U.S. patent application number 13/924744 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for shield module travel enlarging structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is FIRST DOME CORPORATION. Invention is credited to WAY HAN DAI, HSIU FAN HO, AN SZU HSU.
Application Number | 20140376902 13/924744 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52001593 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140376902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HSU; AN SZU ; et
al. |
December 25, 2014 |
SHIELD MODULE TRAVEL ENLARGING STRUCTURE
Abstract
A shield module travel enlarging structure includes a front
cover and a rear cover formed with opposite windows. The front and
rear covers are assembled to form a module main body having an
internal operation space. A shield is mounted in the operation
space and movable between a position in alignment with the opposite
windows and a position misaligned from the opposite windows. A
transmission gear is mounted in the internal operation space of the
module main body to cooperate with the shield. The transmission
gear at least has a large-gear-ratio gear and a small-gear-ratio
gear. The large-gear-ratio gear is drivingly engaged with the
shield. A push member is drivingly engaged with the
small-gear-ratio gear. When the push member is moved, via the
transmission gear, the shield is slid by an enlarged travel.
Inventors: |
HSU; AN SZU; (NEW TAIPEI
CITY, TW) ; DAI; WAY HAN; (NEW TAIPEI CITY, TW)
; HO; HSIU FAN; (NEW TAIPEI CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FIRST DOME CORPORATION |
NEW TAIPEI CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
52001593 |
Appl. No.: |
13/924744 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/448 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 11/043
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/448 |
International
Class: |
G03B 11/04 20060101
G03B011/04 |
Claims
1. A shield module travel enlarging structure comprising a front
cover, a rear cover and a shield, the front and rear covers being
assembled to form a module main body having opposite windows and an
internal operation space, the shield being mounted in the operation
space and movable between a position in alignment with the opposite
windows and a position misaligned from the opposite windows, the
shield module travel enlarging structure further comprising a
transmission gear mounted in the module main body to cooperate with
the shield, the transmission gear at least having a
large-gear-ratio gear and a small-gear-ratio gear, the
large-gear-ratio gear being drivingly engaged with the shield, the
shield module travel enlarging structure further comprising a push
member disposed on a rear surface of the rear cover, the
small-gear-ratio gear being drivingly engaged with the push member;
wherein the front cover is formed with a front window and the rear
cover is formed with a rear window corresponding to the front
window of the front cover, two raised sections with a specific
height being disposed on two sides of the front cover, the rear
cover being formed with a height in adaptation to the height of the
raised sections, whereby after the front cover is fitted with the
rear cover, the front window and the rear window are aligned with
each other as the opposite windows and the internal operation space
is defined between the front cover and the rear cover; and the rear
cover is further formed with a perforation, two frame rails being
disposed on two sides of the perforation and extending along a
moving direction of the shield, a rack being disposed on a surface
of the shield, the large-gear-ratio gear of the transmission gear
being drivingly engaged with the rack of the shield, the
small-gear-ratio gear outward protruding from a surface of the rear
cover through the perforation, which surface faces the push member,
two lateral rails being disposed on two sides of the push member
corresponding to the frame rails, the lateral rails being movably
assembled with the two opposite frame rails, a short rack being
disposed on a surface of the push member for drivingly engaging
with the small-gear-ratio gear.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in claim
1, wherein the push member has a shift end.
5. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in claim
1, wherein at least two elastic members are disposed between
opposite surfaces of the push member and the rear cover.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in claim
4, wherein at least two elastic members are disposed between
opposite surfaces of the push member and the rear cover.
9. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in claim
5, wherein when the shield is positioned in the position totally in
alignment with the opposite windows and when the shield is
positioned in the position totally misaligned from the opposite
windows, the elastic members are obliquely located between the
opposite surfaces of the push member and the rear cover.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in
claim 8, wherein when the shield is positioned in the position
totally in alignment with the opposite windows and when the shield
is positioned in the position totally misaligned from the opposite
windows, the elastic members are obliquely located between the
opposite surfaces of the push member and the rear cover.
13. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in
claim 5, wherein the elastic members are a push-type elastic
member.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in
claim 8, wherein the elastic members are a push-type elastic
member.
17. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the elastic members are a push-type elastic
member.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. The shield module travel enlarging structure as claimed in
claim 12, wherein the elastic members are a push-type elastic
member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a shield module travel
enlarging structure, which is applicable to a protection shield
module for the lens of a portable electronic device. By means of
the shield module travel enlarging structure, when a push member is
pushed by a relatively short distance, the shield is slid by an
enlarged sliding travel.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Currently, the tablet or intelligent mobile phone is
generally designed with picture-taking and filming functions. The
tablet or intelligent mobile phone is equipped with a camera lens
for taking pictures and filming.
