Sliding-tilt unit and mobile device using the same

• US 8,190,219 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Cheul-hae, Kim, Jeong goo, Kim, Boo-sang
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, ANTHONY S
• Application Number:
  US11/739,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1, 455/903.3, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/90.3, 455/128, 455/347, 379/428.01, 379/433.01, 379/433.1, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 361/697.09, 361/679.12, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 361/724, 361/727
• US Class Current: 455/575.4
• 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

Abstract

A mobile device including a first body and a second body slidably and tiltably coupled. The second body can be arranged to a first location, at which the second body overlaps the first body, and a second location, at which the second body is tilted with respect to the first body after having been fully slid from the first location. Accordingly, the mobile device may improve portability and convenience in use.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a first body;

a second body being connected to and slidable with respect to the first body from a first location in which the second body is not tilted to a second location in which the second body is tilted after being fully-slid from the first location;

a tilting hinge part coupling the first and second bodies to allow the second body to be tilted with respect to the first body;

a first elastic member exerting a first elastic force to bias the second body away from the first body;

a second elastic member elastically connecting the first and second bodies, the second elastic member exerting a second elastic force that switches a direction of the second elastic force from a direction opposing sliding of the second body to a direction promoting sliding thereof when the second body is slid with respect to the first body; and

a first stopper having a locking position to lock the second body and to prevent the second body from being tilted by the first elastic force of the first elastic member while the second body is being slid from the first location to the second location, and a releasing position to allow tilting of the second body, the first stopper being switched to the releasing position by the sliding of the second body when the second body is fully slid from the first location,

wherein the second body at least partially overlaps the first body before the second body is slid with respect to the first body.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises an image display window.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises an audio output unit and an audio out output hole through which sounds are output from the audio output unit.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises an operation unit.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a second stopper restricting a tiling angle of the second body with respect to the first body.

6. A mobile device comprising:

first and second bodies; and

a sliding-tilt unit slidably and tiltably coupling the second body to the first body,

wherein the second body is moved from a first location, in which the second body is not tilted and at least partially overlaps the first body, to a second location, in which the second body is tilted, after being fully-slid from the first location,

wherein the sliding-tilt unit includes;

a holder slidably coupled to a guide member;

a first elastic member applying a first elastic force to the holder to tilt the second body to the second location;

a second elastic member switching a direction of an elastic force from a direction opposing sliding of the second body to a direction promoting sliding thereof when the second body is slid toward the second location from the first location and slid in the opposite direction; and

a first stopper having a locking position to lock the second body and to prevent the second body from being tilted by the first elastic force of the first elastic member while the second body is being slid from the first location to the second location, and a releasing position to allow tilting of the second body, the first stopper being switched to the releasing position by the sliding of the second body when the second body is fully slid from the first location,

wherein the holder is rotatably coupled to the first body and the guide member is fixedly coupled to the second body.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the sliding-tilt unit further comprises:

a third elastic member applying a third elastic force to the first stopper to move the first stopper to the locking position; and

a releasing member moving the first stopper to the releasing position when the second body is slid toward the second location.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein,

the sliding-tilt unit further comprises a support member coupled to the second body and supporting the guide member,

the first stopper is slidably coupled in the first body to be able to slide to the locking position and the releasing position, and

the releasing member is provided at the support member and comprises an inclined portion that pushes the first stopper to the releasing position when the second body is slid toward the second location.

9. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the sliding-tilt unit further comprises a second stopper restricting a tilting angle of the second body.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the second stopper comprises:

a stopping piece provided at the holder; and

a restriction part provided at the first body and having a slot shape including first and second end portions restricting a movement of the stopping piece according to a rotation direction of the holder.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein

the sliding-tilt unit further comprises a bracket coupled to the first body and rotatably supporting the holder, and

the bracket comprises the restriction part.

12. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises an image display window.

13. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises an audio output unit and an audio output hole through which sounds are output from the audio output unit.

14. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises an operation unit through which user input is received by the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the sliding-tilt unit comprises:

a support member to which the guide member is installed, the guide member extending in a sliding direction of the second body; and

a bracket by which the holder is rotatably supported,

wherein the bracket and the support member are coupled to the first and second bodies, respectively, so that the second body can be moved to the first and second locations.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the sliding-tilt unit further comprises:

a third elastic member applying a third elastic force to move the first stopper to the locking position; and

a releasing member moving the first stopper to the releasing position when the second body is slid toward the second location.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the sliding-tilt unit further comprises a second stopper restricting a tilting angle of the second body.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the second stopper comprises:

a stopping piece provided at the holder; and

a restriction part provided at the bracket and having a slot shape including first and second end portions restricting a movement of the stopping piece according to a rotation direction of the holder.

19. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the second elastic member is supported by the support member and the holder.