JP3699020B2 - Folding portable wireless device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a foldable portable radio apparatus, and more particularly to a foldable portable radio apparatus such as a foldable portable telephone in which an upper casing and a lower casing are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional foldable mobile phone, which is an example of a foldable mobile wireless device, has a structure in which an upper housing and a lower housing are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion. When not in use, the upper housing and the lower housing are structured. Folding state (closed state) in which each inner surface of the casing is in close contact with each other, and when used, the above-mentioned upper casing and lower casing are expanded by a predetermined angle and are provided on the inner surface of the lower casing. The key is usable, and an open state in which the display on the display unit provided on the inner surface of the upper housing is visible.
[0003]
Here, the user (mobile person) of the mobile phone closes and opens the upper case and the lower case with both hands in both the closed state and the open state. . That is, in the conventional foldable mobile phone, normally, if the user does not use both hands, the mobile phone cannot be in the above-mentioned closed state or open state, and there is a difficulty in operability.
[0004]
In view of this, various portable wireless devices configured to be opened and closed with one hand have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-102953, 6-338837, and 7-131850, JP-A-7-202787). In the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-102953, in a foldable portable wireless communication apparatus configured such that a pair of casings are hinge-coupled on the respective base end sides so as to be able to open and close, any one of the casings described above. A configuration is disclosed in which an operation rod is disposed on one base end side and is used for a user to rotate and open with a finger of the same hand while holding one housing with one hand.
[0005]
In JP-A-6-338837, a movable magnet that can be moved by a manual operation of an operation knob is provided in a case, and the movable magnet is operated with one hand and moved in the length direction thereof, thereby fixing the movable magnet to the case. A foldable portable wireless device is disclosed in which the same poles of magnets are opposed to each other, a repulsive force between both magnets is generated, and the cover is opened with respect to the case by this repulsive force.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-131850 provides a coil spring for energizing the hinge mechanism of the upper casing and the lower casing in the opening direction, and holds the upper casing and the lower casing in a closed state. A lock mechanism is provided, and when used, the movable magnet provided in the lower housing constituting the lock mechanism is moved by operating the operation unit with one hand, and the attractive force with the fixed magnet provided in the upper housing constituting the lock mechanism is obtained. A folding portable wireless device is disclosed in which the upper housing and the lower housing are opened by the elastic force of the coil spring by being weakened, and can be operated with one hand.
[0007]
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-202787 discloses that the first and second housings are closed in the hinge portion that rotatably connects the first housing and the second housing. The same poles face each other so that a repulsive force in the direction in which the body opens opens, and the first and second poles face each other so that a suction force that keeps the first and second housings in that state works in the open state. A magnet and a second magnet are provided, and a third magnet and a fourth magnet are provided in each of the first casing and the second casing so that different polarities face each other. And one of the fourth magnets can be slid by one hand, and the repulsive force between the first and second magnets is smaller than the attractive force between the third and fourth magnets at the first sliding position. When the second slide position is reached, the repulsive force between the first and second magnets is between the third and fourth magnets. Foldable mobile wireless apparatus according to an open state by greater than suction force is disclosed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the conventional foldable portable wireless device described in JP 2000-102953 has a structure that is operated to rotate and open by operating an operating rod with a finger, a space for passing electrical wiring inside the hinge portion. There is a problem that it is difficult to make. Further, in the conventional folding portable wireless device described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-338837, the open state can be achieved by the movement of the movable magnet with one hand, but both hands must be used for the closed state. .
