Telescopic telephone

• US 6,961,593 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kontkanen, Mikael, Lonka, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANTT, ALAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/268,080
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/558, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.5, 455/575.7, 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/573, 379/428, 379/429, 379/433, 37942801-42804, 37943301-43303, D14/137, D14/138
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

A telephone including a first part and a second part attached thereto, the second part being movable in relation to the first part between a first position and a second position. The telephone further includes in the first part a radio transmitter/receiver and a connected antenna, and in the second part an arrangement for attaching the battery to the second part.

Claims

1. A telephone comprising a first part;

a second part attached to the first part, said second part being movable between a first position and a second position;

a radio transceiver in the first part and an antenna coupled thereto; and

in the second part, a keyboard for providing control input information to the radio transceiver, and an arrangement for attaching a battery to the second part parallel to the keyboard, and additionally comprising in the second part a grip design for allowing a user to hold the telephone by the second part;

wherein the second part is slidably movable in relation to the first part in between the first and the second positions, for which function the second part comprises at least one slide rail and the first part comprises at least one matching counter rail;

and the telephone additionally comprises an elastic member for creating a spring force in between the first and the second parts.

2. A telephone according to claim 1, additionally comprising in the first part a display and a quick-action keyboard, and in the second part a number keyboard.

3. A telephone according to claim 1, additionally comprising in the second part a module which comprises:

a circuit board of the number keyboard,

a charging connector to form a connection to an external charging device arranged to charge a battery attached to the second part, and

a connector to form an electric connection between the first and second part.

4. A telephone according to claim 3, wherein said connector for forming the electric connection between the first and second parts is simultaneously a connector for creating an electric connection between the second part and a battery attached thereto.

5. A telephone according to claim 3, additionally comprising in said module a vibrating alarm device attached to the circuit board of the number keyboard.

6. A telephone according to claim 1, wherein said first part and second part are in the first position located essentially on top of each other.

7. A telephone according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is a spring having an excited position and a released position, so that the first position of the second part corresponds to the excited position of the spring, and the second position of the second part corresponds to the released position of the spring.

8. A telephone according to claim 7, additionally comprising a trigger mechanism in order to lock the second part in the position where said spring is excited, and to release the locked second part by means of user action.

9. A telephone according to claim 8, additionally comprising a mechanical attenuator for attenuating the mutual motion between the first and second parts while the second part moves in relation to the first part under the influence of the force created by said spring.

10. A telephone according to claim 9, wherein said attenuator comprises a gear wheel and a gear rack arranged in functional interaction with it, said gear wheel and gear rack being located one in the first part of the telephone and the other in the second part thereof, as well as an attenuating member for attenuating the rotating motion of said gear wheel.

11. A telephone according to claim 1, wherein the second part is rotatably movable with respect to the first part in between the first and the second position, for which function the telephone is provided with a hinge in between the first and the second parts.

12. A telephone according to claim 1, additionally comprising a protecting shell of the first part, wherein said antenna is a plane antenna located inside said protecting shell of the first part.

13. A telephone according to claim 1, additionally comprising means for receiving an incoming call by adjusting said first part from the first position to the second position.

14. A telephone according to claim 1, characterised in that it is a mobile phone of a digital cellular network.

15. A telephone in accordance with the features of claim 1, wherein said grip by the user is at the area of the lower part of the telephone.

16. A telephone comprising a first part;

a second part attached to the first part, said second part being movable between a first position and a second position;

a radio transceiver and a first keyboard part in the first part and an antenna coupled to said radio transceiver; and

in the second part, a second keyboard part for providing control input information to the radio transceiver, and an arrangement for attaching a battery to the second part parallel to the second keyboard part, and additionally comprising in the second part a grip design for allowing a user to hold the telephone by the second part;

wherein the second part is rotatably movable with respect to the first part in between the first and the second position, for which function the telephone is provided with a hinge in between the first and the second part, and the telephone additionally comprises an elastic member for creating a spring force in between the first and the second part.

17. A telephone according to claim 16, additionally comprising in the first part a display and a quick-action keyboard, and in the second part a number keyboard.

18. A telephone according to claim 16, additionally comprising in the second part a module which comprises:

a circuit board of the number keyboard,

a charging connector to form a connection to an external charging device arranged to charge a battery attached to the second part, and

a connector to form an electric connection between the first and second parts.

19. A telephone according to claim 18, wherein said connector for forming the electric connection between the first and second parts is simultaneously a connector for creating an electric connection between the second part and a battery attached thereto.

20. A telephone according to claim 18, additionally comprising in said module a vibrating alarm device attached to the circuit board of the number keyboard.

21. A telephone according to claim 16, wherein the second part is slidably movable in relation to the first part in between the first and the second positions, for which function the second part comprises slide rails and the first part comprises matching counter-rails.

22. A telephone according to claim 21, wherein said first part and second part are in the first position located essentially on top of each other.

23. A telephone according to claim 16, wherein said elastic member is a spring having an excited position and a released position, so that the first position of the second part corresponds to the excited position of the spring, and the second position of the second part corresponds to the released position of the spring.

24. A telephone according to claim 23, additionally comprising a trigger mechanism in order to lock the second part in the position where said spring is excited, and to release the locked second part by means of user action.

25. A telephone according to claim 24, additionally comprising a mechanical attenuator for attenuating the mutual motion between the first and second parts while the second part moves in relation to the first part under the influence of the force created by said spring.

26. A telephone according to claim 25, wherein said attenuator comprises a gear wheel and a gear rack arranged in functional interaction with it, said gear wheel and gear rack being located one in the first part of the telephone and the other in the second part thereof, as well as an attenuating member for attenuating the rotating motion of said gear wheel.

27. A telephone according to claim 16, additionally comprising a protecting shell of the first part, wherein said antenna is a plane antenna located inside said protecting shell of the first part.

28. A telephone according to claim 16, additionally comprising means for receiving an incoming call by adjusting said first part from the first position to the second position.

29. A telephone according to claim 16, characterised in that it is a mobile phone of a digital cellular network.

30. A telephone in accordance with the features of claim 16 wherein said grip by the user is at the area of the lower part of the telephone.