1 ) of the portable terminal ( 1 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 1 ), and the movable member  20  is mainly fixed to the cover ( 5 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 1 ) of the portable terminal  1 . 
     The guide member  10  and the movable member  20  may be achieved in the same configuration as those of guide members and movable members that are widely used for slide-type opening and shutting devices for portable terminals in the art. 
     The elastic unit  30 , as stated in relation to the related art, allows the cover  5  to smoothly slide on the other section using an elastic return force as a user applies a force to the cover  5  until the movable member  20  slides on a predetermined section while the cover  5  of the portable terminal  1  is open or shut. 
     The elastic unit  30  can rotate about the guide member  10  and the movable member  20  by hinge pins  31 , and for this, the guide member  10  and the movable member  20  have assembly holes  19  and  29  for fitting the hinge pins  31  in the elastic unit  30 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the elastic unit shown in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to the figures, in the slide-type opening and shutting device  100  for a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the elastic unit  30  is largely composed of a pair of rotary plates  40 , an elastic support plate  60 , and an elastic member  90 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the pair of rotary plates  40  cross in parallel with each other and are rotatably connected to the guide member ( 10 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 3 ) and the movable member ( 20 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 3 ) by the hinge pins  31 , respectively. 
     That is, the pair of rotary plates  40  are disposed on a pair of parallel imaginary lines between the guide member  10  and the movable member  20 , of which ends are disposed in the opposite directions. 
     Hinge grooves  41  where the hinge pins  31  are fitted are formed at the other ends of the pair of rotary plates  40 , and the hinge grooves  41  are disposed opposite to each other in the up-down direction at the other ends. 
     The rotary plate  40  has a body  42  having the hinge groove  41  and an extension  48  that integrally extends from the longitudinal edge of the body  42 . 
     The rotary plate  40  has a guide rail  51 , which is a groove having a U-shaped cross-section, at both sides and a locking projection  53  having a predetermined inclination is formed in the guide rail  51  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The guide rail  51  is composed of a first rail  55  facing the extension  48  from the locking projection  53  and a second rail  56  facing the hinge groove ( 41 : refer to  FIG. 5 ) of the body  42 . 
     The first rail  55  and the second rail  56  are different in depth because of the locking projection  53 . 
     That is, the second rail  56  is larger in depth than the first rail  55  because of the locking projection  53 . 
     On the other hand, a plurality of insertion holes  58  are longitudinally formed at a side between the extensions  48  in the body  42  of each of the rotary plates  40  such that they are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the width direction of the body (refer to  FIG. 6 ). 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the elastic support plate  60  guides rotation of the rotary plate  40  and allows the cover  5  to slide using an elastic return force, while being formed of a thin metal plate having elasticity and a predetermined thickness. 
     The elastic support plate  60  is slidably connected to the guide rails  51  at both sides between the rotary plates  40  and locked to the locking projections  53  on the guide rails  51 . 
     The elastic support plate  60 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , is formed of a substantially S-shaped plate and composed of first and second slide sections  61  and  62  having open spaces facing the rotary plates  40  and disposed in opposite directions. 
     The first slide section  61  and the second slide section  62  are portions of the elastic support plate  60  formed of a single plate that is slidably connected to both of the guide rails  51  of the rotary plate  40 . 
     That is, in this exemplary embodiment, from the one-point chain line in the figure, the section (part) that is slidably connected to the rotary plate  40  at a side is the first slide section  61  and the section (part) that is slidably connected to the rotary plate  40  at the other side is the second slide section  62 . 
     Further, considering that the entire shape is the S-shape in this exemplary embodiment, the elastic support plate  60  has a first rib  71 , a second rib  72 , and a third rib  73  integrally formed with the first and second ribs  71  and  72  between the first and second ribs  71  and  72 . 
     The first rib  71  is slidably connected to the guide rail  51  of the rotary plate  40  corresponding to the first slide section  61 , and is integrally formed with an end of the third rib  73 , from the open space of the first slide section  61 . 
     The second rib  72  is slidably connected to the guide rail  51  of the other rotary plate  40  corresponding to the second slide section  62 , and is integrally formed with the other end of the third rib  73 , from the open space of the second slide section  62 . 
