CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a PCT International Application of (and claims priority to) Korean Application No. 10-2009-0015955 filed February 25, 2009. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to portable communications terminals, such as handheld wireless communications terminals. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to pop-up stand assemblies for portable communications terminals that can, for example, support at least part of the portable communications terminals at different inclination angles on support surfaces, etc.

BACKGROUND

[0003] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0004] Portable wireless communications terminals (e.g., cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning systems (GPSs), media devices, LCD displays, monitors, pagers, etc.) have become increasingly popular. With increasing popularity, the number of users and their particular preferences and tastes in regard to functionality and operation of the devices have also increased, such as different user preferences as to how the devices can be used, held, positioned, etc. during, for example, operation, etc. Portable wireless communications terminals may include various display capabilities, such as Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Portable Media Players (PMP), video telecommunication, etc.

SUMMARY

[0005] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0006] Example embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed toward pop-up stand assemblies for supporting portable communications terminals on support surfaces. In one example embodiment, a stand assembly is provided for supporting a portable communications terminal on a support surface. The stand assembly generally includes a popup housing configured to be slideably coupled within a portable communications terminal. The pop-up housing has first and second end portions. A tilt housing is coupled to the pop-up housing and slideably moveable relative to the pop-up housing. A tilt arm is coupled to the tilt housing for supporting the portable communications terminal on the support surface. The tilt arm extends from the second end portion of the pop-up housing. The pop-up stand assembly is selectably changeable from a first length to a second length longer than the first length by slidably moving the tilt arm to shorten the pop-up stand assembly to a third length shorter than the first length, from which the pop-up stand assembly then changes from the third length to the second length.

[0007] Another example embodiment includes a pop-up stand assembly for supporting a portable communications terminal on a support surface. A pop-up housing is configured to be coupled within a channel of a portable communications terminal. The pop-up housing has first and second longitudinal end portions. The pop-up stand assembly includes a first biasing device within the pop-up housing. A first end portion of the first biasing device is coupled to the first longitudinal end portion of the pop-up housing. The first biasing device also include a second end portion longitudinally opposite the first end portion. The pop-up stand assembly includes a first cam slidably coupled within the pop-up housing adjacent the second end portion of the first biasing device. A second cam is slidably coupled within the pop-up housing adjacent the first cam. The pop-up stand assembly also includes a tilt arm assembly, which includes a tilt arm for supporting the portable communications terminal on the support surface. The tilt arm assembly is coupled to the first cam and the second cam. The tilt arm assembly is at least partially housed within the pop-up housing and is slideably moveable relative to the pop-up housing. The first biasing device provides a biasing force in a first direction toward the second longitudinal end portion of the pop-up housing that opposes sliding movement of the first cam, the second cam, and the tilt arm assembly in a second direction toward the first longitudinal end portion. [0008] Example embodiments of the present disclosure are also generally directed toward portable communications terminals having stand assemblies for supporting the portable communications terminals on support surfaces. For example, a portable communications terminal generally includes a terminal housing having an internal channel having a first longitudinal end portion that is closed within the terminal housing and a second longitudinal end portion that includes an opening through the terminal housing. A pop-up stand assembly is slidably coupled within the internal channel. The pop-up stand assembly has a first position in which the pop-up stand assembly is substantially housed within the terminal housing and a second position in which at least a portion of the pop-up stand assembly longitudinally extends out of the terminal housing through the opening.

[0009] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

[0010] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example portable communications terminal including a pop-up stand assembly in a closed position within a housing of the portable communications terminal;

[0012] FlG. 1 B is a perspective view of the portable communications terminal of FIG. 1A with the pop-up stand assembly in an extended position;

[0013] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the portable communications terminal of FIG. 1A with a tilt arm of the pop-up stand assembly in an extended and pivoted position;

[0014] FIG. 1D is a side view of the portable communications terminal of FIG. 1A with the tilt arm of the pop-up stand assembly in an extended, rotated and pivoted position;

[0015] FIG. 2A is a cutaway view of the portable communications terminal of FIG. 1A with a portion of the housing cutaway to show the exemplary manner in which the pop-up stand assembly, while in a closed position, is disposed within the channel in the housing of the portable communications terminal;

