HK1021279B - Hinge mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Hinge mechanism

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism for a handheld communication device, such as a mobile phone, with a folding cover. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hinge mechanism having a junction of a sound transmission member that is sound transmissive but sound opaque, the sound transmission member being on the flip cover and the communication device, respectively.

Technical situation

In the field of developing wireless telephones, the main trend is for communication devices to become smaller. The smallest communication devices today have a length that is less than the distance between the ear and the mouth. The transmitting end is not sufficiently close to the mouth to obtain good sound quality. Interference noise from the surroundings is also received. Such small communication devices can be equipped with a flip that can be flipped open from the transmitting end of the communication device (so-called passive flip) to receive voice.

To achieve better sound quality, the foldable flap may have an air duct-like sound conductor for conducting received sound to a microphone in the body of the communication device. Such a foldable cover is called a semi-movable flip cover. The sound-transmitting member is generally made of a rigid material, and therefore the sound-transmitting assembly must be composed of two sound-transmitting members on the flip and the body of the communication apparatus. With the acoustic assembly, the flip cover can be removed from the body of the communicator if desired.

There are also communication devices in which the microphone is completely placed on the flip in order to bring it closer to the mouth, so-called flip-open. A disadvantage of this communication device configuration is the increased sensitivity to interference and structural vulnerability. The structure of the communication device with a movable flip is even more complicated to manufacture and therefore more expensive.

A communication apparatus with a semi-flip cover has a sound-transmitting member, and it is important to make the joint of the sound-transmitting member sound-proof in order not to transmit interfering sound from the surroundings to the microphone and in order not to make the voice be transmitted away from the sound-transmitting member unnecessarily.

The communication device described in patent application SE9601701-7, for example a mobile telephone, is provided with a semi-movable flip, which is designed in one piece with a sound-transmitting member which passes through the flip and through the body of the communication device as far as the microphone in the body of the communication device. The sound-transmitting member is made of some flexible material, such as silicon, fabric or cloth. Since the sound-transmitting member is made of a single piece, there is no joint where noise can be transmitted or voice can be transmitted. Thus, the flip cover is not detachable.

A communication device with a foldable flip cover has some form of hinge mechanism that connects the flip cover to the communication device so that the flip cover is pivotable relative to the body of the communication device.

A typical hinge mechanism consists of at least three pieces, with two hinges on one part of the device and one hinge on the other part of the device. Some form of hinge shaft extends through each hinge member so that the two parts of the device can rotate relative to each other with the hinge shaft acting as a pivot.

In a communication apparatus with a semi-movable lid, it is preferable that the lid is located at a specific opening stop position and closing stop position. When the flip is between the two stop positions, it is also preferable that the flip tries to be in the stop position, so that the movement of the flip towards the stop position will be smooth and even.

Us patent 5274882 describes a hinge mechanism that maintains hinge members in a predetermined position relative to each other. The articulations are designed with male and female couplings, and between the two articulations there is a spring which presses the male coupling towards the female coupling. When the flip cover is located at the flip-open position, the male and female connectors are connected with each other.

European patent application EP0275996B1 describes a communication device with a semi-movable flip cover. The microphone is mounted within the body of the communication device proximate the hinge mechanism. The sound-transmitting member on the flip transmits sound from the flip to the microphone through the sound-transmitting member in the body of the communication device. The junction of the acoustic member is between the housing of the hinge mechanism and the body of the communication device. The opening between the sound-transmitting member on the flip and the sound-transmitting member in the body of the communication apparatus causes the two sound-transmitting members to be directly connected to each other when the flip is in the maximum flip position. A sealing material may be used around the junction of the acoustic transmission members so that interfering sound does not enter the microphone.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the sound-transmitting member on the flip can only be connected to the sound-transmitting member in the body of the communication device when the flip is in the maximally opened position. If the flap is moved out of this position, the sound-transmitting member is no longer connected.

Summary of the invention

One problem with the present invention is how to design a hinge mechanism that connects a communication device with a semi-movable flip such that the acoustic assembly junction is isolated from ambient noise.

Another problem with the present invention is how the flip should be made so that it can assume a special stop position in the closed position and in the speech position, and how the different parts of the sound-transmitting member should be brought into contact with each other all the time while the user changes the position of the flip from the stop position. A further problem with the present invention is how the hinge mechanism should be designed so that the flip can be easily removed from the communication device and the flip can be reinstalled again.

A further problem with the present invention is that the hinge mechanism should be easy to manufacture and easy to mount on the communication device and the flip, resulting in a cost effective design.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to design a hinge mechanism connecting a communication device with a foldable semi-movable flip such that the junction of the flip and the communication device at the acoustic assembly is isolated from ambient sound.

