Hinge module for three-step open type portable terminal and portable terminal having the same

• US 7,778,663 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helio LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Virgin Mobile USA LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Bong Doo, Choi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAHEED, KHALID W
• Application Number:
  US11/409,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20070249394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/550.1, 345168-169, 379168-169
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0239 Sliding mechanism with two degree of freedom, e.g. translation in two different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

Disclosed is a hinge module for a three-step open type portable terminal and a portable terminal having the same, in which a body of the portable terminal is divided into three body sections and semi-automatically slides. The portable terminal includes a hinge module, which couples the upper body to the intermediate body in such a manner that the upper body is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate body and couples the lower body to the intermediate body in such a manner that the lower body is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate body.

Claims

1. A hinge module for a three-step open type portable terminal including:

an upper body;

an intermediate body coupled to the upper body wherein the upper body is movable in a transverse direction or a longitudinal direction;

a lower body coupled to the intermediate body wherein the lower body is movable in the transverse direction or the longitudinal direction perpendicularly to a movement direction of the upper body, wherein the hinge module prevents the upper and lower bodies from simultaneously moving into an opened position relative to the intermediate body;

an intermediate plate fixed to the intermediate body of the portable terminal and formed with a longitudinal guide hole;

an upper plate fixed to the upper body of the portable terminal, coupled to the intermediate plate wherein the upper plate is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate plate, and provided with a guide track extending in transverse and longitudinal directions; and

a lower plate fixed to the lower body of the portable terminal, coupled to the intermediate plate wherein the lower plate is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate plate, and provided with a guide pin, which passes through the guide hole of the intermediate plate and moves along the guide track of the upper plate in order to prevent the upper and lower bodies from simultaneously moving into the opened position relative to the intermediate body.

2. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide track is formed along a lower edge portion of the upper plate.

3. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic member installed between the intermediate plate and the upper plate and between the intermediate plate and the lower plate, respectively, wherein the elastic member applies an elastic force to the upper and lower plates wherein the upper and lower plates are biased to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the upper and lower plates move within a threshold point and biased to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the upper and lower plates move beyond the threshold point.

4. The hinge module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elastic member includes a pair of first torsion springs installed between the intermediate plate and the upper plate and a pair of second torsion springs installed between the intermediate plate and the lower plate.

5. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge module includes:

an intermediate plate fixed to the intermediate body of the portable terminal and formed with a longitudinal guide hole and a transverse guide hole;

an upper plate fixed to the upper body of the portable terminal and coupled to the intermediate plate wherein the upper plate is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate plate;

a lower plate fixed to the lower body of the portable terminal and coupled to the intermediate plate wherein the lower plate is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate plate; and

a guide member having a first end portion hinged to the upper plate and moved along the transverse guide hole and a second end portion hinged to the lower plate while passing through the longitudinal guide hole and moved along the longitudinal guide hole, wherein the guide member is expanded or contracted corresponding to a movement of the upper and lower plates.

6. The hinge module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guide member has an extendable property and applies an elastic force to the upper and lower plates so as to bias the upper and lower plates to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move within a cross point between the transverse guide hole and the longitudinal guide hole and to bias the upper and lower plates to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move beyond the cross point.

7. The hinge module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide member includes:

first and second guide bars, which are overlapped with each other and front end portions of which are directed in opposition to each other;

a spring group having a plurality of springs coupled to both sides of the first and second guide bars so as to apply an elastic force to the first and second guide bars wherein the first and second guide bars are biased in opposition to each other;

an upper coupling pin extending by passing through the upper plate and rotatably passing through the front end portion of the first guide bar so as to be slidably coupled into the transverse guide hole; and

a lower coupling pin extending by passing through the lower plate and slidably passing through the longitudinal guide hole so as to be rotatably coupled into a front end portion of the second guide bar.

8. The hinge module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spring group includes:

compression springs installed between the front end portion of the first guide bar and a rear end portion of the second guide bar and between the front end portion of the second guide bar and a rear end portion of the first guide bar so as to bias the first and second guide bars; and

tension springs connected between rear end portions of the first and second guide bars in an overlapped area between the first and second guide bars so as to apply a tensioning force to the first and second guide bars.

9. The hinge module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second guide bars are formed at front and rear end portions thereof with cutting sections, protrusions are provided in the cutting sections so as to allow the compression springs to be coupled with the protrusions, and coupling protrusions are provided at both sides of the rear end portions of the first and second guide bar so as to allow the tension springs to be coupled with the coupling protrusions.

