Mobile terminal

• US 8,614,881 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoo, In Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US13/016,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67909, 36167921-67929, 361/679.3, 361/679.5, 36167951-67959, 312273-290, 312/317.1, 312/317.2, 312/317.3, 3122231-2236, 312 311- 313, 312184-193, 3122351-2359, 312258-265, 312294-316
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal having a side key situated at a lateral side of a bezel made of metal. The present invention is to provide a mobile terminal including a side key provided as an input means of which durability against external shock, waterproof capability and maintenance and repair facilitation are enhanced.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit;

a bezel member configured to accommodate the display unit therein;

a first side key including;

a head part exposed at a lateral side of the bezel member; and

a penetrating part extending into the bezel member;

a loading member provided at the bezel member, the loading member having a loading recess configured to receive the head part of the first side key therein; and

a bushing member connected to the bezel member, the bushing member attaching the loading member to the bezel member,

wherein the head part of the first side key and the loading recess of the loading member have circular shapes, and a diameter of the head part of the first side key is smaller than that of a diameter of the loading recess of the loading member,

wherein a guide recess is formed on a side of the head part of the first side key facing the bezel to receive an upper part of the bushing member inserted into the guide recess,

wherein at least one rotation preventing projection is provide at one of an outer lateral side of the bushing member and an inner lateral side of the guide recess, and

wherein at least one rotation preventing recess is provided at the other of the outer lateral side of the bushing member and the inner lateral side of the guide recess, the at least one rotation preventing projection engaging the at least one rotation preventing recess.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the bezel member includes a hole for securing the bushing member, and

wherein the penetrating part of the first side key extends toward a signal input unit provided within the bezel member via the bushing member secured in the hole of the bezel member.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the signal input unit comprises a dome switch configured to generate a control signal by being selectively pressurized by the penetrating part of the first side key.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein an outer lateral side of the bushing member includes a screw thread,

wherein an inner lateral side of the locking hole includes a screw thread, and

wherein the bushing member and the bezel member are secured to each other via the screw threads.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein an outer lateral side of the bushing member includes a step difference, the step difference being supported by a surface of the loading member defining the recess.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 2,

wherein displacement of the head part of the first side key is guided by the cooperation of the guide recess and the upper part of the bushing member.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 2, further comprising an elastic member provided within the bushing member to provide an elastically repulsive force toward the head part of the first side key.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the elastic member comprises a coil spring, one end of the coil spring being supported within the bushing member, and the other end of the coil spring being brought into contact with a surface defining the guide recess.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprising a sealing member provided within the bushing member to prevent particles from being introduced into the mobile terminal.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising a partitioning member provided between the elastic member and the sealing member to prevent contact between the elastic member and the sealing member.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, further comprising an auxiliary sealing member provided between the guide recess and an outer lateral side of the upper part of the bushing member.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein an auxiliary guide recess is formed on the side of the head part of the first side key facing the bezel, the guide recess being located between the penetrating part and the auxiliary recess, and

wherein a guide bar is located at a bottom surface of the loading recess of the loading member, the guide bar being received in the auxiliary guide recess.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the rotation preventing projection and the rotation preventing recess are formed in a direction in parallel with a displacement direction of the first side key.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a shape of the loading recess of the loading member corresponds to that of the head part of the first side key.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a second side key,

wherein at least one of the first and second side keys is located on a curved lateral side of the bezel member.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein a portion of the lateral side of the bezel member, on which the loading member is located, has a recess or a step difference formed therein.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the bezel member is formed by forging.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a portion of the penetrating part located internally of the bezel includes a hooking recess, and

wherein a fixing ring is located in the hooking recess to prevent the first side key from being separated from the bezel member.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the bezel is formed of metal.

20. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit;

a bezel member configured to enable the display unit to be exposed therethrough;

at least one side key located on a lateral side of the bezel member, the at least one side key being displaceable to generate a control signal according to a selective pressurization of the at least one side key, the at least one side key including a head part exposed at a lateral side of the bezel member;

a loading member provided at the bezel member, the loading member having a loading recess configured to receive the head part of the at least one side key therein;

a bushing member connected to the bezel member, the bushing member being configured to guide displacement of the at least one side key; and

at least one band member provided at an end of the bezel member,

wherein the head part of the at least one side key and the loading recess of the loading member have circular shapes, and a diameter of the head part of the at least one side key is smaller than that of a diameter of the loading recess of the loading member,

wherein a guide recess is formed on a side of the head part of the at least one side key facing the bezel to receive an upper part of the bushing member inserted into the guide recess,

wherein at least one rotation preventing projection is provide at one of an outer lateral side of the bushing member and an inner lateral side of the guide recess, and

wherein at least one rotation preventing recess is provided at the other of the outer lateral side of the bushing member and the inner lateral side of the guide recess, the at least one rotation preventing projection engaging the at least one rotation preventing recess.