Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is a hinge device for a display rotation type mobile phone comprising a main housing, a folder having a main display device and rotatable around a first hinge axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the length of the main housing and a connection member for rotatably connecting the folder to the main housing, said hinge device including a first hinge member; a second hinge member connected to the first hinge member which allows and restricts the rotation of the second hinge member; a swing washer interposed between the first and second hinge members to rotatably connect the second hinge member to the first hinge member and providing an elastic force acting to rotate the folder; and a swing bush engaged into the first hinge member sequentially connected to the swing washer and the second hinge member.

Full Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to an application entitled “Hinge Device for Display Rotation Type Mobile Phone” filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jan. 25, 2005 and assigned Serial No. 2005-6766, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a plate-type hinge device for a display for a rotation type mobile phone comprising main and sub-display devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, the term “mobile communication terminals” refer to mobile phones or handheld devices used for mobile wireless communications. The mobile communication terminals are classified into a bar type, a flip type and a folder type according to their construction. A bar-type mobile terminal has a bar-shaped single housing. A flip-type mobile terminal has a bar-shaped housing and a flip rotatably connected to the housing by a hinge. A folder-type mobile terminal has a bar-shaped housing and a folder rotatably connected to the housing by a hinge. 
     Recently, new designs such as a rotation (or swing) type and a slide type have been developed to meet the diverse needs and tastes of users. The rotation type has a pair of facing housings, one of which is rotatable on the other housing. The slide type has a pair of housings, one of which slides in relation to the other housing in a longitudinal direction to open or close the terminal. Such diverse types of mobile communication terminals are easily understandable by those skilled in the relevant art. 
     Mobile communication terminals with small and light designs have gained popularity for their improved portability. These small and light terminals are more convenient during a voice call or video-conference. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a conventional mobile phone in display rotation type comprises a main housing  10  with a first hinge axis Al, a folder  20  and a connection member  30 . The main housing  10  is provided with a plurality of key buttons  11  and a microphone  12 . The connection member  30  connects the folder  20  to the main housing  10  in such a manner that the folder  20  can rotate around the first hinge axis Al in a direction to be closer to or away from the front surface of the main housing  10 . The connection member  20  has a second hinge axis A 2  around which the folder  20  can rotate in contact with the connection member  20 . The folder  20  comprises an LCD  21  and speakers  22 . 
     The connection member  30  also has a hinge module  40  mounted therein to make the folder  20  rotatable around the second hinge axis A 2 . 
     To better view moving images, video or mobile game images, a user can rotate the display device of the folder  20  in a direction providing a wider display (i.e., a landscape display mode). 
     However, such a conventional rotation type mobile phone has a single display device on the internal surface of the folder. When the folder is closed, the display device cannot be used. If an additional display device is provided on the external surface of the folder, the size and thickness of the hinge module is increased, an undesirable side effect in light of consumer demand for smaller and lighter terminals. In addition, such an additional display device will limit design variations and improvements for mobile phones. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plate-type hinge device with reduced size and thickness which is useful for a display rotation type mobile phone comprising main and sub-display devices and which meets the demand for a slim and small mobile phone design. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device for a display rotation type mobile phone, which has both rotation and stopper functions, thereby reducing the number of parts to manufacture the mobile phone in a slim design and reducing the manufacture cost. 