Another object of the invention is that the flip should be mountable and dismountable, that the flip can be in a closed and an open position, that the movement between these two positions should be smooth, and that different parts of the sound-transmitting member should be in contact with each other no matter in which position the flip is in rotation.

It is a further object of the present invention that the hinge mechanism should be simple to manufacture and install, cost effective, and meet long term quality requirements.

The above-mentioned problem is solved by locating the coupling portion of the acoustic member at the fulcrum of the flip on the communication apparatus, which is a communication apparatus with a folder type flip. The hinge mechanism includes at least two shafts that pivotally connect the flip to the communication device. At least one of the shaft elements applies pressure to the sound-transmitting member joint, thereby pressing the sound-transmitting member joint together and making it sound-tight.

In more detail, the above problem is solved by locating the coupling portion of the acoustic member at a first fulcrum of the flip between one face of the flip and one face of the communication device, the two faces being opposite faces. The two sound-transmitting members are thus connected to each other no matter what position the flip is pivoted relative to the communication device. The flip cover is rotatable relative to the communication device about at least two pivot points, the pivot points being located in a direction along the pivot axis. At least at one of the two fulcrums, the shaft member is located on the hinge member and fits into a corresponding recess on the opposing hinge member, such that the flip cover is pivotally connected to the communication device. At least one of the shaft members is subjected to elastic pressure in the direction of the pivot. The shaft element may itself be made as a compressible elastic element, e.g. a rubber element, or the shaft element may be directly or indirectly influenced by an elastic element, e.g. a mechanical spring. For example, the shaft member may be axially movable and located within a flip cover or a hinge member of a communication device. The shaft member may then be brought into contact with the elastic compressible member, which exerts a pressure in the direction of the pivot axis towards the shaft member. The effect of the resilient pressure on the shaft member causes the shaft member to in turn exert a pressure on one of the opposing surfaces. One of the opposing surfaces is then pressed against the other opposing surface. An acoustically opaque joint of the acoustic member is obtained regardless of the position in which the flip is pivoted relative to the communication device.

One advantage of the present invention is that the incorporation of the acoustic transmission member is acoustically opaque while the flip is pivoted relative to the communication device, regardless of the position in which the flip is pivoted relative to the communication device. The hinge mechanism design of the present invention also allows the flip cover to be removed from the communication device.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the hinge mechanism of the present invention is easy to manufacture and install and therefore cost effective.

The invention will now be described more closely by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1 and 2 each show two perspective views of a communication device with a semi-movable flip cover. It includes the three-piece hinge mechanism of the invention, the flip is separated from the body of the electric communication device in the figure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the three-piece hinge mechanism of the present invention with the flip cover in the flipped open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coil spring and plug of the present invention prior to installation in a telecommunications device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the three-piece hinge mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a three-piece hinge mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a five-piece hinge mechanism embodiment of the present invention;

figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a five-piece hinge mechanism of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 and 2 show perspective views of an embodiment of the invention in two different directions, the communication device 11 being a mobile telecommunication device. The communication device has a foldable so-called semi-movable flip. The sound-transmitting member transmits sound from the sound input member 14 to a microphone in the communication apparatus by means of the first sound-transmitting member 13a and the second sound-transmitting member 13b in the opened state of the lid (see fig. 3). As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the semi-movable flip 12 is detached from the communication apparatus and has two protruding portions at one end thereof forming a first outer hinge 15 and a second outer hinge 16 (opposite to the first hinge). The bottom of the communication device forms an inner hinge 17. Which is insertable between a first outer hinge 15 and a second outer hinge 16.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge mechanism of the present invention as if it were cut in the longitudinal direction of the communication apparatus and then viewed right in front. 3 the 3 cross 3- 3 section 3 is 3 indicated 3 by 3 the 3 dashed 3 line 3a 3- 3a 3. 3 The flip is shown in a predetermined flipped open position. At the first end 19 of the inner hinge part there is a first protruding fixed shaft element, which is a cylindrical pin 21, and at the second end 20 of the inner hinge part there is a second movable protruding shaft element, which is a pin 22. The two shaft elements 21 and 22 cannot rotate relative to the inner hinge 17, but the bolt 22 can move in its axial direction.

The first and second outer hinge parts 15 and 16 have recesses 23 and 24, respectively, and the first and second protruding shaft parts are fitted into the recesses 23 and 24, respectively. Thus, the first and second outer hinge members 15 and 16 are pivotable relative to the inner hinge member about a pivot axis 25, the pivot axis 25 passing through the three hinge members 15, 16 and 17, and the flip cover 12 is foldable over the communication device 11 as well as being foldable over the communication device 11 by means of the two pivot members 21 and 22.