[0009]
In addition, each of the conventional foldable portable wireless devices described in JP-A-7-131850 and JP-A-7-202787 cannot adjust the opening angle of the two housings with one hand. The conventional device described in JP-A-7-131850 has a problem that it cannot be closed with one hand.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable wireless device that can be operated in one of the open state and the closed state.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable wireless device that can adjust the opening angle of two housings with one hand.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a structure in which an upper housing and a lower housing are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion, and each inner surface of the upper housing and the lower housing is not used. There are closed you face closely, when using is available various keys provided on the inner surface of the lower housing to separate the upper housing and a lower housing, and the inner surface of the upper housing In the folding portable wireless device that is in an open state in which the display on the display unit can be visually recognized, the folding portable wireless device is provided on either the upper housing or the lower housing, and the first screw is threaded. A linear movement mechanism including a rotatable dial, a shaft that linearly moves in the direction of the hinge or in the direction opposite to the hinge according to the direction of rotation of the dial, and that moves according to the amount of rotation of the dial, and a hinge provided on portion, shaft hinge of the linear movement mechanism When the shaft moves linearly in the first direction, it rotates in the first direction around the rotation axis, and when the shaft moves linearly in the direction opposite to the hinge, the direction opposite to the first direction around the rotation axis Is rotated in the second direction, and in accordance with the rotation in the first direction or the second direction, one of the upper casing and the lower casing is disposed, and the inner surface thereof is the inner side of the other casing. The rotating mechanism is in a closed state in close contact with the surface or in an open state in which both inner surfaces are separated from each other.
[0013]
In this invention, by rotating the dial, the rotational force is converted into the linear movement of the shaft of the linear movement mechanism, and the linear movement is further transmitted to the rotation mechanism, and the direction according to the moving direction of the shaft of the linear movement mechanism With this rotation, the upper housing and the lower housing can be rotated in a direction approaching or separating from each other. Further, according to the present invention, the shaft moves by the amount of movement corresponding to the amount of rotation of the dial, and the upper housing and the lower housing are moved toward or away from each other by the rotation angle corresponding to the amount of movement of the shaft. It can be rotated in the direction of
[0014]
Here, the linear movement mechanism has a first screw threaded on the surface of the inner wall of the hollow cylindrical dial, a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the dial, and penetrates the hollow cylindrical portion of the dial, and The second screw threaded on the outer peripheral surface is composed of a shaft that engages with the first screw.
[0015]
In addition, the rotation mechanism moves integrally with the arm coupled to one end of the shaft of the linear movement mechanism and the end of the upper casing and the lower casing where the dial is not provided. And a rotating arm that rotates together with the casing on which the dial is not provided around the rotation axis of the hinge portion according to the moving direction of the arm.
[0016]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention applies a spring force to the dial toward the outside of the casing in which the dial is provided, and operates from one of the open state and the closed state to the other. When pressing the dial against the spring force, the dial and the linear movement mechanism are mechanically connected by pushing the dial toward the inside of the housing where the dial is provided. The structure further includes a spring that automatically returns to the state in which the mechanical connection between the dial and the linear movement mechanism is released when the bias is released.
[0017]
In this invention, when the urging of the force toward the inner side of the casing with respect to the dial is released, the mechanical connection release state between the dial and the linear movement mechanism is released by the spring. The upper housing can be opened and closed freely with both hands. In addition, the dial may be provided on one side surface of the lower housing or the upper housing, and when the spring is provided, the dial is provided on both side surfaces of the lower housing or the upper housing. It may be done.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a foldable portable communication device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow a in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow b in FIG. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0019]
The present embodiment is an example applied to a foldable mobile phone, and has a structure in which a lower housing 1 and an upper housing 2 are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion 3 as shown in FIG. Various keys 4 such as numeric keys for inputting a telephone number are provided on the inner surface of the lower housing 1, and a dial 5 whose outer periphery is exposed is provided on the side surface of the lower housing 1. On the other hand, a display unit 6 for displaying various characters, numbers, and symbols is provided on the inner surface of the upper housing 2, and an antenna 7 is provided on the upper part. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a transmitting microphone is provided at a predetermined position on the inner surface of the lower housing 1, and a receiving speaker is provided at a predetermined position on the inner surface of the upper housing 2. ing.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow a in FIG. 1, the dial 5 has a hollow cylindrical shape in which a female screw 8 is threaded on the inner peripheral surface. A shaft 9 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter passes through the hollow interior of the dial 5, and the female screw 8 can be screwed onto a male screw 10 threaded on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 9. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow b in FIG. 1, the spring 5 biases the dial 5 from the inside of the mobile phone toward the outside by the spring 14.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 9 has an arm 11 whose one end is rotatably locked to the hinge portion 3 side. The arm 11 has a rotating arm 12 locked to the opposite side of the shaft 9. The rotary arm 12 is pivotally supported on a rotary shaft 13 of the hinge portion 3, and the opposite side of the rotary shaft 13 is rotatably locked to the upper housing 2.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. Now, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower housing 1 and the upper housing 2 are expanded at an angle, and various keys 4 provided on the inner surface of the lower housing 1 can be used, and It is assumed that the display of the display unit 6 provided on the inner surface of the upper housing 2 is in an open state where the display can be visually recognized.
