U.S. patent application number 12/755661 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for portable device.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJITSU LIMITED. Invention is credited to Tomoyuki Nagamine, Nobuhiko Onda.
Application Number | 20100288656 12/755661 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43067645 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100288656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Onda; Nobuhiko ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
PORTABLE DEVICE
Abstract
A portable device includes: first and second cases; a biasing
member which is secured to the first case side; and a slider which
is secured to the second case side, which is slidably connected to
the first case, and which is pushed by the biasing member; wherein:
the slider includes: a first pushed portion pushed by the biasing
member when the slider slides from a beginning of a sliding range
to an end of the sliding range; a second pushed portion pushed by
the biasing member when the slider slides from the end to the
beginning; a first guiding portion guiding a pushed position pushed
by the biasing member from the first pushed portion to the second
pushed portion; and a second guiding portion guiding the pushed
position from the second pushed portion to the first pushed
portion.
Inventors: |
Onda; Nobuhiko; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; Nagamine; Tomoyuki; (Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
1250 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJITSU LIMITED
Kawasaki-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
43067645 |
Appl. No.: |
12/755661 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1675 20130101;
H04M 1/0237 20130101; G06F 1/1679 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/216 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/02 20060101
B65D090/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 15, 2009 |
JP |
2009-118414 |
Sep 16, 2009 |
JP |
2009-214992 |
Claims
1. A portable device comprising: first and second cases; a biasing
member which is secured to the first case side; and a slider which
is secured to the second case side, which is slidably connected to
the first case, and which is pushed by the biasing member, wherein:
the slider comprises: a first pushed portion pushed by the biasing
member when the slider slides from a beginning of a sliding range
to an end of the sliding range; a second pushed portion pushed by
the biasing member when the slider slides from the end to the
beginning; a first guiding portion guiding a pushed position pushed
by the biasing member from the first pushed portion to the second
pushed portion; and a second guiding portion guiding the pushed
position from the second pushed portion to the first pushed
portion; a direction where the slider is pushed by the biasing
member is changed from a direction toward the beginning to a
direction toward the end, in response to a movement of the pushed
position on the first pushed portion; and the direction where the
slider is pushed by the biasing member is changed from the
direction toward the end to the direction toward the beginning, in
response to a movement of the pushed position on the second pushed
portion.
2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein: the first pushed
portion comprises: a first retuning area which attempts to return
the slider to the beginning by the pushing of the biasing member;
and a first pushing area which attempts to push the slider to the
end by the pushing of the biasing member; the second pushed portion
comprises: a second retuning area which attempts to return the
slider to the end by the pushing of the biasing member; and a
second pushing area which attempts to push the slider to the
beginning by the pushing of the biasing member; the first pushing
area is longer than the first retuning area in such a direction
that the slider slides; and the second pushing area is longer than
the second retuning area in such the direction that the slider
slides.
3. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a pushing
mechanism pushing the slider by the biasing member, wherein the
pushing mechanism comprises: an arm which is swingably supported in
a thickness direction of the first case, and which is biased by the
biasing member; and a roller which is connected to the arm, and
which pushes the first or second pushed portion by a biasing force
of the biasing member.
4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the first and second
pushed portions are aligned in a thickness direction of the first
or second case.
5. The portable device of claim 3, wherein the arm comprises: a
first arm which is swingably supported by the first case, and which
is biased by the biasing member; and a second arm which is
swingably supported by the first arm, which is swingable in a
thickness direction of the first case, and which is connected to
the roller.
6. The portable device of claim 3, wherein the pushing mechanism
comprises: a guiding rail which is provided in the first case; and
a slide member which slides on the guiding rail, which is biased by
the biasing member, and which holds the arm for swinging.
7. The portable device of claim 6, further comprising a slide
member, for the biasing member, which is connected to one end of
the biasing member, which is slidably provided relative to the
first case, and which pushes the second case side by the biasing
force of the biasing member while allowing the second case to
slide, the other end of the biasing member being connected to the
arm of the biasing member.
