JP2009019756A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal in which an impact of drop and the like does not act on a specific section. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal 10 is provided with a lower housing 11, an upper housing 12, a connection part 13, a first rotary member 33, and a second rotary member 34. When the terminal is turned from a closed state to a laterally open state, an engagement pin 45 which is a first engagement part of a first engagement means 15, and a first housing part 55 and a second housing part 56 as a second engagement part 46 engage to support a second rotary member 34 supporting the upper housing 12 in a cantilever style. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal in which a first housing and a second housing are connected to each other by a connecting portion so as to be foldable.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a foldable type in which two casings are rotatably connected via a connecting portion has been widely used. For example, the lower housing (first housing) is held by the user's hand when using the mobile terminal, and has an operation unit provided with a large number of input keys and function keys on the surface. An upper casing (second casing) having a display unit (LCD) on the surface is known.
On the other hand, according to Patent Document 1, the connecting portion is connected to the first rotating member and a portion other than the central portion of the first rotating member, and is connected to the upper housing in a direction intersecting the first rotating member. What has the 2nd rotation member connected is disclosed.

  According to this portable terminal, a so-called vertical opening operation is possible by rotating the upper casing with respect to the lower casing around the first rotating member from the state in which the upper casing and the lower casing are closed. In addition, when the upper casing and the lower casing are closed, the upper casing is rotated with respect to the lower casing around the second rotating member, so that a so-called lateral opening operation is possible.

Here, in the portable terminal that can be opened vertically and horizontally, the second rotating member supports the lower housing and the upper housing only at one end portion. That is, each of the lower housing and the upper housing is cantilevered by the second rotating member. For this reason, when making a portable terminal into a side opening, it is possible that a comparatively big load is applied to a 2nd rotation member.
Patent Document 1 discloses a portable device that engages a convex portion provided at a longitudinal center portion of a lower housing and a buffer member provided at a longitudinal center portion of an upper housing when the mobile terminal is opened laterally. A terminal has been proposed.
According to the portable terminal of Patent Literature 1, when the portable terminal is opened sideways, the horizontally opened state is stabilized by restricting the rotation about the second rotation axis.
JP 2006-22899 A

By the way, when the mobile terminal falls, for example, in a laterally open state, and an external force is applied so that the lower casing and the upper casing are moved closer to each other, the second rotating member moves on one side between the lower casing and the upper casing. Since the cantilever is supported only by the end portion, the load concentrates on one end portion of the second rotating member, and the specific portion may be damaged.
However, Patent Document 1 does not aim to reduce the concentration of the impact caused by dropping or the like on a specific portion of the second rotating member, and thus cannot be expected to protect the second rotating member.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a portable terminal in which an impact such as dropping is not concentrated on a specific part of the second rotating member.

  A portable terminal according to the present invention includes a first casing provided with an operation unit, a second casing provided with a display unit, and a connecting unit that rotatably connects the first casing and the second casing. And the connecting portion is connected to the first casing and is capable of rotating the second casing with respect to the first casing about the first rotation axis. The second rotating member is connected to the first rotating member and the second rotating shaft orthogonal to the first rotating shaft and is connected to the short-side end of the second housing. A second rotating member that enables the casing to rotate, and the first casing includes a side on which the second rotating member is connected to the connecting portion on a surface provided with the operation portion; A first engaging portion is provided on the opposite side of the longitudinal direction, and the second casing is rotated at a position corresponding to the first engaging portion in the longitudinal direction of the surface provided with the display portion. The member is A second engagement portion is provided on a side opposite to the side connected to the connection portion, and the first housing has a first engagement portion on a surface provided with an operation portion facing the second engagement portion. However, in the closed state in which the first housing and the second housing overlap, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are not locked, and the second housing rotates in the second rotation. When pivoting about an axis, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are engaged and locked to support the first housing and the second housing. .

Here, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are the first housing and the second housing when the first housing and the second housing shift from the closed state to the vertically opened state or the horizontally opened state. Refers to the direction of the body's center of rotation.
On the other hand, a 1st rotation member and a 2nd rotation member are members as a spindle for a 2nd housing | casing to rotate with respect to a 1st housing | casing, The 2nd housing | casing with respect to a 1st housing | casing is a member. With the rotation, the first rotating member or the second rotating member rotates around the axis.

According to this configuration, the second casing has the second engaging portion on the side opposite to the side where the second rotating member is connected to the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction on the side provided with the display portion. Further, the first housing has the first engagement portion on the surface provided with the operation portion facing the second engagement portion.
According to this configuration, since the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are not locked in the closed state, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are moved when shifting from the closed state to the vertically opened state. The second casing smoothly rotates with respect to the first casing about the first rotation axis without causing an obstacle to the part.

