JP2011066819A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent breakage of a portable terminal even when external force is applied in a direction where the portable terminal further opens from an open state. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal is provided with a first case, a second case, and a coupling portion which connects the first case and the second case to be relatively turnable centering around a turning shaft, has a member which is provided in the coupling portion or the first case and has a surface facing the direction separating from the turning shaft, and other member which is provided in the coupling portion or the second case and have surface facing the turning shaft, and when the second case relatively turns centering around the turning shaft with respect to the first case, turning of the second case with respect to the first case is regulated by contact of the surface facing the turning shaft with the surface facing the direction separating from the turning shaft. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foldable portable terminal.

  As a conventional example, in Patent Document 1, an engagement rib that restricts movement of the plate in the lateral direction of the casing is provided on the plate that receives the external force applied when the casing rotates together with the connecting portion. The plate is fixed in the housing by the engagement rib and the fastening member (see Patent Document 1 and FIG. 6).

Japanese Patent No. 4206118

  However, in the conventional example, a complicated assembly process is required to fix the plate in the casing by the engagement rib and the fastening member, and simplification of the assembly work is required.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal capable of preventing the mobile terminal from being damaged even when an external force is applied in the direction in which the mobile terminal is further opened from the open state.

The present invention includes a first housing, a second housing, and a connecting portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be relatively rotatable about a rotation axis. A portable terminal, a member provided on the connecting portion or the first housing and having a surface facing away from the rotating shaft, and a rotating shaft provided on the connecting portion or the second housing. A surface facing the pivot shaft when the second housing pivots relative to the first housing relative to the pivot shaft. A portable terminal capable of restricting the rotation of the second casing relative to the first casing by contacting a surface facing away from the rotation axis.
According to the said structure, damage to a connection part or a 2nd housing | casing can be prevented by restrict | limiting excessive rotation of the said 2nd housing | casing with respect to a said 1st housing | casing.

The portable terminal further includes a pivot shaft member that is mounted on the connecting portion and pivots the second casing with respect to the first casing about the pivot axis. A rib that rises in the thickness direction of the housing from the connecting portion or the first housing, and the other member is provided on the rotating shaft member and is separated from the rotating shaft from the rotating shaft member. A first extension portion extending in the direction, and a second extension portion having a surface extending from the first extension portion along the thickness direction of the housing and facing away from the pivot shaft. When the second casing rotates with respect to the first casing, the surface of the rib facing the rotation axis is away from the rotation axis of the second extending portion. By contacting the facing surface, the rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing can be restricted.
According to the said structure, the surface which faces the direction away from the said rotating shaft of the said 2nd extension part contacts the surface which faces the said rotating shaft of the said rib, and this is 2nd with respect to the said 1st housing | casing. Excessive rotation of the housing can be restricted to prevent the connecting portion or the second housing from being damaged.

The portable terminal is further mounted on the connecting portion and rotates about the second casing relative to the first casing around another rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis. A hinge part is provided.
According to the said structure, damage to a connection part or a 2nd housing | casing can be prevented by restrict | limiting excessive rotation of the said 2nd housing | casing with respect to a said 1st housing | casing.

  According to the mobile terminal of the present invention, the mobile terminal can be prevented from being damaged even if an external force is applied in the opening direction from the open state to the mobile terminal.

The figure which shows the state of the mobile telephone 1 of this Embodiment, (a) The figure which shows the closed state of the mobile telephone 1, (b) The figure which shows the 1st open state of the mobile telephone 1, (c) The 1st of the mobile telephone 1 Figure showing 2 open state Exploded perspective view of connecting part 4 The perspective view which looked at the 2nd hinge 29 from the back side (A) Partial sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1 (a), (b) Upper and lower casings 2, 3 and connection when the mobile phone 1 is in the second open state (see FIG. 1 (c)) The figure which shows the external shape of the part 4 typically The figure which shows the modification of the rotating shaft member 50

  With reference to FIG. 1, the state of the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment will be described. 1A shows a closed state of the mobile phone 1, FIG. 1B shows a first open state of the mobile phone 1, and FIG. 1C shows a second open state of the mobile phone 1. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cellular phone 1 according to the present embodiment is roughly configured to have an approximately box-shaped upper casing 2 (second casing) and a substantially box-shaped lower casing 3 (first casing). ) And a connecting portion 4 that connects the upper and lower casings 2 and 3 so as to be openable and closable. By the turning operation of the connecting portion 4, the mobile phone 1 is centered on the axis a (first turning axis), in the direction of arrow A (first turning direction), and in the direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction, the axis b (first It is connected so as to be openable and closable in the direction of the arrow B (second rotation direction) around the two rotation axes.