8. The portable device of claim 7, wherein the slide member, for
the biasing member, comprises a driven roller which pushes the
second case and rotates in response to sliding of the second
case.
9. The portable device of claim 3, further comprising a stopper
which abuts the roller to prevent the roller from disengaging from
the first or second pushed portion.
10. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the first guiding
portion comprises a guiding surface which is provided in the first
pushed portion, and which guides the pushed position to the second
pushed portion by the biasing force of the biasing member.
11. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the first guiding
portion comprises a guiding member which abuts the arm in response
to sliding of the slider, and which guides the arm so as to guide
the pushed position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-118414,
filed on May 15, 2009, and Japanese Patent Application No.
2009-214992, filed on Sep. 16, 2009, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The embodiment discussed herein is related to a portable
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is known a portable device that includes first and second
cases slidably connected to each other (See Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication Nos. 2007-49650 and 2008-196525). Such a
portable device includes: a biasing member biasing the first or
second case in a sliding direction so as to assist sliding; a
mechanism of changing the biasing direction of the biasing member
depending on a position of sliding. For example, when the second
case is slid from the beginning of a sliding range to the end
thereof, the biasing direction is changed from the state of being
pushed to the beginning by the biasing member to the state of being
pushed to the end while the second case is slid. In this way,
sliding is assisted.
[0004] Generally, in each case where the second case is slid from
the beginning to the end or where the second case is slid from the
end to the beginning, the direction where the biasing member
assists the sliding is changed by a single mechanism. For this
reason, when the second case is slid from the beginning to the end,
the biasing force of the biasing member which pushes the second
case to the end is exerted as an assist of the sliding. However,
when the second case is slid from the end to the beginning, the
biasing force of the biasing member which pushes the second case to
the end is exerted as a resistance of the sliding. As mentioned
above, whether the biasing force of the biasing member is exerted
as an assist or a resistance of the sliding depends on the sliding
direction. That is, the cases where the biasing force of the
biasing member is exerted as an assist and a resistance are two
sides of the same coin.
[0005] Thus, when the range is set such that the second case is
pushed to the end at the time of sliding from the beginning to the
end, the range is set such that the second case is pushed to the
beginning, and the ranges are also set such that the second case is
pushed to the beginning and the end at the time of sliding from the
end to the beginning. In this manner, the range where the sliding
of the second case is assisted cannot be individually set for every
sliding direction.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to an aspect of the embodiments, a portable device
includes: first and second cases; a biasing member which is secured
to the first case side; and a slider which is secured to the second
case side, which is slidably connected to the first case, and which
is pushed by the biasing member; wherein: the slider includes: a
first pushed portion pushed by the biasing member when the slider
slides from a beginning of a sliding range to an end of the sliding
range; a second pushed portion pushed by the biasing member when
the slider slides from the end to the beginning; a first guiding
portion guiding a pushed position pushed by the biasing member from
the first pushed portion to the second pushed portion; and a second
guiding portion guiding the pushed position from the second pushed
portion to the first pushed portion; a direction where the slider
is pushed by the biasing member is changed from a direction toward
the beginning to a direction toward the end, in response to a
movement of the pushed position on the first pushed portion; and
the direction where the slider is pushed by the biasing member is
changed from the direction toward the end to the direction toward
the beginning, in response to a movement of the pushed position on
the second pushed portion.
[0007] The object and advantages of the invention will be realized
and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the claims.
[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIGS. lA to 1E are explanatory views of a portable phone
according to a first embodiment;
[0010] FIGS. 2A to 2E are explanatory views of a portable phone
having a different structure from the portable phone according to
the first embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portable phone
in a fully closed state;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the portable phone
in a fully opened state;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable phone in the
fully closed state;
[0014] FIGS. 6A to 6D are perspective views of a pushing mechanism
and a changing member at the time of sliding;
[0015] FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of a pushing mechanism
and a changing member at the time of the sliding;
[0016] FIGS. 8A to 8D are perspective views of a guiding
surface;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portable phone according
to a second embodiment;
[0018] FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of a guiding
member;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portable phone according
to a third embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views of the portable
phone according to the third embodiment;
[0021] FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views of a portable phone
according to a fourth embodiment; and
[0022] FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the portable phone
according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 14B is a perspective
view of the portable phone according to the third embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0023] In the following, plural embodiments will be described.
