Portable telephone

• US 20010024945A1
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyota, Ryuichi, Takahashi, Akira, Inomata, Yoji, Ikeda, Yasunobu
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/066 replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/027 including magnifying means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A portable telephone to which additional function units, such as a flip unit and a slide unit, that provide additional functions for the main body of a portable telephone, are easily mounted on the case of a basic unit that includes only the essential units required for speech. One or more of an LCD bezel 40, a flip cover 50, a keypad bezel 60, grips 70, a keypad slide cover 80 and a slide cover 90, which are additional function units, are mounted on a basic unit 20. Therefore, this arrangement can cope with a request from a user who desires to alter a portable telephone he or she purchased to obtain a model he or she favors.

Claims

1. A portable telephone comprising:

a basic unit including essential components required for communication which have a microphone, an earphone, a display unit, a key console unit, an antenna, a wireless communication unit, a power source and a controller, and a case body for accommodating said essential components; and

an additional function unit mounting section is provided for said basic unit for mounting an additional function unit, which provides an additional function, on said case body.

2. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein at least one of a flip unit, a slide unit, an LCD bezel unit, a keypad bezel unit and a grip unit is mounted as said additional function unit.

3. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein said additional function unit mounting section includes at least one of a rail, an engagement section, which includes raised and recessed members, an attachment groove, and an engagement hole.

4. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein a single or multiple additional function units are selected for mounting on said basic unit.

5. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein said additional function units available for mounting on said basic unit are detachable.

6. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein a grip having raised and recessed surfaces is formed on the sides of said additional function units, excluding said grip unit.

7. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein the grip surfaces of said grip unit are extended so as to serve as covers for protecting the sides of said case.

8. A portable telephone according to

claim 1

, wherein a magnifying lens is provided for said LCD bezel unit and said keypad bezel unit, and contents displayed on these units are enlarged for reading.