  At the time of carrying, as shown to Fig.1 (a), it uses in the superimposition state (closed state or closed state) with which the upper housing | casing 2 and the lower housing | casing 3 which comprise the mobile telephone 1 mutually overlapped. For example, when inputting characters, numbers, and telephone numbers during a call, the cellular phone 1 is in the closed state, and the upper casing 2 is placed on the axis a with respect to the lower casing 3 as shown in FIG. Used in the first open state (first open state or vertically open state) rotated in the direction of arrow A about the center. For example, when viewing a TV on a horizontally long screen, as shown in FIG. 1C, the mobile phone 1 is in the closed state, and the upper case 2 is centered on the axis b in the direction of arrow B with respect to the lower case 3. It is used in the second open state (second open state or laterally open state) that is rotated to the right.

Next, the configuration of the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The upper housing 2 accommodates the receiver 5, the first display unit 7, and the like. A first display unit 7 is provided on the main surface 2 </ b> A side of the upper housing 2. Although not shown, various circuits for realizing the functions of the mobile phone 1 are mounted on a printed circuit board provided in the upper housing 2.
In the present embodiment, the upper housing 2 is made of resin, but is not limited thereto.

The lower housing 3 accommodates a transmitter (microphone) 13 and an operation unit 14. The main surface 3A of the lower housing 3 is provided with an operation unit 14 that is exposed when the mobile phone 1 is in the first and second open states. Although not shown, a circuit that realizes the function of the mobile phone 1 is mounted on a printed circuit board provided in the lower housing 3.
In the present embodiment, the lower housing 3 is made of resin, similar to the upper housing 2, but is not limited thereto.

  The microphone 13 is on the main surface 3A of the lower housing 3 and is covered with the upper housing 2 facing when the mobile phone 1 is closed, and is exposed when the mobile phone 1 is in the first or second open state. It is provided to do. During a call, the user's voice is transmitted to the communication partner.

  The operation unit 14 is disposed on the main surface 3 </ b> A of the lower housing 3. Numbers, letters and symbols are printed to enter phone numbers and letters. It consists of a plurality of operation buttons that can be used for receiving and ending calls, adjusting the volume output from the receiver 5, etc., switching to the manner mode, and selecting and confirming on the menu screen.

  The connecting portion 4 is provided with a first connecting portion (first hinge) 28 and a second connecting portion (second hinge) 29, and connects the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3 so as to be rotatable. is there. Further, although not shown, a wiring member (cable) that electrically connects the printed circuit board of the upper housing 2 and the second printed circuit board of the lower housing 3 is passed through the connecting portion 4.

  Next, the structure of the connection part 4 is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. The connecting portion 4 includes a connecting portion main body 40 and a connecting portion cover 41. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting portion 4, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second hinge 29 as seen from the back side.

  The connecting portion cover 41 shown in FIG. 2 includes an inclined portion 41A that smoothly continues with the inclined portion 42 along the lateral direction of the casing (the Y-axis direction in the drawing), and the diameter portion 51 of the rotating shaft member 50. A curved surface portion 41 </ b> B that covers the diameter portion 51 from above along the shape, and a side surface portion 41 </ b> C that covers the side surface of the diameter portion 51 of the rotation shaft member 50 and the side surface of the holding portion 60. The configuration of the rotation shaft member 50 and the holding unit 60 will be described later.

  The connecting portion main body 40 shown in FIG. 2 is a hinge that houses the inclined portion 42 that smoothly continues to the inclined portion 41A of the connecting portion cover 41 and the second hinge 29 in the casing thickness direction (Z-axis direction in the drawing). The accommodating part 43 and the accommodating part 44 located in the downward side of the inclination part 42 are provided.

  The upper part of the hinge accommodating part 43 is open, and the holding part 60 is accommodated from the upper part toward the opening in the casing thickness direction (Z-axis direction in the figure). A screw hole 49 is provided on a side surface 43 </ b> A of the housing portion 43 on the inside of the housing. The screw hole 61 and the screw hole portion 49 of the holding portion 60 accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 43 are screwed by screws 46 inserted from the side surfaces 43A. Therefore, the holding part 60 can be fixed to the hinge accommodating part 43.

