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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for opening a cover of a
mobile phone, by which the cover of the mobile phone is easily opened,
thereby providing convenience for the users of the mobile phone.
The apparatus has an operation assembly 150 directly inserted in
a pivoting section 4 of a cover 2 of a mobile phone 100, and a button
5 disposed at a predetermined portion of a phone body 1. The operation
assembly 150 may be contained in a housing 13, which is inserted
in the pivoting section 4. When a user pushes the button 5, the
operation assembly 150 releases a compression force and a torsion
force applied to a torsion-compression spring. Then, the force of
restitution of the spring generates a pivotal movement of the cover
2 by a torsional operation, thereby opening the cover 2.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone 100 comprising
a phone body 1 containing a circuit board and having operation buttons,
and a cover 2 hingedly assembled with said phone body 1 by means
of a shaft connection section 3 and a pivoting section 4 of said
cover 2, so that said cover 2 can be pivotally opened and closed,
comprising a housing 13 containing operation assembly 150 is disposed
within said pivoting section 4 of said cover 2 of said mobile phone
100, and button 5 is disposed in said shaft connection section 3
of said phone body 1 so as to control said operation assembly 150,
wherein said operation assembly 150 comprises a torsion-compression
spring 15 inserted in a receiving chamber 151 of said housing 13
and having spring arms 16, 17 formed at both ends so as to generate
an axial force and a torsion force in a rotational direction, an
actuator 8 having a connection shaft 7 in front of said torsion-compression
spring 15, and a clutch 10 joined with said actuator 8 in front
of said actuator 8, said clutch 10 fixed to the front side of said
housing 13 by means of fixing means 153 so as to be able to retain
a torsional force in the rotational direction and a compressed force
in the axial direction and including an opening/closing inclination
surface 12, a joining recess 11 which a joining protuberance 9 comes
in and out from, and torsion surfaces 29; 53, said actuator 8 having
a joining protuberance 9 which is engaged with said opening/closing
inclination surface 12 of said clutch 10 when said cover 2 is closed,
and said opening/closing inclination surface 12 being engaged with
said joining protuberance 9 when the cover 2 remains closed and
having an angle of inclination so as to have a force of restitution
by the compression of said torsion-compression spring 15 greater
than a force of restitution by the torsion of said torsion-compression
spring 15, so that said cover 2 is maintained closed; protuberances
27, 28 are formed in a protruded state in said actuator 8 and on
the inner wall 14 of said housing 13 so as to maintain said torsion-compression
spring 15 in a stable state and maximize torsional efficiency when
said cover 2 is rotated, and have engagement means 152 to secure
said spring arms 16, 17 formed on both ends of said torsion-compression
spring 15; and said button 5 is inserted into a button hole 6 formed
in said shaft connection section 3 in such a manner that said button
5 cannot rotate in said button hole 6 and is joined with said connection
shaft 7 extending through the center of said clutch 10.
2. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said torsion-compression spring 15 having said
spring arms 16, 17 has an axial force and a torsion torque which
is to increase as said cover 2 is folded in a rotational direction
by said engagement means 152.
3. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said torsion surface 29 of said clutch 10 is
formed in such a manner that, when said cover 2 is rotated toward
the closed position, said torsion surface 29 acts with said joining
protuberance 9 to increase only the torsion force of said torsion-compression
spring 15, so that when said cover 2 is rotated from the closed
position to the open position, the force of restitution by the torsion
in the rotational direction retained in the closed position enables
said cover 2 to be opened.
4. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said torsion surface 53 of the clutch 10 is formed
in such a manner that, when said cover 2 is rotated toward the closed
position, the torsion surface 53 acts with the joining protuberance
9 to increase both of the torsion force and the axial compression
force of said torsion-compression spring 15 at the same time, so
that when said cover 2 is rotated from the closed position to the
open position, both the rotational force converted from the force
of restitution by axial compression, retained in the closed position,
by said joining protuberance 9 and said torsion surface 53 which
act with together, and the force of restitution by the torsion in
the rotational direction retained in the closed position enable
said cover 2 to be opened.
5. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said clutch 10, formed in the same shape as said
housing 13 which is shaped so as for said clutch 10 not to rotate
within said housing 13, is inserted into said housing 13, a hole
through which said connection shaft 7 is inserted is formed on the
front wall of said housing 13, and an inner wall 14 and a protuberance
28 which include engagement means 152 corresponding to spring arm
17 are formed in a position opposed to said clutch 10.
6. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said clutch 10 and said housing 13 are formed
with each other in an integrated state so as for said clutch 10
not to rotate within said housing 13, a hole through which said
connection shaft 7 is inserted is formed in said clutch 10 and on
the front wall of said housing 13, and an inner wall 14 and a protuberance
28 which include engagement means 152 corresponding to a spring
arm 17 are formed in a position opposed to said clutch 10.
7. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said clutch 10 and said housing 13 are formed
with each other in an integrated state so as for said clutch 10
not to rotate within said housing 13, a hole through which said
connection shaft 7 is inserted is formed in said clutch 10 and on
the front wall of said housing 13, a separate cap 18 having a protuberance
28 is fixed to an open surface 155 of said housing 13 by means of
fixing means 153, and an inner wall 14 and a protuberance 28 of
said cap 18 include engagement means 152 corresponding to a spring
arm 17.
8. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said clutch 10, formed in the same shape as said
housing 13 which is shaped so as for said clutch 10 not to rotate
within said housing 13, is inserted into said housing 13, a hole
through which said connection shaft 7 is inserted is formed on the
front wall of said housing 13, a separate cap 18 having a protuberance
28 is fixed to an open surface 155 of said housing 13 by means of
fixing means 153, and an inner wall 14 and a protuberance 28 of
said cap 18 include engagement means 152 corresponding to a spring
arm 17.
9. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein friction-reducing means is provided so as to
reduce the force of friction between side surfaces of pivoting section
4 and shaft connection section 3 opposed to said button 5 when cover
2 is opened by pressing said button 5.
10. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 9 wherein said friction-reducing means is so constructed
that a screw hole is formed at a portion of said shaft connection
section 3 opposed to said button 5, a plate 33 having a groove 34
is inserted within said pivoting section 4 opposed to said button
5, and a pin 31 having an adjust screw 32 is inserted through said
screw hole of said shaft connection section 3 in such a manner that
said pin 31 comes into contact with said groove 34 of said plate
33, so that the gap between the side surfaces of said pivoting section
4 and said shaft connection section 3 can be adjusted by means of
said adjust screw 32 of said pin 31.
11. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 9 wherein washers 250, 250-1 as said friction-reducing
means are interposed between side surfaces of said pivoting section
4 and said shaft connection section 3 opposed to said button 5.
12. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1 wherein said operation assembly 150 is directly installed
within said pivoting section 4 of said cover 2 without being contained
in said housing 13.
13. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone phone according
to claim 1, wherein there are compression on spring 15-1 generating
a compression force in the axial direction and torsion bar 270 made
of a shape memory alloy with elasticity and degenerating a torsion
force in the rotational direction of said cover 2.
14. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 13 wherein said compression spring 15-1 is disposed between
said actuator 8 mounted within said housing 13 and said inner wall
14 of said housing 13, one end portion of said torsion bar 270 is
fixed to said protuberance 27 formed in said actuator 8 through
the center of said compression spring 15-1, the other end portion
of said torsion bar 270 is fixed to a piston 271 inserted into a
cylinder 272 formed on said inner wall 14, said piston 271 is so
shaped that said piston 271 cannot rotate within said cylinder 272
but can linearly reciprocate in the axial direction when said button
5 is operated and said cover 2 is rotated, and a torsion force of
said torsion bar 270 increases when said cover 2 is rotated from
the open position to the closed position, and becomes maximum at
the closed position.
15. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 14 wherein cap 18 having inner wall 14 is fixed to said
housing 13 by means of fixing means 153, and said cylinder 272 into
which said piston 271 is inserted is formed on said inner wall 14
of said cap 18.
16. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 14 wherein recess 273 for idle turning is further formed
in said cylinder 272, into which said piston 271 is inserted, so
that, when said cover 2 is rotated from the open position to the
closed position, said torsion bar 270 comes to have a torsion torque
after said cylinder 272 idly turns by a predetermined angle, thereby
having maximum torsion torque when said cover 2 reaches the closed
position.
17. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 1, wherein said engagement means 152 includes a slot, a
recess and a hole which is formed in the position corresponding
to said spring arms 16, 17.
18. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 17 wherein recess 200 for idle turning is further formed
in said engagement means 152, so that, when said cover 2 is rotated
from the open position to the closed position, said spring arms
16, 17 are idly rotated by a predetermined angle and let said torsion-compression
spring 15 have a torsion torque to make the force of restitution
by the compression of said torsion-compression spring 15 become
larger than the force of restitution by the torsion of said torsion-compression
spring 15, thereby strengthening the closed state of said cover
2 in the closed position of said cover 2 so as not to be easily
opened by an external impact, and preventing stress from being accumulated
on said torsion-compression spring 15.
19. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 18 wherein said recess 200 for idle turning is so formed
that said recess 200 for idle turning has such a depth as that said
spring arm 16 is engaged with a circumferential surface of said
actuator 8 and has a width by which said spring arm 16 has to be
idly rotated in the circumferential direction.
20. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 18 wherein said recess 200 for idle turning having a degree
of angle by which said spring arm 16 has to idly turn in the circumferential
direction, is further formed in said engagement means 152 of said
protuberance 27.
21. An apparatus for opening an cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 20 wherein auxiliary recess 200-1 for idle turning is further
formed on the opposite side of said recess 200 for idle turning,
so as to ensure a sufficient space in which the end of said spring
arm 16 is operated.
22. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 18 wherein, with regard to said recess 200 for idle turning,
the diameter of said engagement means 152, into which said spring
arm 17 of said torsion-compression spring 15 is inserted and which
is formed on said inner wall 14, is larger than that of said spring
arm 17.
23. An apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according
to claim 18 wherein, with regard to said recess 200 for idle turning,
said engagement means 152, into which said spring arm 17 of said
torsion-compression spring 15 is inserted and which is formed on
said inner wall 14, is formed so as to have an elongated hole having
a shape of an arc.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
This is a nationalization of PCT/KR00/00803 filed Jul. 26, 2000
and published in English.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for
opening a cover of a mobile phone, by which the cover of the mobile
phone can be easily opened simply by pressing a button without complicatedly
handling the cover.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent times, a mobile phone is a popular, nearly indispensable,
appliance, which has various kinds and shapes, such as a bar type
in which buttons are exposed to the outside with no cover, a flip
type which has a relatively slim cover attached on a phone body
to protect the buttons, and a folder type which has a body and a
cover which are nearly of the same size and folded to each other.
The mobile phone is widely circulated in the market, so a great
number of people use the mobile phone due to its intrinsic characteristic.
When the flip type or folder type mobile phone as described above
is used, in general, the phone is used in communication in a state
that the cover is opened, while the cover is closed when the phone
is not used in communication or is waiting for a call, or in the
like cases.
Therefore, especially when the mobile phone rings in the course
of being kept in a bag or a pocket, or the like, the user has to
hurry up to take out and open the cover of the phone in order not
to miss the call.
Especially, in the case of the folder type mobile phone, since
the assembling force between the phone body and the cover is considerably
large; it is difficult for the user to open the cover with one hand,
and therefore the user has to use both hands in opening the cover.
This problem provides considerable inconvenience for the user of
the mobile phone, and there has been a request to overcome the problem.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to
solve the problems occurring in the related art, and it is an object
of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for
opening a cover of a mobile phone, by which the cover of the mobile
phone can be easily opened, simply by pressing a button without
complicatedly handling the cover.
Generally, a mobile phone comprises a phone body containing a circuit
board and having operation buttons, and a cover hingedly assembled
with the phone body by means of a shaft connection section of the
phone body and a pivoting section of the cover, so that the cover
can be pivotally opened and closed.
The apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according to
the present invention is so constructed that a housing containing
an operation assembly which comprises a torsion-compression spring
having spring arms formed at both ends so as to generate an axial
force and a torsion force in a rotational direction, an actuator,
a clutch and a connection shaft, is disposed within the pivoting
section of the cover, or that the operation assembly is directly
installed within the pivoting section and a button is disposed at
a predetermined position in one side of the phone body and connected
to the operation assembly so as to control the operation assembly.
In the apparatus, the linear movement by operation of the button
releases both the force of restitution by compression and the force
of restitution by torsion retained within the operation assembly,
so as to make the cover be rotated by torsional operation, thereby
opening the cover.
Especially the apparatus of the present invention further contains
means for preventing stress from being accumulated on the torsion-compression
spring so as to guarantee the permanent life span of the torsion-compression
spring and smooth operation and for strengthening the closed state
of the cover so as to prevent the cover from being easily opened
by an external impact.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus and a method for opening a cover of a mobile phone,
in which a button for opening a cover is provided at a predetermined
position of a phone body, at which a user can easily operate the
button, so that the cover can be easily opened when the mobile phone
is used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a mobile phone according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken about line A--A of FIG.
1;
FIGS. 3(a) 3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 3(e) are cross-sectional views
taken about lines B--B, C--C, D--D, E--E and F--F, respectively,
of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d) are cross-sectional views, taken
about line B--B of FIG. 2, showing other embodiments of a button;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the embodiment
of the present invention shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is across-sectional view according to the embodiment of
the present invention in which a housing is replaced by a pivoting
section of the cover;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view of engagement means, taken
about line G--G of FIG. 7, and FIG. 8(b) is across-sectional view
showing another embodiment of engagement means, taken about line
G--G of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9(a) is a cross-sectional view of engagement means, taken
about line H--H of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view
showing another embodiment of engagement means, taken about line
H--H of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing other embodiments of
a clutch and an actuator according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken about line I--I of FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment
of a housing according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken about line J--J of FIG.
12;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the third embodiment
of a housing according to the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken about line K--K of FIG.
14;
FIG. 16(a) is a cross-sectional view of engagement means, taken
about line L--L of FIG. 14, and FIG. 16(b) is a cross-sectional
view showing another embodiment of engagement means, taken about
line L--L of FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the fourth embodiment
of a housing according to the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken about line M--M of FIG.
17;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of a housing
according to the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken about line N--N of FIG.
19;
FIG. 21(a) is a cross-sectional view of engagement means, taken
about line O--O of FIG. 19, and FIGS. 21(b) and 21(c) are cross-sectional
views showing other embodiments of engagement means, taken about
line O--O of FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the sixth embodiment
of a housing according to the present invention;
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken about line P--P of FIG.
22;
FIG. 24 is a cross-section view showing the second embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a housing which is employed
with the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing other embodiments of
a clutch and a actuator which are employed with the second embodiment
of the present invention as shown in FIG. 25;
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of
a housing which is employed with the second embodiment of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 25;
FIG. 28(a) is a cross-sectional view of a recess for idle turning,
taken about line Q--Q of FIGS. 25 and 26, and FIGS. 28(b) and 28(c)
are cross-sectional views showing other embodiments of a recess
for idle turning, taken about line Q--Q of FIGS. 25 and 26;
FIG. 29(a) is a cross-sectional view of a recess for idle turning,
taken about line R--R of FIGS. 25, 26 and 27, and FIG. 29(b) is
a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of a recess for
idle turning, taken about line R--R of FIGS. 25, 26 and 27;
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the
present invention with friction-reducing means employed;
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of
friction-reducing means which is employed with the third embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of a housing which is employed
with the fourth embodiment of the present invention as shown in
FIG. 32;
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing other embodiments of
a clutch and a actuator which are employed with the fourth embodiment
of the present invention as shown in FIG. 33;
FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of
a housing which is employed with the fourth embodiment of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 33;
FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken about line S--S of FIG.
33;
FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view taken about line T--T of FIGS.
33, 34 and 35; and
FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment taken about
line T--T of FIGS. 33, 34 and 35.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A mobile phone 100 comprises a phone body 1 containing a circuit
board and having operation buttons, and a cover 2 hingedly assembled
with the phone body 1 by means of a shaft connection section 3 and
a pivoting section 4 of the cover 2, so that the cover 2 can be
pivotally opened and closed.
The apparatus for opening a cover of a mobile phone according to
the present invention is so constructed that a housing 13 containing
operation assembly 150 is disposed within the pivoting section 4
of the cover 2 or that operation assembly 150 is directly installed
within the pivoting section 4 and a button 5 is disposed at a predetermined
position in one side of the phone body 1 and connected to the operation
assembly 150 so as to control the operation assembly 150, and that
the linear movement by operation of said button 5 releases both
the force of restitution by compression and the force of restitution
by torsion retained within the operation assembly 150, so as to
make the cover 2 be rotated by torsional operation, thereby opening
the cover 2.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3(a)-(e), a housing 13 to be inserted
so as not to be rotated in a pivoting section 4, and an operation
assembly 150 disposed within the housing 13 are described as follows.
A receiving chamber 151 formed in the housing 13 receives a torsion-compression
spring 15 having spring arms 16, 17 formed at both ends so as to
generate an axial force and a torsion force in a rotational direction,
an actuator 8 located in front of the torsion-compression spring
15, and a clutch 10 joined with the actuator 8 in front of the actuator
8.
The spring arms 16, 17 formed at both ends of the torsion-compression
spring 15 are inserted into engagement means 152 such as a hole
or a recess formed on the inner wall 14 of the housing 13 and in
the actuator 8 so that the torsion-compression spring 15 can be
twisted, thereby having a maximum torsion torque at a closed position
of the cover 2.
