JP4646887B2 - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal device in which a plurality of keys are operably exposed on the surface of a flat casing like a cellular phone.

  In the foldable mobile phone, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an operation side housing (10) having a plurality of numeric keys (11) and function keys (12), and a display side housing having a display (21). The body (2) is connected to each other by the hinge mechanism (3), and can be opened and closed between the closed state shown in FIG. 10 and the open state shown in FIG.

  In a conventional general foldable mobile phone, a plurality of small openings for exposing a plurality of keys for each key are formed in the front cabinet of the operation side casing (10), thereby forming a space between the plurality of openings. However, in recent years, as shown in FIG. 11, two large openings (51) (52) are formed in the front cabinet of the operation side housing (10). And a plurality of numeric keys (11) are exposed from the first opening (51), and a plurality of function keys (12) are exposed from the second opening (52). Mobile phones have been developed in which the operation surface of each key is expanded or the key arrangement pitch is reduced.

By the way, since it is desirable to arrange the numeric keypad (11) and the function key (12) separately, the first opening (51) for exposing the plurality of numeric keys (11) and the plurality of function keys (12) are provided. A crosspiece (50) is left between the second openings (52) for exposure.
In this case, two large openings (51) and (52) are opened in the front cabinet of the operation side housing (10), and an elongated crosspiece (50) is formed between both openings (51) and (52). 6 (refer to the crosspiece (53) of the mobile phone of the present invention shown in FIG. 6), when the resin molding of the front cabinet, the crosspiece (50) is warped in a direction that rises more than other parts. As a result, the crosspiece (50) may be curved in an arch shape.

When the crosspiece (50) is curved in an arch shape in this way, when the operation side case (10) and the display side case (2) are closed, the central portion of the crosspiece (50) is the display side case ( There is a problem of touching the screen of the display (21) of 2) and damaging the screen.
Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, when the operation side case (10) and the display side case (2) are closed, a structure is provided in which a sufficient gap G is provided between the cases (10) and (2). However, there is a problem that the thickness of the mobile phone increases.

As a method for suppressing warping during molding of a synthetic resin cabinet, a method of increasing strength as a single cabinet by projecting a reinforcing rib on the back surface of the cabinet is widely adopted (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
JP 7-274273 A [H04R1 / 02]

  However, only the method of preventing warping by the reinforcing ribs, particularly when the thickness of the cabinet is small, cannot sufficiently suppress the curvature of the cabinet, so that a sufficient gap G can be secured or the thickness of the cabinet itself can be reduced. However, there is still a problem that the thickness of the mobile phone becomes large.

  An object of the present invention is to ensure the curvature of a crosspiece formed between two openings of a front cabinet in a portable terminal device in which a plurality of keys are exposed from the two openings of the front cabinet constituting the casing. Is to prevent.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, a key input device including a plurality of keys (11) and (12) is accommodated in the housing (1), and the front cabinet (5) constituting the housing (1) is provided. The plurality of keys (11) and (12) are operably exposed from the first opening (51) and the second opening (52) opened in FIG.
Here, the crosspiece (53) formed between the first opening (51) and the second opening (52) of the front cabinet (5) has at least one connecting rib toward the key input device. (55) is projected, and the front end of the connecting rib (55) is closely fitted to the slit (73) formed in the base plate (71) constituting the key input device, thereby The crosspiece (53) of (5) is connected to the base plate (71) of the key input device.

  In the portable terminal of the present invention, the connecting rib (55) projects into the crosspiece (53) formed between the first opening (51) and the second opening (52) of the front cabinet (5). Since the rigidity of the front cabinet (5) as a single unit is increased, warpage of the crosspiece (53) when the front cabinet (5) is resin-molded can be minimized. Further, in the assembled state of the portable terminal of the present invention, the connecting rib (55) of the crosspiece (53) is closely fitted to the slit (73) provided in the base plate (71) of the key input device. Since the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) is connected to the base plate (71) of the key input device, even if some warpage remains in the crosspiece (53) during resin molding, The crosspiece (53) is pulled toward the base plate (71) side of the key input device to correct the warp.

