Description

SLIDER MECHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A

PORTABLE TERMINAL

Technical Field

[1] The present invention generally relates to a slider mechanism for opening/closing a portable terminal, and more particularly to a slider mechanism for opening/closing a portable terminal, which is not subject to any lateral force, for performing an easy upward-downward slide. Background Art

[2] Recently, electronic devices in the form of a portable terminal have become popular.

Thus, additional functions of a portable terminal according to users' preferences (e.g., opening-closing functions) are required in addition to its inherent function of performing wireless communication.

[3] Due to such requirements, portable terminals, which are a typical bar type, a flip type, a flip-up type, a folder type, etc., have been introduced in the art. In the recent years, the folder type terminal has become the most popular type. The folder type terminal has a sufficient space for adopting a wide LCD module as a display device. Further, the folder type terminal can be folded in half to facilitate its handling. Thus, its portability is better than those of other terminals.

[4] However, a slide type terminal, which has a wide LCD module (as large as that of the folder type terminal), promotes miniaturization. The slide type terminal opens and closes, while a sub-body as a cover slides on a main body. It has the same advantages as the folder type terminal and further comprises a new opening-closing performance.

[5] As shown in Fig. 1, the slider mechanism for opening/closing a terminal includes a first plate (40), a second plate (30) and a torsion spring (50).

[6] The first plate (40) is coupled to a main body (20) of the portable terminal, while the second plate (30) is coupled to a sliding body (10) of the portable terminal. The second plate (30) is mounted such that it can slide upwardly or downwardly on the first plate (40). Also, the torsion spring (50) has an end fixed to the first plate (40), while its other end is fixed to the second plate (30).

[7] Thus, the torsion spring (50) becomes compressed when the second plate (30) is moved upwardly or downwardly. The second plate (30) can then move automatically due to an elastic force of restitution after an inflection point.

[8] However, when using the torsion spring (50), there is a problem in that the up-down movement of the second plate (30) can be disturbed by the lateral force due to the elasticity of the torsion spring.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] The present invention is conceived in order to solve the above-described problems. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a slider mechanism for opening/ closing a portable terminal, which is not subject to any lateral force, during an upward- downward movement of the second plate for easy movement. Technical Solution

[10] In order to achieve the above objective, the present invention is characterized in that a slider mechanism for opening/closing a portable terminal comprises: a first plate fixed to one of a main body and a display of the portable terminal; a second plate fixed to the other of the main body and the display, the second plate being slidably coupled to the first plate; a rotating member having a first end rotatably mounted on the first plate and a second end with a guide hole; and a guide formed at the second plate moving along the guide hole.

[11] The present invention further comprises: stoppers mounted on the first plate; and springs configured to apply elastic forces to the stoppers, wherein the first end of the rotating member contacts the stoppers during rotation.

[12] A receiving portion for receiving the stoppers and the springs is formed on the first plate.

[13] The first end of the rotating member is interposed between the stoppers.

[14] The stoppers have a cam profile and the first end of the rotating member has a clamp projection, which contacts the cam profile.

[15] The guide hole formed at the second end of the rotating member is opened to the second end and extends in a longitudinal direction of the rotating member.

[16] The second plate has a rotation recess, which is larger than a rotational path of the rotating member, for receiving the rotating member.

Advantageous Effects

[17] The present invention has the following advantageous effects.

[18] When the second plate is ascended or descended, a lateral force cannot act on the second plate. Thus, the second plate can easily slide upwardly or downwardly. [19] The rotation recess for rotatably receiving the rotating member is provided. Thus, the rotation of the rotating member cannot be interfered by the second plate. Also, the thinner mechanism for performing an opening/closing operation may be provided.

Brief Description of Drawings [20] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional slide type portable terminal. [21] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider mechanism for opening/closing a

portable terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[22] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the slider mechanism for opening/ closing the portable terminal in one direction.

[23] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the slider mechanism for opening/ closing the portable terminal in another direction.

[24] Fig. 5 shows an operation of the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in a closed state.

[25] Fig. 6 shows an operation of the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in an upwardly opened state.

[26] Fig. 7 shows an operation of the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in a downwardly opened state. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[27] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider mechanism for opening/closing a portable terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in one direction. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in another direction. Fig. 5 shows an operation of the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in a closed state. Fig. 6 shows an operation of the slider mechanism for opening/ closing the portable terminal in an upwardly opened state. Fig. 7 shows an operation of the slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal in a downwardly opened state.

[28] As shown in Figs. 2 to 7, a slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal according to the present invention comprises a first plate (100), a second plate (200) and stoppers (120), springs (130) and a rotating member (300).