Protuberances 27, 28 are formed in a protruded state in the actuator
8 and on the inner wall 14 of the housing 13, so that both ends
of the torsion-compression spring 15 are maintained in a stable
state and that the torsional efficiency of the torsion-compression
spring 15 is maximized when the cover 2 is rotated.
The clutch 10 is fixed to the front side of the housing 13, by
means of a fixing means 153 such as a pin or a screw, with the torsion-compression
spring 15 compressed, and the actuator 8 fixing one end of the torsion-compression
spring 15 is joined to and regulated by the clutch 10.
The clutch 10 has an opening/closing inclination surface 12, a
joining recess 11 which a joining protuberance 9 comes in and out
from, and a torsion surface 29, and the actuator 8 has a joining
protuberance 9 which is engaged with the opening/closing inclination
surface 12 of the clutch 10 when the cover 2 remains closed.
The opening/closing inclination surface 12, designed to be engaged
with the joining protuberance 9 when the cover 2 remains closed,
has an angle of inclination so as to have a force or restitution
by the compression of the torsion-compression spring 15 greater
than a force of restitution by the torsion of the torsion-compression
spring 15, so that the cover 2 is maintained closed.
The torsion surface 29 of the clutch 10 is formed in such a manner
that, when the cover 2 is rotated toward the closed position, the
torsion surface 29 acts with the joining protuberance 9 to increase
only the torsion force of the torsion-compression spring 15.
When the cover 2 is rotated from the closed position to the open
position, the force of restitution by the torsion in the rotational
direction retained in the closed position enables the cover 2 to
be opened.
The actuator 8 may be joined with a connection shaft 7 extending
through the center of the clutch 10 by means of a fixing means,
or may be formed with the connection shaft 7 in an integrated state.
The button 5, which is inserted into a button hole 6 formed in
the shaft connection section 3 in such a manner that the button
5 cannot rotate in the buttonhole 6, is joined with the connection
shaft 7, so that the actuator 8 can be released from the clutch
10 by the button 5 so as to rotate the housing 13 by means of the
force of restitution by the torsion, thereby opening the cover 2
joined with the housing 13.
It is preferred that a spline is formed at the button 5 and the
button hole 6, so that the connection shaft 7 can move only linearly
in the axial direction.
FIGS. 4(a)-(d) show other embodiments of the button 5 and the button
hole 6, which may be in one of various shapes such as an oval shape,
a rectangular shape, and circular shapes with two or three flat
surfaces. The button 5 and the button hole 6 of the present invention
may employ any of the shapes that does not enable the button 5 to
be rotated but allows the linear motion in the axial direction of
the connection shaft 7 and the actuator 8. Further, the button 5
or the button hole 6 may have a stopper for preventing the button
5 from excessively coming into the button hole 6 when the button
5 is pressed.
FIG. 6 shows the operation assembly 150 which is directly installed
within the pivoting section 4 of the cover 2 without being contained
in the housing 13.
FIGS. 8(a)-8(b) and FIGS. 9(a)-9(b) show the engagement means 152
for fixing the spring arms 16, 17 of the torsion-compression spring
15.
FIG. 8(a) shows that a recess or a hole for the spring arm 16 is
formed in the actuator 8, while FIG. 8(b) snows that a recess or
a slot for the spring arm 16 is formed at the protuberance 27 which
is formed with the actuator 8 in an integrated state.
FIG. 9(a) shows that a recess or a hole for the spring arm 17 is
formed on the inner wall 14 of the housing 13, while FIG. 9(b) shows
that a recess or a slot for the spring arm 17 is formed at the protuberance
28 which is formed on the inner wall 14 in an integrated state.
FIGS. 10 and 11 show other embodiments of the clutch 10 and the
actuator 8 according to the present invention.
The clutch 10 has an opening/closing inclination surface 12, a
joining recess 11 which a joining protuberance 9 comes in and out
from, and a torsion surface 53, and the actuator 8 has a joining
protuberance 9 which is engaged with the opening/closing inclination
surface 12 of the clutch 10 when the cover 2 remains closed.
The opening/closing inclination surface 12, designed to be engaged
with the joining protuberance 9 when the cover 2 remains closed,
has an angle of inclination so as to have a force of restitution
by the compression of the torsion-compression spring 15 greater
than a force of restitution by the torsion of the torsion-compression
spring 15, so that the cover 2 is maintained closed.
The torsion surface 53 of the clutch 10 is formed in such a manner
that, when the cover 2 is rotated toward the closed position, the
torsion surface 53 acts with the joining protuberance 9 to increase
both of the torsion force and the axial compression force of the
torsion-compression spring 15 at the same time.
The torsion surface 53 differs from the torsion surface 29 in that,
when the cover 2 is rotated from the closed position to the open
position, both the rotational force converted from the force of
restitution by axial compression, retained in the closed position,
by the joining protuberance 9 and the torsion surface 53 which act
with together, and the force of restitution by the torsion in the
rotational direction retained in the closed position enable the
cover 2 to be opened.
When the cover 2 is rotated toward the closed position, the compression
force of the torsion-compression spring 15 will usually increase.
Therefore, the torsion-compression spring 15, which is inserted
when the clutch 10 is fixed to the front side of the housing 13
by means of a fixing means 153, may be set so as to have a low compression
force.
The present invention may selectively employ the actuator 8 and
the clutch 10 having the torsion surface 29 or the actuator 8 and
the clutch 10 having the torsion surface 53.
FIGS. 12 to 23 show other embodiments of the housing 13, which
is an element of the present invention. With respect to FIGS. 12
and 13, an engagement means 152 is formed in a space 54 between
the protuberance 28 and a side surface 30 formed by reducing the
inner wall 14 of the housing 13, so as to prevent the spring arm
17 from rotating.
With respect to FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIGS. 16(a)-16(b), the clutch
10 is not fixed to the front side of the housing 13 by means of
the fixing means 153.
The clutch 10, formed in the same shape as the housing 13 which
is shaped so as for the clutch 10 not to rotate within the housing
13, is inserted into the housing 13, and a separate cap 18 is fixed
to an open surface 155 of the housing 13, which is opposed to the
clutch 10, by means of the fixing means 153.
