Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-01
2002-10-01
To, Doris H. (Department: 2682)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
C455S575100, C379S433130, C016S326000, C016S342000, C016S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06459887
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to foldable portable telephones comprising a main body case provided with a plurality of manual keys, and a closure case connected to the main body case openably, and more particularly to such a foldable portable telephone wherein the closure case can be opened easily at the touch of a button.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 17 and 18
show a foldable portable telephone which is already known and which comprises a main body case provided with a plurality of manual keys, and a closure case provided with a display and openably connected to the main body case. A pair of opposite hinge mechanisms are arranged at the junction of the main body case and the closure case, and the closure case can be opened or closed about an axis of rotation of the hinge mechanisms. One of the hinge mechanisms comprises a first barrel portion provided on the main body case, a first barrel portion provided on the closure case and aligned with the barrel portion, and a hinge pin fitted in the barrel portions centrally thereof. Similarly, the other hinge mechanism comprises a second barrel portion provided on the main body case, a second barrel portion provided on the closure case and aligned with the barrel portion, and a hinge pin fitted in the barrel portions centrally thereof.
When to be carried the foldable portable telephone described can be compacted by folding the closure case and is therefore not only convenient to carry but also can be free of the likelihood that the manual key will be depressed while in a bag or the like since the keys are covered with the closure case, hence safety. Further because the screen of the display is accommodated in the closure case as closed, the display can be protected from damage even if the portable telephone slips off to fall.
The foldable portable telephone shown in
FIGS. 17 and 18
has recessed portions and recessed portions formed respectively in the main body case and the closure case at opposite sides thereof. The closure case closed as shown in
FIG. 17
can be opened as shown in
FIG. 18
by inserting the tip of a finger between the opposed pair of recessed portions forming a space as shown in FIG.
17
. The closure case is thus openable by only one hand grasping the main body case, hence convenience.
However, when the finger tip is merely inserted between the main body case and the closure case to open the closure case of the conventional telephone shown in
FIGS. 17 and 18
, it is only to an intermediate position that the closure case can be opened, and the closure case opened to the intermediate position must be further pushed open in order to open the closure case to the full-open position shown in
FIG. 18
The telephone has the problem that this procedure is difficult. Especially when the closure case has an increased weight due to the provision of the display which is large-sized, difficulty is encountered in opening the closure case with the finger tip.
Suppose the telephone has a spring for biasing the closure case toward an opening direction relative to the main body case, a latch slidably mounted on a side face of the main body case as shown in
FIG. 19
, a hook provided on the closure case, and a spring connected to the latch on the main body case, with a manual piece interposed therebetween. The closure case can then be made automatically openable merely by moving the manual piece, whereas it becomes necessary to provide the latch, hook, manual piece, spring, etc. in addition to the hinge mechanism. This entails the problem of making the telephone large-sized and complex to assemble. Further because the force of the spring biasing the closure case toward the opening direction when the case in its closed position is received by the latch and the hook provided on the respective cases, these cases are subjected directly to the force, which is likely to deform the cases. Furthermore, the latch and the hook each have a projection of acute angle and therefore have the problem of being hazardous.
Although the conventional foldable portable telephone is so adapted that the closure case can be held in two postures of different angles, i.e., in the fully closed position and the full-open position, it is desired that the closure case be holdable also in one or more intermediate positions so as to be positionable in a posture of desired angle for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable telephone having a closure case which can be easily opened at the touch of a button.
To fulfill the first object, the present invention provides a foldable portable telephone which comprises a main body case provided with a plurality of manual keys, and a closure case connected to the main body case by a hinge mechanism for covering the manual keys, the hinge mechanism comprising:
a main body drive member in engagement with a barrel portion on the main body case and nonrotatable relative thereto,
a closure drive member in engagement with a barrel portion the closure case and nonrotatable relative thereto,
a prime mover mechanism provided between the main body drive member and the closure drive member for exerting a force for rotating the closure drive member in a direction to open the closure case,
a holding mechanism for holding the closure case closed in a closed position,
a manual button exposed to outside from the barrel portions on the main body case and the closure case and to be manipulated to open the closure case, and
a hold release mechanism for releasing the holding mechanism from the holding state in response to the manipulation of the manual button.
When the closure case of the telephone of the invention described is in a closed state, the holding mechanism is in operation to hold the closure case in the closed position. When the manual button is manipulated to open the closure case, the holding mechanism is released from the holding state, consequently initiating the prime mover mechanism into operation. This rotates the closure drive member, opening the closure case to a full-open position. When the closure case is to be closed, the case is pushed in a closing direction against a force exerted by the prime mover mechanism, whereby the case is rotated to the closed position. During this process, the holding mechanism functions to hold the closure case in the closed position.
Stated more specifically, a cam mechanism is formed in engaging portions of the main body drive member and the closure drive member, and an elastic member is provided between the main body drive member and the closure drive member for exerting a force for rotating the closure drive member in the closure case opening direction. The cam mechanism has a first cam curve portion and a second cam curve portion operable respectively in the first half and the second half of the process of rotation of the closure case from the closed position to an open position. The first cam curve portion is in the form of a cam curve capable of rotating the closure drive member in a direction to close the closure case with the force exerted by the elastic member. The second cam curve portion is in the form of a cam curve capable of rotating the closure drive member in the closure case opening direction with the force exerted by the elastic member. Thus, the first cam curve portion and the elastic member provide the holding mechanism, and the second cam curve portion and the elastic member provide the prime mover mechanism.
When the closure case is in the closed state in the specific construction described, the first cam portion of the cam mechanism is in operation, holding the closure case in its closed position with the force exerted by the elastic member. The cam mechanism is changed over from the first cam curve portion operating state to the second cam curve portion operating state by manipulating the manual button in this state. The operation of the second cam curve portion biases the closure drive member into rotation toward the closure case opening direction to open the closure case
Armstrong Westerman & Hattori, LLP.
To Doris H.
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