U.S. patent application number 12/397174 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for slider assembly having grooved rail.
This patent application is currently assigned to HITECH PARTS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to JANG-WOO LEE.
Application Number | 20090168339 12/397174 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35784674 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090168339 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; JANG-WOO |
July 2, 2009 |
SLIDER ASSEMBLY HAVING GROOVED RAIL
Abstract
Disclosed is a sliding mechanism for a handheld electronic
device. The mechanism includes a first slider in a single piece
metallic body, two elongated plastic rails, and a second slider.
The single piece metallic body includes two opposite side portions
that are bent toward each other and define two elongated spaces,
each of which is partially surrounded by each bent side portion.
Each elongated plastic rail includes a groove on a surface of the
elongated plastic rail and is fitted into each elongated space such
that the groove of one elongated plastic rail opposes the groove of
the other elongated plastic rail. The second slider includes two
edges slidably engaged with the grooves such that the second slider
is slidable relative to the first slider.
Inventors: |
LEE; JANG-WOO; (SUWON-SI,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
HITECH PARTS CO., LTD.
ANYANG-SI
KR
|
Family ID: |
35784674 |
Appl. No.: |
12/397174 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11650641 |
Jan 8, 2007 |
|
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|
12397174 |
|
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|
PCT/KR2005/002046 |
Jun 29, 2005 |
|
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11650641 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.56 ;
455/575.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/0237
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/679.56 ;
455/575.4 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16; H04M 1/00 20060101 H04M001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 8, 2004 |
KR |
20-2005-0006264 |
Jul 8, 2004 |
KR |
20-2004-0019437 |
Dec 2, 2004 |
KR |
20-2004-0034247 |
Mar 18, 2005 |
KR |
20-2005-007326 |
Mar 23, 2005 |
KR |
20-2005-0007928 |
Claims
1. A sliding mechanism for a handheld electronic device, the
mechanism comprising: a first slider in a single piece metallic
body comprising two opposite side portions that are bent toward
each other and define two elongated spaces, each of which is
partially surrounded by each bent side portion; two elongated
plastic rails, each of which comprises a groove on a surface of the
elongated plastic rail and is fitted into each elongated space such
that the groove of one elongated plastic rail opposes the groove of
the other elongated plastic rail; and a second slider comprising
two edges slidably engaged with the grooves such that the second
slider is slidable relative to the first slider.
2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each elongated space extends
substantially parallel to each other.
3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein bending of the two opposite
side portions are substantially parallel to each other.
4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each elongated plastic rail is
made of polyoxymethylene.
5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each elongated plastic rail
comprises a portion fitted into its corresponding elongated space
and another portion protruding outside the corresponding elongated
space.
6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the metallic body of the first
slider has a hole in each side portion, and wherein each rail
comprises a portion fitted into the hole.
7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein each elongated plastic rail is
fitted into the corresponding elongated space so as to not move
relative to the metallic body.
8. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an impact absorber
at one end of each elongated plastic rail.
9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein the impact absorber comprises
a portion fitted into one of the elongated spaces and another
portion protruding outside said elongated space.
10. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein the impact absorber comprises
a groove aligned with the groove of its corresponding elongated
plastic rail.
11. The mechanism of claim 10, wherein the groove of the impact
absorber extends the groove of its corresponding elongated plastic
rail.
12. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein the impact absorber is made
of an elastomer.
13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second slider is a single
piece metallic body.
14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the single piece metallic
body of the second slider comprises two flange portions and a
stepped center portion interposed between the flange portions,
wherein the two edges are formed on the flange portions.
15. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a spring
interconnecting and exerting force between the first and second
sliders.
16. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a link assembly
linking between the first and second sliders, the link assembly
comprising: a first link member comprising a first pivot end and a
first opposing end, the first link member being pivotally connected
to the first slider at or near the first pivot end, a second link
member comprising a second pivot end and a second opposing end, the
second link member being pivotally connected to the second slider
at or near the second pivot end, wherein the first and second link
members are engaged with each other such that the first opposing
end is slidable between the second pivot end and the second
opposing end, and a spring interconnecting the first and second
link members and configured to apply resilient force between the
first and second link members.
17. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a
portable electronic device selected from the group consisting of a
wireless internet device, a mobile phone, a wireless email
receiver, a radio receiver, a television receiver, a calculator, an
electronic dictionary or encyclopedia, a PDA and a hand-held
computer.
18. A handheld electronic device comprising: a first panel; a
second panel; and the sliding mechanism of claim 1, wherein the
first slider is secured to the first panel and the second slider is
secured to the second panel such that the first and second panels
are slidable relative to each other.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a portable
electronic device selected from the group consisting of a wireless
internet device, a mobile phone, a wireless email receiver, a radio
receiver, a television receiver, a calculator, an electronic
dictionary or encyclopedia, a PDA and a hand-held computer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/650,641, filed Jan. 8, 2007, now pending,
which is a continuation application under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 365(c)
of International Application No. PCT/KR2005/002046, filed Jun. 29,
2005 designating the United States. International Application No.
PCT/KR2005/002046 was published in English as WO2006/006776 A1 on
Jan. 19, 2006. This application further claims the benefit of the
earlier filing dates under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 365(b) of Korean
Utility Model Application Nos. 20-2004-0019437 filed Jul. 8, 2004,
20-2004-0034247 filed Dec. 2, 2004, 20-2005-0006264 filed Mar. 8,
2004, 20-2005-0007326 filed Mar. 18, 2005 and 20-2005-0007928 filed
Mar. 23, 2005. This application incorporates herein by reference
the U.S. application Ser. No. 11/650,641, the International
Application No. PCT/KR2005/002046 including the International
Publication No. WO2006/006776 A1 and the Korean Utility Model
Application Nos. 20-2004-0019437, 20-2004-0034247, 20-2005-0006264,
20-2005-0007326 and 20-2005-0007928 in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a slider assembly, and
more particularly, to a slider assembly for use in a handheld
electronic device such as a cellular phone.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Related Technology
[0005] As shown in FIG. 25, a sliding-type cellular phone comprises
a main body 1 on which a plurality of keys 3 are installed and a
cover 2 installed slidably over a surface of the main body 1 on
which the keys 3 are installed. A liquid crystal display 4 is
installed on a front surface of the cover 2. In the sliding-type
cellular phone as described above, a slider assembly 100 shown in
FIG. 25 or 26 is installed between the main body 1 and the cover 2
to allow the cover 2 to be slid with respect to the main body
1.
[0006] The slider assembly shown in FIG. 25 comprises a fixing
plate 110 fixed to the main body 1; a sliding plate 170 fixed to a
surface of the cover facing the main body; and an up/down
positioning means 140 which includes one end hinged to the fixing
plate 110 and the other end hinged to the sliding plate 120 to
impart an elastic force to the cover 2 in a direction in which the
cover is closed or opened with respect to a certain sliding point.
The up/down positioning means includes a cylinder 141 in which a
compression spring is received and a rod 142 which is installed to
be movably received in the cylinder 141 while pushing the
compression spring. As shown in the figure, an end of the cylinder
141 is hinged to the fixing plate 110, and an opposite end of the
rod 142 is hinged to the sliding plate 120.
[0007] Another type of exemplary slider assembly 100 is illustrated
in FIG. 26. The slider assembly 100 shown in FIG. 26 includes a
fixing plate 110 fixed to the main body 1; a sliding plate 120
fixed to a surface of the cover facing the main body; and a pair of
torsion springs 130 each having an end hinged to the fixing plate
110 and the other end hinged to the sliding plate. In the slider
assembly shown in FIG. 26, the pair of torsion springs 130 are
equivalent to the up/down positioning means.
[0008] The exemplary slider assembly as described above does not
include a function of restricting a sliding length of the sliding
plate 120. Accordingly, in order to adjust the upward/downward
sliding stroke of the sliding plate 120, a stopper (not shown) for
restricting the movement of the sliding plate is installed at the
main body or cover of the cellular phone. Further, as shown in FIG.
25, separate dampers 150 for absorbing the shock may be installed
at both ends of the sliding plate that collides against the stopper
when the cover of the cellular phone is slid. Therefore, a process
for manufacturing the cellular phone is complicated, and thus, the
production costs are increased. Meanwhile, the slider assembly of
FIG. 25 is superior to the slider assembly of FIG. 26 using the
torsion springs in view of their durability, but the former is more
complicated and expensive than the latter because the spring and
rod 142 is received and assembled in the cylinder 141 and the ends
of the cylinder and rod is hingedly coupled to the fixing plate and
the sliding plate, respectively.
[0009] The slider assembly of in FIG. 26 employs the torsion spring
130 as the up/down positioning means, and thus, the slide assembly
can be manufactured through a simple process and at a low cost.
However, since it is difficult to manufacture the torsion spring
with constant elasticity, every cellular phone cannot have a
constant urging force required for sliding the cover. Accordingly,
there is a problem that the cellular phones with the uniform urging
force required for sliding the cover cannot be manufactured.
Further, if the torsion spring 130 is repeatedly used for a long
time, excessive deformation is generated at a portion that connects
linear and curved portions of the torsion spring 130, and thus, the
connecting portion is broken due to fatigue. Consequently, there is
another problem in that a durability of the torsion spring is not
good.
[0010] The discussion in this section is to provide general
background information, and does not constitute an admission of
prior art.
SUMMARY
[0011] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a slider
assembly which can restrict a sliding length of a sliding plate by
means of an up/down positioning means thereof without need to
install additional stoppers on a main body or cover of a cellular
phone.
[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
slider assembly which uses a tension spring, as an elastic means
for maintaining an up/down state of a sliding plate, instead of a
torsion spring to improve its durability.
[0013] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a
slider assembly in which a guide bush with a low coefficient of
friction is installed in a guide groove of a sliding plate to
prevent the guide groove of the sliding plate and a guide section
of a fixing plate from being brought into direct contact with each
other, whereby the durability can be improved and sliding noise can
be reduced.
[0014] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly including a spring engaging section that
is deformed to prevent an up/down positioning means from
interfering with a flexible printed circuit board when the up/down
positioning means is operated.