10. The hinge module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide member includes:

a housing assembly including a plurality of housings having inlets formed in opposition to each other,

first and second movement bars inserted into the inlets of the housings such that wherein the first and second movement bars are reciprocated in opposition to each other;

compression springs installed in the housings so as to apply an elastic force to the first and second movement bars, respectively;

an upper coupling member coupled to a front end portion of the first movement bar and provided with an upper coupling protrusion rotatably inserted into the upper plate and a guide protrusion slidably inserted into the transverse guide hole so as to move along the transverse guide hole; and

a lower coupling member coupled to a front end portion of the second movement bar and provided with a lower coupling protrusion, which is slidably inserted into the longitudinal guide hole and rotatably inserted into the lower plate.

11. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate plate is provided at front and rear end portions of an upper surface thereof with transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, the upper plate is provided at front and rear end portions of a lower surface thereof with transverse rails having L-shaped sections, and the transverse rails having L-shaped sections are slidably coupled with the transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the upper plate is coupled with the intermediate plate.

12. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate plate is provided at left and right end portions of a lower surface thereof with longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, the lower plate is provided at left and right end portions of an upper surface thereof with longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections, and the longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections are slidably coupled with the longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the lower plate is coupled with the intermediate plate.

13. A hinge module for a three-step open type portable terminal including an upper body, an intermediate body and a lower body, the hinge module comprising:

an intermediate plate fixed to the intermediate body of the portable terminal, formed with a longitudinal guide hole, provided at front and rear end portions of an upper surface thereof with transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, and provided at left and right end portions of a lower surface thereof with longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections;

an upper plate fixed to the upper body of the portable terminal, provided at front and rear end portions of a lower surface thereof with transverse rails having L-shaped sections which are slidably coupled with the transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so as to couple the upper plate to the intermediate plate wherein the upper plate is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate plate, and provided at a lower edge portion thereof with a guide track extending in transverse and longitudinal directions;

a lower plate fixed to the lower body of the portable terminal, provided at left and right end portions of an upper surface thereof with longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections, which are slidably coupled with the longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the lower plate is coupled with the intermediate plate wherein the lower plate is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate plate, and provided with a guide pin, which passes through the guide hole of the intermediate plate and moves along the guide track of the upper plate in order to prevent the upper and lower bodies from simultaneously moving into an opened position relative to the intermediate body, and

a pair of first torsion springs installed between the intermediate plate and the upper plate and a pair of second torsion springs installed between the intermediate plate and the lower plate, wherein the first and second torsion springs apply an elastic force to the upper and lower plates wherein the upper and lower plates are biased to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the upper and lower plates move within a threshold point and biased to the opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the upper and lower plates move beyond the threshold point.

14. A hinge module for a three-step open type portable terminal including an upper body, an intermediate body and a lower body, the hinge module comprising:

an intermediate plate fixed to the intermediate body of the portable terminal, formed with a transverse guide hole and a longitudinal guide hole perpendicular to the transverse guide hole, provided at front and rear end portions of an upper surface thereof with transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, and provided at left and right end portions of a lower surface thereof with longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections;

an upper plate fixed to the upper body of the portable terminal, and provided at front and rear end portions of a lower surface thereof with transverse rails having L-shaped sections which are slidably coupled with the transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so as to couple the upper plate to the intermediate plate wherein the upper plate is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate plate;

a lower plate fixed to the lower body of the portable terminal, and provided at left and right end portions of an upper surface thereof with longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections, which are slidably coupled with the longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the lower plate is coupled with the intermediate plate wherein the lower plate is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate plate; and

a guide member having a first end portion hinged to the upper plate and moved along the transverse guide hole and a second end portion hinged to the lower plate while passing through the longitudinal guide hole and moved along the longitudinal guide hole, wherein the guide member is expanded or contracted corresponding to a movement of the upper and lower plates, and the guide member applies an elastic force to the upper and lower plates so as to bias the upper and lower plates to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move within a cross point between the transverse guide hole and the longitudinal guide hole and to bias the upper and lower plates to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move beyond the cross point,

the guide member includes first and second guide bars, a spring group, an upper coupling pin and a lower coupling,

