JP2003060758A - Mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To easily open a second casing with respect to a first casing in a portable terminal device in which a first casing and a second casing are foldably connected. To be able to do it. SOLUTION: In a portable terminal device 1 in which a first housing 2 and a second housing 3 are foldably connected to each other, the second housing 3 is connected to the first housing 2. An urging member for urging in the opening direction, and a lock mechanism 10 for holding the second housing 3 closed with respect to the first housing 2
0 and a release mechanism 102 for releasing the lock mechanism 100.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device in which two housings are foldably connected to each other, and more particularly to a mobile terminal device having a housing opening mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a portable terminal device, for example, a portable telephone which has become widespread in recent years, a casing of a device is divided into two, and these casings are foldably connected to each other by a hinge portion. Things are offered. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of this type of mobile phone. Like the mobile phone 51 shown in this figure, the first housing 52 and the second housing 5
3 and 3 are foldably connected to each other by a hinge portion 54. On the inner surface 55 of the first housing 52 on the folded side, various operation keys 5 such as a call key and a call end key are provided.
6 and a microphone 57 are provided. Also,
A display unit 59 and a speaker 60 are provided on the inner surface 58 of the second housing 53 on the folded side.

The hinge portion 54 has a cylindrical rotating portion 61 connected to the first casing 52 side, a cylindrical rotating portion 62 connected to the second casing 53, and these rotating portions. The shaft body 63 is inserted through the portions 61 and 62. In this configuration, the first housing 52 and the second housing 53 are
It is rotatable about 3.

When carrying this portable telephone 51, the second casing 53 is closed with respect to the first casing 52,
Stored in clothes pockets. On the other hand, when a call is to be made on the mobile phone 51 when a call is received, the user holds the first housing 52 with one hand and holds the second housing with respect to the first housing 52 with the other hand. The body 53 is opened, the call key is pressed, and a call is made using the microphone 57 and the speaker 60.

In addition, when sending and receiving a mail, similarly to the above, one hand holds the first housing 52, the other hand opens the second housing 53, and the display unit 59 is viewed. Then, the received mail is confirmed or the mail is created and transmitted by operating the operation key 56. Mobile phone 5
When the use of No. 1 is finished, the second casing 53 is closed with respect to the first casing 52, and the mobile phone 51 is stored in an appropriate place.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned mobile phone 51.
In the case of using the mobile phone 51, the first housing 52 is held by one hand, the second housing 53 is held by the other hand, and is opened by the other hand. Therefore, in the above-described mobile phone 51, the operation of opening the second casing 53 with respect to the first casing 52 must be performed with both hands when using the first and second casings. There is a problem that the opening operation of 52 and 53 is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a portable terminal device of a type in which a first casing and a second casing are foldably connected to each other,
An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal device that can easily perform an operation of opening the second housing with respect to the first housing.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means. The invention according to claim 1 is a portable terminal device in which a first housing and a second housing are foldably connected to each other, and the second housing is opened with respect to the first housing. And a biasing member for biasing the first housing in a direction to open the second housing, and the first housing with respect to the first housing. A lock mechanism for holding the second casing in a closed state and a release mechanism for releasing the lock mechanism, and the urging force of the urging member is in the state of releasing the lock mechanism. Provided is a mobile terminal device, wherein a force is set to separate the second casing from the first casing with an openable space.

In the portable terminal device according to the present invention,
When the lock between the first housing and the second housing is released by the release mechanism, the second housing is rotated with respect to the first housing by the urging force of the urging member, An openable space is formed between the one housing and the second housing. At this time, while the user of the mobile terminal device is holding the first housing with one hand, the finger of the holding hand is inserted into the openable space, and the finger holds the second housing. By pushing up,
The first housing and the second housing will be opened ready for use. Further, when the second housing is closed with respect to the first housing, the lock mechanism locks the first and second housings in a closed state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the first aspect, the first casing and the second casing are rotatably connected by a hinge portion, and the urging force is applied. There is provided a mobile terminal device, wherein the member is a torsion spring provided on the hinge portion.

In the portable terminal device according to the present invention,
Since the second housing is opened by the torsion spring provided in the hinge portion, the second housing can be opened to the first housing with a simple and reliable structure.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the first or second aspect, the release mechanism includes an operating member, and the operating member is the first casing or the second casing. There is provided a mobile terminal device characterized by being exposed on the surface of the.

