WO2008078959A1

WO2008078959A1 - Swing hinge apparatus for cellular phone

Info

Publication number: WO2008078959A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006829
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung-Gun Park
Original assignee: Diabell Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-12-26
Filing date: 2007-12-26
Publication date: 2008-07-03
Also published as: KR100845220B1; KR20080059962A

Abstract

A swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone is disclosed. The swing hinge apparatus according to the present invention comprises an upper rotary body; a lower rotary body mounting the upper rotary body and enabling the upper rotary body to rotate and vertically move therein; a fixing shaft interconnecting the upper rotary body and the lower rotary body; and an elastic member disposed between the fixing shaft and the upper rotary body. According to this structure, generation of friction is restrained during rotation of the rotary bodies, thereby minimizing noise and abrasion caused by the friction.

Description

Description SWING HINGE APPARATUS FOR CELLULAR PHONE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a swing hinge apparatus, and more particularly to a swing hinge apparatus capable of minimizing generation of noise and abrasion of rotary bodies by restraining friction generated during rotation of the rotary bodies.

[2]

Background Art

[3] According to popularization of mobile cellular phones throughout the world, a variety of functions and designs of the cellular phone have been developed to meet consumers various tastes. Regarding the design of the mobile terminals, progress has been made from a bar-type terminal, a flip-type terminal, and a flip-up-type terminal to a folder-type terminal and a slider-type terminal in recent times. The slider-type terminal operates in such a manner that a slider body opens by sliding on a main body by a predetermined length in a length direction of the terminal. Therefore, a user can conveniently operate the slider-type terminal by simply sliding up and down the slider body in the length direction. The slider-type terminal is preferred by users as an advanced form because it can be achieved in a compact size even with a relatively wide display unit having a similar area with the folder-type terminal. Especially, such slider-type terminals have been progressing into an auto-sliding system nowadays, in which the slider body can be fully slid open when being slid up by only a predetermined length. Accordingly, various hinge apparatuses for embodying the auto- sliding system have been developed, too.

[4] Recently, as a DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) service enabling TV watching, game playing and the like is becoming popular, mobile terminals having a horizontal viewing function are becoming the trend. Therefore, a swing phone and a horizontal slider phone for switching a vertical position of a display unit to a horizontal position are being introduced.

[5] The swing phone and the horizontal slider phone have their own structures for performing the horizontal viewing function. More specifically, for example, the swing phone comprises two rotary bodies separately mounted at upper and lower parts and rotated about a swing axis. Each of the rotary bodies is equipped with a cam so that the rotary body after being rotated by a predetermined angle is fixed by the cam.

[6] However, in a hinge apparatus of the above- structured swing phone, friction is generated between the upper and lower rotary bodies rotating relative to each other, thereby abrading the rotary bodies. [7] Furthermore, such abrasion may loosen connection between the rotary bodies and even generate noise. [8]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] 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 swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone, capable of minimizing generation of noise and abrasion of rotary bodies by restraining friction generated during rotation of the rotary bodies.

[10]

Technical Solution

[11] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone, comprising an upper rotary body; a lower rotary body mounting the upper rotary body and enabling the upper rotary body to rotate and vertically move therein; a fixing shaft interconnecting the upper rotary body and the lower rotary body; and an elastic member disposed between the fixing shaft and the upper rotary body.

[12] The upper rotary body may comprise a main body; a shaft insertion hole penetrating the man body; and first and second cam parts protruded on a lower surface of the main body along the outer circumference of the shaft insertion hole, and arranged at perpendicular angles to each other.

[13] The lower rotary body may comprise a base body; a fixing shaft connection hole protruded in the center of the base body; first and second cam part guiding surfaces each formed in a semicircular arc shape around the fixing shaft connection hole; a second cam part seating recess further recessed than the second cam part guiding surface; a push piece elastically supported in a push piece insertion groove to push the first cam part; and a cover having a shape corresponding to the base body.

