Portable terminal foldable to form a triangular prism

• US 20070072657A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Myoung-Hoon, Jung, Soo-Ik, Hyun, Seung-Hee
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.300
• 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 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts

Abstract

A portable terminal is provided. The portable terminal includes first, second and third housings. The second housing is rotatably engaged with one portion of the first housing. The third housing has one end engaged to linearly move closely beneath the rear surface of the second housing and the other end rotatably engaged with the other portion of the first housing. The third housing is folded onto the first housing, interposed between the first housing and the second housing, and when the second housing and the third housing rotate away from the first housing, the first, second and third housings form a triangular prism.

Claims

1. A portable wireless communication wireless communication terminal comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing rotatably engaged with one portion of the first housing; and

a third housing having one end engaged to linearly move closely beneath a rear surface of the second housing and the opposite end rotatably engaged with the opposite portion of the first housing,

wherein when the third housing is folded onto the first housing, the third housing is interposed between the first housing and the second housing, and when the second housing and the third housing rotate away from the first housing, the first, second and third housings form a triangular prism.

2. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, wherein when the second housing and the third housing rotate away from the first housing, the third housing supports the rear surface of the second housing.

3. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one guide rail installed on the second housing; and

a slider installed at the one end of the third housing and slidably engaged with the at least one guide rail,

wherein when the second housing and the third housing rotate away from the first housing, the slider slides along the at least one guide rail.

4. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 3, further comprising a guide hole formed on the rear surface of the second housing,

wherein the at least one guide rail is provided on an inner surface of the second housing and exposed from the rear surface of the second housing through the guide hole.

5. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the third housing comprises:

a slider installed to slide on the rear surface of the second housing; and

an engagement groove formed at the one end of the third housing and engaged with the slider so that the slider is partially received in the engagement groove and can rotate.

6. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a center hinge arm formed at the one portion of the first housing; and

a pair of side hinge arms formed facing each other at one portion of the second housing,

wherein the side hinge arms are rotatably engaged with both ends of the center hinge arm.

7. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 6, further comprising:

a fixing protrusion formed on the center hinge arm; and

a fixing groove formed on the third housing,

wherein when the third housing is folded onto the first housing, the fixing protrusion is engaged in the fixing groove.

8. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the fixing protrusion is formed on an inner surface of the center hinge arm and the fixing groove is formed at the one end of the third housing.

9. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising a display installed on one surface of the third housing, the display being exposed when the second and third housings rotate away from the first housing.

10. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rotation pins rotatably engaged with the second and third housings, respectively, and fixed onto the first housing, for supporting the rotation of the second and third housings with respect to the first housing.

11. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising a sliding plate installed to be slidable on the first housing,

wherein the third housing is rotatably engaged with the sliding plate.

12. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a second center hinge arm formed at an end of the sliding plate; and

a pair of second side hinge arms facing each other at the opposite end of the third housing,

wherein the second side hinge arms are rotatably engaged with both ends of the second center hinge arm.

13. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 11, further comprising a slide hole formed at the opposite portion of the first housing,

wherein the sliding plate is inserted into and retracted from the first housing through the slide hole.

14. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 13, wherein when the second and third housings are folded onto the first housing, the sliding plate is retracted from the first housing and the one end of the third housing advances toward the engagement between the first and second housings.

15. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 13, further comprising at least one elastic member having one end supported inside the first housing and the other end supported by the sliding plate, the elastic member being adapted to exert an elastic force in a direction to insert the sliding plate into the first housing.

16. A portable wireless communication terminal comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing having an opening penetrating through opposite surfaces of the second housing and rotatably engaged with one portion of the first housing; and

a third housing having a display and rotatably engaged with the opposite portion of the first housing,

wherein the second and third housings are foldable onto the first housing, and when the second and third housings are folded onto the first housing, the display is partially exposed through the opening.

17. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 16, wherein one portion of the third housing is rotatably engaged with the first housing and the opposite portion of the third housing is engaged to linearly move closely beneath a rear surface of the second housing.

18. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 16, further comprising a sliding plate installed to be slidable on the first housing,

wherein the third housing is rotatably engaged with the sliding plate.

19. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 18, further comprising:

a second center hinge arm formed at an end of the sliding plate; and

a pair of second side hinge arms facing each other at the one portion of the third housing,

wherein the second side hinge arms are rotatably engaged with both ends of the second center hinge arm.

20. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 19, further comprising a hinge module accommodated in the center hinge arm, the hinge arm being adapted for exerting a driving force in a direction to fold the third housing onto the first housing or in a direction to retreat the third housing from the first housing according to a rotation angle of the third housing.

21. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one guide rail installed on the second housing; and

a slider installed at one end of the third housing and slidably engaged with the at least one guide rail,

wherein when the second housing and the third housing rotate away from the first housing, the slider slides along the at least one guide rail.

22. The portable wireless communication terminal of claim 21, further comprising a guide hole formed on a rear surface of the second housing,

wherein the at least one guide rail is provided on an inner surface of the second housing and exposed from the rear surface of the second housing through the guide hole.