WO2008066342A1

WO2008066342A1 - Sliding apparatus and handy terminal including the sliding apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008066342A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seong-Cheol Lee; Deok-Seon Kim
Original assignee: Diabell Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-12-01
Filing date: 2007-11-29
Publication date: 2008-06-05
Also published as: KR100796719B1

Abstract

Disclosed are a sliding apparatus and a portable terminal having the same. The sliding apparatus includes a first slider; a second slider connected to the first slider, and slid in a direction being parallel with one side of the first slider; and a fixing plate provided on the upper surface of the second slider, and connected to the second slider so as to be rotatable against the second slider. The sliding apparatus further includes hinges connecting the fixing plate to the second slider, wherein each of the hinges includes a coupling member connected to the fixing plate; a housing connected to the second slider; and a rotating member provided with one end inserted into the housing and the other end connected to the coupling member. The upper surface of the second slider and the fixing plate form a predetermined angle by the rotation of the fixing plate.

Description

SLIDING APPARATUS AND HANDY TERMINAL INCLUDING

THE SLIDING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a sliding apparatus and a portable terminal having the same, and more particularly to a sliding apparatus with a rotatable fixing plate and a portable terminal having the sliding apparatus. Background Art

[2] With the spread of portable terminals all over the world, terminals having various functions and designs for satisfying customers tastes have come onto the market. These portable terminals are developed from bar type portable terminals to flip type portable terminals and flip-up type portable terminals. Recently, folder type portable terminals and slide type portable terminals have been mainly used. Such a slide type portable terminal has an operating structure such that a sliding body slides on a main body to a designated length in the length direction of the terminal so as to open the terminal, and is simply used by allowing a user to push and pull the sliding body. Accordingly, the slide type portable terminal achieves the miniaturization of the terminal while having a display screen with a size similar to that of the folder type portable terminal, and is thus preferred as a high-grade model. This slide type portable terminal has been developed toward an auto- sliding method, in which once the sliding body is pushed to a designated length or more, the sliding body automatically moves to the remaining length so as to open the terminal. Various hinge devices for achieving the auto-sliding method, have been developed.

[3] Further, portable terminals for achieving a landscape viewing function, in which a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) service or a game is possible, are spotlighted now. In order to achieve the landscape viewing function, swing phones for converting a screen unit into a horizontal direction or sliding apparatuses for sliding a screen unit in the horizontal direction have been developed now. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[4] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding apparatus with a rotatable fixing plate, and a portable terminal having the sliding apparatus.

[5] It is another object of the present invention to provide a sliding apparatus with a fixing plate, on which a display unit is mounted such that the display unit can be rotated at a predetermined angle, and a portable terminal having the sliding apparatus. Technical Solution

[6] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a sliding apparatus comprising a first slider; a second slider connected to the first slider, and slid in a direction being parallel with one side of the first slider; and a fixing plate provided on the upper surface of the second slider, and connected to the second slider so as to be rotatable against the second slider.

[7] The sliding apparatus may further comprise hinges connecting the fixing plate to the second slider, wherein each of the hinges includes a coupling member connected to the fixing plate; a housing connected to the second slider; and a rotating member provided with one end inserted into the housing and the other end connected to the coupling member. The upper surface of the second slider and the fixing plate may form a predetermined angle by the rotation of the fixing plate.

[8] The second slider may include guiding grooves formed in one side of the second slider, being parallel with the side of the first slider, and the other side of the second slider; and the first slider may include guiding members, formed on the side of the first slider and the other side of the first slider being parallel with the side, into which the guiding grooves are inserted.

[9] The sliding apparatus may further comprise elastic members having ends connected to the first slider and the other ends connected to the second slider, and providing elastic force so as to move the second slider toward one end and the other end of the first slider.

[10] The elastic members may be torsion springs.

[11] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal comprising a first slider mounted on a first body; a second slider mounted on a second body, connected to the first slider, and slid in a direction being parallel with one side of the first slider; and a fixing plate provided on the upper surface of the second slider, and connected to the second slider so as to be rotatable against the second slider.

[12] The second body may be a display unit.

Advantageous Effects

[13] In a sliding apparatus in accordance with the present invention, a rotatable fixing plate is installed on a slider. Further, a display unit is mounted on the fixing plate, and thus is rotatable at a predetermined angle. [14] Hinges and sliders are formed integrally with each other, thereby allowing the sliding apparatus to be firmly assembled and preventing the hinges from being separated from the sliders.

Brief Description of the Drawings [15] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[16] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding hinge apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[17] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding hinge apparatus shown in FIG.

1; and

[18] FIGs. 3 to 5 are schematic views illustrating an operating state of the sliding hinge apparatus of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[19] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 1 to 5. These embodiments can be variously modified, and the scope of the invention is not limited by the embodiments descried below. These embodiments are provided to describe the invention in more detail to those skilled in the art. Thus, shapes of respective elements depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated for clearer description.

[20] Although a sliding apparatus for a portable terminal will be been described below, the scope and spirit of the invention is not limited thereto and the present invention may be applied to various products using a sliding apparatus.

[21] As shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, a sliding hinge apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes an upper slider 110, a lower slider 120, a fixing plate 130, hinges 140, and elastic members 150.

[22] Both ends of the lower slider 120 in the width direction are bent stepwise against the plane surface of the lower slider 120, thus forming guiding members 122.

[23] Both ends of the upper slider 110 in the width direction are bent in a U shape, and a plastic mold is inserted into each of the bent ends of the upper slider 110. In this state, a pair of the elastic members 150 is provided between the upper slider 110 and the lower slider 120, and ends of the elastic members 150 are fixed to the lower slider 120 and the other ends of the elastic members 150 are fixed to the upper slider 110 such that guiding grooves 112 of the upper slider 110 slide along the guiding members 122 of the lower slider 120. A stopper 124 is further provided at one end of each of the guiding members 122 in the length direction, thus preventing the upper slider 110 from being separated from the lower slider 120 when sliding. The elastic members 150 may be torsion springs, and are fixed to positions symmetrical to each other.