Additionally, for example, a portable device is a portable
phone.
First Embodiment
[0024] FIGS. 1A to 1E are explanatory views of a portable phone
according to a first embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 1A illustrates a fully closed state to be mentioned
later. FIG. 1B illustrates a partway state from the fully closed
state to a fully opened state. FIG. 1C illustrates the fully opened
state. FIG. 1D illustrates a partway state from the fully opened
state to the fully closed state. FIG. 1E illustrates the fully
closed state.
[0026] The portable phone according to the first embodiment
includes a main body portion (first case) 10, and a display portion
(second case) 20 slidably connected to the main body portion 10 in
a liner manner. The display portion 20 is provided at its front
face with a display 22 which is always exposed. As illustrated in
FIG. 1C, the main body portion 10 is provided with numeric keys 12
and functional keys 14. A mechanism, to be mentioned later in
detail, for assisting sliding the display portion 20 is provided
between the main body portion 10 and the display portion 20. This
mechanism is provided with a biasing member, which is provided
between the main body portion 10 and the display portion 20, and
which assists the sliding. Additionally, the sliding range is
indicated by L, the beginning of the sliding range is indicated by
P1, and the end is indicated by P2, as illustrated in FIGS. lA to
1E.
[0027] FIG. 1A illustrates the fully closed state where the main
body portion 10 and the display portion 20 are overlapped with each
other. When the display portion 20 is upwardly pushed relative to
the main body portion 10 in the fully closed state, the display
portion 20 slides on the main body portion 10 to start exposing the
numeric keys 12 which are covered with the display portion 20, as
illustrated in FIG. 1B. In the state between the fully closed state
and the state illustrated in FIG. 1B, the biasing member attempts
to return the display portion 20 to the beginning P1. This range is
indicated by La. When the display portion 20 illustrated in FIG. 1B
is further pushed, the biasing member attempts to push the display
portion 20 to the end P2. By the pushing force of the biasing
member, the display portion 20 is shifted to the fully opened state
illustrated in FIG. 1C. That is, a user has only to slide the
display portion 20 by the range La against the biasing force of the
biasing member, so that the biasing member assists in sliding the
display portion 20 to the end P2. The range La2, where the biasing
member pushes the display portion 20 to the end P2, is longer than
the half of the entire sliding range L. That is, the range La2 is
longer than the range Lal.
[0028] When the display portion 20 is downwardly pushed relative to
the display portion 20 in the fully opened state, the display
portion 20 starts covering the functional keys 14 as illustrated in
FIG. 1D. Between the fully opened state and the state illustrated
in FIG. 1D, the biasing member attempts to return the display
portion 20 to the end P2. This range is indicated by Lbl. When the
display portion 20 is further pushed, the biasing member attempts
to push the display portion 20 to the beginning P1. By the pushing
force of the biasing member, the display portion 20 is shifted to
the fully closed state as illustrated in FIG. 1E. That is, a user
has only to slide the display portion 20 by the range Lbl against
the biasing force of the biasing member, so that the biasing member
assists in sliding the display portion 20 to the beginning P1. The
range Lb2, where the biasing member pushes the display portion 20
to the beginning P1, is longer than the half of the entire sliding
range L. That is, the range Lb2 is longer than the range Lb 1.
[0029] In this manner, even in any case where the fully opened
state is shifted to the fully closed state or where the fully
closed state is shifted to the fully opened state, a user has only
to push the display portion 20 by a slight distance against the
biasing force of the biasing member. Accordingly, the operability
is improved in the portable phone according to the first
embodiment. In particular, the operability is improved in a
portable phone having a large sliding range.