The spring arms 16, 17 formed at both ends of the torsion-compression
spring 15 to substantially open the cover 2 together with the housing
13, are bent in various shapes. The spring arm 16 may be engaged
with the engagement means 152 formed in the actuator 8 or the protuberance
27 and corresponding to the spring arm 16, while the spring arm
17 may be engaged with the engagement means 152 formed on the inner
wall 14 of the cap 18 joined to the housing 13 or at the protuberance
28 formed with the inner wall 14 of the cap 18 in an integrated
state, and corresponding to the spring arm 17.
With respect to FIGS. 17 and 18, the clutch 10 is formed in the
housing 13 in an integrated state so as for the clutch 10 not to
rotate within the housing 13 as shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIGS.
16(a)-16(b). The actuator 8 and the torsion-compression spring 15
are assembled after being inserted through the open surface 155,
and the cap 18 is fixed thereon by means of the fixing means 153.
With reference to FIG. 19, FIG. 20 and FIGS. 21(a)-(c) the open
surface 155 is formed in the housing 13 in a direction perpendicular
to the connection shaft 7, and the housing 13 and the clutch 10
are joined with each other in a shape capable of preventing the
clutch 10 from rotating. Then, the assembly is finished by the inner
wall 14 of the housing 13 without separate fixing means. Especially,
FIG. 21(c) shows that the engagement means 152 is formed at the
side surface 30 of the housing 13.
With reference FIGS. 22 and 23, the open surface 155 is formed
in the housing 13 in a direction perpendicular to the connection
shaft 7 as shown in FIG. 19, FIG. 20 and FIGS. 21(a)-(c), and the
clutch 10 is formed in the housing 13 in an integrated state.
With respect to FIGS. 14 and 15, FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), FIGS. 17-20,
FIGS. 21(a)-21(c), and FIGS. 22 and 23, holes are formed on the
front wall of the housing 13 and in the center of the clutch 10,
through which the connection shaft 7 is inserted.
FIGS. 24-27, FIGS. 28(a)-28(c), and FIGS. 29(a) and 29(b) relate
to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The second embodiment of the present invention is so structured
that, when the cover 2 is rotated from the open position to the
closed position, the spring arms 16, 17 are idly rotated by a predetermined
angle and let the torsion-compression spring 15 have a torsion torque
to make the force of restitution by the compression of the torsion-compression
spring 15 become larger than the force of restitution by the torsion
of the torsion-compression spring 15, thereby strengthening the
closed state of the cover 2 in the closed position of the cover
2 so that the cover 2 is prevented from being easily opened by an
external impact.
The second embodiment of the present invention is also so structured
that especially the accumulation of stress that may result from
frequent operations of the torsion-compression spring 15 is prevented
in order to guarantee smooth operation and permanent life span of
the torsion-compression spring 15.
The structure of the second embodiment of the present invention
is described in detail as follows. Further, the second embodiment
of the present invention has recesses 200 for idle turning in the
engagement means 152 such as a groove, a hole, a slot, and the like,
which are formed in the actuator 8 or at the protuberance 27 of
the actuator 8, and on the inner wall 14 of the housing 13, at the
protuberance 28 of the inner wall 14, on the inner wall 14 of the
cap 18, or at the protuberance 28 of the cap 18, so as to fix the
spring arms 16, 17 of the torsion-compression spring 15.
In the case that the spring arm 16 of the torsion-compression spring
15 is bent in the axial direction of the actuator 8, the recess
200 for idle turning is so formed that the recess 200 for idle turning
has such a depth as that the spring arm 16 is engaged with a circumferential
surface of the actuator 8 and has a width by which the spring arm
16 has to be idly rotated in the circumferential direction.
In another embodiment of the recess 200 for idle turning, the spring
arm 16 of the torsion-compression spring 15 is bent directly at
the winding end of the torsion-compression spring 15, and is engaged
with the engagement means 152 formed at the protuberance 27 of the
actuator 8. In this case, the recess 200 for idle turning having
a degree of angle, by which the spring arm 16 has to idly turn in
the circumferential direction, is formed further in the engagement
means 152 of the protuberance 27, so that the spring arm 16 of the
torsion-compression spring 15 idly turns by a predetermined angle
and then provides torsion torque for the torsion-compression spring
15. Of course, an auxiliary recess 200-1 for idle turning is necessarily
formed on the opposite side of the recess 200 for idle turning formed
in the engagement means 152, so as to ensure a sufficient space
in which the end of the spring arm 16 is operated.
The auxiliary recess 200-1 for idle turning may have either an
open rear side or a closed rear side, as shown in FIGS. 28(b) and
28(c), since it does not cause a hinderance to the operation.
FIGS. 29(a) and 29(b) show that the recess 200 for idle turning
is formed in the engagement means 152 which is formed on the inner
wall 14 of the housing 13 or on the inner wall 14 of the cap 18,
so that the spring arm 17 is engaged with the portion opposed to
the actuator 8.
In this case, the engagement means 152 such as a hole or a recess
may be formed to have a larger diameter than the spring arm 17,
or may be formed to have an elongated hole having a shape of an
arc in order to provide a recess 200 for idle turning so 1 that
the spring arm 17 can idly turn by a predetermined turning angle.
Of course, the recess 200 for idle turning may be employed in any
modified constructions of the actuator 8, the clutch 10, and the
engagement means 152 which are elements of the housing 13, the cap
18, and the operation assembly 150 of the present invention.
FIG. 30 shows the third embodiment of the present invention with
a friction-reducing means employed to prevent reduction of the torsion
torque that may be caused due to a friction between side surfaces
of the pivoting section 4 and the shaft connection section 3 opposed
to the button 5 when the cover 2 is opened by pressing the button
5.
The friction-reducing means is described concretely as follows.