[14] The fixing shaft is fixed to the lower rotary body but spaced apart from the upper rotary body.

[15] The elastic member may be implemented by a leaf spring or a coil spring.

[16] The first cam part may comprise a push piece guiding surface which is curved; and a push piece seating recess formed on each side of the push piece guiding surface to receive the push piece.

[17] The push piece insertion groove may be formed on the base body toward opposite corners along a diagonal line, and the first and second cam part guiding surfaces may be sectioned into two parts with respect to the push piece insertion groove.

[18] The first cam part guiding surface and the second cam part guiding surface may be stepped with respect to each other. [19] The push piece insertion groove may further include a spring insertion groove to insert and fix therein a spring that elastically supports the push piece. [20]

Advantageous Effects

[21] According to the present invention, noise generation and abrasion of rotary bodies can be minimized since friction between the rotary bodies can be prevented from being generated during rotation of the rotary bodies. [22]

Brief Description of the Drawings [23] 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: [24] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [25] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone shown in Fig. 1 ; [26] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone shown in Fig.

1; [27] Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the swing hinge apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention being connected with frames of the cellular phone; and [28] Figs. 5 through 8 are plan views illustrating the operation states of the swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone, according to the embodiment of the present invention. [29]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [30] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following structure. [31] A swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises an upper rotary body; a lower rotary body mounting the upper rotary body and enabling the upper rotary body to rotate and vertically move therein; a fixing shaft interconnecting the upper rotary body and the lower rotary body; and an elastic member disposed between the fixing shaft and the upper rotary body. [32] The upper rotary body comprises a main body; a shaft insertion hole penetrating the man body; and first and second cam parts protruded on a lower surface of the main body along an outer circumference of the shaft insertion hole, and arranged at perpendicular angles to each other. [33] The lower rotary body comprises a base body; a fixing shaft connection hole protruded in the center of the base body; first and second cam part guiding surfaces each formed in a semicircular arc shape around the fixing shaft connection hole; a second cam part seating recess further recessed than the second cam part guiding surface; a push piece elastically supported in a push piece insertion groove to push the first cam part; and a cover having a shape corresponding to the base body.

[34] The fixing shaft is fixed to the lower rotary body but spaced apart from the upper rotary body.

[35] The elastic member may be implemented by a leaf spring or a coil spring.

[36] The first cam part comprises a push piece guiding surface which is curved; and a push piece seating recess formed on each side of the push piece guiding surface to receive the push piece.

[37] The push piece insertion groove is formed on the base body toward opposite corners along a diagonal line, and the first and second cam part guiding surfaces are sectioned into two parts with respect to the push piece insertion groove.

[38] The first cam part guiding surface and the second cam part guiding surface are stepped with respect to each other.

[39] The push piece insertion groove further includes a spring insertion groove to insert and fix therein a spring that elastically supports the push piece.

[40] Hereinafter, the structure and operation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[41] Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the swing hinge apparatus 10 comprises an upper rotary body 20, a lower rotary body 30, a fixing shaft 40, and an elastic member 50.

[42] The upper rotary body 20 comprises a main body 210 having a circular form and including a shaft insertion hole 216 penetrating the center portion thereof. Also, the upper body 20 comprises pluralities of first cam parts 212 and second cam parts 215 protruded around a circumference of the shaft insertion hole 216 and arranged perpendicular to one another. In the present embodiment, more specifically, a pair of first cam parts 212 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft insertion hole 216 to face each other, and a pair of second cam parts 215 are arranged in the same manner at perpendicular angles to the first cam parts 212.

[43] The first cam parts 212 include a push piece guiding surface 213 having a curve, such that a push piece 320 is able to perform a cam motion along the push piece guiding surface 213.

[44] Preferably, a push piece seating recess 214 is additionally formed at each side of the push piece guiding surface 213. The reason for providing the push piece seating processes 214 is to prevent rotation of the upper rotary body 20 without a rotative force dedicatedly applied when an end of the push piece 320 is received in the push piece se ating recess 214.

