U.S. patent application number 10/320098 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-26 for wearable electronic device.
Invention is credited to Terasawa, Dai.
Application Number | 20030116596 10/320098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26625202 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030116596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Terasawa, Dai |
June 26, 2003 |
Wearable electronic device
Abstract
A wearable electronic device is provided which can prevent the
main body of the device from making swinging movement relative to
its rigid band portion. The wearable electronic device is provided
with: an electronic device main body; a rigid band allowing the
electronic device main body to be worn on a neck-like portion; a
pivotal coupling mechanism for coupling the rigid band to a casing
of the electronic device main body for pivoting movement in two
directions between a closed position for surrounding the neck-like
portion and an open position for allowing detachment thereof from
the neck-like portion, in cooperation with the casing of the
electronic device main body. The pivotal coupling mechanism
includes an elastic biasing member biasing the rigid band from the
closed position toward the open position, and a locking mechanism
for open position which locks the rigid band in the open position
when the rigid band is in the open position.
Inventors: |
Terasawa, Dai; (Chiba-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADAMS & WILKS
31st Floor
50 Broadway
New York
NY
10004
US
|
Family ID: |
26625202 |
Appl. No.: |
10/320098 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/179 ;
224/930 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 5/0007 20130101;
A44C 5/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/179 ;
224/930 |
International
Class: |
A44C 005/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2001 |
JP |
2001-388870 |
Mar 20, 2002 |
JP |
2002-078038 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wearable electronic device comprising: an electronic device
main body; a rigid band for allowing mounting of the electronic
device; and a coupling mechanism for coupling the rigid band to the
electronic device main body, wherein the coupling mechanism has: an
elastic body for elastically biasing the rigid band in an opening
direction thereof; and a locking mechanism for locking the rigid
band onto the electronic device main body when the rigid band is in
its open or closed position, in order to suppress swinging movement
of the rigid band relative to the electronic device main body.
2. A wearable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
locking mechanism comprises: an engaging pin provided to one of the
electronic device main body and the rigid band so as to be capable
of elastically projecting therefrom; and an engaging concave
portion which is formed in the other one of the electronic device
main body and the rigid band such that the engaging pin is fitted
and locked therein when the rigid band is in its open or closed
position.
3. A wearable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein: the
engaging pin has a rounded configuration at its tip portion; and
the engaging concave portion is formed of an elastic material in
its peripheral wall portion.
4. A wearable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
coupling mechanism includes: a locking mechanism for closed
position, which locks the rigid band onto the electronic device
main body when the rigid band is in its closed position; and a
locking release mechanism for closed position, which releases the
locking of the rigid band effected by the locking mechanism for
closed position.
5. A wearable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the
locking mechanism for closed position comprises: an engaging pin
provided to the rigid band so as to be capable of elastically
projecting therefrom; and an engaging concave portion formed in the
electronic device main body such that the tip portion of the
engaging pin is fitted and locked therein when the rigid band is in
its closed position.
6. A wearable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the
locking release mechanism for closed position comprises a pushing
mechanism for pushing from the outside the engaging pin that is
fitted and locked in the engaging concave portion.
7. A wearable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the
locking mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting
the closed position of the rigid band by adjusting a locking angle
of the engaging pin relative to the engaging concave portion.
8. A wearable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the
adjustment mechanism comprises: a cylindrical member provided with
the engaging pin; and an adjusting screw engaging with the
cylindrical member and capable of causing the cylindrical member to
rotate.
9. A wearable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the
adjustment mechanism comprises: a cylindrical member provided with
the engaging pin and having a cylinder portion, the cylinder
portion having in a side surface thereof a long hole that
penetrates from an outer peripheral portion to an inner peripheral
portion thereof; a sliding member which has a convex portion to be
engaged with the long hole and is inserted into the cylinder
portion of the cylindrical member; and an adjusting screw engaging
with the sliding member and capable of causing the sliding member
to rotate, and wherein the sliding member is rotated by means of
the adjusting screw to allow sliding movement of the convex portion
within the long hole, to thereby adjust a locking angle of the
engaging pin relative to the engaging concave portion.
10. A wearable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the
adjustment mechanism comprises: a cylindrical member provided with
the engaging pin and having a long hole formed on an end surface
thereof; a sliding member which has a convex portion to be engaged
with the long hole and is capable of sliding movement in a radial
direction of the cylindrical member; and an adjusting screw
engaging with the sliding member and capable of causing the sliding
member to make linear movement, and wherein the sliding member is
linearly moved by means of the adjusting screw to allow sliding
movement of the convex portion within the long hole, to thereby
adjust a locking angle of the engaging pin relative to the engaging
concave portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a wearable electronic
device to be worn on the wrist or the like.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Examples of the wearable electronic device include portable
electronic devices such as a watch, a calculator, and a
communications device, which are composed of electronic circuits
and miniaturized so as to be wearable on the wrist. Each of those
wearable electronic devices is constructed of a member constituting
a main body for executing functions of the wearable electronic
device itself and a mounting member allowing the device to be
mounted on the wrist.
[0005] As the wearable electronic devices described above, the
applicant of the present invention has invented wearable electronic
devices, in which the band lengths and the holder angles can be
adjusted in accordance with the thickness of a user's wrist. The
applicant disclosed the inventions in prior patent application Nos.
2000-398981 and 2000-400162.
[0006] The wearable electronic device disclosed in each of these
applications is a wearable electronic device which comprises: a
hinge for opening/closing the mounting body of the device, the
hinge being consisting of a first hinge piece and a second hinge
piece; a first hole formed in the first hinge piece; a second hole
formed in the second hinge piece; and latch pins one of which is
inserted into the first hole and the other is inserted into the
second hole. A user chooses a hole from among holes having
different widths and fits a pin therein, whereby the mounting
member can accommodate its form to the thickness of his/her
wrist.
[0007] FIGS. 11A and 11B are a lateral sectional view and a front
view of the mounting member and the hinge portion of such a
wearable electronic device, illustrating a specific constructional
example thereof. FIG. 11A is a lateral sectional view showing the
entirety of the electronic device, and FIG. 11B is a front view
showing the hinge portion. A wearable electronic device 120 shown
in FIG. 11A is constituted by a main body 121 and two pieces of
holders 122 and 123. The holder 122 which appears on the left-hand
side in the drawing is depicted as being in its closed state,
whereas the holder 123 on the left-hand side is depicted as being
in its open state. The main body 121 and the holders 122 and 123
are coupled to each other by hinges. In the surfaces of hinge
pieces 124 and 125 on the sides of the holders 122 and 123, a
plurality of holes 126 and 127 are formed radially so as to be
aligned along the direction of the pivotal axis of the hinge.