     To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a hinge device for a display rotation type mobile phone including a main housing, a folder having a main display device and rotatable around a hinge axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the length of the main housing and a connection member for rotatably connecting the folder to the main housing, said hinge device including: a first hinge member; a second hinge member rotatably connected to the first hinge member; a swing washer interposed between the first and second hinge members to rotatably connect the second hinge member to the first hinge member and providing an elastic force acting to rotate the folder; and a swing bush engaged into the first hinge member sequentially connected to the swing washer and the second hinge member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional rotation type mobile phone in closed state; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the mobile phone in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the conventional rotation type mobile phone of  FIG. 1  in an opened state with a 90° swiveled folder; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a hinge device used for a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged and exploded perspective view of part A in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the assembly of a hinge device for a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the rear side of a first hinge member of a hinge device used for a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a hinge device of a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention when a folder is not swiveled; 
         FIG. 9  is a fragmentary perspective view of a hinge device of a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention when a folder is not swiveled; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the hinge device in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view, partially in cross section, showing a swing washer of a hinge device used for a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a hinge device of a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention when a folder is swiveled 90°; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view, partially in cross section, showing a hinge device of a display rotation type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention when a folder is swiveled; and 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of the hinge device in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same elements, although depicted in different drawings, will be designated by the same reference numeral or character. Also, in the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a hinge device  100  comprises first and second hinge members  200  and  300 , a swing washer  400  and a swing bush  500 . The first hinge member  200  is mounted underneath a connection member  30  extending in a longitudinal direction. The connection member  30  has a disc-shaped mount panel  30   b  under which the first hinge member  200  can be mounted. The second hinge member  300  is fitted into a connection hole  20   a  formed on a folder  20 . The swing washer  400  facing the first hinge member  200  connects the second hinge member  300  rotatably to the first hinge member  200 . The swing washer  400  interposed between the first hinge member  200  and the second hinge member  300  provides an elastic force acting to rotate the folder  20 . The swing bush  500  is engaged into the first hinge member sequentially coupled to the swing washer  400  and the second hinge member  300 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  7 , the first hinge member  200  has a through hole  201 , a plurality of washer projections  202 , a stopper projection  203  and a plurality of screw connection portions  204 . The through hole  201  is formed at the center of the first hinge member  200  so that the swing bush  500  can be engaged therein. The washer projections  202  are preferably spaced at equiangular intervals along the circumference of the through hole  201 . The washer projections  202  in a domelike shape are smoothly inserted into or released out from washer recesses formed on the swing washer  400  according to the rotation of the folder  20 . The stopper projection  203  is formed at a specific position of the periphery of the through hole  201  to restrict the rotation of the second hinge member  300  by interrupting first and second stopper portions  302   a  and  302   b  formed on the second hinge member  300 . The screw connection portions  204  are formed at the periphery of the first hinge member  200  to secure the first hinge member  200  to the connection member  30  by means of screws  600 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS.  4  and  8 - 10 , the second hinge member  300  has a through hole  301 , a washer receiving groove  302 , a plurality of washer fixing holes  303  and a plurality of fixing projections  304 . The through hole  301  is formed at the center of the second hinge member  300 . The washer receiving groove  302  is formed along the outer circumference of the through hole  301  to receive the swing washer  400 . The swing washer  400  is received in the washer receiving groove  302 , with the insertion of washer recesses  401  projected downward from the swing washer  400  into the washer fixing holes  303 . The washer fixing holes  303  are formed at equiangular intervals on the surface of the washer receiving groove  302  along the outer circumference of the through hole  301 . The fixing projections  304  are formed adjacent to the washer fixing holes  303  to be inserted and fixed into fixing holes  402 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 12-14 , the second hinge member  300  has the first and second stopper portions  302   a  and  302   b  on the surface of the washer receiving groove  302 . If the second hinge member  300  is turned clockwise about the hinge axis A 2 , the first stopper portion  302   a  will be interrupted by the stopper projection  203  of the first hinge member  200  where the swing washer  400  is turned 90 degrees. If the second hinge member  300  is turned counterclockwise about the hinge axis A 2 , the second stopper portion  302   b  will be interrupted by the stopper projection  203  of the first hinge member  200  where the swing washer is returned to its original position. 