the first and second guide bars are formed at front and rear end portions thereof with cutting sections, protrusions are provided in the cutting sections, coupling protrusions are provided at both sides of the rear end portions of the first and second guide bar, and the first and second guide bars are overlapped with each other wherein front end portions of which are directed in opposition to each other,

the spring group includes a pair of compression springs and a pair of tension springs for biasing the first and second guide bars in opposition to each other, in which the compression springs have first end portions coupled with the protrusions provided at the front end portion of the first guide bar and a rear end portion of the second guide bar and second end portions coupled with the protrusions provided at the front end portion of the second guide bar and a rear end portion of the first guide bar, and the tension springs are coupled with the coupling protrusions provided at rear end portions of the first and second guide bars in an overlapped area between the first and second guide bars,

the upper coupling pin extends by passing through the upper plate and rotatably passing through the front end portion of the first guide bar so as to be slidably coupled into the transverse guide hole, and

the lower coupling pin extends by passing through the lower plate and slidably passing through the longitudinal guide hole so as to be rotatably coupled into a front end portion of the second guide bar.

15. A hinge module for a three-step open type portable terminal including an upper body, an intermediate body and a lower body, the hinge module comprising:

an intermediate plate fixed to the intermediate body of the portable terminal, formed with a transverse guide hole and a longitudinal guide hole perpendicular to the transverse guide hole, provided at front and rear end portions of an upper surface thereof with transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, and provided at left and right end portions of a lower surface thereof with longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections;

an upper plate fixed to the upper body of the portable terminal, and provided at front and rear end portions of a lower surface thereof with transverse rails having L-shaped sections which are slidably coupled with the transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so as to couple the upper plate to the intermediate plate wherein the upper plate is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate plate;

a lower plate fixed to the lower body of the portable terminal, and provided at left and right end portions of an upper surface thereof with longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections, which are slidably coupled with the longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the lower plate is coupled with the intermediate plate wherein the lower plate is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate plate; and

a guide member having a first end portion hinged to the upper plate and moved along the transverse guide hole and a second end portion hinged to the lower plate while passing through the longitudinal guide hole and moved along the longitudinal guide hole, wherein the guide member is expanded or contracted corresponding to a movement of the upper and lower plates, and the guide member applies an elastic force to the upper and lower plates so as to bias the upper and lower plates to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move within a cross point between the transverse guide hole and the longitudinal guide hole and to bias the upper and lower plates to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move beyond the cross point, the guide member including

a housing assembly consisting of a plurality of housings having inlets formed in opposition to each other,

first and second movement bars inserted into the inlets of the housings such that wherein the first and second movement bars are reciprocated in opposition to each other,

compression springs installed in the housings so as to apply an elastic force to the first and second movement bars, respectively,

an upper coupling member coupled to a front end portion of the first movement bar and provided with an upper coupling protrusion rotatably inserted into the upper plate and a guide protrusion slidably inserted into the transverse guide hole so as to move along the transverse guide hole, and

a lower coupling member coupled to a front end portion of the second movement bar and provided with a lower coupling protrusion, which is slidably inserted into the longitudinal guide hole and rotatably inserted into the lower plate.

16. A three-step open type portable terminal comprising:

an upper body;

an intermediate body;

a lower body;

a hinge module, wherein the hinge module couples the upper body to the intermediate body wherein the upper body is movable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate body, and the hinge module couples the lower body to the intermediate body wherein the lower body is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate body;

an intermediate plate fixed to the intermediate body;

an upper plate fixed to the upper body and coupled to the intermediate plate wherein the upper plate is moveable in a transverse direction relative to the intermediate plate;

a lower plate fixed to the lower body and coupled to the intermediate plate wherein the lower plate is moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate plate; and

wherein the intermediate plate further includes a longitudinal guide hole, the upper plate further includes a guide track formed at a lower edge portion of the upper plate in transverse and longitudinal directions, and the lower plate further includes a guide pin, which passes through the longitudinal guide hole of the intermediate plate and moves along the guide track of the upper plate in order to prevent the upper and lower bodies from simultaneously moving into an opened position relative to the intermediate plate.

17. The three-step open type portable terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upper body is provided at an upper surface thereof with a screen and a first keypad group, the intermediate body is provided at an upper surface thereof with a second keypad group and the lower body is provided at an upper surface thereof with a third keypad group.