[0016] FIG. 2B is a cutaway view of the portable communications terminal of FIG. 2A with the pop-up stand assembly shown in a popped-up (open) position;

[0017] FIG. 2C is a cutaway view of the portable communications terminal of FIG. 2A with the pop-up stand assembly shown in an extended position;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the various parts of the pop-up stand assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pop-up stand assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 4 with a portion of the pop-up housing cutaway to show the internal parts within pop-up housing of the pop-up stand assembly;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 4;

[0022] FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway view of a portion of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 4 with portions of the pop-up housing and tilt housing cutaway to show the exemplary manner in which the tilt arm, tilt arm cam, and tilt arm spring are coupled by the tilt arm pin within the tilt housing;

[0023] FIG. 8 is an end view of the pop-up housing of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 4;

[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective cutaway view of the pop-up housing of FIG. 8 with a portion of the pop-up housing removed to show the angled guide edges, stops, and guide channels along the interior of the pop-up housing;

[0025] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the pop-up housing of FIG. 9, and further illustrating a second cam with protruding rails slidingly coupled with the guide channels of the pop-up housing;

[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the pop-up housing of FIG. 9, and further illustrating a first cam with protruding rails slidingly coupled with the guide channels of the pop-up housing; [0027] FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the pop-up housing and first cam of FIG. 11 ;

[0028] FIG. 13A is a partial cutaway view of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 4 in a closed position;

[0029] FIG. 13B is a partial cutaway view of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 13A in an intermediate position between the closed position of FIG. 13A and an open position;

[0030] FIG. 13C is a partial cutaway view of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 13B in an open position; and

[0031] FIG. 14 is a side view of a portion of a tilt arm assembly of the pop-up stand assembly of FIG. 4 illustrating the tilt arm in two different positions.

[0032] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 1A to 2C, there is shown a portable communications terminal 100 including a pop-up stand assembly 102 for supporting the portable communications terminal 100 on a support surface, and which incorporates one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. As shown in FIG. 1 D, the stand assembly 102 can be used for supporting the portable communications terminal 100 on a support surface (not shown). The portable communications terminal 100 may include, for example, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a global positioning system (GPS), a media device, a LCD display, a monitor, a pager, other electronic devices, etc. within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the stand assembly 102 is slidably coupled within a channel 104 of the housing of the portable communications terminal 100. In its closed position, the stand assembly 102 is substantially enclosed within the portable communications terminal 100 as can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 2A. When a user pushes or presses on (e.g., with the user's finger, etc.) the stand assembly 102 through an opening 106 in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the assembly 102, the stand assembly 102 initially compresses to a shorter length and then extends out ("pops-up") to a length longer (an open position) than the closed position. Hence, a portion of the stand assembly 102 extends out of the portable communications terminal 100 through the opening 106, as is best illustrated by FIG. 2B. The user may then grasp and pull on the exposed portion of the stand assembly 102, causing the stand assembly 102 to slide within the channel 104 toward the opening 106. This places the stand assembly 102 in an extended position (FIGS. 1 B and 2C) in which the tilt arm 2 is fully exposed, The tilt arm 2 is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the stand assembly 102, such that exposed tilt arm 2 may now be pivoted about a hinge pin (which will be further discussed below) as shown in FIG. 1 C. The stand assembly 102 may include pivot stops for holding the tilt arm 2 in one or more pivoted positions, such as, for example, the positions of FIG. 1 B and FIG 1C. The tilt arm 2 may also be rotated relative to the stand assembly 102 and the portable communications terminal 100 to achieve a desired support position. In FIG. 1 D, for example, the tilt arm 102 has been rotated to an angle α of about seventy degrees relative to the line A-A through the portable telecommunications terminal 100. Angles smaller than the illustrated angle α will support the communications terminal 100 in a more upright position, while angles less than angle α will support the communications terminal 100 in a less upright position.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates various unassembled parts that may be assembled into a pop-up stand assembly 102 for a portable communications terminal 100, and which embody one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Shown in FIG. 3 is a pop-up housing 1 and various parts for a tilt arm assembly. As described in more detail below, the tilt arm assembly includes a tilt arm 2, a first cam 3, a second cam 4, a rub bushing 5, a tilt housing 6, a tilt member 7, a tilt arm biasing device or spring 8, a pop-up holder 9, a tilt arm cam 10, tilt arm pins 11 , 12, and a pop-up biasing device or spring 13.

