Foldaway electronic device and flexible cable for same

• US 6,788,551 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Takagi, Hisamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THANH Y
• Application Number:
  US10/291,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20030053304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 361/814, 361/728, 361/749, 455/575.3, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 379/433, 379/429-457
• US Class Current: 361/814
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means

Abstract

A foldaway electronic device includes a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion, a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit, a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position, a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position, and impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated, wherein either lateral surface of the base unit has a guard portion that extends over and prevents contact by a user'"'"'s thumb and fingers with a portion of the corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit when the cover unit is in the folded position and the lock release mechanism is being actuated.

Claims

1. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit;

a cover unit capable of assuming an unfolded position and a folded position with respect to the base unit;

an operating part which is manipulated when unfolding the cover unit from the folded position to the unfolded position; and

a guard portion provided on at least one side of the base unit and covering a side portion of the cover unit in the folded position,

said operating part being provided in the guard portion.

2. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of guard portions are provided on respective sides of the base unit and cover both side portions of the cover unit in the folded position, and said operating part is provided in at least one of the pair of guard portions.

3. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard portion has a projecting shape relative to a remaining part of the side of the base unit.

4. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a width between two sides of the cover unit is smaller than a width of the base unit at the guard portion.

5. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a total thickness of the base unit and the cover unit in the folded position is approximately equal to a thickness of the guard portion.

6. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating part includes a mechanism which unfolds the cover unit in response to manipulation of the operating part, and at least a part of the mechanism is provided inside the guard portion.

7. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said operating part includes a lock release button provided in the guard portion, and said mechanism unfolds the cover unit in response to manipulation of the lock release button.

8. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a hinge part which supports the cover unit on the base unit, so that the cover unit unfolds and folds with respect to the base unit via the hinge part,

said operating part including a lock release button, and a mechanism which unfolds the cover unit in response to manipulation of the lock release button,

said lock release button and at least a part of said mechanism being provided inside the guard portion.

9. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a rotary axis of said hinge part and an axis in which said lock release button is pushed are separated by a predetermined distance in a direction generally parallel to the side of the base unit.

10. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said guard portion is provided in a vicinity of the hinge part.

11. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said operating part includes a fulcrum, a force applying point and a force acting point, and said lock release button includes the force applying point.

12. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating part automatically unfolds the cover unit to the unfolded position when manipulated.

13. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lock release button is provided at a manipulatable position of the guard portion.

14. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lock release button is exposed at the guard portion.

15. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base part;

a cover part capable of assuming an unfolded position and a folded position with respect to the base part;

an operating part which is manipulated when unfolding the cover part from the folded position to the unfolded position; and

a guard portion provided on at least one side of the base part and covering a side portion of the cover part in the folded position.

16. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein

a force applying point is provided in the guard portion and when a force is applied to said force applying point, the operating part is manipulated, thereby unfolding the cover part from the folded position.

17. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the guard portion is provided on more than one side of the base part, the force applying point is provided on at least one of the guard portions.

18. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said operating part including a mechanism which unfolds the cover unit in response to a force is applied to said point and at least a part of said mechanism being provided inside the guard portion.

19. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said operating part including a mechanism which unfolds the cover unit in response to a force is applied to said point and at least a part of said mechanism being provided inside the base part.