Patent Publication Number: US-2010129010-A1

Title: Two way sliding apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a two way sliding device for a portable terminal, which is slim and enables a cover to slide freely in vertical and horizontal directions. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a portable information device (hereinafter, referred to as “terminal”) such as a cellular phone, an electronic dictionary, a notebook computer, a portable multimedia player (PMP) and the like is a device for wireless communication such as a conversation or a data transmission. In the terminal, a cover provided with a display liquid crystal is coupled to a main body provided with a key pad to be openable and closable. 
     According to an external appearance or opening/closing structure of a cover with respect to a main body, terminals may be classified into a bar type terminal, a flip type terminal, a folder type terminal, a slide type terminal, and the like. 
     In the above various type terminals, a slide type terminal can be conveniently carried since the length thereof can be reduced, and can be provided with a larger liquid crystal display. In addition, as compared with a folder type terminal, the slide type terminal is advantageous in that the opening/closing operation is performed more easily, whereby the slide type terminal has been popularized over recent. 
     Meanwhile, in a conventional terminal, a cover can be slid only in one axial direction. In recent, however, a terminal in which a cover can be slid in two axial (X-axial and Y-axial) directions has been provided. 
     For example, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0421654 discloses a dual slide for a game and phone terminal capable of sliding operation in the X- and Y-axial directions perpendicular to each other. However, such a sliding device should have a three story stage structure and need at least two elastic members for each stage to slide. 
     Accordingly, such a sliding device should be designed to be 1.5 to 3 times as thick as a general sliding device, so that an entire thickness of the terminal is increased and the durability of the terminal is lowered due to unstable movement caused by an increase of vertical displacement difference between the stages. In addition, such a terminal is disadvantageous in that the slide stage should be necessarily slid in any one direction (generally, upward direction) in order to move the slide stage in the horizontal direction. 
     The aforementioned sliding device runs counter to a slim sized terminal having a thickness of several millimeters, which is one of the most features of the recent terminal market, and deteriorates customer&#39;s propensity to purchase. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a two way sliding device for a portable terminal, in which guide portions of three (3) kinds of stages are placed on the same plane without a difference in vertical phase displacement to thereby minimize the thickness of a terminal and only one elastic member is utilized to make a safe and precise sliding possible. 
     Technical Solution 
     According to the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a two way sliding device for a potable terminal in which a cover is slid with respect to a main body. The two way sliding device comprises a flat plate-shaped stationary stage fixed to the main body, the stationary stage having X-axial moving guide portions formed at upper and lower sides thereof in the vertical direction; an X-axis moving stage having X-axis sliding portions provided at upper and lower sides thereof in the horizontal direction to be coupled with the X-axial moving guide portions and moved in the horizontal direction, the X-axis moving stage having Y-axial moving guide portions provided at both lateral sides thereof in the vertical direction, the X-axis moving stage having an opening formed at a center thereof; a Y-axis moving stage fixed to the cover, the Y-axis moving stage having Y-axis sliding portions formed at both lateral sides thereof to be coupled with the Y-axial moving guide portion and moved within the opening in the vertical direction; and an elastic member having an end coupled with the stationary stage and the other end coupled with the Y-axis moving stage, thereby being rotated 360 degrees within a range of the opening when the slide of the X-axis moving stage in the horizontal direction and the slide of the Y-axis moving stage in the vertical direction cooperate with each other. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS 
     As described above, a two way sliding device for a portable terminal according to the present invention has advantages as follows. 
     First, stationary, X-axis moving and Y-axis moving stages are provided in a one story structure and two way sliding operation can be achieved in a one story structure using an elastic member, so that the portable terminal can be made more slim to satisfy the customer&#39;s propensity to purchase. 
     Second, since a two way sliding structure can be obtained by utilizing an elastic member, a structure of the sliding device can be more simplified than that of a conventional sliding device. Due to the above structure, it is possible to reduce the number of parts necessary for assembling the sliding device, so that the manufacturing cost and the assembling time can be reduced. 
