Patent ID: 7334296

Claim:
A hinge device, adapted to couple at least a first housing to a second housing of a portable terminal wherein the second housing is linearly and rotationally movable between an opened position and a closed position with respect to the first housing, the hinge device comprising: a first hinge cam having a cylindrical shape extending in a length direction thereof and formed at a first end thereof with a first inclined surface; a second hinge cam accommodated inside of the first hinge cam such that the second hinge cam linearly moves lengthwise along the first hinge cam and formed at a first end thereof with a valley-shaped portion extending in a radially outward direction thereof; a third hinge cam, a first end of which is partially accommodated inside of the first hinge cam in order to be rotated in the first hinge cam, formed at the first end thereof with a mountain-shaped portion engaged with the valley-shaped portion of the second hinge cam, and formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof with a second inclined surface slidably contacting the first inclined surface of the first hinge cam; and an elastic member accommodated inside of the first hinge cam to bias the mountain-shaped portion to engage the valley-shaped portions, wherein the second housing rotates and linearly moves together with the third hinge cam.