JP2705608B2 - Electronic device folding structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to a folding structure of an electronic apparatus having a plurality of housings which can be folded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a folding structure in which two housings are folded has been used for portable electronic equipment in order to improve the portability of the electronic equipment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a folding structure of a conventional electronic device.

In FIG. 1, an electronic device, for example, a portable telephone, has a first housing 7 as an electronic device housing and a second housing as a keypad 13 provided on the electronic device housing 7.
And the like, which covers the flip 8.

[0005] The electronic device housing 7 has a shaft fixing portion 7 c which forms a connection portion with the flip 8. The shaft fixing portion 7c is provided with the first and second shafts 8b and 8c of the flip 8.
And the first portion of the torsion coil spring 9
And a screw insertion hole 16 into which the screw 11 is inserted.

On the other hand, the flip 8 includes shafts 8b and 8c which engage with a bearing 7a of the housing of the electronic device, and a second shaft 8b.
And a notch 8a that engages with the second foot 9b of the torsion coil spring 9.

The shaft cover 10 is engaged with the fixing portion 7c of the housing 7 of the electronic device, is used for fixing the shafts 8b and 8c of the flip 8, and has an engaging hole 15 into which the screw 11 is engaged. I have.

[0008] The first foot 9a of the torsion coil spring 9 is
One end of the torsion coil spring 9 is extended in a direction opposite to the direction of the torsion. Also, the second foot 9b
Is the other end of the torsion coil spring 9 and is extended in the torsion direction.

Next, a method of assembling the electronic device shown in FIG. 7 will be described.

First, the foot 9b of the torsion coil spring 9 is engaged with the notch 8a provided on the shaft 8b of the flip 8.
Next, with the foot 9b engaged with the notch 8a, the shafts 8a and 8b of the flip 8 are engaged with the bearing 7a. At this time, the foot 9a of the torsion coil spring 9 contacts the wall 7b of the bearing 7a. Therefore, the torsion coil spring 9 is crimped to the shaft fixing portion 7c by the engagement between the foot 9b of the torsion coil spring 9 and the notch 8a of the flip 8 and the contact between the foot 9a and the wall 7b of the bearing 7a.

Further, the shaft cover 10 is placed over the connection portion between the electronic device housing 7 and the flip 8, the screw 11 is inserted through the screw insertion hole 16, and the screw 11 is engaged with the engagement hole 15. Then, the connecting portion between the electronic device housing 7 and the flip 8 is fixed.

Next, the opening and closing of the flip 8 with respect to the electronic device housing 7 will be described.

First, when the flip 8 is closed with respect to the electronic device housing 7, that is, when the flip 8 is to cover the keypad 7, the foot 9 a of the torsion coil spring 9 is used.
Is fixed, and the foot 9b is bent in the direction of arrow B in the figure, that is, in the same direction as the direction in which the spring is wound. Therefore, when closing the flip 8, the opposite direction of the arrow B,
That is, the repulsive force of the spring is applied in the direction in which the flip 8 opens. However, the flip 8 is held in the electronic device housing 7 in a closed state by a coupling portion (not shown).

On the other hand, when the flip 8 is opened with respect to the electronic device housing 7, that is, when the positional relationship between the flip 8 and the electronic device housing 7 is changed from the closed state to the positional relationship shown in FIG. The portion 9b is restored from the state of being bent in the direction of the arrow B to the position of FIG. 7 by the restoring force of the spring. As a result, the flip 8 is opened. Then, the tip of the foot 9b of the torsion coil spring 9 faces substantially vertically upward as shown in FIG.

However, even if the foot 9b is bent in the direction opposite to the arrow B beyond the restored position, that is, the flip 8 is opened relative to the electronic device housing 7 beyond the position shown in FIG. Since one end of the electronic device 8 contacts the end of the electronic device housing 7, the flip 8 is fixed at the position shown in FIG. 7 without being opened more than necessary.