In a specific configuration, the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) faces the base plate (71) on the side of the connecting rib (55) along the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece (53). At least one reinforcing rib (54) is projected, and the reinforcing rib (54) fits with a slit (72) formed in the base plate (71) of the key input device with play. .
More specifically, the reinforcing rib (54) is arranged at the center position of the crosspiece (53), and the connecting rib (55) is arranged on both sides of the reinforcing rib (54).

  According to the above specific configuration, both the reinforcing rib (54) and the connecting ribs (55) (55) increase the strength of the front cabinet (5) during resin molding, and the connecting ribs (55) (55) are exclusively assembled. Correct the curvature of the rear crosspiece (53).

  According to the portable terminal of the present invention, the connecting rib (55) protruding from the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) is fitted into the slit (73) of the base plate (71) of the key input device. The simple structure can surely prevent the crosspieces (53) from being bent, thereby further reducing the thickness of the portable terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention applied to a foldable mobile phone will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable mobile phone according to the present invention includes an operation side housing (1) having a plurality of numeric keys (11) and function keys (12), and a display (21). The display-side casing (2) is connected to each other by a hinge mechanism (3), and can be opened and closed between a closed state shown in FIG. 1 and an open state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation side housing (1) is formed by joining a back cabinet (4) having a back cover (41) and a front cabinet (5) to each other. During 5), the key top assembly (7) having the plurality of keys, the key sheet (8) having contacts corresponding to the keys, and a signal from the key sheet (8) are operated. A circuit board (6) is provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, the front cabinet (5) has a first opening (51) for exposing a plurality of numeric keys (11) of the key top assembly (7) and a plurality of functions of the key top assembly (7). A second opening (52) for exposing the key (12) is formed in a rectangular shape, and both openings (51) are provided between the first opening (51) and the second opening (52). An elongated crosspiece (53) defined by mutually parallel opening edges of (52) is formed.
On the back surface of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5), as shown in FIG. 7, a long reinforcing rib (54) in the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece (53) protrudes from the longitudinal center position. On both sides of the reinforcing rib (54), a pair of connecting ribs (55) and (55) which are long in the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece (53) are projected.

As shown in FIG. 6, the key top assembly (7) is configured by arranging a plurality of numeric keys (11) and function keys (12) on the surface of a polycarbonate base plate (71).
As shown in FIG. 7, the base plate (71) has one first slit (72) corresponding to the reinforcing rib (54) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5). At the same time, a pair of second slits (73) and (73) are provided corresponding to the connecting ribs (55) and (55) of the crosspiece (53).

With the key top assembly (7) assembled to the front cabinet (5), a plurality of numeric keys (11) are exposed from the first opening (51) of the front cabinet (5) as shown in FIG. A plurality of function keys (12) are exposed from the second opening (52).
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing rib (54) of the front cabinet (5) is fitted into the first slit (72) in the base plate (71) of the key top assembly (7) (see FIG. 5). 8), the connecting ribs 55 and 55 of the front cabinet 5 are inserted into the second slits 73 and 73 (see FIG. 9).

As shown in FIG. 8, when the reinforcing rib (54) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) is fitted in the first slit (72) of the base plate (71) of the key top assembly (7), the crosspiece ( 53), the width W2 of the first slit (72) is slightly larger than the width W1 of the reinforcing rib (54) in a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing rib (54). 1 mm) is formed.
In addition, the back surface of the base plate (71) of the key top assembly (7) has a region including the first slit (72) adhered and fixed to the surface of the key sheet (8) with a double-sided adhesive tape (70).

On the other hand, when the connecting rib (55) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) is fitted in the second slit (73) of the base plate (71) of the key top assembly (7) as shown in FIG. In the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece (53), the minimum width W1 of the connecting rib (55) and the minimum width W2 of the second slit (73) coincide, or the minimum width W1 of the connecting rib (55). Is in a close fitting state slightly larger than the minimum width W2 of the second slit (73).
When the key top assembly (7) is assembled into the front cabinet (5), the connecting rib (55) is press-fitted into the second slit (73), so that the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) is attached to the key top assembly ( It is connected to the base plate (71) of 7), and the warp at the time of molding of the crosspiece (53) is corrected.

  Here, the connecting rib (55) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) has a shape slightly enlarged toward the tip in a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece (53). Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the connecting rib (55) from coming out of the second slit (73), and to more reliably maintain the warp-free state of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5). .

