MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20170374749A1
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: LEE, Haklim, HAN, Jongbeom, CHA, Sunglyong
• Granted Patent: US 10,104,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges

Abstract

A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal comprises a flexible display; a first body positioned at a rear of the flexible display, the first body connected to the flexible display; a second body positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the second body connected to the flexible display and spaced apart from the first body, the second body movable with respect to the first body; a hinge assembly positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the hinge assembly located between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly connecting the first body and the second body; and a hinge cover positioned at a lateral side of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover between the first body and the second body, wherein the hinge cover has a thinner thickness toward a central portion of the hinge cover from both ends of the hinge cover in a direction from the hinge cover toward the hinge assembly.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a flexible display;

a first body positioned at a rear of the flexible display, the first body connected to the flexible display;

a second body positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the second body connected to the flexible display and spaced apart from the first body, the second body movable with respect to the first body;

a hinge assembly positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the hinge assembly located between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly connecting the first body and the second body; and

a hinge cover positioned at a lateral side of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover between the first body and the second body,

wherein the hinge cover has a thinner thickness toward a central portion of the hinge cover from both ends of the hinge cover, the thinner thickness in a direction from the flexible display toward the hinge assembly.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the hinge cover includes:

a first surface facing a rear of the mobile terminal; and

a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface exposed to an outside of the mobile terminal.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the first surface is convex in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the first surface includes a groove.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein a length of the first surface is greater than a length of the second surface in a direction between both ends of the hinge cover.

6. A mobile terminal comprising:

a flexible display;

a first body positioned at a rear of the flexible display, the first body connected to the flexible display;

a second body positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the second body connected to the flexible display and spaced apart from the first body, the second body movable with respect to the first body;

a hinge assembly positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the hinge assembly located between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly connecting the first body and the second body; and

a hinge cover positioned at a lateral side of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover between the first body and the second body,

wherein the hinge cover includes a plurality of layers,

wherein a layer among the plurality of layers has a modulus different from a modules of an another layer among the plurality of layers.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the hinge cover includes:

a first layer facing a rear of the mobile terminal; and

a second layer positioned on a front surface of the first layer,

wherein the second layer has a modulus greater than a modulus of the first layer.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the hinge cover forms an neutral plane, wherein a side of the hinge cover is provided with a compressive stress, wherein an another side of the hinge cover is provided with a tensile stress, wherein the neutral plane is between the side of the hinge cover and the another side of the hinge cover.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the neutral plane coincide a boundary between the first layer and the second layer.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the neutral plane of the hinge cover is located at the flexible display.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the hinge cover includes a third layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the neutral plane is located in the third layer.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the third layer has a hardness greater than a hardness of the first layer and the second layer.