Patent ID: 8363391

Claim:
A portable terminal comprising a pair of housings and a hinge apparatus for coupling the housings in such a way that the housings pivot with respect to each other, wherein the hinge apparatus comprises: a hinge bracket fixed to a first housing of the pair of housings; a pivot member connected to a second housing of the pair of housings and pivotably coupled to the hinge bracket to pivot with respect to a hinge axis; a cam surface provided on the pivot member around the hinge axis, the cam surface comprising at least two recess portions; and a cam member configured to protrude and retreat perpendicular to the hinge axis on the hinge bracket, wherein when the pivot member pivots, the cam member slides and contacts the cam surface and is engaged with one of the recess portions on the cam surface, such that when the cam member engages a first recess portion the housings are stably folded to each other and when the cam member engages another recess portion the housings are kept stationary in a position where the housings are inclined with respect to each other at a predetermined angle.