Elasticity module, slide opening/closing apparatus and portable appliance utilizing the elasticity module

Abstract

An elasticity module suitable to be used as a spring of a slide opening/closing apparatus of mobile devices such as wireless phone, PDA, PMP, portable game machine, electronic scheduler is provided. The elasticity module includes: a spring arm portion comprising first and second spring arms combined so as to have a sliding zone in which at least parts of them latch each other slidingly in an overlapped position; and a spring disposed between the first and second spring arms for applying an elasticity to in-between the first and second spring arms by an elastic deformation through the first spring arm's translation against the second spring arm over at least a part of the sliding zone, which can use a variety of springs, in which a moving range is larger for a size of the spring and it is easy to adjust the magnitude of the elasticity, which it is able to adjust the magnitude of the elasticity for a same size, which is stable in operation, which is tough against a vertical force, and which enables the slide cover open by two steps or vertically with the elasticity module.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.