  As described above, the hinge accommodating portion 43 is provided with an opening so that the holding portion 60 constituting a part of the second hinge 29 is inserted from above. Therefore, at the time of assembly, in order to fix the second hinge 29 to the connecting portion 4, it is only necessary to insert the holding portion 60 into the hinge accommodating portion 43 from above, and the second hinge 29 can be easily accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 43. can do. Further, the holding portion 60 can be easily screwed to the hinge accommodating portion 43 by the screw 46 inserted from the side surface 43A.

  Further, the entire surface of the side surface 43 </ b> A is covered with an appearance sheet 48 in order to hide the screw 46. Therefore, the mobile phone 1 does not impair the appearance quality.

  In the longitudinal direction of the housing (X-axis direction in the drawing), the side surface 43B that is formed thin is continuous with the curved surface portion 41B of the connecting portion cover 41, and the side surface of the diameter portion 51 of the rotating shaft member 50 and the holding portion. 60 sides are covered.

  A rib 90 that receives the locking portion 58 of the rotary shaft member 50 is provided between the hinge housing portion 43 and the inclined portion 42 in the housing short direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing). The rib 90 is integrally formed with the connecting portion main body 40, and rises upward in a casing thickness direction (Z-axis direction in the drawing) from a surface continuous with the bottom surface 42A of the inclined portion 42. Although details will be described later, when the holding portion 60 is accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 43, the engaging portion 58 of the rotating shaft member 50 is engaged with the rib 90, so that the mobile phone shown in FIG. Even if a force in the second rotation direction is further applied to the mobile phone 1 from the second open state, the rotation shaft member 50 can be prevented from violently colliding with the side surface 43B.

The housing portion 44 shown in FIG. 2 is located below the inclined portion 42 along the lateral direction of the casing (the Y-axis direction in the drawing). Of the side surfaces of the housing portion 44, the side surface on the main surface 3 </ b> A side of the lower housing 3 has an opening 44 </ b> A that is almost entirely open. A part of the opening 44A protrudes from the main surface 3A of the lower housing 3 on which the operation unit 14 is provided in the housing thickness direction (z-axis direction in the drawing). Cover with. Therefore, even when the mobile phone 1 opens horizontally or vertically, the appearance quality is not impaired.
Note that the accommodating portion 44 accommodates an element for detecting opening and closing of the mobile phone 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the accommodating portion 44, the thick portion of the resin-made connecting portion 4 is formed in a stealing shape from the side surface on the main surface 3 </ b> A side of the lower housing 3, and the lower housing 3 The entire surface of the opening 44A on the side surface on the main surface 3A side is covered with an appearance sheet 47. Therefore, even when the mobile phone 1 opens horizontally or vertically, the appearance quality is not impaired.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the second hinge 29 accommodated in the connecting portion 4 includes a rotating shaft member 50 and a holding portion 60 formed integrally with the rotating shaft member 50. The second hinge 29 is formed of a metal material because high rigidity is required.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotation shaft member 50 is formed on the diameter portion 51, the arm portion 53 formed so as to be orthogonal to the diameter portion 51, and the arm portion 53. The first screw hole portion 55 and the second screw hole portion 57 that are fixed to the body 2, and the locking portion 58 that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the diameter portion 51 like the arm portion 53.

  The diameter portion 51 of the rotation shaft member 50 is attached to the holding portion 60 so as to be rotatable, and the diameter portion 51 of the rotation shaft member 50 rotates together with the upper housing 2 in the second rotation direction. The telephone 1 transitions from the closed state to the side-open state.

  The locking portion 58 of the rotating shaft member 50 includes a first extending portion 58A extending from the diameter portion 51 along the lateral direction of the casing (Y-axis direction in the drawing), and the first extending portion 58A. The second extending portion 58B extends downward along the casing thickness direction (Z-axis direction in the drawing). The locking portion 58 of the rotating shaft member 50 is locked to the rib 90 formed between the hinge housing portion 43 and the inclined portion 42 when the holding portion 60 is housed in the hinge housing portion 43 of the connecting portion 4. To do.

  Among the rotary shaft members 50, the arm portion 53 includes a base portion 53A, a first extending portion 53B extending from the base portion 53A in the short direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing) of the upper housing 2, and an upper portion from the base portion 53A. And a second extending portion 53C extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 (X-axis direction in the drawing).

