JP2000181611A - Housing structure of inputting pen for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure which easily houses and takes out a pen belonging to electronic equipment in/from the equipment main body. SOLUTION: Relating to this electronic equipment which has an equipment case and a member covering its surface and of which the case and the covering member are connected by a hinge 4, a pen lock member 6 for holding a pen 5 housed inside the equipment and a moving means 7 capable of moving the member 6 in the same direction as in the direction where the pen 5 is inserted and pulled out are provided within the equipment, the inserted pen 5 is housed completely within the main body by the member 6 when the covering member covers the surface of the case of the equipment and the equipment is not used, and the member 6 is moved by the means 7 by opening the covering member covering the surface of the case of the equipment when the equipment is used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information terminal, a communication terminal, a personal computer, a word processor, and other electronic devices having an input pen for inputting information. It relates to a storage structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic apparatus having an input pen for inputting information, various techniques have been proposed for a storage structure of the input pen.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-62434, an input pen used in an information terminal is housed inside a main body. The pen is stored by inserting a pen holding spring into a recess provided in the pen when the pen is inserted into the holding position inside the main body, whereby the pen is locked and latched. When the pen is taken out, the pen lock is released by pushing the rear portion of the pen into the main body, and the pen is pushed out of the main body so that the pen can be taken out. In addition, the structure of the insertion slot for inserting the pen to accommodate the pen has a recessed portion with respect to the housing around the insertion slot to facilitate insertion and removal of the pen.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-210292, an input pen used for an information terminal is housed inside a main body. The pen used here is provided with a pen holding projection 5c at the rear of the pen.
c functions as a guide in the pen insertion direction. for that reason,
The storage portion includes a pen holding member, a sliding member around which a coil spring is wound, and a latch member that locks and releases the sliding member. When the pen is stored, the sliding member is held by the pen tip. , And the sliding member is locked by the latch member, and the pen is held by the pen holding projection. On the other hand, when the pen is taken out, when the pen is pushed into the holding member, the sliding member locked by the latch member is released from the latch member, and the sliding member slides toward the insertion hole of the holding member due to the elasticity of the coil spring. By doing so, the pen can be taken out by pushing the pen out of the holding member.

[0005]

However, the technique described above still has the following problems.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-62434, a latch mechanism is provided as a method for storing the pen 5, but the mechanism requires that the pen be pushed in once when the pen is taken out. Further, there is a problem that the structure of the insertion slot into which the pen is inserted in order to make it easy to press the pen has a recessed portion with respect to a surrounding housing and a space for making it easy to press the pen is required. Have.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-210292, when a pen is inserted from a pen insertion slot of an electronic device main body and stored inside the main body, the pen is inserted so that the pen can be easily taken out. Since a protrusion, that is, a handle, is attached to the end, a notch is required inside the main body (in the cabinet) so that the handle fits into that portion. In this structure, since the handle for taking out the pen is exposed outside, there is a possibility that the handle may be caught by an object during carrying or the like and the pen may come off. Furthermore, there is a problem that the strength of the device main body may be weakened by providing a notch portion in which the handle is fitted in the storage portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to rotate a hinge provided in an electronic device, specifically, a hinge and a cover of an apparatus main body. When the electronic device is not used, the cover covers the surface of the housing of the device main body, and the hinge is attached to the side surface of the housing when the electronic device is not used. Because the hinge is removed from the side of the housing, the pen is locked and released from the housing by using the hinge, and the appearance design and the arrangement of each member such as the display are considered. An input pen storage structure for electronic devices that can be designed without the need for exposing the pen to the outside of the device at the time of storage and with a reduced number of parts and without requiring advanced components. It is to provide.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input pen storage structure for an electronic device, comprising a housing of the device and a member for covering a surface of the device, wherein the housing and the cover member are hinged. In an electronic device that is connected and further includes an information input pen and has a pen storage structure, the device includes a pen lock member for holding the stored pen and the pen lock member. Moving means capable of moving in the same direction as the pen insertion / removal direction, wherein a cover member covers the surface of the housing of the device, and the pen inserted when the device is not in use is the pen lock. The pen lock member is completely stored inside the main body by the member, and has a structure in which the pen lock member is moved by the moving means by opening a cover member covering the surface of the housing of the device when using the device. To become a And it features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the input pen housing structure for an electronic device according to the first aspect, wherein the housing for the electronic device is connected to a member covering the surface thereof. The hinge is provided with an elastic member on the surface in contact with the housing of the device and a protrusion at the tip thereof, and a pen lock member provided inside the device has a concave portion, The projection of the hinge may be fitted into a recess of the pen lock member via a notch provided in a housing of the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the input pen storage structure for an electronic device according to the first or second aspect, the moving means for moving the pen lock member comprises: It is characterized in that it moves in the same direction as the pen insertion / extraction direction by using the extension and contraction force of the extendable member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the input pen storage structure for an electronic device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the pen has a recess. The pen lock member provided inside the device is provided with a convex portion at the tip thereof via an elastic member, and the concave portion of the pen is fitted with the convex portion provided on the pen lock member. It is characterized by being held as such.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an input pen storage structure for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example of an electronic device provided with the input pen storage structure of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view of the electronic device provided with the input pen storage structure shown in FIG. It is a side view.

