JPH06152459A - Portable radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a portable radio communication equipment which is not seriously damaged when dropped on its internal multifunction realizing means or a main body case. CONSTITUTION:The part of the main body case to easily absorb impact when dropped is covered at least with impact absorbing flexible materials 4, 7 and 8. In that case, when the flexible materials 4, 7 and 8 are covered at the equal height to an external case surface part or at a slightly projecting state, the impact of dropping of the equipment can be absorbed in the state that is absorbed by the flexible materials 4, 7 and 8 covering the important parts of the equipment. Thus, the internal multifunction realizing means or the main body case can be protected from the serious damage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices equipped with an electronic notebook function and the like, and more particularly to portable wireless communication devices equipped with a wireless communication function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a portable wireless communication device (hereinafter referred to as a device) is taken out from a pocket of clothes or the like when transmitting and receiving, and after performing a necessary operation, wireless communication is performed with a partner. It has become a thing. After the wireless communication is completed, it is stored again in a pocket of clothes or the like.
By the way, although this kind of equipment is generally small and lightweight, it is configured as a multi-function (a wireless communication function, an electronic notebook function, etc.), and the operation required to make a desired function work is performed. In addition to being complicated, a high-performance electronic element such as an LSI is usually housed inside the device as a multi-function realizing means. As for this type of equipment, the magazine “DIME” (1991 1
The ones described in Shogakukan, page 82, 83) on October 17, are known.

[0003]

However, in the conventional devices in general, even if the internal multi-function realizing means is mechanically and physically protected by the external body case, its portability, To achieve downsizing and weight reduction,
The whole has to be constructed as a very vulnerable one. As described above, a problem in the case where the device is generally configured is that when the device is used in a state where it is taken out from the pocket of the clothes, the device is often separated from the hand and may fall to the ground or the like. Is. On the other hand, while the usability is improved, the device itself is exposed to the risk of falling. Specifically, for example, assuming that it falls on a hard floor or concrete and collides with it, it is obvious that the main body case will be damaged.For example, if the main body case is made of high-strength and rigid material and the main body case is not damaged. However, the impact caused by a drop collision is stored in the case of the LS as a multi-function realizing means.
It will damage I etc. and cause fatal damage. This is similar to the shock oscillating wave breaking the skeleton of a living body, even if the bulletproof vest made of a steel plate can prevent the bullet from entering the body. Therefore, from such a situation, in the same reason as the body of an automobile is deformed in a traffic accident to absorb the shock and protect the lives of passengers, the main body case can absorb the shock when dropped. Rather, it is connected to the protection of multifunctional means.

However, even if the damage to the multi-function realizing means can be reduced to some extent by the shock absorption in the main body case, there is a fatal damage to the multi-function realizing means itself or the electrical connection between the multi-function realizing means. It is often given.
For example, if the glass on the display unit is damaged, it is impossible to display the function guidance, and eventually the device itself cannot be used. That is, even if it is said that the body case absorbs a shock, if the shock absorbing method is not appropriate, damage to the main body case as well as the multi-function realizing means therein is unavoidable. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable wireless communication device in which not only other internal function realizing means but also the main body case cannot be fatally damaged due to the drop of itself.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Basically, at least a part of the outer case surface of a flat body case having a wireless communication function inside the case is covered with a shock absorbing soft material. It is achieved by being punished.

[0007]

[Function] Specifically, a portion that is easily impacted when dropped,
That is, in the flat body case, at least the apex portion of the three-faced intersection as the outer case surface and the vicinity thereof, and the ridgeline portion of the two-faced intersection and the vicinity thereof are covered with at least a shock absorbing soft material. Is. that time,
When the shock-absorbing soft material is covered at the same height as the outer case surface or slightly protruding from it, the shock when the equipment is dropped is covered in various parts of the equipment. Since it can be absorbed by the soft material in a buffered state, the multi-function realizing means and the body case inside can be protected from fatal damage.