At one pivot point 26 of the flip 12, pivot axis 25 intersects the bottom surface of the recess 23 of the first outer hinge, and at the other pivot point 27, pivot axis 25 intersects the bottom surface of the recess 24 of the second outer hinge.

The sound transmitting member 13 transmits the sound from the sound input member 14 to the microphone 28 in the communication apparatus through the lid. The sound-transmitting member 13 is a component which is composed of a first sound-transmitting member 13a in the flip and a second sound-transmitting member 13b in the communication device. The aforementioned axle pin 21, which projects in the direction of the first outer hinge 15, is in this case rigidly connected to the first end 19 of the inner hinge. In the direction of the pivot axis, the second sound-transmitting member 13b starts in the end face of the axle pin 21. In order to keep the ambient noise out, the second sound-transmitting member in this embodiment is contained in the rubber member 29. The recess 23 of the first outer hinge 15 has a shape matching the shape of the pivot pin 21, and the first sound-transmitting member 13a opens in the bottom surface of the recess 23 at the fulcrum of the flip. The bottom surface of the pocket 23 and the end surface of the shaft pin 21 form two surfaces opposed to each other.

The sound-transmitting member joint is thus located between the bottom surface of the recess 23 of the first outer hinge 15 and the end surface of the axle pin 21, i.e. the fulcrum 26 of the flap. The two sound-transmitting members 13a and 13b can be connected to each other irrespective of how the flip is pivoted about the pivot axis 25 relative to the communication device.

In the direction of the pivot axis, the second end 20 of the inner hinge 17 has an aperture 30 from which a cavity 31 is accessible. In the cavity, one end of an elastic member 32 (a mechanical coil spring in the present embodiment) located in the pivot direction should be brought into contact with the end surface of the cavity 31. The above-mentioned bolt 22 is partly inserted into the hole 30, whereby one end 33 of the bolt extends out of the hole 30 in the direction of the pivot axis and towards the second outer hinge 16. The protruding portion of the pin forms a second shaft member. The other end 34 of the latch pin, in the direction of the pivot axis, forms a projecting pin which is inserted into the helical spring 32.

In order to prevent the latch 22 from moving out of the inner hinge 17 in the direction of the pivot axis when the flip cover is rotated and to prevent the latch 22 from rotating relative to the inner hinge, the latch has a latch hook 35. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the latch 22 and spring 32 prior to insertion into the inner hinge aperture 30. The locking hook 35 projects in the direction of the projecting pin 34 of the bolt 22 and ends in a projecting locking hook tip 36. When the locking hook 35 is inserted into the hole 30, it can be pressed down towards the cut 37 of the bolt 22. A recess 38 is provided in the bore 30 into which the catch 35 of the bolt 22 can fit. Thus, the latch cannot pivot relative to the inner hinge member after the shackle has been received in the recess.

As shown in fig. 3, the cavity 31 in the inner hinge is wider than the aperture 30, so that there is an edge 39 from the aperture 30 into the cavity 31. When shackle 35 is inserted far enough so that the shackle tip is in the cavity, the shackle springs outward from bolt 22. If latch 22 is moved far enough in the direction of the second outer hinge, latch hook tip 36 will catch on edge 39. In this way, the bolt 22 is prevented from moving completely out of the inner hinge after it has been inserted into the inner hinge. Thus, spring 32 and bolt 22 are easily installed into the inner hinge by pressing spring 32 and bolt 22 into cavity 31 from the outside.

When the latch 22 is inserted into the aperture 30 and the flip cover is attached to the communication device, the spring 32 contacts the latch 22. Thus, the spring 32 exerts a force on the latch 22 in the direction of the second outer hinge 16. Thus, the force exerted by the latch 22 on the second outer hinge member 16 urges the second outer hinge member 16 in a direction away from the pivot axis of the inner hinge member second end 20. This means that the entire flap 12 is pressed in the same direction as the second outer hinge 16, thus pushing the first outer hinge 15 in the direction of the first end 19 of the inner hinge. The axle pin 21 of the inner hinge 17 is then pressed against the bottom surface of the cavity 23 of the first outer hinge 15, thus pressing the two opposite surfaces of the joint of the sound transmission assembly together so that the joint of the sound transmission assembly is sound-tight. Because the acoustic assembly junction is at the fulcrum, the acoustic assembly junction is acoustically opaque regardless of the pivotal position of the flip relative to the communication device.