As shown in the drawing, an electronic device having the input pen storage structure of the present invention has a display unit 0 on its surface, and a lower housing 1, an upper housing 2, and a display unit 0 are provided. It has a cover 3 for protecting the display surface, and the cover 3 and the main body are connected by a hinge part 4. Further, the lower housing 1 is provided with a hole 1a for accommodating a pen, from which the pen can be accommodated inside the main body.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the operation of the hinge portion of the electronic device having the input pen storage structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the cover 3 covers the upper housing 2. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the cover 3 is used by being turned around the back side of the main body. As shown in the figure, the hinge portion 4 has a rotation axis 4c between the hinge and the main body and a rotation axis 4d between the hinge and the cover 3,
The main body and the cover 3 are connected. When the cover 3 is closed, the cover 3 is securely held in the housing (upper housing 2) by a cover fastening mechanism or the like.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an example of the input pen of the present invention.

As shown, the pen 5 has a recess 5a.
Is provided.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a hinge portion of an electronic apparatus having the input pen storage structure of FIG.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the electronic device having the input pen storage structure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the side where the hinge is provided. The hinge portion 4 has a rotation axis 4c between the hinge and the main body (actually, the lower housing 2) and a rotation axis 4d between the hinge and the cover 3, and connects the main body and the cover 3. Thereby, the states (a) and (b) shown in FIG. 3 can be realized.

FIG. 5B is a view showing B in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a cross section taken along a plane C in FIG. 5A.

As shown in the figure, a projection 4a is provided, and the projection 4a has a structure that can be bent by a resin spring 4b. Note that the resin spring portion 4b is not limited to a spring, and may be any elastic member having elastic characteristics.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a pen lock portion of the input pen storage structure, and FIG. 7 is an external view of a spring.

As shown in FIG. 6, the components of the pen lock portion 6 include a protrusion 6a for fitting with the concave portion 5a of the pen 5, which is provided at the tip of the resin spring portion 6b. It is possible to bend from the fact that. Note that the resin spring portion 6b is not particularly limited as long as it is a member having a bending characteristic. Further, it has a concave portion 6c fitted with the projection 4a of the hinge portion shown in FIG. 5B, and a rib 6d for applying a spring. The spring 7 shown in FIG. 7 is used here, and the mounting members provided at both ends of the spring 7 are hooked on the ribs 6d shown in FIG. As described above, the pen lock portion 6, particularly the concave portion 6c fitted with the protrusion 4a of the hinge portion, may be formed of an elastic member.

FIG. 8 is a structural view of the input pen storage structure with the pen held.

When the cover 3 is closed as shown in FIG.
This is a state when the electronic device is not used. The rear end surface 5b of the pen 5 does not protrude from the side surface 1b of the housing (the lower housing 1), and the pen 5 is held.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the "a" portion in FIG. 8 (in a pen holding state in the input pen storage structure).

The pen 5 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is in a state where the concave portion 5 a is fitted with the convex portion 6 a of the pen lock component 6.

When the cover 3 is closed, the projection 4a provided at the tip of the resin spring portion 4b of the hinge enters the inside of the main body through the notch 1c provided in the housing (lower housing 1), and pen lock parts are provided. 6, and the pen lock component 6 is locked. At this time, the spring 7 has its attachment member hooked to the rib 6d of the pen lock component 6 and the other end hooked to an arbitrary portion inside the main body. That is, the spring 7 is in an extended state.

The pen 5 in this state is housed inside the main body and is locked, and the process of inserting the pen 5 from the housing hole 1a and entering this state will be described later. .

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the input pen storage structure in a pen holding state, and FIG.
FIG. 9B shows a cross section at a portion F in FIG.

FIG. 10A shows a state in which the concave portion 5 a of the pen 5 is fitted with the convex portion 6 a of the pen lock component 6.

In FIG. 10 (b), a resin spring portion 4b of the hinge passes through a notch 1c provided in the housing (lower housing 1).
The projection 4a provided at the tip of the pen lock enters the inside of the main body, engages with the recess 6c provided on the pen lock component 6, and the pen lock component 6 is locked.

FIG. 11 is a structural view of the input pen storage structure with the pen taken out.

When using the electronic equipment, it is necessary to open the cover 3. FIG. 11 shows that the pen 5 is rotated by rotating the cover 3 and the hinge portion (hinge) 4.
Indicates that the lock is out of the locked state. As a result, the rear end surface 5b of the pen 5 projects from the side surface 1b of the housing (the lower housing 1), and the pen 5 can be pulled out at any time.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the "i" portion of FIG. 11 (in a state where the pen can be taken out of the input pen storage structure).

Note that the pen 5 shown in FIGS.
a is still in engagement with the projection 6 a of the pen lock component 6.

When the cover 3 is rotated and the hinge portion (hinge) 4 is rotated accordingly, the notch 1 provided in the housing (lower housing 1) in the state where the cover 3 is closed so far.
c, the projection 4a provided at the tip of the resin spring portion 4b of the hinge portion (hinge) 4 enters the inside of the main body, engages with the recess 6c provided in the pen lock component 6, and the pen lock component 6 is locked. However, since the hinge portion (hinge) 4 rotates about the rotation axis 4c with respect to the main body, the projection 4a of the hinge portion (hinge) 4 and the concave portion 6c of the pen lock component 6 at a certain angle. (The projection 4a may come off from the notch 1c in some cases). Along with this, the spring 7 which has been extended up to now has a contracting (compressing) action to move the entire pen lock component 6 in the direction of arrow D.

As a result, since the pen 5 is held by the pen lock component 6, the spring 5 jumps out of the housing (the lower housing 1) by the length compressed by the spring 7. When the pen 5 is pulled, the resin spring portion 6b of the pen lock component 6 bends, and the protrusion 6a of the pen lock component 6 is disengaged from the recess 5a of the pen 5, so that the pen 5 can be taken out.

The projection 4a is a hinge portion (hinge) 4
Is provided at the tip of the resin spring portion 4b, so that the notch portion 1c can be easily formed only by rotating the hinge portion (hinge) 4.
Shall deviate from

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the input pen storage structure when the pen is taken out.

This shows a cross section at a portion H in FIG. 12. The hinge portion (hinge) 4 rotates around the rotation shaft 4c with respect to the main body, and the hinge portion (hinge) 4 The projection 4a is completely removed from the recess 6c of the pen lock component 6 and the notch 1c of the housing (the lower housing 1).

FIG. 14 is a structural view when the pen is inserted in the input pen storing structure.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show the state in which the cover 3 is open because the electronic device is in use. Therefore, the projection 4a of the hinge portion (hinge) 4 does not enter the inside of the main body, and the pen lock component 6 is located at a position where the spring 7 is compressed.

A situation where the pen 5 is inserted through the insertion hole 1a in order to accommodate the pen 5 inside the main body in this state will be described.

As the pen 5 is inserted, the pen lock component 6
Of the pen 5 and the protrusion 6 provided at the tip of the resin spring 6b of the pen lock component 6.
a is fitted. In this state, since the pen 5 is held and the cover is opened when the device is used, the pen 5 is out of the main body, and the pen 5 can be taken out. That is, this is the state of FIG.

Next, the cover 3 is closed so that the electronic device is not used. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 14, the hinge portion (hinge) 4 is in a closed state, and the projection 4a of the hinge portion (hinge) 4 is inserted into the inside of the main body through the cutout portion 1b of the housing (lower housing 1). I'm stuck.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the "U" portion in FIG. 14 (when the pen is inserted in the input pen storage structure).

When the cover 3 is rotated and the hinge portion (hinge) 4 is rotated and closed, the projection 4a of the hinge portion (hinge) 4 passes through the cutout portion 1b of the housing (lower housing 1). We are inside. However, in this state, the pen 5 is in a state where the concave portion 5 a is fitted with the convex portion 6 a of the pen lock component 6, but the pen lock component 6 is still in the position of the steady state of the spring 7.

When the pen 5 is pushed in from this state,
Since the pen lock component 6 is fitted with the pen 5, the pen lock component 6 moves in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG.

At this time, the projection 4a of the hinge portion (hinge) 4 is pushed up and bent by the resin spring 4b, and is fitted into the recess 6c of the pen lock component 6, and the pen 5 is completely housed inside the main body.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show a state in which the pen 5 is completely housed inside the main body.

In the above embodiment, the electronic device has been described as having a structure in which the housing and the cover are connected by a hinge, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a housing having input means such as a keyboard or a tablet (corresponding to the housing in the above embodiment) and a housing having display means such as an LCD (corresponding to the cover in the above embodiment) are connected by a hinge. It may be the case of a device.

The direction in which the pen is stored, that is, the insertion slot for storing the pen, may be provided on either the left or right side of the housing. The insertion opening and the storage section are not provided in the lower housing as in the above embodiment, but are provided in the upper housing. It may be provided in a housing.

The resin spring portion of the hinge may be an elastic member, and the resin spring portion of the pen lock component may be an elastic member. As a means for moving the pen lock member in the same direction as the pen insertion / extraction direction, the spring shown in FIG. 7 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. A member may be used.

As described above, the pen housing structure of the present invention has the following features.

The pen has a structure in which the pen is housed inside the apparatus main body by holding parts.

This pen is held by a pen lock component inside the main body when the electronic device is not used. This pen lock part can be moved in the same direction as the pen insertion and removal direction, when the pen is not used the pen is completely stored inside the main body, and when the cover is opened when using electronic devices The pen lock component moves and the pen is pushed out of the main body.

More specifically, the input pen storage structure according to the present invention is such that an input pen used in an electronic device or the like having a display device having a function of handwriting recognition or the like can be stored inside the main body. Used for construction.

Such an electronic device is provided with a cover for protecting the display surface, and the cover is connected to the main body by a hinge part. When the electronic device is used, the cover is turned to the back side of the main body to be used. It is possible to do.

The pen is provided with a concave portion, and the pen is held by fitting the convex portion of the pen lock component into the concave portion.

As an actual pen lock mechanism, a pen lock component can move in the same direction as the pen insertion direction, and a coil spring or the like is used to move the lock component to a designated position. It is configured.

The pen lock part is provided with a concave part, and the hinge part is provided with a convex part. The cover is closed when the electronic device is not used or when it is carried. The cover is opened when the electronic device is used while the pen is completely stored, and when the cover is opened, the pen is protruded from the main body by a certain length so that the pen can be taken out.

From the above characteristics, the following effects can be further obtained.

There is no need to provide a new handle for taking out the pen, and there is no need for a notch to fit the handle in the housing.

In addition, even when the latch mechanism is used, the appearance and the strength are improved because the depression for pushing the pen is not required.

Further, the pen is usually completely housed inside the main body, so that when the electronic device is used, the pen comes out when the hard cover is opened, and there is no danger of the pen being lost when being carried. Usability also improves.

The contents of the embodiments described above are not limited to the contents described above unless the gist of the present invention is changed.

[0070]

The following effects can be obtained with the input pen storage structure for electronic equipment according to the present invention.

In terms of structure, there is no need to provide a handle for taking out the pen, and it is not necessary to provide a notch for fitting the handle in the housing. Also, when the latch mechanism is used, the depression for pushing the pen is not required, so that the appearance and strength can be improved as compared with the conventional one.

Further, the pen is usually completely housed inside the main body when not using the electronic device, and when the electronic device is used, the pen comes out when the cover is opened, so that the pen comes out of the portable device. There is no danger of losing the pen, and the usability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating an example of an electronic apparatus having an input pen storage structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an electronic device including the input pen storage structure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an operation of a hinge portion of an electronic device having the input pen storage structure of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an example of the input pen of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a hinge portion of an electronic device having the input pen storage structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a pen lock portion of the input pen storage structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a spring used in a pen lock portion of the input pen storage structure of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a structural view of the input pen storage structure of the present invention in a pen holding state.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of the input pen storage structure of the present invention in a pen holding state.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the input pen storage structure of the present invention in a pen holding state.

FIG. 11 is a structural view of the input pen storage structure according to the present invention in a pen take-out state.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of the input pen storage structure of the present invention in a pen take-out state.

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the input pen storage structure of the present invention in a state where the pen is taken out.

FIG. 14 is a structural diagram of the input pen storage structure of the present invention when a pen is inserted.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of the input pen storage structure of the present invention when a pen is inserted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower housing of electronic equipment 1a Pen insertion opening 2 Upper housing of electronic equipment 3 Cover 4 Hinge part 5 Pen 5a Pen notch 6 Lock part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A housing for a device and a member for covering the surface thereof, wherein the housing and the cover member are connected by a hinge,
Further, an electronic device provided with an information input pen and having a storage structure for the pen, wherein a pen lock member for holding the stored pen inside the device and the pen lock member in the insertion / removal direction of the pen. Moving means capable of moving in the same direction, wherein a cover member covers a surface of a housing of the device, and when the device is not used, the pen inserted is inside the main body by the pen lock member. When the device is used, the device has a structure in which a pen lock member is moved by the moving means by opening a cover member covering a surface of a housing of the device. Pen storage structure for electronic devices 2. A hinge for connecting a housing of an electronic device and a member covering the surface thereof has an elastic member on a surface where the hinge is in contact with the housing of the device and a projection at a tip of the elastic member. The pen lock member provided inside the device is provided with a concave portion, and the projection of the hinge is fitted into the concave portion of the pen lock member via a notch provided in a housing of the device. 2. The input pen storage structure for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The moving means for moving the pen lock member moves in the same direction as the pen insertion / removal direction by using the extension and contraction force of the extensible member. An input pen storage structure for the electronic device described in the above. 4. A pen is provided with a concave portion, and a pen lock member provided inside the apparatus is provided with a convex portion ahead of the pen lock member via an elastic member. And a projection provided on the pen lock member and fitted and held.
4. An input pen storage structure for an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.