     Further, the third rib  73 , as described above, has the end integrally formed with the first rib  71  and the other end integrally formed with the second rib  72 , such that it can be slidably connected to the other guide rail  51  of each of the rotary plates  40  at the center between the first rib  71  and the second rib  72 . 
     Hook protrusions  75  that are hooked to the locking projections  53 , as described above, are formed to correspond to the guide rails  51  of the rotary plate  40 , at the open ends of the first and second slide sections  61  and,  62 , that is, the open ends of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73 , and the open ends of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73 . 
     Each hook protrusion  75  has an inclination corresponding to the locking projection to be locked to the locking projection  53  between the first rail  55  facing the inside of the open ends of the first and second slide sections  61  and  62  and the second rail  56  facing the outside of the open ends. 
     That is, the hook protrusions  75  are inclined inside the open spaces of the first and second slide sections  61  and  62  at the open ends of the first and third ribs  71  and  73  and the open ends of the second and third ribs  72  and  73 . 
     As described above, the inclination is given to each of the hook protrusions  75  and the locking projections  53  to prevent the rotary plates  40  from separating from the elastic support plate  60  when assembling the elastic support plate  60  with the rotary plates  40 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, since the elastic support plate  60  is formed of a thin metal plate having elasticity, the hook protrusions  75  can be locked to the locking projections  53  even if the hook protrusions  75  protrude at the open ends of the first and third ribs  71  and  73  and the open ends of the second and third ribs  72  and  73 . 
     In detail, the assembly of the rotary plate  40  to the first and second slide sections  61  and  62  of the elastic support plate  60  is achieved while the first rib  71  and the second rib  72  elastically deform and slide on the first rail  55  and the hook protrusions  75  are locked to the locking projection  53  and then return to the initial shape, because the depth of the second rail  56  is larger than that of the first rail  55  because of the locking projections  53 . 
     Further, in this exemplary embodiment, it is preferable to round the edges of the open ends of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73  and the open ends of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73 . 
     The reason why the edges of the opens ends are rounded is for the open ends to be easily inserted into the first rail  55  when assembling the rotary plate with the first and second slide sections  61  and  62 . 
     That is, it is for improving ease in assembly of the elastic support plate  60  with the rotary plates  40 . 
     Meanwhile, in the elastic support plate  60 , a plurality of support pins  77 , which are partially inserted into the insertion holes  58  of the body  42  between the extensions  48  of the rotary plates  40 , are formed in the first and second slide sections  61  and  62 . 
     The support pins  77  support the slide motion of the elastic support plate  60  with respect to the rotary plates  40  while firmly supporting the elastic members  90 , which are described below. 
     The support pins  77  are integrally formed to correspond to the open ends, at the connecting portion of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73  and the connecting portion of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73 . 
     The number of support pins  77  is determined to correspond to the numbers of insertion holes  58  of the rotary plates  40  and the elastic members  90 , which are described below. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the elastic members  90 , as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , are fitted on the support pins  77  of the first and second slide sections  61  and  62  and apply an elastic reaction force to the rotary plates  40 . 
     It is preferable that the elastic member  90  is a compression spring. 
     The elastic members  90  are fitted on the support pins  77 , and ends thereof are supported by the inlet of the insertion holes  58  and the other ends thereof are supported by the connecting portion of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73  and the connecting portion of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73 , with the support pins  77  partially inserted in the insertion holes  58  of the rotary plates  40 . 
     The assembly order and operation of the slide-type cover opening and shutting device  100  for a portable terminal having the above configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described hereafter. 
     Describing the assembly order of the slide-type cover opening and shutting device  100  for a portable terminal according to an example of the present invention, first, in this embodiment, the elastic members  90  are fitted on the support pins  77  of the slide sections  61  and  62  through the open ends of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73  and the open ends of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73 . 
     Thereafter, the rotary plate  40  are assembled to the first and second slide sections  61  and  62  through the open ends of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73  and the open ends of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73 . 
     Describing the above process in detail, first, the hook protrusions  75  at the open ends of the first rib  71  and the third rib  73  and the open ends of the second rib  72  and the third rib  73  are inserted into the first rails  55  of the rotary plates  40 . 