In this embodiment, the protruding end of the plug 22 is V-shaped and the cavity 24 of the second outer hinge 16 has a V-shaped recess. The V-shaped end of the spigot 22 and the V-shaped groove of the cavity 24 form a so-called male-female connection. The V-shaped end portion occupies first and second positions that are 180 apart and are aligned with the V-shaped groove. The flip is only allowed to pivot 180. The continuous movement of the flip is prevented by, on the one hand, the upper end of the flip contacting the communication device in the closed position and, on the other hand, the flip being turned about 180 ° from the closed position. Thus, when the flap is in its folded-over position, the V-shaped end can only be aligned with the V-shaped groove in the first position. The flip cover is movable from a closed position to an open position by pressure from a user's hand.

When the V-shaped end is closer to one of the two pairs, it tries to achieve the centering. When the flaps are closed, they are closer to the second position where the V-shaped ends are aligned with the V-shaped grooves. This prevents the flip cover from being in the desired position to which the flip cover attempts to reach, so that the flip cover is fixed in place in contact with the communication device. The V-shaped end tries to center itself with the V-shaped groove to move the flip cover smoothly between the flipped open position and the folded position.

The invention uses male and female connectors for smooth movement between a number of stop positions and is described in more detail in the aforementioned U.S. patent specification No. 5274882. It is obvious from the above patent document that the shape of the male and female connectors may be different, for example, U-shaped. If more stop positions are required, the female connector, i.e. the recess in the second hinge part, may comprise several recesses. The shape of the male connector does not necessarily correspond to the shape of the female connector. The U-shaped point in the V-shaped groove also allows for pivoting corresponding to the exact stop position.

When the spring 32 pushes the pin 22 towards the second outer hinge 16, a gap 40 is formed between the second end 20 of the inner hinge and the second outer hinge 16. If the second outer hinge is subjected to sufficient pressure, for example from the user's hand, the voids 40 can be compressed together to compress the spring. When the gaps 40 are compressed together, the first outer hinge 15 can be pivotally detached from the axle pin 21, after which the second outer hinge 16 can be pulled away from the V-shaped end 33 of the latch 22. Thus, the flip cover 12 can be detached from the communication device 11.

Thus, the flip can be exchanged for another flip, for example, a flip of another appearance. The new flip is first secured to the communication device by threading the second outer hinge 16 over the latch 22 and then pressing the latch against the spring 32 to compress the gap 40. Thereafter, the first outer hinge 15 can be rotated about the axle pin 21.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the three-piece hinge of the present invention having first and second outer hinge members and an inner hinge member, the acoustic transmission member being coupled at the pivot point of the flip. The same reference numerals have been partly used in fig. 3. As in the previous embodiment, the two outer hinges 15 and 16 are on the flip 12 and the inner hinge is on the communication device 11. The first fixed shaft element 51, which is V-shaped at its end face, projects from the first end 19 of the inner hinge 17 and is connected to the outer hinge there. The first shaft element fits into the V-shaped cavity 52 in the first outer hinge 15. The acoustic assembly is joined at a first fulcrum of the flip 26 between an end surface of the first shaft member 51 and a bottom surface of the cavity 52, the two surfaces forming surfaces opposite to each other. The first sound-transmitting member 13a transmits sound from the lid to the bottom surface of the cavity 52, and the second sound-transmitting member 13b transmits sound from the end surface of the shaft member 51 to the microphone 28 in the communication device 11.

The second outer hinge part 16 has a fixed projecting shaft member 53, the end of which is V-shaped. The second end 20 of the inner hinge 17 has a hole 30, through which the hole enters a cavity 31. In which the action of the coil spring 32 is the same as that of the previously described mechanism of figure 3. An axially movable latch 54 is in contact with the outer end of the coil spring 32 at one end. The other end of the pin 54 towards the second outer hinge 16 is received in the aperture 30 and has a cavity 55 with a V-shaped recess. The second shaft member 53 is received in the cavity 55 of the plug 54. Latch 54 has a latch hook 35 that is shaped the same as the latch hook in fig. 3.

The spring 32 urges the latch 54 towards the second outer hinge part 16 so that the cavity 55 of the latch 54 is pressed towards the second shaft part 53. The second outer hinge part 16 is then pressed in the pivoting direction away from the second end 20 of the inner hinge part. The first outer hinge 15 is thus pressed in the direction of the first end 19 of the inner hinge 17, so that the shaft element 51 projecting from the inner hinge 17 is pressed against the bottom of the cavity 52 in the first outer hinge 15. Thus pressing the two opposing surfaces at the junction of the first fulcrum 26 and the acoustic transmission member against each other. So that the joint of the sound transmission member is sound-tight.

