Hinge apparatus for a portable terminal and portable terminal having the same

A portable terminal comprising a first housing, a second housing rotatable relative to the first housing, and a hinge apparatus rotatably connecting the second housing to the first housing and providing a driving force for urging the second housing to be folded onto the first housing or to be rotated away from the first housing, depending on a rotational angle of the second housing, wherein the hinge apparatus comprises:

• a first section in which the driving force of the hinge apparatus urges the second housing to be folded onto the first housing;
• a third section in which the driving force of the hinge apparatus urges the second housing to be rotated away from the first housing;
• and
• a second section between the first and third sections, the driving force of the hinge apparatus urging the second housing to be folded onto the first housing or to be rotated away from the first housing, depending on a rotational angle of the second housing in the second section,
• wherein the hinge apparatus provides a frictional force in the first and third sections while the second housing is rotating.

A portable terminal, comprising:

• a first housing;
• a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing to move between a closed position and an opened position;
• and a hinge apparatus for rotatably connecting the first and second housings of the portable terminal, the hinge apparatus comprising:
• a hinge housing engaging the second housing of the portable terminal, the hinge housing comprising an internal wall with at least one guide groove extending in a circumferential direction;
• and a damping member rotatably received in the hinge housing and rotated as the second housing rotates, the damping member comprising at least one frictional projection for engaging the at least one guide groove, wherein the at least one guide groove is positioned so that the at least one frictional projection contacts the internal wall of the hinge housing in the closed and opened positions and further wherein the second housing travels between a first section, a second section, and a third section, and the at least one guide groove is positioned to receive the at least one frictional projection in the second section.