Patent Publication Number: US-2011077060-A1

Title: Portable electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to portable electronic devices, and particularly to a portable electronic device equipped with a knife. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the development of technology, many portable electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones and personal digital assistants) are designed to be multifunctional. For example, a mobile phone can also have the functions of capturing photos, receiving broadcasts, etc. 
     Mobile phones equipped with knife blades have been introduced. The mobile phone includes a main body and a knife tool assembled within the main body. The main body defines a chamber in a sidewall thereof. A shaft is secured in the chamber. The knife pivots on the shaft and is received in the chamber. 
     However, the knife may easily pivot out from the chamber, causing a dangerous situation. 
     Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a portable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the portable electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a knife tool shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but from another angle. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a casing shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of the portable electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cut-away view of the knife tool sliding out of the portable electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary portable electronic device  100  including a housing  10  and a knife tool  30  received in the housing  10 . The housing  10  includes a main body  13  and a cover  11  assembled to the main body  13 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the cover  11  including a first assembled area  111  and a second assembled area  113 . The first assembled area  111  is configured to house a display screen providing operating information of the portable electronic device. The second assembled area  113  houses a keyboard enabling input of information. The main body  13  includes two sidewalls  131 , two end walls  133  connecting to the sidewalls  131 , and a divisional plate  135 . The sidewalls  131  and the end walls  133  cooperatively define a receiving chamber  137 . The divisional plate  135  is received in the receiving chamber  137 , and resists the two sidewalls  131  and one of the end walls  133 . The main body  13  further defines a through slot  139  in one of the sidewalls  131  and one of the end walls  133  connected to each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the knife tool  30  includes a blade  31 , an elastic element  33 , an operating assembly  35 , and a casing  37  for receiving the blade  31 , the elastic element  33 , and the operating assembly  35 . The blade  31  can be withdrawn from the casing  37  by the elastic element  33  and the operating assembly  35 . The blade  31  includes a projection  315  secured on an end thereof and a blade body  311 . 
     The operating assembly  35  includes a sliding element  351 , two locating components  353 , a cable  355 , and a protective cover  357 . The sliding element  351  is attached to the cable  355 . Each of the locating components  353  includes a locating element  352 , a spring  354 , and a resisting element  356 . The locating element  352  includes a plate  3521  and a hollow post  3523  perpendicularly positioned on the plate  3521 . The post  3523  defines a through hole  3525  through which the cable  355  passes. 
     The resisting element  356  includes a protrusion  3561  extending from an end thereof. The spring  354  is configured to provide a restoring force to the projection  315 . The cable  355  is steel, and each resisting element  356  can be secured on an end of the cable  355 . The protective cover  357  includes a connecting arm  3573  and a latching arm  3575  both of elastic material. The connecting arm  3573  and the latching arm  3575  are positioned on two opposite edges of the protective cover  357 . The latching arm  3575  includes a hooked end formed on a free end thereof. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-section of casing  37  including an accommodating chamber  371  for receiving the blade  31 . An end of the accommodating chamber  371  defines an opening  373 . The accommodating chamber  371  includes a side portion  375  defining a first assembly portion  377  and two second assembly portions  376  symmetrical and adjacent to the first assembly portion  377 . 
     The first assembly portion  377  includes an assembly groove  3771  defined in the side portion  375 . The assembly groove  3771  defines an assembly hole  3773  and a sliding hole  3775  in a bottom thereof. A latching slot  3777  is defined in a sidewall of the assembly groove  3771 . 
     Each of the second assembly portions  376  includes a receiving groove  3761  defined therein. A bottom of the receiving groove  3761  defines a positioning hole  3763  and a guiding hole  3765  adjacent to the positioning hole  3763 . A hollow cylinder  3751  extends from a bottom of each receiving groove  3761  toward the inside, and is received in the accommodating chamber  371 . The positioning hole  3763  communicates with the hollow cylinder  3751 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , during assembly, the elastic element  33  and the blade  31  are received in the accommodating chamber  371 . The cable  355  runs through each guiding hole  3765 , each hollow post  3523 , each through hole  3525 , each hollow cylinder  3751 , and each spring  354 . Then, the resisting elements  356  are secured on two ends of the cable  355 . Each hollow post  3523  is received in the corresponding guiding hole  3765 . 
     The spring  354  and the resisting element  356  are respectively received in each hollow cylinder  3751 , and the resisting element  356  extends from the accommodating chamber  371 . Each plate  3521  is received in the receiving grooves  3761 . The spring  354  resist against the resisting element  356  and the plate  3521 . 
     The sliding element  351  is slidably received in the sliding hole  3775 , and is slid to the opening  373 . Each resisting element  356  presses corresponding spring  354  by the cable  355 , and is slid to the side portion  375 . When the blade  31  is pushed into the casing  37 , the sliding element  351  is released and the resisting element  356  resists the projection  315  by the spring  354 . Thus, the blade  31  is received in the accommodating chamber  371 . 
     The connecting arm  3573  runs through the assembly hole  3773 . The protective cover  357  is rotated and received in the assembly groove  3771 . The latching arm  3575  latches the assembly groove  3771 . 
     The casing  37  is received in the receiving chamber  137 , secured on the sheet  135 , and exposed from the through slot  139 . The cover  11  latches the main body  13 . Thus, assembly process of the portable electronic device  100  is complete. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , during use, the protective cover  357  is rotated to expose the sliding element  351 . The protective cover  357  is slid toward the opening  373 . Due to the sliding element  351  is attached to the cable  355 , the cable  355  can pull the resisting element  356  received in the second assembly portion  376  away from the opening  373 . The resisting element  356  compresses the spring  354 . When the sliding element  351  is slid by external force, the sliding element  351  drives the resisting element  356  located away from the opening  373  released from the projection  315 . The blade  31  extends from the opening  373  by elastic force of the elastic element  33 . The resisting element  356  located near the opening  373  resists the projection  315 , thus, the blade  31  can not slide out of the casing  37 . The sliding element  351  is released, the resisting element  356  located away from the opening  373  returns to an original state by an elastic force of the spring  354 . 
     When the blade  31  is received in the casing  37 , the sliding element  351  is slid away from the opening  373 . The resisting element  356  located away from the opening  373  compresses the spring  354  and is slid to the side portion  375 . The blade  31  is pushed into the casing  37 , and the sliding element  351  is released. The resisting element  356  resists the projection  315 , thus, the blade  31  is secured in the accommodating chamber  371 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.