When the second outer hinge 16 is pressed towards the second end 20 of the inner hinge 17, a gap 40 is formed between the two hinges. Thus, the flip cover 12 can be easily removed from the communication device 11 and the flip cover 12 can be easily installed in place as described above for the mechanism of fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of the three-piece hinge of the invention having two outer hinge parts and one inner hinge part, the acoustic transmission member being joined at the pivot point of the flip. The same reference numerals have been partly used in fig. 3.

In this embodiment, the two outer hinges 15 and 16 are on the bottom of the communication device 11 and the inner hinge 17 is on the flip 12. A first shaft element 61 with a hemispherical end extends from the first outer hinge 15. The first end 19 of the inner hinge 17 has a hemispherical first cavity 62 into which the first shaft element 61 fits. Thus, the hinge mechanism may allow any possible radial play when the flip is rotated relative to the communication device.

The acoustic assembly joint is located at the first pivot 26 of the flip between the end surface of the first shaft member 61 and the bottom surface of the cavity 62, which are opposite surfaces. The first sound-transmitting member 13a transmits sound from the lid to the bottom surface of the cavity 62, and the second sound-transmitting member 13b transmits sound from the end surface of the shaft member 61 to the microphone 28 in the communication device 11. The second outer hinge 16 has an aperture 63 through which a cavity 64 is accessible. The second shaft element 65 is loosely received in the cavity 64 and partly extends out of the hole 63 in the direction of the pivot axis towards the second end of the inner hinge 17. The second shaft member is made of some compressible, resilient material, such as rubber. In this embodiment, the protruding end of the second shaft member 65 is U-shaped. The second shaft member is axially movable and is prevented from moving too far out of the second hinge member 16 by the projecting flange portion 66. The shape of the protruding flange portion 66 and the cavity 64 is such that the protruding flange portion 66 prevents the shaft element 65 from rotating about the pivot axis relative to the second hinge member 16.

The second end 20 of the inner hinge 17 has a V-shaped cavity 67 into which the U-shaped end of the second shaft member 65 fits.

The resilient shaft member presses the second end 20 of the inner hinge 17 away from the pivot axis of the outer hinge 16. The first end 19 of the inner hinge 17 is thus pressed towards the first outer hinge 15, thereby pressing the two opposite surfaces of the joint of the sound transmission assembly against each other, so that the joint of the sound transmission assembly is sound-tight.

Also in this embodiment, a gap 40 is formed between the second outer hinge 16 and the second end 20 of the inner hinge 17 due to the force from the resilient shaft member. By compressing the second shaft member 65, the flip cover 12 can be detached from the communication apparatus 11 or attached to the communication apparatus 11 in the same manner as described above.

There are other embodiments of the three-piece hinge mechanism of the present invention. It is obvious from the described embodiments that the outermost hinge may be located on the flip, and thus the inner hinge on the communication device, or vice versa. A first shaft member rotatably connects the first outer hinge member to the first end of the inner hinge member and a second shaft member rotatably connects the second outer hinge member to the second end of the inner hinge member.

The first shaft element may extend beyond the first outer hinge or beyond the first end of the inner hinge, so that the hinge to which the first shaft element extends has the cavity into which the first shaft element is inserted. The sound-transmitting member is engaged between the end surface of the first shaft member and the bottom surface of the first cavity within the fulcrum of the flip. In this way, the two sound-transmitting members are connected to each other regardless of the rotational position of the flip with respect to the communication device. The first shaft element should be fixed relative to the hinge element from which it projects.

It is also conceivable to allow the first shaft element to move in the direction of the pivot axis, so that the sound transmission member joint remains sound-tight. A new problem arises then, how to ensure a seal between the second acoustic member and the communication device.

For example, the first shaft member may be formed as a cylindrical pin, or with hemispherical, V-shaped or U-shaped ends. If the shaft member is V-shaped or U-shaped, the first cavity may have a V-shaped or U-shaped groove to achieve the male-female connection described above.

The second shaft element itself is a compressible elastic element in the direction of the pivot axis, which is in contact with the elastic element or with a movable element, which in turn is subjected to an elastic force. The resilient member and the second shaft member need not be on the same hinge member. If the elastic element and the second shaft element are on the same hinge element, the second shaft element is axially movable so that it can withstand the force from the elastic element but cannot rotate relative to the hinge element to which it is mounted. To prevent the movable shaft from rotating relative to the hinge to which it is mounted, the shaft has some sort of locking feature, such as a flange, catch or shoulder. A locking portion may also be formed to prevent the shaft member from moving completely out of the hinge. For example, the second shaft member may extend from the second hinge member so that an elastomeric member or moveable member, as described above, may be provided within the cavity of the inner hinge member.