  Further, the arm portion 53 is formed in an approximately L shape when viewed from the thickness direction of the upper housing 2 (Z-axis direction in the drawing). As shown in FIG. 3, a rib 54 that forms a substantially L-shape is provided on one side surface of the base 53A and the first extension 53B. The rib 54 extends from the end closer to the diameter 51 of the base 53A to the tip of the first extension 53B in the short direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing) of the upper housing 2. A second screw hole 57 that is fixed to the upper housing 2 with a screw is provided at the distal end of the first extending portion 53B, and is fixed to the upper housing 2 with a screw at the distal end of the second extending portion 53C. A second screw hole 55 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotating shaft member 50 and the holding portion 60 that constitutes the second hinge have a screw hole portion 61 that is fixed to the connecting portion 4 by a screw 46. The holding part 60 is rotatably attached to the holding member 60 by holding and supporting the diameter part 51 of the turning shaft member 50 so as to be turnable. At the time of assembly, in order to fix the second hinge 29 to the connecting portion 4, it is only necessary to insert the holding portion 60 into the hinge accommodating portion 43 from above, and the second hinge 29 can be easily accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 43. Can do. Further, the holding portion 60 can be easily screwed to the hinge accommodating portion 43 via the screw hole portion 61 by the screw 46 inserted from the side surface 43A.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, a configuration for restricting excessive movement of the second hinge 29 moving in the second rotation direction will be described. 4A is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 4B is a view when the mobile phone 1 is in the second open state (see FIG. 1C). It is a figure which shows typically the external shape of the housing | casing 2, 3 and the connection part 4. FIG. 4 (a) and 4 (b), arrow F indicates a force F applied to the mobile phone 1 in the second rotation direction (in the direction of arrow B in the figure) from the second open state of the mobile phone 1. Show. In FIG. 4A, the broken line indicates the outer shape of the upper housing 2 when the mobile phone 1 is in the second open state.

  Here, as a cause of the excessive movement of the second hinge 29 moving in the second rotation direction, for example, when the mobile phone 1 is in the second open state (see FIG. 1C), the user 1 is dropped on the floor or the like, and excessive force in the second rotation direction is applied to the second hinge 29, or when the user makes the mobile phone 1 transition from the closed state to the second open state. It is conceivable that a force in the second rotation direction is applied.

  As indicated by an arrow F in FIG. 4A, when the mobile phone 1 is further applied in the second rotation direction from the second open state to the upper casing 2 (broken line in the figure) of the mobile phone 1. The second hinge 29 composed of the rotation shaft member 50 and the holding portion 60 tends to move in the second rotation direction with the end portion of the holding portion 60 indicated by the symbol S as a fulcrum. Therefore, if there is no configuration that restricts excessive movement of the second hinge 29 that moves in the second rotation direction, the side surface 43B (shaded portion in the figure) of the hinge housing portion 43 that is formed thin is damaged. End up.

  Therefore, in the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the excessive movement of the second hinge 29 that moves in the second rotation direction is regulated. The locking portion 58 is provided integrally with the second hinge 29, and the rib 90 that restricts the movement of the locking portion 58 is provided in the connecting portion main body 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the rib 90 formed integrally with the connecting portion main body 40 even when a force F is further applied to the mobile phone 1 in the second rotation direction from the second open state. Is in contact with the locking portion 58 of the rotation shaft member 50, thereby restricting excessive movement between the rotation shaft member 50 and the holding portion 60 that is about to move in the direction in which the force F is applied (second rotation direction). To do. At this time, in the lateral direction of the casing (the Y-axis direction in the drawing), the facing surface 90A is at least partially in surface contact with the facing surface 58C of the locking portion 58 facing the facing surface 90A (FIG. 4A). )reference). Therefore, the second hinge 29 composed of the rotation shaft member 50 and the holding portion 60 is prevented from violently colliding with the side surface 43B (shaded portion in the drawing) of the hinge housing portion 43 that is formed thin. be able to.

  Therefore, in the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the second hinge 29 is formed thin even if the mobile phone 1 is applied from the second open state to the mobile phone 1 in the second rotational direction. It is possible to avoid a violent collision with the side surface 43B. Therefore, damage to the side surface 43B of the connecting portion main body 40 can be prevented.

  As described above, in the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, in order to fix the second hinge 29 to the connecting portion 4, it is only necessary to insert the holding portion 60 into the hinge accommodating portion 43 from above, It can be easily accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 43. Further, the holding portion 60 can be easily screwed to the hinge accommodating portion 43 by the screw 46 inserted from the side surface 43A. Therefore, the cellular phone 1 according to the present embodiment is easy to assemble.

