HK1038051B - Locking arrangement and portable communication device comprising the same - Google Patents

Description

Locking mechanism and portable communication device with the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mechanical locking mechanism for mechanically interlocking two devices, and more particularly to a locking mechanism comprising a plunger unit, a locking and releasing unit.

Background

Technical progress in the field of portable mobile phone terminals, characterized by weight and size, has reached a stage where the appearance must be considered. The size limitations of the previous generation of mobile terminal devices are governed by the size of the terminal device components, to some extent the size of the battery pack. On the other hand, modern terminal devices, which consist of a small number of highly integrated low power consuming circuits, are easily placed in palm-sized units. In fact, the size of the terminal equipment recently developed is so small that the distance between the speaker and the microphone becomes an important design parameter. In order to further miniaturize the terminal equipment, while still maintaining proper positioning between the speaker/microphone and between the ear/mouth of the user, mechanical solutions such as foldable covers or foldable arms containing the microphone or speaker have become common.

A problem encountered with handheld terminals equipped with folding and flip-top covers, and indeed with any handheld unit having protruding elements connected by hinges and capable of folding between different positions of the main housing of the unit, is how to achieve single action locking and single action opening of the protruding elements.

An example of this aspect of the prior art is disclosed in U.S. patent No.5327584, which shows a cellular telephone with a lid opening mechanism. The cover opening mechanism is constituted by a plurality of independent parts working together and includes an engaging member with a hole, a locking plate operated by an operating member, and a wire spring fixed to a stopper. Needless to say, the mechanism is relatively complex to install and manufacture, simply by virtue of the fact that it comprises a plurality of parts.

Another example of a locking mechanism can be found in british patent application (GB-2106977). A decorative housing including a socket and cover has a socket and cover engagement mechanism for effecting engagement and disengagement by applying a force between two resilient latch tongues. One resilient latch on the cover and one on the socket, the force being applied through a separate sliding element.

Disclosure of Invention

The problem to be solved by the invention is how to achieve a one-action locking and one-action opening of a protruding element, such as a flip cover, of a portable communication device. The problem that the invention is also intended to solve is how to achieve one-hand one-action locking and one-hand one-action opening of the overhanging piece with a minimum of parts.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above problems. Briefly, the above object is achieved by providing a locking mechanism having a plunger unit capable of engaging and disengaging a locking and opening unit consisting of a resilient member and a stationary member.

In particular, a locking mechanism for a handheld device is provided. The device includes a main body and a movable projecting member. The projecting element can be opened and closed between at least a first position and a second position relative to the body. The locking mechanism includes a plunger unit, a locking and releasing unit with an elastic member and a fixing member. The elastic member is sprung away from the fixed member in at least one direction. The plunger unit is switched between a disengaged position and an engaged position between the fixed member and the elastic member of the lock and release unit in the direction of entry and retraction.

An advantage of the present invention is that only a small hand movement of the user of the invention is required for the plunger unit to engage and disengage the locking and releasing unit in order to open the protrusion from the body of the device.

Another advantage of the invention is that the complexity and high costs of manufacturing and assembling the device are reduced, depending on the fact that the locking and releasing unit can be operated in one action.

Drawings

FIGS. 1a-c show two schematic side views, one in section, of a first embodiment of a locking mechanism;

FIGS. 2a-c show a schematic side view and two cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of a locking mechanism;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a locking mechanism;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective schematic view of a cellular phone with a rotating cover;

6a-c show schematic side views of three plunger units;

fig. 7a-b show perspective schematic views of two locking and releasing units connected to the device housing.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a, 1b and 1c show the general function of locking the element 104 to the body 103, according to a first preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism of the invention. The mechanism includes a lock and release unit 100 and a plunger 105.

As shown in a first side view in fig. 1a, the lock and release unit 100 is connected to the main body 103. The specific construction of the body 103 is not within the scope of the present invention, although a typical body 103 may be a handheld device such as a telephone, as further illustrated below. Also, the manner in which the locking and releasing device 100 is connected to the body 103 is not within the scope of the present invention and will therefore not be explained in further detail in relation to fig. 1 a-c.

The locking and releasing device 100 includes an elongated fixed member 101 connected to a main body 103, and an elongated elastic member 102. The elastic member 102 springs away from the fixed member 101 in the direction x, resulting in a gap 120 having a varying range between the fixed and elastic members 101 and 102.

The delimitation line 109 is shown in the figure to roughly illustrate where the elastic member 102 and the fixed member 101 of the locking and releasing unit transition with each other. The definition line 109 is not intended to illustrate where the elements 101 and 102 are connected to each other, but rather implies the necessity of two separate elements. The defining line 109 is rather a simple representation of the fact that the locking and releasing unit 100 may be in the form of one unit and consist of two separate pieces connected together.

The actual elasticity of the elastic member 102 is obtained based on the properties of the material of the elastic member, such as physical properties. It is known from the prior art how to obtain suitable elastic properties. And therefore need not be discussed in detail. However, it is clear that the manufacture of plastic materials by injection moulding is a reasonable option. However, whether other materials such as metal or even wood are suitable depends on the conditions of the application.

Referring to fig. 1b and 1c, an elongate plunger unit 105 having a slot 106 and a tapered head 107 is attached to the element 104. The element 104 is locked together with the body 103 by a locking mechanism consisting of a plunger unit 105 and a lock and release unit 100. Examples of elements 104 having particular properties are discussed below in connection with other embodiments of the present invention.

In fig. 1a-c the plunger unit 105 is located in the space 120 between the resilient member 102 and the fixing member 101, locking the element 104 to the body 103. Locking is achieved by moving the plunger 105 with a tapered head in the direction Y, forcing the resilient member 102 in the direction X, causing the resilient member 102 to increase the gap 120 in the direction X until the notch 106 engages the resilient member 102, which is then retracted in the opposite direction X. The notch 106 has a ramp 108 along which the resilient member slides when retracted. The direction X is substantially perpendicular to the direction Y. This is also the case for other later embodiments of the invention.

The element 104 can be disengaged from the body 103 by forcing the element 104, with the engaged plunger 105, to retreat in the direction Y. This retreating movement necessarily causes the elastic member 102 to slide along the inclined surface 108 of the notch 106, causing the elastic member 102 to move in the X direction, widening the gap 120 in the X direction. Further retraction of the element 104 and plunger 105 will cause the plunger to disengage from the lock and release unit 100.

Fig. 2a-c show a second embodiment according to the invention. As in the previous example, the locking and releasing unit 200 composed of the fixed member 201 and the elastic member 202 is connected to a main body such as a portable device. In a typical practical example, the main body 203 may be a mobile phone terminal. In this case, the main body 203 corresponds to a housing of such a telephone terminal.

The fixed member 201 and the elastic member 202 are both elongated and form a single piece, the dotted line 209 roughly indicating the location of the transition between the two elements 201 and 202. The resilient member 202 springs away from the fixed member 201 in the direction X to form a gap 220 of varying intervals. The resilient member 201 is connected to, or preferably integral with, the pusher member 212. The pusher 212 extends through a hole 213 in the body 203 so that it is accessible from the outside.

As shown in the previous example, an elongated plunger unit 205 having a slot 206 and a tapered end 207 is connected to an element 204. The element 204 will be connected to the body 203 by a locking mechanism consisting of a plunger unit 205 and a lock and release unit 200. A typical example of the element 204 may be a rotating cover of a mobile phone terminal. The plunger unit 205 is located in the space 220 between the elastic member 202 and the fixing member 201, and the locking member 204 is locked to the main body 203.

As with the embodiment of fig. 1a-c, locking and releasing is accomplished by moving plunger 205 in the Y direction, forcing resilient member 202 to enlarge gap 220 in the X direction until notch 206 engages ramp 211 of notch 210 of resilient member 201. The plunger notch 206 also has a ramp 208 along which the resilient member 202 slides when retracted.

The element 204 with the engaging plunger 205 is disengaged from the body by applying a rearward pull in the Y direction. The rearward movement caused by this force will cause the sloped surface 211 of the slot 210 of the resilient member 202 to slide against the sloped surface 208 of the slot 206, thereby causing the resilient member 202 to move in the X-direction, widening the gap 220. Continued rearward movement of the member 204 and plunger 205 will cause the plunger 205 to disengage the lock and release unit 200. The pulling force required to release the plunger from the locked position will of course depend on the dimensions and physical characteristics of the parts involved. The simultaneous application of a force to the resilient member 202 in the X direction assists in the disengagement action. This force may be applied by the pusher member 212. In fact, both the locking and disengaging action are facilitated by the application of force to the pusher 212 in the X direction.

A further embodiment of the locking mechanism is shown schematically in figure 3. As in the previous example, the holder 301 is connected to a main body 303, such as a housing of a telephone terminal. The stationary part 301 transitions to the resilient part 302 at a position indicated by a dot-dash line 309. The resilient member 302 springs back in the X direction and can move forward and backward in the X direction away from its original position by the urging member 312. The pushing member 312 forms a part of an end of a pushing arm that is elongated in the X direction and connected to the elastic member 302. The push arm 314 extends through the bore 303 of the body in substantially the same manner as in the previous example.

Fig. 3 also shows a plunger 305 with a notch 306 that can be engaged into and disengaged from a locked position as shown in the previous example.

Yet another example of a locking mechanism 400 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. The fixture 401 is connected to the body 403. The fixing member 401 transitions into an elastic member 402 that can spring back in the X direction. The gap 420 between the stationary part 401 and the resilient part 402 is where the plunger 405 with the notch 406 is located. This example only illustrates the presence of differently shaped parts, for example a rectangular cross section of the plunger 405 can be seen in the figure.

Fig. 5, 6a-c, and 7a-b show additional selected embodiments of the present invention. The mobile phone terminal 500 includes a main body in the form of a housing 503 and is connected with a rotating cover 520. It is known from the prior art that terminals comprise means for communicating over a communication network, within the housing 503 there being arranged a display 524, a keypad 525, a speaker 523, and a microphone on a rotating cover.

The rotary cover 520 can be rotated about the axis R by a hinge mechanism 521 from an open position to a closed position covering the keyboard 525. Although not shown in fig. 5, the hinge mechanism 521 may include a mechanism to spring load the cover 520 relative to the housing 503 in the closed position. Fig. 5 shows the rotating cover 520 in an open position.

To enable the lid to be engaged and disengaged from the closed and open positions, respectively. Terminal 500 includes a locking mechanism according to the present invention. The plunger unit 505 is connected to the rotary cap 520 and the locking and releasing unit (700 in fig. 7 a) is connected to the inside of the housing. An aperture 513 in the housing 503 allows the plunger 505 to enter the lock and release unit (700 in fig. 7 a).

Fig. 6a-c show three side views of a plunger 605, such as plunger 505 coupled to pivoting cap 520 as shown in fig. 5. The plunger has a tapered head 607 and a notch 606 with a ramp 608, generally the same shape as the plungers 105 and 205 of the previous examples. Although the plunger 605 is shown as a separate element that is not attached to any rotating cap, it is understood that the plunger 605 may be integral with the rotating cap (520 in FIG. 5).

Fig. 7a and 7b show details of a locking and releasing unit 700, which is attached to the inside of a housing 703 corresponding to the housing 503 in fig. 5, comprising a fixed part 701, a resilient part 702, and a pushing arm 714 with a pushing part 712. Similar to the previous example, when a force is applied to the pushing member 712 in the X direction, the elastic member 702 moves away from the stationary member 701 in the rebound direction X, increasing the gap 720 between the two elements. The fixture 701 is attached to the inside of the housing 703 by a knob 717 that protrudes out of the housing 703, which is engaged with the fixture 701 through an opening 716.

A plunger (e.g., 505 in fig. 5, 605 in fig. 6 a-c) having a tapered head 707 engages the notch 708 of the resilient member 702 in the same manner as disclosed in the examples above. Force is applied in the X direction to a pusher 712 projecting from housing 703 and through aperture 713, causing the gap to increase and the plunger to disengage from the engaged position.

The above examples show the practice of the invention in which the plunger is connected to a protruding member and the locking and release unit is connected to the body of the device. However, other embodiments are of course possible in which the plunger is connected to the body and the locking and releasing unit is connected to the protruding member.

Claims (29)

1. A locking mechanism for a hand-portable device, said mechanism comprising a main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) and a movable protrusion element (104, 204, 520), said protrusion element (104, 204, 520) being openable and closable between at least a first position and a second position in relation to the main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703), said locking mechanism comprising a plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) and a locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700);

the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) comprises a fixed member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) and an elastic member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702);

said elastic element (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) having at least one rebound direction (X) away from the fixed element (101, 201, 301, 401, 701);

the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is switched in the entering and withdrawing direction (Y) between an engaged position and a disengaged position between the fixed member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) and the elastic member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700);

characterized in that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) further comprises a pushing member (212, 312, 712) for actuating the elastic member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) in a rebound direction (X), which is substantially perpendicular to the entry and exit direction (Y).

2. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is connected to the protruding element (104, 204, 520), and that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is connected to the main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) of the device by means of the fixing member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701).

3. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is connected to the body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) of the device, and the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is connected to the protruding element (104, 204, 520) by means of the fixing member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701).

4. A locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a push arm (314, 714) extends in the rebound direction (X) and is connected to the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) for assisting the locking or unlocking action by exerting a force on the push arm in the rebound direction (X).

5. The locking mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the pushing member (212, 312, 712) constitutes an extension of the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) of the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700).

6. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is in the form of a single unit.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 1, characterized in that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is in the form of at least two separate elements joined together.

8. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) and the stationary member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) are each of an elongated shape, joined together at one end of each.

9. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) has a tapered head (107, 207, 607, 707) for facilitating disengagement of said resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) of said lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) from said fixing member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) when said plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is inserted into said engaged position in an entering and withdrawing direction (Y).

10. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) has a notch (106, 206, 306, 406, 606) to lock the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) in the engaged position.

11. The locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the notch (106, 206, 306, 406, 606) includes a ramp (108, 208, 308).

12. The locking mechanism according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) has a notch (210, 310, 710) which engages with the plunger notch (106, 206, 306, 406, 606) in the engaged position.

13. The locking mechanism of claim 12, wherein the notch (210, 310, 710) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) comprises a ramp (211, 708).

14. The locking mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that the notch (210, 310, 710) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is located at the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702).

15. Portable communication device comprising a main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) and a rotatable cover (104, 204, 520), said rotatable cover being connected to said main body ((103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) by a hinge unit (521), said rotatable cover (104, 204, 520) being openable and closable between at least a first position and a second position in relation to said main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703), said device further comprising a locking mechanism comprising a plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) and a locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700), characterized in that,

the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) comprises a fixed member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) and an elastic member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702);

said elastic element (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) having at least one rebound direction (X) away from the fixed element (101, 201, 301, 401, 701);

the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is connected or disconnected between an engagement position and a disengagement position between the fixed member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) and the elastic member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) in the entering and retracting direction (Y);

characterized in that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) further comprises a pushing member (212, 312, 712) for actuating the elastic member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) in a rebound direction (X), which is substantially perpendicular to the entry and exit direction (Y).

16. Portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is connected to the protruding element (104, 204, 520), and that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is connected to the main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) of the device by means of the fastening (101, 201, 301, 401, 701).

17. Portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is connected to said main body (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) of the device, and that said locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is connected to said protruding element (104, 204, 520) via said fastening (101, 201, 301, 401, 701).

18. Portable communication device according to any of claims 15-17, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a push arm (314, 714) extends in the rebound direction (X) and is connected to the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) for assisting the locking or unlocking action by exerting a force on the push arm in the rebound direction (X).

19. Portable communication device according to claim 18, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the push member (212, 312, 712) constitutes an extension of the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700).

20. A portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is in the form of a separate unit.

21. A portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is in the form of at least two separate elements joined together.

22. Portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) and the stationary member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) are of elongate shape and are connected together at one respective end.

23. Portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) has a tapered head (107, 207, 607, 707) for facilitating disengagement of the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) from the stationary member (101, 201, 301, 401, 701) when the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) is inserted into the engaged position in the entering and withdrawing direction (Y).

24. A portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) has a notch (106, 206, 306, 406, 606) for locking the plunger unit (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) in the engaged position.

25. A portable communication device according to claim 24, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said slot (106, 206, 306, 406, 606) comprises a ramp (108, 208, 308).

26. Portable communication device according to claim 24 or 25, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) has a notch (210, 310, 710) engaging with the plunger notch (106, 206, 306, 406, 606) in the engaged position.

27. Portable communication device according to claim 26, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the notch (210, 310, 710) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) comprises a ramp (211, 708).

28. Portable communication device according to claim 26, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the notch (210, 310, 710) of the lock and release unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is located in the resilient member (102, 202, 302, 402, 702).

29. Portable communication device according to claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the locking and releasing unit (100, 200, 300, 400, 700) is attached to the inner surface of the housing (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703) beside an aperture (213, 313, 513, 713) in the housing (103, 203, 303, 403, 503, 703), which aperture allows the plunger (105, 205, 305, 405, 505, 605) to enter when switching from the disengaged position to the engaged position.