JP4550022B2 - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device having a configuration in which an opening provided on a side surface of a device case is closed with a cover.

Some portable electronic devices such as cellular phones have built-in connectors for communication cables and connectors for memory cards. In these devices, a connector opening is provided on the side of the device case, and the opening The part is covered with a cover.
As a configuration for covering the opening provided on the side surface of the device case with the cover, an arm extending in the longitudinal direction is provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover, and the tip of the arm is attached to the side surface of the device case, The cover is rotatable about the tip of the arm as a rotation center, and is engaged with an engagement portion provided in an opening of the device case at the other longitudinal end of the cover inner surface. There is one in which an engagement portion is provided to prevent the lens from being easily detached from the opening (see Patent Document 1).
Further, as another structure, an elastic flat plate-like tongue in which one end of the cover inner surface in the short direction is erected in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the cover and a long through hole is formed in the erection direction. A piece is provided, and the tongue piece is attached to the equipment case so that the engaging pin provided on the equipment case is located in the through hole so that the cover can be pulled out of the equipment case, and the longitudinal direction of the inner surface of the cover There is also an arrangement in which engagement portions are provided at both ends so as to engage with engagement portions provided in the opening of the device case so that the cover does not easily come off from the opening (patent). Reference 2).
JP 2006-157795 A (paragraphs 0017, 0020, 0021, FIG. 4) JP 2004-165851 A (paragraphs 0017, 0018, 0021, FIGS. 2 to 5)

However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the holding force at both ends in the short direction of the cover is weak, and an external force in the direction of peeling the cover from the device case is applied to one end in the short direction of the cover due to the fall of the device. There is a risk that the cover may come off from the opening or float up.
Moreover, since the engaging part is provided in the longitudinal direction both ends, and the structure of patent document 2 is provided with the tongue piece in the transversal direction one end part, although holding force is larger than patent document 1, Since the tongue piece is flat and easily pulled out, if the external force in the direction of peeling the cover from the device case is applied to the end of the tongue side of the cover due to falling of the device, the cover will come off from the opening or float up There is a risk that

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device in which the risk of the cover opening unintentionally due to dropping of the device is reduced.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is provided with a cover that covers an opening formed on a side surface of the device case, and the cover is fitted into the opening at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover. The mobile electronic device is provided with an engaging portion for maintaining the state when the cover is attached, and a frame-like connecting piece for attaching the cover to the device case is provided at one end portion in the short direction of the cover The end of the connecting piece is provided at one end in the short direction of the cover only when the other end is rotated by a predetermined angle or more with the one end in the short direction of the cover as a rotation center. The side is locked to the device case so that the side can be pulled out from the device case.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the portable electronic device according to the first aspect, wherein the device case includes a first case provided with a key operation unit and a second case provided with a display unit. A first casing in a portable electronic device connected so that the body can be folded in a state where the second casing is stacked on the first casing, and the connecting piece is a short of the cover In the hand direction, it is formed on the side that is outside when the casing is folded.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the portable electronic device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the cover is provided with a waterproof packing that fits into the opening.

  According to the present invention, only when one end of the cover in the short direction is pivoted around the other end with a predetermined angle, the one end of the cover in the short direction can be pulled out of the device case. Since the end of the frame-shaped connecting piece provided at one end in the short direction of the cover is locked to the device case, the risk of the cover opening unintentionally due to dropping of the device can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which a foldable mobile phone as an embodiment of a portable electronic device to which the present invention is applied. The first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are connected via a hinge portion 3. They are foldably connected to each other.
The first housing 1 is provided with an operation unit 4 using various keys, a connector cover 5 and the like. The second housing 2 is provided with a main display unit 6 and the like.

2 to 5 show a portion of the first housing 1 that includes the connector cover 5. The first housing 1 is formed by combining the lower case 11, the upper case 12, and the middle case 13 with screws or the like. Configured. A battery lid 14 integrated with the battery pack is attached to the battery pack opening of the lower case 11.
And the connector 7 for communication cables is assembled | attached to the opening part 13a for connectors formed in the one end part of the longitudinal direction of the middle case 13. As shown in FIG. The middle case 13 is made of a material having high mechanical strength, for example, glass-filled nylon (trademark).

