PORTABLE TERMINAL TRANSFORMABLE INTO BRACELET

• US 20120182677A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: SEO, Mun-Deock
• Application Number:
  US13/341,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182677A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3861 carried in a hand or on fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

Abstract

A portable terminal transformable into the form of a bracelet is provided and includes a first flexible body, a second flexible body, a first link body, a second link body, hinge modules and a battery. A flexible display is provided on at least one of the first and second flexible bodies. The hinge modules are installed between the first link body and the second link body at both ends of the first flexible body and the second flexible body to rotate the first link body and the second link body such that the first flexible body and the second flexible body are opened into the form of a bracelet and are closed into the form of a bar.

Claims

1. A portable terminal transformable into a bracelet, the portable terminal comprising:

a first flexible body and a second flexible body which face each other and at least one of which is provided with a flexible display;

first link bodies each connected to an end of the first flexible body;

second link bodies each connected to an end of the second flexible body;

hinge modules each installed between the first link body and the second link body at the ends of the first flexible body and the second flexible body to rotate the first link body and the second link body; and

a battery to provide power.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein each hinge module is configured to rotate the first link body and the second link body in opposite directions and with a substantially identical or similar rotation angle such that the first flexible body and the second flexible body are simultaneously opened or closed.

3. The portable terminal of claim 2, wherein the each hinge module comprises:

a hinge housing;

a first rotation member and a second rotation member that are rotatably supported in the hinge housing;

a first fixed bracket having one end fixed to a rotary shaft of the first rotation member and another end connected to the first link body;

a second fixing bracket having one end fixed to a rotary shaft of the second rotation member and another end connected to the second link body; and

an interlocking member having one end rotatably connected to the first rotation member and another end rotatably connected to the second rotation member such that the first rotation member and the second rotation member are simultaneously rotated.

4. The portable terminal of claim 3, wherein each hinge module further comprises:

fixed cams each connected to one side of the first rotation member and one side of the second rotation members, respectively, and each forming a first crest part and a first trough part thereon;

moving cams disposed facing the fixed cams, respectively, and each having a second trough part and a second crest part that engage the first crest part and the first trough part of the fixed cam, respectively;

elastic members configured to apply elastic force to the moving cams such that the moving cams are pushed toward the fixed cams,

wherein the first crest part of the fixed cams engage the second trough part of the moving cams and the first trough part of the fixed cams engage the second crest part of the moving cams if the first flexible body and the second flexible body are fully opened or fully closed.

5. The portable terminal of claim 2, wherein each hinge module comprises:

a hinge housing;

a first gear member and a second gear member that are rotatably supported in the hinge housing and rotate through engagement with each other;

a first fixed bracket having one end connected to a rotary shaft of the first gear member and another end connected to the first link body; and

a second fixed bracket having one end connected to a rotary shaft of the second gear member and another end connected to the second link body.

6. The portable terminal of claim 5, wherein each hinge module further comprises:

fixed cams which are installed at one side of the first gear member and one side of the second gear member, respectively, each having a first crest part and a first trough part;

moving cams each having a second trough part and a second crest part that are engage the first crest part and the first trough part, respectively; and

elastic members configured to apply elastic force to the moving cams such that the moving cams are pushed toward the fixed cams,

wherein the first crest part is engaged with the second trough part and the first trough part is engaged with the second crest part if the first flexible body and the second flexible body are fully opened or fully closed.

7. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the battery is provided on at least one of the first flexible body and the second flexible body and is a block type battery including a plurality of block cells deformable to be bent.

8. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the battery is provided on at least one of the first flexible body and the second flexible body and is a laminated battery deformable to be bent.

9. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the battery is an integrated battery accommodated in at least one of the first link body and the second link body.

10. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the battery is a detachable battery that is detachable to at least one of the first link body and the second link body.

11. The portable terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a first support plate which is formed using elastic material and has a middle part extending inside the first flexible body and each end part connected to the first link bodies, respectively; and

a second support plate which is formed using elastic material and has a middle part extending inside the second flexible body and both end parts connected to the second link bodies.