[0030] Next, a description will be given of sliding of a portable
phone having a structure different from that of the portable phone
according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 2A to 2E are explanatory
views of sliding of the portable phone having the structure
different from that of the portable phone according to the first
embodiment.
[0031] Additionally, the sliding range L is the same.
[0032] The biasing member attempts to return a display portion 20x
to the beginning P1 between the fully closed state illustrated in
FIG. 2A and the state illustrated in FIG. 2B. The range, where the
biasing member biases the display portion 20x to the beginning P1,
is the half of the entire sliding range L. When the display portion
20x is further pushed from the state illustrated in FIG. 2B, the
biasing member attempts to push the display portion 20x to the end
P2. By the biasing force of the biasing member, the display portion
20x is shifted to the fully opened state illustrated in FIG. 2C.
When the fully opened state is shifted to the state illustrated in
FIG. 1D, the biasing member attempts to return the display portion
20x to the end P2. The range, where the biasing member the display
portion 20x to the end P2, is the half of the entire sliding range
L. When the display portion 20x is further pushed to the beginning
P1 in the state illustrated in FIG. 2D, the biasing member attempts
to push the display portion 20x to the beginning P1. Accordingly,
the fully closed state is performed again. In this manner, the
boundary point, where the direction that the biasing member pushes
the display portion 20x is changed, is a substantially center point
of the sliding range.
[0033] This is because the mechanism for changing the direction
that the biasing member pushes the display portion 20x is commonly
used in any case where the display portion 20x is slid from the
beginning P1 to the end P2 or where the display portion 20x is slid
from the end P2 to the beginning P1. Thus, it is supposed that the
range be set longer than the half of the entire sliding range L,
the range being where the biasing member pushes the display portion
20x to the end P2. In this case, the range where the biasing member
assists in sliding the display portion 20x is made long. When the
display portion 20x is slid from the beginning P1 to the end P2,
the operability is improved. However, it is necessary to push the
display portion 20x by a long range against the biasing force of
the biasing member, when the display portion 20x is slid from the
end P2 to the beginning P1. Thus, in the portable phone having such
a structure, the boundary point, where the direction that the
biasing member pushes the display portion 20x is changed, is set to
be a substantially center point of the sliding range.
[0034] However, in the above mentioned portable phone according to
the first embodiment, the boundary point where the direction that
the biasing member pushes the display portion 20 is changed, is not
a substantially center point of the sliding range. Further, in any
sliding direction, the range where the biasing member pushes the
display portion 20 is longer than the entire sliding range. In the
following, the structure of the portable phone will be described in
detail according to the first embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portable phone
in the fully closed state. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view
of the portable phone in the fully opened state. FIG. 5 is a
perspective view of the portable phone in the fully closed
state.
[0036] Between the main body portion 10 and the display portion 20,
there are arranged a base plate 30, a slider 40, a biasing member
50, changing members 60a and 60b, and a pushing mechanism 90, as
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The base plate 30 is secured to a
front face side of the main body portion 10 facing the display
portion 20.
[0037] The slider 40 is secured to a rear face side of the display
portion 20 facing the main body portion 10. Guide portions 31 are
provided at left and right edge portions of the base plate 30,
respectively. Rail portions 41 are provided at left and right edge
portions of the slider 40. The guide portion 31 is slidably engaged
with the rail portions 41. Thus, the main body portion 10 is
slidably connected to the display portion 20 in a liner manner
within a given range. Further, the changing members 60a and 60b,
and stoppers 42 and 43 are secured to a face of the slider 40
facing the main body portion 10 by adhesive bonding. Details will
be described later.
[0038] The main body portion 10 is electrically connected to the
display portion 20 by a flexible printed circuit 70. The slider 40
is provided with a cutout portion 47 for escaping the flexible
printed circuit 70.
[0039] The biasing member 50 is arranged between the main body
portion 10 and the slider 40. The biasing member 50 is arranged on
the base plate 30. The biasing member 50 includes a coil portion
51, and arm portions 53 and 55. The end of the arm portion 53 is
connected to the main body portion 10 side. The end of the arm
portion 55 is connected to an arm 96, as will be mentioned
later.
