Patent ID: 7663872

Claim:
A sliding mechanism for a portable electronic device having a first case and a second case that faces the first case, the sliding mechanism comprising: a slidable intermediate member having first and second guide holes that are provided to be in parallel with each other; a first shaft that is slidably inserted into the first guide hole, the first shaft having first and second end portions that are to be attached to the first case; a first spring member that is interposed between the first end portion of the first shaft and the slidable intermediate member to urge the slidable intermediate member toward the second end portion of the first shaft; a second shaft that is slidably inserted into the second guide hole, the second shaft having third and fourth end portions that are to be attached to the second case, the third end portion being disposed at a position opposite to a position where the first end portion is disposed; and a second spring member that is interposed between the third end portion of the second shaft and the slidable intermediate member to urge the slidable intermediate member toward the fourth end portion of the second shaft.