[0005] The lens is generally exposed to the ambient environment and
is subject to contamination of external alien particles such as
dust. This will affect the picture-taking quality. In order to
avoid the contamination of the lens, a shield module having a
slidable shield is generally provided to shield the lens when not
used. In use, the shield can be easily opened to perform the
picture-taking operation. After the operation is completed, the
shield can be easily closed to protect the lens.
[0006] The current shield module generally includes a slide
rail-type shield. An external pushbutton is provided for a user to
push the shield from outer side. The pushbutton is generally
fixedly connected with the shield. That is, the shield will move as
far as the push member moves. That is, the push distance of the
pushbutton of such shield module is always equal to the sliding
travel of the shield.
[0007] Under the structural design requirements or configuration
design requirements of the novel products in the market, it often
takes place that the push distance of the push member cannot be
increased, while the sliding travel of the shield must be elongated
or even in a limited space, the push distance must be shortened,
while the sliding travel of the shield must be elongated. The
conventional shield module can hardly satisfy these
requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a shield module travel enlarging structure. By means of the
shield module travel enlarging structure, when a push member is
pushed by a relatively short distance, the shield is moved by an
enlarged travel.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
the above shield module travel enlarging structure. In the case
that the push distance of the push member cannot be increased, by
means of the shield module travel enlarging structure, the moving
travel of the shield can be still increased.
[0010] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide the above shield module travel enlarging structure. In the
case that the push distance of the push member must be shortened,
the moving travel of the shield can be still increased.
[0011] To achieve the above and other objects, the shield module
travel enlarging structure of the present invention includes a
front cover and a rear cover formed with opposite windows. The
front and rear covers are assembled to form a module main body
having an internal operation space. A shield is mounted in the
operation space and movable between a position in alignment with
the opposite windows and a position misaligned from the opposite
windows. A transmission gear is mounted in the internal operation
space of the module main body to cooperate with the shield. A push
member is disposed on a rear surface of the rear cover. The
transmission gear at least has a large-gear-ratio gear and a
small-gear-ratio gear. The large-gear-ratio gear is drivingly
engaged with the shield. The small-gear-ratio gear is drivingly
engaged with the push member. When the push member is moved, via
the transmission gear, the shield is slid by an enlarged
travel.
[0012] In the above shield module travel enlarging structure, the
front cover is formed with a front window and the rear cover is
formed with a rear window corresponding to the front window of the
front cover. Two raised sections with a specific height are
disposed on two sides of the front cover. The rear cover is formed
with a height in adaptation to the height of the raised sections,
whereby after the front cover is fitted with the rear cover, the
front window and the rear window are aligned with each other as the
opposite windows and the internal operation space is defined
between the front cover and the rear cover. The shield is slidable
within the internal operation space to block or unblock the
opposite windows.
[0013] In the above shield module travel enlarging structure, the
rear cover is further formed with a perforation beside the rear
window. Two frame rails are disposed on two sides of the
perforation. A rack is disposed on a surface of the shield. The
large-gear-ratio gear of the transmission gear is drivingly engaged
with the rack of the shield. The small-gear-ratio gear outward
protrudes from a surface of the rear cover through the perforation,
which surface faces the push member. The push member is movably
mounted between the frame rails of the rear cover. The push member
has a shift end for a user to push. A short rack is disposed on a
surface of the push member for drivingly engaging with the
small-gear-ratio gear.
[0014] In the above shield module travel enlarging structure, more
than one elastic member is disposed between opposite surfaces of
the push member and the rear cover. The elastic member serves to
quickly push the shield to a fully opened position or a fully
closed position.
[0015] Accordingly, the operation of the shield module is
facilitated.
[0016] In the above shield module travel enlarging structure, when
the shield is positioned in the fully opened position and the fully
closed position, the elastic member is obliquely positioned between
the push member and the rear cover with two ends respectively
located on the opposite surfaces of the push member and the rear
cover.
[0017] The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, in which the shield is in a closed state;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view according to FIG. 3, showing that the
shield is half-opened; and
[0022] FIG. 5 is a front view according to FIG. 4, in which the
shield is in an opened state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. According to a preferred
embodiment, the present invention includes a front cover 10, a rear
cover 20 assembled on a rear side of the front cover 10 to together
form a module main body having an internal operation space, a
shield 30 cooperating with a transmission gear 40 and movably
mounted between the front cover 10 and the rear cover 20, and a
push member 50 disposed on a rear surface of the rear cover 20. The
push member cooperates with elastic members 60 to facilitate the
opening/closing operation of the module.