[0015] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly including a fixing plate and a sliding
plate which are manufactured through the press working to save the
production costs such that there is no need for additional
machining processes for the next assembly.
[0016] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly in which a sliding plate is arranged such
that an amount of deformation of a spring is minimized when the
sliding plate is slid up and down, whereby the expected life span
of the spring can be prolonged.
[0017] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly of which respective plates are made from
stainless steel such that the slider assembly cannot be easily
damaged from shock.
[0018] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly in which a guide bush with a low
coefficient of friction is installed to a guide section of a fixing
plate to prevent the guide section of the fixing plate and a wing
section of a sliding plate from being brought into direct contact
with each other, whereby the durability can be improved and noise
can be reduced when the sliding plate is slid.
[0019] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly in which a shock-absorbing member made of
a soft material is installed at both ends of a guide bush installed
at a fixing groove of a fixing plate such that the guide bush can
be prevented from being damaged due to shock generated when a cover
of the cellular phone is opened or closed or when the cellular
phone is dropped.
[0020] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly in which noise cannot be generated by
installing a shock-absorbing member to further protrude from both
ends of a fixing plate such that a cover of the cellular phone with
a sliding plate installed thereon is brought into contact with the
shock-absorbing member rather than the fixing plate even though the
cover of the cellular phone is frequently slid.
[0021] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly in which a cover of a cellular phone can
be firmly kept at its up or down state by installing a plurality of
permanent magnets at predetermined positions on both ends of the
fixing plate and sliding plate such that a certain repulsive or
attractive force can be exerted thereto even though an elastic
restoring force of a spring becomes weak due to repeated use for a
long time.
[0022] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a slider assembly in which a sliding plate can be slid
smoothly and continuously even in a dead zone by further installing
permanent magnets at one end of the sliding plate such that a
repulsive or attractive force can be generated between the magnets
installed on the fixing and sliding plates.
[0023] A still further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a sliding-type cellular phone comprising the slider
assembly so configured.
[0024] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a slider assembly for a sliding type cellular phone, which
comprises a fixing plate formed with a guide section for guiding a
linear motion of a sliding plate and fixed to an surface of a main
body of the sliding-type cellular phone, a sliding plate guided
linearly by the guide section of the fixing plate and fixed to an
opposite surface of a cover of the cellular phone, and an up/down
positioning means having one end hinged to the fixing plate and the
other end hinged to the sliding plate to change a direction of an
urging force for pushing the sliding plate from a specific sliding
location of the sliding plate, wherein the guide section of the
fixing plate includes a pair of opposite and parallel fixing
grooves, each formed by bending twice a side portion of the fixing
plate, and a pair of guide bushes fitted and installed in the
fixing grooves, respectively, each guide bush having a guide groove
for receiving a side of the sliding plate and guiding a sliding
motion of the sliding plate, and the sliding plate includes a pair
of wing sections formed by bending both sides thereof, each wing
section is inserted in the guide groove of the corresponding guide
bush to be linearly slid along the guide groove.
[0025] The slider assembly may further comprise dampers made of a
material softer than the guide bush and installed at both
longitudinal ends of the guide bush to protrude from a longitudinal
end of the fixing plate for absorbing shock generated due to
collision against the sliding plate fixed to the cover of the
cellular phone.
[0026] Preferably, a plurality of through holes are formed on a
bent side of each fixing groove of the guide section, and
protrusions are formed on surfaces of the guide bush and damper
facing the fixing groove of the guide section are inserted and
fixed in the through holes. Preferably, the guide bushes are made
of polyoxymethylene (POM) and the dampers are made of urethane
rubber.
[0027] The slider assembly may further comprise a pair of first
permanent magnets installed at both ends of the fixing plate,
respectively, to face the sliding plate; and a pair of second
permanent magnets fixedly installed at positions on the sliding
plate where the sliding plate can be urged outward at an up or down
position of the sliding plate due to repulsive or attractive forces
generated between the second permanent magnets and the first
permanent magnets installed at both ends of the fixing plate.
[0028] The slider assembly may further comprise third permanent
magnets fixedly installed at positions on the sliding plate, near a
position where a direction of the urging force of the up/down
positioning means is changed while the sliding plate is moved, such
that repulsive or attractive forces are generated between the third
permanent magnets and any one pair of the first permanent magnets
of the fixing plate.
[0029] Preferably, the up/down positioning means is a spring
including one end pivotally fixed to the fixing plate and the other
end pivotally fixed to the sliding plate. Alternatively, the
up/down positioning means includes a first link slider having an
end slidably fixed to the fixing plate, a second link slider having
an end fixed to the sliding plate and restricted with respect to
the first link slider to be slid in a longitudinal direction of the
first link slider, a tension spring having both ends fixed to
opposite ends of the first and second link sliders, and a
restriction means for restricting a sliding length of the sliding
plate while guiding a sliding motion of the first and second link
sliders.
[0030] The slider assembly may further comprise a pair of first
permanent magnets installed at both ends of the fixing plate,
respectively, to face the sliding plate; and a pair of second
permanent magnets fixedly installed at positions on the cover of
the cellular phone such that the sliding plate is kept stationary
at an up or down position due to an attractive force generated
between the first and second permanent magnets.
[0031] The slider assembly may further comprise third permanent
magnets fixedly installed at positions on the sliding plate, near a
position where a direction of the urging force of the up/down
positioning means is changed while the sliding plate is moved, such
that repulsive or attractive forces are generated between the third
permanent magnets and any one pair of the first permanent magnets
of the fixing plate.
[0032] Preferably, the up/down positioning means is a spring
including one end pivotally fixed to the fixing plate and the other
end pivotally fixed to the sliding plate. Alternatively, the
up/down positioning means includes a first link slider having an
end slidably fixed to the fixing plate, a second link slider having
an end fixed to the sliding plate and restricted with respect to
the first link slider to be slid in a longitudinal direction of the
first link slider, a tension spring having both ends fixed to
opposite ends of the first and second link sliders, and a
restriction means for restricting a sliding length of the sliding
plate while guiding a sliding motion of the first and second link
sliders.
[0033] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a slider assembly for a sliding type cellular phone
including a fixing plate formed with a guide section for guiding a
linear motion of a sliding plate and fixed to an surface of a main
body of the sliding-type cellular phone, a sliding plate guided
linearly by the guide section of the fixing plate and fixed to an
opposite surface of a cover of the cellular phone, and an up/down
positioning means having one end hinged to the fixing plate and the
other end hinged to the sliding plate to change a direction of an
urging force for pushing the sliding plate from a specific sliding
location of the sliding plate, wherein the up/down positioning
means includes a first link slider having one end slidably fixed to
the fixing plate, a second link slider having one end fixed to the
sliding plate and restricted with respect to the first link slider
to be slid in a longitudinal direction of the first link slider, a
tension spring having both ends fixed to opposite ends of the first
and second link sliders, and a restriction means for restricting a
sliding length of the sliding plate while guiding a sliding motion
of the first and second link sliders.
[0034] Preferably, the restriction means comprises a guide slot
with a predetermined length formed in one of the first and second
link sliders in a longitudinal direction of the link slider, and a
guide protrusion fixed to the other link slider and received in the
guide slot to guiding a sliding motion of the other link
slider.
[0035] Preferably, the first and second link sliders have the same
plate shape, the guide slot is formed through each link slider, the
guide protrusion is a pin fixed to each link slider, and the pin
has a head with a diameter greater than a width of the guide slot.
Alternatively, the first and second link sliders have the same
plate shape, the guide slot is formed through each link slider, the
guide protrusion is a protrusion formed by partially cutting a
portion of each link slider and bending the partially cut portion
toward the corresponding guide slot, and the pin has a head with a
diameter greater than a width of the guide slot.
[0036] Preferably, each of the link sliders has spring engaging
sections formed at the other end thereof and protruding from both
sides thereof perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the link
slider, and a pair of springs are installed between the
corresponding spring engaging sections of the first and second link
sliders.
[0037] The slider assembly may further comprises a pair of first
permanent magnets installed at both ends of the fixing plate,
respectively, to face the sliding plate; and a pair of second
permanent magnets fixedly installed at positions on the sliding
plate where the sliding plate can be urged outward at an up or down
position of the sliding plate due to repulsive or attractive forces
generated between the second permanent magnets and the first
permanent magnets installed at both ends of the fixing plate.
[0038] The slider assembly may further comprise third permanent
magnets fixedly installed at positions on the sliding plate, near a
position where a direction of the urging force of the up/down
positioning means is changed while the sliding plate is moved, such
that repulsive or attractive forces are generated between the third
permanent magnets and any one pair of the first permanent magnets
of the fixing plate.
[0039] The slider assembly may further comprise a pair of first
permanent magnets installed at both ends of the fixing plate,
respectively, to face the sliding plate; and a pair of second
permanent magnets fixedly installed at positions on the cover of
the cellular phone such that the sliding plate is kept stationary
at an up or down position due to an attractive force generated
between the first and second permanent magnets.
[0040] The slider assembly may further comprise third permanent
magnets fixedly installed at positions on the sliding plate, near a
position where a direction of the urging force of the up/down
positioning means is changed while the sliding plate is moved, such
that repulsive or attractive forces are generated between the third
permanent magnets and any one pair of the first permanent magnets
of the fixing plate.
[0041] Preferably, the guide section of the fixing plate includes a
pair of opposite and parallel fixing grooves, each formed by
bending twice a side portion of the fixing plate, and a pair of
guide bushes fitted and installed in the fixing grooves,
respectively, each guide bush having a guide groove for receiving a
side of the sliding plate and guiding a sliding motion of the
sliding plate; and the sliding plate includes a pair of wing
sections formed by bending both sides thereof, each wing section is
inserted in the guide groove of the corresponding guide bush to be
linearly slid along the guide groove.
[0042] The slider assembly may further comprise dampers made of a
material softer than the guide bush and installed at both
longitudinal ends of the guide bush to protrude from a longitudinal
end of the fixing plate for absorbing shock generated due to
collision against the sliding plate fixed to the cover of the
cellular phone, wherein a plurality of through holes are formed on
a bent side of each fixing groove of the guide section, and
protrusions are formed on surfaces of the guide bush and damper
facing the fixing groove of the guide section are inserted and
fixed in the through holes. Preferably, the guide bushes are made
of polyoxymethylene (POM) and the damper is made of urethane
rubber.
