CN1592319A - Port cap unit for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A port cover unit located on a preferred region of an electronic component for protecting various ports exposed at the outside of the component. The port cover unit includes a cover housing, a sliding cover slidably attached to an upper end of the cover housing for partially opening or closing the cover housing, and a stationary cover attached to the upper end of the cover housing. The stationary cover is aligned with the sliding cover or is placed below the sliding cover depending on the position of the sliding cover. The port cover unit can be easily made utilizing the injection molding, whereby aesthetic appearance of the port cover unit is improved.

Description

Port cover unit for electronic equipment

technical field

The present invention generally relates to electronic devices including portable communication terminals, and more particularly, to a cover unit for covering ports of various electronic devices.

Background technique

In general, a "portable communication terminal" is a device that is portable and allows the owner of the device to communicate wirelessly. Based on their appearance, portable communication terminals can be classified into several types of communication terminals. For example, portable communication terminals can be classified into bar-type communication terminals, flip-type communication terminals, and folder-type communication terminals. A bar-type communication terminal has a bar-shaped single housing, a flip-type communication terminal includes a bar-type housing and a flip member pivotally connected to the housing, and a folder-type communication terminal includes a bar-type housing and a flip member pivotally connected to the housing. Folder widget.

In addition, portable communication terminals can be classified into neck-type communication terminals and wrist-type communication terminals based on the position or manner in which the user rotates them. The neck type communication terminal is hung around the user's neck using a string, and the wrist type communication terminal is worn on the user's wrist.

In addition, portable communication terminals can be classified into swivel type communication terminals and slide type communication terminals based on methods of opening and closing devices. In the case of a rotary type communication terminal, when the housings face each other, the two housings are rotatably connected to each other. The rotary type communication terminal is opened or closed by rotating both housings, whereby the housings are rotated to move away from or approach each other. In the case of a sliding type communication device, the two housings are slid longitudinally. By the sliding motion of the two housings, the sliding type communication terminal is closed or opened, thereby sliding the housings away from or approaching each other. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily understand the above-mentioned various communication terminals.

These portable communication terminals have various ports for connecting information processing devices such as personal computers or peripheral devices. For example, ports may include interspersed USB ports for connection to a personal computer, an interface connector for connection to a portable charger, and a headphone jack for connection to headphones. Ports are provided on the rear or side of the portable communication terminal. The port is usually protected with a cover, preferably made of rubber.

However, conventional portable communication terminals lack aesthetic appearance because covers for protecting ports of the portable communication terminals are made of rubber. The rubber used in a conventional portable communication terminal is quite different from the injection molding material used for the portable communication terminal itself, although it is provided on the outside of the portable communication terminal when exposed outside. In addition, the cover is usually opened with the user's fingers, which may cause inconvenience to the user.

Contents of the invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a port cover unit for a portable communication terminal, which is preferably accomplished by injection molding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a port cover unit for a portable communication terminal, which can be easily opened or closed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a port cover unit for a portable communication terminal having an elastic member, by which the port cover can be easily opened and closed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a port cover unit for a portable communication terminal having a port cover unit slidably movable or rotatable.

According to aspects of the present invention, the above and other objects and advantages can be achieved by providing a port cover unit for protecting various ports exposed to the outside of an electronic device on an optimal portion of the electronic device. The port cover unit is located on the port of the electronic device and opened in the up and down direction, a cover case for exposing the port to the outside of the electronic device, a slide slidably connected to the upper end of the cover case and slidable in the longitudinal direction of the cover case A cover for partially opening or closing the cover housing, and a fixed cover connected to the upper end of the cover housing, the fixed cover being aligned with the slide cover or positioned under the slide cover, depending on the position of the slide cover.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the port cover unit is mounted to a predetermined position of the electronic device for protecting various ports exposed to the outside of the electronic device, the port cover unit includes a mounting groove formed at a predetermined position of the electronic component, The mounting groove has a port hole inside it; a sliding cover located in the mounting groove, the sliding cover is slidably moved up and down in the longitudinal direction of the mounting groove for opening and closing the port hole; a fixed cover at the bottom, which is aligned with and under the slide when the slide is moved; and an elastic member at the rear of the fixed cover for aligning with and under the slide when the fixed cover is moved When, it provides the elastic force to support and fix the cover.