[0008] In each of hinge pieces 128 and 129 opposing the holes 126
and 127, there is formed a hole 130 having a width that changes
stepwise in the pivotal movement direction of the hinge. The hinges
on the right and left sides operate according to the same
mechanism. A latch pin 132 that is urged by a spring is received in
the hole 126 provided on one of the hinges. Upon pivoting movement
of the holder 122, that is, upon pivoting movement of the hinge
piece 124, the hole 126 also undergoes pivoting movement. Then, at
the time when the hole 126 is brought into a position to face the
hole 130 formed in the hinge piece 128 which opposes the hole 126,
the latch pin 132 abuts against the opposing hole 130 to be fitted
therein. Thus, the hinge piece 124 and the holder 122 being
integrated therewith are securely fixed in place.
[0009] As shown in FIG. 11B, the hinge pieces 124 and 128 are
coupled to each other as a pivotal movement pair by means of a
spring bar 133 and a fitting screw 134. A coil spring 135 is passed
through the spring bar 133, and projecting portions 136 and 137
provided at both ends of the spring bar 133 are made to abut on the
associated hinge pieces 124 and 128, respectively. Thus, the hinge
pieces 124 and 128 are always biased in the direction for opening
the holder.
[0010] In the proposed electronic device described above, however,
when a rigid band is in an open position, in the case where a user
performs, while holding the rigid band with one of his/her hands
(for example, the left hand), an input operation such as depressing
or the like with a finger of the other hand (for example, the right
hand) with respect to an input operation portion such as a push
button or a key switch provided in the rigid band, there is a fear
that the main body of the electronic device is swung relative to
the rigid band due to vibration or impact attendant on the input
operation. As a result, there is a fear that the display of the
electronic devices becomes hard to view because, for example, a
display portion such as one formed in a casing of the electronic
device main body makes swinging movement each time an input
operation is performed.
[0011] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing a hole formed in a hinge
piece on the main body side. As described above, a plurality of
abutment holes 130 are formed and arranged along the direction of
the pivotal axis so as to have widths that vary stepwise in the
pivotal movement direction of the hinge. In the drawing, the
abutment hole 130 is indicated by a solid line, while three holes
126 through one of which the latch pin 132 is inserted are
indicated by broken lines. In this way, one of the holes 126 is
chosen to insert the latch pin 132 therethrough. Since the hinge
piece is urged in the opening direction, the latch pin 132 abuts on
one side wall of the abutment hole 130, thereby determining the
degree of opening of the holder.
[0012] FIGS. 13A and 13B are lateral sectional views for
illustrating how the hole width affects the degree of opening of
the holder. FIG. 13A is a lateral sectional view illustrating a
state where the latch pin abuts on one side wall of a hole having a
small width, and FIG. 13B is a lateral sectional view illustrating
a state where the latch pin abuts on one side wall of a hole having
a large width. As is apparent from a comparison between the both
drawings, the hinge piece 124 makes a smaller pivoting movement
angle .theta..sub.2 from its horizontal position in the case where
a hole having a larger width is selected to fit the latch pin
therein, thus allowing the holder to be fitted on a person with a
thick wrist. Conversely, a person with a thin wrist may select a
hole having a small width to fit the latch pin therein. Note that
the pivoting movement angle is .theta..sub.1 in the example shown
in FIG. 13A and the difference in angle between the both examples
is obtained as .DELTA..theta.=.theta..sub.1-.theta..sub.2.
Selection of a hole for receiving the latch pin therein through a
spring can be easily performed by simply detaching the hinge.
[0013] As has been described above, with the mounting body of the
wrist-mounted electronic device according to these previously
disclosed inventions, a hole for inserting the latch pin
therethrough is selected from among a plurality of holes, whereby
the fixing position of the holder can be adjusted according to the
manner in which the latch pin abuts on the wall portion having a
stepped configuration. Therefore, the holder can be kept at the
most suitable position as determined according to the thickness of
a user's wrist. However, since it is necessary to disassemble the
hinge to perform such adjustment, these inventions suffer from the
disadvantage that additional labor is required to perform the
disassembly. Further, the possible amount of adjustment is
restricted by the number of the holes provided. In the case where
the wrist-mounted electronic device is used by only one person,
almost no subsequent readjustments of the holder fixing position
are necessary after the initial setting thereof; however, when the
device is to be shared among several persons, the positional
adjustment of the holder needs to be frequently performed,
resulting in an increased burden of the disassembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-mentioned problems, and therefore an object thereof is to
provide a wearable electronic device in which swinging movement of
the device main body relative to a rigid band portion thereof can
be suppressed.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
mechanism which allows positional adjustment to be easily performed
in accordance with the thickness of a user's wrist without
disassembling of a hinge portion, and which also allows the
position of the holder to be adjusted in a continuous, non-staged
fashion.
[0016] In order to attain the above objects, according to the
present invention, there is provided a wearable electronic device
provided with an electronic device main body, a rigid band for
allowing mounting of the electronic device, and a coupling
mechanism for coupling the rigid band to the electronic device main
body, in which the coupling mechanism includes: an elastic body for
elastically biasing the rigid band in an opening direction thereof;
and a locking mechanism for locking the rigid band onto the
electronic device main body when the rigid band is in its open or
closed position, so as to suppress swing movement of the rigid band
relative to the electronic device main body.
[0017] The wearable electronic device according to the present
invention is provided with "a locking mechanism for locking the
rigid band onto the electronic device main body when the rigid band
is in its open or closed position to thereby suppress swinging
movement of the rigid band relative to the electronic device main
body". Therefore, when the rigid band is in the open position and
when a user performs, while holding the rigid band with one of
his/her hands (for example, the left hand), for example, an input
operation such as depressing or the like with a finger of the other
hand or the like with respect to an input operation portion such as
a push button or a key switch provided in the rigid band, even if
vibration or impact attendant on the input operation is exerted on
the rigid band, the locking mechanism serves to prevent the
electronic device main body from making swinging movement relative
to the rigid band due to the vibration or impact. As a result,
there is a reduced fear that the display portion of the electronic
device main body will make irregular swinging movements, for
example, during an input operation, thereby keeping the display of
the electronic device easy to view at all times.
