This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 062699/2003 filed on Mar. 10, 2003, the content of which are incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to foldable portable electric devices, and more particularly, to the prevention of scraping damage to upper and lower units of the foldable portable electric devices which may occur when these upper and lower units fold upon one another.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of a conventional foldable portable electric device is described in the Japanese Patent Application Publication Laid-Open Kokai No. H11-275191. A perspective view of this conventional foldable portable electric device is shown in
Referring to
The flip portion 103 is connected to the main body 102 through hinge 106. The damage prevention cushions 104, made of an elastic material, are mounted on the main body 102 and protrude from the front surface of the main body 102 in the vicinity of the keys 105.
Referring to
The object of the present invention is to provide a structure to more effectively prevent scraping damage to a foldable portable electric device that may result when upper and lower units thereof come into contact with each other.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure to prevent scraping damage to a foldable portable electric device whose upper or lower unit can turn about a hinge to open and close and can also turn about the hinge in a direction to cause the lower and upper units to slide against each other in the closed position.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a structure to ensure a predetermined clearance between upper and lower units of a foldable portable electric device when the device is in its folded position and one of the upper or lower unit is turned about a hinge against the other of the lower or upper unit.
In order to achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention has an upper unit, a lower unit and a hinge structure allowing the upper unit and the lower unit to turn allowing them to come in contact with each other around an axis of the hinge structure.
The present invention comprises a scraping prevention mechanism having an extension on one of the upper or lower unit and a undercut on the other unit. The scraping prevention mechanism in the present invention prevents turning of the units relative to each other when the foldable portable device is in the folded position.
An extension may be formed on an edge of either the upper or lower unit, and the undercut may be formed on an edge of the other of the upper or lower unit that is not provided with the extension.
In the present invention, the edge may be the end of the upper or lower unit opposite the end connected with the hinge structure, or a side of the upper or lower unit. In one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention the structure may further comprise: a first curved slope with a curved surface formed between extensions; and a second curved slope with a curved surface having virtually the same radius of curvature as the first curved slope, formed between undercuts. The extensions need not be integrated with the upper or lower unit, and may be made as a part initially separate from either the upper or lower unit.
The extension may be configured to light when a call is received to indicate that a call is being received.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an upper unit and a lower unit and comprises: allowing means for allowing the upper unit and the lower unit to turn around a first axis of a connecting means when the upper unit and lower unit contact each other in a closed position; and rising means for requiring the upper or lower unit to move around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis toward an open position before the upper unit and the lower unit can turn around the first axis of the connecting means to prevent scraping damage to the surfaces of the upper and lower units. The present invention may further comprise. mating means for mating with the rising means when the foldable portable electric device is in the folded position.
In another exemplary embodiment the rising means and mating means may each comprise curved slope means. The rising means may be configured to light when a call is received.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be became fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
a) and 2(b) are side and plan views of an example of a foldable portable electric device in an open state according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
a) and 3(b) are perspective and plane views of an example of a foldable portable electric device illustrated to explain the operation as an upper unit turns around a hinge while in an open state, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
a) to 4(c) are side, plane and another side views of an example of a foldable portable electric device in a closed state according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
a) and 6(b) are side and plan views of a preferred example of a foldable portable electric device in an open state according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
a) to 7(c) are side, plane and another side views of an example of a foldable portable electric device in a closed state according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
a) and 2(b) show side and plan views of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an open state.
The exemplary embodiments described herein are intended to assist with the understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
Referring to
In
On the upper unit 2, as shown in
On the lower unit 3, as shown in
In the center of a leading edge of the lower unit 3, an elastic part 10 such as rubber of a rectangular solid shape, which is slightly higher than the height of the keys 8, may be installed. This elastic part 10 comes in contact with the front surface of the upper unit 2 in a closed state, thereby ensuring a clearance between the upper unit 2 and the lower unit in the closed position.
a) and 3(b) show perspective and plane views of a first exemplary embodiment in order to explain the turning of the upper unit 2 around a hinge 5 in an open state.
In
In
Now, a closed state of a foldable portable electric device 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained referring to
a) to 4(c) show side, plane and another side views of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a closed state.