Further, according to this configuration, when the second housing starts to rotate around the second rotation axis with respect to the first housing, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with each other. Since it is locked, for example, the portable terminal falls and external force is applied to the first housing or the second housing from the start of the transition from the closed state to the laterally opened state until the completely laterally opened state is reached. Even in this case, a part of the load due to the fall can be supported by the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion.
Thereby, it can prevent that the load by fall etc. concentrates on a 2nd rotation member, and can prevent the failure | damage of a 2nd rotation shaft member.

  Further, according to the present invention, a magnet is provided in the second engagement portion, the first engagement portion is made of a magnetic material, and the first engagement portion protrudes by the magnetic force of the magnet, and the second engagement portion protrudes from the second engagement portion. It is characterized by engaging with the engaging portion.

According to this configuration, when the mobile terminal is in the closed state, the first engagement portion protrudes by the magnetic force and engages with the second engagement portion so as not to be locked.
For this reason, it is possible to smoothly shift from the closed state to the vertically opened state, and it is possible to lock quickly when the lateral opening is started from the closed state.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the magnet of the second engagement portion is disposed on a side portion in a direction in which the first engagement portion protrudes.

  According to this configuration, since the magnet is disposed on the side portion in the direction in which the first engagement portion protrudes, even if the first engagement portion is accommodated in the first housing in the closed state of the mobile terminal. The first engaging portion can be reliably protruded by the magnetic force of the magnet.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a magnet in the first housing that is a position away from the first engagement portion by a certain distance, on the opposite side of the surface facing the second housing, The first engagement portion is configured not to protrude by the magnetic force of the magnet in a state where the housing is rotated and opened about the first rotation shaft with respect to the first housing. .

According to this configuration, in the longitudinally open state in which the second casing is rotated around the first rotation axis, the influence of the magnetic force of the magnet of the second engagement portion is eliminated. The influence of the magnetic force of the magnet becomes relatively strong, so that the first engagement portion is accommodated so as not to protrude from the first housing by the magnet in the first housing.
As described above, the first engagement portion can be prevented from projecting from the first housing in the vertically opened state in which the second housing is opened around the first rotation axis. There is no possibility that the part protrudes from the first housing and becomes an obstacle.

  According to the present invention, in the first housing, a sheet metal is disposed between the first engagement portion and the magnet.

  According to this configuration, since the sheet metal is disposed between the first engagement portion and the magnet in the first housing, the first engagement portion can be selected by appropriately selecting the material, thickness, area, and the like of the sheet metal. The magnetic force of the magnet in the first housing that has an influence can be set, and when the first engaging portion is protruded, the first engaging portion can be held at a predetermined protruding position.

  Further, according to the present invention, the first engagement portion is constituted by an engagement pin having a first protrusion and a second protrusion that intersects the first protrusion and extends along the second rotation axis. The second engaging portion accommodates the first projecting portion in the opening portion, the first accommodating portion rotating around the second rotation axis with respect to the second housing, and the opening portion. And a second housing portion that houses the second projecting portion and is fixed to the second housing.

  According to this configuration, when the rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing is started around the second rotation axis and the transition from the closed state to the laterally open state is started, the second housing is interlocked. Since the second housing portion also rotates, the opening direction of the opening portion of the second housing portion changes with respect to the opening portion of the first housing portion, whereby the engagement pin that is the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion. The first engagement portion and the second engagement portion can be locked without being pulled out from the joint portion.

  In the present invention, the opening of the first housing portion accommodates the first projecting portion and rotates the second housing around the second rotation shaft. It is the position which faces the operation part surface.

  According to this configuration, when the second housing rotates about the second rotation axis, the first housing portion is stationary so that the opening portion is positioned to face the operation portion surface of the first housing. Therefore, the second housing can be smoothly rotated while maintaining the state in which the first projecting portion is accommodated in the opening of the first accommodating portion.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the opening of the second housing portion is formed in a concave shape and has a curved surface whose curvature increases from the bottom of the opening toward the opening.

  Since the curved surface of the opening of the second housing portion is formed so that the curvature increases from the bottom toward the opening, when the second housing portion rotates in conjunction with the second housing, The second projecting portion can be easily picked up by the opening of the second accommodating portion.

  Moreover, the return spring which makes the opening part of a 1st accommodating part correspond with the opening part of a 2nd accommodating part is provided.

According to this configuration, in the state in which the mobile terminal is closed or the mobile terminal is opened around the first rotation axis, that is, in a so-called vertical open state, the opening of the first housing portion and the opening of the second housing portion Can be made consistent with each other.
Accordingly, when the first housing is rotated about the first rotation axis to shift from the closed state to the vertically opened state, the engagement pin that is the first engagement portion is the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion. There is no risk that the mobile terminal can be smoothly turned off.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a pair of engaging portions on a surface where the second casing and the connecting portion are connected, on the side opposite to the side where the second rotating shaft member is arranged and in the short side direction. In the state where the first housing and the second housing overlap, the pair of engaging portions restricts the rotation about the second rotation shaft.

