JP5022331B2 - Foldable mobile terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foldable portable terminal in which a first casing and a second casing are connected by a hinge portion having three rotation axes.

  Conventionally, a foldable portable terminal in which a first casing and a second casing are connected by a hinge portion having three rotation axes is known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, in a foldable mobile phone device that supports a lower case so that the upper case can be folded by a hinge unit, the hinge unit is provided with three rotation shafts orthogonal to each other, and three rotation axis directions are provided. By combining these rotations, the upper housing can be opened and closed in a plurality of opening and closing directions. Specifically, the hinge unit is divided into a first hinge unit and a second hinge unit, and the first hinge unit supports the first hinge unit itself so as to be rotatable relative to the lower housing. A first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft that rotatably supports the second hinge unit with respect to the first hinge unit are provided orthogonal to each other. A third rotating shaft that rotatably supports the upper housing with respect to the second hinge unit is provided orthogonal to the second rotating shaft.
JP 2005-198062 A

  However, in the foldable portable terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the side-open state is set, a part of the upper casing and a part of the hinge unit cover the part of the lower casing. There is a problem that the range in which the operation keys are provided is narrowed and operation is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to expose the entire surface of the second casing in a laterally open state in a foldable portable terminal having three rotating shafts. Thus, the operability and visibility are improved.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, in the laterally open state, one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing is positioned below one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing. did.

Specifically, in the first invention, a foldable portable terminal in which a first casing and a second casing are connected by a hinge portion having three rotation axes, is targeted.
The three rotation axes are
A first rotation shaft that is provided at an end of the first casing on the hinge part side and rotates the first casing with respect to the hinge part so that the front and back can be turned upside down;
A second portion provided at a corner of the second housing on the hinge side end, extending in a longitudinal direction of the second housing, and rotating the hinge portion about the longitudinal direction of the second housing; A rotation axis;
A third rotation axis provided in the hinge portion and orthogonal to the first rotation axis;
Consists of
The first of the housing and the second housing is folded to polymerization, the first housing, a closed state Do that the ledge-free rectangular shape and the second housing and the hinge portion ,
A vertically opened state in which the first casing is opened around the third rotation axis with respect to the second casing;
The first casing is configured to be switchable to a laterally open state opened around the second rotation axis with respect to the second casing together with the hinge portion,
In the laterally open state, one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing is positioned below one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing.

With the above structure, the first casing and the second casing and is folded by polymerizing, closing the first housing, that Do a second housing and a rectangular parallelepiped shape with no bulge in the hinge portion By rotating only the second rotation shaft from the state, the first casing is in a laterally open state in which the longitudinal direction of the first casing is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the second casing. In this laterally open state, one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing is positioned below one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing, and the hinge portion also rotates together with the first casing. Therefore, the entire surface of the second casing is exposed. For this reason, the visibility and operability of the second housing 5 are improved. If the folding portable terminal is placed on a desk or the like with the first casing disposed on the back side of the second casing, the other side extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing, and the second One side of the casing extending in the longitudinal direction comes into contact with the mounting surface, and the second casing is appropriately inclined toward the user, thereby improving visibility and operability. Further, when only the third rotation shaft is rotated from the closed state, the first casing and the second casing are opened to be in a vertically opened state. If only the first rotation shaft is rotated in this state, the front and back of the first housing are reversed. When the first casing is rotated to the second casing side around the third rotation axis with the first casing reversed, the first casing is closed with the front and back reversed. In this way, switching between the closed state, the vertically open state, and the laterally open state can be freely performed by the three rotating shafts.

In the second invention, in the first invention,
A first attachment portion that connects the first rotating shaft and the first housing;
A second attachment portion that connects the second rotating shaft and the second housing;
A first connecting portion that is orthogonal to the first rotating shaft and connects the first rotating shaft and the third rotating shaft;
A second connecting portion that is orthogonal to the second rotating shaft and connects the second rotating shaft and the third rotating shaft is provided.

  According to said structure, if a 1st attaching part is attached to a 1st housing | casing and a 2nd attaching part is attached to a 2nd housing | casing, a foldable portable terminal will be centered on three rotating shafts by simple structure. It can be switched between a closed state, a vertically open state, and a horizontally open state.

