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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
Disclosed is a hinge device for a mobile phone having a rotation
type display including a body housing, a folder having a display
unit, and a connection member for rotatably connecting the folder
to the body housing such that the folder is rotatably moved into
an open position or a closed position with respect to the body housing.
The hinge device includes a hinge module having a plate shape. The
hinge module is accommodated in the folder and rotatably coupled
to the connection member while facing the connection member so as
to rotate the folder relative to the connection member about a hinge
axis thereof.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hinge device for a mobile phone having a rotation type display
including a body housing, a folder having a display unit, and a
connection member for rotatably connecting the folder to the body
housing such that the folder is movable into an open position and
a closed position with respect to the body housing, the hinge device
comprising: a hinge module having a plate shape, the hinge module
being accommodated in the folder and rotatably coupled to the connection
member while facing the connection member so as to rotate the folder
relative to the connection member about a hinge axis thereof, the
hinge module including a first hinge plate screw-coupled to the
connection member; a second hinge plate accommodated in the folder
and coupled to the first hinge plate allowing rotation of the folder
about the hinge axis; a rotary washer aligned between the first
and second hinge plates while facing the first hinge plate allowing
rotation of the second hinge, said rotary washer including at least
one washer protrusion formed along an outer circumferential portion
of the rotary washer with a uniform interval in such a manner that
the washer protrusion is inserted into a washer groove of the first
hinge plate and a pair of fixing protrusions formed at an inner
portion of the rotary washer and fixedly inserted into fixing slots
of a hinge housing of the second hinge plate; a wave washer provided
between the second hinge plate and the rotary washer applying a
biasing force to the folder in order to rotate the folder; and a
snap ring coupled to the second hinge plate.
2. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection
member is formed with a first coupling recess for receiving the
first hinge plate therein, and the folder is formed with a second
coupling recess for receiving the second hinge plate therein.
3. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hinge
plate includes: a perforated hole formed at a center of the first
hinge plate; a coupling hole formed at an outer peripheral portion
of the perforated hole so as to be coupled with the rotary washer;
at least one washer groove formed in a circumferential direction
of the coupling hole with a uniform interval; a stopper protrusion
provided at a predetermined outer portion of the washer groove and
inserted into a guide slot formed in the second hinge plate; and
a plurality of screw holes for allowing the first hinge plate to
be screw-coupled with the connection member.
4. The hinge device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the washer groove
includes a hemispherical groove.
5. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second hinge
plate includes: a perforated hole positioned at a center of the
second hinge plate; a hinge housing having a cylindrical shape and
protruding from an outer peripheral portion of the perforated hole
along the hinge axis; a receiving groove formed around the hinge
housing for receiving the wave washer therein; a guide slot formed
at an outer portion the receiving groove and coupled with a stopper
protrusion of the first hinge plate so as to guide the stopper protrusion
and to limit a rotation of the folder when the folder rotates and
a plurality of screw holes for allowing the second hinge plate to
be screw-coupled with the fold.
6. The hinge device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guide slot
is formed along a circumference of the receiving groove with a predetermined
length in order to allow the folder to rotate at a right angle relative
to the connection member.
7. The hinge device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hinge housing
is formed with a pair of fixing slots, and fixing protrusions of
the rotary washer, are fixedly inserted into the fixing slots the
hinge housing allowing the rotary washer to rotate with the second
hinge plate.
8. The hinge device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing slots
are symmetrically aligned with the fixing protrusions while facing
each other.
9. The hinge device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hinge housing
is formed at one end thereof with a coupling slot to which the snap
ring is coupled.
10. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the washer
protrusion includes a hemispherical protrusion.
11. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing
slots are symmetrically aligned with the fixing protrusions about
the hinge housing.
12. The hinge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wave washer
includes a leaf spring having a ring-like shape, a circumference
of which is irregularly formed.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
PRIORITY
This application claims priority to an application entitled "Hinge
Device For Display Rotation Type Mobile Phone" filed with the
Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 6, 2003 and assigned
Ser. No. 2003-78275, the contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile phone having a rotation
type display, and more particularly to a hinge device for a mobile
phone including a plate-type hinge module for rotatably supporting
a folder having a rotatable display unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a "portable communication apparatus" refers
to an electronic appliance allowing users to make wireless communication
with other users while carrying the portable communication apparatus.
Such portable communication apparatuses are classified into various
types according to their appearance. For example, the portable communication
apparatuses are classified as either a bar-type portable communication
apparatuses, flip-type portable communication apparatuses, or folder-type
portable communication apparatuses, according to their appearance.