  With this configuration, in the closed state where the first housing and the second housing overlap, unless the engagement by the pair of engaging portions is removed, the rotation about the second rotation axis is restricted. The second housing can be prevented from rotating about the second rotation axis in preparation.

  According to the mobile terminal of the present invention, by providing the engaging portion that maintains the relative positions of the first housing and the second housing, it is possible to concentrate an impact such as dropping on a specific part of the second rotating member. It has the effect that it can be prevented.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the mobile terminal 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a lower casing (first casing) 11, an upper casing (second casing) 12, and a lower casing 11. The connecting portion 13 connecting the upper housing 12 and the first engaging means 15 and the second engaging means 16 for maintaining the relative positions of the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 (FIG. 3B, FIG. 4). See).
The portable terminal 10 includes a closed state in which the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 overlap each other, and the upper housing 12 and the connecting portion 13 with respect to the lower housing 11 around the first rotation shaft 31 from the closed state. A vertically opened state by integrally rotating, and a horizontally opened state by rotating the upper housing 12 with respect to the lower housing 11 and the connecting portion 13 around the second rotating shaft 32 from the closed state. Is obtained.

In the closed state, the lower casing 11 is provided with an operation unit 23 having a large number of input keys 24 and function keys 25 on the surface 11A facing the upper casing 12.
The upper housing 12 is provided with a display unit (LCD) 28 on the surface 12A facing the lower housing 11 in the closed state.

The connecting portion 13 includes a connecting portion main body 13A, a first rotating member 33 (see also FIG. 6), and a second rotating member 34.
The first rotating member 33 is a support member for connecting the lower housing 11 and the connecting portion main body 13 </ b> A and for rotating the connecting portion main body 13 </ b> A relative to the lower housing 11.
The first rotating member 33 is arranged along the first rotating shaft 31 described above, and is orthogonal to the thickness direction of the lower casing 11, and the short side direction (width) of the lower casing 11. Direction).

The second rotating member 34 connects the upper housing 12 and the connecting portion main body 13A, and is a member as a support shaft for rotating the upper housing 12 with respect to the lower housing 11 and the connecting portion main body 13A. It is said that.
The axis of the second rotating member 34 is arranged along the second rotating shaft 32 described above, and is orthogonal to the thickness direction of the upper casing 12, and the long side direction (longitudinal direction) of the upper casing 12. Direction).
One end portion of the second rotating member 34 is connected to the connecting portion main body 13 </ b> A and the other end portion is connected to the upper housing 12. Accordingly, the upper housing 12 is cantilevered by the second rotating member 34.

Here, the first rotation shaft 31 and the second rotation shaft 32 are the rotation centers of the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 when the mobile terminal 10 shifts from the closed state to the vertical open state or the horizontal open state. Refers to the direction of the line.
Specifically, the first rotation shaft 31 is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the lower housing 11 and is along the short side direction (width direction) of the lower housing 11. The second rotation shaft 32 is orthogonal to the thickness direction of the upper housing 12 and is along the long side direction (longitudinal direction) of the upper housing 12. The first rotation shaft 31 and the second rotation shaft 32 are orthogonal to each other.

In the present invention, the first rotating member 33 and the second rotating member 34 rotate the upper housing 12 and the connecting portion 13 with respect to the lower housing 11 or the upper housing with respect to the lower housing 11 and the connecting portion 13. As the body 12 rotates, the first rotating member 33 or the second rotating member 34 rotates about the axis.
In addition, the state in which the upper housing 12 rotates about the second rotation shaft 32 with respect to the lower housing 11 refers to the period from the closed state to the complete laterally open state. However, the sandwiching angle between the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 while the upper housing 12 is rotating is not limited.

  Further, in the present embodiment, strictly speaking, when the portable terminal 10 changes from the closed state to the vertically opened state, the upper casing 12 and the connecting portion 13 rotate integrally with respect to the lower casing 11, and the portable terminal 10 It should be explained that the upper housing 12 rotates with respect to the lower housing 11 and the connecting portion 13 when the state 10 is changed from the closed state to the laterally opened state. Simply describes that the housing 12 rotates relative to the lower housing 11, and the description of the connecting portion 13 may be simplified.

The first engagement means 15 is provided between the mobile terminal 10 starting from the closed state and starting from the side-open state until the complete side-open state is obtained, and from the side-open state to returning to the closed state. By engaging the longitudinal ends 37 of the body 11 and the longitudinal ends 38 of the upper housing 12, that is, the opposite ends of the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 from the connecting portion 13, This is means for assisting the second rotating member 34 that cantilever-supports the upper housing 12.
Even when an external force is applied to the mobile terminal 10 in the closed state, the state between the closed state and the laterally opened state, or in the completely laterally opened state by the first engagement means 15, The load is not concentrated on specific parts of the connecting portion 13, the second rotating member 34, and the like, and there is an effect that there is less fear of breakage.