     Third, an axial rotation of 360 degrees of the elastic member placed between the stationary stage and the Y-axis moving stage causes sliding operation in the X- or Y-axial direction to be performed freely according to the user&#39;s intention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a two way sliding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the two way sliding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line III-III in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the operation of the two way sliding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a two way sliding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the two way sliding device of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view showing an elastic member of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view showing the operation of the two way sliding device of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a two way sliding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the two way sliding device of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view showing the operation of the two way sliding device of  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are perspective views showing modifications of the two way sliding device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR MAJOR PORTIONS SHOWN IN DRAWINGS 
     
         
         
           
               110 : Stationary stage  111 : X-axial moving guide portion 
               120 : X-axis moving stage  121 : X-axis sliding portion 
               122 : Y-axial moving guide portion  130 : Y-axis moving stage 
               131 : Y-axis sliding portion  140 : Elastic member 
               141 : First hinge shaft  142 : Second hinge shaft 
               143 : Elastic spring 
           
         
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a two way sliding device for a portable terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     A two way sliding device S according to the present invention is disposed between a main body and a cover of a portable terminal (not shown) and is configured such that the two way sliding device is slid in the X- and Y-axial directions on the main body to the permissible extent that the cover can slide. 
     In this description, at this time, the most general cellular phone is described and illustrated as the portable terminal. Besides the cellular phone, however, the two way sliding device S according to the present invention can be applied to a variety of articles such as an electronic dictionary, a notebook computer, a PMP, and the like. 
     A two way sliding device S according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
     The two way sliding device S according to the first embodiment comprises a stationary stage  110  fixed to a main body provided with a key pad and the like; an X-axis moving stage  120  coupled to the stationary stage  110  and slid in the horizontal direction; and a Y-axis moving stage  130  fixed to a cover provided with a liquid crystal display and slid in the vertical direction. 
     The stationary stage  110  is formed in the shape of an approximately rectangular flat plate, and X-axial moving guide portions  111  are respectively provided at upper and lower sides of the stationary stage  110  to extend in the X-axial direction. Each of the X-axial moving guide portions  111  defines a “□”-shaped guide groove, which is bent upward and then extends inward to face itself. 
     The X-axis moving stage  120  is slid on the stationary stage  110  in the X-axial direction. Like the stationary stage  110 , the X-axis moving stage is formed in the shape of a rectangle, and X-axis sliding portions  121 , which are coupled with the X-axial moving guide portions  111  for the X-axis moving stage to be slid in the X-axial direction, are respectively provided at upper and lower sides of the X-axis moving stage. Each of the X-axis sliding portions  121  defines a “□”-shaped sliding rail, which is bent downward in an opposite direction to the X-axis moving stage  120  and then extends outward. A “□”-shaped guide member  121   a  is coupled to and wraps an end of each sliding rail to prevent the sliding rail from directly contacting with the guide groove and being worn away. It is preferable that this guide member  121   a  be made of a material having a predetermined elasticity such as crude rubber or synthetic resin by which the friction can be reduced. 
     In addition, Y-axial moving guide portions  122  are formed at both lateral sides of the X-axis moving stage  120  so that the Y-axis moving stage  130  is coupled with the Y-axial moving guide portions to be movable. Each of the Y-axial moving guide portions  122  has a “□” shape, which is simply bent downward from each of both ends of the X-axis moving stage  120 . At this time, the Y-axial moving guide portion  122  is not formed into the “□”-shaped guide groove but into the simple “□” shaped bent, so that it is possible to contribute to the slimness of the sliding device. That is, due to the “0” shaped Y-axial moving guide portion  122 , the Y-axis moving stage  130  can be slid stably between the upper surface of the stationary stage  110  and the low surface of the X-axis moving stage  120  without escaping. 
     In the meantime, it is preferable that an opening  120   a  be formed at a central portion of the X-axis moving stage  120  so that a single elastic member  140  to be described later is directly connected to the Y-axis moving stage  130  through the opening and the Y-axis moving stage  130  is provided with a sufficient radius of rotation. 
     The Y-axis moving stage  130  is to move the cover on the X-axis moving stage  120  in the Y-axial direction. Y-axis sliding portions  131  are provided at both lateral sides of the Y-axis moving stage  130  so that the Y-axis sliding portions are inserted into and coupled with the Y-axial moving guide portions  122  of the X-axis moving stage  120 . 
     At this time, a sufficient space should be secured between the stationary stage  110  and the Y-axis moving stage  130  so that the elastic member  140  is coupled thereto and they operate smoothly. Accordingly, each of the Y-axis sliding portions  131  has a “□”-shape bent downward from the Y-axis moving stage  130  and is interposed between the stationary stage  110  and the X-axis moving stage  120 , so that the Y-axis moving stage  130  has a “cap” shape having an upward convex center portion. At this time, considering the entire thickness of the sliding device, the Y-axis moving stage  130  should be formed so that an upper surface thereof does not protrude above the X-axis moving stage  120 . 
     In addition, it is preferable that a guide member  131   a  made of crude rubber or synthetic resin as described above be coupled with and wraps an end of each Y-axis sliding portion  131 . 