[0043] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a sliding-type cellular phone which comprises a
main body with a plurality of keys provided on a surface thereof, a
cover slidably installed over the surface of the main body and
having a crystal liquid display installed on a front surface
thereof, and the foregoing slider assembly, the slider assembly
fixedly installed between the main body and the cover, wherein the
fixing plate of the slider assembly is fixedly installed at the
main body, and the sliding plate of the slider assembly is
installed at the cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cellular phone including a
slider assembly for a sliding-type cellular phone according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a slider assembly for the
sliding-type cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning means
of the slider assembly according the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0047] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the up/down
positioning means shown in FIG. 3.
[0048] FIG. 5 (a) to (c) are views illustrating the operating state
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning means
of a slider assembly according a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a slider assembly for a
sliding-type cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0051] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
7.
[0052] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning means
of a slider assembly according a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0053] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the up/down
positioning means shown in FIG. 9.
[0054] FIG. 11 (a) to (c) are views illustrating the operation
state of the slider assembly according to the third embodiment of
the present invention shown in FIG. 7.
[0055] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning
means of a slider assembly according a fifth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0056] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a coupled state of a hinge
section of the up/down positioning means of the slider assembly
according to the third to fifth embodiments of the present
invention.
[0057] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a slider assembly
for a sliding-type cellular phone according to a sixth embodiment
of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 15 is a view showing a state where the slider assembly
of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 14 has been assembled.
[0059] FIG. 16 is a plan view of a slider assembly for a
sliding-type cellular phone according to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a fixing plate of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 16.
[0061] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a sliding plate of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 16.
[0062] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a slider assembly
for a sliding-type cellular phone according to an eighth embodiment
of the present invention.
[0063] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a fixing plate in
a slider assembly for a sliding-type cellular phone according to a
ninth embodiment of the present invention.
[0064] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sliding plate in the
slider assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone according to
the ninth embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] FIG. 22 is a sectional view of an up/down positioning means
according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, in
which FIG. 22 (a) is a sectional view showing a state before the
sliding plate is pushed in one direction, FIG. 22 (b) is a section
view showing a state when a repulsive force between a third
permanent magnet of the sliding plate and a first permanent magnet
of the fixing plate is generated, and FIG. 22 (c) is a sectional
view showing a state after the sliding plate has been pushed in one
direction.
[0066] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a slider assembly
for a sliding-type cellular phone according to a tenth embodiment
of the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the sliding-type cellular phone
with the slider assembly according to the ninth and tenth
embodiments of the present invention installed therein.
[0068] FIG. 25 is a schematic view of an exemplary slider
assembly.
[0069] FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an exemplary slider
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0070] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0071] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cellular phone including a
slider assembly for a sliding-type cellular phone according to an
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a
slider assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone according to a
first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective
view of an up/down positioning means of the slider assembly
according the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is
an exploded perspective view of the up/down positioning means shown
in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 (a) to (c) are views illustrating the
operating state of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
[0072] The sliding-type cellular phone of FIG. 1 comprises a main
body 1 on which a plurality of keys 3 are installed, and a cover 2
installed slidably over a surface of the main body 1 on which the
keys 3 are installed. A liquid crystal display 4 is installed on a
front surface of the cover 2. In the sliding-type cellular phone as
described above, a slider assembly 100 is installed between the
main body 1 and the cover 2. In such a case, a fixing plate 10 is
installed on the main body 1 and a sliding plate 20 is installed
slidably on the cover 2.
[0073] The slider assembly of the sliding-type cellular phone
according to this embodiment comprises a fixing plate 10 fixed to
the main body of the cellular phone, a sliding plate 20 fixed to
the cover, and an up/down positioning means 30 including one end
hinged to the fixing plate 10 and the other end hinged to the
sliding plate 20 to change a direction of a force for pushing the
sliding plate 20 from a specific sliding location of the sliding
plate 20. Guide grooves 171 and guide bars 112 for guiding the
sliding movement are formed at both sides of the fixing plate 10
and sliding plate 20, as shown in FIG. 26.
[0074] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the up/down positioning means 30
comprises a pair of link sliders 31 with the same shape that can be
restricted and slid with respect to each other, a pair of tension
springs 32 fixed respectively to opposite ends of the link sliders,
and guide protrusions 313 fixed to the link sliders 31,
respectively, each of which is received in a guide slot 312 formed
on each link slider to restrict and guide the link sliders. In this
embodiment, a guide pin formed with a head 313a and a neck 313b is
used as the guide protrusion 313.
[0075] Each of the link sliders 31 is formed with a hinge section
311 which has a through hole formed therein and is hinged to the
fixing or sliding plate 10 or 20 by fitting a pin into the through
hole, the guide slot 312 spaced apart from the hinge section 311
and formed in a longitudinal direction at a certain length, and a
pair of spring engaging sections 314 formed at the other end
thereof opposite to the hinge section to protrude laterally outward
from the other end. The hinge sections 311 are bent at two steps to
be easily fixed to the fixing plate 10 and the sliding plate 20 and
to allow the tension springs 32 to be installed in a space defined
between the two hinge sections.
[0076] In this embodiment, the guide slot 312 is composed of a
guide pin-receiving portion 312a and a sliding guide portion 312b.
The guide pin-receiving portion 312a of the guide slot 312 is
formed adjacent to the hinge section 311 to have a width greater
than a diameter of the head 313a of the guide pin 313 such that the
guide pin 313 can be easily installed to or removed from the
up/down positioning means.
[0077] Further, the sliding guide portion 312b has an appropriate
length to restrict a sliding length of the cover of the cellular
phone. That is, since the movement of the guide pin 313 is
restricted at an end of the sliding guide portion 312b opposite to
the hinge section 311, the sliding length of the sliding plate 20
is restricted. Accordingly, there is no need to install an
additional stopper on the main body of the cellular phone for
restricting the sliding motion of the sliding plate 20. Further,
the sliding length of the sliding plate 20 can be adjusted by
changing a position where the guide pin 313 is fixed.
[0078] In a pair of the link sliders 31 arranged to face each
other, the guide pin 313 of the link slider 31 is received in the
guide slot 312 of the corresponding link slider 31 to restrict and
guide the sliding motion of each link slider 31 in only a
longitudinal direction. Further, the guide pin 313 is composed of
the head 313a and the neck 313b calked and fixed to the link slider
31. In such a case, a diameter of the head 313a is greater than a
width of the sliding guide portion 312b of the guide slot 312 to
prevent the assembled up/down positioning means from being
disassembled.
[0079] Each of the pair of spring engaging sections 314 is formed
with a hook recess 314a at a side facing away from the hinge
section 311 such that a hook formed at an end of the tension spring
32 can be hooked into the hook recess. Further, as described in an
embodiment shown in FIG. 6, through holes 314b can be formed on the
spring engaging sections 314 to prevent the tension springs 32 from
being separated from the spring engaging sections.
[0080] As compared with an up/down positioning means using a
torsion spring, the up/down positioning means 30 according to an
embodiment of the present invention has improved durability since
it uses the tension springs. Further, it is possible to manufacture
a cellular phone in which a constant urging force for sliding the
slider assembly is required. Furthermore, since the pair of the
tension springs 32 are fixed symmetrically to the spring engaging
sections 314 of the linker sliders 31, the stable sliding motion of
the link sliders 31 can be obtained. Since the tension spring 32 is
fixed to the end of the link slider 31 to always impart an elastic
force to the link slider 31 in a direction in which the entire
length of the combined link sliders is increased, the sliding plate
20 can be always kept in a state where it is moved upward or
downward (up/down) with respect to the fixing plate 10.
[0081] Hereinafter, the operation of the slider assembly according
to this embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIG. 5 (a) to (c).
[0082] FIG. 5 (a) shows a state where the two link sliders 31 are
slid at a maximum distance from each other by a tension of the
tension springs such that the entire length of the combined link
sliders 31 is increased to the utmost. That is, the guide pin is
brought into contact with an end of the guide slot away from the
hinge section, and thus, the sliding motion of the slider link is
restricted. The hinge section 311 of the first link slider of the
up/down positioning means 30 is hinged to a middle portion of the
fixing plate 10 by means of a pin, and the hinge section 311 of the
second link slider is hinged to a middle portion of the sliding
plate 20 by means of a pin. If a user pushes the sliding plate 20
leftward as viewed in the figure, the sliding plate 20 is slid and
the tension springs 32 of the up/down positioning means are
stretched while the respective link sliders 31 are pivoted on the
pins, as shown in FIG. 5 (b). A pair of link sliders 31 that are
restricted and combined with each other are slid toward the hinge
sections of the corresponding link sliders, respectively, so that a
change in the entire length of the combined link sliders due to the
sliding motion of the sliding plate 20 can be absorbed. In a state
shown in FIG. 5 (b), the tension of the tension spring 32 is
maximized and the entire length of the link sliders 31 is
minimized. Since the tension springs 32 are stretched until they
are in such a state as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a user continuously
apply a certain force to move the sliding plate 20. However, if the
sliding plate 20 is slightly further moved leftward from the state
shown in FIG. 5 (b), the sliding plate 20 is automatically moved
leftward due to elastic energy stored in the tension spring 32.
That is, while the pair of tension springs 32 are compressed, each
of the tension springs pulls the link slider 31 fixed to the ends
thereof to be closer to each other. Thus, the link slider 31 fixed
to the sliding plate 20 pushes the sliding plate 20 which in turn
is moved to such a state as shown in FIG. 5 (c). The sliding motion
of the sliding plate from the state shown in FIG. 5 (c) to the
state shown in FIG. 5 (a) is repeated in the same manner as to be
described above. At this time, since the neck 313b of the guide pin
313 is brought into contact with the end of the sliding guide
portion 312b to restrict the movement of the sliding plate 20,
there is no need to provide an additional stopper in the main body
of the cellular phone for restricting the sliding motion of the
sliding plate 20.