[0018] In accordance with the wearable electronic device according
to the present invention, the locking mechanism may be any suitable
locking mechanism for restraining irregular vibrations from
occurring between the rigid band and the device main body while the
rigid band is being set in the open or closed position, due to
vibrations attendant on, for example, an input operation on the key
input portion. Typically, such a locking mechanism includes: an
engaging pin provided to one of the electronic device main body and
the rigid band so as to be capable of elastically projecting
therefrom; and an engaging concave portion which is formed in the
other one of the electronic device main body and the rigid band
such that the engaging pin is fitted and locked therein when the
rigid band is in its open or closed position.
[0019] In this case, even if impacts attendant on vibrations such
as caused during an input operation on the key switch propagate
from the rigid band to the electronic device main body, generation
of irregular swinging movements or vibrations of the electronic
device main body relative to the rigid band can be restrained or
substantially disabled by means of the fitting or locking of the
engaging pin in the engaging concave portion.
[0020] On the other hand, in a typical construction of the wearable
electronic device according to the present invention, the tip
portion of the locking pin has a rounded configuration and a
peripheral wall portion of the locking concave portion is formed of
an elastic material.
[0021] In this case, when a somewhat large force is applied onto
the rigid band in a direction for moving the rigid band from the
open position into the closed position, the peripheral wall portion
of the engaging concave portion which is formed of the elastic
material is deformed due to the rounded tip portion of the engaging
pin in such a manner as to conform with the shape of the tip
portion, and a force acting in a direction for pushing out the
engaging pin is exerted between a slant surface resulting from the
roundness of the tip portion of the engaging pin and a slant
surface of the peripheral wall portion of the engaging concave
portion that has been thus elastically deformed, whereby the
engaging pin that has been elastically projected is retracted
against the elastic force to be dislodged from the engaging concave
portion.
[0022] Thereafter, with no resistance being applied thereon by the
engaging concave portion, the rigid band can be easily swung
relative to the electronic device main body to reach its closed
position. The tip portion of the engaging pin may have a tapered,
instead of rounded, configuration. As the elastic material forming
the peripheral wall portion of the engaging concave portion, for
example, a urethane resin or a silicone resin may be used, although
other arbitrary elastic materials may be alternatively used. In
this case, in addition to the elasticity of the material for
forming the engaging concave portion and the inclination of the
slant surface of the engaging pin, the thickness of the engaging
pin, how much of the pin is to be fitted into the engaging concave
portion, and the like can be also appropriately selected as
desired.
[0023] Note that, in the case where the peripheral wall portion of
the engaging concave portion is formed of an elastic material, even
if the engaging pin repeatedly abuts against the peripheral wall of
the engaging concave portion as the elastic body elastically biases
the rigid band from the closed position into the open position,
there is little fear of damages being caused as a result, whereby
durability of the device can be maintained at a high level.
[0024] In the wearable electronic device according to the present
invention, the coupling mechanism preferably includes: a locking
mechanism for closed position, which locks the rigid band onto the
electronic device main body when the rigid band is in its closed
position; and a locking release mechanism for closed position,
which releases the locking of the rigid band effected by the
locking mechanism for closed position. Here, the locking mechanism
for closed position typically comprises: an engaging pin provided
to the rigid band so as to be capable of elastically projecting
therefrom; and an engaging concave portion for closed position,
which is formed in the electronic device main body. In the case
where the engaging pin is provided to the rigid band, the engaging
pin of the locking mechanism for closed position doubles as the
engaging pin of the locking mechanism for open position.
[0025] Further, in accordance with a typical construction of the
wearable electronic device of the present invention, the rigid band
is provided with a push button, a key switch, or other such input
means and the display portion is provided in the electronic device
main body. However, an arrangement is also possible as occasion
demands in which the push button, the key switch, or other such
input means is provided in the electronic device main body and the
display portion is provided in the rigid band.
[0026] Further, one rigid band is arranged on either end side of
the electronic device main body. In that case, as long as one of
the rigid bands is constructed as described hereinabove, the other
may be constructed in any manner. Also, in some cases, the rigid
band may be arranged in different manners, such that only one such
rigid band is provided only on one end side of the electronic
device main body.
[0027] In accordance with the wearable electronic device of the
present invention, in order to attain the aforementioned objects,
the locking mechanism is characterized by including an adjustment
mechanism for adjusting the closed position of the rigid band by
adjusting the locking angle of the engaging pin relative to the
engaging concave portion. Therefore, the device can be adapted to
various wrist thicknesses according to suitable angle settings by
the above-mentioned adjustment mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] In the accompanying drawings:
[0029] FIGS. 1A to 1C are views illustrating a wearable electronic
device according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view of the electronic device
for explaining the case where the rigid band of the electronic
device is in an open position, FIG. 1B is a partially cutaway side
view of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a partially cutaway side view
similar to FIG. 1B in the case where the rigid band of the
electronic device shown in FIG. 1A is in a closed position;
[0030] FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged views illustrating a pivotal
coupling mechanism of the electronic device shown in FIGS. 1A to
1C, in which FIG. 2A is an enlarged sectional view for explaining
the case where the rigid band is in the open position, and FIG. 2B
is an enlarged sectional view for explaining the case where the
rigid band is in the closed position;
[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view for explaining the inside surface
side of the pivotal coupling mechanism of the electronic device
shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C;
[0032] FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating modification examples
of the pivotal coupling mechanism of the electronic device shown in
FIGS. 1A to 1C, in which FIG. 4A is a partially cutaway side view
for explaining an example where a wall portion around an engaging
concave portion is formed of an elastic material and FIG. 4B is a
partially cutaway side view for explaining an example where an
engaging pin is provided on the main body side;
[0033] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a comparison between
a hinge portion of the wrist-mounted electronic device of the
present invention and that of the prior art, in which FIG. 5A is a
perspective view of the hinge portion according to the prior art
and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the hinge portion according to
the present invention;
[0034] FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional views of the hinge portion, in
which FIG. 6A is a view showing the state where locking of the
hinge portion is released and FIG. 6B is a view showing the state
where positioning of the hinge portion is performed;
[0035] FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating degrees of hinge
opening, in which FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the hinge portion
on one side and FIG. 7B is a side view showing the entirety of the
wrist-mounted electronic device;
[0036] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge portion
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge portion
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 10 illustrates opposing side surfaces of a center hinge
piece and a cylindrical member in another embodiment of the present
invention, in which the drawing on the right side shows the center
hinge piece and the drawing on the left side shows the cylindrical
member;
[0039] FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a wrist-mounted electronic
device according to the prior art, in which FIG. 11A is a side view
showing the entirety of the device and FIG. 11B is a plan view of
its hinge portion;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a view for explaining a position adjusting
mechanism according to the prior art; and
[0041] FIGS. 13A and 13B are lateral sectional views for
illustrating how the hole width affects the opening of a holder in
the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a wrist-mounted electronic
device 1 as a wearable electronic device includes an electronic
device main body 10 and rigid band portions 20 and 30 that are
coupled to end portions 12 and 13, respectively, of a casing 11 of
the electronic device main body 10 such that they can be pivoted
about pivotal center axis lines A and B.