In the third invention, in the second invention,
The first rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft, the third rotating shaft, the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are configured by one metal product hinge unit,
The first mounting portion is covered by the first housing;
The second mounting portion is covered by the second casing;
The first rotating shaft and the first connecting portion are covered with a longitudinal opening side hinge cover,
The second rotating shaft, the second connecting portion, and the third rotating shaft are covered with a laterally opening side hinge cover,
The portion of the second casing where the second rotation shaft is provided at the hinge portion side end portion is notched to form a second rotation shaft housing portion, and the remaining portion of the hinge portion side end portion Is recessed to form a hinge receiving recess,
In the closed state, a part of the side opening hinge cover is housed in the second rotating shaft housing portion and the hinge housing recess.

  According to said structure, since the thickness of the foldable portable terminal in a closed state is suppressed, an external appearance and portability improve and merchantability increases. In addition, since the cover is divided at the boundary where they rotate, the rotation of each rotating shaft is not hindered.

In the fourth invention, in the third invention,
At the corner on the opposite side of the corner at the hinge side end of the second casing, the hinge is locked to the second casing to prevent the lateral opening. A locking mechanism is provided,
The side opening lock mechanism is
A locking hole formed in the lateral opening side hinge cover;
A locking member built in the opposite side corner of the second housing, the tip of which is locked in the locking hole;
A biasing member that biases the locking member toward the locking hole;
A finger hooking portion that is coupled to the locking member, is exposed from a side surface of the second housing, and slides the locking member against a biasing force of the biasing member;

  According to the above configuration, in the locked state by the lateral opening lock mechanism, the distal end of the engaging member incorporated in the second casing is engaged with the engaging hole of the lateral opening side hinge cover. At this time, since the urging member urges the locking member toward the locking hole, it is possible to prevent the hinge portion from being reliably locked to the second housing and being in a laterally open state. On the other hand, the locked state is released by putting a finger on the finger hooking portion of the locking member and extracting the tip of the locking member from the locking hole against the biasing force of the biasing member.

In the fifth invention, in any one of the fourth inventions,
The value of the rotation torque for rotating the second rotary shaft is smaller than the value of the rotational torque for rotating the value or the third rotation shaft of the rotational torque for rotating the first rotary shaft ,
The second rotating shaft is preferentially moved in a state where the side opening lock mechanism is released .

  According to the above configuration, by providing a difference in rotational torque values between the first rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft, and the third rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft is preferentially used when a lateral opening state is desired. When the first and third rotating shafts that do not want to move and move are prevented from rotating or when the first rotating shaft is desired to open vertically, the third rotating shaft moves preferentially and the first and second rotating shafts that do not want to move rotate. The switching can be performed very smoothly.

  As described above, according to the foldable portable terminal of the present invention, the three rotary shafts are provided so as to be switchable between the closed state, the vertically opened state, and the horizontally opened state. Since one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the casing is positioned below one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing, the entire surface of the second casing is exposed in the laterally open state. The operability and visibility can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 5 show a foldable mobile phone 1 as a foldable mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The foldable mobile phone 1 includes a first casing 3 having a display unit 2 on its surface, and an operation. And a second housing 5 having the portion 4 on the surface. Each of the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 has a rectangular plate shape and is connected by a hinge portion 6. The display unit 2 may be a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The arrangement of the keys 4a of the operation unit 4 is not particularly limited. The end of the second casing 5 on the hinge section 6 side is recessed so that a part of the hinge section 6 is accommodated when the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are closed. A hinge housing recess 5a is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the hinge portion 6 includes first to third three rotation shafts 10, 11, and 12.