Based on FIGS. 5-12, the structure of the 1st engaging means 15 is demonstrated.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 when the mobile terminal 10 is closed. In FIG. 5, the first engagement means 15 includes an engagement pin 45 that is a first engagement portion provided at the longitudinal end portion 37 of the lower housing 11, and the engagement pin 45 on the lower housing 11. A holding portion 49 to be held, a stopper 50 for preventing the engaging pin 45 from coming out of the holding portion 49, a second engaging portion 46 provided at the longitudinal end portion 38 of the upper housing 12, and a lower housing 11 is provided with a lower casing magnet (magnet) 48 provided in the apparatus 11.

As shown also in FIG. 9, the engagement pin 45 includes a first protrusion 51 having a substantially prismatic shape protruding along the thickness direction of the lower housing 11, and a first protrusion connected to the first protrusion 51. And a second protrusion 52 having a substantially cylindrical shape extending in a direction intersecting with the continuous direction of 51. Therefore, the engagement pin 45 has a shape in which the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 are connected in a substantially L shape.
The engagement pin 45 is formed of a magnetic material, and the tip (open end) of the second protrusion 52 faces the side opposite to the connecting portion 13, that is, the longitudinal direction end 37 of the lower housing 11. The second projecting portion 52 can project from the lower housing 11 to a position along the second rotation shaft 32.

The holding portion 49 is housed and fixed inside the lower housing 11, and is inserted through the first protruding portion 51 of the engagement pin 45. Since the first projecting portion 51 has a substantially prismatic shape, the engagement pin 45 has no fear of rotating about the holding portion 49, so that the tip of the second projecting portion 52 is in the longitudinal direction of the lower housing 11. It is maintained toward the end 37 side. The engagement pin 45 is inserted into the holding portion 49 and is stoppered at the base end of the first protrusion 51, that is, the end of the first protrusion 51 opposite to the connection portion with the second protrusion 52. 50 is provided. The stopper 50 has a metallic cylindrical shape, and is inserted into and fixed to the proximal end portion of the first projecting portion 51.
The stopper 50 may be a non-magnetic material other than metal as long as the engagement pin 45 is a magnetic material.

Such an engagement pin 45 has a first protrusion 51 in a range from a position where the second protrusion 52 contacts the upper surface 49 </ b> A of the holding part 49 to a position where the stopper 50 contacts the lower surface 49 </ b> B of the holding part 49. It can slide with respect to the holding part 49 along the axial direction.
When the second protrusion 52 is in a position where the engagement pin 45 is in contact with the upper surface 49 </ b> A of the holding part 49, the top of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 are separated from the surface 11 </ b> A of the lower housing 11. When the stopper 50 is in a position where it does not protrude and contacts the lower surface 49 </ b> B of the holding portion 49, the axis of the second protrusion 52 is arranged along the second rotation shaft 32.

The lower housing magnet 48 is disposed directly below the engagement pin 45 along the axial direction of the first protrusion 51 inside the lower housing 11. As shown in FIG. 10A, when the lower casing magnet 48 is in a position where the second protrusion 52 contacts the upper surface 49A of the holding section 49, that is, the engaging pin 45 is accommodated in the lower casing 11. When it is, it is arranged at a position where it does not contact the stopper 50 via the interval S1.
Since such a lower casing magnet 48 has a sheet metal 48A laminated on its surface, the magnetic force of the lower casing magnet 48 with respect to the engagement pin 45 can be selected by appropriately selecting the material, thickness, area, etc. of the sheet metal 48A. Can be set arbitrarily.

When the mobile terminal 10 is in the closed state, the second engagement portion 46 is the first of the engagement pins 45 protruding from the lower housing 11 at a position facing the engagement pin 45 that is the first engagement portion described above. A first accommodating portion 55 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 9) into which the first protruding portion 51 can be inserted, and a second accommodating portion into which the second protruding portion 52 of the engagement pin 45 protruding from the lower housing 11 is inserted. 56 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 10).
In the second engaging portion 46, the first housing portion 55 and the second housing portion 56 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the upper housing 12, and the first housing portion 55 is disposed at a position close to the connecting portion 13. .

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first accommodating portion 55 is a block body having a substantially rectangular opening 58 </ b> A and a substantially V-shaped opening 58 </ b> B by a fan-shaped hollow portion 55 </ b> B having a predetermined thickness. An opening 58A is provided along the surface 12A of the upper housing 12 (see FIG. 6).
The shaft portion 59 formed on the side opposite to the opening 58B is disposed such that the axis passes through the arc center of the opening 58B. The inner surface 58 of the lightening part 55B is a smooth surface.