[0043] The electronic device main body 10 includes, for example, a
circuit main body portion 14 that functions as an electronic device
such as a timepiece, a telephone, or a calculator, and a display
panel portion 15 that functions as a display portion of such a
device.
[0044] At least one of the rigid band portions 20 and 30 (the band
portion 20 in the example shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C) has an input
designating portion 21 such as a push button or a key switch which
is used to input data and give designation signals for designating
operations such as a control to be performed with respect to the
circuit main body portion 14 of the electronic device main body 10.
In the case where the electronic device 1 has a function as, for
example, a portable telephone, sound collecting holes or the like
that are connected to a microphone are formed inside an edge
portion of the rigid band portion 20 and sound emitting holes or
the like that are connected to a speaker are formed inside an edge
portion of the rigid band portion 30. Regardless of the intended
application of the electronic device 1, the wearable electronic
device 1 is constructed such that a part of the functions of the
electronic device 1 can be built in the band portions 20 and 30.
Accordingly, the casings of the band portions 20 and 30 are
basically formed of a relatively hard material so as to make the
band portions 20 and 30 substantially rigid. Of course, the casings
of the band portions 20 and 30 may also be partially formed of a
flexible or elastic material.
[0045] The rigid band portions 20 and 30 are coupled to their
adjoining end portions 12 and 13 of the electronic device main body
10, respectively, through pivotal coupling mechanisms 40A and 40B
(which are collectively denoted by reference numeral "40" without
attaching symbols "A" and "B" when referred to as generically or
when no distinction is made between the both; the same applies to
other related portions) as corresponding swinging coupling
mechanisms. The rigid band portion 20 is coupled to the end portion
12 of the electronic device main body 10 through the pivotal
coupling mechanism 40A, for pivoting movement in directions A1 and
A2 between its open position P1 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) and its
closed position P2 (see FIG. 1C). The rigid band portion 30 is
coupled to the end portion 13 of the electronic device main body 10
through the pivotal coupling mechanism 40B, for pivoting movement
in directions B1 and B2 between the open position P1 (see FIGS. 1A
and 1B) and the closed position P2 (see FIG. 1C).
[0046] When the rigid band portions 20 and 30 are in their closed
positions P2 as shown in FIG. 1C, the rigid bands 20 and 30 are
fitted on a wrist portion E of a user's arm so as to surround the
wrist portion E in cooperation with the electronic device main body
10. On the other hand, when the rigid band portions 20 and 30 are
in their open positions P1 as shown in FIG. 1B, the electronic
device 1 can be detached from the wrist portion E. Although in the
examples shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C the rigid band portions 20 and 30
have substantially the same configuration, both the band portions
20 and 30 may have different configurations such that one of the
rigid band portions 20 and 30 is longer than the other. Since the
pivotal coupling mechanisms 40A and 40B are constructed in the same
manner, hereinbelow a description will be made of the pivotal
coupling mechanism 40A as pivotal coupling mechanism 40.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the pivotal coupling mechanism 40
includes: a coupling convexo-concave portion 41 formed in a forward
end portion 21 of the rigid band portion 20; a coupling
convexo-concave portion 42 formed in the adjoining end portion 12
of the casing 11 of the electronic device main body 10 so as to
have a configuration being substantially complementary with respect
to the coupling convexo-concave portion 41; a pivotal shaft 43 for
coupling a pair of the coupling convexo-concave portions 41 and 42
pivotally about an axis line A, in order to allow the rigid band
portion 20 to make pivoting movements (A1 and A2) about the axis
line A between the open position P1 and the closed position P2
relative to the casing 11 of the electronic device main body 10;
and a coil spring 44 as an elastic body for exerting on the rigid
band portion 20 a biasing force that acts in the opening direction
A1 so as to bias the rigid band portion 20 toward the opening
position P1 relative to the casing 11 of the electronic device main
body 10. The pivotal coupling mechanism 40 constitutes a hinge
portion for supporting the rigid band portion 20 in such a manner
that the rigid band portion 20 can make pivoting movement about the
center axis line A in the directions A1 and A2 relative to the
electronic device main body 10. As long as it is capable of biasing
the rigid band portion 20 toward the open position P1, there is no
limitation on the specific construction of the pivotal coupling
mechanism 40. The coil spring 44 is fitted around the pivotal shaft
43 and locked at its both ends 44a and 44b onto associated end
portions 12 and 21 of the device main body 10 and the rigid band
portion 20, respectively. Note that instead of the coil spring 44,
other kinds of a spring such as a plate spring or a torsion spring,
or other kinds of elastic means such as rubber may be used to
impart the biasing force. In FIG. 3, symbol 43a denotes a shaft
body such as a pin for defining the pivotal center axis line A in
cooperation with the pivotal shaft 43.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coupling convexo-concave
portion 42 of the rigid band portion 20 includes a cylindrical
convex portion 45. The cylindrical convex portion 45 has a hole 47
formed in its radial direction and opened onto its circumferential
surface 46. In the hole 47, there are disposed an engaging pin 48
as a locking pin of locking means for open position and a
compression spring 49 for biasing the pin 48 in a radially outward
direction D1.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coupling convexo-concave
portion 42 on the casing 11 side of the electronic device main body
10 includes a partially cylindrical concave portion 50 having a
partially cylindrical inner peripheral surface 51 for receiving the
cylindrical convex portion 45 of the coupling convexo-concave
portion 42. In the partially cylindrical inner peripheral surface
51 of the partially cylindrical concave portion 50, there is formed
an engaging concave portion 52 as a locking concave portion of a
locking mechanism, into which the tip of the engaging pin 48 having
received from the coil spring 49 a biasing force acting in the
radially outward direction is projected and fitted when the rigid
band portion 20 is in the open position P1.
