Mobile terminal and sliding module and a method thereof

• US 7,330,548 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Do-Hun, Park, Sung-Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tuan Duc
• Application Number:
  US10/960,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20050095928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 379/428.01, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 37943311-43313, 345/168, 455/571.1, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 379/433.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• 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

Abstract

A mobile terminal comprising a main housing, first and second sub-housings, each slidably mounted on an upper surface of the main housing such that the first and second sub-housings can slide towards each other or away from each other to open or close a predetermined region of the upper surface of the main housing, and a sliding module. The mobile terminal is structured such that the display apparatus can be opened or closed by the first and second sub-housings, and such that it is easy to operate keypads with both hands when the display apparatus is open, resulting in convenience of playing games or chatting. Additionally, the sliding module of the mobile terminal is structured such that the first and second sub-housings are interlinked with each other, which allows for easy opening and closing of the display apparatus.

Claims

1. A sliding module for a mobile terminal comprising:

a main housing;

first and second sub-housings, each slidably mounted on an upper surface of the main housing such that the first and second sub-housings can slide towards each other or away from each other to open or close a predetermined region of the upper surface of the main housing,

wherein the sliding module is provided with,

slide links, each being equipped on the main housing to slidably move thereon in a state that the slide links face each other, and having one end fixed to one of the first and second sub-housings while being interlinked to the other slide link by means of a predetermined gear such that the one end of the slide link can move towards the other slide link or away from the other slide link, and

a module housing extended in the longitudinal direction and opened at both ends of the module housing such that the slide links can be drawn from or input to the module housing through both ends thereof.

2. The sliding module as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the slide links is formed, at one end thereof, with a fastening piece fastened to the first or second sub-housing.

3. The sliding module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gear comprises:

a plurality of driving holes uniformly spaced from the other end of each of the slide links in a longitudinal direction; and

a sprocket rotatably mounted between the pair of slide links, formed with a plurality of driving pins uniformly spaced on an outer peripheral surface of the sprocket to engage the driving holes, such that, when one of the slide links is slidingly moved, the sprocket is rotated corresponding to a sliding movement of the slide link, causing the other slide link to slidingly move.

4. The sliding module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the module housing is provided with first and second covers, each being extended in the longitudinal direction and defining a receiving space opened at both ends of the cover and at one side of the cover facing the opened side of the other cover, the first and second covers being coupled to each other in a state that the first and second covers face each other.

5. The sliding module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sliding module is formed with rotating holes at the center of both sides thereof, and the sprocket is formed, at both sides thereof, with rotating protrusions supported by the rotating holes, respectively.

6. The sliding module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the module housing is further provided with one or more fastening pieces extended at a predetermined position and being formed with fastening holes, respectively.

7. The sliding module as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of the slide links is further provided with a supporting piece supported on an inner wall of the module housing.

8. The sliding module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the module housing is formed, at the center of both sides thereof, with receiving holes, each providing spaces to allow the driving pins of the sprocket to be rotated therein.

9. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a main housing having an opening, provided at the center of the main housing to allow a display apparatus to be equipped therein, and at least one pair of guide holes symmetrically elongated in a longitudinal direction at both sides of the opening centered on the opening while penetrating the main housing;

first and second sub-housings, each being slidably mounted on an upper surface of the main housing, with at least one guide protrusion linearly moving within the guide holes provided on one surface of each of the sub-housings, to slidably move towards the other sub-housing or away from the other sub-housing, thereby opening or closing the display apparatus equipped on the opening of the main housing; and

at least one sliding module provided with,

slide links, each being equipped on an inside of the main housing to slidably move thereon in a state that the slide link face the other slide link, and having one end fixed to the guide protrusion of the first or second sub-housing while being interlinked to the other slide link through a predetermined gear such that the one end of the slide link can move towards the other slide link or away from the other slide link, and

a module housing extended in the longitudinal direction and opened at both ends of the module housing such that the slide links can be drawn from or input to the module housing through both ends thereof.

10. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein a pair of sliding modules is symmetrically provided at opposites edges of the opening.

11. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the gear comprises:

a plurality of driving holes uniformly spaced from the other end of each of the slide links in a longitudinal direction; and

a sprocket rotatably mounted between the pair of slide links, formed with a plurality of driving pins uniformly spaced on an outer peripheral surface of the sprocket to be engaged with the driving holes, such that, when one of the slide links is slidingly moved, the sprocket is rotated corresponding to a sliding movement of the slide link, causing the other slide link to be slidingly moved.

12. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the module housing defines a receiving space opened at both ends of the receiving space and a pair of the slide links, each having a fastening piece fastened to the guide protrusion at one end of the slide link and a plurality of driving holes uniformly spaced in the longitudinal direction from the other end of the slide link, the sliding links being slidingly moved in a state that the sliding links face each other, so that the slide links can be drawn from or input to the module housing through both ends of the module housing.

13. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 12, wherein the sliding module further comprises:

a sprocket rotatably mounted between the slide links, formed with a plurality of driving pins uniformly spaced on an outer peripheral surface of the sprocket to be engaged with the driving holes, such that, when one of the slide links is slidingly moved, the sprocket is rotated corresponding to a sliding movement of the slide link, causing the other slide link to be slidingly moved.

14. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein a pair of sliding modules is symmetrically provided at opposite edges of the opening to face each other, and respectively comprise a pair of supporting pieces, each connecting respective facing ends of the sliding modules.

15. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second sub-housings are opened at some portion of one end thereof to provide facing windows, respectively, and some portion of the display apparatus is exposed through the windows in a closed state of the first and second sub-housings.

16. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the guide protrusion protrudes into an inner portion of the main housing through the corresponding guide hole.

17. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second sub-housings are equipped with keypads on an upper surface thereof, respectively.

18. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a receiver having a speaker equipped at one end of one of the first and second sub-housings, and a sender having a microphone equipped at the other end of the other sub-housing.