Patent ID: 6886221

Claim:
A folding device comprising: a stationary part: a movable part disposed to be rotatable in unfolding and folding directions with respect to said stationary part, said movable part having a movable cam; a force-applying section operable to urge said movable part in the unfolding direction when said movable part is in an unfolded state, and in the folding direction when said movable part is in a folded state, said force-applying section comprising a spring for urging said movable cam of said movable part toward said stationary part, and a slider, said slider having a stationary cam disposed opposite to said movable cam and adapted to contact said movable cam, and a support cam disposed on a side opposite to said stationary cam; a reversing section for allowing said force-applying section to change a direction of urging of said movable part from the folding direction to the unfolding direction when said movable part is in the folded state, said reversing section comprising a releaser having a release cam adapted to make resilient contact with said movable cam, and a reversing part fixed to said stationary part and having a reversing cam adapted to make resilient contact with said movable cam in response to disengagement of said movable cam from said stationary cam; and an actuator for operating said reversing section when a pressing force is applied to said actuator in the folded state.