[0040] The pushing mechanism 90 is provided on the base plate 30.
The base plate 30 is secured to the main body portion 10. In other
words, the pushing mechanism 90 is provided on the main body
portion 10 side. The pushing mechanism 90 includes arms 92 and 96,
and a roller 98. The arm 92 is swingably connected to the base
plate 30. The arm 92 swings on the surface of the base plate 30.
The end of the arm 92 is connected to the arm 96. The arm 96 swings
in the thickness direction of the main body portion 10 or the
display portion 20 and is swingably connected to the arm 92. The
end of the arm 96 is provided with the roller 98. In response to
sliding of the slider 40, the roller 98 moves on pushed portions
61a, 62a, 61b, and 62b, as will be mentioned later. The arm 96 is
connected to the arm portion 55 of the biasing member 50. The
biasing member 50 biases the arm 96 to the changing member 60a side
or the changing member 60b side. The changing member 60a includes
the pushed portions 61a and 62a which are continuous with each
other. The changing member 60b includes the pushed portions 61b and
62b which are continuous with each other. With such arrangements,
the roller 98 pushes one of the pushed portions 61a, 62a, 61b, and
62b.
[0041] The changing members 60a and 60b are secured to each other
by an adhesive bonding. The changing members 60a and 60b each have
a triangle shape. The changing members 60a and 60b are overlapped
with each other in the thickness direction of the portable phone.
The roller 98 moves on the pushed portions 61a, 62a, 61b, and 62b
in response to sliding of the display portion 20. The pushed
portions 61a, 62a, 61b, and 62b each have a channel shape so as to
engage the roller 98. The pushed portions 61a, 62a, 61b, and 62b
each have a liner shape, but are not limited to the liner shape.
For example, if the pushed portion 61 has a curve shape, the
relation ship between a sliding degree and an assisting force is
nonlinearly changeable. Therefore, a pattern of changing the
assisting force is changeable.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lengths of the pushed portions
61a, 62a, 61b, and 62b in the sliding direction correspond to the
ranges Lal, La2, Lbl, and Lb2 as mentioned above, respectively.
[0043] Next, the pushing mechanism 90 and the changing members 60a
and 60b will be described in more detail.
[0044] FIGS. 6A to 6D, and 7A and 7B are explanatory views of the
pushing mechanism 90 and the changing members 60a and 60b at the
time of sliding. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, in the fully closed
state, the roller 98 pushes the pushed portion 61a. Further, in the
fully closed state, the roller 98 abuts the stopper 43 to prevent
the roller 98 from disengaging from the pushed portion 61a or 62b.
Furthermore, the roller 98 abuts the stopper 43 to define the
position of the beginning P1 of the sliding range. When the display
portion 20 is slid, the changing member 60a also moves in response
to the sliding of the display portion 20. The changing member 60a
moves, so that the roller 98 moves to climb up the pushed portion
61a. While the roller 98 is located on the pushed portion 61a, the
biasing force of the biasing member 50 exerts the changing member
60a to return to the beginning P1. The pushed portion 61a
corresponds to a first retuning area.
[0045] The display portion 20 is further slid to the end P2, so
that the roller 98 arrives at the boundary point between the pushed
portions 61a and 62a as illustrated in FIG. 6B. Additionally, FIG.
6B corresponds to FIG. 1B. The display portion 20 is further slid
to the end P2, so that the roller 98 moves on the pushed portion
62a as illustrated in FIG. 6C. While the roller 98 is located on
the pushed portion 62a, the biasing force of the biasing member 50
exerts the changing member 60a to be pushed to the end P2. The
pushed portion 62a corresponds to a first pushing area. The
changing member 60a is pushed to the end P2 by the biasing force of
the biasing member 50, and then the roller 98 moves to the end of
the pushed portion 62a. In this way, the fully closed state is
shifted to the fully opened state.