[0083] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning means
of a slider assembly according a second embodiment of the present
invention. The up/down positioning means of FIG. 6 is different
from that of FIG. 4 in that the guide pin 313 is replaced with a
guide protrusion 313 formed by partially cutting a certain portion
of a guide slider 31 corresponding to a guide slot 312 adjacent to
a hinge section 311 of another link slider 31 and then bending the
partially cut portion toward a guide slot 312. Further, a width of
a head of the guide protrusion 313 so formed is greater than a
width of the guide slot to prevent a pair of assembled link sliders
from being separated from each other.
[0084] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a slider assembly for the
sliding-type cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the
present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A
in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning
means of a slider assembly according a fourth embodiment of the
present invention, FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the
up/down positioning means shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 (a) to (c) are
views illustrating an operation state of the slider assembly
according to the third embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIG. 7, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning
means of a slider assembly according a fifth embodiment of the
present invention, and FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a coupled
state of a hinge section of the up/down positioning means of the
slider assembly according to the third to fifth embodiments of the
present invention.
[0085] The slider assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone
according to the third embodiment of the present invention
comprises a fixing plate 10 fixed to the main body of the cellular
phone, a sliding plate 20 fixed to a cover, and an up/down
positioning means 30 including one end hinged to the fixing plate
10 and the other end hinged to the sliding plate 20 to change a
direction of a force for pushing the sliding plate 20 from a
specific sliding location of the sliding plate 20. In order to
prevent opposite sliding sides of the fixing plate 10 and sliding
plate 20 from wearing out due to friction therebetween, guide
bushes 122 are fitted into guide grooves 121 of the sliding plate
20, respectively.
[0086] Each of the guide bushes 122 is composed of a groove 122a in
which a guide section 111 of the fixing plate 10, a fixing
protrusion 122b formed on one side thereof to be spaced apart by a
certain interval, and an attaching surface 122c fitted into the
guide groove 121 of the sliding plate 20. Further, the guide bushes
prevent the guide grooves 121 of the sliding plate 20, which are
repeatedly slid, from wearing out and can be used for a long time
without frequent exchange. In addition, the guide bushes may be
made of a wear resistant material with a low dynamic coefficient of
friction, and preferably, from polyoxymethylene (POM) that has been
generally used.
[0087] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the up/down positioning means
30 comprises a pair of link sliders 31 with the same shape that can
be restricted and slid with respect to each other, a pair of
tension springs 32 fixed respectively to ends of the link sliders
31, and guide protrusions 313 fixed to the link sliders 31,
respectively, each of which is received in a guide slot 312 formed
on each link slider 31 to restrict and guide the link sliders. In
this embodiment, a guide pin formed with a head 313a and a neck
313b is used as the guide protrusion 313.
[0088] Each of the link sliders 31 comprises a hinge section 311
having a through hole 311a and hinged to the fixing or sliding
plate 10 or 20 by fitting a pin P into the through hole, the guide
slot 312 spaced apart from the hinge section 311 and formed in a
longitudinal direction at a certain length, and a pair of spring
engaging sections 314 formed at the other end thereof opposite to
the hinge section 311 to protrude laterally outward from the other
end. The hinge sections 311 are bent at two steps to be easily
fixed to the fixing plate 10 and the sliding plate 20 and to allow
the tension springs 32 to be installed in a space defined between
the two hinge sections.
[0089] In the fourth embodiment, the guide slot 312 is composed of
a guide pin-receiving portion 312a and a sliding guide portion
312b. The guide pin-receiving portion 312a of the guide slot 312 is
formed adjacent to the hinge section 311 to have a width greater
than a diameter of the head 313a of the guide pin 313 such that the
guide pin 313 can be easily installed to or removed from the
up/down positioning means.
[0090] In a pair of the link sliders 31 arranged to face each
other, the guide pin 313 of the link slider 31 is received in the
guide slot 312 of the corresponding link slider 31 to restrict and
guide the sliding motion of each link slider 31 in only a
longitudinal direction. Further, the guide pin 313 is composed of
the head 313a and the neck 313b calked and fixed to the link slider
31. In such a case, a diameter of the head 313a is greater than a
width of the sliding guide portion 312b of the guide slot 312 to
prevent the assembled up/down positioning means from being
disassembled.
[0091] Each of the pair of spring engaging sections 314 is formed
with a hook recess 314a bent at a predetermined angle such that a
hook formed at an end of the tension spring 32 can be caught into
the hook recess. Further, a fixing protrusion 314b is formed at an
end of the hook recess 314a so as to prevent the hook from being
removed from the recess. In addition, as described in an embodiment
shown in FIG. 12, through holes 314c can be formed on the spring
engaging sections to prevent the tension springs 32 from being
separated from the spring engaging sections
[0092] The reason that the hook recess 314a is bent at the
predetermined angle is that a flexible printed circuit board (PCB)
installed on one surface of the fixing plate 10 can be operated
without any interference with the up/down positioning means in
order to prevent the malfunction of the cellular phone.
[0093] As compared with an up/down positioning means using a
torsion spring, the up/down positioning means 30 of this embodiment
has improved durability since it uses the tension springs. Further,
it is possible to manufacture a cellular phone in which a constant
urging force for sliding the slider assembly is required.
Furthermore, since the pair of the tension springs 32 are fixed
symmetrically to the spring engaging sections 314 of the linker
sliders 31, the stable sliding motion of the link sliders 31 can be
obtained. Since the tension spring 32 is fixed to the end of the
link slider 31 to always impart an elastic force to the link slider
31 in a direction in which the entire length of the combined link
sliders is increased, the sliding plate 20 can be always kept in a
state where it is moved upward or downward (up/down) with respect
to the fixing plate 10.
[0094] Hereinafter, the operation of the slider assembly according
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference
to FIG. 11 (a) to (c).
[0095] FIG. 11 (a) shows a state where the two link sliders 31 are
slid at a maximum distance from each other by a tension of the
tension springs such that the entire length of the combined link
sliders 31 is increased to the utmost. That is, the guide pin is
brought into contact with an end of the guide slot away from the
hinge section, and thus, the sliding motion of the slider link is
restricted. The hinge section 311 of the first link slider of the
up/down positioning means 30 is hinged to a middle portion of the
fixing plate 10 by means of a pin, and the hinge section 311 of the
second link slider is hinged to a middle portion of the sliding
plate 20 by means of a pin. If a user pushes the sliding plate 20
leftward as viewed in the figure, the sliding plate 20 is slid and
the tension springs 32 of the up/down positioning means are
stretched while the respective link sliders 31 are pivoted on the
pins, as shown in FIG. 11 (b). A pair of link sliders 31 that are
restricted and combined with each other are slid toward the hinge
sections of the corresponding link sliders, respectively, so that a
change in the entire length of the combined link sliders due to the
sliding motion of the sliding plate 20 can be absorbed. In a state
shown in FIG. 11 (b), the tension of the tension spring 32 is
maximized and the entire length of the link sliders 31 is
minimized. Since the tension springs 32 are stretched until they
are in such a state as shown in FIG. 11 (b), a user continuously
apply a certain force to move the sliding plate 20. However, if the
sliding plate 20 is slightly further moved leftward from the state
shown in FIG. 11 (b), the sliding plate 20 is automatically moved
leftward due to elastic energy stored in the tension spring 32.
That is, while the pair of tension springs 32 are compressed, each
of the tension springs pulls the link slider 31 fixed to the ends
thereof to be closer to each other. Thus, the link slider 31 fixed
to the sliding plate 20 pushes the sliding plate 20 which in turn
is moved to such a state as shown in FIG. 11 (c). The sliding
motion of the sliding plate from the state shown in FIG. 11 (c) to
the state shown in FIG. 11 (a) is repeated in the same manner as to
be described above. At this time, since the neck 313b of the guide
pin 313 is brought into contact with the end of the sliding guide
portion 312b to restrict the movement of the sliding plate 20,
there is no need to provide an additional stopper in the main body
of the cellular phone for restricting the sliding motion of the
sliding plate 20.
[0096] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an up/down positioning
means of a slider assembly according the fifth embodiment of the
present invention. The up/down positioning means of FIG. 12 is
different from that of FIG. 9 in that the guide pin 313 is replaced
a guide protrusion 313 by partially cutting a certain portion of a
guide slider 31 corresponding to a guide slot 312 adjacent to a
hinge section 311 of another link slider 31 and then bending the
partially cut portion toward a guide slot 312. Further, a width of
a head of the guide protrusion 313 so formed is greater than a
width of the guide slot to prevent a pair of assembled link sliders
from being separated from each other.
[0097] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a coupled state of a hinge
section of the up/down positioning means of the slider assembly
according to the third to fifth embodiments of the present
invention. Each of a pair of the link sliders 31 with the same
shape, which can be restricted and slid with respect to each other,
among the up/down positioning means 30 is formed with a hinge
section 311 which has a through hole formed therein and is hinged
to the fixing or sliding plate 10 or 20 by fitting a pin into the
through hole.
[0098] At this time, since the hinge section 311 coupled with the
pin P is easily worn down due to friction therebetween when the
link slider is pivoted on the pin, a bushing 40 made of a wear
resistant material such as polyoxymethylene (POM) with a low
dynamic coefficient of friction is inserted between the hinge
section 311 and the pin P to prevent the hinge section from wearing
out.
[0099] The bushing 40 includes a through hole 42 formed at the
center thereof, a contact surface 43 contacted with one side of the
hinge section 311, and a fixing protrusion 41 fitted and fixed into
the through hole 311 la of the hinge section 311. The bushing 40
and the hinge section 311 can be coupled with each other by the
fixing protrusion 41 in the form of a key. Preferably, the fixing
protrusion is in the form of a groove. When the hinge section is
pivoted, an inner surface of the through hole 42 of the bushing 40
fitted and fixed into the hinge section 311 is brought into contact
with the pin P. Thus, the hinge section 311 and the pin P can be
prevented from wearing out.
[0100] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a slider assembly
for the sliding-type cellular phone according to a sixth embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a view showing a state
where the slider assembly of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 14
has been assembled.
