Foldaway electronic device and flexible cable for same

• US 20030053304A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hisamitsu Takagi
• Original Assignee: Hisamitsu Takagi
• Inventors: Takagi, Hisamitsu
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/814
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means

Abstract

A foldaway electronic device includes a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion, a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit, a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position, a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position, and impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated, wherein either lateral surface of the base unit has a guard portion that extends over and prevents contact by a user'"'"'s thumb and fingers with a portion of the corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit when the cover unit is in the folded position and the lock release mechanism is being actuated.

Claims

1. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;

a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;

a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position; and

impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated,

wherein either lateral surface of the base unit has a guard portion that extends over and prevents contact with a portion of the corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit by a user'"'"'s thumb and fingers when the cover unit is in the folded position and the lock release mechanism is being actuated.

2. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard portion projects from the lateral surface of the base unit.

3. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a lock release connected to the lock release mechanism is provided within the guard portion.

4. The foldaway electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lock release is constructed so as to function as a lever, with the lock release mechanism acting as the point at which force is applied.

5. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;

a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;

a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;

impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated; and

an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism comprising;

a pedestal member provided on a lateral surface of the base unit so as to project beyond a corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit; and

a button provided on the pedestal member in such a way that when the button is depressed the pedestal portion prevents contact with a portion of the corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit by a user'"'"'s thumb when the cover unit is in the folded position and the lock release mechanism is being actuated.

6. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;

a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;

a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;

impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated; and

an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism, the operating member being provided on a lateral surface of the base unit,

a lateral surface of the cover unit corresponding to the lateral surface of the base unit on which the operating member is provided having a substantially concave shape with respect to the lateral surface of the base unit at least in a vicinity of the operating member.

7. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;

a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;

a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;

impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated; and

an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism, the operating member being provided on a lateral surface of the base unit,

the base unit having a width at least of a portion where the operating member is provided greater than a width of a corresponding portion of the cover unit.

8. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;

a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;

a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;

impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated;

an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism, the operating member being provided on a lateral surface of the base unit; and

a flexible cable extending between the base unit and the cover unit via the respective end portions thereof,

the flexible cable having a flexible base, a conductor pattern forming an inner conductor and a conductor pattern forming an outer conductor, the conductor patterns being added to a signal transmission pattern atop the flexible base, a portion of the flexible base being disposed between the conductor pattern that forms the inner conductor and the conductor pattern that forms the outer conductor so as to form an inner insulator.

9. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;

a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;

a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;

impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated;

an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism, the operating member being provided on a lateral surface of the base unit; and

a coaxial-type flexible cable extending between the base unit and the cover unit via the respective end portions thereof,

the coaxial-type flexible cable comprising a flexible cable and a coaxial cable laid on and affixed to the flexible cable, the coaxial-type flexible cable being wound within the hinge in such a way as to impel the cover unit apart from the base unit into an unfolded position.

10. A foldaway electronic device comprising:

a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;

a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit; and

a flexible cable extending between the base unit and the cover unit via the respective end portions thereof,

the flexible cable having a flexible base, a conductor pattern forming an inner conductor and a conductor pattern forming an outer conductor, the conductor patterns being added to a signal transmission pattern atop the flexible base, a portion of the flexible base being disposed between the conductor pattern that forms the inner conductor and the conductor pattern that forms the outer conductor so as to form an inner insulator.

11. A flexible cable comprising:

a flexible base; and

a conductor pattern forming an inner conductor and a conductor pattern forming an outer conductor,

the conductor patterns being added to a signal transmission pattern atop a flexible base,

the flexible base being disposed between the conductor pattern that forms the inner conductor and the conductor pattern that forms the outer conductor so as to form an inner insulator.