GB2327009A - A cellular radio telephone having a releasably attachable cover flap - Google Patents

A cellular radio telephone having a releasably attachable cover flap Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2327009A
GB2327009A GB9714406A GB9714406A GB2327009A GB 2327009 A GB2327009 A GB 2327009A GB 9714406 A GB9714406 A GB 9714406A GB 9714406 A GB9714406 A GB 9714406A GB 2327009 A GB2327009 A GB 2327009A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cover flap
cellular radio
radio telephone
hinge
telephone according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9714406A
Other versions
GB9714406D0 (en
Inventor
Nils Erik Vilhelm Martensson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IPR Industries Ltd
Radio Design Ltd
Original Assignee
IPR Industries Ltd
Radio Design Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IPR Industries Ltd, Radio Design Ltd filed Critical IPR Industries Ltd
Priority to GB9714406A priority Critical patent/GB2327009A/en
Publication of GB9714406D0 publication Critical patent/GB9714406D0/en
Publication of GB2327009A publication Critical patent/GB2327009A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
    • H04M1/0214—Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
    • H04M1/0216—Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0254—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
    • E05D7/10—Hinges or pivots of special construction to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis
    • E05D7/1005—Hinges or pivots of special construction to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis by axially moving free pins, balls or sockets
    • E05D7/1011—Hinges or pivots of special construction to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis by axially moving free pins, balls or sockets biased by free springs
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2999/00—Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

A cellular radio telephone 1 comprising radio transmitting and receiving equipment, a keypad 2, an electronic display such as a liquid crystal display 3, a microphone and a speaker all contained within or arranged on a housing 4 and a cover flap 5 which can be releasably attached to the housing. The cover flap is attached, for example, by way of a spring release hinge 26 and is detachable from the cellular radio telephone without damaging any part of it. For example the flap will become detached if the telephone is dropped or knocked. Following detachment from the telephone, the cover flap is reattachable to the telephone by a user.