[0037] In FIG. 3, the biasing devices 8 and 12 are illustrated as coil springs. Alternative embodiments may include other suitable biasing devices.

[0038] With reference now to FIGS. 4 to 7, the pop-up holder 9 is coupled to a first longitudinal end portion 108 of the pop-up housing 1. As shown in FIG. 5, one end portion of a pop-up spring 13 is coupled to the popup holder 9 in the interior of the pop-up housing 1. The first cam 3 is coupled to the opposite end portion of the pop-up spring 13. The second cam 4 is located on the side of the first cam 3 opposite the side on which the pop-up spring 13 is coupled to the first cam 3. The tilt housing 6 is coupled to the first cam 3 and the second cam 4 by a tilt member 7 and a tilt pin 12, as shown in FIG. 6. A rub bushing 5 is mounted in the second cam 4 and receives the tilt housing 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the tilt arm spring 8 and tilt arm cam 10 are coupled within the tilt housing 6. The tilt arm 2 is pivotably connected to the tilt housing 6 by the tilt arm pin 11.

[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, a second longitudinal end portion 110 of the pop-up housing 1 may include at least one through guide channel 112 and at least one stopped guide channel 114. Each stopped guide channel 114 includes a stop 116, as shown in FlG. 10. The second cam 4 includes protruding rails 118 that slidingly couple into the through guide channels 112. This permits the second cam 4 to longitudinally slide within and along the pop-up housing 1 without rotating relative to the pop-up housing 1.

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first cam 3 also includes protruding rails 118. The first cam's protruding rails 118 can be coupled to either the stopped guide channels 114 or the through guide channels 112. When the pop-up stand assembly 102 is operated from a closed position to an open position (as will be explained in more detail below), the first cam 3 alternates between an orientation in which the first cam's protruding rails 118 are engaged within the stopped guide channels 114 and another orientation in which the first cam's protruding rails 118 are engaged within the through guide channels 112.

[0041] In FIGS. 13A to 13C, an exemplary operation of the pop-up stand assembly 102 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 13A, the assembly 102 is in a first or closed position. The pop-up spring 13 is at least partially compressed and providing a biasing force against the first cam 3. In this position, the protruding rails 118 of the first cam 3 are coupled to the stopped guide channels 114. The biasing force applied by the spring 13 maintains the end portions of the rails 118 against the stops 116. Thus, the first cam 3 is inhibited or prevented both from rotating relative to the housing 1 and from sliding toward the second longitudinal end portion 110 of the housing 1. Also shown in FIG. 13A, the teeth 120 of the first cam 3 are in contact with, but not fully aligned with, teeth 120 of the second cam 4. As mentioned above, the protruding rails 118 on the second cam 4 are slidable along and within the through guide channels 112.

[0042] When a force is applied to the tilt arm 2 in a direction generally toward the housing's first longitudinal end portion 108 (such as by a user pushing or pressing the tilt arm 2 through the opening 106), the tilt arm 2 begins moving toward the housing's first longitudinal end 108. The tilt arm 2 forces the second cam 4 and the first cam 3 to slide toward the housing's first longitudinal end portion 108. Initially, the guide channels 112 and 114 inhibit or prevent the first and second cams 3, 4 from rotating relative to the housing 1. After the first cam 3 has slid a short distance, however, the rails 118 pass beyond the stops or ends of the stopped guide channels 114. At such point, the misalignment between the teeth 120 of the first cam 3 and the second cam 4 causes the first cam 3, to rotate until the teeth 120 are aligned, as illustrated in FIG. 13B. This rotation approximately aligns the rails 118 of the first cam 3 with the through guide channels 112. At this stage, the spring 13 is more compressed and is applying a greater biasing force opposing movement of the first cam 3 toward the first longitudinal end portion 108.

