# US 11,444,260 B2 · Foldable electronic device including bezel sag preventing structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,260 B2 - Document ID: US11444260B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/793,210 - Filed: 2020-02-18 - Published: 2020-08-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-18 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jonghwan Choi; Daeyoung Kim; Chijoon Kim; Jungwon Park; Hyosang An; Hyunggeun Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444260B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 1/1637: {Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing} - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - H05K 5/0017: {with operator interface units} - H05K 5/0226: {Hinges} - H10K 77/111: {Flexible substrates} - H10K 59/12: Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays - H10K 59/87: {Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations} - H10K 2102/311: {Flexible OLED} - Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An electronic device is disclosed. An electronic device may include: a foldable housing including a hinge, a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first surface oriented in a first direction and a second surface oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction, a second housing connected to the hinge and including a third surface oriented in a third direction and a fourth surface oriented in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, wherein the second housing is configured to be folded on the first housing about the hinge, and side surfaces surrounding at least a part of a space between the first surface and the second surface and at least a part of a space between the third surface and the fourth surface; and a display having ductility and extending from the first surface to the third surface to configure the first surface and the third surface, wherein the foldable housing is disposed along an edge of the display and includes bezels extending from respective side surfaces to an active area of the display, and wherein the bezels include, in an area configuring the first surface and the third surface of the foldable housing, extensions spaced apart from edge portions of the display, and support portions disposed between the edge of the display and the extensions to be in contact with the edge portions of the display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a hinge; a foldable housing; and a display, wherein the foldable housing comprises: a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first surface oriented in a first direction and a second surface oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction; a second housing connected to the hinge and including a third surface oriented in a third direction and a fourth surface oriented in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, wherein the second housing is configured to be folded toward the first housing about the hinge; and side members having outer side surfaces exposed to an outside of the electronic device and inner side surfaces, the inner side surfaces surrounding at least a part of a space between the first surface and the second surface, and surrounding at least a part of a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, and wherein the display has ductility and extends from the first surface to the third surface to configure the first surface and the third surface, wherein the foldable housing is disposed along an edge of the display and includes bezels extending from respective side members of the foldable housings to an active area of the display, wherein the bezels include, in an area of the first surface and the third surface of the foldable housing, extensions spaced apart from a surface of edge portions of the display, and support portions disposed between the edges portions of the display and the extensions, wherein the edge portions of the display are overlapped with the extensions and the support portions, wherein side surfaces of the display are configured to be slipped toward the respective inner side surfaces of the side members when the electronic device is folded, and wherein spaces for the slipping of the side surfaces of the display are formed between the side surfaces of the display and the respective inner side surfaces of the side members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in an unfolded state of the electronic device, the side members are spaced apart from respective side surfaces of the display by a first distance, and the first distance is greater than a slip distance of the display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support portions are in contact with the display at least a second distance from ends of the extensions toward the side members, and the second distance is greater than a slip distance of the display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the respective support portions protrude toward a surface of the display with respect to the extensions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the ends of the extensions are spaced apart from an edge of the active area of the display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the extensions are configured to maintain a gap with the display in the first direction in an unfolded state or a folded state of the electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the extensions are integrally configured with respective support portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support portions are disposed along respective portions of surfaces of the extensions which face the display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein a surface of each of the support portions includes a material having a hardness less than a hardness of a surface of the display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein portions of the surfaces of the extensions are inclined with respect to a surface of the display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein each of the support portions includes one or more of Teflon tape, polyethylene terephthalate, a polyurethane sheet, or sponge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the respective support portions comprise a material different from a material of the extensions, and wherein each of the support portions includes a material having a hardness less than a hardness of a surface of the display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, wherein each of the support portions includes a double injection molded support portion or a bonded support portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising coating layers disposed on surfaces of the extensions oriented toward a display surface of the display. ### Claim 15 An electronic device comprising: a hinge configured to enable the electronic device to be rotated into a folded state or an unfolded state; a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first surface oriented in a first direction and a second surface oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction; a second housing connected to the hinge and including a third surface oriented in a third direction and a fourth surface oriented in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, wherein the second housing is configured to be folded on the first housing about the hinge; a flexible display extending from the first surface to the third surface; a first bracket comprising a first outer side surface exposed to an outside of the electronic device and a first inner side surface disposed in a space between the first surface and the second surface, the first bracket supporting a portion of the flexible display; a second bracket comprising a second outer side surface exposed to the outside of the electronic device, and a second inner side surface disposed in a space between at least the third surface and the fourth surface, the second bracket supporting a remaining portion of the flexible display; and bezels including extensions in contact with a portion of the first bracket and a portion of the second bracket and extending toward a edge portions of the flexible display, wherein the edge portions of the display are overlapped with the extensions and the support portions, wherein a first side surface of the display is configured to be slipped toward the first inner surface when the electronic device is folded, wherein a second side surface of the display is configured to be slipped toward the second inner surface when the electronic device is folded, wherein a first space for the slipping of the first side surface of the display is formed between at least the first side surface of the display and the first inner side surface of the first bracket, and wherein a second space for the slipping of the second side surface of the display is formed between at least the second side surface of the display and the second inner side surface of the side members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein, in an unfolded state of the electronic device, respective the first inner side surfaces of the first bracket and the second inner side surface of the second brackets are spaced apart from the first side surface and the second side surface of the display by a first distance, and the first distance is greater than a slip distance of the display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein respective support portions are in contact with the display at least a second distance from ends of the extensions toward the side surfaces of the display, and the second distance is greater than the slip distance of the display. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the extensions are configured to maintain a gap with the display in the first direction in an unfolded state and/or a folded state of the electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the support portions protrude towards the surfaces of the display with respect to the extensions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising coating layers disposed on surfaces of the extensions oriented toward the surfaces of the display.