[0016]

However, in this conventional electronic device folding structure, a shaft fixing portion is provided at a connection portion between the electronic device housing and the flip, and a torsion coil spring and a first coil spring are provided in the shaft fixing portion. In addition, since the second shaft and the second shaft are housed, components cannot be mounted in the shaft fixing portion. Further, it is not possible to mount the components on the surface of the shaft cover which is placed over the connection between the electronic device housing and the flip. Therefore, for example, in the case of a foldable mobile phone, since the transmitting unit cannot be provided on the surface of the shaft cover or the shaft fixing unit, it is serious that the user's ear and mouth are not located in the receiving unit and the transmitting unit. Cause serious problems.

Further, since the flip is kept open only by the spring force of the torsion coil spring, if a weak external force is applied to the connection between the flip and the housing of the electronic device while the flip is open, There is a problem that the flip moves and the connecting portion becomes unstable.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
Parts can also be mounted on the connection between the flip and the housing of the electronic device, improving the stability of opening and closing the flip and providing a folding structure for electronic devices that is excellent in appearance and design. is there.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a folding structure of an electronic device according to the present invention comprises a first housing having a first engagement portion on one surface of a connection portion; A first engagement portion having a spring and a second engagement portion engaged on one surface with the first engagement portion, and the other surface pressed by the spring;
And a second housing having a first housing portion for housing the spring.

When the second housing is closed with respect to the first housing, the first member is connected to the first housing by the spring stress of the spring, and the second housing is connected to the first housing. On the other hand, when the first member is open, the first member is connected to the first housing by the engagement of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.

[0021]

According to the present invention, by adopting the above configuration, a connecting member to the flip is provided outside the housing of the electronic device.
Components can be mounted on the connection between the electronic device housing and the flip. Especially, in the case of a foldable mobile phone, the problem that the user's ear and mouth are not located in the receiver and the transmitter is solved. can do.

Also, since the concave portion provided on the connecting member and the convex portion provided on the electronic device housing engage with the flip opened, an external force is applied to the connecting portion between the flip and the electronic device housing. Even if the flip does not move, a stable connection between the flip and the housing of the electronic apparatus can be formed.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an electronic apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a description will be given of a foldable mobile phone as an example of an electronic device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the foldable portable telephone includes an electronic device housing 1, a flip 2, and an antenna 14. The electronic device housing 1 is provided with a keypad section 13 operated by a user, for example, an off-hook button or a numeric keypad button. The flip 2 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the electronic device housing 1 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and covers and protects the keypad portion 13 when closed with respect to the electronic device housing 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views showing a folding structure of a portable telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition,
2 and 3 are exploded perspective views when the folding structure of the mobile phone is viewed from different directions from each other.

In both figures, as shown in FIG. 2, a connection portion 100 of the electronic device housing 1 with the flip 8 has a through hole 1b through which the flip pin 6 penetrates and a first foot 5a of the torsion coil spring 5 inserted. Insertion hole 1c. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 100 of the electronic device housing 1 includes a convex portion 1 a that engages with the concave portion 3 a when the flip 2 is opened with respect to the electronic device housing 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flip 2 has a spring housing 2b into which the spring 4 is inserted. The spring housing 2b positions the spring and has a first boss 2a which engages with the flip click 3. Have. The flip 2 has a torsion coil spring 5 as shown in FIG.
The second boss 2c for positioning the torsion coil spring 5 and engaging with the flip pin 6 is provided.
And a foot storage portion 2e in which the second foot portion 5b of the torsion coil spring 5 is stored.

The torsion coil spring 5 is responsible for opening and closing the flip 2 with respect to the housing 1 of the electronic device, and the first and second feet 5a.
And 5b. The direction of winding the spring of the torsion coil spring 5 is the direction of arrow A shown in the figure.

The flip click 3, which is a connecting portion, includes a projection 3b for positioning the spring, and a concave portion 3a which engages with the convex portion 1a of the connecting portion 100 when the flip 2 is opened with respect to the electronic device housing 1. have. Further, the flip click 3 has a projection 3c so as not to rotate in the spring housing 2b.

The spring 4 is positioned by the boss 2a of the spring storage portion 2d and the projection 3b of the flip click 3, and the concave portion 3a of the flip click 3 is engaged with the projection 1a of the connection portion 100 by the spring stress.