Description

A CELLULAR RADIO TELEPHONE The present invention relates to a cellular radio telephone of the type comprising a cover flap.
Many cellular radio telephones are equipped with a hinged or slidable cover flap, which, in a closed position, lies over the keypad of the cellular telephone and functions to protect the keypad from damage and from accidental pressing of the keys whilst the telephone is being carried, for example in a bag. The cover flap is openable by a user, the open position allowing access to the keypad when the user wishes to use the telephone.
The cover flap of a cellular radio telephone is usually made thin and light in order to reduce the weight, size and bulkiness of the telephone, and to allow the cover flap to be opened and closed easily and quickly by a user. However, such cover flaps, being thin and light, are also delicate and prone to break, for example if the telephone is dropped or if the cover flap is subjected to a force, especially in the open position, when the cover flap sticks out from the body of the telephone and is therefore more vulnerable. In addition, a cover flap is attached to a telephone by cover flap attaching means, such as a hinge, and this is also prone to break if the telephone is dropped or if the cover flap is subjected to a force.
Attempts to prevent this occurring have concentrated on increasing the strength of the cover flap and/or the cover flap attaching means. However increasing the strength of these parts can result in increased weight and bulkiness, and/or increased expense of the parts.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a cellular radio telephone with a cover flap which is releasably attachable to the cellular radio telephone.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a cover flap which is detachable from said cellular radio telephone upon being subjected to a force, without destruction of the cover flap or of the cover flap attaching means.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a cover flap which is reattachable to a cellular radio telephone by a user following detachment of said cover flap from said cellular radio telephone.
According to the present invention, there is provided a cellular radio telephone, said cellular radio telephone comprising radio transmitting and receiving equipment, a keypad, an electronic display such as a liquid crystal display, a microphone, and a speaker, all contained within or arranged on a housing, said cellular radio telephone also comprising a cover flap and cover flap attaching means, characterised in that said cover flap is releasably attachable to said cellular radio telephone.
Preferably said cover flap is releasably attachable to said cellular radio telephone by means of said cover flap attaching means.
Preferably, said cover flap is a hinged cover flap and said cover flap attaching means comprises a hinge. Said cover flap may be a slidable cover flap, and said cover flap attaching means may comprise any suitable cover flap attaching means.
Preferably, said cover flap is detachable from said cellular radio telephone without destruction of said cover flap or of said cover flap attaching means, upon subjection of said cover flap to a force.
Preferably, said cover flap is reattachable to said cellular radio telephone by a user, following detachment of said cover flap from said cellular radio telephone.
Preferably, said cover flap attaching means comprises a spring-release hinge.
The present invention will now be described by example only, with reference to the following drawings, of which: figure 1 shows a side view of a cellular radio telephone of the type comprising a hinged cover flap, with the cover flap in the open position.
figure 2 shows a sectional view from the front of a first preferred embodiment of a cover flap and cover flap attaching means according to the present invention, wherein said cover flap is attached to a cellular radio telephone and in the open position.
figure 3 shows a sectional view from the front of a second preferred embodiment of a cover flap and cover flap attaching means according to the present invention, wherein said cover flap is attached to a cellular radio telephone and in the open position.
Referring to figure 1, this shows a cellular radio telephone 1, said cellular radio telephone 1 comprising radio transmitting and receiving equipment, a keypad 2, a liquid crystal display 3, a microphone, and a speaker, all contained within or arranged on a housing 4, said cellular radio telephone 1 also comprising a cover flap 5 and cover flap attaching means 6, said cover flap 5 being releasably attachable to said cellular radio telephone 1 by said cover flap attaching means 6. Said cover flap 5 is a hinged cover flap and said cover flap attaching means 6 comprises a hinge.
Referring now to figure 2, this shows a first preferred embodiment of a cover flap 15 and cover flap attaching means of a cellular radio telephone 1 according to the present invention. In this first preferred embodiment, said cover flap attaching means comprises a spring-release hinge 16a, 16b, said spring-release hinge comprising a co-operating central hinge section 1 6a integral with the housing 4 of a cellular radio telephone 1, and two hinge pins 16b, formed as part ofthe cover flap 15, said hinge pins 16b fitting into two hinge sockets 1 6c formed on the central hinge section 16a. The cover flap 15 is releasably attached to said cellular radio telephone 1 by means of said spring-release hinge 16a, 16b.
Said cover flap 15 is constructed so that said two hinge pins 1 6b are formed at the end of two elastically sprung arms 16d, arranged as cantilevers with free ends forming the pins.
Said arms 1 6d are arranged within a cover flap outer shell 15b, said cover flap outer shell 15b comprising two apertures through which said pins 1 6b protrude from said outer shell and 'grip' the central hinge section 1 6a under the elastic spring force of the arms 16d.
However, said arms 1 6d are elastically deformable, so that when said cover flap 15 is subjected to a sufficient force, said arms 16d may be forced apart, out of the hinge sockets 16c and away from the central hinge section 16a, to release said cover flap 15 from said cellular radio telephone 1. Thus, upon subjection to a force, said cover flap 15 is detachable from said cellular radio telephone 1, without the destruction of either said cover flap 15 or said hinge 16a, 16b.
Following detachment of said cover flap 15, a user is able to reattach said cover flap 15 to said cellular radio telephone 1, by simply aligning said hinge pins 16b with said hinge sockets 16c, and snap-fitting said hinge pins 16b into the sockets 16c. A user may alternatively place one hinge pin 16b in a hinge socket 16c, and snap-fit the other hinge pin 16b into the remaining socket 16c. The arms 16d elastically deform to allow this to occur, and the elastic spring force of the arms 1 6d then retains the hinge pins 1 6b in the hinge sockets 16c.
Referring now to figure 3, this shows a second preferred embodiment of a cover flap 25 and cover flap attaching means of a cellular radio telephone 1 according to the present invention. In this second preferred embodiment, said cover flap attaching means again comprises a spring-release hinge 26a, 26d, said spring-release hinge comprising a cooperating central hinge section 26a integral with the housing 4 of a cellular radio telephone 1, and two arms 26d, formed as part of the cover flap 25. Said central hinge section 26a comprises two hinge pins 26b connected via a helical spring 26e arranged within the housing 4, each hinge pin 26b mounted at one end of said helical spring 26e, said hinge pins 26b protruding from the housing 4 through two apertures, one at each end of the central hinge pin section 26a. Said two arms 26d each comprise a hinge socket 26c arranged at the end of each arm 26d, into which the hinge pins 26b fit, said hinge pins 26b being retained in the hinge sockets 26c under the elastic spring force of the helical spring 26e.
When said cover flap 25 is subjected to a sufficient force, the hinge pins 26b are forced out of alignment with the hinge sockets 26c. This compresses the helical spring 26e, which elastically deforms, enabling the cover flap 25 to detach from said cellular radio telephone 1, without damage to any part of the cover flap 25 or hinge 16a, 16d.
Following detachment of said cover flap 25, reattachment of said cover flap 25 to said cellular radio telephone 1 is effected by a user by simply aligning said hinge sockets 26c with said hinge pins 26b, and snap-fitting said hinge pins 26b into the sockets 26c. A user may alternatively place one hinge pin 26b in a hinge socket 26c, and snap-fit the other hinge pin 26b into the remaining socket 26c. The helical spring 26e elastically deforms to allow this to occur, and the elastic spring force of the helical spring 26e then retains the hinge pins 26b in the hinge sockets 26c.
It will be understood by a reader that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, embodiments are possible wherein the cover flap is a sliding cover flap, such as an embodiment in which the cover flap attaching means comprises a releasably attachable co-operating lip and groove formed on the cover flap and on the housing of the cellular radio telephone, said lip and groove being detachable from one another upon subjection of the cover flap to a sufficient force. Further embodiments are of course possible in which the cover flap is a hinged cover flap.