  Furthermore, in the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the locking portion 58 is provided integrally with the second hinge 29, and the rib 90 that restricts the movement of the locking portion 58 is provided in the connecting portion main body 40, so that the second Excessive movement of the second hinge 29 moving in the rotational direction is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the side surface 43B of the connecting portion main body 40 that is formed thin from being damaged.

  Here, in the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the configuration for restricting excessive movement of the second hinge 29 moving in the second rotation direction is the second hinge 29 as described with reference to FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of the rotation shaft member 50. As shown in FIG. 5, instead of the locking portion 58, a receiving portion 88 that extends from the side surface of the rotation shaft member 50 in the lateral direction of the casing (Y-axis direction in the drawing) may be provided. In this case, the shape of the tip of the rib 90 and the shape of the rib 90 so that the tip of the rib 90 provided on the connecting portion main body 40 enters the hollow portion 88A formed by the receiving portion 88 together with the side surface of the rotation shaft member 50. The length in the casing thickness direction may be set in advance.

  As described above, in the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the receiving portion 88 is provided instead of the locking portion 58, while the connecting portion main body 40 is provided with the rib 90 that restricts the movement of the receiving portion 88. Excessive movement of the second hinge 29 moving in the rotation direction can be restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the side surface 43B of the connecting portion main body 40 that is formed thin from being damaged.

  In the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the mobile phone 1 is excessively moved from the second open state to the mobile phone 1 in the direction of the force F (second rotation direction) excessively. The structure or member that restricts the movement of the (rotating shaft member 50 and the holding portion 60) may be provided in the connecting portion main body 40, and the structure or member is not limited to the above-described configuration. Furthermore, the second hinge 29 that tries to move excessively in the direction in which the force F is applied only needs to have at least a configuration and a structure for transmitting the force F to the connecting portion main body 40. It is not limited to the configuration.

  In the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the rib 90 is integrally formed with the connecting portion main body 40, but it is not limited to the connecting portion main body 40 and may be formed integrally with the lower housing 3.

  In the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the locking portion 58 or the receiving portion 88 is formed integrally with the rotating shaft member 50, but not limited to the rotating shaft member 50, It may be formed integrally.

  In the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the facing surface 90A is in surface contact with the facing surface 58C of the locking portion 58, so that the turning shaft member 50 and the holding portion 60 are moved in the second turning direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary that the rib 90 is in contact with the locking portion 58 or the receiving portion 88.

  In the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the mobile phone 1 is in the second open state and the force F is applied to the mobile phone 1 in the second rotation direction. The present invention can also be applied to the case where 1 is applied from the first open state and the force F is applied to the mobile phone 1 in the first rotation direction.

  The portable terminal according to the present invention has an effect that the portable terminal can be prevented from being damaged even when an external force is applied in the direction in which the portable terminal is further opened from the opened state, and is useful as a cellular phone or the like.

1 Mobile phone 2 Upper housing (first housing)
3 Lower housing (second housing)
4 connecting portion 28 first connecting portion (first hinge)
29 2nd connection part (2nd hinge)
40 connecting portion main body 43B side surface 50 rotating shaft member 58 locking portion 58A first extending portion 58B second extending portion 58C facing surface 88 receiving portion 90 rib 90A facing surface

Claims (3)

A first housing;
A mobile terminal comprising: a second housing; and a connecting portion that couples the first housing and the second housing so as to be relatively rotatable about a rotation axis.
A member provided on the connecting portion or the first housing and having a surface facing away from the rotation axis;
Another member provided on the connecting portion or the second housing and having a surface facing the rotation axis;
When the second housing rotates relative to the first housing around the rotation axis,
A portable terminal characterized in that the rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing can be restricted by contacting a surface facing the rotation shaft with a surface facing in a direction away from the rotation shaft. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,
A pivot shaft member mounted on the connecting portion and pivoting the second casing relative to the first casing about the pivot axis;
The member is a rib that rises from the connecting portion or the first housing along the thickness direction of the housing,
The other member is provided on the rotating shaft member, and extends from the rotating shaft member in a direction away from the rotating shaft, and the housing extends from the first extending portion. A second extension part extending along the body thickness direction and having a surface facing away from the rotation axis,
When the second housing rotates with respect to the first housing,
The rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing is restricted by the surface of the rib facing the rotation shaft coming into contact with the surface of the second extending portion that faces away from the rotation shaft. A portable terminal characterized by being able to. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The portable terminal further includes:
A portable terminal provided with the other hinge part which is attached to the connecting part and rotates the second housing with respect to the first housing around another rotating shaft orthogonal to the rotating shaft.

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