Slim profile foldable device

• US 20070297125A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Maatta, Esa-Sakari
• Application Number:
  US11/476,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20070297125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts

Abstract

A slim profile foldable device has a body and a cover configured for articulated movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. A frame member is configured for co-operative connection with the body and with the cover and bendable about a folding axis and is non-accessible in the device'"'"'s closed position and is accessible in the device'"'"'s open position. The frame member may comprise two sections joined by a compliant hinge configured to bend about the folding axis when the device moves between the open and closed positions and comprises a substantially smooth outward facing surface in the device open position.

Claims

1. Device, comprising:

a body;

a cover;

said body and said cover configured for articulated movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, and

a frame member configured for co-operative connection with said body and with said cover, bendable for movement about a folding axis and non-accessible in said device closed position and accessible in said device open position.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member comprises two sections joined by a suitable hinge element configured to bend about said folding axis when said device moves between said open and said closed positions.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member comprises two sections joined by a compliant hinge configured to bend about said folding axis when said device moves between said open and said closed positions.

4. The device as defined in claim 2 further comprising one of said two sections of said frame member connected to said body and the other of said two sections of said frame member connected to said cover.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a main hinge for connecting said body and said cover for articulated movement.

6. The device as defined in claim 2 further comprising said one section of said frame member fixedly connected to said body and said other of said two sections of said frame member is configured for sliding engagement with said cover.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 further comprising said cover having an end portion configured for receiving an end portion of said frame member.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 further comprising a frame hinge element configured for receiving said frame member end portion.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 further comprising said frame hinge element arranged for rotation about a frame hinge pivot axis.

10. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame member further comprises a keypad carried in one section of said two sections.

11. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame member further comprises a display carried in the other section of said two sections.

12. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member further comprises a substantially smooth outward facing surface in said device open position.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 wherein said frame member comprises a display and a keypad joined by a compliant hinge configured to bend about said folding axis, with said body arranged to fixedly carry said keypad and said cover arranged to slidingly carry said display wherein said display is configured for movement in said cover to accommodate body-to-cover end-to-end length changes in positions of said device between said device open and closed positions.

14. The device as defined in claim 13 further comprising an end portion of said frame member configured for limited rectilinear motion with respect to said cover when said device moves between said open and said closed positions.

15. The device as defined in claim 13 wherein said display further comprises a flexible display.

16. The device as defined in claim 13 further configured for operation as a mobile terminal.

17. Apparatus, comprising:

articulated means rotatable between an open and closed position for carrying a frame member means bendable about a folding axis and non-accessible in said closed position and accessible in said open position, and

frame member means configured for co-operative connection with said articulated means for imparting a substantially flat, smooth surface to said frame member means in said apparatus open position.

18. A method, comprising:

a frame member bendable about a folding axis responding to articulated movement of a body and a cover between an open and closed position, and

a frame member co-operatively connecting to the body and cover compensating for end-to-end length variations of the body and cover moving between the open and closed positions imparting a substantially flat, smooth surface to the frame member in the open position.