  The first rotating shaft 10 extends in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 3 at the left and right center of the end portion of the first housing 3 on the hinge portion 6 side. The first rotating shaft 10 has a role of rotating the first casing 3 with respect to the hinge portion 6 so as to be able to be turned upside down. The first rotating shaft 10 and the first housing 3 are connected by a first attachment portion 13 that extends in the width direction of the first housing 3. The first mounting portion 13 has a first mounting portion main body 13 a extending in the width direction of the first housing 3, and both ends of the first mounting portion main body 13 a are bent in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 3. Thus, a bent portion 13b is formed. A pair of first screw insertion holes 13c is formed in each bent portion 13b, and a first shaft insertion hole 13d is formed in the center in the width direction of the first mounting portion main body 13a. The hollow first rotating shaft 10 is connected to the first shaft insertion hole 13d so as not to rotate by caulking or fitting. The outer periphery of the first rotating shaft 10 is covered with a resin-made first sleeve 10a. The first attachment portion 13 is covered with the first housing 3 together with the first sleeve 10a. An end portion of the first rotating shaft 10 opposite to the first mounting portion 13 is formed in a bowl shape, and a first regulating protrusion 10b (see FIGS. 7 and 10) that regulates the rotation range on the outer periphery of the bowl-shaped portion. Is shown). By inserting a screw (not shown) into the first screw insertion hole 13c and fastening it, the first housing 3 is connected to the hinge portion 6 via the first rotation shaft 10 so as to be rotatable (reversibly turnable). Yes.

  The upper right corner at the end of the second housing 5 on the hinge part 6 side is notched to form a second rotating shaft housing part 5b. The second rotating shaft 11 is provided in the second rotating shaft housing portion 5 b and extends in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5. The second rotating shaft 11 has a role of rotating the hinge portion 6 together with the first housing 3 around the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5. The second rotating shaft 11 is rotatably connected to the second casing 5 via the second mounting portion 14. The second attachment portion 14 has a second attachment portion main body 14a extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing 5, and the second attachment portion main body 14a has a pair of second screw insertion holes 14b. . An extension portion 14c extending rightward is formed after the second attachment portion main body 14a is bent vertically to the back surface side of the second housing 5. The extension 14c has a second shaft insertion hole 14d, and the hollow second rotating shaft 11 is connected to the second shaft insertion hole 14d. The outer periphery of the second rotating shaft 11 is covered with a resin-made second sleeve 11a. The second attachment portion 14 is covered with the second casing 5 together with the second sleeve 11a. The second rotating shaft 11 is connected to the second housing 5 by inserting and fastening a screw (not shown) into the second screw insertion hole 14b.

  The 3rd rotating shaft 12 is provided in the hinge part 6, is extended in the width direction of the 1st housing | casing 3, and a pair of thing is arrange | positioned at intervals. The first rotating shaft 10 is orthogonal to the center of the pair of third rotating shafts 12. Specifically, the pair of third rotating shafts 12 and the first rotating shaft 10 are connected via a first connecting portion 15 that extends in a direction orthogonal to the first rotating shaft 10. The first connecting portion 15 has a third shaft insertion hole 15a at the center in the width direction of the first housing 3, and the first rotation shaft 10 is rotatably inserted into the third shaft insertion hole 15a. The first connecting portion 15 has a first restricting contact portion 15b that contacts the first restricting protrusion 10b and restricts the rotation range of the first rotating shaft 10 (first housing 3) to 180 °. Fastened with screws 15c. Both ends of the first connecting portion 15 have leg portions 15d bent vertically (longitudinal direction of the first housing 3), and third leg insertion holes 15e are formed in the respective leg portions 15d. The third rotating shaft 12 opposite to the second rotating shaft 11 is formed of a solid hinge shaft, and has a mechanism that rotates with moderation and urging force inside. The third rotating shaft 12 on the second rotating shaft 11 side is formed hollow.

  The third rotating shaft 12 and the second rotating shaft 11 are connected by a second connecting portion 16. As shown in FIG. 10, the second connecting portion 16 includes a second connecting portion main body 16 a that is orthogonal to the second rotating shaft 11 and extends to the surface side of the second housing 5, and this second connecting portion. A connecting portion side second shaft insertion hole 16b through which the second rotating shaft 11 is inserted is formed in the portion main body 16a. A portion protruding from the surface of the second housing 5 of the second connecting portion main body 16a is bent in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5 to form a bent portion 16c, and a third portion is formed on the bent portion 16c. A shaft insertion hole 16d is formed. A hollow third rotating shaft 12 is connected to the third shaft insertion hole 16d by caulking or the like. The outer periphery of the hollow third rotating shaft 12 is covered with a resin-made third sleeve 12a. Below the second housing 5 of the bent portion 16c is connected to a third rotating shaft connecting plate 16e extending in parallel with the third rotating shaft 12, and as shown in FIG. 9, this third rotating shaft connecting plate. A third rotating shaft 12 comprising a hinge shaft is connected to a hinge shaft mounting portion 16f at the tip of 16e.