A screw hole is formed at a portion of the shaft connection section
3 opposed to the button 5, and a plate 33 having a groove 34 is
inserted within the pivoting section 4. A pin 31 having an adjust
screw 32 is inserted through the screw hole of the shaft connection
section 3 in such a manner that the pin 31 comes into contact with
the groove 34 of the plate 33, so that the gap between the side
surfaces of the pivoting section 4 and the shaft connection section
3 can be adjusted by means of the adjust screw 32.
FIG. 31 shows another embodiment of a friction-reducing means that
may be employed with the third embodiment of the present invention,
where washers 250, 250-1, having a smooth surface and being made
of an abrasion-resistant material, are interposed between side surfaces
of the pivoting section 4 and the shaft connection section 3 opposed
to the button 5. Alternatively, the washers 250, 250-1 may be inserted
when the phone body 1 having the shaft connection section 3 or the
cover 2 having the pivoting section 4 is injection-molded.
FIGS. 32 to 38 relate to the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
which is provided with a compression spring 15-1 and a torsion bar
270 made of a shape memory alloy having elasticity.
The compression spring 15-1 is disposed between the actuator 8
mounted within the housing 13 and the inner wall 14 of the housing
13 or the inner wall 14 of the cap 18 fixed to the housing 13. When
the cover 2 is rotated from the open position to the closed position,
therefore, in the prevent invention which employs the clutch 10
having the torsion surface 29 the compression spring 15-1 retains
a predetermined compression force in the axial direction by means
of the fixing means 153, while in the present invention which employs
the clutch 10 having the torsion surface 53 the compression spring
15-1 retains an increased compression force in the axial direction
by means of the torsion surface 53.
The torsion bar 270 extends through the center of the compression
spring 15-1. One end portion of the torsion bar 270 is fixed to
the protuberance 27 formed in the actuator 8 and the other end portion
of the torsion bar 270 is fixed to the inner wall 14 of the housing
13 or to the piston 271 inserted into the cylinder 272 formed on
the inner wall 14 of the cap 18. The torsion bar 270 is designed
to provide an increasing torsion force when the cover 2 is rotated
from the open position to the closed position, and to have the maximum
force at the closed position.
The piston 271 may be in one of various shapes, such as an oval
shape, a rectangular shape, a pentagonal shape and circular shapes
with both sides flat, in order not to allow the rotation of the
piston 271 within the cylinder 272 but to allow the linear, reciprocating
motion of the piston 271, when the button 5 is operated and the
cover 2 is rotated. To the contrary, one end portion of the torsion
bar 270 may be fixed to the piston 271 inserted in the cylinder
formed at the protuberance 27 of the actuator 8, and the other end
portion of the torsion bar 270 may be fixed to the inner wall 14
of the housing 13 or to the inner wall 14 of the cap 18 fixed to
the housing 13.
FIG. 38 shows an embodiment where the cylinder 272, into which
the piston 271 fixing one end portion of the torsion bar 270 is
inserted, idly turns by a predetermined angle and then the torsion
bar 270 comes to have a torsion torque, when the cover 2 is rotated
from the open position to the closed position. This means that a
recess 273 for idle turning is further provided as in the second
embodiment of the present invention, so that a maximum torsion torque
can be obtained when the cover 2 reaches the closed position.
Hereinafter, the operation of the prevent invention which is constructed
as stated above will be described.
In an initial state with the cover 2 folded on the phone body 1,
the torsion-compression spring 15 of the operation assembly 150
contained in the housing 13 inserted in the pivoting section 4 of
the cover 2 has the maximum torsion torque, since both of the spring
arms 16, 17 are engaged with the engagement means 152 formed in
the actuator 8 and either the housing 13 or the cap 18 attached
to the housing 13 and therefore the torsion-compression spring 15
remains twisted in the rotational direction of the pivoting section
4.
In this case, although a force of rotating the housing 13 and the
cover 2 is generated by the torsion torque of the torsion-compression
spring 15, the present closed state is maintained since the torsion-compression
spring 15 has been already compressed, the joining protuberance
9 of the actuator 8 is engaged with the opening/closing inclination
surface 12 of the clutch 10 having an angle of inclination ensuring
the force of restitution by the compression to be larger than the
force of restitution by the torsion, and the connection shaft 7
joined with the actuator 8 is in a state of being joined with the
button 5 which is inserted in the button hole 6 of the shaft connection
section 3 in such a manner that the button 5 cannot rotate.
In this state, the joining protuberance 9 of the actuator 8 and
the opening/closing inclination surface 12 of the clutch 10 come
into close contact with each other by the torsion-compression spring
15, and the cover 2 is maintained in the closed state, since the
force restitution by the compression, applied to the closed position,
is larger than the force of restitution by the torsion, applied
to the open position.
That is, although the compression force is larger than the torsion
force, the cover 2 remains closed on the phone body 1 since there
is still as a force that maintains the cover 2 closed as a difference
between the two forces.
To open the cover 2 of the mobile phone 100 in this state, by pressing
the button 5 the actuator 8, which has been joined with the clutch
10, is spaced from the clutch 10 while compressing the torsion-compression
spring 15, and simultaneously a rotational force that the torsion-compression
spring 15 has to return to an original state is generated so as
to rotate the housing 13 and the cover 2 joined with the housing
13, thereby opening the cover 2.
The operating principles briefly stated above are described in
detail. The button 5 is inserted in the button hole 6 formed at
the shaft connection section 3 in such a manner that the button
5 cannot rotate therein, but can linearly reciprocate in the axial
direction of the connection shaft 7.
Therefore, the button 5, the connection shaft 7, and the actuator
8 assembled with the connection shaft 7 do not rotate but perform
only the linear reciprocating motion. By pressing the button 5,
the force is transferred through the connection shaft 7 to the actuator
8, and then the actuator 8 pushes the torsion-compression spring
15 toward the interior of the housing 13.
During this process, the joining protuberance 9 and the opening/closing
inclination surface 12 are spaced from each other, so as to release
the restricted state, so that the torsion-compression spring 15
is changed from a twisted state to a state that the torsion-compression
spring 15 can be freely restored to its original position, thereby
opening the cover 2. Especially the restoration of the torsion force
of the torsion-compression spring 15 begins from the moment when
the actuator 8 is sequentially separated from the clutch 10 by pressing
the button 5.