18. The three-step open type portable terminal as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first keypad group is aligned at left and right portions of the upper body about the screen, the second keypad group is aligned at an exposed portion of the intermediate body, and the third keypad group is aligned at a front part of an exposed portion of the lower body.

19. The three-step open type portable terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the intermediate plate is provided at front and rear end portions of an upper surface thereof with transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, the upper plate is provided at front and rear end portions of a lower surface thereof with transverse rails having L-shaped sections, and the transverse rails having L-shaped sections are slidably coupled with the transverse rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the upper plate is coupled with the intermediate plate, wherein the intermediate plate is provided at left and right end portions of a lower surface thereof with longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections, the lower plate is provided at left and right end portions of an upper surface thereof with longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections, and the longitudinal sliding members having reverse L-shaped sections are slidably coupled with the longitudinal rails having “

C”

-shaped sections so that the lower plate is coupled with the intermediate plate.

20. The three-step open type portable terminal as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the upper and lower plates wherein the upper and lower plates are biased to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the upper and lower plates move within a threshold point and biased to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the upper and lower plates move beyond the threshold point, wherein the elastic member includes a pair of first torsion springs installed between the intermediate plate and the upper plate and a pair of second torsion springs installed between the intermediate plate and the lower plate.

21. The three-step open type portable terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the intermediate plate includes a transverse guide hole and a longitudinal guide hole perpendicular to the transverse guide hole,

the hinge module includes a guide member having a first end portion hinged to the upper plate and moved along the transverse guide hole and a second aid portion hinged to the lower plate while passing through the longitudinal guide hole and moved along the longitudinal guide hole, wherein the guide member is expanded or contracted corresponding to a movement of the upper and lower plates, and the guide member applies an elastic force to the upper and lower plates so as to bias the upper and lower plates to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move within a cross point between the transverse guide hole and the longitudinal guide hole and to bias the upper and lower plates to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move beyond the cross point,

the guide member includes first and second guide bars, a spring group, an upper coupling pin and a lower coupling,

the first and second guide bars are formed at front and rear end portions thereof with cutting sections, protrusions are provided in the cutting sections, coupling protrusions are provided at both sides of the rear end portions of the first and second guide bar, and the first and second guide bars are overlapped with each other wherein front end portions of which are directed in opposition to each other,

the spring group includes a pair of compression springs and a pair of tension springs for biasing the first and second guide bars in opposition to each other, in which the compression springs have first end portions coupled with the protrusions provided at the front end portion of the first guide bar and a rear end portion of the second guide bar and second end portions coupled with the protrusions provided at the front end portion of the second guide bar and a rear end portion of the first guide bar, and the tension springs are coupled with the coupling protrusions provided at rear end portions of the first and second guide bars in an overlapped area between the first and second guide bars,

the upper coupling pin extends by passing through the upper plate and rotatably passing through the front end portion of the first guide bar so as to be slidably coupled into the transverse guide hole, and

the lower coupling pin extends by passing through the lower plate and slidably passing through the longitudinal guide hole so as to be rotatably coupled into a front end portion of the second guide bar.

22. The three-step open type portable terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the intermediate plate includes a transverse guide hole and a longitudinal guide hole perpendicular to the transverse guide hole,

the hinge module includes a guide member having a first end portion hinged to the upper plate and moved along the transverse guide hole and a second end portion hinged to the lower plate while passing through the longitudinal guide hole and moved along the longitudinal guide hole, wherein the guide member is expanded or contracted corresponding to a movement of the upper and lower plates, and the guide member applies an elastic force to the upper and lower plates so as to bias the upper and lower plates to a closed position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move within a cross point between the transverse guide hole and the longitudinal guide hole and to bias the upper and lower plates to an opened position relative to the intermediate plate when the first and second end portions of the guide member move beyond the cross point, the guide member including

a housing assembly consisting of a plurality of housings having inlets formed in opposition to each owner,

first and second movement bars inserted into the inlets of the housings wherein the first and second movement bars are reciprocated in opposition to each other,

compression springs installed in the housings so as to apply an elastic force to the first and second movement bars, respectively,

an upper coupling member coupled to a front end portion of the first movement bar and provided with an upper coupling protrusion rotatably inserted into the upper plate and a guide protrusion slidably inserted into the transverse guide hole so as to move along the transverse guide hole, and

a lower coupling member coupled to a front end portion of the second movement bar and provided with a lower coupling protrusion, which is slidably inserted into the longitudinal guide hole and rotatably inserted into the lower plate.