Mobile communication device having rotatable member

• US 8,290,549 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Reeves, Jim, Walker, David Ryan, Fyke, Steven Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US12/816,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20110312392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 4555751-5755
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom

Abstract

A mobile communication device is provided which includes at least one hinge mechanism pivotably coupled to a top member and to a base member such that the top member can be moved between an opened and a closed position. In the closed position, display and/or interface elements may be inside the device and adjacent to the base member, thereby being inaccessible and protected. In the opened position, the display and/or interface elements may be accessible. A biasing mechanism may drive a portion of the movement between the opened and closed positions. The top member and the base member may be biased or restricted such that there is substantially no separation between the top member and the base member during movement between the opened and closed positions.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a first member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a second member;

at least one linkage mechanism interconnecting the first member and the second member whereby the first member and the second member can be moved relative to each other between a first position and a second position; and

a biasing mechanism which provides a biasing force that drives at least a portion of a rotation of the first member between the first position and the second position, wherein

the first member overlies the second member in both the first position and the second position,

the first surface is inaccessible and the second surface is accessible when the device is in the first position, and

the first surface is accessible and the second surface is inaccessible when the device is in the second position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one linkage mechanism allows rotation of the first member in a same direction of rotation for both movement from the first to the second position and movement from the second position to the first position.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one linkage mechanism is moveable from a folded position to an expanded position to allow the first member to move from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one linkage mechanism slidably and rotatably connects the first member to the second member.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism biases the first member toward the second member, thereby driving said at least a portion of the movement between the first position and the second position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a mechanical biasing mechanism.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the mechanical biasing mechanism comprises one or more springs.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a magnetic biasing mechanism.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the magnetic biasing mechanism comprises at least one first magnet in the first member, and at least one second magnet in the second member.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein a magnetic force between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet drives the at least a portion of movement of the device between the first position and the second position.

11. A mobile communication device comprising:

a first member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a second member; and

at least one linkage mechanism interconnecting the first member and the second member whereby the first member and the second member can be moved relative to each other between a first position and a second position,

the first member and the second member being biased or restricted such that there is substantially no separation between the first member and the second member during movement between the first and second positions, wherein

the first member overlies the second member in both the first position and the second position,

the first surface is inaccessible and the second surface is accessible when the device is in the first position, and

the first surface is accessible and the second surface is inaccessible when the device is in the second position wherein the at least one linkage mechanism allows rotation of the first member in a same direction of rotation for both movement from the first to the second position and movement from the second position to the first position.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first member is biased to remain in contact with the second member during movement between the first and second positions.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one linkage mechanism can move from a folded position to an expanded position to allow the first member to move from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the first member is biased towards the second member, thereby biasing the first member to remain in contact with the second member during movement between the first and second positions.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the first member and the second member are biased by a mechanical biasing mechanism.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the mechanical biasing mechanism comprises at least one spring.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein each least one linkage mechanism connects the first member to the second member at a point which is stationary with respect to the second member.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one linkage mechanism slidably and rotatably engages the first member to the second member at said point.

19. A method of rotatably coupling a first member and a second member of a mobile communication device:

rotatably connecting the first member to at least one linkage mechanism;

connecting the at least one linkage mechanism to the second member such that the first member can be moved relative to the second member between a first position and a second position; and

biasing the first member to move at least partially between the first position and the second position, wherein

the first member overlies the second member in both the first position and the second position,

the first surface is inaccessible and the second surface is accessible when the device is in the first position, and

the first surface is accessible and the second surface is inaccessible when the device is in the second position, and

said biasing provides a biasing force that drives at least a portion of a rotation of the first member between the first position and the second position.