US4996522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding electronic device
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-18
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2009-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A folding electronic device comprises a body and a cover member, rear walls of which are rotatably coupled with each other by hinges. When the cover member is closed, the rear wall of the cover member is positioned rearwardly beyond the rear wall of the body while the lower end of the rear wall of the cover member is positioned downwardly beyond the upper end of the rear wall of the body. A clearance defined between the rear walls of the body and the cover member is blocked by a closing member which is provided in the body. A spring is mounted on the closing member to rearwardly urge the same. Due to the urging force of the spring, the closing member is in contact with the rear wall of the cover member when the cover member is closed and when the same is opened by 180°, as well as when the same is being opened/closed. Thus, no foreign matter enters the interior through the clearance defined between the rear walls of the body and the cover member to disconnect an interconnection sheet of the folding electronic device.
Inventors
- 👤 Hironori Sunano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/0216; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A folding electronic device comprising a body containing an electric circuit; a cover member containing another electric circuit; a hinge rotatably connecting a rear end portion of said body with a rear end portion of said cover member for providing said body and said cover member to be freely opened/closed; and an interconnection member electrically connecting said electric circuit contained in said body with said electric circuit contained in said cover member, said cover member being brought into a forward position about a rotation axis of said hinge to vertically overlap with said body thereby to obtain a closed state of said electronic device, said cover member being brought into a rear position about said rotation axis of said hinge to obtain an opened state of said electronic device, said cover member being provided on its rear end portion with a rear wall extending in the same direction as said rotation axis of said hinge and downwardly projecting toward said body, said body being provided on its rear end portion with a rear wall extending in the same direction as said rotation axis of said hinge and upwardly projecting toward said cover member, said rear wall of said cover member being rearwardly displaced beyond said rear wall of said body, a lower end of said rear wall of said cover member being positioned downwardly beyond an upper end of said rear wall of said body in said closed state of said electronic device, said body further including: a closing member displaceably provided to rearwardly project from said rear wall of said body to come into contact with said rear wall of said cover member, and urging means for urging said closing member to retain said closing member in contact with said rear wall of said cover member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A folding electronic device comprising a body containing an electric circuit; a cover member containing another electric circuit; a hinge rotatably connecting a rear end portion of said body with a rear end portion of said cover member for providing said body and said cover member to be freely opened/closed; and an interconnection member electrically connecting said electric circuit contained in said body with said electric circuit contained in said cover member, said cover member being brought into a forward position about a rotation axis of said hinge to vertically overlap with said body thereby to obtain a closed state of said electronic device, said cover member being brought into a rear position about said rotation axis of said hinge to obtain an opened state of said electronic device, said cover member being provided on its rear end portion with a rear wall extending in the same direction as said rotation axis of said hinge and downwardly projecting toward said body, said body being provided on its rear end portion with a rear wall extending in the same direction as said rotation axis of said hinge and upwardly projecting toward said cover member, said rear wall of said cover member being rearwardly displaced beyond said rear wall of said body, a lower end of said rear wall of said cover member being positioned downwardly beyond an upper end of said rear wall of said body in said closed state of said electronic device, said body further including: a closing member displaceably provided to rearwardly project from said rear wall of said body to come into contact with said rear wall of said cover member, and urging means for urging said closing member to retain said closing member in contact with said rear wall of said cover member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closing member extends to fill up a clearance defined between said rear walls of said cover member and said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a through opening is defined in said rear wall of said body to pass said closing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said interconnection member is passed through said through opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closing member is provided to be forwardly and rearwardly slidable, and said urging means rearwardly urges said closing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closing member has a stopper part which comes into contact with an inner surface of said rear wall of said body thereby to define a terminal end of rearward movement of said closing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rear wall of said cover member being in contact with said closing member has an arcuate lower end surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A folding electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cover member has operating keys and said body has a display part.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |