JP2001292209A - Foldable portable communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent discoloration/damage on the surface of communication equipment and to provide satisfactory appearance. SOLUTION: Concerning communication equipment 1 provided with two main bodies 2 and 3 of communication equipment, which are respectively pivoted to mutually free open/close and constituted by assembling lids 2a and 3b and casings 2b and 3a by means of plural attaching screws A, a screw cover 4 composed of buffer material is mounted to cover a screw head (a) of the attaching screw A exposed on a communication equipment surface 3b1, a projecting part 7a corresponding to this screw cover 4 is provided on a communication equipment surface 2b1 and between this projecting part 7a and the screw cover 4, the screw cover 4 is elastically mounted for absorbing impact caused when in closing the main bodies 2 and 3 of communication equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foldable portable communication device suitable for use in a mobile communication medium such as a portable telephone radio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the liberalization of the telecommunications business, various types of mobile communication media such as mobile phones have been popularized. Generally, a mobile phone radio in this type of mobile communication medium includes an operation unit (operation key).
There is known an apparatus including a transmitting section having a microphone and a microphone, and a receiving section with an antenna having a speaker and a display section.

[0003] In such portable telephone radios, miniaturization of the whole radio is required for convenience of carrying.
On the other hand, it is required that the display unit and the operation unit be made as large as possible in order to display characters and symbols easily in the display of data and the like and to perform good operations in the key operation.

[0004] For this reason, by making the radio equipment housing composed of two or three housings foldable,
A communication device designed to reduce the size of a wireless device when carrying the device, and to provide a display and operation unit with a large area when used by arranging a display unit or an operation unit on the entire surface of a single housing. There is.

Conventionally, this type of foldable portable communication device (having two housings) includes a first housing (first communication device main body) having an operation unit and a transmission unit, a display unit and a reception unit. A second housing (second communication device main body) having a portion and a hinge for pivotally supporting the two communication device main bodies so as to be freely opened and closed are employed. In such a communication device, both communication device bodies are opened so that the display unit (communication device surface portion) and the operation unit (communication device surface portion) are exposed to the outside when in use, while both communication devices are open when not in use. The communication device body is closed so as to shield the display unit and the operation unit.

By the way, in this type of foldable portable communication device, when both communication device main bodies are turned to be in a closed state, for example, collision between an operation portion and a display portion (surface portions of the communication device) is avoided. For this reason, a structure is adopted in which the main body of the communication device is in contact with the surface of the communication device other than the operation unit and the display unit.

[0007]

However, the conventional foldable portable communication device does not have a function of absorbing the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device main bodies. Each collision (contact) by repeating
There is a problem in that the parts are worn, and each of these collision parts (the surface of the communication device) is discolored and damaged.

In this type of foldable portable communication device, each communication device body is formed by assembling a housing and a cover with a mounting screw. The mounting screw is exposed on the surface of the communication device. For this reason, there is also a problem that the mounting screw is visually recognized in an open state of both communication device bodies (communication devices), and a good appearance cannot be obtained.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-275191 discloses a prior art as a "mobile phone".
Although there is disclosure of "preventing damage to the main body case", there is no disclosure of means for solving the conventional problem of "obtaining a good appearance".

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a mounting screw for assembling a box body and a lid body of a communication device main body is shielded by a screw shielding member. With a very simple configuration in which the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation is absorbed by the impact force absorbing member, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of discoloration and damage on the surface of the communication device and to obtain a good appearance. An object is to provide a foldable portable communication device.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, a foldable portable communication device according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided.
A communication device comprising at least two communication device main bodies each of which is pivotally supported so as to be freely openable and closable and is assembled with a housing and a lid by a plurality of mounting screws, wherein the mounting screws are exposed on a surface of the communication device. A screw shielding member that covers the screw head is attached to the screw, and a receiving portion corresponding to the screw shielding member is provided on another communication device surface portion, and a communication device closed state is provided between the receiving portion and the screw shielding member. In the above structure, an impact force absorbing member that absorbs an impact force caused by the contact at the end of the closing operation of both communication device bodies is provided. Therefore, the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication units is absorbed by the impact force absorbing member, and the screw head of the mounting screw is covered by the screw shielding member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the foldable portable communication device of the first aspect, the screw shielding member is formed of a cushioning material that also serves as an impact force absorbing member. Therefore, the screw shield member made of the cushioning material absorbs the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of both communication device bodies, and covers the screw head of the mounting screw.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the foldable portable communication device according to the first aspect, the receiving portion is formed of a cushioning material that also serves as an impact-absorbing member. Therefore, the receiving portion made of the cushioning material absorbs the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of both communication device main bodies, and the screw shielding member covers the screw head of the mounting screw.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the foldable portable communication device according to the first, second or third aspect, the receiving portion is a convex portion. Therefore, in the closed state of both communication device main bodies, the convex portion as the receiving portion receives the screw shielding member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the foldable portable communication device according to the fourth aspect, the convex portion comprises a hemispherical convex portion. Therefore, in the closed state of both communication device main bodies, the hemispherical convex portion as the receiving portion receives the screw shielding member.

The invention according to claim 6 is the first or second invention.
In the foldable portable communication device described above, the receiving portion is configured to be a concave portion. Therefore, the screw shield member is received by the concave portion as the receiving portion when both communication device main bodies are closed.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are a side view showing a folded (closed) state of the foldable portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a local sectional view showing an X portion thereof. FIG. b) is an enlarged sectional view, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an open state of the foldable portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 and FIG.
It is a top view which shows a part and C part. 1 to 5, the foldable portable communication device denoted by reference numeral 1 includes a first communication device main body 2, a second communication device main body 3, and a screw shielding member 4.

The first communication device main body 2 has an operation key 5 and a microphone 6, and the whole is a substantially rectangular box made of plastic in which the cover 2a and the housing 2b are assembled by a plurality of mounting screws (not shown). Is formed by The first communication device main body 2, the convex portion 7 of the receiving portion located on both sides of the microphone 6, and exposed to the communication device surface portion 2b ₁ is integrally provided.

The convex portions 7 are two hemispherical convex portions 7 which are arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the communication device.
a, 7b, and a housing 2b in the first communication device main body 2.
(Communication device surface portion 2b ₁ ) is disposed at the opposite pivot support end. Each protrusion 7a, 7b, the amount of projection is set to the same size, and the second communication communication device main body 3 to the height of the other parts projecting from the communication device surface portion 2b ₁ of the first communication device main body 2 The dimension is set to be higher than the dimension obtained by adding the height of the parts protruding from the machine surface portion (described later). As a result, contact between the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 at the end of the closing operation is performed by the convex portions 7a and 7b and the screw shielding member 4.

The second communication device main body 3 has a liquid crystal display 8 and a speaker 9 and is pivotally supported by the first communication device main body 2 via a hinge 10 so as to be freely opened and closed. As in the case of 2, the housing 3a and the lid 3b are assembled with a plurality of mounting screws A to form a substantially rectangular box made of plastic. An antenna 11 that expands and contracts in a direction perpendicular to the axis (axis) direction of the hinge 10 is attached to the second communication device main body 3.

The housing 3a has screw holes 12 which are located at positions corresponding to the projections 7a and 7b and into which the mounting screws A are screwed.
Is provided. The screw holes 12 each include two screw holes (only one is shown) that are arranged in parallel with each other in the width direction of the communication device at a predetermined interval, and are arranged at the end of the second communication device main body 3 on the opposite pivot side of the housing 3a. Have been.

The cover 3b is provided with a screw insertion hole 13 that opens in the same axial direction as the axis of the screw hole 12 and through which the mounting screw A is inserted. The screw insertion holes 13 are arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the communication device, and the first seat surface 13a on which the screw head a of the mounting screw A is seated in the screw tightened state and the outside of the first seat surface 13a Is formed by two stepped holes (only one is shown) having the second seating surface 13b located at the center position. In the screw insertion hole 13, the distal ends of the projections 7a and 7b are positioned when the closing operation of both communication device main bodies 2 and 3 is completed.

The screw shielding member 4 has an outer peripheral edge disposed in each screw insertion hole 13 so as to face the second seat surface 13b, and each of the mounting screws A (the communication device surface 3b _{1 of} the second communication device main body 3). Is attached to the screw head a of the mounting screw), and is entirely formed by a flat circular decorative member.

Further, the screw shielding member 4 is made of a cushioning material such as rubber which absorbs an impact force caused by the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3, that is, also serves as an impact force absorbing member. It is elastically mounted between each screw head a and each of the projections 7a and 7b in a state where both communication device main bodies 2 and 3 are closed. Thus, the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device bodies 2 and 3 is absorbed by the screw shielding member 4.

In the foldable portable communication device constructed as described above, the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 are connected to each other at the time of use.
From the folded state shown in FIG. 3A, the opening operation is performed by 180 ° in the positive circumferential direction to fully open as shown in FIG. At this time, the screw shielding member 4 is exposed on the communication device surface 3b ₁ (outside) of the second communication device main body 3 (lid 3b).

When not in use, the two communication units 2, 3
Is rotated 180 ° in the negative circumferential direction from the fully opened state shown in FIG. 3 to be folded as shown in FIG. At this time, the convex portions 7a, 7b abut via the screw shielding member 4 to screw head a mounting screws A, a slight gap between both the communication device surface portion 2b _1, 3b ₁ is formed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the screw shielding member 4 is visible at the fully opened position of both communication device main bodies 2 and 3, the mounting screw A (the screw head a) is provided by the screw shielding function of the screw shielding member 4. Can be shielded. Further, in the present embodiment, since the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation (folding) of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 is absorbed by the buffer function of the screw shielding member 4, the two communication device main bodies are different from the related art. The two (3) collision (contact) portions are not worn.

In this embodiment, the case where the screw shielding member 4 also serves as an impact force absorbing member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each of the projections 7a and 7b serves as an impact force absorbing member. It may be a dual purpose.
The same effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained even when an impact force absorbing member is attached to a, 7b or the screw shielding member 4.

In this embodiment, each of the projections 7
Although the case where a and 7b are hemispherical has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and other shapes may be used as long as both communication device main bodies 2 and 3 can obtain a stable folded state.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a local sectional view showing a main part of a foldable portable communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same members as those in FIGS. Description is omitted. In FIG.
The foldable portable communication device indicated by 1 is a first communication device main body 2,
A second communication device main body 3 and a screw shielding member 62 are provided.

The first communication device main body 2 has an operation key and a microphone (both not shown), and is entirely made of plastic made by assembling the lid 2a and the housing 2b with a plurality of mounting screws (not shown). Is formed by a substantially rectangular box. The first communication device main body 2, the recess 63 is provided as a receiving portion located on both sides of the microphone, and open to the communicator surface portion 2b _1.

The recess 63 is composed of two flat circular recesses (only one is shown) which are arranged in parallel with each other in the width direction of the communication device at a predetermined interval. The portion 2b ₁ ) is disposed at the opposite end of the pivotal side. Both recesses 63 have the same depth, and the space size is set to a size that can accommodate a part of the screw shielding member 62. Thereby, the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 is set to the respective concave portions 63 (bottom surface).
And the screw shielding member 63.

The second communication device body 3 has a liquid crystal display and a speaker (both not shown), and is pivotally supported by the first communication device body 2 via a hinge (not shown) so as to be freely opened and closed. ,
Like the first communication device main body 2, the whole is formed of a plastic substantially rectangular box in which the housing 3a and the lid 3b are assembled by a plurality of mounting screws A (only one is shown).

The housing 3a is provided with a screw hole 12 which is located at a position corresponding to each recess 63 and into which the mounting screw A is screwed. The screw holes 12 each include two screw holes (only one is shown) arranged in parallel with each other in the width direction of the communication device at a predetermined interval.
a is disposed at the end opposite to the pivot.

The cover 3b is provided with a screw insertion hole 13 which opens in the same axial direction as the axis of the screw hole 12 and through which the mounting screw A is inserted. The screw insertion holes 13 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the communication device, and have two stepped holes (only one shown) having a seat surface 13a on which the screw head a of the mounting screw A is seated in the screw tightened state. )
Is formed by

The screw shielding member 62, the outer periphery to the respective screw insertion holes 13 are placed in contact with the seat surface 13b, and the communication device surface portion 3b ₁ of the mounting screw A (second communication apparatus main body 3 It is affixed to the screw head a of the mounting screw (exposed), and is entirely formed by a planar circular decorative member.

The screw shielding member 62 is made of a cushioning material such as rubber which absorbs an impact force caused by the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3, that is, also serves as an impact force absorbing member. A part is located in each recess 63 when both communication device bodies 2 and 3 are closed, and each screw head a and each recess 63
(Bottom) between them. Thereby, the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 is absorbed by the screw shielding member 63.