     As described above, the “□”-shaped X-axis sliding portion  121  of the X-axis moving stage  120  is inserted into the “□”-shaped X-axial moving guide portion  111  of the stationary stage  110 . The Y-axis sliding portion  131  of the Y-axis moving stage  130  is inserted between the “□” shaped Y-axial moving guide portion  122  of the X-axis moving stage  120  and the stationary stage  110 . The Y-axis moving stage  130  is movable in the opening  120   a  of the X-axis moving stage  120 . Thus, the sliding device has a one story structure as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , whereby the thickness of the sliding device can be minimized. 
     In  FIG. 2 , unexplained reference numerals  110   a  and  130   a  designate hinge holes through which hinge shafts pass. 
     In the meantime, the stationary stage  110  and the Y-axis moving stage  130  are elastically interconnected to each other through the elastic member  140 . The elastic member  140  provides elastic force according to a change in movement of the Y-axis moving stage  130  to enable the X-axis moving stage  120  or the Y-axis moving stage  130  to be slid semi-automatically. 
     Considering the entire thickness of the sliding device, the elastic member  140  is interposed between the stationary stage  110  and the Y-axis moving stage  130 , that is, in the opening  120   a  of the X-axis moving stage  120 , wherein one end of the elastic member is coupled to the stationary stage  110  and the other end is coupled to the center of the Y-axis moving stage  130 , thereby providing the elastic force at the critical point or more when the moving stages are slid in the X-axial direction and the Y-axial direction with respect to the stationary stage  110 . 
     That is, the elastic member  140  includes a first hinge axis  141  rotatably coupled to the center of the stationary stage  110 ; a second hinge shaft  142  rotatably coupled to the center of the Y-axis moving stage  130 ; and a compression spring  143  having one end coupled with the first hinge shaft  141  an the other end coupled with the second hinge shaft  142 . 
     Unlike an elastic member used in a conventional slide type terminal in which only one of the X-axial linear movement and the Y-axial linear movement is performed, the X-axial linear movement and the Y-axial linear movement can be performed by only one elastic member  140  as described above. The above configuration can reduce the number of parts and a weight of the two way sliding device to save the manufacturing cost, and a defect rate of the device can be reduced due to the minimization of the number of parts to improve the durability of the sliding device. 
     As described above, after user&#39;s sliding operation in a certain direction, one end of the elastic member  140  is coupled to the center of the stationary stage  110  and the other end is coupled to the center of a lower surface of the X-axis moving stage  120  to provide the force for axial rotation of 360 degrees. 
     Here, a radius of 360 degree axial rotation of the X-axis moving stage  120  means a radius of rotation of the Y-axis moving stage  130  rotating clockwise or counter-clockwise about the first hinge shaft  141  fixed to the upper surface of the stationary stage  110  for the XY movement caused by coupling the X-axis moving stage  120  and the Y-axis moving stage  130 . The first hinge shaft  141  is located at the point on the upper surface of the stationary stage  110  at which an intermediate point of moving width of the Y-axis moving stage  130  meets an intermediate point of moving width of the X-axis moving stage  120 . 
     At this time, it is preferable that a distance (hereinafter, referred to as “radius of rotation”) between the lower surface of the Y-axis moving stage  130  and the fixing point of the elastic member  140  positioned on the upper surface of the stationary stage  110  do not exceed a half (hereinafter, referred to as “reference width”) of a horizontal length (in the movement direction of the Y-axis moving stage) of the stationary stage  110  with respect to the movement direction of the X-axis moving stage  120 . 
     If the radius of rotation is larger than the reference width, the first hinge shaft of the stationary stage  110  should be located at a lower end of the stationary stage  110  and the second hinge shaft  142  should be located at a lower end of the Y-axis moving stage  130 . In addition, the thickness of each stage  120  or  130  is increased, so that the coupling force between the main body and the stationary stage  110  may be reduced. 
     In the meantime, the length of the compression spring  143  need not be the same as the radius of rotation, but is preferably determined within a range below the reference width in order to achieve effective linear movement of each stage  120  or  130 . 
     As described above, in case of the elastic member of the conventional slide type terminal in which only X-axis or Y-axis linear movement is performed, there is only one critical point. However, there are four critical points at four points, at which a “+” shape defined by the lines extending in the X- and Y-axial directions with the first hinge shaft  141  as the center according to the movement of the X- and Y-axis moving stages  120  and  130  intersects with the circle of the radius of rotation, so that the elastic member  140  of this embodiment is axially rotated 360 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise, as shown in  FIG. 5 . (In the present invention, the Y-axis moving stage is linearly moved only in the Y-axial direction, but can be rotated if the Y-axis moving stage cooperates with the X-axial linear movement of the X-axis moving stage. That is, the Y-axis moving stage is moved together with the second hinge shaft fixed to the center of the lower surface of the Y-axis moving stage.) 
