JP4444153B2 - Foldable mobile communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foldable mobile communication device, and more particularly to the structure of a hinge portion thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a foldable mobile communication device including a first casing, a second casing, and a hinge portion that foldably connects the first casing and the second casing is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  The hinge portion of the foldable mobile communication device includes an outer boss portion that swells substantially vertically from both ends in the width direction on the surface of the second housing, and the first casing so as to be sandwiched between the outer boss portions. A central boss extending horizontally from the hinge side end of the body, and a horizontal shaft inserted through the outer boss and the central boss.

In order to avoid interference between the outer boss portion and both corners of the hinge-side end portion of the first housing during the folding opening / closing operation, the outer boss portion is usually a cross section when viewed from the axial direction of the horizontal axis. Is formed in an arc shape.
JP 2002-344601 A (FIGS. 1 and 2)

  However, in the conventional foldable mobile communication device, since a mating surface is formed between the outer boss portion rounded to avoid interference and the corner portions of the hinge side end portion of the first housing, it is particularly folded. At this time, there is a problem that a gap due to a step with the surrounding surface is generated at the mating surface, and the appearance is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to contrive the structure of the hinge part so that the folding opening / closing operation is not hindered and the gap around the hinge part is not conspicuous. The object is to provide a foldable portable communication device with good appearance.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the mating surfaces of the corner portions of the hinge side end portion of the first housing and the outer boss portion of the second housing are made substantially continuous.

Specifically, the first invention includes a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge portion that folds and connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be freely opened and closed. Assuming a folding mobile communication device
The hinge portion includes an outer boss portion that swells substantially vertically from both ends in the width direction on the surface of the second housing, and a hinge side end of the first housing so as to be sandwiched between the outer boss portions. A central boss portion extending horizontally from the portion, and a horizontal shaft inserted through the outer boss portion and the central boss portion,
When the first casing and the second casing are folded, the first casing when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first casing and when viewed from the axial direction of the horizontal axis. The surface of the mating surface between both corners of the hinge side end and the outer boss of the second casing is substantially continuous.

  According to said structure, in order to avoid interference, the 2nd housing | casing can shape | mold the surface substantially continuously, without rounding a corner | angular part in the mating surface of both the corner | angular parts of a hinge side edge part, and an outer side boss | hub part. A gap due to a step with the surrounding surface is made inconspicuous between the outer boss portion of the first housing and both corner portions of the hinge-side end portion of the first casing. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a foldable portable communication device that does not obstruct the folding opening / closing operation and has a good appearance with no conspicuous gap around the hinge portion.

  In the second invention, the mating surface when the first casing and the second casing are folded is formed in a substantially straight line shape in plan view.

  According to the above configuration, the mating surface is linear in plan view, that is, the mating surface when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the first housing and the mating surface when viewed from the axial direction of the horizontal axis. By forming the shape in a straight line, it is possible to prevent the formation of a gap at the end of the rounded portion as in the prior art and make it less noticeable.

  In the third invention, both corners of the hinge-side end of the first housing have a recessed portion that is recessed toward the inside in the longitudinal direction of the first housing, and the outer side wall of the recessed portion is thin. It is set as the structure formed in.

  According to the above configuration, the outer boss portion enters the inner side of the outer side wall of the recessed portion of the first housing, so that the mating surfaces of the corner portions on the hinge side end portion and the outer boss portion are arranged to avoid interference. The folding operation can be performed without rounding.

  In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the recess is configured such that a cross section when the first housing is viewed from the axial direction of the horizontal axis is formed in an arc shape.

  According to said structure, it can prevent that an outer side boss | hub part enters into a recessed part and interferes with each other during folding operation | movement by denting a recessed part in cross-sectional arc shape.

  In the fifth invention, the outer side wall is made of a metal member.

  According to the above configuration, the outer side wall is made of metal, so that it is difficult to be damaged when dropped even if the wall thickness is reduced. Therefore, since the gap around the hinge portion can be further reduced, it is possible to provide a foldable mobile communication device with a good appearance that does not stand out.

  In a sixth aspect of the invention, the first casing is a resin molded product in which both corners and the central boss part at the hinge side end are integrally formed.

  According to the above configuration, both the corners and the central boss at the hinge side end can be easily manufactured by resin molding, and the number of parts can be reduced, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the seventh invention, the outer boss portion of the second casing is configured such that the outer side surface in the axial direction of the horizontal axis is formed in an arc shape when the second casing is viewed from the longitudinal direction. .

  According to the above configuration, even when the side surface of the outer boss portion when the second housing is viewed from the longitudinal direction is rounded, the space between the outer boss portion and both corners of the hinge-side end portion of the first housing is It does not affect the gap in the mating surface, and this rounded outer boss part enters inside the outer side wall of the recessed part, so that the outer boss part in the folding operation and the hinge side end part of the first housing Interference with both corners can be prevented.

  In the eighth invention, the outer boss portion of the second casing is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first casing when the first casing and the second casing are folded. And the corner | angular part of the outer side boss | hub part when it sees from the axial direction of the said horizontal axis is formed in the curved surface form.

  According to the above configuration, the hinge part can be rounded without affecting the gap in the mating surface between the outer boss part and the corners of the hinge-side end part of the first housing. In addition, it is possible to provide a foldable portable communication device with rounded corners and good appearance.

  In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a recess is provided at the boundary between the central boss portion and the hinge side end portion in the first casing so as to be continuous with the mating surface.

  That is, the gap on the mating surface between the outer boss and the corners on the hinge side end of the first housing cannot be completely eliminated. However, according to the above configuration, the gap between the mating surfaces is continuous. As described above, by providing a dent at the boundary between the central boss portion and the hinge side end portion, it appears that the gaps are continuous in appearance, and the appearance can be further improved.

  In a tenth aspect of the invention, the first casing is provided with a liquid crystal display section, and the second casing is provided with an operation section.

  According to said structure, the operation part by which main components are arrange | positioned is arrange | positioned in the 2nd housing | casing larger than a 1st housing | casing, and the comparatively lightweight liquid crystal display part is arrange | positioned in the 1st housing | casing.

  According to the eleventh aspect, the hinge-side end of the first casing is provided with a vertical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing, and the liquid crystal display section is turned upside down around the vertical axis. It is operably supported.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid crystal display unit can be viewed with the front and back reversed even in the folded state. Even in such a case, it is possible to provide a foldable mobile communication device with good appearance.

  According to the twelfth invention, the first housing is provided with a rotation shaft extending in the front and back direction of the first housing, and the liquid crystal display unit is in a vertically long state and a horizontally long state around the rotation shaft. It is supported so that switching operation is possible.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve the appearance even in the folding portable communication device in which the operation unit can be operated even in the horizontally long state.

  According to the thirteenth invention, an intermediate boss portion bulges between the outer boss portions of the second casing, and the central boss of the first casing corresponds to the intermediate boss portion. The part is provided with a boss insertion part into which the intermediate boss part is inserted, and the horizontal axis is also inserted through the intermediate boss part.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a foldable portable communication device that has a good appearance even when an intermediate boss is provided between the outer bosses.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the first casing and the second casing are formed while substantially continuously forming the mating surfaces of the outer boss portion and the corner portions of the hinge side end portion without rounding. Is configured to be openable and closable so that the gap between the outer boss portion and both corners of the hinge side end portion is not conspicuous. For this reason, it is possible to provide a foldable mobile communication device with good appearance without obstructing the folding opening / closing operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable mobile communication device 1 of the present embodiment includes a first housing 3 having a liquid crystal display unit 2 and a second housing 5 having an operation unit 4. ing. The first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are connected to each other by a hinge portion 6 so as to be foldable. Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, the first housing 3 side when the folding portable communication device 1 is opened is the upper side, the second housing 5 side is the lower side, the liquid crystal display unit 2, and the operation unit 4. The sides provided with are the front surfaces of the first housing 3 and the second housing 5, respectively, and the opposite sides are the back surfaces.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the second casing 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, and the operation portion 4 including the operation keys 7 is formed on the surface thereof. A pair of outer bosses 10 are formed so as to bulge substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the second housing 5 from both ends in the width direction (left-right direction) of the upper end of the operation unit 4. A horizontal axis support hole (not shown) through which a horizontal axis (not shown) is inserted is formed inside the outer boss portion 10 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer boss portion 10 has an outer side surface in the left-right direction formed in an arc shape when the second housing 5 is viewed from the longitudinal direction (upward direction). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the foldable mobile communication device 1 is closed, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the back surface (surface without the liquid crystal display unit 2) of the first housing 3 (front surface). The outer boss portion 10 is also formed in a rectangular shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer boss portion 10 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction.

  On the other hand, the first housing 3 is also formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, and a rectangular parallelepiped center side boss portion 11 is formed from the hinge side end portion 3a (lower end portion when opened) on the hinge portion 6 side. It extends horizontally downward. The central boss portion 11 is formed with a horizontal shaft insertion hole 11a (shown in FIG. 12) through which the horizontal shaft is inserted, and is sandwiched by the outer boss portion 10 from both left and right sides. As shown in FIG. 11, the front and back surfaces of the central boss portion 11 are formed so that none of the corner portions are rounded and substantially continuous with the front and back surfaces of the first housing 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the boundary between the central boss portion 11 and the hinge side end portion 3 a in the first housing 3 is linearly continued to the left and right so as to be continuous with the mating surface 12. A decorative recess 14 is provided. Thus, a slight gap between the mating surfaces 12 and the dent 14 appear to be continuous in appearance.

  Further, the hinge-side corner portion 3b located on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the center-side boss portion 11 of the hinge-side end portion 3a of the first housing 3 is also perpendicular when viewed from the back surface of the first housing 3. As shown in FIG. 4, it is also formed at a right angle when viewed from the left-right direction.

  The hinge part 6 is composed of the outer boss part 10, the central boss part 11, and a horizontal shaft that is inserted through the outer boss part 10 and the central boss part 11.

  When the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are folded, both hinge sides of the hinge side end 3a of the first casing 3 when viewed from the back surface of the first casing 3 A mating surface 12 between the corner 3b and the outer boss 10 of the second casing 5 is substantially continuous in a straight line. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the mating surface 12 is substantially continuous linearly when viewed from the axial direction of the horizontal axis.

  In other words, when viewed from any viewpoint, there is no step on the mating surface 12 with the surrounding surface (not rounded and chamfered), so the gap between the mating surfaces 12 is inconspicuous.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 10, and 12, both the hinge-side corners 3 b of the hinge-side end 3 a of the first casing 3 are inside in the longitudinal direction (upper side) of the first casing 3. It has the recessed part 13 dented toward. The recess 13 has an arcuate cross section when the first housing 3 is viewed from the horizontal axis direction. And as shown in FIG. 12, the outer side wall 13a of the left-right direction is formed thinly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the surface within the rotation range of the central boss portion 11 in the second housing 5 has a central concave portion 20 so as to avoid contact with the central boss portion 11. Is cut out in a circular arc shape.

-Action-
Next, the folding operation of the folding mobile communication device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  When the first housing 3 is turned to the second housing 5 side from the open state shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, both hinge side angles of the hinge side end 3 a of the first housing 3 are displayed. The part 3 b approaches the outer boss part 10 of the second housing 5.

  And as shown in FIG. 13, the upper side corner | angular part of the outer side boss | hub part 10 penetrates into the recessed part 13 inside the outer side wall 13a of the hinge side corner | angular part 3b of the hinge side edge part 3a.

  Next, when the first casing 3 is further rotated, the upper corner portion of the outer boss portion 10 that has entered the recessed portion 13 comes out of the recessed portion 13 again.

  Next, when the first housing 3 is further rotated, the lower corner portion of the outer boss portion 10 enters the recessed portion 13 as shown in FIG.

  Finally, the lower corner portion of the outer boss portion 10 that has entered the recessed portion 13 comes out and is in a closed state as shown in FIGS. A mating surface 12 having a substantially continuous surface is formed linearly between both hinge-side corner portions 3b of the portion 3a and the outer boss portion 10 of the second casing 5.

  Therefore, according to the foldable portable communication device 1 according to the present embodiment, the corners of the mating surface 12 between the hinge side corners 3b of the hinge side end 3a and the outer boss 10 are formed substantially continuously without rounding. However, the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are configured to be foldable and openable, and both the outer boss portion 10 of the second casing 5 and the hinge side end portion 3a of the first casing 3 are both arranged. The gap between the hinge side corner 3b is made inconspicuous. For this reason, the foldable portable communication device 1 having a good appearance can be provided.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention may be configured as follows with respect to the above embodiment.

  That is, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit 2 of the first housing 3 cannot be turned upside down with respect to the second housing 5. It may be configured such that it can be turned upside down by rotating around a vertical axis provided so as to extend in the direction. In addition, a vertical axis extending in the front and back direction is provided on the back side of the liquid crystal display unit 2 in the first housing 3, and the liquid crystal display unit is rotated in the left-right direction around the vertical axis to be in a vertically long state and a horizontally long state. You may comprise so that switching operation is possible.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it has comprised so that the outer side of the center side boss | hub part 11 may be pinched | interposed by the outer side boss | hub part 10, an intermediate | middle boss | hub part is provided in the middle of the outer boss | hub part 10 of the 2nd housing | casing 5, for example. The central boss portion 11 of the first housing 3 corresponding to the intermediate boss portion may be cut out to provide a boss insertion portion, and the intermediate boss portion may be inserted into the boss insertion portion.

  Further, when the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are folded, the outer boss portion 10 is on both hinge sides of the hinge side end portion 3a of the first casing 3 in front view and left and right side views. The corner 3b may be formed in a curved shape. Thus, the hinge portion 6 is rounded without affecting the gap between the outer boss portion 10 on the mating surface 12 and the hinge-side corner portions 3b of the hinge-side end portion 3a of the first housing 3. Therefore, it is possible to provide a foldable mobile communication device 1 that has a good appearance.

  The outer side wall 13a at both hinge side corners 3b of the hinge side end 3a of the first casing 3 may be integrally formed of resin together with the entire hinge side corner 3b. It is desirable to use a metal member. As a result, even if the wall thickness is reduced, it is less likely to be damaged when dropped.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit 2 is provided in the first casing 3 and the operation unit 4 is provided in the second casing 5, but the operation unit is provided in the first casing, A liquid crystal display unit may be provided in the casing. In this case, the second housing is disposed on the upper side and the first housing is disposed on the lower side.

  In addition, the above embodiment is an essentially preferable illustration, Comprising: It does not intend restrict | limiting the range of this invention, its application thing, or a use.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a foldable mobile communication device including a hinge portion that foldably connects a first housing and a second housing so as to be opened and closed.

It is a perspective view which shows the foldable portable communication apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention in a folding state. It is a perspective view which shows the foldable portable communication apparatus in the open state. It is a front view of the foldable portable communication apparatus in a folded state. It is a side view of the foldable portable communication apparatus in a folded state. It is a top view of the foldable portable communication apparatus in a folded state. It is the VI-VI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a front view of the foldable portable communication apparatus in an open state. It is a side view of the foldable portable communication apparatus in an open state. It is a bottom view of the foldable portable communication device in an open state. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the XI-XI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the recessed part of a 1st housing | casing, and its periphery. (A) is an enlarged side view of the hinge part and its periphery in operation which closes a foldable portable communication apparatus, (b) is the enlarged plan view. FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to FIG. 13 when closed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Folding type portable communication apparatus 2 Liquid crystal display part 3 1st housing | casing 3a Hinge side edge part 3b Hinge side corner | angular part 4 Operation part 5 2nd housing | casing 6 Hinge part 10 Outer boss | hub part 11 Center side boss part 12 Matching surface 13 Depressed part 13a Outer side wall 14 Decorative dent
20 Center side recess

Claims (12)

In a foldable mobile communication device comprising a first casing, a second casing, and a hinge part that foldably connects the first casing and the second casing,
The hinge part is
Outer bosses bulging substantially vertically from both ends in the width direction on the surface of the second housing,
A central boss portion extending horizontally from the hinge side end of the first housing so as to be sandwiched between the outer boss portions;
A horizontal axis inserted through the outer boss part and the central boss part,
When the first casing and the second casing are folded, the first casing when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first casing and when viewed from the axial direction of the horizontal axis. There is no step on the mating surface between the two corners of the hinge side end and the outer boss of the second casing ,
Both corners of the hinge-side end portion of the first housing have a recessed portion that is recessed inward in the longitudinal direction of the first housing, and the recessed portion causes the first housing to be in the horizontal direction. The cross-section when viewed from the axial direction of the shaft is formed in an arc shape, the axially outer side wall of the horizontal axis in the recessed portion is formed thin, and the outer boss portion is inside the axially outer side wall. A foldable portable communication device characterized by being configured to pass . In the foldable portable communication device according to claim 1,
The folding portable communication device, wherein the mating surface when the first casing and the second casing are folded is formed in a substantially straight line shape in plan view. In the foldable portable communication device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The foldable portable communication device characterized in that the outer side walls at both corners of the hinge-side end portion of the first casing are made of a metal member, and the other portions are made of a resin molded product . In the foldable portable communication device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The foldable mobile communication device, wherein the first casing is a resin molded product in which both corners and a central boss at the hinge end are integrally formed. In the foldable portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The outer boss portion of the second casing has an arcuate outer side surface in the axial direction of the horizontal axis when the second casing is viewed from the longitudinal direction. Communication equipment. The foldable portable communication device according to claim 5 ,
The outer boss portion of the second casing is an axis of the horizontal axis when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first casing when the first casing and the second casing are folded. A foldable portable communication device, characterized in that a corner portion of an outer boss portion is formed in a curved shape when viewed from the direction. The folding portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
A foldable portable communication device, wherein a recess is provided at a boundary between the central boss portion and the hinge side end portion of the first casing so as to be continuous with the mating surface. The foldable portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A foldable portable communication device, wherein the first casing is provided with a liquid crystal display portion, and the second casing is provided with an operation portion. The foldable mobile communication device according to claim 8 ,
A vertical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the first casing is provided at the hinge side end of the first casing,
A foldable portable communication device, wherein the liquid crystal display unit is supported so as to be able to be turned upside down around the vertical axis. The foldable mobile communication device according to claim 8 ,
The first housing is provided with a rotation shaft extending in the front and back direction of the first housing,
A foldable portable communication device characterized in that the liquid crystal display unit is supported so as to be switchable between a vertically long state and a horizontally long state around the rotation axis. The foldable portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
An intermediate boss portion bulges between the outer boss portions of the second casing,
A boss insertion portion into which the intermediate boss portion is inserted is provided in the central boss portion of the first casing so as to correspond to the intermediate boss portion,
The foldable portable communication device, wherein the horizontal axis is inserted through the intermediate boss portion. The foldable portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
A foldable portable communication device characterized in that a surface of a portion corresponding to the central boss portion in the second casing is formed with a central concave portion that avoids contact with the central boss portion. .

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