Description of drawings

From the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood, wherein:

1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable communication terminal on which a port cover unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is mounted;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the port cover unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover unit shown in Figure 1 with a closed port;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover unit shown in Figure 1 with an open port;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover unit shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover unit shown in Figure 5;

7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the surrounding portion A of Figure 7;

9 is a partially enlarged plan view illustrating a mounting groove of a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

10 is a perspective view illustrating components of a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the surrounding portion B of FIG. 10;

12 is a perspective view illustrating the use of a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a partially enlarged perspective view of Fig. 12;

14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a sliding cover of a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention before sliding the sliding cover;

15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a sliding cover of a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention after sliding the sliding cover;

16 is a perspective view illustrating a curved portable communication terminal to which a port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is mounted when the slide cover is closed; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the curved portable communication terminal with the port cover unit of FIG. 16 installed after opening the slide cover.

Detailed ways

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same symbols even though they are described in different drawings. Hereinafter, a detailed description including known functions and constructions herein will be omitted for clarity since they are well known in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable communication terminal 10 to which a port cover unit 100 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the port cover unit 100 is located on a port (not shown) of the portable communication terminal 10, such as an earphone jack.

Portable communication terminal 10 includes main body 11 including keypad 13 as a data input unit, microphone 14 formed thereon, folder 12 including display unit 15 as data output unit, and speakerphone 16 formed thereon. The folder 12 is rotatably connected to the body 11 of the portable communication terminal 10 through a hinge unit (not shown), so that the folder 12 is located on top of the body 10 .

The port cover unit 100 is placed to the side of the main body 11 , preferably, near the upper end of the portable communication terminal 10 . A conventional earphone jack is preferably provided near the upper end of the body 11 of the portable communication terminal 10 . In particular, an earphone jack is provided at the rear portion or side of the main body 11 . Referring to FIG. 1 , an earphone jack is provided at a side of a main body 11, and a port cover unit 100 is placed onto the side of the main body 11 corresponding to the earphone jack.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the port cover unit 100 located on the portable communication terminal 10 of FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the port cover unit 100 of the present invention includes a cover housing 101 , a slide cover 102 , a fixed cover 103 and a cover base 104 .

The cover case 101 is placed onto one side of the main body 11 of the portable communication terminal 10 . The cover case 101 has a side wall 111 extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11 and opened in the up-down direction. The side wall 111 is provided at an upper inner portion of the first rail rib 113 a protruding toward the inside of the side wall 111 by a predetermined distance. The first rail rib 113 a guides the movement of the slide cover 102 while preventing the slide cover 102 and the fixed cover 103 from being separated from the cover housing 101 . A connection piece 115 a for connecting the main body 11 or the cover base 104 and two first connection holes 115 b are formed at the side wall 111 of the cover. A second connection hole 117 is also formed in the connection piece 115a. Corresponding to the connection protrusion 149 formed at the cover base 104, the connection piece 115a or the connection holes 115b and 117 are formed. Thus, the cover case 101 and the cover base 104 are connected to each other.

The sliding cover 102 is slidably movable in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11 when guided using the first rail rib 113 of the cover housing 101 . The slide cover 102 is provided at the lower outer portion having the second rail rib 121 . When the first stepped part 113b formed at the fifth rail rib 113a contacts the second stepped part 121b formed at the second rail rib 121a, the slide cover 102 is slidably movable in the cover housing 101 . When the slide cover 102 is slidably moved in the cover case 101, the cover case 101 is partially opened or closed. When the cover case 101 is partially opened by the slide cover 102, a port of the portable communication terminal, such as an earphone jack, is exposed. On the top surface of the slide cover 102, a protrusion of an optimal shape may be formed so that the user can easily move the slide cover 102. Referring to FIG.

When the cover housing 101 is closed by the slide cover 102 , the fixed cover 103 is aligned with the slide cover 102 . In the cover case 1021, the fixed cover 103 is vertically moved by a predetermined height. The fixed cover 103 has a third rail rib 131a at its lower outer portion. The third stepped portion 131b formed at the third rail rib 131a is engaged with the first stepped portion 113b formed at the first rail rib 113a. Therefore, the fixed cover 103 is not separated from the cover case 101 .

The slide cover 102 has a first slope 123 formed at one end thereof. Similarly, the fixed cover 13 has a second slope 133 formed at one end thereof. The first and second slopes 123 and 133 face each other. When the sliding cover 102 is aligned with the fixed cover 103 , when the first inclined surface 123 is placed on the second inclined surface 133 , the first inclined surface 123 is completely in contact with the second facing side 133 . When the sliding cover 102 is slidably moved, along the second slope 133 of the fixed cover 103 , the sliding cover 102 moves toward the end of the cover housing 101 , so that the sliding cover 102 is placed on the top surface of the fixed cover 103 . In other words, when the sliding cover 103 moves toward the end of the cover housing 101 where the fixed cover 103 is located, the fixed cover 103 is located under the sliding cover 102 .