The cover 2 can be more easily opened by the force, since the opening/closing
inclination surface 12 is formed at the joining recess 11 of the
clutch 10, enabling more smooth operation.
The above force of opening the cover 2 by pressing the button 5
should be just larger than the difference between the force of restitution
by the torsion and the force of the restitution by the compression,
both retained when the cover 2 remains closed.
Further, the intensity of the force of opening the cover 2 by pressing
the button 5 is adjusted by both the force of restitution by the
torsion and the force of the restitution by the compression which
the torsion-compression spring 15 has simultaneously.
Therefore, the intensity of the force can be determined by elements
such as the material, wire diameter, outside diameter, winding number,
free height, and compression degree of the torsion-compression spring
15, the inclination angle of the opening/closing inclination surface
12, and the unfolded angle, weight and the center of the gravity
of the cover 2, so that not only the range of complementary choices
can be widened but also the most proper force can be selected.
When a user wants to close the cover 2, e.g., after ending a communication
in a state that the cover 2 is open, the user can rotate the cover
2 toward the phone body 1 with hand. At this time, the torsion-compression
spring 15 being in a state of minimum torsion torque is twisted
again to have the maximum torsion torque.
As stated above, when the cover 2 remains closed, the joining protuberance
9 and the opening/closing inclination surface 12 are engaged with
each other to be locked together by the torsion-compression spring
15 already having a torsion torque and a compression force, so that
the cover 2 is maintained closed.
In the case of the second embodiment of the present invention,
when the cover 2 is rotated from the open position to the closed
position, the spring arms 16, 17 of the torsion-compression spring
15 inserted in the recess 200 for idle turning idly turn by a predetermined
angle, and then provide the torsion torque for the torsion-compression
spring 15, so that the force of restitution by the compression is
larger than the force of restitution by the torsion in the closed
position of the cover 2 in which the torsion-compression spring
15 has the maximum torsion torque.
This is because, when the cover 2 is rotated from the open position
to the closed position, the torsion-compression spring 15 does not
immediately generate the torsion torque because of the recess 200
for idle turning in which the spring arms 16, 17 are inserted, but
generates the torsion torque after idly turning by an open degree
of the recess 200 for idle turning.
While the torsion-compression spring 15 is idly turning, a predetermined
magnitude of the compression force is already retained by the fixing
means 153 in the case of the torsion surface 29 of the clutch 10,
or the compression force increases when the cover 2 is rotated from
the open position to the closed position in the case of the torsion
surface 53 of the clutch 10.
By this reason, the relatively larger force of restitution by the
compression than the force of restitution by the torsion is applied
to the joining protuberance 9 and the opening/closing inclination
surface 12, so as to strengthen the closed state between the phone
body 1 and the cover 2.
Since the force of restitution by the compression of the torsion-compression
spring 15 is relatively larger than the force of restitution by
the torsion as stated above when the cover 2 is rotated to the closed
position, the closing force between the phone body 1 and the cover
2 in a state that the cover 2 is closed is increased, so as to prevent
the cover 2 from easily being opened by the external impact. Especially,
the recess 200 for idle turning performs a further function of preventing
stress from being accumulated on the torsion-compression spring
15, ensuring the smooth operation and the permanent life span of
the torsion-compression spring 15.
Further, the increased closing force (the force of restitution
by the compression) of the cover 2 may require greater force for
operating the button 5. This shortcoming can be overcome by reducing
the inclination angle of the opening/closing inclination surface
12 within a range capable of achieving the closed state of the cover
2.
For the third embodiment of the present invention, when the cover
2 is opened by pressing the button 5, the friction-reducing means
prevents decrease in the torsion torque that may be caused due to
a friction by contact between side surfaces of the pivoting section
4 and the shaft connection section 3 opposed to the pivoting section
4 into which the housing 13 having the operation assembly 150 is
inserted.
The friction can be minimized by properly adjusting the gap between
the surfaces of the shaft connection section 3 and the pivoting
section 4, thereby further improving the opening performance of
the cover 2.
That is, since the pin 31 being in contact with the plate 33 inserted
in the pivoting section 4 opposed to the housing 13 is joined to
the shaft connection section 3 opposed to the housing 13 by means
of a screw, the gap between the side surfaces of the shaft connection
section 3 and the pivoting section 4 can be adjusted by turning
the pin 31 clockwise or counterclockwise.
Particularly, since the pin 31 joined to the shaft connection section
3 opposed to the housing 13 is nearly in point contact with the
plate 33 inserted in the pivoting section 4, the friction can be
further decreased.
In the case of another embodiment of the friction-reducing means,
the washers 250, 250-1 disposed on both side surfaces of the shaft
connection section 3 and the pivoting section 4 opposed to the button
5 function to decrease the friction when the cover 2 is opened by
pressing the button 5, so as to ensure a smooth opening of the cover
2.
The fourth embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter.
In an initial stage with the cover 2 folded on the phone body 1,
one end portion of the torsion bar 270, a portion of the operation
assembly 150 disposed in the housing 13 inserted in the pivoting
section 4 of the cover 2, is fixed to the protuberance 27 of the
actuator 8 and the other end portion of the torsion bar 270 is fixed
to the inner wall 14 of the housing 13 or to the piston 271 inserted
into the cylinder 272 formed on the inner wall 14 of the cap 18
fixed to the housing 13, while the torsion bar 270 is being in the
twisted state in the rotational direction of the pivoting section
4, so that the torsion bar 270 has the maximum torsion torque.
The force of restitution by the torsion of the torsion bar 270
generates a force of forcing the housing 13 and the cover 2 to be
opened, but the compression spring 15-1 disposed between the actuator
8 and the inner wall 14 of the housing 13 or the inner wall 14 of
the cap 18 fixed to the housing 13 has been already compressed.