Claims (16)

1. A cellular radio telephone, said cellular radio telephone comprising radio transmitting and receiving equipment, a keypad, an electronic display such as a liquid crystal display, a microphone, and a speaker, all contained within or arranged on a housing, said cellular radio telephone also comprising a cover flap and cover flap attaching means, characterised in that said cover flap is releasably attachable to said cellular radio telephone without destruction of said cover flap or of said cover flap attaching means, upon subjection of said cover flap or said cellular radio telephone to a force, and said cover flap is reattachable to said cellular radio telephone by a user, following detachment of said cover flap from said cellular radio telephone.
2. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 1, characterised in that said cover flap is releasably attachable to said cellular radio telephone by means of said cover flap attaching means.
3. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 1, characterised in that said cover flap is a hinged cover flap and said cover flap attaching means comprises a hinge.
4. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 1, characterised in that said cover flap is a slidable cover flap.
5. A cellular radio telephone according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said cover flap attaching means comprises a spring-release hinge.
6. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 5, characterised in that said springrelease hinge comprises corresponding two hinge pins and two hinge sockets into which said two hinge pins fit.
7. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 6, characterised in that said hinge sockets are integral with the housing of the cellular radio telephone and said corresponding two hinge pins are formed as part of the cover flap.
8. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 6, characterised in that said hinge sockets are formed as part of the cover flap and said corresponding two hinge pins are integral with the housing of the cellular radio telephone.
9. A cellular radio telephone according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that said two hinge sockets are formed on a central hinge section.
10. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 8, characterised in that said two hinge pins are formed at the end of two elastically sprung arms arranged as cantilevers with free ends on which the pins are formed.
11. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 10, characterised in that said arms are arranged within a cover flap outer shell, said cover flap outer shell comprising two apertures through which said pins and/or arms protrude from said outer shell.
12. A cellular radio telephone according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that said two hinge sockets are formed at the end of two arms arranged as cantilevers with free ends on which the sockets are formed.
13. A cellular radio telephone according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that said two hinge pins are formed on a central hinge section
14. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 13, characterised in that said two hinge pins are connected to each other via a helical spring within the central hinge section, each hinge pin mounted at one end of said helical spring.
15. A cellular radio telephone according to claim 14, characterised in that said two hinge pins protrude from the housing of the cellular radio telephone through two apertures, one at each end of the central hinge pin section.
16. A cellular radio telephone according to claims 14 or 15, characterised in that when said cover flap is subjected to a sufficient force, the two hinge pins are forced out of alignment with the two hinge sockets, and the helical spring is compressed, enabling the cover flap to detach from said cellular radio telephone.
GB9714406A 1997-07-03 1997-07-03 A cellular radio telephone having a releasably attachable cover flap Withdrawn GB2327009A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9714406A GB2327009A (en) 1997-07-03 1997-07-03 A cellular radio telephone having a releasably attachable cover flap