The screw shielding member 62 abuts against the concave portion 63 (bottom surface) due to the closing operation of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3, thereby causing interference between the communication device surface portions 2 b ₁ and 3 b ₁ (including parts and the like). (A small gap is formed between both communication device surface portions 2b ₁ and 3b ₁ ).

In the foldable portable communication device constructed as described above, the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 are fully opened by being rotated 180 ° in the positive circumferential direction from the folded state during use.
At this time, the screw shielding member 62 is exposed on the communication device surface 3b ₁ (outside) of the second communication device main body 3 (housing 3b).

When not in use, the two communication units 2, 3
Is turned 180 degrees in the negative circumferential direction from the fully opened state to be folded. At this time, the screw head a of each mounting screw A is
3 is in contact with the bottom surface via a screw shielding member 62, and a slight gap is formed between both communication device surface portions 2a, 3a.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the screw shielding member 62 is visible at the fully opened position of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3, the shielding function can shield the mounting screw A (the screw head a). It is similar to one embodiment.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation (folding) of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 is absorbed by the buffer function of the screw shielding member 62, similar to the first embodiment, Each of the collision (contact) portions of the two communication device main bodies 2 and 3 is not worn.

In the present embodiment, the case where the screw shielding member 62 also serves as an impact force absorbing member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The same effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained by attaching the member.

In each of the embodiments, the case where the screw shielding members 4 and 62 have a circular plane shape has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively. Of course, any shape such as a star shape or a heart shape may be used. In this case, the screw shielding members 4, 6
By giving the desired color to 2, good visibility can be obtained. As described above, if the screw shielding members 4 and 62 are designed, it is possible to attract the user's interest.

In addition, in each embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a communication device having two communication device bodies has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each embodiment is also applied to three communication device bodies. The same is applicable.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the screw shielding member that covers the screw head is visible when the two communication units are open, the mounting screw can be shielded by the screw shielding member. , Good appearance can be obtained.
In addition, since the impact force due to the contact at the end of the closing operation of both communication units is absorbed by the impact-absorbing member, each collision portion of both communication units is not worn as in the conventional case, and discoloration on the surface of the communication unit is not achieved. -The occurrence of damage can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a side view showing a closed state of a foldable portable communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a local sectional view showing an X portion thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1 (b).

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an open state of the foldable portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a portion B in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a portion C in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a local cross-sectional view showing a main part of a foldable portable communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views showing a screw shielding member in a foldable portable communication device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 foldable portable communication device 2 first communication device main body 2a lid 2b housing 2b ₁ communication device surface portion 3 second communication device main body 3a housing 3b lid 3b ₁ communication device surface portion 4 screw shielding member 5 operation key 6 Microphone 7, 7a, 7b Convex part 8 Liquid crystal display 9 Speaker 10 Hinge 11 Antenna 12 Screw hole 13 Screw insertion hole A Mounting screw a Screw head

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4E360 AA02 AB12 AB42 AB51 BB02 BB12 BB16 BC02 BC06 BC07 BC08 CA03 EA18 EC11 ED02 ED23 ED27 FA08 GA06 GA12 GA14 GA51 GB26 GC08 5K023 AA07 DD08 QQ04

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Each is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable with each other,
What is claimed is: 1. A communication device comprising: at least two communication device bodies in which a housing and a lid are assembled by a plurality of mounting screws, wherein the mounting screw exposed to a surface of the communication device among the mounting screws covers a screw head. A screw shielding member is mounted, and a receiving portion corresponding to the screw shielding member is provided on a communication device surface portion different from the communication device surface portion, and between the receiving portion and the screw shielding member in a communication device closed state. And a shock-absorbing member for absorbing an impact force caused by the contact at the end of the closing operation of the two communication device bodies. 2. The foldable portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the screw shielding member is formed of a cushioning material that also serves as the impact force absorbing member. 3. The foldable portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is formed of a cushioning material also serving as the impact force absorbing member. 4. The foldable portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving portion is a convex portion. 5. The foldable portable communication device according to claim 4, wherein said convex portion comprises a hemispherical convex portion. 6. The foldable portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a concave portion.