GB2387041A

GB2387041A - Electrical device with cover for electrical contacts

Info

Publication number: GB2387041A
Application number: GB0207494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Hodge; Matthew James Brown
Original assignee: Matsushita Communication Industrial UK Ltd; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Matsushita Communication Industrial UK Ltd; Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 2002-03-28
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2003-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-28
Also published as: GB0207494D0; GB2387041B

Abstract

An electronic device (e.g. a mobile telephone) has a pivotable cover 12 for its input/output connections which is biased towards its open position. The cover 12 in a further embodiment is slidable away from the device housing 10 on arms 13, 14 extending into the device housing end acted on by compression springs 16, 17 which allows the cover to be completely clear of the housing 10 before it is pivoted.

Description

238704 1

Electrical device with cover for electrical contacts The present invention relates to an electrical device such as a mobile telephone having a cover to protect its interface port.

Mobile telephones usually have elongate housings with an opening at one end to allow access to electrical connections inside the housing such as an interface port via which the telephone can output or receive signals. It is desirable to provide a protective cover over the opening, as discussed in US Patent 6183274. Covers are desirable not only to protect the contacts but also to provide tl:le housing with a smooth overall shape. I1S Patent 6004690 discloses a telephone having a hinged cover at one end. One aim of the present invention is to provide an improved design of telephone (or other electronic device) with a protective cover for the electrical connections.

The present invention provides an electronic device having an elongate housing with an opening at one end of the housing to permit access to one or more electrical connectors, wherein the opening is provided with a cover which is pivotable with respect to the housing, the cover having manually operable means enabling it to be opened and biasing means for biasing the cover towards its open position. It will be appreciated that the biasing of the cover towards it open position makes the opening of the cover easier for the user, since the cover will automatically open once the manual opening means have been operated.

Preferably the biasing means bias the open cover against the housing. This ensures that the cover does not flap freely once it is opened. This can be achieved by pre-energising the biasing means, e.g. torsion springs, prior to assembly.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the cover is additionally slidable towards and away from the housing. This has the advantage that the cover is moved right out of the way of the device interface port so that it does not interfere with the attachment of the connector. The sliding movement may be effected by further biasing means such as one or more compression springs. Guide means may be provided, extending longitudinally of the cover, to guide the sliding movement of the cover and prevent the pivoting movement of the cover until the sliding movement is complete.

The guide means preferably comprise a pair of arms, one on each side of the housing, which are retained inside the housing when the cover is closed for improved external appearance. The cover may then pivot about the ends of the arms when the sliding movement is complete.

An interface device may be plugged into the housing via the space between the arms. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one half of the device housing shown just prior to the assembly stage of inserting and pretensioning the torsion springs; Figure 2 is a partial vertical cross section taken in the direction of arrows II-II shown in Figure 1 showing one torsion spring inserted.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the positions of components after the pretensioning of the torsion springs;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 after insertion and pretensioning of the torsion springs; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the housing portion showing the positions of compression springs; Figure 6 is a cross section taken along the line VI-VI shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a vertical cross section showing one half of the device housing and the cover in its closed position, taken through one cover closure clip; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the position of the components immediately after operation of the cover opening means; Figure 9 shows the cover having been pushed away from the housing under the operation of the compression springs; Figure lO(a) shows the positions of the cover and one housing portion in perspective view, when the cover is closed; Figure lO(b) shows the cover alone from a different perspective in the closed position as in Figure lO(a); Figure ll(a) is a similar view to Figure lO(a) showing the cover having been released and pushed by the compression springs; Figure 1 l(b) is a similar view to Figure lO(b) showing the cover having been released as in Figure 1 l(a);

Figure 12(a) is a similar view to Figures 10(a) and ll(a) now showing the cover having rotated under the action of the torsion springs; and Figure 12(b) is a similar view to Figures 10(b) and l l(b) showing the cover having rotated.

The drawings show a portable telephone constructed according to the invention.

The telephone has an elongate housing constructed from two moulded pieces which snap fit together. Only one case moulding 10 is shown in the drawings.

The case has an open end indicated generally by reference numeral 11. This allows access to electrical contacts within the case to permit signals to be input to or output from the telephone. In order to protect the contacts and ensure a smooth outer profile of the telephone, a cover 12 is provided for the open end 11. As will be explained in more detail below, the cover 12 is mounted with respect to the case moulding 11 so as to be moveable from a closed position shown in Figures 10(a) and 10(b) to an open position shown in Figures 12(a) and 12(b).

The cover 12 is provided with arms 13 and 14 which extend into the case in the closed position of the cover 12. The cover is normally locked in a closed position.

When the cover is released, the arms 13 and 14 are pushed out of the case under the action of compression springs 16,17 whereupon torsion springs 19,20 act to rotate the cover 12 so that it is moved out of the way of any interface device which may be plugged into the electrical contacts.

As shown most clearly in Figure l, the torsion springs 19,20 are received in respective flat bottomed channels 22,23 formed in the case moulding 10. As usual the torsion springs are complementary coiled wires. The outer ends 19a and 20a of the two coils are brought out to rest on the bases of the channels 22,23 so that if the springs are turned in the direction of arrows A shown in Figure 1, the springs

do not rotate in their entirety but rather such rotation imposes tension on the coils.

The inner ends of the coils l9b and 20b are brought diametrically across the coils for reasons which will become apparent.