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9714406A GB2327009A (en) 1997-07-03 1997-07-03 A cellular radio telephone having a releasably attachable cover flap

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9714406D0 GB9714406D0 (en) 1997-09-10
GB2327009A true GB2327009A (en) 1999-01-06

Family

ID=10815571

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9714406A Withdrawn GB2327009A (en) 1997-07-03 1997-07-03 A cellular radio telephone having a releasably attachable cover flap

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2327009A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2364848A (en) * 2000-03-03 2002-02-06 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Portable telephone unit with attachable additional function units
EP1309155A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-07 Inventec Appliances Corp. Electronic device having removable cover
US6817061B2 (en) * 2002-07-31 2004-11-16 Jiin-Chang Wu Hinge for foldable cellular phones
GB2513895A (en) * 2013-05-10 2014-11-12 Gary Abell Anti-ligature mechanism

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992020181A1 (en) * 1991-05-06 1992-11-12 Motorola, Inc. Hinge apparatus having a self-latching hinge shaft for foldable radiotelephones
US5303291A (en) * 1990-09-07 1994-04-12 Fujitsu Limited Portable telephone having a detachable functional module
US5316168A (en) * 1993-07-06 1994-05-31 Motorola, Inc. Door cover assembly
WO1996021988A1 (en) * 1995-01-12 1996-07-18 Ericsson Inc. A portable radio having a detachable flip portion
EP0763904A1 (en) * 1995-09-14 1997-03-19 Alcatel Mobile Phones Radio communications terminal having a mountable/dismountable protective cover

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5303291A (en) * 1990-09-07 1994-04-12 Fujitsu Limited Portable telephone having a detachable functional module
WO1992020181A1 (en) * 1991-05-06 1992-11-12 Motorola, Inc. Hinge apparatus having a self-latching hinge shaft for foldable radiotelephones
US5316168A (en) * 1993-07-06 1994-05-31 Motorola, Inc. Door cover assembly
WO1996021988A1 (en) * 1995-01-12 1996-07-18 Ericsson Inc. A portable radio having a detachable flip portion
EP0763904A1 (en) * 1995-09-14 1997-03-19 Alcatel Mobile Phones Radio communications terminal having a mountable/dismountable protective cover

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2364848A (en) * 2000-03-03 2002-02-06 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Portable telephone unit with attachable additional function units
GB2364848B (en) * 2000-03-03 2004-07-21 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Portable telephone
US6968161B2 (en) 2000-03-03 2005-11-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Portable telephone
EP1309155A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-07 Inventec Appliances Corp. Electronic device having removable cover
US6817061B2 (en) * 2002-07-31 2004-11-16 Jiin-Chang Wu Hinge for foldable cellular phones
GB2513895A (en) * 2013-05-10 2014-11-12 Gary Abell Anti-ligature mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9714406D0 (en) 1997-09-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
730 Substitution of applicants allowed (sect. 30/1977)
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)