Therefore, in this state, the opening/closing inclination surface
12 of the clutch 10 having such an angle of inclination as to make
the force of restitution by the compression larger than the force
of restitution by the torsion has been engaged with the joining
protuberance 9 of the actuator 8, and the connection shaft 7 joined
with the actuator 8 has been joined with the button 5 inserted in
the button hole 6 of the shaft connection section 3 in such a manner
that the button 5 cannot rotate therein, so that the existing state
can be maintained.
In this state, since the force of restitution by the compression
applied to the closed position of the cover 2 by means of the compression
spring 15-1, while the joining protuberance 9 of the actuator 8
and the opening/closing inclination surface 12 of the clutch 10
come into close contact with each other, is larger than the force
of restitution by the torsion of the torsion bar 270 applied to
the open position, the cover 2 can be maintained in the closed state.
That is, even when the compression force is larger than the torsion
force, the cover 2 is maintained closed because the cover 2 is folded
on the phone body 1. At this time, the cover 2 also remains closed
because a force of the cover 2 being closed, equivalent to the difference
between the two forces, still exists.
By pressing the button 5 to open the cover 2 of the mobile phone
100 in this state, the actuator 8 joined with the clutch 10 is spaced
from the clutch 10 while compressing the compression spring 15-1,
and simultaneously the torsion bar 270 rotates the housing 13 and
the cover 2 assembled with the housing 13 while generating a rotational
force for forcing the torsion bar 270 to be restored to its original
state, thereby opening the cover 2.
The operating principles are described in detail hereunder. The
button 5 is inserted in the button hole 6 formed at the shaft connection
section 3 in such a manner that the button 5 cannot rotate therein,
but can linearly reciprocate in the axial direction of the connection
shaft 7.
Therefore, the button 5, the actuator 8 assembled with the connection
shaft 7, and the piston 271 fixed to the torsion bar 270 do not
rotate in the cylinder 272 but perform only the linear reciprocating
motion.
By pressing the button 5, the force is transferred through the
connection shaft 7 to the actuator 8, and then the actuator 8 pushes
the compression spring 15-1 toward the interior of the housing 13.
During this process, the joining protuberance 9 and the opening/closing
inclination surface 12 are spaced from each other, so as to release
the restricted state, so that the torsion bar 270 is changed from
a twisted state to a state that the torsion bar 270 can be freely
restored to its original position, thereby opening the cover 2.
Especially the restoration of the torsion force of the torsion
bar 270 begins from the moment when the actuator 8 is sequentially
separated from the clutch 10 by pressing the button 5. The cover
2 can be more easily opened by the force, since the opening/closing
inclination surface 12 is formed at the joining recess 11 of the
clutch 10, enabling more smooth operation.
When a user wants to close the cover 2, e.g., after ending a communication
in a state that the cover 2 is open, the user can rotate the cover
2 toward the phone body 1 with hand. At this time, the torsion bar
270 being in a state of minimum torsion torque is twisted again
to have the maximum torsion torque.
As stated above, when the cover 2 is closed, the torsion bar 270
already has a torsion torque, and the joining protuberance 9 and
the opening/closing inclination surface 12 are engaged with each
other to be locked together by the compression spring 15-1 already
remaining compressed, so that the cover 2 is maintained closed.
When the cover 2 is rotated from the open position to the closed
position, the torsion bar 270 is fixed to the protuberance 27 of
the actuator 8 and to the inner wall 14 of the housing 13 or to
the piston 271 inserted in the cylinder 272 formed on the inner
wall 14 of the cap 18 fixed to the housing 13.
In the case of the cylinder 272 provided with a further recess
273 for idle turning, the torsion bar 270 idly turns by a predetermined
angle, and then comes to have a torsion torque.
Therefore, the force of restitution by the compression of the compression
spring 15-1 becomes larger than the force of restitution by the
torsion of the torsion bar 270 in the closed position of the cover
2 in which the maximum torsion torque is provided.
This is because, when the cover 2 is rotated from the open position
to the closed position, the torsion bar 270 does not immediately
generate the torsion torque because of the recess 273 for idle turning
formed in the cylinder 272, but generates the torsion torque after
the cylinder 272 idly turns by an open degree of the recess 273
for idle turning.
While the cylinder 272 is idly turning, a predetermined magnitude
of the compression force of the compression spring 15-1 is already
retained by the fixing means 153 in the case of the torsion surface
29 of the clutch 10, or the compression force increases when the
cover 2 is rotated from the open position to the closed position
in the case of the torsion surface 53 of the clutch 10.
By this reason, the relatively larger force of restitution by the
compression than the force of restitution by the torsion is applied
to the joining protuberance 9 and the opening/closing inclination
surface 12, so as to strengthen the closed state between the phone
body 1 and the cover 2.
It is natural that the torsion bar 270 linearly reciprocates in
the axial direction when the cover 2 is opened and closed, since
one end portion of the torsion bar 270 is fixed to the actuator
8 and the other end portion of the torsion bar 270 is fixed to the
inner wall 14 of the housing 13 or to the piston 271 inserted into
the cylinder 272 formed on the inner wall 14 of the cap 18.
The present embodiment is provided with the torsion bar 270 and
the compression spring 15-1 that generate the torsion force and
the compression force, respectively, necessary for opening and closing
the cover 2 as described above, so that the cover 2 has an improved
opening and closing performance.
Further, in the mobile phone 100 with which the present invention
is employed, even when the cover 2 is opened directly with hand
without pressing the button 5, the actuator 8 can be smoothly separated
from the clutch 10 by means of the opening/closing inclination surface
12, so as to open the cover 2, as described above.
The present invention may apply to both folder and flip types of
the mobile phone 100. Preferably, the present invention can apply
to the folder type of the mobile phone.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
In the apparatus and the method for opening a cover of a mobile
phone according to the present invention as described above, a button
for opening a cover is provided at a predetermined portion of a
phone body, at which a user can easily operate the button, so that
the cover can be easily opened when the mobile phone is used.
Especially, the present invention may apply to any types of mobile
phone, including a folder type and a flip type, thereby providing
wider applicability and improving convenience in use. |