As described above, when the main body case is covered with the shock absorbing soft material, the function of preventing the device from slipping from the finger or the hand and the shock absorbing when the device itself is folded are also provided. It also has functions at the same time. That is, when the device is taken out of a pocket such as clothes, if the shock-absorbing soft material is taken out by a finger, it will be taken out in a state in which the finger is in a good condition. This means that it will not easily fall from your fingers. Even when the device is operated while being held with one hand, the device is satisfactorily hung on one hand, and therefore the device is less likely to drop from the hand. In addition, when the device itself is folded with more force than necessary, for example, when the projecting impact cushioning soft material is folded in a state of facing each other, the impact force at the time of folding is It is a shock absorbing soft material that can be easily absorbed.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the appearance of a foldable device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the device in use. As shown in the figure, the device is roughly divided into two flat main body case portions, and these flat main body case portions are rotatably engaged and fixed via a rotary joint portion 2 for storing and folding. There is. One of the flat body case portions is provided with a receiver (speaker) portion 5 at its tip and a display portion 1 having a display screen 6 as a main element in the remaining region,
The other flat body case portion is also provided with a microphone portion 9 at its tip and an operation portion 3 including various operation keys 10 in the remaining area. The flexible member 4 is uniformly coated on the tip end surface of one flat body case portion except the receiver portion 5, and the tip end surface of the other flat body case portion is also flexible. The material 8 is uniformly coated. Further, both ends of the rotary joint portion 2 are also covered with the flexible material 7, and the flexible materials 4, 7 and 8 absorb the impact force when the equipment is dropped, so that the equipment is protected from the impact. It is a thing. The presence of the flexible member 7 does not hinder the storage folding of the two flat body case portions, and the flexible members 4 and 8 are brought into contact with each other at the time of storage folding, so that the impact at the time of folding is buffered. It is what A power switch 29 is provided on the rotary joint portion 2, but the presence thereof does not hinder the storage folding of the two flat body case portions, and the power switch 29 is exposed to the outside in the storage folded state. It is supposed to be done.

FIG. 2 also shows the device held in one hand. As shown in the figure, this example shows a state of gripping with the left hand, with the thumb A and the index finger B holding the flexible member 7, and the thumb ball C and the little finger D holding the flexible member 8 in between. The directionality of the device, the pointing operation angle, etc. are adjusted. By the way, the flat body case is generally made of a material such as molding resin or metal that is hard and has a smooth surface. Therefore, the surface is slippery. As described above, since the device is gripped by the fingers of the left hand or the like through the flexible members 7 and 8, when a suitable non-slip material is selected as the flexible members 7 and 8, the grip feeling is impaired. Without slipping, it is possible to prevent the device from being dropped from the hand, and even if it is dropped, the presence of the flexible members 7, 4 and 8 can cushion the impact at the time of dropping.

FIG. 3 also shows the device in the folded state of storage, but as shown in the figure, the flexible members 4 and 8 are in contact with each other, and a slight gap is left between the main body cases. It has been stably folded in its state. That is,
Even if the flexible materials 4 and 8 are folded with an unnecessarily large amount of force when folded, the rotation of the flexible materials 4 and 8 is stopped by the mutual contact, and the impact at the time of contact can be absorbed. Also, when equipping the operation unit 3 with a push-type switch,
Since the upper surface of the switch can be arranged so as to protrude from the surface of the main body case by the size of the air gap, the key operability is improved. Further, in the storage folded state, the power switch 29 described above is exposed to the outside, so that it can be easily operated from the outside. Thus, for example, when the user is in the storage folded state, incoming calls from a third party can be rejected at any time, while the incoming call rejection can be easily canceled in the storage folded state at any time. In this case, power switch 2
Instead of 9, it is possible to provide a signal switch having a similar function or to additionally provide a switch having another function.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) each show a mode in which a device in a folded storage state is taken out from a pocket of clothes or the like. In the mode shown in FIG. 4 (a), the device is taken out from the pocket with the thumb A and the forefinger B being held via the flexible members 4 and 8, and in the mode shown in FIG. 4 (b), the thumb is used. The device is grasped by the A and the index finger B via the flexible member 7 and taken out from the pocket. In any case, the flexible members 4, 7 and 8 are made of a non-slip material,
When the flexible material 4, 8 or the flexible material 7 is near the opening of the pocket, the flexible material 4, 8 or the flexible material 7 is grasped by a finger so that the device can be easily dropped from the pocket. It can be taken out without fail. Of course, the situation is the same when the device is stored in the pocket.

FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d) show a possible drop collision state in the case where the device is dropped due to being dropped during operation or storage. The horizontal line shown in the figure indicates the floor surface, etc., but in any of the falling collision conditions, the soft material is the one that initially contacts the floor. Even if the main body case is covered with a soft material as the same height surface,
The probability that the soft material and the component planes or ridges of the equipment will simultaneously contact the floor surface is extremely small, and as shown in Fig. 4 (c), the soft material is covered in a state in which it protrudes from the main body as much as possible. If there is, the main body case can be prevented from coming into contact with the floor surface or the like. In any of the dropped states, the soft material absorbs the impact at the time of dropping, so that the function such as communication, which is the original function of the device, can be maintained.

FIG. 6 shows how the soft materials 4 and 8 are attached to the main body case. In this case, the main body case portions 13 and 14 are formed in a symmetrical shape, and are assembled in a state in which they are attached to each other as shown in the figure, and a groove 15 is formed in a circumferential shape near the tip of the case. It has become a thing. On the other hand, the flexible members 4 and 8 are formed hollow by the skin layer 11 and have an engaging opening 12 to the main body case side.
Has been formed. The flexible members 4 and 8 are fixedly engaged with the grooves 15 on the main body case side through the engaging openings 12, but the hollow inside of the flexible members 4 and 8 is filled with a sponge-like foam layer 16. Thus, the desired function as a flexible material can be obtained. That is, in normal use, the skin layer 11 is not largely deformed, but when it is subjected to a large impact force, the skin layer 11 is largely deformed. Acts as a cushioning material, so that the impact force can be cushioned while the deformation is suppressed to a small level. After the impact force is buffered, by the restoring force of the foam layer 16 itself,
The shape of the flexible members 4 and 8 as a whole can be quickly restored to the original shape. In addition, the main body case portion 13, 1
4 is assembled with functional parts mounted inside, and a set screw or the like is generally used for the assembly, but the main body of the flexible materials 4 and 8 is obtained by finally assembling the flexible materials 4 and 8. The engagement and fixation to the case can partially contribute to the assembly of the main body case portions 13 and 14. In addition, the foam layer 16
Are filled or formed by simultaneous molding or double molding, but the foam layer 16 is made of the same material as the skin layer 11,
It is also possible to adjust the hardness like a soft rubber material to form the skin layer 11 by painting or covering with a sheet material, to increase the hardness of only the skin layer 11 or not to provide the skin layer 11 in some cases.

Similar to FIG. 6, FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) show a state in which the soft material is attached to the main body case in another example. First, referring to the example shown in FIG. 7A, in this example, the rib 17 is formed inside the skin layer 11. However, when the rib 17 is made of the same material as the skin layer 11, the skin layer 11 It is desirable that the rib 17 has a smaller thickness than 11 or is soft. This is one in which the foam layer 16 described above is eliminated and the hollow state is maintained, that is, the foam layer 16 is replaced with an air layer 18 in order to use air as a cushioning material. At that time, the pinholes 19 formed in the ribs 17 allow the air surrounded by the skin layer 11 and the ribs 17 to flow in and out between the air layers 18, so that a sudden external pressure may cause the skin layer 11 to pass through. When acting on 11, the air cannot rapidly move to the adjacent air layer 18 through the pinhole 19, and as a result, a cushioning effect can be expected. For the normal strain of the skin layer 11, the size of the pinhole 19 is set so that the inflow / outflow control of air corresponding to the deformation strain can be performed. Further, the flexible members 4 and 8 are formed with an engagement opening 12, and the engagement opening 12 is formed in the main body case portions 13 and 14 respectively.
It is engaged and fixed in the groove 15 formed on the side, and a molding groove 20 is formed in that portion, as shown in the partially enlarged state of the engaged and fixed portion. Similar to the pinhole 19, the molding groove 20 has an air inflow / outflow function, and pressure control of the air in the air layer 18 at the time of impact is required for the atmosphere outside the device. That is, the pinhole 19
Deals with the regulation of air pressure between the air layers 18,
The molding groove 20 is provided to cope with the adjustment of the air pressure between the inside of the air layer 18 and the outside of the machine body.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 7B, the air layer 18 is formed on the skin layer 11 as the soft material, and the mounting holes 21 formed at the corners of the body case portions 13 and 14 are formed. It is attached via the attachment portion 22 to the. In this case, a pinhole 19 is formed in the center of the attachment portion 22 as a flexible material, so that the air in the air layer 18 can flow into and out of the equipment.
In the present example, the inflow and outflow of air is directed to the inside of the device. However, when a part of the skin layer 11 is formed with an air valve that communicates with external air, the heat from the inside of the device is The heat can be dissipated to the outside of the device through the valve.