As described above, the foldable mobile phone according to the present invention has a structure in which one reinforcing rib (54) and two connecting ribs (55) (55) project from the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5). In addition, the warpage of the crosspiece (53) during resin molding can be minimized, and in the assembled state, the connecting ribs (55) (55) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) are key tops. Correcting the warp remaining in the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) by close fitting with the second slit (73) (73) of the base plate (71) of the assembly (7), The curved deformation of the crosspiece (53) can be completely prevented.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the clearance between the two cases (1) and (2) when the operation side case (1) and the display side case (2) are closed can be minimized. Further thinning of the mobile phone is realized.

  Further, the reinforcing rib (54) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) has a structure in which the first slit (72) of the base plate (71) of the key top assembly (7) is fitted with play. Thus, the close fitting of the two connecting ribs (55) and (55) on both sides to the second slits (73) and (73) can be facilitated.

In addition, each part structure of this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the technical scope as described in a claim. For example, the reinforcing rib (54) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) may be omitted, and a structure in which only one or a plurality of connecting ribs (55) protrude from the crosspiece (53) may be adopted. Is possible.
In this embodiment, one reinforcing rib (54) and two connecting ribs (55) are formed, and the reinforcing rib (54) is longer than the connecting rib (55). ) And connecting ribs (55) are taken into account in terms of the ease of sliding (friction) due to the material of the base plate (71) of the front cabinet (5) and key top assembly (7). And will be determined as appropriate.

It is a perspective view which shows the closed state of the foldable mobile telephone which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the open state of the foldable mobile telephone which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the operation side housing | casing of this mobile telephone. It is the perspective view which looked at the front cabinet in which the keytop assembly was incorporated from the surface side. It is the perspective view which looked at the front cabinet in which the key top assembly was incorporated from the back side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the front cabinet and the keytop assembly from the surface side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the front cabinet and the keytop assembly from the back side. It is sectional drawing in the reinforcement rib of an operation side housing | casing. It is sectional drawing in the connection rib of an operation side housing | casing. It is a perspective view which shows the closed state of the conventional foldable mobile telephone. It is a perspective view which shows the open state of the conventional foldable mobile telephone.

Explanation of symbols

(1) Operation side housing
(11) Numeric keypad
(12) Function key
(2) Display side housing
(21) Display
(3) Hinge mechanism
(4) Rear cabinet
(5) Front cabinet
(51) 1st opening
(52) Second opening
(53) Pier
(54) Reinforcement rib
(55) Connecting rib
(6) Circuit board
(7) Key top assembly
(70) Double-sided adhesive tape
(71) Base plate
(72) 1st slit
(73) Second slit
(8) Key sheet

Claims (6)

  A key input device having a plurality of keys (11) and (12) is housed in the housing (1), and a first opening (51) opened in the front cabinet (5) constituting the housing (1). In the portable terminal in which the plurality of keys (11) (12) are operably exposed from the second opening (52), the first opening (51) and the second opening (52) of the front cabinet (5) are provided. At least one connecting rib (55) is projected from the crosspiece (53) formed between the key input device, and the tip of the connecting rib (55) is the key input device. The base plate (71) that constitutes the base plate (71) is closely fitted into the slit (73), and the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) is connected to the base plate (71) of the key input device. A portable terminal characterized by   The crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) has at least one reinforcement on the side of the connecting rib (55) along the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece (53) toward the base plate (71). The rib (54) is provided so as to project, and the reinforcing rib (54) fits with a slit (72) provided in a base plate (71) of the key input device with play. Mobile terminals.   The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing rib (54) is disposed at a central position of the crosspiece (53), and the connecting rib (55) is disposed on both sides of the reinforcing rib (54). Machine.   The reinforcing ribs (54) and the connecting ribs (55) (55) of the crosspieces (53) of the front cabinet (5) each have a long shape in the longitudinal direction of the crosspieces (53). Item 4. The mobile terminal according to Item 3.   The first opening (51) and the second opening (52) of the front cabinet (5) have opening edges extending on straight lines parallel to each other, and the crosspiece (53) is formed between the opening edges. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a width of the connecting rib (55) of the crosspiece (53) of the front cabinet (5) increases toward the tip.

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