Foldable handy electronic device

• US 20040063474A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kuroda, Mitsuru, Yasui, Kenichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• 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 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A foldable electronic device includes a first body having a display and a screen for protecting the display, and a second body having a plurality of operation keys. The first and second are rotatable to each other through a hinge. The first and second bodies have first and second surfaces facing each other when the electronic device is folded. The operation keys project by a height from the second surface, and the first body is formed a recess at the first surface, the recess having a depth equal to or greater than the height. The second body has a projection projecting from the second surface. The first body has an elastic piece through which the screen is mounted on the first body such that the screen moves in the recess in a depth-wise direction of the recess. The projection pushes the screen when the electronic device is folded, thereby the elastic piece being compressed, and the elastic piece pushes the screen back when the electronic device is unfolded.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device including a first body having a display and a second body having an interface through which a user can operate said electronic device,

said first and second bodies being rotatable to each other through a hinge,

said first body having a first surface facing said second body when said electronic device is folded, said second body having a second surface facing said first body when said electronic device is folded,

said interface projecting by a height from said second surface,

said first body being formed a recess with said first surface, said recess aligning with said interface when said electronic device is folded, and having a depth equal to or greater than said height, and

said display being located within said recess.

2. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a cellular phone.

3. A foldable electronic device including a first body having a display and a screen for protecting said display, and a second body having an interface through which a user can operate said electronic device, said interface including a plurality of operation keys,

said first and second bodies being rotatable to each other through a hinge,

said first body having a first surface facing said second body when said electronic device is folded, said second body having a second surface facing said first body when said electronic device is folded,

said operation keys projecting by a height from said second surface,

said first body being formed a recess at said first surface, said recess aligning with said operation keys when said electronic device is folded, and having a depth equal to or greater than said height,

said second body having at least one projection projecting from said second surface,

said first body having an elastic piece through which said screen is mounted on said first body such that said screen moves in said recess in a depth-wise direction of said recess,

said projection pushing said screen in said depth-wise direction when said electronic device is folded, thereby said elastic piece being compressed, and said elastic piece pushing said screen back when said electronic device is unfolded.

4. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elastic piece is sandwiched between said screen and said display.

5. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elastic piece is sandwiched between said screen and said first body.

6. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said screen and said display are fixed to each other.

7. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first body is formed with a hole into which said projection is inserted when said electronic device is folded, said projection pushing said screen through said hole when said electronic device is folded.

8. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second body has two projections projecting from said second surface such that said projections push said screen at opposite sides of said screen.

9. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said screen has a thicker portion than the rest thereof, said projection pushing said screen at said thicker portion.

10. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elastic piece is located around said recess.

11. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elastic piece is fixedly adhered to said screen.

12. The foldable electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electronic device is a cellular phone.