[0023]
In the open state, as shown in FIG. 3, the female screw 8 of the dial 5 is in a state of being separated from the male screw 10 threaded on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 9. In the case of changing from the open state to the closed state, the user first pushes the dial 5 with a finger against the spring force of the spring 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow 15 in FIG. . Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the female screw 8 of the dial 5 is screwed into the male screw 10 of the shaft 9.
[0024]
When the dial 5 is turned with the finger in the first direction while maintaining this screwed state, the shaft 9 moves in the direction of the hinge portion 3 as shown in FIG. 5, thereby pushing the arm 11 shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the rotating arm 12 rotates about the rotating shaft 13 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, and the upper housing 2 is integrated with the rotating arm 12 in FIG. It rotates counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 13.
[0025]
For this reason, the upper housing 2 rotates about the rotation shaft 13 in the direction of the lower housing 1, and the inner surface of the upper housing 2 is the lower housing 1 as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 6. The closed state (folded state) is in close contact with the inner surface. When the finger that turns the dial 5 is released, the dial 5 is pushed out of the lower housing 1 by the spring force of the spring 14, and the female screw 8 of the dial 5 is separated from the male screw 10 of the shaft 9. FIG. Automatically returns to the state shown in. Thus, it is possible to change from the open state to the closed state by simply turning the dial 5 with one hand.
[0026]
Next, the case of changing from the closed state shown in FIG. 6 to the open state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. In the closed state, as shown in FIG. 6, the female screw 8 of the dial 5 is separated from the male screw 10 threaded on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 9. When changing from the closed state to the open state, the user first uses the finger to place the dial 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow 15 in FIG. It pushes against the spring force of the spring 14 toward the inside. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the female screw 8 of the dial 5 is screwed into the male screw 10 of the shaft 9.
[0027]
If the dial 5 is turned with a finger in the second direction opposite to the first direction while maintaining this screwed state, the shaft 9 moves downward (in a direction away from the hinge portion 3) in FIG. As a result, the arm 11 shown in FIG. 6 is pulled, whereby the rotary arm 12 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6 about the rotary shaft 13, and the upper casing 2 is rotated along with the rotation of the rotary arm 12. 6 is also integrally rotated with the rotary arm 12 in the clockwise direction in FIG.
[0028]
For this reason, the upper housing 2 rotates around the rotation shaft 13 in a direction away from the lower housing 1, and the inner surface of the upper housing 2 is the lower housing as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. 1 is in an open state spaced apart from the inner surface of 1. When the finger that turns the dial 5 is released, the dial 5 is pushed out of the lower housing 1 by the spring force of the spring 14, and the female screw 8 of the dial 5 is separated from the male screw 10 of the shaft 9. FIG. Automatically returns to the state shown in. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to change from the closed state to the open state by simply turning the dial 5 with one hand.
[0029]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the amount of movement of the shaft 9 can be adjusted by adjusting the number of times the dial 5 is turned in the second direction, whereby the rotation angle of the rotary arm 12 can be adjusted. The opening angle (opening angle) between 1 and the upper housing 2 can be adjusted to a user's desired angle.