Both the sliding cover 102 and the fixed cover 103 are located inside the first rail rib 113 a of the cover housing 101 . The sliding cover 102 and the fixed cover 103 respectively have a second rail rib 121 a and a third rail rib 131 a through which the sliding cover 102 and the fixed cover 103 are located at the upper end of the cover housing 101 . When the slide cover 102 is slidably movable in the cover case 101, the port of the portable communication terminal 10 is exposed or invisible from the outside. When the cover case 101 is closed, the slide cover 102 is aligned with the fixed cover 103 so that the covers 102 and 103 are flush with the outer surface of the portable communication terminal 10 .

The cover base 104 is connected to the lower end of the cover housing 101 . The cover base 104 has a first opening 141 at its side, communicating with the space defined by the side wall 111 of the cover housing 101 . The cover base 104 also has a second opening 145 on its other side, extending longitudinally from the optimum position. The first opening 141 communicates with the space of the cover housing 101 closed by the slide cover 102 . When the slide cover 102 is slidably moved in the cover housing 101, the first opening 141 of the cover base 104 is opened. Therefore, through the first opening 141, the earphone jack of the portable communication terminal 10 is exposed. A linear groove 119 (see FIG. 6 ) is formed between the cover base 104 and the first rail rib 113a of the cover 101, along which the second rail rib 121a of the sliding cover 102 is moved. A longitudinally extending elastic member 147 is attached to an end of the second opening 145 which is preferably closer to the first opening 141 . The elastic piece 147 has a support member 143 formed on an end thereof. The support member 143 provides elastic force applied to the fixed cover 103 . Therefore, when the fixed cover 103 is located under the slide cover 102 , the supporting member 143 is retracted, thereby accumulating elastic force in the elastic member 147 . When the slide cover 102 is slidably moved so as to approach the cover housing 101 , the supporting member 143 is moved toward the upper end of the cover housing 101 using elastic force accumulated in the elastic member 147 . Instead, the fixed cover 103 is located at the upper end of the cover housing 101 .

The cover base 104 has one or more connection protrusions 149 on its exterior, which are engaged with the corresponding connection holes 115 b and 117 . Accordingly, the cover case 101 and the cover base 104 are coupled to each other.

3 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover unit 100 shown in FIG. 1 with a closed port, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover 100 shown in FIG. 3 . When the sliding cover 102 of the port cover unit 100 is placed in such a way that the sliding cover 102 closes the cover housing 101 as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the outer surfaces of the slide cover 102 and the fixed cover 103 are flush with the outer surfaces of the cover case 101 and the portable communication terminal 10 . The support member 143 shown in FIG. 5 supports the lower surface of the fixed cover 103 . At this time, a predetermined amount of elastic force is accumulated in the elastic member 147 , which ensures that the outer surface of the fixed cover 103 is flush with the outer surface of the cover case 101 .

4 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover 100 shown in FIG. 1 with an open port, and FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover unit 100 shown in FIG. 4 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the slide cover 102 (see FIG. 3) is slidably moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, whereby the cover case 101 is partially opened. The fixed cover 103 is located under the sliding cover 102 . When the cover housing 101 is partially opened by placing the slide cover 102 on top of the fixed cover 103, the first opening 141 of the cover base 104 is also opened. At this time, the outer surface of the sliding cover 102 is flush with the outer surface of the cover housing 101 , and the fixed cover 103 is located under the sliding cover 102 . Accordingly, the fixed cover 103 is moved inwardly into the interior of the cover housing 101 by a predetermined depth. The supporting member 143 is retracted by fixing the cover 103 , thereby accumulating elastic force in the elastic member 147 . An elastic force is applied to the fixed cover 103 so that the fixed cover 103 presses the slide cover 102 . Therefore, the slide cover 102 is located at the upper end of the cover housing 101 . Therefore, the outer surface of the sliding cover 102 is flush with the outer surface of the cover housing 101 even though the sliding cover 102 is positioned above the fixed cover 103 .

Since the slide cover 102 is moved in a desired direction by lightly squeezing the slide cover 102 when the slide cover 102 is slightly pressed, the port cover unit of the portable communication terminal 10 can be easily opened or closed. Therefore, the port cover unit 100 of the present invention is conveniently used. Meanwhile, it is preferable to manufacture the port cover unit 100 using injection molding.

A port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 17 .

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the port cover unit is attached to an electronic component such as the portable communication terminal 10 .