[45] The lower rotary body 30 comprises a base body 310, the push piece 320, and a cover 330.

[46] The base body 310 comprises a board having a square form, and a fixing shaft connection hole 315 protruded in the center of the board. A first cam part guiding surface 312 and a second cam part guiding surface 313 are formed around the fixing shaft connection hole 315. In addition, push piece insertion grooves 311 are extended to opposite corners of the base body 310 along a diagonal line. The first cam part guiding surface 312 and the second cam part guiding surface 313 are in the form of a semicircular arc limited by the push piece insertion grooves 311 and are stepped with respect to each other. Also, a second cam part seating recess 314 is formed at each side of the semicircular arc of the second cam part guiding surface 313, being more recessed than the second cam part guiding surface 313.

[47] A spring insertion groove 31 Ia is further formed at one end of the push piece insertion groove 311 in order to prevent escape of the spring 321.

[48] The push piece 320 has a substantial U-shape, that is, opened at one side and blocked at the other side. The blocked side of the push piece 320 has a curve to be received in the push piece seating recess 214 so that the push piece 320 can be slid along the push piece guiding surface 213. The spring 321 is mounted in the opened side of the push piece 320 to elastically support the push piece 320.

[49] The cover 330 has the same shape as the base body 310 to close an upper part of the base body 310, thereby preventing escape of the push piece 320. The cover 300 includes a penetration hole 331 in the center thereof of the same size as the upper rotary body 20 such that the lower rotary body 30 and the upper rotary body 20 can be connected with each other through the penetration hole 331.

[50] The fixing shaft 40 comprises a tube 41 and a fixing plate 42 having a larger circumference than the tube 41 and disposed at a top of the tube 41. The tube 41 is fixedly inserted in the fixing shaft connection hole 315. The fixing plate 42 supports the upper rotary body 20 using the elastic member 50.

[51] The elastic member 50 is interposed between the fixing shaft 40 and the upper rotary body 20 so as to support the upper rotary body 20 elastically.

[52] Preferably, the elastic member 50 is implemented by a leaf spring or a coil spring.

In this embodiment, the leaf spring is selected. Such a leaf spring has an annular form and holds elasticity when bent in the middle part thereof by a predetermined angle, thereby uniformly supporting the upper rotary body 20 and a fixing member with both sides thereof.

[53] Hereinafter, the connection structure of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [54] Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, first, the spring 321 is inserted in the push piece 320.

The push piece 320 with the spring 321 are inserted in the push piece insertion groove 311 of the base body 320. Here, in a state where the spring 321 is fixed in the spring insertion groove 311a, the cover 330 is connected with the base body 310 to fix the push piece 320, so that the push piece 320 and the spring 321 cannot be separated.

[55] Next, the main body 210 of the upper rotary body 20 is inserted in the base body

310 through the penetration hole 331. At this time, the first cam part 212 formed at the main body 210 is disposed at the first cam part guiding surface 312, and the second cam part 215 is received in the second cam part seating recess 314, so that the push piece seating recess 214 correspondsto the push piece 320.

[56] In a state where the main body 210 of the upper rotary body 20 is connected, the elastic member 50 is located on an upper surface of the main body 210. After this, the tube 41 of the fixing shaft 40 is passed through the elastic member 50, the shaft insertion hole 216, and the fixing shaft connection hole 315 sequentially. Therefore, the tube 41 is supported at the upper surface of the upper rotary body 20, with the elastic member 50 interposed between the fixing plate 42 and the upper rotary body 20. A lower end of the tube 41 is fitted around the fixing shaft connection hole 315, thereby being fixed to the base body 310, for example, by riveting.

[57] It is preferred that an outer circumference of the tube 41 of the fixing shaft 40 is spaced apart from an inner circumference of the shaft insertion hole 216 of the main body 210 so that the tube 41 and the shaft insertion hole 216 do not interfere with each other when the main body 210 rotates or moves up and down.