     That is, when the Y-axis moving stage  130  is rotated in any one direction, the linear movement of the Y-axis moving stage  130  depends on user&#39;s force until reaching the critical point from the moment the Y-axis moving stage  130  begins to move, and depends on the elastic repulsive force of the elastic member  40  after passing by the critical point, so that a semi-automatic sliding movement can be achieved. 
     Therefore, according to the elastic member  140  in this embodiment, the linear movements of Up→Left→Down→Right (or Up→Right→Down→Left) and Left→Up→Right→Down (or Right→Up→Left→Down) can be freely selected. It is possible to solve the problem of the conventional two way sliding device in which the Y-axis (or X-axis) linear movement should be performed in advance for the X-axis (or Y-axis) linear movement. 
       FIGS. 6 to 9  show a two way sliding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     A two way sliding device S according to the second embodiment comprises a stationary stage  210  fixed to a main body  1  provided with a key pad and the like; an X-axis moving stage  220  coupled to the stationary stage  210  and slid in an X-axial direction; and a Y-axis moving stage  230  fixed to a cover  2  provided with a liquid crystal display and slid in an Y-axial direction. The above configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. 
     At this time, horizontal cylindrical guide bars  211  acting as X-axial moving guide portions are provided at upper and lower sides of the stationary stage  210 , respectively. Each of the guide bars  211  is coupled with a securing block  212 , which is formed to protrude integrally with the stationary stage  210 . 
     The X-axis moving stage  220  is the member slid on the stationary stage  210  in the horizontal direction. X-axis sliding portions  221  corresponding to the X-axial moving guide portions  211  are integrally formed at upper and lower sides of the X-axis moving stage. The X-axis sliding portion  221  includes a sliding block having an insertion hole  221   a  formed therein in the longitudinal direction so that the guide bar is inserted in the insertion hole. 
     In addition, an opening  220   a  is formed at the central portion of the X-axis moving stage  220 . Guide bars  222 , which function as Y-axial moving guide portions and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, are provided in the opening  220   a.    
     The Y-axis moving stage  230  is to move the cover on the X-axis moving stage  220  in the vertical direction. Y-axis sliding portions  231  are provided at both lateral sides of the Y-axis moving stage so that the Y-axial moving guide portions  222  of the X-axis moving stage  220  are inserted into and coupled with the Y-axis sliding portions, respectively. Like the X-axis sliding portion, each Y-axis sliding portion  231  includes a sliding block in which an insertion hole  231   a  is formed. 
     At this time, the securing block  212  protrudes upward from the stationary stage  210  to have the same thickness as the X-axis moving stage  220 . The X-axis sliding portion is formed to extend and protrude downward from the X-axis moving stage  220  so as not to interfere with the stationary stage  210 . In addition, the Y-axis sliding portions  231  formed under both the lateral sides of the Y-axis moving stage  230  has also the same thickness as the X-axis moving stage  220 , so that the stationary stage  210 , the X-axis moving stage  220  and the Y-axis moving stage  230  have the same thickness, whereby the sliding device has a one story structure. 
     In addition, like the first embodiment, the stationary stage  210  and the Y-axis moving stage  230  are elastically interconnected to each other through a single elastic member  240  for providing elastic force according to a change in movement of the Y-axis moving stage  230  to enable the X-axis moving stage or the Y-axis moving stage to operate semi-automatically. 
     Here, the elastic member  240  may have a structure different from the elastic member of the first embodiment. That is, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the elastic member comprises a first spring support  242  rotatably coupled with the stationary stage  210  by a first hinge shaft  241 ; a second spring support  244  rotatably coupled with the X-axis moving stage  220  by a second hinge shaft  243 ; cylindrical spring guides  245  connecting the first spring support  242  and the second spring support  244 ; and coil springs  246  winding around the spring guides  245  to provide elastic repulsive force by the first spring support  242  and the second spring support  244 . 
     Each of the first and second spring supports  242  and  244  has an approximately “□” shape. The first spring support  242  is formed with recesses  242   b  in which the spring guides  245  can be seated. The second spring support  244  is formed with through holes  244   b , through each of which an end of the spring guide  245  passes through by the elastic force of the coil spring  246  when the Y-axis moving stage  230  is axially rotated. 