Specifically, the port cover unit of the portable communication terminal 10 is mounted on a port (not shown) of the portable communication terminal 10, such as the earphone jack 1 (as shown in FIG. 12 ).

As shown in FIG. 8 , the port cover unit has a mounting groove 200 , a sliding cover 300 , a fixing cover 400 and an elastic member 500 . The mounting groove 200 is formed at a predetermined position of the portable communication terminal 10 . The mounting groove 200 has a port hole 201 .

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the sliding cover 300 is located in the installation groove 200 and vertically slidably moves along the longitudinal direction of the installation groove 200 to open or close the port hole 201 .

As shown in FIG. 11 , the fixed cover 400 is located at the bottom of the sliding cover 300 and according to the position of the sliding cover 300 , the fixed cover 400 is aligned with the sliding cover 300 or located under the sliding cover 300 .

As shown in FIG. 14 , an elastic member 500 for providing elastic force is located at the rear of the fixed cover 400 . When the fixed cover 400 is aligned with the slide cover 300 or located under the slide cover 300 according to the position of the slide cover 300 , the fixed cover 400 is supported by elastic force.

Preferably, the elastic member 500 is a V-shaped spring.

When the port hole 201 is opened, the slide cover 300 is slidably moved downward, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15 .

The slide cover 300 has rail protrusions 302 (as shown in FIG. 8 ) on both sides thereof, which engage with rails 204 formed on both sides of the mounting groove 200 . A rail protrusion 302 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the slide cover 300 . Accordingly, the rail protrusions 302 slidably move along the rails 204, respectively. Accordingly, along the corresponding guide rail 204, the guide rail protrusion 302 is slidably moved, as shown in FIG. 15 .

The inclined cover surface 301 of the sliding cover 300 is opposed to the inclined rail surface 401 of the fixed cover 400 . Accordingly, when the sliding cover 300 is slidably moved, the inclined cover surface 301 is guided along the inclined rail surface 401 .

When the sliding cover 300 is completely moved, the fixed cover 400 is positioned under the sliding cover 300 and the port hole 201 of the mounting groove 200 is opened, as shown in FIG. 13 .

The distance between both ends 501 of the elastic member 500 provided at the rear of the fixed cover 400 is increased as shown in FIG. 15 . Therefore, the end 501 of the elastic member 500 is brought into the support groove 205 formed on the bottom surface of the mounting groove 200 .

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 , the elastic member 500 has at its central portion 502 a through hole 503 through which an insertion protrusion 403 formed at the rear of the fixing cover 400 is inserted. Through the through hole 503 of the elastic member 500 , the insertion protrusion 403 of the fixing cover 400 is inserted. When the distance between both ends 501 of the elastic member 500 is increased, the fixing cover 400 is moved into the receiving space 202 defined in the installation groove 200 . Accordingly, the insertion protrusion 403 of the fixing cover 400 is inserted into the insertion hole 203 formed in the installation groove 200 .

Insert the earphone jack 1 through the port hole 201 . Therefore, the earphone jack 1 is made in a port (not shown) provided in the portable communication terminal 10, as shown in FIG. 12 .

When the slide cover 300 is slidably moved upward to close the port hole 201 , the guide rail protrusion 202 of the slide cover 300 is moved along the guide rail 204 of the mounting groove 200 . By the elastic force of the elastic member 500 provided at the rear of the fixing cover 400, the fixing cover 400 is moved upward from the mounting groove 200, thereby returning the fixing cover 400 to its original position.

The fixed cover 400 is aligned with the slide cover 300 so that the inclined cover surface 401 of the fixed cover 400 is opposed to the inclined cover surface of the slide cover 300 . The fixed cover 400 includes a cover protrusion 402 at its outer periphery, which is stopped by a stopper 206 formed in the mounting groove 200 .

In addition, the fixed cover 400 includes a support groove 404 for supporting the elastic member 500 at a rear portion thereof.

The slide cover 300 includes a plurality of handle protrusions 303 at a front thereof, through which external force is transmitted to the slide cover 300 .

16 and 17 illustrate modifications of the sliding cover 300 and the fixed cover 400 . When the appearance of the portable communication terminal 10 is bent, the slide cover 300 and the fixed cover 400 may be bent. In this case, the slide cover 300 is slidably moved and rotated along a curve of the curved portable communication terminal 10 .

When the sliding cover 300 is slidably moved and rotated in a curve, the fixed cover 400 is located under the sliding cover 300 . Therefore, the port hole 201 is opened.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate various modifications, additions and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims. Substitution is possible. For example, in addition to portable communication terminals, the port cover unit of the present invention can be applied to audio equipment such as portable CD (Compact Disk) players.