     Since the elastic support plates  60  are formed of thin metal plates having elasticity, the first rib  71  and the second rib  72  are elastically deformed by the hook protrusions  75  and slide along the first rails  55  while being inserted into the first rails  55 , and the hook protrusions  75  are locked to the locking projections  53 , and returns to the initial shape. As a result, the hook protrusions  75  are hooked to the locking projections  53 . 
     During the above process, the support pins  77  of the first and second slide sections  61  and  62  are partially and smoothly inserted into the insertion holes  58  of the rotary plate  40  and the elastic members  90  apply elastic reaction force to the rotary plates  40  while being compressed by the rotary plates  40 . 
     Therefore, the rotary plates  40  are connected with the elastic support plates  60  while being elastically supported through the above process, and thereby assembly of the elastic unit  30  is finished. 
     After the assembly of the elastic unit  30  is finished, the rotary plate  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is rotatably connected to the guide member  10  and the movable member  20  by the hinge pins  31  fitted in the hinge grooves  41  of the rotary plates  40  through the assembly holes  19  and  29  of the guide member  10  and the movable member  20 . 
     The operation of the slide-type cover opening and shutting device  100  for a portable terminal equipped with the elastic unit  30  rotatably connected to the guide member  10  and the movable member  20  through the above process, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is described hereafter with reference to the figures. 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 8 , with the cover  5  closed to the main body  3  of the portable terminal  1 , the ends (upper portion) of the guide member  10  and the movable member  20  are connected and the rotary plates  40  of the elastic unit  30  are inclined in the movement direction of the cover  5 . 
     Further, elastic force is not applied to the elastic members  90  or relatively small elastic reaction force is applied to the rotary plate  40 . 
     In this position, as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , as the cover  5  is pushed up from the main body  3  until it is half opened, the guide member  10  moves to the middle portion of the movable member  20 . 
     Further, the rotary plates  40  of the elastic unit  30  rotate about the hinge pins  31  and are positioned substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the cover  5 . 
     In this position, as the elastic support plates  60  of the elastic unit  30  slide to the hinge pins  31  along the guide rails ( 51 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 4 ) of the rotary plates  40  while being locked to the locking projections ( 53 : hereafter, refer to  FIG. 6 ), the elastic members  90  are compressed and the elastic reaction force of the elastic members  90  is increased. Accordingly, even though a user does not apply more force to the cover  5 , the movable member  20  continues moving upward. 
     As the movable member  20  moves up as described above, as shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the guide member  10  moves to the other end (lower portion) of the movable member  20  and the cover  5  is fully opened, while the rotary plates  40  of the elastic unit  30  rotate about the hinge pins  31  and are inclined in the movement direction of the movable member  20 . 
     In this operation, the elastic support plates  60  of the elastic unit  30  slide along the guide rails  51  of the rotary plates  40  to the opposite side of the hinge pins  31  and are locked to the locking projections  53 , and the elastic members  90  decrease in elastic reaction force or the elastic reaction force is removed while returning to the initial shape as when the cover  5  is closed. 
     On the other hand, in this exemplary embodiment, closing the cover  5  that is open from the main body  3  of the portable terminal  1  is achieved in the inverse order of the above operation, such that it is not described in detail below. 
     As a result, in this exemplary embodiment, the elastic support plate  60  formed of one plate and the pair of rotary plates  40  are slidably connected and the elastic member  30  having the elastic members  90  supported by the support pins  77  of the elastic support plate  60  is provided, such that the elastic force of the elastic members  90  is accurately applied in the opening and shutting direction of the portable terminal  1 . 
     Further, in this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to prevent the elastic force from being decreased or removed by bending or moving of the middle portion due to excessive compression of the elastic unit  30 , such that the cover  5  of the portable terminal  1  can be smoothly opened or shut and durability of the elastic unit  30  is increased. 
     Further, in this exemplary embodiment, the elastic support plate  60  is stably connected with the rotary plates  40 , such that movement and operation of the elastic unit  30  is stable, and assembly and manufacture of the entire configuration is easy with productivity improved. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications included within the claims, the detailed description, and the accompanying drawings, which are included within the range of the spirit of the present invention.