In the first housing 55, an upper casing magnet (magnet) 63 is embedded by insert molding around the thinned portion 55B, and an arcuate guide groove 55A is formed around the opening.
As the upper casing magnet 63, a magnet having a larger magnetic force than the above-described lower casing magnet 48 is employed. The guide groove 55 </ b> A is disposed so that the center of the arc is along the axis of the shaft portion 59.
The first accommodating portion 55 is arranged so that the axis of the shaft portion 59 is along the second rotation shaft 32, and is opened by a return spring 47 that is a torsion spring that is passed through the shaft portion 59. 58A is always maintained along the surface 12A of the upper housing 12.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the second storage portion 56 has a block shape having a substantially rectangular opening 56 </ b> C and a substantially U-shaped opening 56 </ b> D by a substantially U-shaped thinning portion 56 </ b> B. A projection 56A is provided around the opening 56D. The protrusion 56 </ b> A is inserted into the guide groove 55 </ b> A of the first housing portion 55.
The second housing portion 56 is disposed adjacent to the first housing portion 55, and is fixed to the upper housing 12 so that the opening 56 </ b> C is along the surface 12 </ b> A of the upper housing 12.

  Since the second engaging portion 46 as described above is maintained by the return spring 47 so that the opening 58A of the first housing portion 55 is along the surface 12A of the upper housing 12, the opening of the first housing portion 55 is usually provided. 58A and the opening 56C of the second housing portion 56 are oriented so as to be continuous along the surface 12A of the upper housing 12.

The second engaging means 16 is configured so that the upper housing 12 does not rotate about the second rotation shaft 32 when the mobile terminal 10 is in the closed state and the vertically opened state. This is means for restricting the rotation of the housing 12.
The second engagement means 16 prevents the upper housing 12 from rotating about the second rotation shaft 32 unintentionally by the user when the mobile terminal 10 is in the closed state and the vertically open state. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated and damaged at specific parts of the housing 12, the connecting portion 13, the second rotating member 34, and the like.

Returning to FIGS. 3 to 4, the configuration of the second engaging means 16 will be described.
The second engaging means 16 includes an engaging portion 66 provided on the short side surface 12C of the upper housing 12 connected to the connecting portion main body 13A of the connecting portion 13, and the short side surface 12B of the connecting portion main body 13A. And an engaging portion 67 that is provided on the end face 13B facing the engaging portion 66 and is engaged with the engaging portion 66.
These engaging portions 66 and 67 are disposed on the opposite side in the width direction with respect to the position where the second rotation shaft portion 34 is disposed.

  The engaging portion 66 includes a lock pin 66A that can project and retract from the short side surface 12B of the upper housing 12 toward the end surface 13B of the connecting portion main body 13A, and a lock pin 66A attached to the end surface 13B of the connecting portion main body 13A. A return spring 69 is provided, and a lock button 66C for accommodating the lock pin 66A in the upper housing 12 while compressing the return spring 69. The lock pin 66 </ b> A is held by the return spring 69 so as to protrude from the short side surface 12 </ b> B of the upper housing 12.

Such an engaging portion 66 is such that the user presses the lock button 66C provided on the side portion 12A of the upper housing 12 in the direction of arrow AB (see FIG. 3B, the longitudinal direction of the upper housing 12). The lock pin 66A can be accommodated in the upper housing 12 by being slid along.
The engagement portion 67 is an engagement hole that can accommodate the tip of the lock pin 66A (see FIGS. 3A and 4).

In the second engaging means 16 as described above, the rotation of the upper housing 12 with respect to the connecting portion main body 13A of the connecting portion 13 is restricted in a state where the tip of the lock pin 66A is engaged with the engaging portion 67. The
Accordingly, in the closed state and the vertically open state, the mobile terminal 10 is not intended to be rotated by the user and the upper housing 12 does not rotate about the second rotation shaft 32, thereby the upper housing 12 and the connecting portion. 13, the load does not concentrate on a specific part of the second rotating member 34 or the like and is not damaged.

  Then, when the user changes the portable terminal 10 from the closed state to the laterally open state, the second rotation is performed after the user releases the engaged state of the engaging portions 66 and 67 by operating the lock button 66C. The upper housing 12 is manually rotated with respect to the connecting portion main body 13A of the connecting portion 13 around the shaft 32.

  When the user changes the portable terminal 10 from the laterally open state to the closed state, the upper casing 12 is manually rotated with respect to the connecting portion main body 13A of the connecting portion 13 around the second rotating shaft 32. Then, after the lock pin 66A having the tip contacted with the engaging portion 67 is temporarily accommodated in the upper housing 12 while compressing the return spring 69, the lock pin 66A is again moved in accordance with the extension of the return spring 69. It protrudes from the housing 12 and engages with the engaging portion 67, whereby the rotation of the upper housing 12 with respect to the connecting portion main body 13A of the connecting portion 13 is restricted again.

Next, the operation of the mobile terminal 10 of this embodiment will be described.
When the portable terminal 10 is in a closed state, that is, when the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 are in a state of overlapping each other, the first protrusion of the engagement pin 45 that is the first engagement portion of the first engagement means 15 The top part of the part 51 and the second projecting part 52 face each other, and the first housing part 55 and the second housing part 56 of the second engaging part 46 face each other.

