Patent ID: 7657027

Claim:
A portable terminal comprising: a first housing; a second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing so that the second housing can be unfolded from and folded onto the first housing; and a hinge apparatus for providing a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis perpendicular to each other and for coupling the first housing and the second housing together, wherein the hinge apparatus comprises: a first hinge shaft coupled to the first housing along the first hinge axis; a second hinge shaft coupled to the second housing along the second hinge axis and rotating about the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis; a stopper slot formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first hinge shaft along the first hinge axis; a stopper groove formed on the second hinge shaft along a circumference thereof and encompassing a part of the outer circumferential surface of the first hinge shaft; and a stopper rib formed within the stopper groove and selectively engaging with the stopper slot, wherein when the second housing is rotated about the first hinge axis to be unfolded, the stopper rib interferes with the outer circumferential surface of the first hinge shaft, thereby restricting the second housing from rotating about the second hinge axis, and wherein when the second housing is rotated about the second hinge axis to be unfolded, the stopper rib is engaged with the stopper slot, thereby restricting the second housing from rotating about the first hinge axis.