[0050] Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2A, when the rigid band
portion 20 is in the open position P1, the tip of the engaging pin
48 is fitted into the engaging concave portion 52 of the partially
cylindrical peripheral surface 51 of the coupling convexo-concave
portion 42 that is formed in the casing 11 of the electronic device
main body 10. Thus, the rigid band portion 20 can be held at the
open position P1 even when a force causing pivoting movement about
the pivotal axis line in the directions A1 and A2 acts between the
band portion 20 and the casing 11 of the electronic device main
body 10. As a result, even in the event that, for example,
irregular vibrations or impacts are propagated from the rigid band
portion 20 to the electronic device main body 10 due to a key input
operation performed with respect to the input designation portion
21 of the rigid band portion 20 such as a key switch, there is
little fear that the casing 11 of the electronic device main body
10 swings or otherwise becomes unstable relative to the rigid band
portion 20.
[0051] Of the coupling convexo-concave portion 42 formed in the
casing 11 of the electronic device main body 10, as shown in FIG.
4A, a peripheral wall portion 53 thereof including the engaging
concave portion 52 is formed of, for example, a material having
relatively high elasticity such as a urethane resin or a silicone
resin. As a result, it is possible to minimize the fear of chipping
or damages being caused to the wall surface of the engaging portion
52, even when the engaging pin 48 repeatedly abuts on the wall
surface of the concave portion 52.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2A, in the cylindrical convex
portion 45 of the rigid band portion 20, in order to, for example,
allow a concave portion 45a, which is formed at a proximal portion
thereof, to abut against a convex portion 12b formed in an end
portion 12a on the front cover side of the casing 11 of the
electronic device main body 10, the concave portions 45a and the
convex portions 12b are formed so as to have complementary shapes.
In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2A, when the rigid band
portion 20 is in the open position P1, the rigid band portion 20
can be supported also at the concave portion 12b of the end portion
12a on the front cover side of the casing 11 of the electronic
device main body 10. Here, an arrangement is also possible in which
a gap remains between the concave portion 45a and the convex
portion 12b when the rigid band portion 20 is in the open position
P1.
[0053] A wall surface 54 of the concave portion 52 which extends in
the direction A2 may be formed to be somewhat inclined, as
indicated by imaginary lines 54a in FIG. 2A. In that case, while
the casing 11 of the electronic device main body 10 is restrained
from swinging or otherwise moving in the direction A2 in response
to impacts of a faint magnitude such as caused by tapping on the
key switch 21, when a somewhat large force is applied onto the
rigid band portion 20 for causing its pivoting movement in the
direction A2 being a direction for setting the rigid band portion
20 at the closed position P2, a rounded tip portion 48a of the
engaging pin 48 is caused to move along the wall surface 54a
whereby the engaging pin 48 is pushed inward in the direction D2
within the hole 47, thus allowing movement of the rigid band
portion 20 in the direction A2 from the open position P1 to the
closed position P2.
[0054] Note that, instead of arranging the hole portion 47, the
compression spring 49, and the engaging pin 48 in the coupling
convexo-concave portion 41 of the rigid band portion 20, as shown
in FIG. 4B, these may be arranged in the coupling convexo-concave
portion 42 of the electronic device main body 10. In that case, as
shown in FIG. 4B, instead of arranging the engaging concave portion
52 in the coupling convexo-concave portion 42 of the electronic
device main body 10, it is arranged in the coupling convexo-concave
portion 41 of the rigid band portion 20.
[0055] Further, in the case where a length which the locking
mechanism occupies along the direction of the axis line A (i.e. the
width of the hinge portion) may be relatively large, the engaging
pin 48 and the engaging concave portion 52 which constitute a
locking mechanism may be opposed and engaged with each other, for
example, in an end surface perpendicular to the axis line A,
instead of being opposed and engaged with each other in peripheral
surfaces 46 and 51 of the coupling convexo-concave portions 41 and
42.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 2B, the coupling convexo-concave portion 42
on the casing 11 side of the electronic device main body 10 is
further provided with another concave portion 55 with which the tip
of the engaging pin 48 in the coupling convexo-concave portion 41
of the rigid band portion 20 engages when the rigid band portion 20
is in the closed position P2. This inside concave portion 55 is
communicated with a concave portion 57 on the front surface side
through a small-diameter through hole 56. Situated at the concave
portion 57 on the front surface side is a head portion 61 of a push
button 60 having its bottom end portion 62 extended to the
rear-side concave portion 55. The large-diameter bottom end portion
62 of the push button 60 is locked onto a wall surface 58 of the
small-diameter hole portion 56 to be held within the concave
portion 55. In this example, the engaging pin 48 and the inside
concave portion 55 constitute locking means for closed position
while the push button 60 constitutes locking release means for
closed position. Note that the push button 60 may also be biased in
a direction F1 by a compression spring or the like.
[0057] When the rigid band portion 20 is in the closed position P2,
as shown in FIGS. 1C and 2B, the tip of the engaging pin 48 in the
coupling convexo-concave portion 41 of the rigid band portion 20 is
fitted into the concave portion 55 formed in the peripheral surface
51 of the coupling convexo-concave portion 42 of the casing 11 of
the device main body 10, thus restraining the rigid band portion 20
from making pivoting movements in the directions A1 and A2. Note
that, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 2B, in the cylindrical convex
portion 45 of the band portion 20, for example, a concave portion
45b formed at a proximal portion thereof and a convex portion 12d
formed in an end portion 12c on the rear cover side of the casing
11 of the electronic device main body 10 are formed to have
complementary shapes such that the concave portion 45 can be fitted
with the convex portion 12d. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1C and
2B, when the rigid band portion 20 is in the closed position P2,
the rigid band portion 20 can be supported also at the convex
portion 12d of the end portion 12c on the rear cover side of the
casing 11 of the electronic device main body 10. Here, it is also
possible to adopt an arrangement in which a gap remains between the
concave portion 45b and the convex portion 12d when the rigid band
portion 20 is in the closed position P2.
[0058] In the state where the rigid band portion 20 of the
electronic device 1 is in the closed position P2, when the push
button 60 is pushed in a direction F2, the engaging pin 48 of the
rigid band portion 20 is pushed in the direction D2 being a
radially inward direction by the large-diameter bottom end portion
62 of the pushbutton 60 and retracted. As the engaging pin 48 is
retracted in the direction D2, the rigid band portion 20, having
received from the coil spring 44 a biasing force biasing it in the
direction A1 toward the open position P1, is pivoted in the
direction A1 relative to the casing 11 of the electronic device
main body 10. When the engaging pin 48 is retracted to the position
corresponding to the peripheral surface 46, under the influence of
the spring 44, it is pivoted in the direction A1 to reach the open
position P1. During this pivoting movement, the tip portion of
engaging pin 48 performs sliding movement along the peripheral
surface 46.