[0043] When the force being applied to the tilt arm 2 is removed (e.g., when the user stops pushing or pressing on the tilt arm 2), the spring 13 biases the first cam 3, the second cam 4, and the tilt arm 2 toward the second longitudinal end 110. Angled guide edges 122 (as seen in FIGS. 9-12) guide the protruding rails 118 of the first cam 3 into the through guide channels 112. Because the rails 118 of the second cam 4 are already coupled to the through guide channels 112, the second cam 4 cannot rotate and the teeth 120 of the first cam 3 and the second cam 4 again become misaligned as shown in FIG. 13C. The first cam 3 may now slide toward the second longitudinal end portion 110 of the housing 1 without the first cam's protruding rails 118 encountering the stops 116. The spring 13 applies a biasing force that pushes (e.g., automatically moves, etc.) the first cam 3 (and the parts coupled to the first cam 3) toward the second longitudinal end 110 until a tail block 124 encounters raised portions of the guide channels 112, 114 and inhibits or prevents the first cam 3 from sliding any further toward the second longitudinal end portion 110. This second or open position is also illustrated in FIG. 2B. In such position, the stand assembly 102 is longer than in the closed position (FIG. 2A) and, when the assembly 102 is coupled within the portable telecommunications terminal 100, the tilt arm 2 extends out of the telecommunication terminal 100 as discussed above.

[0044] When the pop-up stand assembly 102 is in the open position, the user may again apply a force to the tilt arm 2, and the process discussed above is repeated in reverse. That is, proceeding from FIG. 13C through 13B and finally to 13A. Instead of rotating the first cam 3 so that the protruding rails 118 of the first cam 3 are aligned with the through guide channels 112 as above, the closing procedure realigns the protruding rails 118 of the first cam 3 with the stopped guide channels 114. Hence, the first cam 3 only slides toward the second longitudinal end portion 110 until the protruding rails 118 encounter the stops 116 and the assembly 102 remains in the closed position.

[0045] When the pop-up stand assembly 102 is in the open position (FIG. 2B and FlG. 13C), the user may pull on the tilt arm 2 as discussed above to extend the assembly 102 to the extended position of FIGS. 1 B and 2C. As also discussed above, the tilt arm 2 may be rotated and pivoted.

[0046] As best seen in FIG. 6, the rub bushing 5 coupled between the tilt housing 6 and the second cam 4 provides a resistance to free rotation of the tilt housing 6 and the tilt arm 2 (via the tilt housing 6). The tilt arm 2 pivots about or around the tilt arm pin 11 (FIG. 7) through which the tilt arm 2 is coupled to the tilt housing 6.

[0047] Looking now at FIGS. 6 and 14, it can be seen that the tilt arm spring 8 applies a biasing force to the tilt arm cam 10 to bias it towards and against an end portion of the tilt arm 2. The tilt arm 2 may include one or more grooves (or stops) 126. At various positions as the tilt arm 2 is pivoted about the pin 11 , the grooves 126 align with the tilt arm cam 10. The biasing force provided by the spring 8 forces the cam 10 into the groove 126, which, in turn, causes a resistance to further pivoting of the tilt arm 2. One groove 126 (on the left hand side of FIG. 14) may hold the tilt arm 2 in a position parallel to the pop-up stand assembly 102 when the assembly 102 is in the closed position. A second groove 126 (on the right hand side of FlG. 14) may be used to hold the tilt arm 2 in an in use position, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1D. Although, two such grooves 126 are illustrated, more or less grooves are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] Stand assemblies may be coupled to portable communications terminals differently than disclosed herein (e.g., other than to back sides of portable communications terminals, etc.) within the scope of the present disclosure. Advantageously, embodiments disclosed herein include pop-up stand assemblies that may be built into and be carried within a portable communications terminal, such that it is not necessary to carry along a separate support. Also, embodiments disclosed herein include pop-up stand assemblies which may include a tilt arm that can be rotated to a desired angle in a popped-up state to support the terminal, thus providing convenience, for example, while watching a video or movie, etc. being displayed by the terminal. Further, embodiments disclosed herein may include a one touch pop-up assembly such that the pop-up assembly may be opened or closed by the user pressing or pushing on the tilt arm of the pop-up assembly.

[0049] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Also as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0051] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on", "engaged to", "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly engaged to", "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0052] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms, "next," etc., when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0053] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "beneath", "below", "lower", "above", "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0054] The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter (Ae., the disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter). Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges.

[0055] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.