Next, a method of assembling the folding structure of the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described. The assembly is performed with the flip 2 opened with respect to the electronic device housing 1.

First, the spring 4 is moved to the spring housing 2.
b according to the positioning of the boss 2a.
Store in b. Next, with the spring 4 housed in the spring housing portion 2b, the projection 3b of the flip click 3
And the boss 2a in the spring accommodating portion 2b.

Subsequently, the foot 5b of the torsion coil spring 5 is connected to the foot storage 2e provided in the torsion coil spring storage 2d.
The torsion coil spring 5 is stored in the torsion coil spring storage section 2d.

Further, the foot 5a of the coil spring 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 1c of the connection portion 100 while pushing the flip click 3 until the flip click 3 is completely housed in the spring housing 2b.
The protrusion 1a of the electronic device housing 1 and the recess 3a of the flip click 3 are engaged. Finally, the flip pin 6 is inserted from the inside of the electronic device housing 1 through the insertion hole 1b, and is engaged with and fixed to the boss 2c of the flip 2, thereby connecting the flip 2 and the electronic device housing 1.

In the above-described assembling, the torsion coil spring 5 applies a load in a state where the flip 2 is closed with respect to the electronic device housing 1, that is, the second torsion coil spring 5
Is engaged with the flip 2 and the electronic device housing 1 such that the foot 5b is bent in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the folding structure of the portable telephone in a state where the flip 2 is closed with respect to the electronic device housing 1.

In the figure, a flip 2 is an electronic device housing 1
In a state where the flip 2 is closed, the one end of the connection portion between the flip 2 and the electronic device housing 1 has a convex portion 1 a provided on the connection portion 100 of the electronic device housing 1 and the flip click 3.
Are not engaged with each other, and the connection portion 100 of the electronic device housing 1 and the flip click 3 are pressed by the spring pressing force of the spring 4. The flip 2 and the flip click 3 are connected by the projection 3b engaging with the first boss 2a.

On the other hand, at the other end of the connection portion between the flip 2 and the electronic device housing 1, the tip of the flip pin 6 is
The flip 2 and the electronic device housing 1 are connected by engaging with the boss 2c provided in the torsion coil spring storage portion 2d. Also, the foot 5a of the torsion coil spring 5
Is inserted into the insertion hole 1 c of the connection portion 100 of the electronic device housing 1 and is hooked on the electronic device housing 1.

A flip pin insertion groove 12 is provided on the bottom surface of the electronic device housing 1. Therefore, in the above-described method of assembling the folding structure, the flip pin 6
The electronic device housing 1 is inserted from the flip pin insertion groove 12 and
The flip 2 is connected to the electronic device housing 1 by rotating the flip pin stationary portion 14 in the direction in which the flip 2 is stopped.

Next, the opening and closing of the flip 2 with respect to the electronic device housing 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG.
The concave portion 3a of the flip click 3 when the electronic device housing 1 is closed with respect to the electronic device housing 1 is not engaged with the convex portion 1a of the electronic device housing 1 as described above. 3 is pressed by the spring pressing force of the spring 4.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a load is applied to the torsion coil spring 5. At this time, the flip 2 is fixed to the electronic device housing 1 at a coupling portion (not shown).

When the joint is removed, the flip 2 is opened by the restoring force of the torsion coil spring 5, and the flip is opened.
The concave portion 3 of the flip click 3 and the convex portion 1a of the connecting portion 100 are engaged at the position shown in FIG. The user of the mobile phone can know that the flip 2 has been opened by the engagement sound generated at the time of this engagement.

As shown in FIG. 6B, no load is applied to the torsion coil spring 5. When the flip 2 is closed from an open state with respect to the electronic device housing 1, the user rotates the flip 2 in a direction to close the electronic device housing 1 so that the concave portion 3 a and the convex portion 1 a are closed. Disengagement allows the flip 2 to be closed.

Even if the flip 2 is to be opened beyond the position with respect to the electronic device housing 1, the concave portion 3 a of the flip click 3
And the convex portion 1a of the connecting portion 100 provided in the electronic device housing 1.
Are engaged, the flip 2 is fixed without being opened more than necessary.