The bar-type portable communication apparatus has a single housing
shaped like a bar. The flip-type portable communication apparatus
has a flip which is pivotably coupled to a bar-shaped housing by
a hinge unit. The folder-type portable communication apparatus has
a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit
in such a manner that the folder can be rotated in order to be folded
towards or unfolded away from the housing.
Further, portable communication apparatuses may be classified into
rotation-type communication apparatuses and sliding-type communication
apparatuses according to ways of opening and closing the portable
communication apparatuses. In the rotation-type portable communication
apparatus, two housings are coupled to each other in such a manner
that one housing rotates opened or closed relative to the other
while they face each other. In the sliding-type portable communication
apparatus, two housings are coupled to each other in such a manner
that one housing can longitudinally slide along the other housing.
These variously classified portable communication apparatuses can
be easily understood by those skilled in the art.
Recently, designs of such portable communication apparatuses tend
to be compact, slim, and light in consideration of portability.
However, the conventional portable communication apparatuses are
convenient only when making voice or image communication with other
users.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a conventional display rotation type
portable terminal includes a body housing 10 provided at one end
thereof with a first hinge axis A1, a folder 20 and a connection
member 30. The body housing 10 has various key buttons 11 and a
microphone 12. The connection member 30 connects the body housing
10 to the folder 20 and allows the folder 20 to rotatably move into
an open position or a closed position with respect to the body housing
10 about the first hinge axis A1. In addition, the connection member
30 is provided with a second hinge axis A2. The folder 20 is rotatably
moved with respect to the connection member 30 about the second
hinge axis A2. The folder 20 is provided with a display unit, such
as an LCD 21, and a speaker 22.
A hinge module 40 is accommodated in the connection member 30 so
as to allow the folder 20 to rotate about the second hinge axis
A2.
According to the conventional display rotation type portable terminal,
the display unit of the folder can be rotated so as to provide users
with a wide screen when viewing a moving picture, a video, or playing
a game.
However, in the conventional display rotation type portable terminal,
the hinge module for rotating the display unit of the folder is
exposed to an exterior, so the hinge module may be easily broken
when external impact is applied thereto. In addition, since the
hinge module has a large size and thickness, not only is it difficult
to make a compact-sized portable terminal, but also various limitations
may occur when designing the portable terminal.
In addition, according to the hinge module of the conventional
rotatable display type portable terminal, the rotational function
of the folder may deteriorateover time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned
problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present
invention is to provide a hinge device for a mobile phone having
a rotation type display including a plate-type hinge module for
rotatably supporting a folder having a display unit, thereby improving
convenience of use for the mobile phone.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device
for a mobile phone having a rotation type display, in which a plate-type
hinge module is accommodated in a folder, thereby reducing a size
and a thickness of the hinge module and implementing a compact-sized
mobile phone.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge
device for a mobile phone having a rotation type display, in which
a plate-type hinge module is accommodated in a folder, thereby preventing
the hinge module from being broken and improving convenience of
use for the mobile phone.
In order to accomplish these objects, there is provided a hinge
device for a mobile phone having a rotation type display including
a body housing, a folder having a display unit, and a connection
member for rotatably connecting the folder to the body housing such
that the folder is rotatably moved into an open position or a closed
position with respect to the body housing, the hinge device including
a hinge module having a plate shape, the hinge module being accommodated
in the folder and rotatably coupled to the connection member while
facing the connection member so as to rotate the folder relative
to the connection member about a hinge axis thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional mobile
phone having a rotation type display in a closed state;
FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a conventional mobile phone
having a rotation type display in an open state in which a folder
is rotated at a right angle;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge device
of a mobile phone having a rotation type display according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of area "A" shown in FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective assembled view of a hinge device of a mobile
phone having a rotation type display according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mobile phone having a rotation type
display according to one embodiment of the present invention when
a folder is not rotated;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a hinge device shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a mobile phone having a rotation type display according
to one embodiment of the present invention when a folder has been
rotated at a right angle;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a hinge device shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling state of
a wave washer of a hinge device provided in a mobile phone having
a rotation type display according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 12 a side view illustrating a coupling state of a hinge device
of a mobile phone having a rotation type display according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an operational state
of a second hinge plate and a rotary washer of a hinge device provided
in a mobile phone having a rotation type display according to one
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of area "B" shown in FIG.
13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
following description of the present invention, a detailed description
of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be
omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention
unclear.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 14, a mobile phone having a rotation type
display includes a body housing 10, a folder 20 having a display
unit 21, and a connection member 30 for rotatably connecting the
folder 20 to the body housing 10 such that the folder 20 is rotatably
moved into an open position or a closed position with respect to
the body housing 10.
A hinge device of the mobile phone having a rotation type display
includes a hinge module 100. The hinge module 100 is rotatably coupled
to the connection member 30 while facing the connection member 30.