[29] The first plate (100) is mounted on a main body of a portable terminal, while the second plate (200) is mounted on a display of the portable terminal. The second plate (200) can slide on the first plate (100) upwardly/downwardly.

[30] A recessed receiving portion (110), which receives the stoppers (120) and the springs

(130) as shown in Fig. 2, is formed on the first plate (100).

[31] The receiving portion (110) has a hole for mounting the rotating member (300).

[32] The stopper (120) is received at the receiving portion (110) so as to be slidably mounted on the first plate (100). The spring (130) is disposed between the stoppers (130) and the first plate (100) for applying elastic forces to the stopper (120). As such, the spring (130) is received in the receiving portion (110) in a compressed state.

[33] Only one stopper (120) may be provided. However, there are preferably numerous stoppers (120) as opposed to one stopper (120). If two stoppers (120) are provided as

described in this embodiment, then the stoppers (120) are inclined to move to each other due to the springs (130), which supply elastic forces to the stoppers (120).

[34] The rotating member (300) is shaped as a long beam, while its first end contacts the stoppers (120) for rotating. More specifically, the first end is interposed between a plurality of the stoppers (120).

[35] The stoppers (120) have a curved cam profile (125) and the rotating member (310) has a clamp projection (310) at the first end, which contacts the cam profile (125).

[36] Two grooves can be formed at the cam profile (125) for determining two states, i.e., closed and upwardly opened states. Otherwise, three grooves can be formed at the cam profile (125) for determining three states, i.e., closed, upwardly opened and downwardly opened states. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 7, a cam profile (125) of the stoppers (120) has grooves (126a, 127a) for the closed state, grooves (126b, 127b) for the upwardly opened state and grooves (126c, 127c) for the downwardly opened state. That is, the opening state of the terminal may be determined by which groove the clamp projection (310) is received in.

[37] Thus, the clamp projection (310) rotates along the cam profile (125), while the rotating member (300) rotates. Also, the stoppers (120) move upwardly or downwardly, while the clamp projection (310) rotates.

[38] A guide hole (320) is formed at the second end of the rotating member (300). The guide hole (320) is opened to the second end. It extends in a longitudinal direction of the rotating member (300).

[39] The second plate (200) has a guide (220), which moves along the guide hole (320).

[40] The second plate (200) has a concave depressed rotation recess (210) for receiving the rotating member (300). The rotation recess (210) is larger than the rotational path of the rotating member (300).

[41] Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

[42] Figs. 5 to 7 show the first plate (100) that is disposed over the second plate (200).

[43] As shown in Fig. 5, while the portable terminal is in the closed state, the cam profile

(125) of the stoppers (120) contacts the clamping projection (310) for clamping the rotating member not to rotate. Thus, the mechanism for opening/closing does not voluntarily move upwardly or downwardly. In this state, the clamping projection is received in the grooves (126a, 127a) for the closed state.

[44] As shown in Fig. 6, if a user pushes the second plate (200) upwardly along the solid arrow, then the guide (220) formed on the second plate (200) will be moved upwardly together. The rotating member (300), in which the guide (220) is inserted, will be rotated in a direction of the dotted arrow by the upward movement of the guide (220). While the rotating member (300) rotates, the clamping projection (310) moves and pushes the stoppers (120) for compressing the springs (130).

[45] If the clamping projection (310) passes over the point of inflection (where the springs

(130) are compressed the most), then the clamping projection (310) will automatically move along the cam profile (125) by means of the force of restitution.

[46] The movement of the clamping projection (310) automatically rotates the rotating member (300). The guide (220) then moves upwardly for an automatic upward movement of the second plate (200).

[47] If the clamping projection (310) is received in the grooves (126b, 127b) for the upward opened state, then the movement of the second plate (200) and the rotation of the rotating member (300) will stop. Thus, the upward opened state will be maintained.

[48] The guide (220) can sufficiently move in the guide hole since the guide hole (320), in which the guide (220) is inserted, is long enough for the movement of the guide (220).

[49] As shown in Fig. 7, if the second plate (200) moves downwardly, then the operation will be performed on the contrary. If the clamping projection (310) is received in the grooves for the downward opened state (126c, 127c), then the movement of the second plate (200) and the rotation of the rotating member (300) will stop. Thus, the downward opened state will be maintained.

[50] As above mentioned, while the second plate (200) is moved upwardly or downwardly, the lateral force does not act on the second plate (200). As such, the second plate (200) can upwardly or downwardly slide in an easy manner.

[51] The second plate (200) has a concave depressed rotation recess (210) for receiving the rotating member (300). Thus, the rotating member (300) does not overlap the second plate (200) during the rotation. Further, the mechanism for opening/closing can be made thinner.

[52] The slider mechanism for opening/closing the portable terminal according to the present invention is not restrictive in the described embodiments and it will be apparent that various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.