RADIO TELEPHONE

• US 20020132633A1
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: MOTE, STEVEN, JOHNSON, KEITH PHILIP, BIAGI, MARK, BATEMAN, PHILIP KENNETH RODERICK
• Granted Patent: US 6,463,262 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection

Abstract

A radio telephone is provided with a body (3) and a cover (2) arranged for relative sliding movement with the body (3). The radio telephone also comprises guide means for guiding the relative sliding movement, the guide means comprising a guide track on the cover (2) and a guide rail on the body (3). The guide rail extends along a portion of the guide track when the cover irrespective of the relative positions of the cover (2) and body (3) and the force between the cover (2) and body (3) is substantially constant over a range of positions along the guide track, which leads to a tactile improvement for the user. Alternatively, the guide rail may be provided on the cover (2) and the guide track on the body (3).

Claims

1. A radiotelephone comprising:

a first part;

a second part arranged for relative sliding movement with the first part, between a closed position in which the first and second parts at least partially overlap and an open position; and

guide means for guiding the relative sliding movement, the guide means comprising a guide track on the first part and a guide rail on the second part;

wherein;

the guide rail extends along a portion of the guide track when the second part is in the open and closed position; and

the force between the two parts is substantially constant over a range of positions along the guide track.

2. A radiotelephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part is the body of the telephone, and the second part a cover.

3. A radiotelephone as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide rail is dimensioned to prevent substantial relative pivoting of the parts about it.

4. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the width of the guide rail is substantially the same as the width of the guide track.

5. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guide rail comprises two pins.

6. A radiotelephone as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pins have curved ends, preferably hemispherical.

7. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guide rail is composed of metal and the guide track is composed of plastics.

8. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guide track is shaped to angle one part with respect to the other.

9. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guide track is a groove.

10. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a latch for latching the first and second parts at a predetermined relative position.

11. A radiotelephone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latch comprises a resilient member on one part and a protrusion on the other part.

12. A radiotelephone as claimed in claim 11, wherein the latch comprises a plurality of protrusions for latching the first and second parts at a corresponding plurality of predetermined positions.

13. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for aligning the surfaces of the first and second parts when in the closed position.

14. A radiotelephone as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising guide means on each side.

15. A radiotelephone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, FIGS. 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, either with or without reference to any one, or any combination of, FIGS. 5 to 7.