In the portable terminal device according to the present invention,
When the user operates the operation member with the hand holding the mobile terminal device, the lock is released and an openable space is formed between the first housing and the second housing.

[0014]

1 to 4 show an embodiment according to the present invention. The embodiment described here is a case where the present invention is applied to a mobile phone. In FIG. 1, a mobile phone (mobile terminal device) 1 according to this embodiment includes a first housing 2 and a second housing 3, and a hinge portion 4.
Are rotatably connected to each other. Various operation keys 6 such as a call key and a call end key, and a microphone 7 are provided on the inner surface 5 of the first housing 2. A display unit 9 and a speaker 10 are provided on the inner surface 8 of the second housing 3, and their configurations are the same as those shown in FIG. 5 described above.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hinge portion 4 has a cylindrical rotating portion 11 formed at one end of the first casing 2 and a cylinder formed at one end of the second casing 3. The rotary unit 12 and the shaft 13 inserted into the rotary units 11 and 12 are provided. Further, the hinge portion 4 is provided with a holding mechanism (not shown). This holding mechanism is a mechanism for holding the first and second casings 2 and 3 in a mutually opened state. As shown in FIG. 3, a torsion spring (biasing member) 14 is wound inside the hinge portion 4. One end 14a of the torsion spring 14 is locked to a locking portion 15 provided on the first housing 2, and the other end 14b of the torsion spring 14 is
It is locked by a locking portion 16 provided on the second housing 3.

With this structure, the second casing 3 is different from the first casing 2 in the direction in which the first and second casings 2 and 3 are opened by the force of the torsion spring 14 (the first casing 2). Of the second housing 3 is urged in the direction A) in which the second housing 3 is opened. In this case, the biasing force of the torsion spring 14 causes the first casing 2 and the second casing 3 to be unlocked when the lock between the first casing 2 and the second casing 3 is released, as will be described later. The force is set to form an openable space with the housing 3.

In addition, the second housing 3 is provided with respect to the first housing 2.
A lock mechanism 100 and a release mechanism 101 for releasing the lock mechanism 100 are provided so that the lock mechanism 100 can be held in this state when closed. Lock mechanism 1
00 is the locking member 1 shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).
8, a coil spring 19, and a hole 24 formed in the second housing 3. That is, the guide wall portion 17 is provided in the first housing 2, and the locking member 18 movably in the arrow CD direction is provided in the guide wall portion 17.
Is provided.

The locking member 18 is biased in the direction of arrow D by a coil spring 19. A guide surface 20 is provided at the tip of the locking member 18, and a locking portion 21 is provided at the upper end thereof. The locking portion 21 is formed in a hook shape having a projection 22 at its tip. The protrusion 22 is allowed to move together with the locking member 18 only in the CD direction, and is restricted from moving in other directions. The protrusion 22 of the locking portion 21 projects outward from a hole 23 provided in the inner surface 5 of the first housing 2. A hole 24 is formed on the inner surface 8 of the second housing 3.
The end 24a of No. 4 is an inclined surface. The locking portion 21 is inserted into the hole 24 and is engaged therewith.

The release mechanism 101 comprises an operating member 28. That is, an opening 26 is provided on the side surface 25 of the first housing 2, and a guide wall 27 is provided inside the first housing 2 in the vicinity of the opening 26. There is. In addition, the locking portion 3 is provided near the opening 26.
1 is formed. An operation member 28 is arranged in the opening 26. The operation member 28 is allowed to move only in the direction orthogonal to the CD direction, that is, in the EF direction by the guide wall portion 27, and is restricted from moving in other directions.

A guide surface 29 is provided at the tip of the operating member 28, and the guide surface 29 is in contact with the guide surface 20 of the locking member 18. The base end of the operating member 28 is exposed from the opening 26. This operation member 28 is
The widened portion 30 is provided at the center thereof, and the widened portion 30 is engaged with the locking portion 31 to prevent the operation member 28 from coming out. Further, the locking member 18 is biased in the D direction by the coil spring 19, so that the operating member 28 is biased in the E direction via the guide surfaces 20 and 29. In the above configuration, the torsion spring 14, the lock mechanism 100 and the release mechanism 101 are the opening mechanism 102.
Are configured.

A method of using the mobile phone 1 configured as described above will be described. In this mobile phone 1,
When carried, as shown in FIG. 2, the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2, and
As shown in (a) and (b), the locking portion 21 is engaged with the hole 24. From this state, for example, in order to receive an incoming signal and make a call, hold the mobile phone 1 with one hand in a state where the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2,
With the fingertip closest to the operating member 28, the operating member 28
Press to operate. As a result, the lock mechanism 100 is released, and as shown in FIG. 3, the second casing 3 is relatively rotated in the A direction with respect to the first casing 2 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 14. An openable space is formed between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 so that a finger can be inserted therein.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the operating member 28 is pressed and moved in the F direction, the locking member 18 and the locking member 18 are locked against the biasing force of the coil spring 19. The part 21 moves in the C direction. In this case, the lock mechanism 100 is released when the protrusion 22 moves away from the back surface 3a inside the second housing 3, so that the biasing force of the torsion spring 14 causes the first housing to move, as shown in FIG. 2 and second housing 3
An openable space is formed between and. Here, the user of the mobile phone 1 inserts his / her finger into the opening operable space and pushes up the second housing 3 with respect to the first housing 2, whereby the second housing 3 is opened. Will be done. By the above one-handed operation, as shown in FIG.
The second housing 3 and the second housing 3 are open to each other. In this opened state, the holding mechanism holds the second casing 3 in an opened state with respect to the first casing 2.

On the other hand, when the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2 after the use of the mobile phone 1,
As shown in (a) and (b), the engaging portion 21 and the hole 24 are engaged with each other, so that the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2. That is, when the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2, the projection 22 of the locking portion 21 is guided by the inclined surface of the hole 24 and inserted into the second housing 3, and the projection 22 engages with the back surface 3 a of the second housing 3. As a result, the second housing 3 is held so as not to be opened with respect to the first housing 2.

As described above, according to the mobile phone 1, the torsion spring 14 and the release mechanism 101 allow the user to operate the first and second casings 2 and 3 closed with only one hand. It can be easily operated in the open state. Further, the lock mechanism 100 can hold the first and second casings 2 and 3 in a mutually closed state.

Although the opening mechanism 102 is composed of the operating member 28, the torsion spring 14 and the like in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and the first and second casings 2 and 3 are not limited thereto. It suffices that the first and second casings 2 and 3 can be opened from the mutually closed state.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the lock mechanism can hold the first and second casings in a mutually closed state, and at the same time, the lock mechanism can be held. Since the opening operable space is formed by releasing the opening mechanism by the releasing mechanism, the operation of opening the first and second casings can be easily performed with one hand.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first and second housings can be reliably opened by the torsion spring.

According to the invention of claim 3, the operation member for releasing the lock on the surface of either the first or the second housing can be operated by the hand holding the portable terminal device. Therefore, the opening operation of the mobile terminal device can be easily performed with one hand.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first housing and a second housing of a mobile terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention are opened to each other.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first housing and the second housing are mutually closed in the mobile terminal device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of the mobile terminal device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the first housing in the mobile terminal device of FIG. 1, (a) is a horizontal cross-sectional view, and (b) is a side cross-sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first housing and a second housing shown as an example of a conventional mobile terminal device are opened to each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Mobile phone (mobile terminal device) 2 First case 3 Second case 4 Hinge part 14 Torsion spring (biasing member) 28 Operation member 100 lock mechanism 101 Release mechanism 102 release mechanism

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal device in which a first housing and a second housing are foldably connected to each other, wherein the second housing is opened from the first housing. The opening mechanism, the opening mechanism includes a biasing member for biasing the first housing in a direction of opening the second housing, and the opening mechanism for the first housing. The second casing includes a lock mechanism that holds the second casing in a closed state and a release mechanism that releases the lock mechanism. The urging force of the urging member is the second casing when the lock mechanism is released. A mobile terminal device, wherein the force is set to separate the body from the first casing with an openable space. 2. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the first casing and the second casing are rotatably connected by a hinge portion, and the biasing member is connected to the hinge portion. A mobile terminal device, wherein the mobile terminal device is a torsion spring provided. 3. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism includes an operating member, and the operating member is exposed on a surface of the first housing or the second housing. A mobile terminal device characterized by being.