[0046] In this way, in response to the movement of the pushed
position from the pushed portion 61a to the pushed portion 62a, the
direction where the slider 40 is pushed by the biasing member 50 is
changed from the direction toward the beginning P1 to the direction
toward the end P2. Further, the position of the boundary between
the pushed portions 61a and 62a is closer to the end of the pushed
portion 61a than to the end of the pushed portion 62a. In other
words, the pushed portion 62a is longer than the pushed portion 61a
in the sliding direction of the slider 40. Accordingly, the range
La2, where the biasing member 50 assists in sliding the display
portion to the end P2, can be made long.
[0047] Additionally, in the fully opened state, the roller 98 abuts
the stopper 42 to prevent the roller 98 from disengaging from the
pushed portions 62a and 61b. The roller 98 abuts the stopper 42 to
define the position of the end P2 in the sliding range. Further,
the roller 98 is moved from the pushed portion 62a to the pushed
portion 61b by a guiding surface formed at the end of the pushed
portion 62a, as will be described later.
[0048] Next, the change from the fully opened state to the fully
closed state will be described. When the display portion 20 slides
downwardly from the fully opened state illustrated in FIG. 6D, the
roller 98 moves to climb up the pushed portion 61b as illustrated
in FIG. 7A. While the roller 98 is located the pushed portion 61b,
the biasing force of the biasing member 50 exerts the changing
member 60b to be returned to the end P2.
[0049] The display portion 20 is further slid to the beginning P1,
the roller 98 moves on the pushed portion 62b as illustrated in
FIG. 7B. While the roller 98 is located the pushed portion 62b, the
biasing force of the biasing member 50 exerts the changing member
60b to be pushed to the beginning P1. Therefore, the roller 98
moves to the end of the pushed portion 62b, so that the fully
closed state is achieved as illustrated in FIG. 6A. Additionally,
the end of the pushed portion 62b is provided with a guiding
surface guiding the roller 98 from the pushed portion 62b to the
pushed portion 61a. This will be described later.
[0050] As described above, in response to the movement of the
pushed position from the pushed portion 61b to the pushed portion
62b, the direction where the slider 40 is pushed by the biasing
member 50 is changed from the direction toward the end P2 to the
direction toward to the beginning P1. Further, the position of the
boundary between the pushed portions 61b and 62b is closer to the
end of the pushed portion 61b than to the end of the pushed portion
62b. In the other words, the pushed portion 62b is longer than the
pushed portion 61b in the sliding direction of the slider 40.
Accordingly, the range Lb2, where the biasing member 50 assists in
sliding the display portion 20 to the beginning P1, can be made
long.
[0051] Consequently, the changing members 60a and 60b each have the
function for changing the direction where the slider 40 is pushed
by the biasing member 50. The changing members 60a and 60b
correspond to the case where the display portion 20 is slid from
the beginning P1 to the end P2 and the case where the display
portion 20 is slid form the end P2 to the end P2, respectively. The
range where the biasing member 50 assists in sliding the display
portion 20 can be set for every sliding direction.
[0052] Next, the guiding surface will be described. FIGS. 8A to 8D
are explanatory views of the guiding surface. A guiding surface 65a
is provided at the end of the pushed portion 62a. As illustrated in
FIG. 8A, the guiding surface 65a inclines relative to the vertical
direction. Further, the biasing force of the biasing member 50
allows the roller 98 to push the guiding surface 65a. Thus, the
roller 98 slides on the guiding surface 65a from the pushed portion
62a to the pushed portion 61b, as illustrated in FIG. 8B. Further,
a guiding surface 65b is provided at the end of the pushed portion
62b. As illustrated in FIG. 8C, the guiding surface 65b also
inclines. The biasing force of the biasing member 50 causes the
roller 98 to push the guiding surface 65b, so that the roller 98
slides on the guiding surface 65b from the pushed portion 62b to
the pushed portion 61a as illustrated in FIG. 8D.