In the above-described embodiment, the convex portion and the concave portion may be a concave portion and a convex portion, respectively.

Also, the direction of the foot of the torsion coil spring is
Any orientation having the above-described functions may be used.

[0049]

As described above, in the folding structure of the electronic device according to the present invention, since the flip is engaged with the side surface of the connecting portion of the electronic device housing, no cover is required, and the electronic device housing is not required. Components can be mounted at the connection with the flip. In particular, in a foldable mobile phone, the receiver and the transmitter can be located at the user's ear and mouth.

Further, when the flip is opened, the concave portion provided on the flip click engages with the convex portion provided on the connecting portion of the electronic device housing, so that an external force is applied between the flip and the electronic device housing. Even if it is added to the portion, the flip does not move, and a stable connection between the flip and the electronic device housing can be formed.

Further, when the flip is opened from a state in which the flip is closed with respect to the housing of the electronic device, the concave portion provided on the flip click engages with the convex portion provided on the flip, and the engagement sound is generated. As a result, the user of the mobile phone can know that the flip has been opened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a left side surface of the folding structure of the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the right side of the folding structure of the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the flip in the folding structure of the mobile phone shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is closed with respect to an electronic apparatus housing;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating opening and closing of a flip in the electronic device housing in the folding structure of the mobile phone shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary sectional view for explaining opening and closing of a flip in the electronic device housing in the folding structure of the mobile phone shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a folding structure of a conventional electronic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic device housing 1a ... Convex part 1b ... Through-hole 1c ... Insertion hole 2 ... Flip 2a ... First boss 2b ... Spring storage part 2c ... First 2 boss 2d ... torsion coil spring storage part 2e ... second torsion coil spring storage part 3 ... flip click 3a ... recess 3b ... projection part 3c ... projection 4 ... Spring 5: Torsion coil spring 5a: First foot of torsion coil spring 5b: Second foot of torsion coil spring 6: Flip pin 7: Electronic device housing 7a: Bearing portion 7b ··· Wall 7c ··· Shaft fixing part 8 ··· Flip 8a ··· Notch 8b ··· First shaft 8c ··· Second shaft 9 ··· Torsion coil spring 9a ··· Torsion coil F first foot 9b ... second torsion coil spring 10 ... shaft cover 11 ... screw 12 ... flip pin insertion groove 13 ... keypad 14 ... flip Pin stationary part 15 ... Engagement hole 16 ... Screw insertion hole 100 ... Connection part

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first housing having a first engagement portion on one surface of a connection portion, a spring, and a second engagement portion engaging on one surface with the first engagement portion. A first member having the other surface pressed by the spring; and a second housing having a first housing portion for housing the spring, wherein the second housing is the first housing. When the housing is closed with respect to the first housing, the first member is connected to the first housing by the spring stress of the spring, and the second housing is opened with respect to the first housing. Wherein the first member is connected to the first housing by engaging the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. . 2. One end of a coil-shaped spring is engaged with the other surface of the connection portion, and the other end is engaged with a second storage portion of the second housing. A folding structure for an electronic device according to claim 1. 3. The first housing, which is a connection part of the second housing.
3. The folding structure for an electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the second storage portion is configured to face inward with respect to the surface of the second housing. 4. A second member which is inserted through an insertion hole provided in the second housing and engages the coil-shaped spring with the first housing and the second housing. 3. A folding structure for an electronic device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. A folding structure for an electronic device including a flip for protecting an operation key, wherein the electronic device housing includes a flip rotation preventing protrusion, a through hole, and an insertion hole, and wherein the flip is predetermined. A flip click having a concave portion that prevents the electronic device housing from rotating from a position and engages with the flip rotation preventing convex portion, and is inserted between the flip click and the flip;
A spring that presses the flip click against the housing of the electronic device; a first foot that is pressed into the insertion hole; a torsion coil spring having a second foot that contacts the flip; and via the torsion coil spring. A folding structure for an electronic device, comprising: a flip pin that engages with the electronic device housing and the flip.