Foldable cellular phone

• US 20060177048A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsutaichi, Fumio, Yasuda, Shinya, Nara, Katsuhiro, Miyagawa, Tatsuya, Tanigawa, Tohru
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/433.130
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A foldable cellular phone with a plastic housing having an operation section and a plastic housing having a main display section that are joined by a hinge on one end side to freely open and close, comprising an impact resistant handle composed of elastic material protruded and formed on the opposite side end from the hinge of the housing having the main display section; a connector cover composed of elastic material protruded and formed on the opposite side end from the hinge of the housing having the operation section; and a hinge cover composed of elastic material formed on a protrudent portion from the hinge of both housing ends when both housings are in a folded state.

Claims

1. A foldable cellular phone with a housing having an operation section and a housing having a main display section that are joined by a hinge on one end side to freely open and close, comprising:

an impact resistant handle composed of elastic material protruded and formed on the opposite side end from the hinge of the housing having the main display section;

a connector cover composed of elastic material protruded and formed on the opposite side end from the hinge of the housing having the operation section; and

a hinge cover composed of elastic material formed on a protrudent portion from the hinge of both housing ends when both housings are in a folded state.

2. The foldable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the impact resistant handle also protrudes on both sides of the housing.

3. The foldable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the impact resistant handle protrudes from an end of both housings in a folded state.

4. The foldable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the opened angle of both housings is regulated to be less than 180 degrees;

and

the impact resistant handle and the connector cover respectively protrude toward extension of the housings when in an opened state.

5. The foldable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the impact resistant handle is affixed removably attachable to the housing.

6. The foldable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the connector cover also protrudes from the surface having the operation section of the housing.

7. The foldable cellular phone according to claims 1, further comprises a sub-display section formed on the surface of the opposite side from the surface of the housing having the display section;

and

a perimeter frame composed of elastic material protruded and formed on the periphery of the sub-display.

8. The foldable cellular phone according to claim 1, further comprises a lower cover composed of elastic material protruded on the surface of the opposite side to the hinge and formed on an end hinge side of at least one housing.