At this time, since the influence of the magnetic force of the upper housing magnet 63 on the engaging pin 45 is larger than the influence of the magnetic force of the lower housing magnet 48, the engaging pin 45 of the lower housing 11 is caused by the magnetic force of the upper housing magnet 63. It is pulled out from the surface 11A and reliably protrudes, and the top of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 are inserted into the first storage part 55 and the second storage part 56 from the openings 58A and 56C.
At this time, since the opening 58 </ b> A of the first housing portion 55 and the opening 56 </ b> C of the second housing portion 56 are continuous along the surface 12 </ b> A of the upper housing 12 by the return spring 47, The top portion of the first projecting portion 51 and the second projecting portion 52 are smoothly inserted into the housing portion 56.

As shown in FIG. 12A, in the mobile terminal 10, in the closed state, the engagement pin 45 that is the first engagement portion is connected to the first accommodation portion 55 and the second accommodation portion 56 of the second engagement portion 46. Although inserted, both the opening 58A of the first housing portion 55 and the opening 56C of the second housing portion 56 face the surface 11A of the lower housing 11, so that the engagement pin 45 is connected to the first housing portion 55 and It is detachable with respect to the second accommodating portion 56, and the so-called first engaging means 15 is not locked, in other words, it is in the unlocked state.
12A shows the first engagement means 15 when the mobile terminal 10 is in the closed state, and FIG. 12B shows the first engagement means 15 when the mobile terminal 10 is in the laterally open state.

As shown in FIG. 9, the upper housing magnet 63 is disposed by insert molding in the very vicinity of the side of the protruding axis 65 of the engaging pin 45 in the first accommodating portion 55, so that the minimum necessary magnetic force is generated. The engaging pin 45 can be reliably protruded from the lower housing 11 without using a strong magnet that may affect the electronic components in the upper housing 12.
Further, since the upper casing magnet 63 is insert-molded in the first housing portion 55, it is not necessary to separately arrange (assemble) the upper casing magnet 63 separately.

Next, when the portable terminal 10 shifts from the closed state to the vertically opened state, that is, the upper housing 12 starts to rotate around the first rotation shaft 31 with respect to the lower housing 11, and the lower housing 11 When the surface 11 </ b> A of the upper housing 12 and the surface 12 </ b> A of the upper housing 12 are separated from each other, the top of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 begin to come out from the first storage portion 55 and the second storage portion 56.
At this time, since the opening 58A of the first housing portion 55 and the opening of the second housing portion 56 are continuous along the surface 12A of the upper housing 12 by the return spring 47, the first housing portion 55 and the second housing portion are accommodated. The top of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 begin to smoothly come out from the portion 56.

  Then, as the surface 11A of the lower housing 11 and the surface 12A of the upper housing 12 are separated from each other, the influence of the magnetic force of the upper housing magnet 63 on the engaging pin 45 decreases, and the lower surface relative to the engaging pin 45 is relatively lowered. When the influence of the magnetic force of the housing magnet 48 exceeds the influence of the magnetic force of the upper housing magnet 63, the engagement pin 45 is applied by the magnetic force of the lower housing magnet 48 until the second protrusion 52 comes into contact with the upper surface 49 </ b> A of the holding portion 49. Is pulled into the lower housing 11, whereby the engaging pin 45 is accommodated in the lower housing 11 so that the top of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 do not protrude from the surface 11 A of the lower housing 11. Is done.

Thus, since the engagement pin 45 is housed in the lower housing 11 from the start of the transition from the closed state to the vertical open state until the complete vertical open state, the user's voice call The engagement pin 45 interferes with the face, or the finger of the user who operates the operation unit 23 at the time of reading / writing / transmission / transmission of mail, Web browsing, various settings, etc. interferes with the engagement pin 45 and the operability of the operation unit 23 is reduced. There is no risk of damage or damage to the engagement pin 45.
Since the engagement pin 45 is housed in the lower housing 11 so that the lower housing magnet 48 and the stopper 50 do not contact with each other, for example, the lower housing magnet 48 and the stopper 50 are in contact with each other. In comparison, the portable terminal 10 can quickly protrude from the surface of the lower housing 11 when it is closed again.

Subsequently, when the mobile terminal 10 shifts from the closed state to the laterally open state, that is, the upper housing 12 starts rotating around the second rotation shaft 32 with respect to the lower housing 11, and the lower housing 11 When the surface 11A of the upper housing 12 and the surface 12A of the upper housing 12 are separated from each other, the second housing portion 56 follows the upper housing 12 and rotates so as to wind up the second protrusion 52, but the edge of the opening 58A The rotation of the first accommodating portion 55 is restricted by contacting the side surface of the first projecting portion 51, and the return spring 47 is rotated relative to the upper housing 12 while being compressed in the winding direction. The state where the opening 58A faces the surface 11A of the body 11 is maintained.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state when the upper housing 12 is rotated by a predetermined angle about the second rotation shaft 32 with respect to the lower housing 11 from the closed state of the mobile terminal 10.