[0030]
Further, according to the present embodiment, in the state before the dial 5 is pressed, the female screw 8 of the dial 5 and the male screw 10 of the shaft 9 are in close proximity to each other. Even when the lower housing 1 and the upper housing 2 are opened and closed using the shaft, the shaft 9 slides without rotating the dial 5 and can be opened and closed without load.
[0031]
In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, For example, the dial 5 can be arrange | positioned on the opposite side surface (left side surface) of FIG. You may do it. Further, the dials 5 may be provided not only on the left and right side surfaces but on both side surfaces. In this case, if one dial is in the state shown in FIG. 3 and the other dial is in the state shown in FIG. The desired operation can be performed. The dial can also be provided on the side surface of the upper housing 2. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a foldable communication device other than a foldable mobile phone.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by rotating the dial, the upper housing and the lower housing can be rotated in a direction approaching or separating from each other according to the rotation direction. By rotating the dial with one hand, it can be in either an open state or a closed state.
[0033]
In addition, according to the present invention, the amount of movement of the shaft can be adjusted by an amount corresponding to the amount of rotation of the dial, and thereby the expansion angle (opening angle) between the lower housing and the upper housing can be adjusted. The opening angle can be adjusted to a user's desired angle by one-hand operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in an open state.
FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow a in FIG.
3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow b in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention when a dial is pressed.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention when rotating while pressing a dial.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention in a closed state.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower housing | casing 2 Upper housing | casing 3 Hinge part 5 Dial 6 Display part 8 Female screw 9 Shaft 10 Male screw 11 Arm 12 Rotating arm 13 Rotating shaft 14 Spring

Claims (6)

Upper side casing and the lower casing are linked structure rotatably by a hinge portion, when not in use are closed each inner surface of the lower housing and the upper housing you closely opposed, In use, various keys provided on the inner surface of the lower casing can be used by separating the upper casing and the lower casing, and the display provided on the inner surface of the upper casing In the folding portable wireless device in an open state where the display of the part can be visually recognized,
A rotatable dial provided on any one of the upper casing and the lower casing and having a first screw threaded thereon;
A linear movement mechanism including a shaft that linearly moves in the direction of the hinge portion or in a direction opposite to the hinge portion in accordance with the rotation direction of the dial, and that moves in accordance with the rotation amount of the dial;
When the shaft of the linear movement mechanism is linearly moved in the direction of the hinge portion, the shaft is rotated in the first direction around the rotation axis. When it moves linearly in the opposite direction, it rotates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction around the rotation axis, and with the rotation in the first direction or the second direction. A rotating mechanism for bringing one of the upper casing and the lower casing into a closed state in which an inner surface thereof is in close contact with an inner surface of the other casing or an open state in which both inner surfaces are separated from each other. A foldable portable wireless device characterized by the above. The linear movement mechanism has a first screw threaded on the inner wall surface of the hollow cylindrical dial, a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the dial, and penetrates the hollow cylindrical portion of the dial; and 2. The foldable portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the second screw threaded on the outer peripheral surface includes the shaft threadably engaged with the first screw. The rotation mechanism is integrated with an arm coupled to one end of the shaft of the linear movement mechanism, and an end of the upper casing and the lower casing where the dial is not provided. And a rotating arm that rotates with the casing on which the dial is not provided around the rotation axis of the hinge portion according to the moving direction of the arm. The foldable portable wireless device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A spring force is applied to the dial in the outward direction of the casing where the dial is provided. When operating from one of the open state and the closed state to the other, the spring force is resisted. The dial and the linear movement mechanism are mechanically connected by pushing the dial toward the inner side of the casing in which the dial is provided, and the biasing of the force toward the inner side of the casing with respect to the dial is performed. The foldable portable wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring that automatically returns to a state in which the mechanical connection between the dial and the linear movement mechanism is released when the dial is released. The foldable portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the dial is provided on one side surface of the lower casing or the upper casing. The foldable portable wireless device according to claim 4, wherein the dial is provided on both side surfaces of the lower casing or the upper casing.

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