  Note that a protrusion such as the first restricting protrusion 10b of the first rotating shaft 10 may be provided on the second rotating shaft 11 to restrict the rotation range.

  By providing the first rotating shaft 10, the second rotating shaft 11, and the third rotating shaft 12, the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 as shown in FIG. 1 can be folded with a simple configuration. FIG. 5 shows a closed state in which the first casing 3 is superposed and a vertically opened state in which the first casing 3 as shown in FIG. The first housing 3 as shown is configured to be able to be switched to a laterally open state opened around the second rotation shaft 11 with respect to the second housing 5 together with the hinge portion 6. In this laterally open state, one side (right side surface 3 a) extending in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 3 is positioned below one side (right side surface 5 d) extending in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5. . Note that the characters attached to the keys 4a may be easy to see either in the vertically long state or in the horizontally long state.

  Although not shown, at the center of the first rotary shaft 10, the second rotary shaft 11, and the third rotary shaft 12 on the second rotary shaft 11 side, the substrate in the first casing 3 and the second casing are provided. A signal line for electrically connecting the substrate in the body 5 is inserted.

  Moreover, the said 1st rotating shaft 10, the 2nd rotating shaft 11, the 3rd rotating shaft 12, the 1st attachment part 13, the 2nd attachment part 14, the 1st connection part 15, and the 2nd connection part 16 are one metal products. The hinge unit 7 is configured. For this reason, in the assembly of the foldable mobile phone 1, the first mounting portion 13 is fastened to the first housing 3 and the second mounting portion 14 is fastened to the second housing 5, so that the assembly is easy. It has become.

  The 1st rotating shaft 10 and the 1st connection part 15 are covered by the 1st hinge cover 6a as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped longitudinal opening side hinge cover. The first hinge cover 6 a is rounded on the side opposite to the first housing 3 so that the first hinge cover 6 a can rotate around the third rotation shaft 12.

  The second rotating shaft 11, the second connecting portion main body 16a and the bent portion 16c of the second connecting portion 16, and the hollow third rotating shaft 12 are covered with the second hinge cover 6b. The third sleeve 12a is covered with a second hinge cover 6b.

  The 3rd rotating shaft 12 which consists of a hinge axis | shaft is covered with the 3rd hinge cover 6c. The third rotating shaft connecting plate 16e is covered with a long and thin fourth hinge cover 6d. The second hinge cover 6b, the third hinge cover 6c, and the fourth hinge cover 6d constitute a side-opening hinge cover, and in the closed state, the hinge receiving recess 5a can be partially accommodated in the hinge receiving recess 5a. Together, it has a step shape. Although the second hinge cover 6b, the third hinge cover 6c, and the fourth hinge cover 6d are divided and configured, they may be integrated by being split into two parts in the thickness direction. Further, the first to third sleeves 10a, 11a, and 12a prevent the rotation of the first to third rotating shafts 10, 11, and 12 from being hindered. Thus, the hinge part 6 is covered with good appearance without obstructing the rotation of the first rotating shaft 10, the second rotating shaft 11, and the third rotating shaft 12 with a simple configuration.

  A lateral opening lock mechanism 20 is provided at the upper left corner on the opposite side of the second rotating shaft housing 5b at the end of the second housing 5 on the hinge 6 side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the wall perpendicular to the surface of the second casing 5 of the stepped portion accommodated in the hinge accommodating recess 5 a of the third hinge cover 6 c has a rectangular shape. A service hole 21 is opened. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a locking member 22 is built in the upper left corner of the second housing 5, and a tip 22 a of the locking member 22 is formed in the locking hole 21. It can be locked. The front end 22a is locked to the locking hole 21 so that the hinge portion 6 is locked to the second housing 5 and is prevented from being opened sideways.