In
In the closed state, the extensions 9 and the undercuts 7 are placed in an engaged state. Thus, the turning motion of the upper unit 2 against the lower unit 3 is blocked in the direction of arrow B around the hinge 5. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to avoid scraping damage to surfaces of the upper and lower units 2 and 3 contacting each other in a closed state even if rotation moment is forced from outside to the foldable portable electric device 1. Particularly, in the case that the display 6 contacts with the keys 8 in a closed state as shown in
In order to turn the upper unit 2 in the direction B in closed or open states, the upper unit 2 must be raised on the axis of the hinge 4 for opening and closing without touching the protrusions 9. Therefore, the present invention can prevent a scratch damage on the surfaces of the upper and lower units 2 and 3 when the upper unit 2 is turned around the hinge 5 by the user.
In the present invention, there is no limitation on the shape and height of the extensions 9, provided the extensions can avoid having the surface of the upper unit 2 rub against the surface of the lower unit 3 and can avoid having the display 6 rub against the keys 8 when the upper unit 2 is turned.
A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
Referring to
According to the second exemplary embodiment, therefore, it is possible to avoid scratches and scraping of the display 6 of the upper unit 15 and of the keys 8 of the lower unit 16 when/the foldable portable electric device 14 is turned around the hinge 5. Furthermore, the second exemplary embodiment may be considered superior to the first exemplary embodiment in terms of exterior appearance, because of the shape of the edge of the upper unit 15 and the edge of the lower unit 16 which have the curved slopes 17 and 18, respectively. There is no limitation on the height of the extensions 9. The shape of the curved slopes 17 and 18 avoid scraping damage of the display 6 and the keys 8 when the upper unit 15 is turned around hinge 5.
A third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
In the third exemplary embodiment, the extensions 19 are made separate from the lower unit 21 and joined thereto; while in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the protrusions 9 are formed integrally with the lower unit 3 or 16.
Because the extensions 19 are made as separate parts from the lower unit 21 in this embodiment, design restrictions can be relaxed. That is, for example, the extensions 19 may be colored in a different color from the colors of the upper unit 2 and the lower unit 21 and may be configured to light when a call is received as an indication of receiving a call.
A fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the undercuts 27 may be formed at the end of the upper unit 2 opposite the side of the upper unit connected with hinges 4 and 5. On the other hand, the extensions 29 may be formed at the lower unit 3 to allow the extensions 29 to fit into the undercuts 27 when the upper unit 2 and the lower unit 3 are in a correctly closed state.
In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the number of combinations of the undercuts 27 and extensions 29 is four pairs as an example. However, the number of these combinations is not limited to the four pairs. Also, a location of the undercuts 27 and extensions 29 formed on the end of the upper unit 2 and lower unit 3, respectively, is not limited to the positions shown.
A fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
In the fifth exemplary embodiment, the undercuts 37 may be formed at the side edge of the upper unit 2 and the extensions 39 may be formed at the side edge of the lower unit 3 to allow the extensions 39 to fit into the undercuts 37 when the upper unit 2 and the lower unit 3 are in a correctly closed state.
In the fifth exemplary embodiment, the number of combinations of the undercuts 37 and extensions 39, and location of the undercuts 37 and extensions 39 formed on the side edge of the upper unit 2 and lower unit 3, respectively, is not limited to the positions illustrated in
The present invention is applicable to a cellular phone, particularly a cellular phone including a camera unit.
Furthermore, while the elastic part 10 having a predetermined height prevents damage to the keys 8 and the display 6 due to contact in a closed state because the elastic part 10 ensures a predetermined clearance between the keys 8 and the display 6 in a closed state, only the extensions 9 or 19 may make it possible to avoid scratches, scraping, and the like. The elastic part 10 may not be necessarily included in the present invention.
While the extensions 9 or 19 are provided on the lower unit 3, 16 or 21 in the discussed embodiments, the extensions 9, 19, 39 or 30 may be provided on the upper unit 2 or 15. In this case, the undercuts 7, 17, 27 or 37 must be provided on the lower unit 3, 16 or 21. Likewise, the elastic part 10, if used, may be provided on the upper unit 2 or 15.
Moreover, the extensions 9, 19, 29 or 39 may be separate parts from the units in the second, fourth and fifth exemplary embodiment.
The previous description of embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Moreover, various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles and specific examples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of inventive faculty. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope as defined by the limitations of the claims and equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2003-062699 | Mar 2003 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5335142 | Anderson | Aug 1994 | A |
5485517 | Gray | Jan 1996 | A |
6845005 | Shimano et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6999802 | Kim | Feb 2006 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
11-275191 | Oct 1999 | JP |
2002-135380 | May 2002 | JP |
2002-155923 | May 2002 | JP |
2002135380 | May 2002 | JP |
2002-171189 | Jun 2002 | JP |
WO 0115331 | Mar 2001 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040180705 A1 | Sep 2004 | US |