[0059] The mounting mechanism with adjustment function which is
employed in the wrist-mounted electronic device of the present
invention is designed as a mechanism with the ability to adjust the
degree of closing of the holder in a non-staged, continuous fashion
according to the thickness of a user's wrist that differs from
person to person, to thereby maintain the electronic device at its
most suitable position. As such, instead of adopting the
conventional arrangement such as one shown in FIG. 5A in which one
hinge piece 124 and the other hinge piece 128 are directly engaged
with each other using a locking pin 132 inserted into a hole formed
in the one hinge piece 124, the mechanism adopts an arrangement in
which, as shown in FIG. 5B, a member 110 is formed separately so as
to intervene between the one hinge piece 124 and the other hinge
piece 128 and the engaging pin 48 is inserted into a hole formed in
the member 110 to thereby allow the relative angle of the member
110 to be continuously changed with respect to the one hinge piece
124, thus making it possible to adjust the positional relationship
between the one hinge 124 and the other hinge 128 in a non-staged,
continuous fashion. Further, for allowing such adjustment of the
positional relationship to be conducted without disassembling the
hinges, the present invention adopts a mechanism whereby the member
intervening between the both hinge pieces has its angle adjusted by
manipulation from the outside.
[0060] FIGS. 6A and 6B are enlarged views of holes formed in the
hinge piece on the main body side. FIG. 6A is a lateral sectional
view illustrating a state where the hinge is not fixed, and FIG. 6B
is a lateral sectional view illustrating a state where the hinge is
fixed. As shown in FIG. 6A, while a holder 122 is being in its open
position, the engaging pin 48 rests within the hole 126 due to
obstruction by the opposing hinge piece 128. In FIG. 6B, the
engaging pin 48 is fitted in a hole 130 formed in the hinge piece
128 on the main body 121 side, and a force for opening the holder
122 which is produced by a not-shown coil spring causes the
engaging pin 48 to abut on one side wall of the hole 130 to be thus
secured thereto. In this way, the holder 122 is positioned to be in
its closed state.
[0061] A push-out bar 138 is integrated with a push button 139 for
making vertical movement so as to push back the engaging pin 48
fitted in the hole 130 (131). In this state, when the push button
139 is depressed so as to push the engaging pin 48 inwardly into
the hole 126 while resisting a force applied by the spring, the
locking between the hole 130 and the engaging pin 48 is released
and the holder 122 is lifted up due to the force applied by the
spring coil, whereby the state shown in FIG. 6A is attained for
allowing detachment of the electronic device from the wrist. When
attaching the electronic device onto the wrist, the hinge 122 (123)
being in its opened state as shown in FIG. 6A is caused to pivot
against the force of the coil spring, whereby the engaging pin 48
slides on the surface of the associated hinge 128 (129) to
eventually reach the position of the hole 130 (131) and then is
inserted therethrough due to the spring force, so that the state
shown in FIG. 6B is attained. The above state corresponds to the
state where the electronic device is being worn.
[0062] Note that the number of the holders to be joined by the
hinges may be either one or two. Further, it is preferable to
provide at the tip of the push-out bar 138 a plate P having a large
sectional area. Further, depressing of the push button 139 is
facilitated when it is biased toward the outside of the device main
body so as to return to its original position. As described
hereinabove, according to the wrist-mounted electronic device of
this embodiment of the invention, the fitting between the engaging
pin and the hole is released by means of the push button to bring
the holder into its opened state, whereby the wrist-mounted
electronic device can be readily detached from the wrist.
[0063] As a mechanism for adjusting the degree of hinge opening,
the present invention includes: a cylindrical member having the
engaging pin inserted therethrough and intervening between the
hinge piece on the main body side and the hinge piece on the holder
side which together constitute the hinge; and a mechanism for
adjusting from the outside the rotation angle of the cylindrical
member relative to one of the hinge pieces. While the engaging pin
is being fitted in an associated fitting hole formed in the other
hinge piece, the rotation angle of the cylindrical member relative
to the one hinge piece is adjusted by the above-mentioned
adjustment mechanism, for adaptation to the thickness of the wrist.
The mechanism allowing the rotation angle of the cylindrical member
to be adjusted from the outside consists of: a cam groove formed in
the cylindrical member; a sliding member having embedded therein a
pin engaging with the cam groove, the sliding member being held so
as to be unrotatable yet to be slidable in one direction with
respect to the one hinge piece; and a screw whose head is exposed
to the exterior surface of the hinge portion and which allows
positional adjustment of the sliding member in such a manner that
the sliding member can move forward/backward in one direction.
Here, the cylindrical member is rotationally displaced by means of
the cam through the pin for adjusting the position of the sliding
member in one direction with the above-mentioned screw, whereby
adaptation to various wrist thicknesses can be performed in a
continuous manner based on such rotational displacement.
[0064] The degree of hinge opening is adjusted in the manner
described above. Now, an illustration will be given of the degree
of hinge opening by way of FIGS. 7A and 7B. FIG. 7A is an enlarged
sectional view of a hinge portion on one side. FIG. 7B is a
sectional view illustrating the entirety of the wrist-mounted
electronic device. The drawings illustrate three mounting states
respectively corresponding to the cases where the device is being
worn on a thin wrist, a middle-thickness wrist, and a thick wrist,
although in actuality such mounting state may be changed
continuously in accordance with the pivoting movement of the
cylindrical member. The angle adjustment may be performed in a
continuous, non-staged fashion, and further the adjustment may be
made at hinges on both sides of the device, thus enabling the angle
adjustment to be performed with a high degree of freedom. As
described above, in accordance with the mounting body of the
wrist-mounted electronic device of this embodiment, the fixing
position of the band can be changed by causing the sliding member
to move forward/backward to thereby adjust the rotation angle of
the cylindrical member. As a result, the band can be maintained at
a position that is most suitable for a given wrist thickness.
[0065] Further, in accordance with the present invention, when
mounting the wrist-mounted electronic device onto the wrist, the
band is fixed in place by means of the locking between a hole
provided in the hinge and the engaging pin, the user may simply
press the holder against his/her wrist without regard to the
fitting position or state. Further, if the device is provided with
two holders, a microphone and a speaker of a portable telephone or
the like may be built in each of the holders. According to such an
arrangement, based on the similarity between the length around a
wrist and the distance between an ear and a mouth, it is possible
to construct a wrist-mounted electronic device that may be used by
both being worn on the wrist and being held against the ear and the
mouth.