The protruding portion of the second shaft element may be engaged with the second cavity to form a male-female connection element. The second shaft member of the male and female coupling members may have a V-shaped or U-shaped end portion if the flip cover is to be positioned at the exact flip open and closed positions. The second shaft element may be shaped as a protruding cylindrical pin if the flip does not have to be in the exact stop position.

If the flip cover is to be easily removed from the communication device or to be easily attached to the communication device, a space must be provided between the second outer hinge member and the inner hinge member. The width of the gap is determined by the spring force, the extension of the second shaft element and the depth of the cavity in the second outer hinge part. The first outer hinge is somewhat flexible so that the width of the void does not have to be greater than the depth of the void. The precise values of these values are implementation specific.

The hinge mechanism of the present invention is not limited to three hinge members and two shaft members. For example, the present invention may also have a hinge mechanism with five hinge members and two to four shaft members, the hinge members and the shaft members being mounted in the direction of the flip pivot.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the five-piece hinge mechanism of the present invention with four shaft members. Some reference numerals are the same as in fig. 3.

The communication device has first and second outer hinge members 71 and 72 and a first inner hinge member 73 with first and second end portions 75 and 76. The flip cover 12 has second and third inner hinges 74a and 74 b. The second inner hinge 74a is mounted between the first outer hinge 71 and the first end 75 of the first inner hinge 73. The third inner hinge 74b is mounted between the second end 76 of the first inner hinge 73 and the second outer hinge 72. In the present embodiment, the flip 12 has four pivot points, each pivot point being between the respective hinge members. The acoustic transmission assembly is coupled between the second end of the second inner hinge 74a and the first end 75 of the first inner hinge 73.

The shape of the first inner hinge is similar to the inner hinge in fig. 3. The first axially movable latch 22a is affected by the first spring 32a and the latch 22a extends from the second end 76 of the first inner hinge. The first axle pin 21a extends from the first end 75 of the first inner hinge 73. The second sound-transmitting member 13b passes through the shaft pin 21a into the microphone 28.

At the second end of the second inner hinge 74a there is a cavity 77a into which the first axle pin is fitted. The first end of the third inner hinge 74b has a V-shaped groove 78a into which the first bolt 22a is received.

The first outer hinge 71 has a second pin 22b which contacts the second spring 32b in the same manner as the first pin 22a, and the second inner hinge 74a has a V-shaped groove 78b at a first end thereof into which the second pin 22b is fitted.

The second outer hinge part 72 has a rigidly projecting second axle pin 21b which fits into a recess 77b in the second end of the third inner hinge part 74 b.

The two pins 22a and 22b co-operate in order to press the joint of the sound-transmitting member together in the same manner as the one pin described above. It is also possible that only one shaft element is influenced by the spring force, so that the other shaft elements can be fixed. In the embodiment of fig. 7, the pressure on the opposite surfaces of the joint of the acoustic transmission member is increased compared to when one latch is used.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment of a five-piece hinge mechanism with two shaft members according to the present invention. The five-piece hinge mechanism has the same reference numerals as the previous embodiment.

The first inner hinge 73 has a cavity 92 therethrough. Pivot axis 25 is the centerline thereof. The shaft members of the movable V-bolts 91a and 91b extend out of the cavity from the first 75 and second 76 ends of the inner hinge, respectively. Between the two pins 91a and 91b there is an elastic member (coil spring 92) to push the two pins out of the first inner hinge 73 in opposite directions, respectively. The flange portions 93a and 93b on the two latches prevent the respective latch from rotating relative to the first inner hinge and from moving completely out of the first inner hinge, respectively.

The first end of the inner hinge and the second end of the inner hinge have V-shaped grooves 94a and 94b, respectively, into which V-shaped latches 91a and 91b, respectively, fit.

The joint of the sound-transmitting member is located at the first fulcrum 95 of the flip, between the end surface of the first outer hinge and the first end surface of the second inner hinge, which end surfaces form two surfaces opposite to each other.

When the two pins are pushed out of the first inner hinge 73, they press the two opposite surfaces against each other to form an acoustically opaque joint. In this embodiment, the force from the two pins is also increased compared to when one pin is used.

As a corollary of the three-piece hinge mechanism described above, the inner and outer hinge members can be on either the flip cover or the communication device. There may be an axle in some of the hinges, between which is a fulcrum. The shape of the shaft member and the elastic member may be the same as described in the three-piece hinge mechanism. In the case of a five-piece hinge mechanism, there may be two, three or four shaft members.