[0053] Additionally, the ranges Lal and Lb1 may have different
lengths from each other, and the ranges La2 and Lb2 may have
different lengths from each other. That is, for every sliding
direction, the range where the biasing member 50 assists the
sliding is changeable. Specifically, in the design, the ratio of
the length of the pushed portion 61a to that of the pushed portion
62a in the sliding direction may be different from the ratio of the
length of the pushed portion 61b to that of the pushed portion 62b
in the sliding direction. For example, the range where the biasing
force assists in changing the state from the fully closed state to
the fully opened state may be longer than the range where the
biasing force assists in changing the state from the fully opened
state to the fully closed state.
Second Embodiment
[0054] Next, a portable phone according to the second embodiment
will be described. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the portable
phone according to the second embodiment. Additionally, the display
portion and the slider are omitted in FIG. 9.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the portable phone according to
the second embodiment includes: a guiding member 44 abutting the
arm 96 in the beginning P1 position; and a guiding member 45
abutting the arm 96 in the end P2 position. The guiding members 44
and 45 are secured to the slider not illustrated.
[0056] FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory views of the guiding
members. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the guiding member 44 includes
a guiding surface 443 and a defining surface 441. The guiding
surface 443 inclines. The defining surface 441 is vertical. In
sliding from the end P2 to the beginning P1, the roller 98 moves on
the pushed portion 62b. The roller 98 arrives at the end of the
pushed portion 62b, so that the arm 96 abuts and slides on the
guiding surface 443 and then abuts the defining surface 441. In
this way, swinging the arm 96 is guided in the thickness direction
of the portable phone. Consequently, the roller 98 moves from the
pushed portion 62b to the pushed portion 61a.
[0057] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the guiding member 45
includes a defining surface 451 and a guiding surface 453. The
guiding surface 453 inclines. The defining surface 451 is vertical.
The roller 98 arrives at the end of the pushed portion 62a, so that
the arm 96 abuts and slides on the guiding surface 453 and then
abuts the defining surface 451. Thus, the roller 98 moves from the
pushed portion 62a to the pushed portion 61b.
Third Embodiment
[0058] A portable phone according to the third embodiment will be
described. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the portable phone
according to the third embodiment. The display portion and the
slider are omitted in FIG. 11.
[0059] A pushing mechanism 90b includes: a rail 93; a sliding
member 94 slidably engaging the rail 93; the arm 96 swingably
supported by the sliding member 94; and the roller 98 connected to
the end of the arm 96. The rail 93 extends in the direction
perpendicular to the sliding direction of the display portion.
Further, the end of the arm portion 55 is secured to the sliding
member 94. With such arrangements, the sliding member 94 is always
biased to the changing members 60a and 60b by the biasing member
50.
[0060] FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views of the portable
phone according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12A illustrates the
portable phone in the fully closed state. FIG. 12B illustrates the
portable phone in the fully opened state. As illustrated in FIGS.
12A and 12B, in response to sliding of the display portion 20, the
sliding member 94 slides on the rail 93. This keeps the roller 98
pushing the changing members 60a and 60b.
Fourth Embodiment
[0061] A portable phone according to the fourth embodiment will be
described.
[0062] FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory views of the portable
phone according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13A illustrates a
part of the portable phone according to the fourth embodiment. FIG.
13B illustrates a cross sectional view of the portable phone
according to the fourth embodiment. The display portion 20 and the
slider 40 are omitted in FIG. 13A.
[0063] A base plate 30c is provided with a guiding groove 153. The
guiding groove 153 extends in the direction substantially
perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the main body portion
10c and the sliding direction of the display portion 20. The
guiding groove 153 substantially parallel to the rail 93. A sliding
member 154 for the biasing member 50 slidably engages the guiding
groove 153. That is, the sliding member 154 is slidably provided in
the main body portion 10c. The arm portion 53 of the biasing member
50 is connected to the sliding member 154. Specifically, one end of
the biasing member 50 is connected to the sliding member 94 and the
arm 96, and the other end of the biasing member 50 is connected to
the sliding member 154. The coil portion 51 is arranged on the
sliding member 154. The sliding member 154 is provided with a
driven roller 158. The driven roller 158 is rotatable.