[0066] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the hinge
portion between the main body 121 and the holder 122. Provided
between the hinge piece 128 on the main body 121 side and the hinge
piece 124 on the holder 122 side is the cylindrical member 110. As
is apparent from an enlarged sectional view indicated by an arrow
in the drawing, the cylindrical member is formed having a solid
portion at its one end side. In the solid portion, the hole 126
into which the engaging pin 48 is inserted is formed in its radial
direction and a screw hole is formed in its axial direction in the
center of the end portion. The other end side of the cylindrical
member is formed so as to be hollow and long holes 111 serving as
cam grooves are formed on both sides of its side wall in a
symmetrical manner. Fitted in this hollow portion is a sliding
member 112. The sliding member 112 has on its one side a through
hole for inserting therethough the pin 113 engaging with the long
holes 111 and has a rectangular flat cross section on the other
side. A screw hole for threaded engagement with an adjust screw 115
is formed in the axial direction at the center of its end
portion.
[0067] The pin 113 is inserted into the above-mentioned through
hole, and the both ends of the pin engage with the above-mentioned
long holes, thus constituting the cam mechanism. During assembly of
the device, the exterior of the cylindrical member 110 is covered
with a cover 114 to prevent the pin from falling off. The cover 114
has a notch formed in a manner unobstructive to the engaging pin
48. The hinge piece 124 on the holder 122 side consists of a member
situated at the center thereof and members at its both ends. The
member situated at the center has a square hole 124a having a
rectangular cross section in which a flat portion 112a of the
sliding member is fitted. The fitting between the both members may
be of any suitable fitting to allow sliding movement of the sliding
member in the axial direction yet to restrain rotation thereof
about its axis. As such, the cross sectional shape needs not be a
rectangle but may be any shape insofar as it is not circular about
the axis.
[0068] The hinge piece 128 on the main body side consists of two
hinge pieces provided on right and left sides thereof. As for the
assembly of this hinge member, the two hinge pieces are arranged
between the above-mentioned three hinge pieces 124 on the holder
side in a manner of comb teeth. Disposed inside the hinge piece 128
on the left hand side in the drawing is a hinge spring 135 urging
the main body 121 and the holder 122 in the opening direction. This
mechanism is the same as that employed in the conventional device
shown in FIG. 11. Between the hinge piece 128 on the right side and
the center hinge piece 124 on the holder side, the sliding member
112 is fitted and inserted into the above-mentioned cylindrical
member 110 while being covered with the cover 114. At this time,
the respective members are joined such that the flat portion 112a
of the sliding member is fitted in the rectangular square hole 124a
formed in the center hinge piece 124. The adjust screw 115 is
inserted through the axis hole from the left end of the hinge piece
124 and the tip portion of the screw is brought into threaded
engagement with the central screw hole formed in the sliding body
113. Then, a retaining ring 117 is inserted from a space formed
between the hinge pieces and fitted in a circumferential groove
portion which is provided in the base portion of the adjust screw
115 where no thread groove is formed, thereby positioning the
adjust screw 115 in the axial direction of the hinge piece 124 and
preventing it from falling off. A screw 116 is inserted through the
central screw hole from the right end side of the hinge piece 124
to be brought into threaded engagement with the screw hole formed
at the right end of the cylindrical member 110.
[0069] In the state of assembly as described above, rotating the
adjust screw 115 causes the sliding member 112, whose rotation is
restrained yet whose displacement in the axial direction is
permitted, to be displaced forward/backward in the axial direction
in accordance with the amount of rotation. The direction of such
displacement depends on the thread groove and the direction of
rotation. As the sliding member 112 is displaced, the pin 113
embedded therein is also displaced to cause the cylindrical member
110, with which the pin 113 engages through the long holes 111, to
be rotationally displaced due to the cam mechanism. Into the hole
126 formed in the cylindrical member 110 is inserted the engaging
pin 48 through a spring material provided at its tip portion. The
rotation angle of the engaging pin 48 relative to the hinge piece
124 depends on the rotational displacement of this cylindrical
member 110. As the holder 122 is caused to pivot from its open
state shown in FIG. 6A in the direction for strapping it on the
wrist against the spring force of the hinge spring 135, the
engaging pin 48 is caused to slide on the surface of the hinge
piece 128 to eventually reach the position of the hole 130 and then
is inserted into the hole 130 due to the spring force, thus
attaining the state shown in FIG. 6B. The position where the holder
122 is locked depends on the positional relationship between the
hole 130 formed in the hinge piece on the main body side and the
engaging pin 48 inserted into the above-mentioned cylindrical
member 110. In the present invention, the cylindrical member 110 is
provided as a member intervening between the hinge piece 128 on the
main body 121 side and the hinge piece 124 on the holder 122 side,
and the angle it forms relative to these hinge pieces can be
adjusted using the above-mentioned adjust pin, whereby adaptation
to the thickness of the user's wrist can be performed as
appropriate. Moreover, such adjustment can be performed easily from
the outside without the necessity of disassembling device parts or
the like.
[0070] Next, an illustration will be given of another embodiment of
the present invention, in which the adjust screw 115 is inserted
through the center hinge piece 124 on the holder side, the sliding
member 112 is slidingly displaced in a direction orthogonal to the
axial direction, and the cylindrical member 110 is rotationally
displaced by means of the cam mechanism. FIG. 9 is an exploded
perspective view showing the hinge portion between the main body
121 and the holder 122. In the drawing, a member intervening
between the hinge piece 128 on the main body 121 side and the hinge
piece 124 on the holder 122 side is the cylindrical member 110. As
is apparent from an enlarged sectional view indicated by an arrow
in the drawing, the hole 126 for inserting the engaging pin 48
therethrough is formed on one end side of the cylindrical member
110 in the radial direction thereof, and the screw hole is formed
at the center of its end portion in the axial direction. A long
groove 111' serving as a cam groove is formed in the other end side
surface of the cylindrical member 110 in a manner as shown in the
side view on the right hand side of FIG. 10.