In this way, the hinge mechanism may be constructed with a different number of hinge members and a different number of shaft members. The basic feature of the present invention is that sound is transmitted between one face of the flip and one face of the communication device, the two faces being opposite to each other, so that the acoustic member junction is located at the fulcrum of the flip with respect to the communication device. Regardless of the position of the pivot point of the flip relative to the communication device, both acoustic transmission members are connected to each other. In addition, the hinge mechanism has at least two shafts that pivotally connect the flip cover to the communication device. At least one of the shaft members is itself resilient, or at least one of the shaft members is influenced by a force from the resilient member. The resilient force influences the shaft member such that it in turn presses the opposing surfaces together so as to be acoustically opaque regardless of the pivotal position of the flip relative to the communication device at which the acoustic transmission member is joined.

The shape of the hinge mechanism may be varied within the scope of the invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are many different embodiments of the articulating mechanism of the present invention.

The communication means in the present invention described above refers to a mobile phone that is in radio contact with a base communication station throughout the country. For example, the communication device may likewise be a radio communication device or a walk-on communication device. All of these types of communication devices are being developed and are becoming smaller and smaller.

Claims (24)

1. Hinge mechanism for a foldable flip (12) of a telecommunication device (11), in which sound-tight sound-transmitting member joints are formed in sound-transmitting members (13a, 13b) separated between the flip and the telecommunication device, while the flip is pivotable relative to the telecommunication device, wherein the sound-transmitting members are arranged such that a first sound-transmitting member (13a) from a sound input member (14) on the flip is connected via a second sound-transmitting member (13b) to a microphone (28) in the telecommunication device, the flip (12) being pivotable relative to the telecommunication device (11) about at least two fulcrums (26, 27, 79, 95) which together define a pivot axis (25), at least two projecting shaft members (21, 22, 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, 51, 53, 61, 65, 91a, 91b) being arranged at respective fulcrums for pivotally connecting the flip to the telecommunication device, characterized in that the sound-transmitting member coupling is located at a first pivot point (26, 79, 95) of the flip between a first opposite surface of the flip (12) and a second opposite surface of the communication device (11), at least a first of said at least two shaft elements (22, 22a, 22b, 53, 65, 91a, 91b) being subjected to a resilient pressure in the direction of the pivot axis, so that a second of said at least two shaft elements (21, 53) also generates a force on said first opposite surface relative to said second opposite surface, whereby said first and second sound-transmitting members (13a, 13b) are tightly connected to each other irrespective of the pivotal position of the flip.

2. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the second (22b, 91b) of said at least two shaft elements is subjected to a resilient pressure in the direction of the pivot axis.

3. Hinge mechanism according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 65, 91a, 91b) generating a force on said two opposite surfaces extends from a hinge member (17, 16, 71, 73) on the communication device (11), and that the flip (12) has an opposite hinge member (16, 17, 74a, 74b) with a recess (24, 67, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) into which said shaft element is fitted, whereby the second fulcrum (27) of the flip is located between the bottom surface of the recess and the protruding end surface of the shaft element, so that the shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 65, 91a, 91b) is pressed against the recess (24, 67, 78a, 78b, 96a, 96b), and that the flip (12) is pressed in the direction of the pivot axis, in order to press the two opposite surfaces together.

4. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said shaft element (53) generating a force on said two opposite surfaces extends from a hinge element (16) on the flip (12), and that the communication device (11) comprises an opposite hinge element (17) with a recess (55), into which recess said shaft element (53) is fitted, the second pivot point of the flip being located between the bottom surface of the recess (55) and the extending end surface of the shaft element (53), so that the shaft element (53) is pressed against the recess (55) by the spring force, and the flip (12) is pressed in the direction of the pivot axis so as to press the two opposite surfaces together.

5. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (53) generating a pressure force on said two opposite surfaces is rigidly arranged and is received in a recess (55) displaceable in the direction of the pivot axis, the recess (55) being subjected to a resilient pressure force in the direction of the pivot axis.

6. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (65) generating a force on said two opposite surfaces is itself a compressible elastic element movable in the direction of the pivot axis.

7. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) which is arranged to exert a pressure on said two opposite surfaces is movable in the direction of the pivot axis and is in contact with the elastic compressible element (32, 32a, 32b, 92).

8. Hinge mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that the shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 92) is a pin.

9. Hinge mechanism according to any of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the compressible elastomeric member (32, 32a, 32b, 92) is a mechanical spring.

10. Hinge mechanism according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the compressible elastomeric member (65) is made of a rubber material.

11. Hinge mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b, 65) has a locking portion (35, 66, 93a, 93b) preventing rotation of the shaft element about the pivot axis relative to the hinge part from which it extends.

12. Hinge mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b, 65) has a locking part (35, 66, 93a, 93b) which prevents the shaft element from moving in the direction of the pivot axis so far out of contact with the hinge element from which it projects.

13. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft element (21, 51, 61, 21a) is rigidly arranged to a hinge element (17, 15, 75) on the communication unit (11) at a first pivot point (26, 79) of the flip, wherein the flip (12) has opposite hinge elements (15, 17, 74a) with recesses (23, 52, 62, 77a) into which the shaft element is fitted, whereby the protruding end surfaces of the shaft element and the bottom surfaces of the recesses form said opposite surfaces.

14. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge part of the flip is rigidly provided with a shaft element, which is located at the first fulcrum of the flip, whereby the communication device has a hinge part with a recess, into which the shaft element is fitted, the protruding end surface of the shaft element and the bottom surface of the recess forming said opposite surfaces.

15. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective shaft element is only pivotable about the pivot axis relative to the hinge part towards which it extends.

16. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said shaft elements (22, 51, 53, 65, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) forms a male-female connection in combination with a recess (24, 52, 55, 67, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) into which the shaft element is fitted.

17. Hinge mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that the protruding end of the shaft element (22, 51, 53, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) is V-shaped and the recess (24, 52, 55, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) into which the shaft element is fitted has at least one V-shaped groove.

18. Hinge mechanism according to claim 17, characterized in that the V-shaped end of said shaft element (22, 51, 53, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) enters the V-shaped groove in the recess (24, 52, 55, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) when the flip is in the defined flip position.

19. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said shaft elements (61) has a spherically protruding end and the recess (62) into which said shaft element is fitted has a corresponding shape.

20. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, having a first shaft element (21, 51, 61) and a second shaft element (22, 53, 65), characterized in that the hinge mechanism further has a first outer hinge part (15), a second outer hinge part (16), both on one of the flip cover (12) or the communication device (11), an inner hinge part (17) arranged between the two outer hinge parts being comprised on the other of the flip cover or the communication device, and the hinge parts (15, 16, 17) and the shaft elements (21, 51, 61, 22, 53, 65) being arranged in the direction of the pivot axis, so that the first and second shaft elements extend towards the hinge parts, respectively, and that at the location of the respective shaft element insertion there is a first recess (23, 52, 62) and a second recess (24, 55, 67), respectively, so that the first shaft element (21, 51, 61) is pivotably connected to the first end (19) of the first outer hinge part (15) and the inner hinge part (17), the second shaft element (22, 53, 65) is pivotally connected to the second outer hinge part (16) and the second end part (20) of the inner hinge part (17), said first pivot point (26) being located between the first outer hinge part (15) and the first end part (19) of the inner hinge part, and the second pivot point (27) being located between the second outer hinge part (16) and the second end part (20) of the inner hinge part.

21. Hinge mechanism according to claim 20, characterized in that the inner hinge part (17) has a resilient element (32) which is compressible in the direction of the pivot axis and which exerts a pressure force in the direction of the pivot axis against the second outer hinge part (16) in order to push the second outer hinge part out of the second end part (20) of the inner hinge part, whereby the first outer hinge part is pressed against the first end part of the inner hinge part and the two opposite surfaces of the sound-transmitting member joint are pressed against each other, so that the sound-transmitting member joint is pressed together and is not sound-transmitting.

22. A hinge mechanism according to claim 20, characterized in that the second outer hinge part (16) has a resilient member (65) which is compressible in the direction of the pivot axis and which exerts a pressure in the direction of the pivot axis towards the second end of the inner hinge part (17) so that the inner hinge part (17) is subjected to a pressure in the direction of the pivot axis from the second outer hinge part (16) so that the first end of the inner hinge part (17) is pressed towards the first outer hinge part and the two opposite surfaces of the sound transmission member joint are pressed against each other so that the sound transmission member joint is pressed together and is sound-impermeable.

23. Hinge mechanism according to any of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that a space (40) is formed between the second hinge part (16) and the third hinge part when a force from the resilient member (32) acts on the second hinge part, so that the flip (12) is detachable from the communication unit (11) when the space (40) is compressed.

24. Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge mechanism has a first outer hinge part (71) and a second outer hinge part (72) and a first inner hinge part (73), the three pieces are on one of the communication device (11) or the flip (12), the second inner hinge piece (74a) and the third inner hinge piece (74b) are on the other of the communication device (11) or the flip (12), whereby the second inner hinge (74a) is arranged between the first outer hinge (71) and the first end of the first inner hinge (73), the third inner hinge (74b) is arranged between the first end of the inner hinge (73) and the second outer hinge, the flip cover is thereby pivoted relative to the communication device about a pivot point between the respective hinge members, and the acoustic assembly coupling is located at one of the pivot points (79, 95).