[0064] The biasing force of the biasing member 50 causes the
sliding member 154 to push the slider 40. Specifically, as
illustrated in FIG. 13B, the biasing force allows the driven roller
158 to push the rail portion 41 of the slider 40, and the driven
roller 158 abuts the inside of the rail portion 41. The driven
roller 158 rotates in response to sliding of the slider 40 relative
to the main body portion 10c. Since the slider 40 is secured to the
display portion 20, the driven roller 158 abuts the display portion
20 side. Thus, the pushing of the biasing member 50 allows the
sliding member 154 to push the display portion 20 side. When the
driven roller 158 abuts the rail portion 41, the sliding member 154
does not abut the end of the sliding member 154. Therefore, the
biasing force of the biasing member 50 is not directly exerted on
the main body portion 10c.
[0065] FIG. 14A is an explanatory view of the structure of the
portable phone according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 14B is an
explanatory view of the structure of the portable phone according
to the third embodiment. FIGS. 14A and 14B schematically illustrate
the structures.
[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 14A, the sliding member 154 is
slidable relative to the main body portion 10c. The driven roller
158 provided in the sliding member 154 is biased to the rail
portion 41 side of the slider 40 by the biasing member 50. Further,
the arm 96 is biased to the changing members 60a and 60b side by
the biasing member 50. In this way, one end of the biasing member
50 biases the changing members 60a and 60b of the slider 40, and
the other end of the biasing member 50 biases the inside of the
rail portion 41 of the slider 40.
[0067] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, in the portable phone
according to the third embodiment, one end of the biasing member 50
is directly connected to a main body portion 10b, and the other end
of the biasing member 50 is connected to the arm 96. The biasing
force of the biasing member 50 causes the arm 96 to bias the
changing members 60a and 60b provided in the display portion 20
side in the direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding
direction. That is, in the portable phone according to the third
embodiment, the biasing member 50 biases the display portion 20
relative to the main body portion 10b in the direction
substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction. In this way,
as illustrated in FIG. 14B, the display portion 20 is always biased
relative to the main body portion 10b in the left direction in FIG.
14B by the biasing member 50. A clearance is defined between the
guide portion 31 and the rail portion 41. Thus, as illustrated in
FIG. 14B, the frictional force, between the guide portion 31 and
the rail portion 41 illustrated at the left side of FIG. 14B, is
increased by the biasing force of the biasing member 50. Therefore,
it may be difficult to slide the main body portion 10b and the
display portion 20.
[0068] In the portable phone according to the fourth embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 14A, the biasing force of the biasing member 50
does not directly exerted on a main body portion 10c. Thus, the
display portion 20 is not biased relative to the main body portion
10c in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction. This
facilitates sliding of the display portion 20 relative to the main
body portion 10c.
[0069] Further, the arm portion 53 of the biasing member 50 is
connected to the sliding member 154, and the sliding member 154 is
connected to the main body portion 10c side. Accordingly, even when
the display portion 20 slide relative to the main body portion 10c,
the biasing member 50 is held at a given position of the main body
portion 10c. With such a configuration, even when the display
portion 20 slides relative to the main body portion 10c, the
biasing member 50 is capable of pushing the changing members 60a
and 60b with the biasing member 50 held at a given position.
[0070] A portable device is not limited to a portable phone. For
example, a portable device may be any device as long as two cases
are slidably and linearly connected to each other, for example, a
PDA or a notebook computer. The slider 40 and the changing members
60a and 60b may be integrally formed with each other, and may be
made of a synthetic resin for example.
[0071] The portable phone according to the fourth embodiment may be
provided with the stopper 42 or 43, or the guiding member 44 or
45.
[0072] All examples and conditional language recited herein are
intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in
understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the
inventor to furthering the art, and are to be constructed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and
conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the
specification relate to a showing of the superiority and
inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment of the
present inventions has been described in detail, it should be
understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations
could be made hereto without departing from the sprit and scope of
the invention.
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