[24] The fixing plate 130 is located on the upper surface of the upper slider 110.

[25] A pair of the hinges 140 is provided. Each of the hinges 140 includes a housing 142 formed integrally with one side of the upper slider 110 or fixed to one side of the upper slider 110 by a rivet, a rotating member 144, and a coupling member 146 formed integrally with one side of the fixing plate 130 or fixed to one side of the fixing plate 130 by a rivet. Here, the housing 142 and the coupling member 146 are located such that they correspond to each other. The rotating member 144 is provided with a bar type rotating shaft 144a, formed at one end thereof, which is inserted into the housing 142 such that the rotating shaft 144a can be rotated in the housing 142, and the other portion of the rotating member 144 is flat- shaped and is connected to the coupling member 146 by screws 148. For example, in the case that the housings 142 and the coupling members 146 of the hinges 140 are respectively formed integrally with the upper slider 110 and the fixing plate 130, the housings 142 and the coupling members 146 can be formed by welding or casting, and in the case that the housings 142 and the coupling members 146 of the hinges 140 are respectively fixed to the upper slider 110 and the fixing plate 130 by the rivets, flat panels (not shown) are respectively provided separately from the housings 142 and the coupling members 146, and the housings 142 and the coupling members 146 are respectively fixed to the upper slider 110 and the fixing plate 130 using the flat panels (not shown).

[26] A preferred embodiment of the present invention describes the housings 142 and the coupling members 146, which are respectively formed integrally with the upper slider 110 and the fixing plate 130.

[27] That is, after each of the rotating members 144 is located between the corresponding one of the housings 142 and the fixing plate 130 under the condition that the housings 142 are provided on the upper slider 110 and the coupling members 146 are provided on the fixing plate 130, ends of the rotating members 144 are connected to the corresponding housings 142 and the other ends of the rotating members 144 are connected to the corresponding coupling members 146, and thus the rotating members 144 are rotated. Here, the fixing plate 130 is rotated at a tilt angle (θ) of 5-45 to the upper slider 110. The reason is that a display unit mounted on the fixing plate 130 and a main body unit provided on the lower slider 120 do not interfere with each other.

[28] Hereinafter, with reference to the annexed drawings, an operating state of the sliding hinge apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail.

[29] As shown in FIGs. 3 to 5, a display unit 200 is mounted on the upper slider 110, and a main body unit 300 is mounted on the lower slider 120. Here, the display unit 200 includes a landscape viewing screen.

[30] With reference to FIGs. 3 and 4, when the upper slider 110 is slid from the lower slider 120 in one direction, the upper slider 110 compresses the elastic members 150 and moves up to the central portions of the guiding members 122 in the length direction. When the upper slider 110 passes by the central portions of the guiding members 122 in the length direction, the compressive force of the elastic members 150 functions as an expensive force, and thus the upper slider 110 moves up to the end of the lower slider 120 by means of the expensive force. Then, the stoppers 124, which are provided at the ends of the guiding members 122 of the lower slider 120, prevent the upper slider 110 from being separated from the lower slider 120. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the display unit 200 is lifted up toward a screen (not shown) under the condition that the display unit 200 and the main body unit 300 are slid against each other to some degree, the display unit 200 is rotated by the hinges 140 connecting the fixing plate 130 and the upper slider 110, and thus the display unit 200 and the main body unit 300 form a designated tilt angle (θ) so as to allow a user to more easily watch the screen. Industrial Applicability

[31] The present invention may be applied to various fields requiring a sliding apparatus, and more particularly to a portable telephone and a portable terminal including a game machine.

[32] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A sliding apparatus comprising: a first slider; a second slider being connected to the first slider, and moving in a direction being parallel with one side of the first slider by sliding; and a fixing plate provided on the upper surface of the second slider, and connected to the second slider so as to be rotatable against the second slider. [2] The sliding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising hinge connecting the fixing plate to the second slider, wherein each of the hinge includes: a coupling member connected to the fixing plate; a housing connected to the second slider; and a rotating member provided with one end inserted into the housing and the other end connected to the coupling member. [3] The sliding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the second slider and the fixing plate have a predetermined angle by the rotation of the fixing plate. [4] The sliding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the second slider has guiding grooves formed in one side and the other side of the second slider, the guiding grooves being parallel with the side of the first slider; and the first slider includes guiding members, the guiding members being disposed on the one side of the first slider and the other side of the first slider being parallel with the side, being inserted into the guiding grooves respectively. [5] The sliding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising elastic member having end connected to the first slider and the other end connected to the second slider, and providing elastic force so as to move the second slider toward the one end and the other end of the first slider. [6] The sliding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member includes torsion springs. [7] A portable terminal comprising: a first slider mounted on a first body; a second slider mounted on a second body, being connected to the first slider, and moving in a direction being parallel with one side of the first slider by sliding; and a fixing plate provided on the upper surface of the second slider, and connected to the second slider so as to be rotatable against the second slider. [8] The portable terminal according to claim 7, further comprising hinge connecting the fixing plate to the second slider, wherein each of the hinge includes: a coupling member connected to the fixing plate; a housing connected to the second slider; and a rotating member provided with one end inserted into the housing and the other end connected to the coupling member. [9] The portable terminal according to claim 7, wherein the upper surface of the second slider and the fixing plate have a predetermined angle by the rotation of the fixing plate. [10] The portable terminal according to claim 7, wherein the second body is a display unit.