As shown in FIG. 6, the connector cover 5 includes a cover portion 51 and a packing fixing portion 52, and the packing fixing portion 52 includes a connector packing 53 that is a waterproof packing.
The cover 51 is formed of an elastomer material, for example, a polyester elastomer. The packing fixing part 52 is made of polycarbonate. A cover portion 51 is integrally molded so as to cover the packing fixing portion 52. The connector packing 53 is formed by integrally molding a stainless steel plate 54 with silicon rubber, and is attached to the packing fixing portion 52 with screws as shown in the figure.

  In addition, a pair of left and right hooks 8 that are engaging portions for holding the connector cover 5 in the mounted state are assembled to the left and right sides of the connector opening 13 a of the middle case 13. The hook 8 is formed of an elastomer material having lubricity (slippery surface), for example, a polyacetal resin POM (polyoxymethylene).

A pair of left and right extending pieces 55 constituting a frame-like connecting piece incorporated between the lower case 11 and the middle case 13 and a front end of the connector cover 5 are arranged at the lower side of one end in the short direction. A continuous piece 56 is provided. That is, a frame-like connecting piece comprising a pair of left and right extending pieces 55 and a continuous piece 56 between the ends thereof is integrally formed in a thin shape on the lower side of the cover portion 51. Further, the extending piece 55 is bent so that the continuous piece 56 is positioned low (see FIG. 8).
In addition, a pair of locking pieces 57 that form engaging portions are protruded and integrally formed on the left and right sides of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 51, and the locking protrusions are formed at the tips of the outer side surfaces of the locking pieces 57. 58 is formed.
A backup portion 59 that is integrally formed to protrude from the left and right side portions of the packing fixing portion 52 is located on the inner side surface of the locking piece 57, and the locking piece 57 is reinforced by the backup portion 59. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a rib 15 located between the pair of extending pieces 55 of the connector cover 5 is integrally formed in the connector cover mounting portion of the lower case 11.
The connector cover mounting portion of the inner case 13 is formed with a recess 16 that accommodates the pair of extending pieces 55 and the continuous piece 56 of the connector cover 5, and a pair of portions separated on the left and right sides thereof. A boss 17 is integrally provided. The hook 8 is assembled to the boss 17.

The hook 8 is formed with a press-fitting hole 81 in the center and a locking projection 82 on the outer periphery.
That is, the hook 8 is attached with the boss 17 being press-fitted into the press-fitting hole 81 and the locking projection 82 facing the inside. Note that the hook 8 is prevented from rotating so that the outer peripheral surface abuts against a stopper 18 integrally formed with the middle case 13 and does not rotate outward.

In the first casing 1 of the above foldable mobile phone, the pair of left and right extending pieces 55 and the continuous piece 56 provided on the lower side of the connector cover 5 are accommodated in the recess 16 of the connector cover mounting portion of the middle case 13. In this state, the lower case 11 is screwed to the middle case 13. The upper case 12 is also screwed to the middle case 13.
Then, the pair of locking pieces 57 provided on the left and right sides of the connector cover 5 are inserted into the left and right sides of the connector opening 13 a of the middle case 13.
The mounting state of the connector cover 5 as described above is shown in FIG.

In the mounted state, the connector cover 5 is fitted with the connector packing 53 in the connector opening 13a of the middle case 13 as shown in FIG. 8, and between the left and right extending pieces 55. The continuous piece 56 is located behind the rib 15 of the lower case 11 in the recess 16. Then, the locking projections 58 at the distal end of the outer surface of the locking pieces 57 on both the left and right sides are over the locking projections 82 of the hook 8 and are locked. Thereby, opening of the connector cover 5 is prevented.
In this state, for example, even if the lower surface of the connector cover 5 is pushed up with fingers, the continuous piece 56 connecting the tip ends of the pair of extending pieces 55 of the connector cover 5 is caught by the rib 15 of the lower case 11 and extended. Since the protruding piece 55 cannot be pulled out, the locking protrusions 58 and 82 on both the left and right sides are held in the locked state. That is, the connector cover 5 cannot be opened from the lower surface side.