     In addition, a plurality of screw connection portions  305  are formed at the periphery of the second hinge member  300  to secure the second hinge member  300  to the folder  20  by means of screws  600 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 11 , the swing washer  400  has a plurality of washer recesses  401 , a plurality of fixing holes  402  and a plurality of elastic members  403 . The washer projections  202  of the first hinge member  200  are inserted into the washer recesses  401  which are spaced at equiangular intervals on the swing washer  200 . In addition, the fixing projections  304  of the second hinge member  300  are inserted into the fixing holes  402  formed adjacent to the washer recesses  401 . The elastic members  403  are provided at equiangular intervals along the circumference of the swing washer  400  to provide an elastic force acting to rotate the second hinge member  300 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the elastic members  403  are preferably plate springs each having a fixed end  403   a  and a free end  403   b.  The fixed end  403   a  of the plate spring is fixed to the swing washer  400 . The free end  403   b  is protruded downward in the same direction of the hinge axis A 2  to apply pressure to the bottom surface of the washer receiving groove  302 . The elastic members  403 , i.e., the plate springs, are disposed symmetrically with respect to the hinge axis A 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , when the user turns the folder  20  about the hinge axis A 2 , the folder  20  is placed in a direction perpendicular to the length of the connection member  30 . At this time, the connection member  30  with the folder  20  turned has a T-shape, or a “⊥” shape. 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the hinge device for a display rotation type mobile phone having the above structure will be explained in detail with reference to  FIGS. 4-14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the hinge device  100  for a display rotation type mobile phone, the first hinge member  200  is sequentially connected to the swing washer  400  and the second hinge member  300 . In this condition, the swing bush  500  is engaged into the first hinge member  200 . The second hinge member  300  is secured onto the folder  20  having a main display device  21  by tightening up the screws  600  into a plurality of screw connection portions  305 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first hinge member  200  is secured to the connection member  30  having a sub-display device  30   a  by tightening up the screws  600  into a plurality of screw connection portions  204 . The connection member  30  has a disc-shaped mount panel  30   b  under which the first hinge member  200  is mounted. 
     When the folder  20  is turned 90 degrees clockwise around the hinge axis A 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the second hinge member  300  is turned together as illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . At this time, the swing washer  400  is also turned. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the washer projections  202  of the first hinge member  200  are inserted into the washer recesses. With the turning of the swing washer  400 , the washer recesses  401  release from the initially received washer projections  202  and move to receive the next washer projections  202 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the washer projections  22  are spaced at equiangular intervals along the outer circumference of the through hole  201  of the first hinge member  200 . The washer recesses  401  are also spaced at equiangular intervals so that the washer projections  22  can be inserted into the facing washer recesses  401 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the washer projections  202  are formed in a domelike shape to be smoothly inserted into, and released out from, the washer recesses  401 . 
     Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the elastic members  403  formed on the swing washer  400  provide a clamping force acting to place the washer recesses  401  to receive the corresponding washer projections  202 . The elastic members  403  are preferably plate springs formed at equiangular intervals along the periphery of the swing washer  400 . Each plate spring  403  has one end  403   a  fixed to the swing washer  400  and the other end  403   b  which is a free end protruded downward in the same direction of the hinge axis A 2  to apply pressure to the bottom surface of the washer receiving groove  302 . 
     When the folder  20  is turned, the second hinge member  300  is also turned until the first stopper portion  302   a  is interrupted by the stopper projection  203  of the first hinge member  200 . At this time, the connection member  30  with the folder  20  turned has an upside-down T-shape, or a “⊥” shape as shown in  FIG. 12 . If the folder  20  is turned around the hinge axis A 2  in a reverse direction, the second hinge member  300  and the swing washer  400  turn together. Then, the washer recesses  401  will move to receive the next washer projections  202 . The second hinge member  300  turns until the second stopper section  302   b  is interrupted by the stopper projection  203  of the first hinge member  200  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     Consequently, the folder  20  is returned to its original position and direction. Since the plate springs  403  apply a clamping force on the washer recesses  401  receiving the washer projections  202 , the folder  20  can be maintained in its original position and direction. 
     As explained above, a hinge device for a display for a rotation type mobile phone is provided in a plate shape having a sub-display device. The hinge device improves efficiency and ease of use. As compared to a conventional hinge module, the hinge module according to the present invention has reduced size and thickness, thereby enabling a slim and small mobile phone design. Moreover, the hinge member having both rotation and stopper functions can reduce the number of parts to manufacture the mobile phone with a slim design. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims, including the full scope of equivalents thereof. The hinge device according to the present invention can be used for any handheld mobile terminals.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6