Portable terminal

• US 7,187,957 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kotoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US10/826,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/556.1, 361/814, 361/752, 348/376, 348/333.06
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0208 characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly

Abstract

A portable terminal device includes: a first member having a keyboard operation portion; and a second member having a display portion and attached to the first member via a coupling member movable in a horizontal direction relative to the first member, the second member being movable together with the coupling member in the horizontal direction relative to the first member. The second member is rotatably attached to the coupling member so that a side face or a rear face of the second member is allowed to face forward after the coupling member is moved in the horizontal direction relative to the first member. It is also possible to attach the coupling member to the first member so as to be slidable in one direction or rotatable in the horizontal direction, and to attach the second member to the coupling member to be rotatable in the horizontal direction.

Claims

1. A portable terminal device comprising:

a first member in a plane having a keyboard operation portion;

a coupling member connected to said first member so as to be movable in said plane;

a second member pivotally attached to said coupling member and movable into a pivotally supporting position to allow a side face and/or rear face of said second member to be directed forward relative to said coupling member, said second member having a display portion on a front face and a lens portion of a camera on the side face and/or rear face; and

a rotating means with a friction mechanism for rotatably attaching said second member to said coupling member so as to be frictionally rotatable relative to the coupling member,

wherein said pivotally supporting position of said second member is a position that said second member can rotate through said rotating means relative to said coupling member about a pivot axis parallel to said plane, and after said coupling member moves said second member in said plane relative to said first member to said pivotally supporting position, said first member and said second member lie along a straight line.

2. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said friction mechanism comprises:

a shaft mutually rotatably connected with said coupling member and said second member;

a washer interposed between said coupling member and said second member by inserting said washer onto said shaft through an insertion hole thereof;

a first friction washer engaged with said coupling member by inserting said first friction washer onto said shaft through a through hole thereof;

a flat washer engaged with said shaft by insert said flat washer onto said shaft through a deformable insertion hole thereof;

a second friction washer engaged with said flat washer by inserting said second friction washer onto said shaft through a hole thereof and by interposing said second friction washer between said first friction washer and said flat washer; and

a clamping nut screw-fitted to a male screw portion of said shaft and abutting with said flat washer.

3. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein a shaft for attaching said second member to said coupling member so as to be rotatable relative to said coupling member comprises a through hole provided in an axial direction thereof and a lead wire passes through an internal part of the through hole.

4. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is attached to said first member and is slidable with respect to said first member in a linear direction.

5. The portable terminal device according to claim 4, further comprising a slide mechanism with a pressing means for slidably attaching said coupling member to said first member,

wherein said pressing means comprises:

a hinge case fixedly inserted in a housing hole provided in said coupling member;

a ball bearing mounted at one end of said hinge case so as to be rotatable and so as not to slide out of said hinge case, said ball bearing partially protrudes from said housing hole to create pressure contact with a top face of said first member;

a seat member slidably housed in said hinge case and contacting said ball bearing; and

a compression spring resiliently interposed between said seat member and a back portion of said hinge case.

6. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is attached to said first member and is rotatable with respect to said first member.

7. The portable terminal device according to claim 6, further comprising a rotating means with a friction mechanism for attaching said coupling member to said first member to be rotatable in the plane,

wherein said friction mechanism comprises:

a shaft rotatably mutually connected with said coupling member and said first member;

a washer interposed between said coupling member and said first member by inserting through said washer onto said shaft through an insertion hole thereof;

a first friction washer engaged with said coupling member by inserting said first friction washer onto said shaft through a through hole thereof;

a flat washer engaged with said shaft by inserting onto said flat washer onto said shaft through a deformable insertion hole thereof;

a second friction washer engaged with said flat washer by inserting said second friction washer onto said shaft through a through hole thereof and by interposing said second friction washer between said first friction washer and said flat washer; and

a clamping nut screw-fitted to a male screw portion of said shaft and abutting with said flat washer.

8. The portable terminal device according to claim 7, wherein a shaft for attaching said first member to said coupling member so as to be rotatable relative to said coupling member comprises a through hole provided in an axial direction thereof and a lead wire passes through an internal part of the through hole.

9. A portable terminal device comprising:

a first member having a keyboard operation portion;

a coupling member slidably mounted on said first member;

a second member rotatably mounted on said coupling member, said second member having a display portion provided on a front face and a lens portion of a camera provided on at least one of a side face and a rear face; and

A rotating assembly for rotatably attaching said second member to said coupling member, said rotating assembly comprises a friction mechanism,

wherein said coupling member moves said second member between a retracted position and an extended position, and in the extended position, said second member is rotatable with respect to said first member and coupling member.

10. The portable terminal device according to claim 9, wherein said friction mechanism comprises:

a shaft mutually rotatably connecting said coupling member and said second member;

a washer mounted on said shaft through an insertion hole thereof and interposed between said coupling member and said second member;

a first friction washer mounted on said shaft through a through hole thereof and engaged with said coupling member;

a flat washer mounted on said shaft through a deformable insertion hole thereof and engaged with said shaft;

a second friction washer mounted on said shaft through a through hole thereof and engaged with said flat washer, said second friction washer being interposed between said first friction washer and said flat washer; and

a clamping nut screw-fitted to a male screw portion of said shaft and abutting said flat washer.

11. The portable terminal device according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a slide mechanism for slidably attaching said coupling member to said first member, said slide mechanism comprises a pressing means, wherein said pressing means comprises:

a hinge case fixedly inserted in a housing hole provided in said coupling member;

a ball bearing mounted at one end of said hinge case so as to be rotatable and so as not to slide out of said hinge case, said ball bearing partially protrudes from said housing hole to create pressure contact with a top face of said first member;

a seat member slidably housed in said hinge case and contacting said ball bearing; and

a compression spring resiliently interposed between said seat member and a back portion of said hinge case.

12. A portable terminal device comprising:

a first member having a keyboard operation portion;

a coupling member pivotally mounted on said first member; and

a second member rotatably mounted on said coupling member, said second member having a display portion provided on a front face and a lens portion of a camera provided on at least one of a side face and a rear face; and

A rotating assembly for rotatably attaching said coupling member to said first member, said rotating assembly comprises a friction mechanism,

wherein said coupling member pivots said second member between a retracted position and an extended position, and in the extended position, said second member is rotatable with respect to said first member and coupling member.

13. The portable terminal device according to claim 12, wherein said friction mechanism comprises:

a shaft mutually rotatably connecting said coupling member and said first member;

a washer mounted on said shaft through an insertion hole thereof and interposed between said coupling member and said first member;

a first friction washer mounted on said shaft through a through hole thereof and engaged with said coupling member;

a flat washer mounted on said shaft through a deformable insertion hole thereof and engaged with said shaft;

a second friction washer mounted on said shaft through a through hole thereof and engaged with said flat washer, said second friction washer being interposed between said first friction washer and said flat washer; and

a clamping nut screw-fitted to a male screw portion of said shaft and abutting said flat washer.

14. The portable terminal device according to claim 12, wherein a shaft for attaching said first member to said coupling member so as to be rotatable relative to said coupling member comprises a through hole provided in an axial direction thereof

and a lead wire passes through an internal part of the through hole.