Slide-Type Portable Electronic Device

• US 20130148276A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Yu, Ching-Jeng
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes superposed base and sliding housings, a pair of guide units and a pair of slide rails that cooperate with each other to permit sliding movement of the sliding housing relative to the base housing along a sliding direction between closed and open positions, and a pair of correction mechanisms respectively adjacent to the slide rails and each including at least two push-back members. When the slide rails deviate from the sliding direction, the push-back members can push back the slide rails to a position parallel to the sliding direction so that the slide rails can slide smoothly relative to the guide units.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a base housing;

a sliding housing superposed on said base housing;

a slide mechanism including a pair of guide units disposed on said base housing, and a pair of slide rails disposed on said sliding housing, said pair of said guide units and said pair of said slide rails cooperating with each other to permit sliding movement of said sliding housing relative to said base housing along a sliding direction between a closed position and an open position; and

wherein when said slide rails deviate from said sliding direction, said push-back members can push back said slide rails to a position parallel to said sliding direction so that said slide rails can slide smoothly relative to said guide units.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a pair of correction mechanisms disposed on said base housing and respectively adjacent to said slide rails, each of said correction mechanisms including at least two spaced-apart push-back members arranged along said sliding direction.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein each of said push-back members is resiliently displaceable in a direction perpendicular to said sliding direction, and is biased to restore to its original position.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein each of said push-back members is configured as a roller.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein each of said correction mechanisms further includes a fixed seat fixed to said base housing, a movable seat connected to said fixed seat and movable relative to the same in a direction perpendicular to said sliding direction, and a resilient unit disposed between said movable seat and said fixed seat to restore said movable seat to its original position, said push-back members being disposed on said movable seat.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a buffer mechanism disposed on said sliding housing, said buffer mechanism being adjacent to one of said slide rails and including a slide member.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein said buffer mechanism further includes a buffer unit connected to said slide member, said slide member having a portion that is slidable in said one of said slide rails and that is opposite to said guide unit which cooperates with said one of said slide rails, wherein when said sliding housing is moved from said open position to said closed position, said portion of said slide member is blocked by said guide unit, and an impact between said portion of said slide member and said guide unit is buffered by said buffer unit.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein said buffer unit includes a damping gear, and a rack gear formed integrally as one piece with said slide member and meshing with said damping gear.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein said buffer mechanism further includes a mounting seat and a positioning element, said slide member, said buffer unit and said positioning element being disposed in said mounting seat, said mounting seat including a slide track to receive slidably said slide member, said positioning element limiting movement of said mounting seat when said sliding housing is at said closed position.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein each of said slide rails of said slide mechanism has a slide groove.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein each of said guide units has a guide portion extending into said slide groove, said slide member having a main body portion, a stop portion and a limiting portion.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein said main body portion is elongated along said sliding direction and is located in said mounting seat.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein said stop portion extends transversely from one end of said main body portion that is proximate to said positioning element and protrudes outwardly from said mounting seat into said slide groove in said slide rail that is adjacent to said buffer mechanism.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein said limiting portion is formed on said main body portion opposite to said stop portion and cooperates with said positioning element to limit movement of said mounting seat relative to said slide member.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein said buffer unit further includes a pressed portion and a spring member, said pressed portion being connected to said slide member and extending transversely from the other end of said main body portion that is opposite to said limiting portion into said mounting seat, said spring member being connected between said pressed portion and said mounting seat.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein said buffer unit further includes a damping gear, and a rack gear formed integrally as one piece with said slide member and meshing with said damping gear, said damping gear being fixed to said mounting seat and being located between said spring member and said positioning element, said rack gear being formed on said main body portion and being located between said pressed portion and said limiting portion.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said positioning element is a cylinder, said limiting portion including a curved protrusion, and a limiting groove located between said curved protrusion and said rack gear.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein said buffer unit further includes a cushion pad disposed on one side of said stop portion facing said guide unit that cooperates with said one of said slide rails.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of said guide units includes a fixed portion fixed to said base housing, and a guide portion connected pivotally to said fixed portion and cooperating with a corresponding one of said slide rails.