Each spring 19,20 has inserted into it a pin 25,26 via a respective aperture 28,29 formed in the case moulding 10 adjacent a respective channel 22,23. Each pin 25,26 has a split 25a,26a formed at its inner end which captures the respective diametric portion 19b,20b of a torsion spring 19,20.

One split portion of pin 25 has a groove 25b formed in its outer surface which engages a cooperating surface 30 formed in case moulding 10 so that the pin 25 is: retained in the case moulding 10 as a snap fit, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Pin 26 is likewise retained in the case moulding 10.

The pins 25,26 have heads 25c,26c having opposing flat surfaces which enable them to be non rotatably retained in channels provided on the inner surfaces of cover arms 13,14. Only one channel 32 in arm 13 is visible in the drawings in Figures 10,11 and 12.

The pins 25,26 also have collars 25d,26d each having a flat portion which limits the amount of possible rotation of the pins 25,26 with respect to the case moulding 10. As shown most of clearly in Figures 1 Ob, l lb and 12b, the collar 25d of pin 25 is not received in the channels. Figure 4 shows the flat portion 25e bearing against the case moulding 10 so that further rotation of the pin 26 in the direction of arrow B is not possible.

The cover 12 is mounted on the case moulding 10 as follows: Firstly the springs 19 and 20 are located in their respective channels 22 and 23. Then the pins 25 and 25 are inserted through apertures 28,29 sufficient for the split ends 25a,26a to engage the diametric portions l9b,20b of the torsion springs 19,20. The pins

25,26 are then rotated by 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A to pretension the springs 19,20 before the pins are pushed fully home to the position as shown in Figure 3.

At this point the cover 12 can be added by slightly flexing the arms 13, 14 to capture the heads 25a,26c of pins 25,26.

In the closed position of the cover the arms 13,14 of the cover 12 are received in channels in the case moulding 10. The end of one such channel 35 is shown in Figure 6 containing compression spring 16. Channel 35 has a narrow portion 35a which retains compression spring 16 as a friction fit. Compression spring 16 bears against the end of the cover arm 14. Compression spring 17 is likewise retained and bears against the end of cover arm 13.

In order to retain the cover 12 in its closed position, the cover has clips or protrusions 37,38 formed against one of its edges which are retained in corresponding recesses provided in the case moulding 10. One recess 39 is visible in Figure 7. The case moulding 10 is made to be flexible in this region so that finger pressure in the direction of arrow C (Fig. 7) causes the case moulding 10 to flex inwards, releasing the clips 37,38, as shown in Figure 8.

Once clips 37,38 are released, the compression springs 16,17 act on arms 13,14 pushing them in the direction of arrow D (Figure 9). At this point, arms 13,14 are trapped in respective channels within case moulding 10 and therefore rotation of cover 12 is not possible. The pins 25,26 remain stationary with respect to case moulding 10 and effectively travel along the grooves formed in the arms 13,14.

This is most clearly seen in Figures 10 and 1 1. At the end of their forward travel pushed by the compression springs 16,17, the arms 13,14 are free of the channels in the case and are retained solely by the pins 25,26. At this point (Figure 1 1) the

pretensioned torsion springs cause the pins to rotate and hence the arms 13,14 and cover 12 move to the position shown in Figure 12.

It should be noted that the pretension applied to springs 16,17 is a little more than that,simply required to rotate the arms 13,14 from the position of Figure 11 to the position of Figure 12. As a result, the arms are biased against the case and are firmly held, rather than the cover being allowed to flap loosely. The arms 13,14 enable the cover to be moved completely clear of the area covering the electrical connections so that it does not obstruct the insertion of any interface device.

In order to close the cover 12 it is simply rotated so that the arms 13, 14 are aligned with their respective channels and then pushed towards the case until the clips 37,38 are re-engaged.

It should be noted that the device just described is particularly simple to assemble since all the components snap fit together and no screws are required.

Claims

1. An electronic device having an elongate housing with an opening at one end of the housing to permit access to one or more electrical connectors, wherein the opening is provided with a cover which is attached to and is pivotable with respect to the housing, the cover having manually operable means enabling it to be opened and biasing means for biasing the cover towards its open position.

2. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1 in which the biasing means bias the open cover against the housing.

3. An electronic device as claimed in claim 2 in which the biasing means are pre-energised to bias the cover against the housing.

4. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the biasing means include one or more torsion springs which cause the cover to pivot towards its open position.

5. An electronic device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cover is additionally slidable towards and away from the housing in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

6. An electronic device as claimed in claim 5, including further biasing means for effecting sliding movement of the cover away from the housing.

7. An electronic device as claimed in claim 6 in which the further biasing means comprise one or more compression springs.

8. An electronic device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, in which the cover is provided with guide means extending longitudinally of the housing to guide the sliding movement of the cover.

9. An electronic device as claimed in claim 8 in which the guide means serve to prevent the pivoting movement of the cover until its sliding movement is complete.

10. An electronic device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 in which the guide means include one or more arms attached to the cover and extending longitudinally along the housing when the cover is closed.

11. An electronic device as claimed in claim 10 in which the guide means comprise two alms extending along opposite sides of the housing.

12. An electronic device as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the arm(s) extend inside the housing when the cover is closed.

13. An electronic device as claimed in claims 10, 11 or 12, in which the cover is pivotable about the end(s) of the arm(s).

14. An electronic device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.