The hinge module 100 is accommodated in the folder 20 in such a
manner that the folder 20 can rotate about a hinge axis A2.
The hinge module 100 has a plate shape so that the hinge module
100 can be stably accommodated in the folder 20 and the connection
member 30. The hinge module 100 includes first and second hinge
plates 200 and 300, a rotary washer 400, a wave washer 500, and
a snap ring 600. The first hinge plate 200 is rotatably coupled
to the second hinge plate 300 and is screw-coupled with the connection
member 30. The second hinge plate 300 is coupled with the first
hinge plate 200 and is accommodated in the folder 20 such that the
folder 20 can rotate about a hinge axis A2.
The rotary washer 400 is provided between the first and second
hinge plates 200 and 300 while facing the first hinge plate 200
so as to rotatably support the second plate 300. The wave washer
500 is provided between the second hinge plate 300 and the rotary
washer 400 and applies a biasing force to the folder 20 so as to
rotate the folder 20. The snap ring 600 is provided to sequentially
couple the first and second hinge plates 200 and 300, the rotary
washer 400, and the wave washer 500 to each other. The snap ring
600 is accommodated in a coupling slot 302b of a hinge housing 302
formed in the second hinge plate 300. In addition, the connection
member 30 has a first coupling recess 31 in order to receive the
first hinge plate 200 therein. The folder 20 is formed with a second
coupling recess 23 in order to receive the second hinge plate 300
therein.
The first hinge plate 200 includes a perforated hole 201, a coupling
hole 202, at least one washer groove 203, a stopper protrusion 204,
and a plurality of screw holes 205. The perforated hole 201 is formed
at a center of the first hinge plate 200 in such a manner that the
hinge housing 302 of the second hinge plate 300 can pass through
the perforated hole 201. In addition, a flexible circuit connected
to the folder 20 is connected to the body housing 10 while passing
through the perforated hole 201 of the first hinge plate 200. The
coupling hole 202 is formed around the perforated hole 201 so as
to be coupled with the rotary washer 400.
Washer grooves 203 are formed in a circumferential direction of
the coupling hole 202 with a uniform interval so as to stably receive
a washer protrusion 401 of the rotary washer 400 therein.
The stopper protrusion 204 is provided at a predetermined outer
portion of the washer groove 203 and is inserted into a guide slot
304 formed in the second hinge plate 300 so as to limit the rotation
of the folder 20. The screw holes 205 are formed in the first hinge
plate 200 so as to allow the first hinge plate 200 to be screw-coupled
with the connection member 30.
In addition, the second hinge plate 300 includes a perforated hole
301, the hinge housing 302, a receiving groove 303, the guide slot
304 and a plurality of screw holes 305. The perforated hole 301
is positioned at a center of the second hinge plate 300 and is defined
by the second hinge housing 302 in such a manner that the flexible
circuit connected to the folder 20 is connected to the body housing
10 while passing through the perforated hole 301 of the second hinge
plate 300. The hinge housing 302 is inserted into the perforated
hole 201 of the first hinge plate 200 and protrudes from an outer
peripheral portion of the perforated hole 301 along the hinge axis
A2. Preferably, the hinge housing 302 has a cylindrical shape.
The receiving groove 303 is formed around the hinge housing 302
in order to receive the wave washer 500 therein. The guide slot
304 is formed at an outer portion of the receiving groove 303 and
is coupled with the stopper protrusion 204 of the first hinge plate
200 so as to guide the stopper protrusion 204 and to limit the rotation
of the folder 20 when the folder 20 rotates. The screw holes 305
are formed in the second hinge plate 300 so as to allow the second
hinge plate 300 to be screw-coupled with the folder 20. In addition,
the guide slot 304 is formed along a circumference of the receiving
groove 303 with a predetermined length such that the folder 20 can
rotate at a right angle relative to the connection member 30. The
hinge housing 302 is formed with a pair of fixing slots 302a and
fixing protrusions 402 of the rotary washer 400 are fixedly inserted
into the fixing slots 302a. In addition, the hinge housing 302 is
formed at one end thereof with a coupling slot 302b to which the
snap ring 600 is coupled after the rotary washer 400 and the wave
washer 500 have been sequentially coupled with the perforated holes
201 and 301.
The rotary washer 400 includes at least one washer protrusion 401
and a pair of fixing protrusions 402. The washer protrusions 401
are formed along an outer circumferential portion of the rotary
washer with a uniform interval in such a manner that the washer
protrusions 401 are inserted into the washer grooves of the first
hinge plate 200. The fixing protrusions 402 are formed at an inner
portion of the rotary washer 400 and are fixedly inserted into the
fixing slots 302a of the hinge housing 302 so as to allow the rotary
washer 400 to rotate together with the second hinge plate 300.