[0024] The front cover 10 is formed with a front window 11 with a
specific area. Two raised sections 12, 13 with a specific height
are disposed on two sides of the front cover 10. The rear cover 20
is formed with a rear window 21 corresponding to the front window
11 of the front cover 10. The rear cover 20 is formed with a height
in adaptation to the height of the raised sections 12, 13, whereby
after the front cover 10 is fitted with the rear cover 20, the
front window 11 and the rear window 21 are aligned with each other
and the internal operation space is defined between the front cover
10 and the rear cover 20. The rear cover 20 is further formed with
a perforation 22 beside the rear window 21. Two frame rails 23, 24
are disposed on two sides of the perforation 22 and extend along
the moving direction of the shield 30. In this embodiment, locating
bosses 25 are disposed on the rear surface of the rear cover 20 for
locating one end of the elastic members 60.
[0025] The shield 30 is slidably mounted in the internal operation
space defined between the front cover 10 and the rear cover 20. A
rack 31 is disposed on a surface of the shield 30. The transmission
gear 40 at least has a large-gear-ratio gear 41 and a
small-gear-ratio gear 42. The large-gear-ratio gear 41 is drivingly
engaged with the rack 31 of the shield 30. The small-gear-ratio
gear 42 outward protrudes from the surface of the rear cover 20
through the perforation 22.
[0026] Two lateral rails 53 are disposed on two sides of the push
member 50 corresponding to the frame rails 23, 24. The lateral
rails 53 are movably assembled with the two opposite frame rails
23, 24 of the rear cover 20. The push member 50 has a shift end 51
for a user to force. A short rack 52 is disposed on a surface of
the push member 50 for drivingly engaging with the small-gear-ratio
gear 42, which outward protrudes from the surface of the rear cover
20 through the perforation 22. In addition, locating bosses 54 are
disposed on a surface of the push member 50, which surface faces
the rear cover 20. The locating bosses 54 serve to locate the other
end of the elastic members 60.
[0027] In this embodiment, the locating bosses 25 are such disposed
on the rear surface of the rear cover 20 that when the shield 30 is
totally closed or totally opened, the elastic members 60, (which
are push-type elastic members in the drawings), are obliquely
positioned with one end located on the push member 50, while the
other end located on the rear cover 20.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows that the shield 30 is positioned between the
front window 11 of the front cover 10 and the rear window 21 of the
rear cover 20 to block the same in a protection state. As shown in
FIG. 4, when a force is applied to the shift end 51 to push the
push member 50 in a direction of the arrow, the short rack 52 of
the push member 50 drives the small-gear-ratio gear 42 to rotate.
At this time, the entire transmission gear 40 starts to rotate and
the large-gear-ratio gear 41 is synchronously rotated.
Simultaneously, the shield 30 engaged with the large-gear-ratio
gear 41 is moved leftward according to the drawing. When the shield
30 reaches the position as shown in FIG. 5, the shield 30 is fully
opened to unblock the front window 11 of the front cover 10 and the
rear window 21 of the rear cover 20, whereby the shielded unit
(such as a lens) is exposed to outer side. Reversely, when a force
is applied to the shift end 51 of the push member 50 to push the
push member 50 in a reverse direction, the shield 30 is restored to
a closed state.
[0029] In this embodiment, the elastic members 60 are normally
obliquely mounted between the push member 50 and the rear cover 20.
During the opening/closing process of the shield 30, the elastic
members 60 (such as compression springs) will be first compressed.
After the shield 30 moves to a certain position, where the elastic
members are compressed to a maximum extent, due to the elastic
members' own elasticity, the elastic members will immediately
restore to their home state to quickly push the shield to another
expected position, (that is, the fully opened or fully closed
position). Accordingly, the operation of the shield module is
facilitated.
[0030] During the opening/closing process of the shield, the push
member 50 is pushed to first drive the small-gear-ratio gear 42.
Then the large-gear-ratio gear 41 drives the shield 30. Therefore,
when the push member 50 is pushed by a shorter distance, the shield
30 is slid by a larger travel. In the case that the push distance
of the push member cannot be increased, while the sliding travel of
the shield must be elongated, the present invention is applicable
to enlarge the sliding travel of the shield. Alternatively, in the
case that in a limited space, the push distance must be shortened,
while the sliding travel of the shield must be elongated, the
present invention is applicable to enlarge the sliding travel of
the shield.
[0031] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the
present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many
modifications of the above embodiments can be made without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *