Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-08
2004-09-07
Gibson, Randy (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S816000, C361S818000, C361S728000, C361S749000, C455S575100, C455S575300, C455S550100, C379S433020, C379S429000, C379S457000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06788551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic devices and flexible cables for same, and more particularly, to a foldaway portable electronic device such as a communications device and flexible cable configured so that the electronic device is folded when not in use and is opened automatically at the push of a button when in use and communications conducted.
2. Description of the Related Art
In terms of their structure, portable communications devices may be divided into two main types, one capable of being folded and the other, having a generally oblong shape, not capable of being folded. The former type can be further divided into two sub-types, that is, those that are opened manually and those that are opened automatically by pushing a button.
Portable communications devices capable of being folded are markedly more compact in their folded state than are those portable communications devices which cannot be folded, and so are easy to store and to carry. Also, users of such portable communications devices are often engaged in some other task while using the device, so a construction that allows the user to open the portable communications device using one hand, that is, by the push of a button, is handy and desirable.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
show an example of a conventional portable communications device
10
which can be opened automatically. This portable communications device
10
consists of a substantially rectangular key pad base unit
11
, a substantially rectangular display cover unit
12
, and a hinge
13
that connects the key pad base unit
11
with the display cover unit
12
.
The key pad base unit
11
includes operating keys
14
and a microphone
15
. The display cover unit
12
has a liquid crystal panel
16
for the display, an antenna
17
and a speaker
18
. A hinge module
19
is incorporated inside the hinge
13
. The hinge module
19
springingly impels the display cover unit
12
away from the key pad base unit
11
. A button
20
is provided near the hinge
13
at a lateral surface
11
a
of the key pad base unit
11
.
Normally, the portable communications device
10
is closed as shown in
FIG. 1A
, with the display cover unit
12
closed and joined to the key pad base unit
11
by a lock tab
21
.
When in use, that is, when conducting communications, the user grasps the foldaway portable communications device
10
by taking the key pad unit
11
in the palm of the left hand
30
and pressing the button
20
with the thumb
31
of the left hand. In so doing, a rotating lever
22
shifts the lock tab
21
, causing the lock tab
21
to withdraw and thereby releasing the display unit
12
from the key pad base unit
11
. A spring inside the hinge module
19
causes the display unit
12
to rotate away from the key pad base unit
11
and into the unfolded position shown in FIG.
1
B. The user then puts the portable communications device
10
to the ear and conducts communications.
However, partly because the portable communications devices like the portable communications device
10
shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
have become more compact, when the user presses the button
20
with the thumb
31
of the left hand
30
a part of the thumb
31
tends to contact a side
12
a
of the display cover unit
12
, while the fingers
32
tend to contact an opposite side
12
b
of the display cover unit
12
.
In such a state, the thumb and fingers contacting the sides
12
a
,
12
b
of the display cover unit
12
create resistance against, and thus hamper the smooth opening of, the display cover unit
12
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful foldaway electronic device and flexible cable for same in which the above-described disadvantage is eliminated.
The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by a foldaway electronic device comprising:
a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;
a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;
a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;
a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position; and
impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated,
wherein either lateral surface of the base unit has a guard portion that extends over and prevents contact with a portion of the corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit by a user's thumb and fingers when the cover unit is in the folded position and the lock release mechanism is being actuated.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by A foldaway electronic device comprising:
a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;
a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;
a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;
a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;
impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated; and
an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism comprising:
a pedestal member provided on a lateral surface of the base unit so as to project beyond a corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit; and
a button provided on the pedestal member in such a way that when the button is depressed the pedestal portion prevents contact with a portion of the corresponding lateral surface of the cover unit by a user's thumb when the cover unit is in the folded position and the lock release mechanism is being actuated.
Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by a foldaway electronic device comprising:
a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;
a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the lateral surfaces of the base unit, and an end portion that is rotatably attached to the end portion of the base unit, whereby the cover unit may be rotated between a folded position relative to the base unit and an unfolded position relative to the base unit;
a locking mechanism in the base unit and cover unit that locks the cover unit in the folded position;
a lock release mechanism in the base unit that releases the locking mechanism when the cover unit is in the folded position;
impelling means in the base unit for impelling the cover unit from the folded position to an unfolded position after the lock release mechanism has been actuated; and
an operating member for operating the lock release mechanism, the operating member being provided on a lateral surface of the base unit,
a lateral surface of the cover unit corresponding to the lateral surface of the base unit on which the operating member is provided having a substantially concave shape with respect to the lateral surface of the base unit at least in a vicinity of the operating member.
Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by a foldaway electronic device comprising:
a base unit having opposing lateral surfaces and an end portion;
a cover unit having opposing lateral surfaces, each of whi
Fujitsu Limited
Gibson Randy
Katten Muchin Zavis & Rosenman
Tran Thanh Yen
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