  On the wall corresponding to the locking hole 21 of the hinge receiving recess 5a, a locking member access opening 23 is formed. The front end 22 a of the locking member 22 extends in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5 (second rotating shaft 11) and can enter and exit from the locking member access opening 23. The tip 22a is formed with a tapered surface 22e that is inclined from the front side to the back side of the second housing 5 toward the tip.

  The base end side of the locking member 22 is formed with a wide spring contact portion 22b. A compression coil spring 24 as a biasing member is built in the second housing 5 along the sliding direction of the locking member 22. One end of the compression coil spring 24 is in contact with the spring contact portion 22b, the other end is in contact with a part of the second housing 5 (not shown), and the locking member 22 is moved into the locking hole 21 (locking member in / out). Urging toward the opening 23).

  On the left side surface 5 e of the second housing 5, a finger hooking opening 5 c extends in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5. The spring contact portion 22b is provided with a finger hook portion 22c that extends to the left and is exposed from the finger hook opening 5c. The finger hooking portion 22c is inclined leftward in the direction away from the hinge receiving recess 5a and has a protrusion 22d protruding leftward so that the locking member 22 can be easily slid. When the finger hook portion 22c is slid in the direction away from the hinge receiving recess 5a against the urging force of the compression coil spring 24, the tip 22a of the locking member 22 locked to the locking hole 21 becomes the locking hole. It comes out of 21.

  For example, by providing an elastic member such as a spring around the second rotation shaft 11, when the finger hook portion 22 c is slid, the first housing 3 is automatically opened to be in a laterally open state. Good.

-Operation-
Next, the foldable mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment is switched to two closed states, a vertically opened state and a horizontally opened state around the first rotating shaft 10, the second rotating shaft 11, and the third rotating shaft 12. The procedure to be described is explained.

  At the time of carrying or not in use, as shown in FIG. 1, the foldable portable terminal 1 is in a closed state in which the first housing 3 and the second housing 5 are folded and overlapped. At this time, the hinge unit 7 is in the state shown in FIGS. In this state, the second hinge cover 6b, the third hinge cover 6c, and the fourth hinge cover 6d are partly housed in the hinge housing recess 5a and the second rotating shaft housing 5b. For this reason, since the thickness of the foldable mobile phone 1 in the closed state can be suppressed, the appearance and portability are improved, and the merchantability is high.

  In the locked state by the lateral opening lock mechanism 20 in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 12A, the tip of the locking member 22 built in the second housing 5 in the locking hole 21 of the third hinge cover 6c. 22a is locked. At this time, the compression coil spring 24 urges the locking member 22 toward the locking hole 21, thereby preventing the hinge portion 6 from being reliably locked to the second housing 5 and being in a laterally open state. The

  Next, when it is desired to use the display unit 2 in a vertically long state such as making a call or sending / receiving an e-mail, the display unit 2 is switched to a vertically open state. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, when only the third rotating shaft 12 is rotated from the closed state while the lock mechanism 20 is locked, the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are rotated. And will open vertically. At this time, the second hinge cover 6b, the third hinge cover 6c, and the fourth hinge cover 6d are partially accommodated in the hinge accommodating recess 5a and the second rotating shaft accommodating portion 5b, and the first hinge cover 6a. Only rotate with the first housing 3.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, if only the first rotating shaft 10 is rotated in the vertically opened state, the front and back of the first housing 3 are reversed. In this case, only the first housing 3 rotates.

  Further, although not shown, when the first housing 3 is turned upside down and rotated around the third rotation shaft 12 toward the second housing 5, the first housing 3 is closed with the front and back turned upside down. . In this state, it becomes a closed and compact state, and if the way of holding is changed, the vertically or horizontally long display portion 2 can be seen.