[0071] Further, as shown in the side view on the left hand side of
FIG. 10, in a surface of the center hinge piece 124 on the holder
side which is in contact with the cylindrical member 110, there are
formed a long groove 124a having a rectangular cross section and a
through hole which extends from an exterior surface of the hinge
piece to the long groove 124a and into which the adjust screw 115
is inserted. The sliding member 112 having a rectangular cross
section is fitted in this long groove 124a so as to be slidable
along the longitudinal direction thereof. Formed at the center of
the cross section of the sliding member 112 is a though hole having
a thread groove formed along the longitudinal direction thereof,
and the pin 113 to be engaged with the above-mentioned long groove
111' is embedded in one end portion of its side surface. The cross
sectional shapes of the long groove 124a and the sliding member 112
need not to be rectangular but may be any suitable shapes for
allowing sliding movement of the sliding member 112 in the radial
direction.
[0072] This embodiment of the invention is the same as the
preceding embodiment in that: the hinge piece 128 on the main body
side consists of two hinge pieces provided on right and left sides
thereof; as for the assembly of this hinge member, the two hinge
pieces are arranged between the above-mentioned three hinge pieces
124 on the holder side in a manner of comb teeth: and that the
hinge spring 135 is disposed inside the hinge piece 128 on the
right hand side in the drawing, for urging the main body 121 and
the holder 122 in the opening direction. The above-mentioned
sliding member 112 is fitted into the long groove 124a having a
rectangular cross section and the adjust screw 115 is passed
through the long groove 124a from the exterior surface of the hinge
piece 124 so as to bring the tip portion of the screw into threaded
engagement with the central screw hole formed in the sliding body
112. Then, the retaining ring 117 is inserted onto an upper wall
surface of the long groove 124a and fitted in a circumferential
groove portion which is provided in the base portion of the adjust
screw 115 where no thread groove is formed, thereby positioning the
adjust screw 115 in the radial direction of the central hinge piece
124 and preventing it from falling off. In this state, the
cylindrical member 110 is inserted between the hinge piece 128 on
the left side and the center hinge piece 124 on the holder side. At
this time, the respective members are coupled such that the pin 113
of the sliding member 112 is fitted in the long groove 111' of the
above-mentioned cylindrical member 110. The screw 116 is inserted
through the central screw hole from the right end side of the hinge
piece 124 into threaded engagement with the screw hole formed at
the right end of the cylindrical member 110.
[0073] In the state of assembly as described above, rotating the
adjust screw 115 causes the sliding member 112, whose displacement
in the radial direction is allowed, to be displaced
forward/backward in accordance with the amount of rotation. The
displacement and its direction depend on the thread groove and the
direction of rotation. As the sliding member 112 is displaced, the
pin 113 embedded therein is also displaced to cause the cylindrical
member 110, with which the pin 113 engages through the long groove
111', to be rotated and displaced due to the cam mechanism. Into
the hole 126 formed in the cylindrical member 110 is inserted the
engaging pin 48 through a spring material provided at its tip
portion. The rotation angle of the engaging pin 48 relative to the
hinge piece 124 depends on the rotational displacement of this
cylindrical member 110. This embodiment is the same as the
preceding embodiment in that this rotational displacement is
utilized to perform positional adjustment of the holder.
[0074] The mounting mechanism with position adjusting function
which is employed in the wrist-mounted electronic device of the
present invention is designed as a mechanism with the ability to
adjust from the outside the rotation angle, relative to one of the
hinges, of the member having the latch pin embedded therein and
intervening between the hinge piece on the main body side and the
hinge piece on the holder side which together constitute the hinge.
As is obvious from the foregoing examples, a wide variety of
implementation modes may be adopted as specific means for realizing
such a mechanism. In the foregoing embodiments, there is adopted a
mechanism in which the rotation of the adjust screw is converted
into linear displacement and the linear displacement is then
converted into rotational displacement of the cylindrical member by
means of the cam mechanism; however, the present invention is not
limited to this and it is also possible to employ a gear mechanism.
Any suitable mechanism may be adopted insofar as it allows
manipulation from the outside and can cause the cylindrical member
to be rotationally displaced in response to such manipulation.
[0075] In accordance with the wearable electronic device of the
present invention, when a rigid band is in an opening position and
when a user performs, while holding the rigid band with one of
his/her hands (for example, the left hand), an operation such as
depressing or the like with the other hand (for example, the right
hand) with respect to an input operation portion such as a push
button or a key switch provided in the rigid band, even if
vibration or impact attendant on the input operation is exerted on
the rigid band, the locking mechanism serves to prevent the
electronic device main body from making swinging movement relative
to the rigid band due to the vibration or impact. As a result,
there is a reduced fear that the display portion of the electronic
device main body will make irregular swinging movements upon
performing, for example, an input operation, whereby the display of
the electronic device is kept easy to view at all times.
[0076] The mounting mechanism with position adjusting function
which is employed in the wrist-mounted electronic device according
to the present invention includes: the cylindrical member having
the engaging pin inserted therethrough and intervening between the
hinge piece on the main body side and the hinge piece on the holder
side which together constitute the hinge: and the mechanism for
adjusting from the outside the rotation angle of the cylindrical
member relative to one of the hinge pieces. The engaging pin has
its angle adjusted by the above-mentioned adjustment mechanism
while being fitted and locked onto the fitting hole formed in the
other hinge piece, thereby allowing adaptation to various wrist
thicknesses. Therefore, such adjustment can be performed in a
non-staged, continuous fashion, thus allowing an optimum adjustment
at all times irrespective of the thickness of the user's wrist.
Moreover, such adjustment can be easily performed without the
trouble of disassembling the device parts.
[0077] As the mechanism for allowing the rotation angle of the
cylindrical member to be adjusted from the outside, there may be
employed a mechanism constituted by: the cam groove formed in the
cylindrical member; the sliding member having embedded therein the
pin engaging with the cam groove, the sliding member being held so
as to be slidable in the axial direction with respect to one hinge
piece yet to be incapable of rotating movement; and the screw whose
head is exposed through an end portion of the hinge and which
serves to adjust the sliding member in position such that it can
move forward/backward in the axial direction, or a mechanism
constituted by: the cam groove formed in the cylindrical member;
the sliding member having embedded therein the pin engaging with
the cam groove, which is held so as to be capable of sliding
movement in the radial direction with respect to the one hinge
piece; and the screw whose head is exposed to the exterior surface
of the above-mentioned hinge piece and which serves to adjust the
sliding member in position such that the sliding member can move
forward/backward in the radial direction. Each of these mechanisms
has a simplified structure as an adjusting mechanism and the
adjustment can be performed in a non-staged, continuous fashion by
simple manipulation such as pivoting the adjust screw, thereby
allowing an optimum adjustment at all times irrespective of the
thickness of the user's wrist.
* * * * *