MOBILE PHONE OF FOLDING TYPE AND HINGE DEVICE OF THE SAME

• US 20120149438A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Prexco Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Prexco Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Soon-Wook
• Application Number:
  US13/013,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

A mobile phone of a folding type is disclosed. The mobile phone of a folding type according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a first body provided with a first display portion; and a second body rotatably connected to the first body through at least one of a first hinge module and provided with a second display portion, wherein the first and second display portions form the same plane and are configured such that at least one of the first and second display portions can slide toward the other of the first and second display portions in a case that the first and second bodies are open.

Claims

1. A mobile phone of a folding type comprising:

a first body provided with a first display portion; and

a second body rotatably connected to the first body through at least one of a first hinge module and provided with a second display portion,

wherein the first and second display portions form the same plane and are configured such that at least one of the first and second display portions can slide toward the other of the first and second display portions in a case that the first and second bodies are open.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first and second display portions are joined together to form a single display screen.

3. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second display portions can be slidable through a second hinge module.

4. The mobile phone of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second display portions can slide by a moving region which corresponds to a gap between the first and second display portions.

5. The mobile phone of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies is provided with an extra function means at an exposure portion according to the moving region, and at least one of the first and second display portions covers or uncovers the extra function means by a sliding movement thereof.

6. The mobile phone of claim 5, wherein the extra function means comprises an auxiliary speaker or a keypad.

7. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first hinge module is mounted at both sides of a connecting portion of the first and second bodies, and includes a gear hinge connected to the first and second bodies.

8. The mobile phone of claim 3, wherein the second hinge module includes a slide hinge pivotably coupled to the first display portion and the first body or the second display portion and the second body.

9. The mobile phone of claim 8, wherein the first hinge modules are provided at both sides of the connecting portion of the first and second bodies such that the first and second bodies are connected to each other with a distance therebetween.

10. The mobile phone of claim 8, wherein the first hinge modules are provided at both sides of the connecting portion of the first and second bodies such that the first and second bodies are contactedly connected to each other, and contacting portions of the first and second bodies are formed to be round.

11. A hinge device of a mobile phone of a folding type which is provided at the mobile phone of a folding type provided with a first body having a first display portion and a second body having a second display portion, wherein the first and second display portions form the same plane in a case that the first and second bodies are open, the hinge device comprising:

a first hinge module mounted at both sides of a connecting portion of the first and second bodies so as to connect the first and second bodies to each other, and forming a rotation center axis of the first and second bodies; and

a second hinge module mounted at least one of the first and second bodies, and slidably moving at least one of the first and second display portions when the first and second bodies are open.

12. The hinge device of claim 11, wherein the second hinge module applies elastic force to at least one of the first and second display portions such that at least one of the first and second display portions slides toward the other of the first and second display portions by a moving region which corresponds to a gap between the first and second display portions.

13. The hinge device of claim 11, wherein the first hinge module comprises:

a hinge case mounted at both sides of the connecting portion of the first and second bodies;

first and second hinge shafts rotatably mounted at the hinge case, and respectively connected to the first and second bodies;

a gear unit for rotating the first and second hinge shafts;

a rotating cam mounted respectively at the first and second hinge shafts;

a moving cam movably mounted at the first and second hinge shafts along a length direction thereof, and cam-contacted to the rotating cam; and

a spring member mounted at the first and second hinge shafts, and applying elastic force to the moving cam.

14. The hinge device of claim 13, wherein the gear unit comprises:

first and second drive gears coupled respectively to the first and second hinge shafts;

a first driven gear rotatably mounted at the hinge case, and engaged with the first drive gear; and

a second driven gear rotatably mounted at the hinge case, and engaged with the first driven gear and the second drive gear.

15. The hinge device of claim 11, wherein the second hinge module comprises:

a fixed member fixedly mounted at least one of the first and second bodies;

a sliding member fixedly mounted at a bottom surface of at least one of the first and second display portions, and slidably coupled to the fixed member; and

an elastic link disposed between and pivotably coupled to the fixed member and the sliding member.

16. The hinge device of claim 15, wherein the elastic link comprises:

an elastic member of a spiral shape pivotably coupled to the fixed member; and

an arm member connected to the elastic member and slidably coupled to the sliding member.