  Next, when the display unit 2 and the operation unit 4 are to be used in landscape orientation, such as watching TV on the foldable mobile phone 1, typing an e-mail, or using the Internet, it is switched to a side-open state. First, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), a finger is hooked on the finger hooking portion 22 c of the locking member 22, and the tip 22 a of the locking member 22 is moved from the locking hole 21 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 24. The lock state is released by extracting. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, the longitudinal direction of the first housing 3 and the longitudinal direction of the second housing 5 are parallel by rotating only the second rotation shaft 11. It becomes the state of side opening. In the laterally open state, the right side surface 3 a of the first housing 3 is positioned below the right side surface 5 d of the second housing 5. Moreover, since the hinge part 6 also rotates with the 1st housing | casing 3, the whole surface of the 2nd housing | casing 5 is exposed. Therefore, the operation unit 4 can be provided on the entire surface of the second housing 5. Further, when placed on a desk or the like in a laterally open state, the left side surface 5e of the second housing 5 and the right side surface 3a of the first housing 3 abut against the placement surface, and the second housing 5 Is moderately inclined to the user side. Therefore, the horizontally long operation unit 4 can be operated in a state where the horizontally long screen is displayed on the display unit 2 and the second housing 5 is appropriately inclined toward the user.

  Further, since the tapered surface 22e is formed at the tip 22a so as to taper from the front surface side to the back surface side of the second housing 5, the first housing 3 is rotated in the second direction from the horizontally long state. When the shaft 11 is rotated around the shaft 11 to return to the closed state, the peripheral edge of the locking hole 21 comes into contact with the tapered surface 22e to push back the compression coil spring 24, and the tip 22a reaches the locking hole 21 again. The compression coil spring 24 presses the locking member 22, and the tip 22 a is automatically locked in the locking hole 21 to be locked.

-Effect of the embodiment-
Therefore, according to the foldable mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the first rotating shaft 10, the second rotating shaft 11, and the third rotating shaft 12 are provided, and can be switched between a closed state, a vertically opened state, and a horizontally opened state. And the right side surface 3a of the first housing 3 is positioned below the right side surface 5d of the second housing 5 in the horizontally opened state, so that the second housing is opened in the horizontally opened state. Operability and visibility can be improved by exposing the entire surface of 5.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention may have the following configurations for the embodiments.

  That is, in the embodiment, the display unit 2 is provided in the first housing 3 and the operation unit 4 is provided in the second housing 5. However, the display unit is also provided in a part of the second housing 5. An operation unit may also be provided in a part of the first housing 3.

  A touch panel may be provided on at least one of the first housing 3 and the second housing 5. If the touch panel is used, the keys can be arranged in a direction that is easy for the user to operate regardless of whether the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are vertically long or horizontally long, so that operability and visibility are improved.

Moreover, you may make it the value of the rotational torque for making it rotate with the 1st rotating shaft 10, the 2nd rotating shaft 11, and the 3rd rotating shaft 12 each differ. By doing so, the first and third rotary shafts 10 and 12 that the second rotary shaft 11 does not want to move and move preferentially even after the lock mechanism 20 is unlocked when the lock mechanism 20 is unlocked. Can be prevented from rotating, so that the switching is performed very smoothly.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, the 2nd rotating shaft accommodating part 5b was provided in the upper right corner part in the edge part by the side of the hinge part 6 of the 2nd housing | casing 5, and the 2nd rotating shaft was provided in this 2nd rotating shaft accommodating part 5b. 11 may be provided at the upper left corner. In this case, the lock mechanism 20 may be provided at the upper right corner, and the symmetrical hinge unit 7 may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the foldable mobile terminal 1 is the foldable mobile phone 1, but it may be a PHS, PDA, PC, mobile tool, electronic dictionary, calculator, game machine, or the like.

  In addition, the above embodiment is an essentially preferable illustration, Comprising: It does not intend restrict | limiting the range of this invention, its application thing, or a use.

It is a perspective view which shows the closed state of the foldable mobile telephone concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state of the vertical opening of the foldable mobile telephone concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that only the 1st housing | casing is rotated from the state of the vertical opening of the foldable mobile telephone concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the state of the side opening of the folding-type mobile phone concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the 1st case side. It is the perspective view which looked at the state of the side opening of the folding-type mobile phone concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the front side. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the hinge unit in the state of FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the hinge unit in the state of FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the hinge unit in the state of FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the hinge unit in the state of FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the hinge unit of FIG. 6 from another direction. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a lock mechanism and its periphery by partly fracture | rupturing a 2nd housing | casing. It is side sectional drawing which shows a locking mechanism and its periphery, (a) shows a locked state, (b) shows a lock release state.