As shown in FIG. 10A, in the second housing portion 56, the inner surface 61 orthogonal to the openings 56C and 56D is a smooth curved surface. The inner surface 61 is formed by a plurality of curved surfaces whose curvature radii R1 to R5 continuously increase from the innermost part 61A farthest from the opening 56C toward the front part 61B closest to the opening 56C.
That is, since the curvature radius of the inner surface 61 orthogonal to the openings 56C and 56D is continuously reduced from the entrance side to the back side, the second housing portion 56 rotates following the upper housing 12. In this case, the peripheral surface of the second projecting portion 52 of the engagement pin 45 can be captured and securely held in the lightening portion 56B.

Specifically, the second protrusion 52 of the engagement pin 45 can be smoothly guided from the opening 61B into the opening 61 of the second storage part 56, so that the so-called second protrusion 52 can be easily picked up.
At this stage, since the peripheral surface of the second protrusion 52 is covered with the second accommodating portion 56, the engagement pin 45, which is the first engagement portion, cannot be removed from the second engagement portion 46, and the first engagement The joining means 15 engages the longitudinal ends of the lower housing 11 and the longitudinal ends of the upper housing 12 so as to be in a so-called locked state.

  In the present embodiment, the upper casing 12 is rotated around the second rotation axis 32 with respect to the lower casing 11 from the closed state of the mobile terminal 10, and the surface 11 </ b> A of the lower casing 11 and the upper casing 11 are rotated. When the sandwiching angle with the surface 12A of the body 12 is about 30 degrees or more, the second projecting portion 52 cannot be extracted from the second accommodating portion 56 and is locked by the first engaging means 15.

  And since the curvature radius of the inner surface 61 of the 2nd accommodating part 56 is continuously small toward the back | inner side from the entrance side, it is the engagement pin 45 from the lower housing | casing 11 until the stopper 50 contacts the holding | maintenance part 49. Is pulled out and the mobile terminal 10 is in a completely laterally open state, the axis of the second protrusion 52 of the engagement pin 45 is arranged along the second rotation shaft 32.

According to the mobile terminal 10 of the embodiment as described above, the engaging pin 45 as the first engaging portion protrudes from the lower housing 11 by the magnetic force of the upper housing magnet 63 in the closed state, and the second engaging portion 46. Are inserted into the first housing portion 55 and the second housing portion 56 but are not locked, and the engaging pin 45 is housed in the lower housing 11 by the magnetic force of the lower housing magnet 64 in the vertically opened state, and in the horizontally opened state. Since the second housing portion 56 that follows the upper housing 12 is locked, the first engaging means 15 assists the second rotating member 34 that cantilever-supports the upper housing 12.
Therefore, according to the mobile terminal 10, even when an external force is applied due to a drop or an impact in a state between the closed state and the laterally opened state or in a completely laterally opened state, the upper housing 12, the connecting portion 13, The load is not concentrated on a specific part of the two-rotating member 34 or the like, and there is little possibility of damage.

In the above-described embodiment, the first engagement means 15 in which the inner surface 58 of the first accommodating portion 55 is a smooth surface is exemplified, but the first engagement means 15A shown in FIG. 13 is also included in the present invention.
The first engagement means 15A shown in FIG. 13 is provided with a protrusion 58D on the inner surface 58C of the first housing portion 55A. On the other hand, a recess 51B is provided on the side surface of the first protrusion 51A of the engagement pin 45A inserted into the first housing 55A.

  Such first engaging means 15A is configured such that when the portable terminal 10 is changed from the closed state to the laterally opened state, that is, the upper housing 12 rotates about the second rotation shaft 32 with respect to the lower housing 11. The first housing portion is started even when the angle between the surface 11A of the lower housing 11 and the surface 12A of the upper housing 12 is less than about 30 degrees (low angle (obtuse angle)) and the locked state is not reached. Since the protrusion 58D of 55A and the recess 51B of the engagement pin 45A are engaged, it is possible to prevent the engagement pin 45A from falling out of the second accommodating portion 55A even when an external force due to impact or the like is applied to the mobile terminal. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the first housing portion 55 is rotated with respect to the upper housing 12 and the second housing portion 56 is fixed to the upper housing 12. However, the present invention is limited to this. Instead, depending on the shape of the engagement pin 45, the surface 12A of the upper housing 12 may have an opening.
For example, a configuration in which a part of the opening is connected to the side surface of the upper housing 12 may be configured such that a part of the engagement pin 45 is caught in the opening in the laterally open state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the engagement pin 45 is formed in the substantially L shape by the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 has been described. It is also possible to form an L shape opposite to the T shape, the ball shape, or the engagement pin 45.

  The present invention is suitable for application to a portable terminal in which a first housing and a second housing are connected via a connecting portion and can be opened and closed from a closed state to a vertically opened state or a horizontally opened state.