[0101] The slider assembly of the sixth embodiment comprises a
fixing plate 10 fixed to a main body 1 of the cellular phone, a
sliding plate 20 fixed to a cover 2, two springs 50 each of which
has one end hingedly fixed to the fixing plate 10 and the other end
hingedly fixed to the sliding plate 20, and sliding members 15 and
15' for preventing the sliding portions of the fixing plate 10 and
sliding plate 20 from wearing out.
[0102] Both longitudinal side sections 14 and 14' of the fixing
plate 10 are bent twice by a press, and thus, parallel fixing
grooves 13 and 13' are formed at both side sections, respectively.
A plurality of screw holes 12 are formed in the fixing plate 10 by
a punching process such that the fixing plate 10 can be fixed to
the main body 1 of the cellular phone. In particular, two
supporting protrusions 11 and 11' are formed on the fixing plate 10
along a straight line parallel to the fixing grooves 13 and 13'.
Each of the supporting protrusions 11 and 11' is formed by the
press working to protrude toward the sliding plate 20 and has a
circular outer circumferential surface and an expanded end portion
11a.
[0103] Further, the sliding members 15 and 15' with guide grooves
15b and 15b' formed thereon are inserted and installed in the
fixing grooves 13 and 13', respectively. The sliding member has the
same length as the fixing groove.
[0104] The sliding member is fixed to the fixing plate in such a
manner that a pair of protrusions 15a and 15a' formed on the
sliding member 15 or 15' at a certain interval are fitted and fixed
into cutouts 14a and 14a' formed at certain positions on the bent
side section 14 or 14' of the fixing plate 10, respectively.
Further, the sliding members prevent wing sections 23 and 23' of
the sliding plate 20, which are repeatedly slid, from wearing out
and can be used for a long time without frequent exchange. In
addition, the sliding members may be made of a wear resistant
material with a low dynamic coefficient of friction, and
preferably, from polyoxymethylene (POM) that has been generally
used.
[0105] The sliding plate 20 includes first bent sections 24 and 24'
that are formed on both sides of the sliding plate by bending a
side portion of the sliding plate toward the fixing plate 10
through the press working, and the wing sections 23 and 23' formed
to extend outward by bending the first bending sections 24 and 24'
once more. A pair of the wing sections 23 and 23' are fitted into
the guide grooves 15b and 15b' of the sliding members 15 and 15',
respectively, that are installed in the fixing grooves 13 and 13'
of the fixing plate 10, respectively, such that the sliding plate
can be slid in a longitudinal direction. Further, the sliding plate
20 is formed with two through holes 21 and 21' in which one ends of
the springs 30 and 30' are inserted such that the springs are
hingedly supported. In addition, a plurality of screw holes 22 are
formed in the sliding plate 20 such that the sliding plate can be
fixed to the cover.
[0106] Each of the two springs 30 and 30' is a coil spring, made of
steel wire, of which both ends are extended. A spring portion 33
formed by winding several times the steel wire is formed at the
center of the coil spring. One end 32 of the spring has a round
shape such that it can surround a portion of the outer
circumference of the circular supporting protrusion 11 of the
fixing plate 10. The other end 51 of the spring is bent first in a
direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the circularly bent
end 32 and then in a direction perpendicular to an extending
direction of the first bent portion of the other end of the spring
such that the second bent portion can be inserted in and pivoted on
the through hole 21 of the sliding plate 20.
[0107] FIG. 15 is a view showing a state where the slider assembly
of the sixth embodiment has been assembled.
[0108] As shown in the figure, the wing sections 23 and 23' formed
at both sides of the sliding plate 20 are inserted in the
respective guide grooves 15b and 15b' of the sliding members 15 and
15' installed in the fixing grooves 13 and 13' formed at both sides
of the fixing plate 10, so that the sliding plate 20 can be slid in
a longitudinal direction along the guide grooves 15b and 15b'.
Further, one end of each of the two springs 50 surrounds a portion
of the supporting protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10 such that
the spring can be pivoted with respect to the fixing plate, while
the other end 51 of the spring is inserted in the through hole 21
of the sliding plate 20 such that the spring can be pivoted with
respect to the sliding plate. Therefore, the sliding plate 20 is
restricted by the springs 50 such that it is moved up and down
within a predetermined distance.
[0109] In addition, if the springs 50 are broken, the one end of
the spring 50 surrounding the supporting protrusion 11 of the
fixing plate 10 can be easily separated and removed from the fixing
plate. Thus, the broken spring can be easily exchanged.
[0110] In particular, the two supporting protrusions 11 and 11' of
the fixing plate 10 are disposed in a straight line parallel to the
fixing grooves 13 and 13', and the two through holes 21 and 21' of
the sliding plate 20 are also disposed in a straight line parallel
to the wing section 23 to be inserted in the recess grooves 13 and
13'. That is, an imaginary straight line connecting the supporting
protrusions 11 and 11' is in parallel to the fixing grooves 13 and
13', and the supporting protrusions 11 and 11' are disposed such
that a distance is as great as possible. When the sliding plate 20
is moved up and down, therefore, an amount of deformation of the
spring becomes smaller, and thus, the life span of the spring 50
can be prolonged. Further, the one ends of the two springs 50 and
50' are pivotally fixed to the same side with respect to the fixing
groove 13', and the other ends of the two springs are pivotally
fixed to the same side with respect to the fixing groove 13.
Therefore, when the sliding plate is slid, an elastic force of each
spring is applied in only one direction. Consequently, since the
wing section 23 of the sliding plate 20 is slid along the fixing
groove 13 of the fixing plate 10 in a state where the former is
brought into contact with the latter, it is possible to prevent the
cover from shaking from side to side when the cover is slid.
[0111] Furthermore, until the center of the through hole 21 of the
sliding plate 20 is coincident with the center of the supporting
protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10 after the sliding plate 20 has
been moved, an elastic force of the spring 50 or 50' is applied in
a direction in which the sliding motion of the sliding plate is
hindered. Once the sliding plate has passed through a position
where the through hole is coincident with the supporting
protrusion, an elastic force of the spring is applied in a
direction in which the sliding motion of the sliding plate is
promoted. Therefore, if a user wants to slide and open the cover,
the user can merely apply a certain force to the cover only until
the center of the through hole 21 or 21' of the sliding plate 20 is
coincident with the center of the supporting protrusion 11 or 11'
of the fixing plate 10, because the cover is then slid
automatically by the elastic force of the springs 50 and 50'.
[0112] FIG. 16 is a plan view of a slider assembly for the
sliding-type cellular phone according to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention, FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a
fixing plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, FIG. 18 is a
perspective view of a sliding plate of the embodiment shown in FIG.
16, and FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a slider
assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone according to an eighth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0113] The slider assembly 100 for the sliding-type cellular phone
according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention
comprises a fixing plate 10 formed with a guide section for guiding
a linear motion of a sliding plate and fixed to an surface of a
main body of the sliding-type cellular phone, a sliding plate 20
guided linearly by the guide section of the fixing plate 10 and
fixed to an opposite surface of a cover of the cellular phone, and
an up/down positioning means 30 including one end hinged to the
fixing plate 10 and the other end hinged to the sliding plate 20 to
change a direction of a force for pushing the sliding plate 20 from
a specific sliding location of the sliding plate 20. Further, in
order to prevent both sliding sides of the fixing plate 10 and
sliding plate 20 from wearing out, guide bushes 14 and 14 are
inserted and installed in fixing grooves 12 and 12' of the fixing
plate 10, respectively.
[0114] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the fixing plate
10. Referring to this figure, each of both side sections 13 and 13
of the fixing plate 10 includes a pair of opposite and parallel
fixing grooves 12 and 12' formed by twice bending a side portion of
the fixing plate through the press working, and a plurality of
through holes 13a and 13a' formed on the first bent side of the
fixing grooves 12 and 12'. Further, the fixing plate 10 is formed
with a plurality of screw holes for fixing the fixing plate to the
main body 1 of the cellular phone and a hinge hole 11 into which
one end of the up/down positioning means 30 is fitted.
[0115] Each of the guide bushes 14 and 14' fitted respectively into
the fixing grooves 12 and 12' in a longitudinal direction comprises
a longitudinal guide groove 14a or 14a' for receiving the wing
section 23 or 23' of the sliding plate 20 and guiding the sliding
motion of the sliding plate, and a plurality of protrusions 14a or
14b' formed on a surface corresponding to the through holes 13a or
13a' of the fixing plate 10.
[0116] Each of dampers 15 and 15' installed at both longitudinal
ends of the guide bushes 14 or 14' includes a protrusion 15 or 15'
fixed in the though hole 13a or 13a' and protruding further from a
longitudinal end of the fixing plate 10, and a guide groove 15b or
15b' for guiding the wing section 23 or 23' of the sliding plate
20. When the two dampers are installed at both ends of the guide
bush 14 or 14', the guide groove 14a or 14a of the guide bush 14 or
14' and the guide groove 15b or 15b' of the damper 15 or 15' are
aligned on the same line.
[0117] The guide bushes 14 and 14' prevent the fixing grooves of
the fixing plate from wearing out due to friction with the wing
sections 23 and 23' of the sliding plate 20 which are repeatedly
slid and can be made of a wear resistant material with a low
dynamic coefficient of friction such that it can be used for a long
time without frequent exchange. Preferably, the guide bushes are
made of polyoxymethylene (POM) that has been generally used.
Further, the dampers 15 and 15' absorb shock generated when the
sliding plate is slid and prevents the shock from being transferred
to the guide bushes 14 and 14' and thus the guide bushes from being
damaged. Preferably, the dampers 15 and 15' are made of urethane
rubber with an excellent shock-absorbing property.
[0118] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the sliding plate 10.
Referring to this figure, the sliding plate 20 includes a plurality
of screw holes used for fixing the sliding plate to the cover, a
hinge hole 21 into which the other end of the up/down positioning
means 30 is fitted, bent sections 22 and 22' formed at both lateral
sides of the sliding plate by bending side portions of the sliding
plate toward the fixing plate 10 using a press, and wing sections
23 and 23' formed by additionally bending portions of the bent
sections to extend outward. A pair of the wing section 23 and 23'
are inserted into the guide grooves of the guide bush 14 and 14'
and damper 15 and 15' installed in the fixing groove 12 and 12' of
the fixing plate 10, respectively, such that the sliding plate can
be slid up and down in a longitudinal direction.
