Folding portable telephone capable of selectively using free stop function and one touch open function

• US 20020173281A1
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Fumiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means

Abstract

In a folding portable telephone comprising a first housing (11), a second housing (12), and a hinge portion (13) which is fixed on the first housing (11) and which is for rotatably coupling the second housing (12) to the first housing (11). The hinge portion (13) comprises an operating portion (16). The second housing (12) is opened from a first angle position for indicating a closed condition to a second angle position for indicating a predetermined angle position, responsive to an operation of the operating portion (16). On the contrary, the second housing (12) is kept at one of the first angle position, the second angle position, and a third angle position between the first and the second angle positions, when an operation of the operating portion (16) is not available.

Claims

1. A folding portable telephone comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing; and

a hinge portion which is fixed on said first housing and which is for rotatably coupling said second housing to said first housing;

said hinge portion having an operating portion;

said second housing being opened from a first angle position for indicating a closed condition to a second angle position for indicating a predetermined angle position, responsive to an operation of said operating portion; and

said second housing being kept at one of said first angle position, said second angle position, and a third angle position between said first and said second angle positions, when an operation of said operating portion (16) is not available.

2. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge portion comprises:

a first hinge portion which is located on an end of said hinge portion and has said operating portion and by which said second housing rotates from said first angle position to said second angle position, responsive to an operation of said operating portion; and

a second hinge portion which is located on the other end of said hinge portion and is capable of rotating said second housing from said first angle position to said second angle position and by which said second housing is kept at one of said first angle position, said second angle position, and said third angle position, when said operation of said operating portion is not available.

3. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 2,

said first hinge portion co-axially rotatably coupling a first housing side coupling portion integrally formed in the first housing with a second housing side coupling portion integrally formed in the second housing;

a guiding trench being formed in the second housing side coupling portion;

said first hinge portion comprising;

a fixed disk which is fixed within said first housing side coupling portion;

a first fixed tube which is located within said second housing side coupling portion;

a first disk which is located within said first fixed tube;

a first coupling portion of which one end is connected to said first disk and of which the other end penetrates through said first fixed tube and is coupled to said fixed disk movably in the direction of one axis;

a first spring of which both ends are fixed to said first fixed tube, said first disk, respectively, within said first fixed tube, and which thereby pushes said first fixed tube rotatably against said first disk;

a second disk which is hooked to said first disk within said first fixed tube, a hole being formed in said first fixed tube to have a length over which said second disk moves in the direction of one axis, a guiding rib being formed in said second disk so that said second disk may penetrate said hole and move over said length of said hole;

a lock releasing button which is corresponding to said operating portion and is coupled to said second disk, said lock releasing button, when said lock releasing button is pushed on, making said second disk move in the direction of one axis and then making said first fixed tube and said second disk rotate by rotatably pushing force of said first spring, said lock releasing button thereby releasing said second disk from being hooked to said first disk; and

responsive to pushing on of said lock releasing button, said guiding rib being hooked to said guiding trench of said second housing side coupling portion, said second housing rotating from said first angle position to said second angle position.

4. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first hinge portion further comprises a second spring which pushes said second disk to said first disk within said first fixed tube so that said second disk may be kept hooked to said first disk, when said second housing is at said first angle position.

5. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second hinge portion co-axially rotatably couples a third housing side coupling portion integrally formed in said first housing with a fourth housing side coupling portion integrally formed in said second housing, and wherein a projecting portion is formed in said fourth housing side coupling portion,

said second hinge portion comprising:

a shaft which is formed in line with said one axis;

a third disk having a trench into which said projecting portion of said fourth housing side coupling portion is inserted, said third disk rotating with said shaft being an axis of rotation;

a second fixed tube which is fixed within said third housing side coupling portion;

a fourth disk which is formed within said second fixed tube, said fourth disk being hooked to said third disk, when said second housing is at said first or said second angle position, on the contrary, said fourth disk being not hooked to said third disk, when said second housing is at said third angle position; and

a third spring which is formed within said second fixed tube, said third spring pushing said fourth disk to said third disk so that said second housing may be kept at one of said first angle position, said second angle position, and said third angle position.

6. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second hinge portion co-axially rotatably couples a third housing side coupling portion integrally formed in said first housing with a fourth housing side coupling portion integrally formed in said second housing, and wherein a projecting portion is formed in said fourth housing side coupling portion,

said second hinge portion comprising:

a shaft which is formed in line with said one axis;

a third disk having a trench into which said projecting portion of said fourth housing side coupling portion is inserted, said third disk rotating with said shaft being an axis of rotation;

a second fixed tube which is fixed within said third housing side coupling portion;

a fourth disk which is formed within said second fixed tube, said fourth disk being hooked to said third disk, when said second housing is at said first or said second angle position, on the contrary, said fourth disk being not hooked to said third disk, when said second housing is at said third angle position; and

a third spring which is formed within said second fixed tube, said third spring pushing said fourth disk to said third disk so that said second housing may be kept at one of said first angle position, said second angle position, and said third angle position.

7. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second hinge portion informs an user of the result of hooking of said fourth disk to said third disk by sound, when said fourth disk is hooked to said third disk.

8. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second hinge portion informs an user of the result of hooking of said fourth disk to said third disk by sound, when said fourth disk is hooked to said third disk.

9. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 7, wherein a predetermined clearance is kept between said projecting portion of said fourth housing side coupling portion and said trench of said third disk, said sound for informing said user of the result of hooking being a sound generated by a collision of said projecting portion with said trench, when said fourth disk is hooked to said third disk.

10. A folding portable telephone as claimed in claim 8, wherein a predetermined clearance is kept between said projecting portion of said fourth housing side coupling portion and said trench of said third disk, said sound for informing said user of the result of hooking being a sound generated by a collision of said projecting portion with said trench, when said fourth disk is hooked to said third disk.