[58] Referring to Fig. 4, the swing hinge apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed between an upper frame 60 and a lower frame 70 of the cellular phone. The upper rotary body 20 is fixed to the upper frame 60 while the lower rotary body 30 is fixed to the lower frame 70, so that the upper frame 60 can move rotatively and vertically, relative to the lower frame 70.

[59] As generally known, the upper and the lower frames 60 and 70 are mounted within a display unit and a keypad unit, respectively.

[60]

[61] Hereinafter, the operations of the swing hinge apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail.

[62] As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, as the upper frame 60 is rotated with respect to the lower frame 70, the upper rotary body 20 rotates with respect to the lower rotary body 30. Here, because the push piece guiding surface 213 of the first cam part 212 provided at the upper rotary body 20 has a Bezier curve form, which is an irregular curve, the push piece guiding surface 213 pushes the push piece 320 while moving. Therefore, the push piece 320 compresses the spring 321. [63] Simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 7, the second cam part 215 of the upper rotary body 20 is separated from the second cam part seating recess 314 and then disposed at the second cam part guiding surface 313, thereby elevating the upper rotary body 20. Accordingly, the upper frame 60 is rotated as being spaced apart from the lower frame 70. As a result, friction between the upper frame 60 and the lower frame 70 can be prevented during rotation of the upper and lower frames 60 and 70 relative to each other. Also, noise caused by the friction can be prevented.

[64] When the upper frame 60 is further rotated, the push piece 320 meets a curved point of the push piece guiding surface 213 as shown in Fig. 8. When the upper frame 60 is rotated yet more passing through the curved point, the push piece 320 pushes the push piece guiding surface 213 by compression force of the compressed spring 321, thereby rotating the upper frame 60 to a perpendicular position to the lower frame 70.

[65] At this time, the push piece 320 is received in the push piece seating recess 214 opposite to the initial push piece seating recess 214, thereby inducing the upper frame 60 to move. The second cam part 215 is inserted in the second cam part seating recess 314. Accordingly, the upper rotary body 20 is moved down so that the upper frame 60 and the lower frame 70 closely contact with each other.

[66] As can be appreciated from the above-described operation, since the upper frame and the lower frame become rotatable through vertical movement thereof, friction and consequent abrasion and noise can be prevented from being generated. As a result, the lifespan of the device can be elongated.

[67] 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.

[68]

Claims

[1] A swing hinge apparatus for a cellular phone, comprising: an upper rotary body; a lower rotary body mounting the upper rotary body, enabling the upper rotary body to rotate and vertically move therein; a fixing shaft interconnecting the upper rotary body and the lower rotary body; and an elastic member disposed between the fixing shaft and the upper rotary body. [2] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper rotary body comprises: a main body; a shaft insertion hole penetrating the man body; and first and second cam parts protruded on a lower surface of the main body along an outer circumference of the shaft insertion hole, and arranged at perpendicular angles to each other. [3] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower rotary body comprises: a base body; a fixing shaft connection hole protruded in the center of the base body; first and second cam part guiding surfaces each formed in a semicircular arc shape around the fixing shaft connection hole; a second cam part seating recess further recessed than the second cam part guiding surface; a push piece elastically supported in a push piece insertion groove to push the first cam part; and a cover having a shape corresponding to the base body. [4] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing shaft is fixed to the lower rotary body but spaced apart from the upper rotary body. [5] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is implemented by a leaf spring or a coil spring. [6] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first cam part comprises: a push piece guiding surface which is curved; and a push piece seating recess formed on each side of the push piece guiding surface to receive the push piece. [7] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the push piece insertion groove is formed on the base body toward opposite corners along a diagonal line, and the first and second cam part guiding surfaces are sectioned into two parts with respect to the push piece insertion groove. [8] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first cam part guiding surface and the second cam part guiding surface are stepped with respect with respect to each other. [9] The swing hinge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the push piece insertion groove further includes a spring insertion groove to insert and fix therein a spring that elastically supports the push piece.