[0119] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the slider
assembly of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to this figure, the up/down positioning means comprises a
pair of link sliders 31 with the same shape that can be restricted
and slid with respect to each other, a pair of tension springs 32
fixed respectively to ends of the link sliders 31, and guide pins
313 fixed respectively to the link sliders 31, each of which is
received in a guide slot 312 formed on each link slider 31 to
restrict and guide the link sliders and includes a head 313a and a
neck 313b.
[0120] Each of the link sliders 31 comprises a hinge section 311
having a through hole and hinged to the fixing or sliding plate 10
or 20 by fitting a pin into the through hole, a guide slot 312
spaced apart from the hinge section 311 and formed in a
longitudinal direction at a certain length, and a pair of spring
engaging sections 314 formed at the other end thereof opposite to
the hinge section 311 to protrude laterally outward from the other
end.
[0121] The hinge sections 311 are bent at two steps to be easily
fixed to the fixing plate 10 and the sliding plate 20 and to allow
the tension springs 32 to be installed in a space defined between
the two hinge sections. The guide slot 312 is composed of a guide
pin-receiving portion 312a and a sliding guide portion 312b. The
guide pin-receiving portion 312a of the guide slot 312 is formed
adjacent to the hinge section 311 to have a width greater than a
diameter of the head 313a of the guide pin 313 such that the guide
pin 313 can be easily installed to or removed from the up/down
positioning means.
[0122] In a pair of the link sliders 31 arranged to face each
other, the guide pin 313 of the link slider 31 is received in the
guide slot 312 of the corresponding link slider 31 to restrict and
guide the sliding motion of each link slider 31 in only a
longitudinal direction. Further, the guide pin 313 is composed of
the head 313a and the neck 313b calked and fixed to the link slider
31. In such a case, a diameter of the head 313a is greater than a
width of the sliding guide portion 312b of the guide slot 312 to
prevent the assembled up/down positioning means from being
disassembled.
[0123] Each of the pair of spring engaging sections 314 is formed
with a hook recess 314a bent at a predetermined angle such that a
hook formed at an end of the tension spring 32 can be caught into
the hook recess.
[0124] Since the pair of the tension springs 32 are fixed
symmetrically to the spring engaging sections 314 in the linker
sliders 31, the stable sliding motion of the link sliders 31 can be
obtained. Since the tension spring 32 is fixed to the end of the
link slider 31 to always impart an elastic force to the link slider
31 in a direction in which the entire length of the combined link
sliders is increased, the sliding plate 20 can be always kept in a
state where it is moved upward or downward (up/down) with respect
to the fixing plate 10.
[0125] The operation of the up/down positioning means according to
this embodiment of the present invention will be briefly explained.
The sliding motion of the link sliders is restricted when the
entire length of the link sliders 31 combined by the tension of the
tension springs is maximized. That is, the guide pin 313 is brought
into contact with an end of the guide slot 312 opposite to the
hinge section 311 to restrict the sliding motion of the slider
link. The hinge section 311 of the first link slider of the up/down
positioning means 30 is hinged to a middle portion of the fixing
plate 10 by means of a pin, and the hinge section 311 of the second
link slider is hinged to a middle portion of the sliding plate 20
by means of a pin.
[0126] If a user pushes the sliding plate 20, the sliding plate 20
is slid and the tension springs 32 of the up/down positioning means
30 are stretched while the respective link sliders 31 hinged
thereto are pivoted on the pins. At the same time, a pair of the
link sliders 31 that are restricted and combined with each other
are slid toward the hinge sections of the corresponding link
sliders, respectively, so that a change in the entire length of the
combined link sliders due to the sliding motion of the sliding
plate 20 can be absorbed. At this time, the tension of the tension
spring 32 is maximized and the entire length of the link sliders 31
is minimized.
[0127] As described above, the tension springs 32 are stretched up
to a maximum stretched position, and thus, a user apply the force
to the sliding plate 20 in order to further move the sliding plate.
After the maximum stretched position, the sliding plate 20 will be
automatically slid due to elastic energy stored in the tension
springs 32 in a direction in which the user wants to push the
sliding plate. That is, while the pair of tension springs 32 are
compressed, each of the tension springs pulls the link slider 31
fixed to the ends thereof to be closer to each other. Thus, the
link slider 31 fixed to the sliding plate 20 pushes the sliding
plate 20.
[0128] With the up/down positioning means 30 according to an
embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture
a cellular phone in which a constant urging force for sliding the
slider assembly is required.
[0129] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the slider
assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone according to the
eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which the up/down
positioning means of the slider assembly is different from that of
the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
[0130] The slider assembly of this embodiment comprises a fixing
plate 10' fixed to a main body of the cellular phone, a sliding
plate 20' fixed to a cover, an up/down positioning means including
one end hinged to the fixing plate 10' and the other end hinged to
the sliding plate 20', and guide bushes 14 and 14' and dampers 15
and 15' for preventing sliding portions of the fixing plate 10' and
sliding plate 20' from wearing out.
[0131] Two supporting protrusions 11 and 11' are further formed on
the fixing plate 10' in a straight line parallel to the fixing
grooves 12 and 12'. Each of the supporting protrusions 11 and 11'
is formed by the press working to protrude toward the sliding plate
20' and has a circular outer circumferential surface and an
extended end portion 11a.
[0132] In the meantime, the shape and function of the guide bushes
14 and 14' and the dampers 15 and 15' inserted in the fixing
grooves 12 and 12' in a longitudinal direction are the same as
those described in the seventh embodiment.
[0133] Further, the sliding plate 20' includes first bent sections
22 and 22' that are formed on both sides of the sliding plate by
bending a side portion of the sliding plate toward the fixing plate
10' through the press working, and wing sections 23 and 23' formed
to extend outward by bending the first bending sections 22 and 22'
once more. A pair of the wing sections 23 and 23' are fitted into
the guide grooves of the guide bushes 14 and 14' and the dampers 15
and 15', respectively, that are installed in the fixing grooves 12
and 12' of the fixing plate 10', respectively, such that the
sliding plate can be slid up and down in a longitudinal direction.
Further, the sliding plate 20' is formed with two through holes 21
and 21' in which one ends of the springs 50 and 50' are inserted
such that the springs are hingedly supported. In addition, a
plurality of screw holes are formed in the sliding plate 20' such
that the sliding plate can be fixed to the cover.
[0134] Each of the two springs 50 and 50' serving as an up/down
positioning means is a coil spring, made of steel wire, of which
both ends are extended. A spring portion 53 formed by winding
several times steel wire is formed at the center of the coil
spring. One end 52 of the spring has a round shape such that it can
surround a portion of the outer circumference of the circular
supporting protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10'. The other end 51
of the spring is bent first in a direction perpendicular to a plane
defined by the circularly bent end 52 and then in a direction
perpendicular to an extending direction of the first bent portion
of the other end of the spring such that the second bent portion
can be inserted in and pivoted on the through hole 21 of the
sliding plate 20'.
[0135] The operation of the up/down positioning means 50 of this
embodiment will be briefly explained. That is, the wing sections 23
and 23' formed at both sides of the sliding plate 20' are inserted
in the respective guide grooves 14a, 14a', 15b and 15b' of the
guide bushes 14 and 14' and dampers 15 and 15' installed in the
fixing grooves 12 and 12' formed at both sides of the fixing plate
10', so that the sliding plate 20' can be slid up and down in a
longitudinal direction along the guide grooves 14a, 14a', 15b and
15b'. Further, one end 52 of each of the two springs 50 surrounds a
portion of the supporting protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10'
such that the spring can be pivoted with respect to the fixing
plate, while the other end 51 of the spring is inserted in the
through hole 21 of the sliding plate 20' such that the spring can
be pivoted with respect to the sliding plate. Therefore, the
sliding plate 20' is restricted by the springs 50 such that it is
moved up and down within a predetermined distance.
[0136] In particular, the two supporting protrusions 11 and 11' of
the fixing plate 10' are disposed in a straight line parallel to
the fixing grooves 12 and 12', and the two through holes 21 and 21'
of the sliding plate 20' are also disposed in a straight line
parallel to the wing section 23 to be inserted in the recess
grooves 12 and 12'. That is, an imaginary straight line connecting
the supporting protrusions 11 and 11' is in parallel to the fixing
grooves 12 and 12', and the supporting protrusions 11 and 11' are
disposed such that a distance is as great as possible. When the
sliding plate 20' is moved up and down, therefore, an amount of
deformation of the spring 50 or 50' becomes smaller, and thus, the
life span of the spring 50 or 50' can be prolonged. Further, the
one ends of the two springs 50 and 50' are pivotally fixed to the
same side with respect to the fixing groove 13', and the other ends
of the two springs are pivotally fixed to the same side with
respect to the fixing groove 13. Therefore, when the sliding plate
is slid, an elastic force of each spring is applied in only one
direction. Consequently, since the wing section 23 of the sliding
plate 20' is slid along the fixing groove 12 of the fixing plate
10' in a state where the former is brought into contact with the
latter, it is possible to prevent the cover from shaking from side
to side when the cover is slid.
[0137] Furthermore, until the center of the through hole 21 of the
sliding plate 20' is coincident with the center of the supporting
protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10' after the sliding plate 20'
has been moved, an elastic force of the spring 50 or 50' is applied
in a direction in which the sliding motion of the sliding plate is
hindered. Once the sliding plate has passed through a position
where the through hole is coincident with the supporting
protrusion, an elastic force of the spring 50 or 50' is applied in
a direction in which the sliding motion of the sliding plate is
promoted. Therefore, if a user wants to slide and open the cover,
the user can merely apply a certain force to the cover only until
the center of the through hole 21 of the sliding plate 20' is
coincident with the center of the supporting protrusion 11 of the
fixing plate 10', because the cover is then slid automatically by
the elastic force of the springs 50 and 50'.