Next, as shown with an arrow in FIG. 8, when the upper surface of the connector cover 5 is pushed down with a finger, the connector packing 53 is removed from the connector opening 13a, and at the same time, the locking protrusions 58 on the left and right side portions.・ The locked state of 82 is released. At this time, the continuous piece 56 moves upward through the extended piece 55 and is positioned above the rib 15.
Subsequently, by pulling out the connector cover 5, the extending piece 55 and the continuous piece 56 advance in the recess 16, but the presence of the continuous piece 56 that crosses within the recess 16 prevents the connector cover 5 from being pulled out.

As described above, the connector cover 5 has a lower side portion so that the lower side portion can be pulled out from the first housing 1 only when the upper side portion is rotated by a predetermined angle or more with the lower side portion as a rotation center. As shown in FIG. 8, the front ends of the left and right extending pieces 55 forming a frame shape are bent toward the lower case 11, and as shown in FIG. The front end portion of 55 and the left and right side portions of the continuous piece 56 therebetween are engaged with the rib 15 of the lower case 11.
Therefore, the risk that the connector cover 5 opens unintentionally due to dropping of the device can be reduced as much as possible.

In the above embodiment, the connector cover is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a cover for closing a memory card slot.
In the embodiment, the foldable mobile phone is used as the portable electronic device, but a PDA or other portable electronic device may be used.
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the first casing provided with the key operation unit and the second casing provided with the display unit are folded. However, the first casing provided with the key operation unit is folded. The thing of the structure which the 2nd housing | casing provided with the display part slides on the body may be sufficient. Further, a one-box type in which the key operation unit and the display unit are provided in one housing may be used.
Also, the shape of the housing and the cover is arbitrary, and it is needless to say that other specific detailed structures can be appropriately changed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a mobile electronic device to which the present invention is applied and illustrating a use state in which a foldable mobile phone is opened. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a housing portion including the connector cover of FIG. 1 and showing a state where an upper case is removed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a housing portion including the connector cover of FIG. 2 from the back surface side, and showing a state where a lower case is removed. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a connector cover and a hook in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector cover in FIG. 3. It is a perspective view which shows a connector cover from an inner side. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between a connector cover and a lower case. It is a vertical side view of the connector cover part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 First housing (equipment case)
11 Lower case 12 Upper case 13 Middle case 13a Connector opening 14 Battery cover 15 Rib 16 Recess 17 Boss 18 Stopper 2 Second housing (equipment case)
3 Hinge part 4 Operation part 5 Connector cover 51 Cover part 52 Packing fixing part 53 Connector packing (waterproof packing)
54 Stainless steel plate 55 Extension piece (connection piece)
56 Continuous piece (connecting piece)
57 Locking piece (engagement part)
58 Locking projection 59 Backup unit 6 Display unit 7 Communication connector 8 Hook 81 Press-fitting hole 82 Locking projection

Claims (3)

A cover that covers an opening formed on a side surface of the device case is provided, and an engagement portion is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover to maintain the state when the cover is fitted into the opening. Electronic equipment,
A frame-shaped connecting piece for attaching the cover to the device case is provided at one end in the short direction of the cover,
The front end of the connecting piece has the one end side in the short direction of the cover only when the other end side is rotated by a predetermined angle or more with the one end side in the short direction of the cover as a rotation center. A portable electronic device that is locked to the device case so as to be pulled out of the case. The device case is folded in such a manner that the first casing provided with the key operation unit and the second casing provided with the display unit overlap the second casing on the first casing. Is the first case in portable electronic devices connected so that
2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting piece is formed on a side facing away from the cover when the housing is folded in the short direction of the cover.   The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with a waterproof packing that fits into the opening.

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