As described above, the soft material for shock absorbing is coated on the equipment portion which is susceptible to shock, as shown in FIG.
(C) specifically shows various coating modes of the soft material on the equipment. Of these, the one shown in FIG. 8 (a) shows a case where the three-faced intersection top part (so-called corner part) as the outer case surface part in the flat body case and the vicinity thereof are separately covered with a soft material, In addition, in the case shown in FIG. 8B, when the three-sided intersection apex portions are present close to each other, the three-sided intersection apex portions are collectively covered with the soft material,
FIG. 8C shows a case in which the upper and lower ridge lines are collectively covered with the soft material when the main body case has an arc shape. There are various other coating modes, but in any coating mode, when the device itself falls,
The main body case that is susceptible to impact is covered with a soft material, and the soft material interferes with the impact at the time of dropping, so that the main body case and the multi-function realizing means inside the main body case are effective from the impact. It can be protected.

FIG. 9 also shows an external perspective view of another example of the device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the one in this example is a flat card shape that cannot be folded and stored, and the upper and lower (front and rear) parts of the device body 23 are covered with flexible materials 24 and 25 in a predetermined manner. Has become.

Further, FIG. 10 shows a mounting state of the soft material to the main body case in another example. As shown in the figure, the device main body 26 is partially or entirely covered with the soft material 27, and the notches are formed in the respective parts of the device main body 26 so that a space is provided between the device main body 26 and the soft material 27. It has been formed. By filling the space with a cushioning material 28 such as air or foam material, a shock absorbing effect is provided.

[0020]

As described above, in the case of each of claims 1 to 4, the main body case is fatally damaged not only by the internal multi-function realizing means but also by the drop of itself. Portable wireless communication devices that cannot be done are obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a perspective external view of a device according to the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the device is held in one hand.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage folded state of the same device.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are views showing a mode of taking out a device from a pocket of clothes.

5 (a) to (d) are diagrams showing possible drop collision states of a device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how a soft material is attached to a main body case.

7 (a) and 7 (b) are views showing a mounting state of another example of the soft material to the main body case.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are views showing various modes of coating a device with a soft material.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a perspective external view of another example of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a state where a soft material is attached to the main body case.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display part, 2 ... Rotation joint part, 3 ... Operation part, 4,
7, 8 ... Flexible material, 5 ... Receiver part, 6 ... Display screen, 9 ...
Microphone part, 10 ... Various operation keys.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A portable wireless communication device in which at least a part of an outer case surface of a flat body case having a wireless communication function inside the case is covered with a shock absorbing soft material. 2. A flat main body case having a wireless communication function inside the case is covered with at least a shock absorbing soft material at a three-way crossing top part as an outer case surface part and the vicinity of the top part. A portable wireless communication device. 3. A flat main body case having a wireless communication function inside the case is covered with at least a shock absorbing soft material at a ridgeline portion intersecting with two faces as an outer case surface portion and in the vicinity of the periphery of the ridgeline portion. A portable wireless communication device. 4. A flat main body case having a wireless communication function inside the case, wherein a three-faced intersection top portion as an outer case surface portion, a vicinity of the top portion and a two-faced intersection ridgeline portion and the ridgeline portion are provided. A portable wireless communication device in which the vicinity of the periphery is covered with at least a shock absorbing soft material.