PORTABLE TERMINAL WITH SUPPORT PLATE

• US 20130176681A1
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Yong-Seok
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0297 Telephone sets adapted to be mounted on a desk or on a wall

Abstract

A portable terminal includes: a body having a display device provided on the front face thereof; a support plate pivotably installed on the rear face of the body, a receiving recess formed on the rear face of the body adapted to receive the support plate; and wherein the support plate can pivot from the position of being received in the receiving recess, to articulate to a position protruding from the rear face of the body. By being provided with the support plate capable of cradling the body slantingly, the portable terminal makes it needless to carry a separate cover or case for providing a cradle function, which can contribute to maintaining the miniaturized and slimmed appearance of the terminal that is easy to carry.

Claims

1. A portable terminal comprising:

a body having a display device provided on a front face thereof;

a support plate pivotably installed on a rear face of said body,

a receiving recess formed on said rear face of said body adapted to receive said support plate; and

wherein said support plate can pivot from a position of being received in said receiving recess, to articulate to a position protruding from said rear face of said body.

2. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an opening formed through said support plate,

wherein a part of said receiving recess is exposed through said opening in position in which said support plate is received in said receiving recess.

3. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a camera module positioned in said receiving recess,

wherein said camera module is exposed through said opening in said position in which said support plate is received in said receiving recess.

4. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one handling groove along an edge of said support plate,

wherein in said position in which said support plate is received in said receiving recess, an edge of said support plate is engaged with an inner wall of said receiving recess and said handling groove is positioned to be spacedly opposite to said inner wall of said receiving recess.

5. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one slot formed in said receiving recess to provide a space for mounting a storage medium,

wherein said slot may be covered when said support plate pivots to be received by said receiving recess.

6. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein said support plate has a rotation axis arranged adjacent to one edge of said receiving recess, and said slot is arranged adjacent to an other edge of said receiving recess.

7. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support plate pivots from a position received in said receiving recess, to a position where it is retained in a stopped state at a predetermined angular displacement of 90 or 180 degrees.

8. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

at least one leaf spring anchored to an interior structure of said body; and

at least one cam member provided on a rotation axis of said support plate,

wherein as said support plate pivots, said cam member is rotated about said rotation axis in a position in which its peripheral surface is supported by said leaf spring.

9. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one pair of flat surfaces formed on a peripheral surface of said cam member,

wherein as said leaf spring comes into close contact with one and exerts a force on one of said flat surfaces, such that said support plate is retained in a stopped state at a predetermined angular position of 90 degrees or 180 degrees.

10. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cam member is formed in a cylindrical shape having plural latching grooves on a peripheral surface, and a part of said leaf spring is resiliently engaged with one of said latching grooves to retain said support plate in a stopped state at a predetermined angular position of 90 degrees or 180 degrees.

11. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printed pattern arranged in said receiving recess, wherein said printed pattern may be covered when said support plate is received within said receiving recess.

12. A portable terminal comprising:

a body having a display device provided on said front face thereof;

one or more attachments detachably provided on said rear face of said body; and

a support plate pivotably installed on said rear face of said body,

a receiving recess formed on said rear face of said body adapted to receive said support plate; and

wherein said support plate can pivot from a position of being received in said receiving recess, to articulate to a position protruding from said rear face of said body, and wherein said support plate is utilized as a cradle when in said position protruding from said rear face of said body.

13. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an opening formed through said support plate, wherein said attachments are provided on said rear face of said body, and one of said attachments is exposed through said opening while in a position in which said support plate is folded to said rear face of said body.

14. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein said attachment exposed through said opening is a camera module.

15. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, further comprising one or more slots formed on said rear face of said body, wherein said attachments are a storage medium and a battery pack provided to be mounted in said slots, respectively, and said support may be rotated to cover or uncover said slots and said attachments.

16. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 15, wherein said slots are formed at a position spaced from said rotation axis of said support plate in a region opened/closed by said support plate on said rear face of said body.

17. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

at least one leaf spring anchored to an interior structure of the body; and

at least one cam member provided on a rotation axis, wherein as said support plate pivots, said cam member is rotated about said rotation axis in a position in which its peripheral surface is supported by said leaf spring.

18. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 17, wherein said support plate is retained in a stopped position at an angular point of 90 degrees or at an angular point of 180 degrees.

19. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a receiving recess formed on said rear face of said body; and

at least one handling groove formed along an edge of said support plate, wherein in a position of being folded to said body, said support plate is received in said receiving recess in such a manner that said edge of said support plate is engaged with an inner wall of said receiving recess, and said handling groove is positioned to be spacedly opposite to said inner wall of said receiving recess.