In addition, the fixing slots 302a are symmetrically aligned about
the hinge housing 302, so the fixing protrusions 402 inserted into
the fixing slots 302a are also symmetrically aligned about the hinge
housing 302. The wave washer 500 includes a leaf spring having a
ring-like shape, a circumference of which is irregularly formed.
Hereinafter, an operation of the hinge device for the mobile phone
having a rotation type display having the above construction according
to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described
in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 14.
As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile phone having a rotation type display
includes the body housing 10, the folder 20 having the display unit
and the connection member.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hinge device of the mobile phone
having a rotation type display includes the plate-shape hinge module
100 accommodated in the folder 20 and the connection member 30.
The first hinge plate 200 of the hinge module 100 is accommodated
in the first coupling recess 31 of the connection member 30 and
is screw-coupled thereto.
In this state, as shown in FIGS. 4 6, the second hinge plate 300
is accommodated in the second coupling recess 23 of the folder 20
while facing the first hinge plate 200 in such a manner that the
folder 20 can rotate about the hinge axis A2 of the hinge module
100.
As mentioned above, the second hinge plate 300 is provided at a
center thereof with the hinge housing 302 having a cylindrical shape
and protruding along the hinge axis A2. The hinge housing 302 is
inserted into the perforated hole 201 formed at a center of the
first hinge plate 200.
As mentioned above, the rotary washer 400 is positioned between
the first and second hinge plates 200 and 300 and is aligned around
the hinge housing 302 so as to allow the second hinge plate 300
to rotate in a predetermined direction. The rotary washer 400 is
coupled with the coupling hole 202 formed around the perforated
hole 201 of the first hinge plate 200.
As shown in FIG. 5, the wave washer 500 is positioned between the
second hinge plate 300 and the rotary washer 400 and is aligned
around the hinge housing 302 so as to apply bias force to the folder
20. As shown in FIG. 11, the wave washer 500 includes a leaf spring
having a ring-like shape, a circumference of which is irregularly
formed. In addition, the wave washer 500 is accommodated in the
receiving groove 303 formed around the hinge housing 302. In this
state, as shown in FIG. 6, the snap ring 600 is coupled into the
coupling slot 302b formed at one end of the hinge housing 302 after
the rotary washer 400 and the wave washer 500 have been sequentially
coupled with the perforated holes 201 and 301, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, since at least one washer protrusion
401 is formed along the outer circumferential portion of the rotary
washer 400 with a uniform interval in such a manner that the washer
protrusions 401 face the washer grooves 203 of the first hinge plate
200, the washer protrusions 401 are inserted into the washer grooves
203.
In this state, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, if the folder 20 rotates
at a right angle about the hinge axis A2 relative to the connection
member, the second hinge plate 300 may rotate together with the
folder 20, so that the rotary washer 400 also rotates. At this time,
the washer protrusion 401 is separated from the washer groove 203
and is inserted into one of other washer grooves.
As show in FIGS. 11 and 12, the wave washer 500 applies bias force
to the washer protrusion 401 of the rotary washer 400 such that
the washer protrusion 401 can be stably rested in the washer groove
203. That is, the wave washer 500 applies the bias force in order
to rotate the washer protrusion 401 and to allow the washer protrusion
401 to be engaged with or separated from the washer groove 203.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, since the fixing protrusions 402 are
formed at an inner portion of the rotary washer 400 and are fixedly
inserted into the fixing slots 302a of the hinge housing 302, the
rotary washer 400 may rotate together with the second hinge plate
300.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the washer groove 203
is a hemispherical groove and the washer protrusion 401 is a hemispherical
protrusion.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the guide slot 304 is formed at an
outer portion of the receiving groove 303 of the second hinge plate
300 and is coupled with the stopper protrusion 204 of the first
hinge plate 200 so as to guide the stopper protrusion 204 and to
limit the rotation of the folder 20 when the folder 20 rotates at
a right angle.
That is, the guide slot 304 is formed along the circumference of
the receiving groove 303 with a predetermined length such that the
folder 20 can rotate at a right angle relative to the connection
member 30.
As shown in FIG. 9, if the folder 20 rotates at a right angle and
the folder 20 is aligned perpendicular to the rotation member 30.
As mentioned above, the present invention provides a hinge module
for a mobile phone having a rotation type display in order to rotate
a folder having a display unit, so that convenience of use for the
mobile phone having a rotation type display can be improved and
the size and a thickness of the mobile phone having a rotation type
display can be reduced while also limiting incidents of breakages
of the hinge module.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference
to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance,
the present invention is applicable to various kinds of portable
terminals. |