12. A portable terminal transformable into a bracelet, the terminal comprising:

a first flexible body and a second flexible body which face each other and at least one of which is provided with a flexible display;

a link body connected to an end of the first flexible body;

a second link body connected to an end of the second flexible body;

a hinge module installed between the first link body and the second link body at the end of the first flexible body and the second flexible body to rotate the first link body and the second link body; and

a battery to provide power.

13. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the hinge module rotates the first link body and the second link body such that the first flexible body and the second flexible body open into the form of a bracelet and close into the form of a bar.

14. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the hinge module is configured to rotate the first link body and the second link body in opposite directions and with a substantially identical or similar rotation angle such that the first flexible body and the second flexible body are simultaneously opened or closed.

15. The portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the hinge module comprises:

a hinge housing;

a first rotation member and a second rotation member that are rotatably supported in the hinge housing;

a first fixed bracket having one end fixed to a rotary shaft of the first rotation member and another end connected to the first link body;

a second fixing bracket having one end fixed to a rotary shaft of the second rotation member and another end connected to the second link body; and

an interlocking member having one end rotatably connected to the first rotation member and another end rotatably connected to the second rotation member such that the first rotation member and the second rotation member are simultaneously rotated.

16. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein the hinge module further comprises:

a first fixed cam connected to one side of the first rotation member, forming a first crest part and a first trough part thereon;

a second fixed cam connected to one side of the second rotation member, forming a first crest part and a first trough part thereon;

a first moving cam disposed facing the first fixed cam having a second trough part and a second crest part that engage the first crest part and the first trough part of the first fixed cam;

a second moving cam disposed facing the second fixed cam having a second trough part and a second crest part that engage with the first crest part and the first trough part of the second fixed cam; and

elastic members configured to apply elastic force to the first moving cam and the second moving cam such that the first moving cam and the second moving cam are pushed toward the first fixed cam and the second moving cam, respectively,

wherein the first crest part of the first fixed cam and the second fix cam engage the second trough part of the first moving cam and the second moving cam, and the first trough part of the first fixed cam and the second fix cam engage the second crest part of the first moving cam and the second moving cam if the first flexible body and the second flexible body are fully opened or fully closed.

17. The portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the hinge module comprises:

a hinge housing;

a first gear member and a second gear member that are rotatably supported in the hinge housing and rotate through engagement with each other;

a first fixed bracket having one end connected to a rotary shaft of the first gear member and another end connected to the first link body; and

a second fixed bracket having one end connected to a rotary shaft of the second gear member and another end connected to the second link body.

18. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the hinge module further comprises:

a first fixed cam connected to one side of the first gear member having a first crest part and a first trough part;

a second fixed cam connected to one side of the second gear member having a first crest part and a first trough part;

a first moving cam having a second trough part and a second crest part that engage the first crest part and the first trough part, respectively, of the first fixed cam;

a second moving cam having a second trough part and a second crest part that engage the first crest part and the first trough part, respectively, of the second fixed cam;

a first elastic member configured to apply elastic force to the first moving cam such that the first moving cam is pushed toward the first fixed cam; and

a second elastic member configured to apply elastic force to the second moving cam such that the second moving cam is pushed toward the second fixed cam,

wherein the first fixed cam and the second fixed cam are respectively engaged with the first moving cam and the second moving cam if the first flexible body and the second flexible body are fully opened or fully closed.

19. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the battery is provided on at least one of the first flexible body and the second flexible body and is a block type battery comprising a plurality of block cells deformable to be bent.

20. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the battery is provided on at least one of the first flexible body and the second flexible body and is a laminated battery deformable to be bent.

21. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the battery is an integrated battery accommodated in at least one of the first link body and the second link body.

23. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the battery is a detachable battery that is attachable to at least one of the first link body and the second link body.

24. The portable terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a first support plate comprising an elastic material and has a middle part extending inside the first flexible body and an end part connected to the first link body; and

a second support plate comprising an elastic material and has a middle part extending inside the second flexible body and an end part connected to the second link body.