Claims (16)

1. a port cap unit is used to protect at least one port that is exposed to the electronic unit outside, and described port cap unit comprises:

Cover housing;

Be connected to slidably described cover housing the upper end and can described cover housing vertically in the slip lid of slip, be used to partially open or close described cover housing; And

Be connected to the fixed cap of the upper end of described cover housing, described fixed cap aligns with described slip lid.

2. unit as claimed in claim 1, further be included in first inclined-plane of the end formation of described slip lid, and second inclined-plane that forms in the end of described fixed cap, described first and second inclined-planes toward each other, wherein, described first inclined-plane is positioned on described second inclined-plane, when described slip lid aligns with described fixed cap, contacts with described second inclined-plane.

3. unit as claimed in claim 1, the lid pedestal that further comprises the lower end that is connected to described cover housing, wherein, described lid pedestal has first opening that is used to expose described port in the one side, and described lid pedestal has at its opposite side and is used to make described fixed cap to press to the supporting member of the upper end of described cover housing.

4. unit as claimed in claim 3, the described opposite side place that further is included in described lid pedestal provide and described lid pedestal vertically in second opening of extension, and described second opening vertically in, the elastic component that extends from the end of described second opening, wherein, described supporting member is formed on the end of described elastic component.

5. unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprise the first guide rail rib that extends and inwardly give prominence to predetermined length along the last inside part of described cover housing from described cover housing, and extend and from the outside second guide rail rib of outstanding predetermined length of described slip lid, the described second guide rail rib is relative with the described first guide rail rib along the following Outboard Sections of described slip lid.

6. the port cap unit on the position that is installed in electronic unit is used to protect at least one port that is exposed to the electronic unit outside, and described port cap unit comprises:

At the installation groove that the predetermined locations of described electronic unit forms, described installation groove portion within it has at least one port holes;

Be arranged in the slip lid of described installation groove, described slip lid described installation groove vertically in, move up and down slidably, be used to open and close described port holes;

Be positioned at the fixed cap of the bottom of described slip lid, when moving described slip lid, described fixed cap aligns with described slip lid and is positioned under the described slip lid; And

Be positioned at the elastic component at the rear portion of described fixed cap, be used for when described fixed cap aligns with described slip lid and is positioned under the described slip lid, providing support the elastic force of described fixed cap.

7. unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described installation groove is included in the admittance space that wherein limits, be used to hold described fixed cap, therein be inserted in the patchhole of the insertion projection that the place, rear portion of described fixed cap forms, respectively at the guide rail of its both sides, described slip lid moves slidably along described guide rail, and comprise retainer, by described retainer, block described fixed cap.

8. unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described slip lid is included in the tilt cover surface at one end place, it is relative with the inclined guide rails surface that forms at described fixed cap place, and place, its both sides, described slip lid vertically in the guide rail projection that forms, described guide rail projection meshes with the guide rail of described installation groove respectively.

9. unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described fixed cap be included in one end place, with the tilt cover of described slip lid surface opposing inclined guide rail surface, when opening and closing described port holes with box lunch, the lid projection of blocking by the described tilt cover surface of the described slip lid of the inclined guide rails of described fixed cap surface guiding, by the retainer of described installation groove, the insertion projection that forms at its rear portion, insert described insertion projection by described elastic component, and the brace groove that provides at its rear portion, be used to support described elastic component.

10. unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, when closing described port holes, the align tilt cover surface of described slip lid simultaneously of described fixed cap and described slip lid is relative with the inclined guide rails surface of described fixed cap, and when described port holes was opened with box lunch in the tilt cover surface of the described slip lid of the inclined guide rails of described fixed cap surface guiding, described fixed cap was positioned under the described slip lid.

11. unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein, the inclined guide rails surface of the tilt cover of described slip lid surface and described fixed cap is crooked.

12. unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein, the inclined guide rails surface of the tilt cover of described slip lid surface and described fixed cap is crooked.

13. unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described elastic component is the V-arrangement spring.

14. unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein, the two ends of described V-arrangement spring enter in the brace groove that forms at the place, bottom of described installation groove, and described V-arrangement spring contacts with the rear portion of described fixed cap at the place, district in the central.

15. unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein, described V-arrangement spring is included in the through hole at its core place, by described through hole, is inserted in the insertion projection of place, the rear portion formation of described fixed cap.

16. unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described slip lid and described fixed cap are crooked.

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