1 Folding mobile phone (folding mobile terminal)
2 Display unit 3 First housing 3a Right side surface (one side extending in the longitudinal direction)
4 Operation part 5 2nd housing | casing 5a Hinge accommodation recessed part 5b 2nd rotating shaft accommodation part (corner part)
5c Opening for fingers 5d Right side (one side extending in the longitudinal direction)
5e Left side 6 Hinge part 6a First hinge cover (vertical opening side hinge cover)
6b Second hinge cover (side opening hinge cover)
6c 3rd hinge cover (side opening side hinge cover)
6d 4th hinge cover (side opening hinge cover)
7 hinge unit 10 first rotating shaft 11 second rotating shaft 12 third rotating shaft 13 first mounting portion 14 second mounting portion 15 first connecting portion 16 second connecting portion 20 locking mechanism 21 locking hole 22 locking member 22a tip 22b spring contact portion 22c finger hook portion 24 compression coil spring (biasing member)

Claims (5)

In the foldable portable terminal in which the first casing and the second casing are connected by a hinge portion having three rotation axes,
The three rotation axes are
A first rotation shaft that is provided at an end of the first casing on the hinge part side and rotates the first casing with respect to the hinge part so that the front and back can be turned upside down;
A second portion provided at a corner of the second housing on the hinge side end, extending in a longitudinal direction of the second housing, and rotating the hinge portion about the longitudinal direction of the second housing; A rotation axis;
A third rotation axis provided in the hinge portion and orthogonal to the first rotation axis;
Consists of
The first of the housing and the second housing is folded to polymerization, the first housing, a closed state Do that the ledge-free rectangular shape and the second housing and the hinge portion ,
A vertically opened state in which the first casing is opened around the third rotation axis with respect to the second casing;
The first casing is configured to be switchable to a laterally open state opened around the second rotation axis with respect to the second casing together with the hinge portion,
In the laterally open state, the one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing is positioned below one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing. In the foldable portable terminal according to claim 1,
A first attachment portion that connects the first rotating shaft and the first housing;
A second attachment portion that connects the second rotating shaft and the second housing;
A first connecting portion that is orthogonal to the first rotating shaft and connects the first rotating shaft and the third rotating shaft;
A foldable portable terminal comprising: a second connecting portion that is orthogonal to the second rotating shaft and connects the second rotating shaft and the third rotating shaft. In the foldable portable terminal according to claim 2,
The first rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft, the third rotating shaft, the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are configured by one metal product hinge unit,
The first mounting portion is covered by the first housing;
The second mounting portion is covered by the second casing;
The first rotating shaft and the first connecting portion are covered with a longitudinal opening side hinge cover,
The second rotating shaft, the second connecting portion, and the third rotating shaft are covered with a laterally opening side hinge cover,
The portion of the second casing where the second rotation shaft is provided at the hinge portion side end portion is notched to form a second rotation shaft housing portion, and the remaining portion of the hinge portion side end portion Is recessed to form a hinge receiving recess,
A part of the side opening hinge cover is housed in the second rotating shaft housing portion and the hinge housing recess in the closed state. In the foldable portable terminal according to claim 3,
At the corner on the opposite side of the corner at the hinge side end of the second casing, the hinge is locked to the second casing to prevent the lateral opening. A locking mechanism is provided,
The side opening lock mechanism is
A locking hole formed in the lateral opening side hinge cover;
A locking member built in the opposite side corner of the second housing, the tip of which is locked in the locking hole;
A biasing member that biases the locking member toward the locking hole;
A finger hook portion coupled to the locking member, exposed from a side surface of the second casing, and sliding the locking member against the biasing force of the biasing member;
A foldable portable terminal characterized by comprising: In the foldable portable terminal according to claim 4 ,
The value of the rotation torque for rotating the second rotary shaft is smaller than the value of the rotational torque for rotating the value or the third rotation shaft of the rotational torque for rotating the first rotary shaft ,
The foldable portable terminal , wherein the second rotating shaft is preferentially moved in a state where the side opening lock mechanism is released .

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