Folding portable wireless apparatus capable of automatically opening upper and lower cases

• US 5,689,824 A
• Filed: 07/14/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nagai, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/502,810
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/344, 455/349, 455/351, 455/347, 379/428, 379/433, 379/434, 379/58, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, 16/321, 16/326, 16/371, 16/374, 16/232, 16/342, 70/69
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A folding portable wireless apparatus of the invention is provided with locking mechanisms provided on the both side faces of an upper and a lower case which are so configured as to be capable of opening and closing. The locking mechanisms have open levers which are provided on the both side faces of either the upper or the lower case and can be manually operated. To the both side faces of the other case are provided engaging portions which interlock with the open levers to lock the both cases, and locking impetus giving members for giving an impetus to the open levers are also provided in such a direction that the locked state established between the open levers and the engaging portions is maintained. In this structure, since the opening operation is carried out by both a thumb and an index fingers of a hand holding the portable wireless apparatus, the easy and rapid opening operation is possible no matter which hand may being holding the wireless apparatus.

Claims

1. A folding portable wireless apparatus in which an upper case and a lower case are connected by a hinge to enable opening and/or closing said both cases, comprising:

opening impetus giving means for giving an impetus to said upper case and said lower case in an opening direction; and

locking means provided to the both side faces of said upper case and said lower case,

said locking means including open levers which are provided on the both side faces of either said upper case or said lower case and can be manually operated;

engaging portions which are provided on the both side faces of the other case and interlock with said open levers to lock said both cases; and

locking impetus giving means for giving an impetus to said open levers in such a direction that the locked state established between said open levers and said engaging portions is maintained,

wherein said open levers are so provided to the both side faces of one case as to be capable of oscillation about a shaft;

a hook or a locking groove is formed to one end of each of said open levers; and

said engaging portions are provided on the both side faces of the other case and constituted by locking grooves or hooks with which said hooks or said locking grooves engage; and

wherein said open levers can oscillate in a direction of the thickness of one case;

one end of each of said open levers protrudes from the front face of the case;

a hook or a locking groove is formed on the inner face of said one end; and

said locking impetus giving means inwardly gives an impetus to said one end.