     As in the first embodiment, the X- and Y-axial linear movements can be performed only by the single elastic member  240 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , unexplained reference numerals “ 242   a ” and “ 244   a ” designate hinge holes, through which hinge shafts pass. 
       FIGS. 10 to 14  are views illustrating a two way sliding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     Similarly to the first embodiment, the two way sliding device according to this embodiment comprises a stationary stage  310  fixed to a main body provided with a key pad and the like; an X-axis moving stage  320  coupled to the stationary stage  310  and slid in the horizontal direction; a Y-axis moving stage  330  fixed to a cover provided with a liquid crystal display and slid in the vertical direction; and an elastic member  340  elastically interconnecting the stationary stage  310  and the Y-axis moving stage  330 . 
     At this time, the stationary stage  310  in the first embodiment has a flat plate shape, but the stationary stage  310  in this embodiment is formed with an opening  314  and an elastic member coupling plate  312  extending in the vertical direction from the center in order to fix the elastic member  340 . Due to the above configuration, it is possible to save the manufacturing cost and reduce the weight of the sliding device. 
     In addition, X-axial moving guide portions  311  are provided at upper and lower sides of the stationary stage  310 . Each X-axial moving guide portion defines a “□”-shaped guide groove, which is bent upward and then extends inward the member. 
     The X-axis moving stage  320  includes a pair of horizontal supports  321  and a pair of vertical supports  322  coupled with the horizontal supports  321  perpendicularly thereto. That is, the pair of horizontal supports  321  are arranged at a certain interval and the vertical supports  322  are coupled with ends of the horizontal supports  321  perpendicularly thereto. Accordingly, an opening  320   a  is naturally defined at the center of the horizontal and vertical supports  321  and  322 . 
     At this time, both ends of the horizontal support  321  are bent downward and both ends of the vertical support  322  are also bent downward, so that the X-axis moving stage  320  has an upward convex “cap” shape. Accordingly, a space in which the elastic member  340  is interposed is provided between the stationary stage  310  and the X-axis moving stage  320 . In addition, X-axis sliding portions  322   a  extending outward are formed at ends of the vertical support  322  to be inserted into the “□”-shaped X-axial moving guide portions  311 . 
     In order to wrap an outside portion of the vertical support  322 , “□”-shaped Y-axis sliding portions  331  are formed at portions of both lateral sides of the Y-axis moving stage  330 , which are bent downward and extend outward. 
     Accordingly, the elastic member  340  is positioned in the space defined between the elastic member coupling plate  312  and the Y-axis moving stage  330 . As in the first embodiment, one end of the elastic member  340  is coupled to the center of the upper surface of the elastic member coupling plate  312  and the other end thereof is coupled to the center of the lower surface of the Y-axis moving stage  330 . 
     As described above, the stationary stage  310 , the X-axis moving stage  320  and the Y-axis moving stage  330  have a one story structure without a vertical displacement difference in the moving guide portions  311  and the sliding portions  322   a  and  331 . 
     In the meantime, it is preferable that an assembling hole  313  is formed at one side of the elastic member coupling plate  312  in correspondence to the width of the Y-axis moving stage  330 . That is, in a case where the assembling hole  313  is not formed, when the X-axis moving stage  320  with which the Y-axis moving stage  330  is coupled is assembled to the stationary stage  310 , both ends of the Y-axis moving stage  330  are in contact with the elastic member coupling plate  312 , so that a certain pressure should be applied to the Y-axis moving stage to assemble the X-axis moving stage  320  and the stationary stage  310  in the press-fit manner. However, in a case where the assembling hole  313  is formed, the Y-axis moving stage  330  is positioned corresponding to the assembling hole  313 , and the X-axis sliding portions  322   a  of the X-axis moving stage  320  are then inserted into the X-axial moving guide portions  311  and slid, so that the assembling is naturally completed. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show modifications of the two way sliding device according to the present invention. 
     That is, the entire configuration of a two way sliding device of  FIG. 15  is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and an elastic member is the same as that of the second embodiment. 
     The entire configuration of a two way sliding device of  FIG. 16  is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, and an elastic member is the same as that of the first embodiment. 
     That is, although the compression spring of the first embodiment or the coil spring in the third embodiment has been described as an example of the elastic member, the elastic member is not limited thereto. Any one of a compression spring, a tensile spring, a torsion spring and the like may be used as the elastic member if the elastic member satisfies the condition that one end is rotatably coupled to the stationary stage and the other end is rotatably coupled to the Y-axis moving stage.