MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE HAVING OVERLAPPING FIRST AND SECOND BODY MEMBERS

• US 20110177850A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Beets, Joris Willem, Griffin, Jason Tyler, Riddiford, Martin, Reeves, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A mobile communication device and linkage mechanism are provided to enable an opened position of the device which is less than the total length of the lid and base members. In the opened position, a portion of the lid member overlaps the base member. The linkage mechanism may actuate translational movement of the lid member as the device is moved between the closed and opened positions.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a first member having a user interface;

a second member; and

a linkage mechanism coupling the first member and the second member such that the device has a closed position and an opened position, wherein

in the closed position, the user interface is inaccessible, and

in the opened position, the user interface is accessible and a portion of the first member overlaps the second member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a graphical display or a touchscreen.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism allows translational movement of the first member for at least a part of the movement of the device from the closed position to the opened position and at least a part the movement of the device from the opened position to the closed position.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device actuates the translational movement of the first member responsive to the movement of the device from the closed position to the opened position and responsive to the movement of the device from the opened position to the closed position.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the linkage mechanism actuates the translational movement of the first member responsive to the movement of the device from the closed position to the opened position and responsive to the movement of the device from the opened position to the closed position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises an expandable multi-pivot hinge.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the expandable multi-pivot hinge comprises a first hinge piece and a second hinge piece,

the first hinge piece is pivotably coupled to the first member via a first pivot and to the second hinge piece via a second pivot, and

the second hinge piece is pivotably coupled to the second member via a third pivot, such that the first hinge piece and the second hinge piece can rotate with respect to each other to allow expansion of the multi-pivot hinge.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a combined distance between the first pivot and the second pivot and between the second pivot and the third pivot is greater than a distance between the first pivot and the third pivot when the device is in either the opened position or the closed position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism is pivotably connected to the first member at a distance from an end of the first member, the distance from the end of the first member defining approximately half of the length of the portion of the first member overlapping the second member.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a bias element connected between the first member and the second member to provide a force biasing the device to remain in either the opened position or the closed position.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the second member includes a cam surface for sliding contact with the end of the first member, said cam surface driving the linkage mechanism to actuate the translational movement of the first member.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the expandable multi-pivot hinge comprises a pin and the second member further comprises a guide, the guide engaging the pin and restricting movement of the pin to travel within the guide to prevent hyper-extension of the expandable multi-pivot hinge.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism is located inward from at least one side of the device.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more coverings which at least partially hide the linkage mechanism, the coverings comprising at least one of a trim and a cover.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises:

a first gear fixedly coupled to the first member;

a second gear fixedly coupled to the second member; and

a third gear meshed with each of the first and second gears to transfer rotation therebetween.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises:

a first link pivotably connected at a first end to the first member and pivotably connected at a second end to the second member;

a second link pivotably connected at a first end to the first member and pivotably connected at a second end to the second member.

17. A linkage mechanism for rotatably coupling a first member and a second member of a mobile communication device such that the device has an opened position and a closed position, comprising:

an expandable multi-pivot hinge pivotably connecting the first member and the second member, wherein

in the closed position, a user interface of the first member is inaccessible and

in the opened position, the graphical display is accessible and a portion of the first member overlaps the second member, and

the linkage mechanism allows translational movement of the first member for at least part of the movement of the device from the closed position to the opened position and at least part of the movement of the device from the opened position to the closed position.

18. The linkage mechanism of claim 17, wherein the expandable multi-pivot hinge comprises a first hinge piece and a second hinge piece, wherein

the first hinge piece is pivotably coupled to the first member via a first pivot and to the second hinge piece via a second pivot, and

the second hinge piece is pivotably coupled to the second member via a third pivot, such that

the first hinge piece and the second hinge piece can rotate with respect to each other to allow expansion of the linkage mechanism.

19. The linkage mechanism of claim 17, wherein the expandable multi-pivot hinge further comprises a pin for engaging a guide in the second member to restrict movement of the pin to travel within the guide to prevent hyper-extension of the expandable multi-pivot hinge.

20. A linkage mechanism for rotatably coupling a first member and a second member of a mobile communication device such that the device has an opened position and a closed position, comprising:

a first gear fixedly coupled to the first member;

a second gear fixedly coupled to the second member;

a third gear meshed with each of the first and second gears to transfer rotation therebetween, wherein

in the closed position, a user interface of the first member is inaccessible and

in the opened position, the graphical display is accessible and a portion of the first member overlaps the second member,

the linkage mechanism actuates translational movement of the first member for at least part of the movement of the device from the closed position to the opened position and at least part of the movement of the device from the opened position to the closed position.