(A) is the perspective view which looked at the state which closed the portable terminal of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention from the right side, (B) is the side view which shows the state which closed the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (C ) Is a plan view showing a state in which the upper casing of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment is removed. (A) is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment vertically, (B) is a side view which shows the state which opened the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment vertically. (A) is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (B) is the perspective view seen from the left which shows the state which closed the portable terminal of 1st Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the 2nd engaging means of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the 1st engaging means of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd engaging part of the upper housing | casing which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is the A section enlarged view of FIG. 6, (B) is a perspective view which shows a 2nd accommodating part. (A) is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the 2nd engaging part to the upper housing | casing, (B) is the B section enlarged view of FIG. 8 (A). It is a perspective view which shows the 1st engaging means of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is a top view which shows the 1st engagement means of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (B) is a plane which shows the state which engaged the engagement pin with the 2nd accommodating part of the 1st engagement means. FIG. (A) is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the upper housing | casing of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment horizontally, (B) is the C section enlarged view of FIG. 11 (A). (A) is the figure which showed the 1st engagement means of the state which closed the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment, FIG.12 (B) shows 2nd upper housing | casing of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the 1st engaging means when rotating centering on a rotating shaft. It is a side view which shows the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Mobile terminal 11 Lower housing (first housing)
12 Upper housing (second housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Connection part 15,15A 1st engaging means 16 2nd engaging means 23 Operation part 28 Display part 31 1st rotating shaft 32 2nd rotating shaft 33 1st rotating member 34 2nd rotating member 45, 45A Engaging pin (first engaging part, engaging part)
46 Second engaging portion 47 Return spring 48 Lower casing magnet (magnet)
48A Sheet metal 51, 51A 1st protrusion part 52 2nd protrusion part 55, 55A 1st accommodating part 56 2nd accommodating part 58A Opening (opening part) of 1st accommodating part
56C Opening of second accommodating part (opening part)
61A Back 61B Front 63 Upper casing magnet (magnet)
66,67 engaging part

Claims (10)

A first housing having an operation unit;
A second housing having a display unit;
In a mobile terminal comprising: a connecting portion that rotatably connects the first housing and the second housing;
The connecting portion is connected to the first housing and allows the second housing to rotate with respect to the first housing about a first rotation shaft; A second casing that is connected to an end portion in a short direction of the two casings and that allows the second casing to rotate with respect to the first casing around a second rotation axis that is orthogonal to the first rotation axis; Consisting of two rotating members,
The first housing has a first engaging portion on a side opposite to the side in which the second rotating member is connected to the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction on the surface provided with the operation portion.
In the longitudinal direction of the surface provided with the display unit, the second housing is positioned on a side opposite to the side where the second rotating member is connected to the connecting portion at a position corresponding to the first engaging portion. Having two engaging parts,
The first housing has a first engagement portion on a surface provided with an operation portion facing the second engagement portion,
In the closed state where the first housing and the second housing overlap, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are not locked,
When the second casing rotates about the second rotation axis, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are engaged and locked, and the first casing and the second engaging portion are locked. A portable terminal that supports a housing. The second engagement portion is provided with a magnet,
2. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion is made of a magnetic material, and the first engaging portion protrudes and engages with the second engaging portion by the magnetic force of the magnet. Terminal.   The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the magnet of the second engagement portion is disposed on a side portion in a direction in which the first engagement portion protrudes. In the first housing, a magnet is provided at a position away from the first engagement portion by a certain distance, on the opposite side of the surface facing the second housing,
The second housing is configured so that the first engaging portion does not protrude due to the magnetic force of the magnet in a state where the second housing is rotated about the first rotation shaft and opened with respect to the first housing. The portable terminal according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that   The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein a sheet metal is disposed between the first engagement portion and the magnet in the first housing. The first engaging portion is
A first protrusion,
It comprises an engagement pin that intersects with the first protrusion and has a second protrusion along the second rotation axis,
The second engaging portion is
A first accommodating portion that accommodates the first projecting portion in an opening and pivots about the second pivot axis with respect to the second housing;
A second housing portion that houses the second projecting portion in an opening and is fixed to the second housing;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, comprising:   The opening of the first housing portion faces the operation portion surface of the first housing when the first projecting portion is housed and the second housing is rotated about the second rotation axis. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the mobile terminal is a position to be operated.   The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the opening of the second housing portion is formed in a concave shape, and has a curved surface whose curvature increases from the bottom of the opening toward the opening.   The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein a return spring is provided to match the opening of the first housing with the opening of the second housing. In the surface where the second casing and the connecting portion are connected, a pair of engaging portions are provided on the opposite side of the short side direction to the side where the second rotating shaft portion is disposed,
The rotation about the second rotation axis is regulated by the pair of engaging portions when the first casing and the second casing overlap each other. Mobile device.

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