[0138] In a case where the respective plates of this embodiment are
made of stainless steel, the holes for assembling the slider
assembly or the through holes for supporting the ends of the
springs can be manufactured at one time through the press working.
Therefore, the manufacture can be easily made and the production
costs can also be saved.
[0139] Further, the guide bushes prevent the wing sections of the
sliding plate from wearing out and can be made of a wear resistant
material with a low dynamic coefficient of friction, such as
polyoxymethylene (POM), such that it can be used for a long time
without frequent exchange. The dampers are preferably made of
urethane rubber with an excellent shock-absorbing property such
that they can absorb shock generated when the sliding plate is slid
and prevent the shock from being transferred to the guide bushes
and thus the guide bushes from being damaged.
[0140] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a fixing plate of
a slider assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone according to
a ninth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a
perspective view of a sliding plate of the slider assembly for the
sliding-type cellular phone according to the ninth embodiment of
the present invention; FIG. 22 is a sectional view of an up/down
positioning means according to the ninth embodiment of the present
invention, in which FIG. 22 (a) is a sectional view showing a state
before the sliding plate is pushed in one direction, FIG. 22 (b) is
a section view showing a state when a repulsive force between a
third permanent magnet of the sliding plate and a first permanent
magnet of the fixing plate is generated, and FIG. 22 (c) is a
sectional view showing a state after the sliding plate has been
pushed in one direction; FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of
a slider assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone according to
a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 24 is a
bottom view of the sliding-type cellular phone with the slider
assembly according to the ninth and tenth embodiments of the
present invention installed therein.
[0141] The slider assembly for the sliding-type cellular phone
according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises a
fixing plate 10 formed with a guide section for guiding a linear
motion of a sliding plate and fixed to an surface of a main body of
the sliding-type cellular phone, a sliding plate 20 guided linearly
by the guide section of the fixing plate 10 and fixed to an
opposite surface of a cover of the cellular phone, and an up/down
positioning means 30 including one end hinged to the fixing plate
10 and the other end hinged to the sliding plate 20 to change a
direction of a force for pushing the sliding plate 20 from a
specific sliding location of the sliding plate 20. Further, in
order to prevent both sliding sides of the fixing plate 10 and
sliding plate 20 from wearing out, guide bushes 14 and 14' are
inserted and installed in fixing grooves 12 and 12' of the fixing
plate 10, respectively.
[0142] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the fixing plate
10. Referring to this figure, each of both side sections 13 and 13'
of the fixing plate 10 includes a pair of opposite and parallel
fixing grooves 12 and 12' formed by twice bending a side portion of
the fixing plate through the press working, and a plurality of
through holes 13a and 13a' formed on the first bent side of the
fixing grooves 12 and 12'. Further, a pair of first permanent
magnets 16 or 16' are provided on predetermined positions of each
of side ends of the fixing plate 10, and the fixing plate 10 is
formed with a plurality of screw holes for fixing the fixing plate
to the main body 1 of the cellular phone and a hinge hole 11 into
which one end of the up/down positioning means 30 is fitted.
[0143] Each of the guide bushes 14 and 14' inserted respectively
into the fixing grooves 12 and 12' in a longitudinal direction
comprises a longitudinal guide groove 14a or 14a' for receiving the
wing section 23 or 23' of the sliding plate 20 and guiding the
sliding motion of the sliding plate, and a plurality of protrusions
14b or 14b' formed on a surface corresponding to the through holes
13a or 13a' of the fixing plate 10.
[0144] Each of dampers 15 and 15' installed at both longitudinal
ends of the guide bushes 14 or 14' includes a protrusion 15 or 15'
fixed in the though hole 13a or 13a' and protruding further from a
longitudinal end of the fixing plate 10, and a guide groove 15b or
15b' for guiding the wing section 23 or 23' of the sliding plate
20. When the two dampers are installed at both ends of the guide
bush 14 or 14', the guide groove 14a or 14a of the guide bush 14 or
14' and the guide groove 15b or 15b' of the damper 15 or 15' are
aligned on the same line.
[0145] The guide bushes 14 and 14' prevent the fixing grooves of
the fixing plate from wearing out due to friction with the wing
sections 23 and 23' of the sliding plate 20 which are repeatedly
slid and can be made of a wear resistant material with a low
dynamic coefficient of friction such that it can be used for a long
time without frequent exchange. Preferably, the guide bushes are
made of polyoxymethylene (POM) that has been generally used.
Further, the dampers 15 and 15' absorb shock generated when the
sliding plate is slid and prevents the shock from being transferred
to the guide bushes 14 and 14' and thus the guide bushes from being
damaged. Preferably, the dampers 15 and 15' are made of urethane
rubber with an excellent shock-absorbing property.
[0146] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the sliding plate 20.
Referring to this figure, the sliding plate 20 includes a plurality
of screw holes used for fixing the sliding plate to the cover, a
hinge hole 21 into which the other end of the up/down positioning
means 30 is fitted, bent sections 22 and 22' formed at both lateral
sides of the sliding plate by bending side portions of the sliding
plate toward the fixing plate 10 using the press working, and wing
sections 23 and 23' formed by additionally bending portions of the
bent sections to extend outward. A pair of the wing section 23 and
23' are inserted into the guide grooves of the guide bush 14 and
14' and damper 15 and 15' installed in the fixing groove 12 and 12'
of the fixing plate 10, respectively, such that the sliding plate
can be slid up and down in a longitudinal direction.
[0147] Second permanent magnets 24 and 24' are installed at
positions on the sliding plate 20 where the sliding plate 20 can be
urged outward at the up/down position of the sliding plate 20 due
to repulsive or attractive forces generated between the second
permanent magnets and the first permanent magnets 16 and 16'
installed at both ends of the fixing plate 10. Further, third
permanent magnets 25 and 25' are installed at positions where a
direction of an urging force of the sliding plate 20 slid along the
fixing plate 10 is changed, such that repulsive or attractive
forces are generated between the third permanent magnets and the
first permanent magnets 16 and 16'.
[0148] In a case where the first permanent magnets 16 and 16' of
the fixing plate 10 have N-polarity, the second permanent magnets
24 and 24' of the sliding plate 20 corresponding to the first
permanent magnets can have N-polarity or S-polarity. If the second
permanent magnets 24 and 24' have N-polarity, a repulsive force is
generated between the first permanent magnets 16 and 16' and the
second permanent magnets 24 and 24', and thus, the first and second
permanent magnets repel each other. At this time, the first
permanent magnets 16 and 16' of the fixing plate 10 is located at
an outer side of the second permanent magnets 24 and 24' of the
sliding plate 20.
[0149] On the other hand, if the second permanent magnets 24 and
24' have S-polarity, an attractive force is generated between the
first and second permanent magnets, and thus, the first permanent
magnets 16 and 16' and the second permanent magnets attract each
other. At this time, the first permanent magnets 16 and 16' of the
fixing plate 10 is located at an inner side of the second permanent
magnets 24 and 24' of the sliding plate 20.
[0150] As described above, since a repulsive force is exerted when
the polarities of the magnets of the fixing plate 10 and sliding
plates 20 are the same as each other and an attractive force is
exerted when the polarities of the magnets of the fixing plate and
sliding plate are different from each other, the arrangement of the
magnets can be made properly in various ways according to positions
of the first permanent magnets 16 and 16' of the fixing plate 10
and the second permanent magnets 24 and 24' of the sliding plate
20.
[0151] The operation of the slider assembly of this embodiment will
be described with reference to FIG. 22. FIG. 22 (a) shows a state
where the fixing plate 20 (.fwdarw.10) is placed at a lower portion
of the sliding plate 20. In such a state, the second permanent
magnet 24 of the sliding plate 20 having N-polarity is located at
an inner side of the first permanent magnet 16 of the fixing plate
10 having N-polarity, and thus, the repulsive force is generated
between the first and second permanent magnets. Therefore, unless a
certain force is applied downward to the sliding plate 20, the
state shown in FIG. 22 is maintained because the first and second
permanent magnets 16 and 24 repel each other.
[0152] As shown in FIG. 22 (b), if the sling plate 20 is pushed
downward, the sliding plate 20 is moved by the up/down positioning
means. At this time, while the sliding plate 20 is moved, it is
stopped in a moment at a position (i.e., a dead zone) in which the
direction of the urging force of the up/down positioning means is
changed. In order to prevent this phenomenon from occurring, the
third permanent magnet 25 is further installed at a position on the
sliding plate 20, at which the dead zone is created, to generate a
repulsive force between the first and third permanent magnets 16
and 25. Therefore, if the sliding plate 20 is pushed downward and
then reaches near the position of the dead zone, the sliding plate
20 is smoothly moved at the dead zone in a direction in which the
direction of the urging force is changed, due to a repulsive force
generated between the third and first permanent magnets 25 and
16.
[0153] Furthermore, even though an attractive force is generated
between the first and second permanent magnets 16 and 25 due to
their polarity difference, the sliding plate can smoothly pass
through the dead zone without stopping at the dead zone.
[0154] If the fixing plate 10 is placed at an upper portion of the
sliding plate 20 that has passed through the dead zone as described
above, a repulsive force is generated between the first permanent
magnet 16 provided at an upper end of the fixing plate 10 and the
second permanent magnet 24 provided at an upper end of the sliding
plate 20. Therefore, unless a certain force is applied upward to
sliding plate 20, a current state is maintained because the first
and second permanent magnets 16 and 24 repel each other.
[0155] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a slider assembly
for the sliding-type cellular phone according to the tenth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0156] The slider assembly of this embodiment comprises a fixing
plate 10' fixed to a main body of the cellular phone, a sliding
plate 20' fixed to a cover, an up/down positioning means including
one end hinged to the fixing plate 10' and the other end hinged to
the sliding plate 20', and guide bushes 14 and 14' and dampers 15
and 15' for preventing sliding portions of the fixing plate 10' and
sliding plate 20' from wearing out.
[0157] Further, first permanent magnets 16 and 16' are installed at
both ends of the fixing plate 10', respectively, and second
permanent magnets 24 and 24 are installed at positions on the
sliding plate 20' where the sliding plate 20' can be urged outward
due to repulsive or attractive forces generated between the second
permanent magnets and the first permanent magnets 16 and 16'. In
addition, third permanent magnets 25 and 25' are installed at
certain positions on the sliding plate 20', near a position where
the direction of an urging force of the up/down positioning means
is changed while the sliding plate is moved, such that repulsive or
attractive forces are generated between the third permanent magnets
and any one pair of the first permanent magnets 16 and 16' of the
fixing plate 10'.
[0158] Two supporting protrusions 11 and 11' are further formed on
the fixing plate 10' in a straight line parallel to the fixing
grooves 12 and 12'. Each of the supporting protrusions 11 and 11'
is formed by the press working to protrude toward the sliding plate
20' and has a circular outer circumferential surface and an
extended end portion 11a.
[0159] In the meantime, the guide bushes 14 and 14' and the dampers
15 and 15' inserted in the fixing grooves 12 and 12' in a
longitudinal direction are the same as those described in the ninth
embodiment.
[0160] Further, the sliding plate 20' includes first bent sections
22 and 22' that are formed on both sides of the sliding plate by
bending a side portion of the sliding plate toward the fixing plate
10' through the press working, and wing sections 23 and 23' formed
to extend outward by bending the first bending sections 22 and 22'
once more. A pair of the wing sections 23 and 23' are fitted into
the guide grooves of the guide bushes 14 and 14' and dampers 15 and
15', respectively, that are installed in the fixing grooves 12 and
12' of the fixing plate 10', respectively, such that the sliding
plate can be slid up and down in a longitudinal direction. Further,
the sliding plate 20' is formed with two through holes 21 and 21'
in which one ends of the springs 50 and 50' are inserted such that
the springs are hingedly supported. In addition, a plurality of
screw holes are formed in the sliding plate 20' such that the
sliding plate can be fixed to the cover.
[0161] Each of the two springs 50 and 50' serving as an up/down
positioning means is a coil spring, made of steel wire, of which
both ends are extended. A spring portion 53 formed by winding steel
wire several times is formed at the center of the coil spring. One
end 52 of the spring has a round shape such that it can surround a
portion of the outer circumference of the circular supporting
protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10', The other end 51 of the
spring is bent first in a direction perpendicular to a plane
defined by the circularly bent end 52 and then in a direction
perpendicular to an extending direction of the first bent portion
of the other end of the spring such that the second bent portion
can be inserted in and pivoted on the through hole 21 of the
sliding plate 20'.
[0162] The operation of the up/down positioning means 50 of this
embodiment will be briefly explained. That is, the wing sections 23
and 23' formed at both sides of the sliding plate 20' are inserted
in the respective guide grooves 14a, 14a', 15b and 15b' of the
guide bushes 14 and 14' and dampers 15 and 15' installed in the
fixing grooves 12 and 12' formed at both sides of the fixing plate
10', so that the sliding plate 20' can be slid up and down in a
longitudinal direction along the guide grooves 14a, 14a', 15b and
15b'. Further, one end 52 of each of the two springs 50 surrounds a
portion of the supporting protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10'
such that the spring can be pivoted with respect to the fixing
plate, while the other end 51 of the spring is inserted in the
through hole 21 of the sliding plate 20' such that the spring can
be pivoted with respect to the sliding plate. Therefore, the
sliding plate 20' is restricted by the springs 50 and 50' such that
it is moved up and down within a predetermined distance.
[0163] In particular, the two supporting protrusions 11 and 11' of
the fixing plate 10' are disposed in a straight line parallel to
the fixing grooves 12 and 12', and the two through holes 21 and 21'
of the sliding plate 20' are also disposed in a straight line
parallel to the wing section 23 to be inserted in the recess
grooves 12 and 12'. That is, an imaginary straight line connecting
the supporting protrusions 11 and 11' is in parallel to the fixing
grooves 12 and 12', and the supporting protrusions 11 and 11' are
disposed such that a distance is as great as possible. When the
sliding plate 20' is moved up and down, therefore, an amount of
deformation of the spring 50 or 50' becomes smaller, and thus, the
life span of the spring 50 or 50' can be prolonged. Further, the
one ends of the two springs 50 and 50' are pivotally fixed to the
same side with respect to the fixing groove 13', and the other ends
of the two springs are pivotally fixed to the same side with
respect to the fixing groove 13. Therefore, when the sliding plate
is slid, an elastic force of each spring is applied in only one
direction. Consequently, since the wing section 23 of the sliding
plate 20' is slid along the fixing groove 12 of the fixing plate
10' in a state where the former is brought into contact with the
latter, it is possible to prevent the cover from shaking from side
to side when the cover is slid.
[0164] Furthermore, until the center of the through hole 21 of the
sliding plate 20' is coincident with the center of the supporting
protrusion 11 of the fixing plate 10' after the sliding plate 20'
has been moved, an elastic force of the spring 50 or 50' is applied
in a direction in which the sliding motion of the sliding plate is
hindered. Once the sliding plate has passed through a position
where the through hole is coincident with the supporting
protrusion, an elastic force of the spring 50 or 50' is applied in
a direction in which the sliding motion of the sliding plate is
promoted. Therefore, if a user wants to slide and open the cover,
the user can merely apply a certain force to the cover only until
the center of the through hole 21 of the sliding plate 20' is
coincident with the center of the supporting protrusion 11 of the
fixing plate 10', because the cover is then slid automatically by
the elastic force of the springs 50 and 50'.
[0165] Hereinafter, a sliding-type cellular phone including the
above slider assembly will be described.
[0166] FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the sliding-type cellular phone
including the slider assembly according to the ninth and tenth
embodiments of the present invention. Referring to this figure, the
sliding-type cellular phone 1000 comprises the slider assembly
which includes a fixing plate 10 installed on a main body 1, a
sliding plate 20 installed on a cover 2, and an up/down positioning
means 30 for allowing the sliding plate 20 to be moved.
[0167] A pair of first permanent magnets 16 and 16' are installed
at each of both ends of the fixing plate 10, and a pair of third
permanent magnets 25 and 25' are installed at positions on the
sliding plate 20 where a dead zone is created, such that a
repulsive or attractive force is generated between the first
permanent magnets 16 and 16' and the third permanent magnets 25 and
25'. Even in the dead zone, therefore, the sliding plate 20 can be
smoothly and continuously moved in a direction in which the
direction of an urging force of the up/down positioning means is
changed.
[0168] Second permanent magnets 2a and 2a' are installed at both
ends of the cover 2 of the cellular phone, at which the sliding
plate 20 is installed, to face the first permanent magnets 16 and
16', such that an attractive force is generated between the first
and second permanent magnets. That is, if the cover 2 of the
cellular phone is pushed upward, the cover 2 is firmly kept
stationary in a state where the cover has been opened, because an
attractive force is generated between the first permanent magnets
16 and 16' provided at a lower end of the fixing plate 10 and the
second permanent magnets 2 and 2' provided at a lower end of the
cover 2 due to their polarity difference.
[0169] On the other hand, if the cover 2 of the cellular phone is
pushed downward, the cover 2 is firmly kept stationary in a state
where the cover is closed, because an attractive force is generated
between the first permanent magnets 16 and 16' provided at an upper
end of the fixing plate 10 and the second permanent magnets 2 and
2' provided at an upper end of the cover 2 of the cellular phone
due to their polarity difference.
[0170] According to embodiments of the present invention so
configured, since the up/down positioning means of the slider
assembly can restrict a sliding length of the sliding plate, an
additional stopper for restricting the sliding length needs not be
installed on the main body or cover of the sliding-type cellular
phone. Therefore, the manufacturing costs can be saved.
[0171] Since a tension spring are is used as an elastic means for
maintaining an up/down state of the sliding plate instead of a
torsion spring, the durability of the slider assembly can be
improved. Further, it is possible to provide a cellular phone with
more uniform urging force required for pushing the cover upward or
downward as compared with a case where the torsion spring is
used.
[0172] Since the sliding member with a low coefficient of friction
is installed in the guide groove of the sliding plate that is slid
along the fixing plate, the durability of the sliding plate can be
improved and sliding noise can also be reduced. In addition, since
the spring engaging section is formed to prevent the up/down
positioning means from interfering with the flexible printed
circuit board mounted within the cellular phone, any inconvenience
due to the malfunction of the cellular phone can be eliminated and
the cellular phone can be used for a long time.
[0173] In addition, the manufacturing costs and working hour can be
saved and the productivity can also be enhanced by providing the
slider assembly including a fixing plate and a sliding plate which
are manufactured through the press working such that there is no
need for additional machining processes for the next assembly.
[0174] According to embodiments of the present invention, there is
an advantage in that the durability can be improved and the sliding
noise can also be reduced, since the sliding member with a low
coefficient of friction is installed in the fixing groove of the
fixing plate that is slid along the sliding plate.
[0175] Since the slider assembly is configured such that an amount
of deformation of the spring is minimized when the sliding plate is
slid up and down, the expected life span of the spring can be
prolonged. Further, since the respective fixing and sliding plates
are made of stainless steel, the plates cannot be easily damaged
from shock, whereby the durability can also be increased.
[0176] Since a shock-absorbing member made of a soft material is
further installed at both ends of the guide bushes, the guide buses
are not broken due to shock generated when the cover of the
cellular phone is opened or closed or when the cellular phone is
dropped. Thus, the cellular phone can be used for a long time and
incidental expenses can be saved. Further, since the sliding plate
installed on the cover of the cellular phone is brought into
contact with the shock-absorbing member rather than the fixing
plate even though the cover with the sliding plate installed
thereon is frequently slid, noise due to the shock is not
generated.
[0177] According to embodiments of the present invention, since the
permanent magnets are further installed at predetermined positions
on the sliding plate to correspond to the permanent magnets
installed on the fixing plate, the sliding plate can be smoothly
and continuously slid up and down. Further, since a plurality of
permanent magnets are installed at both ends of the fixing plate
and sliding plate to generate an attractive or repulsive force
between the magnets, the cover of the cellular phone can be firmly
kept at its up or down state even though the spring in the up/down
positioning means is weakened.
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