Mobile communication device with displaceable lid member
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsJason Tyler Griffin, Julia Allwright, Benjamin Henley, Martin Riddiford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mobile communication device, a corresponding connecting mechanism and method are provided. The device comprises a connecting mechanism which rotatably couples a lid member and a base member at a linked end of the device. The connecting mechanism also translationally couples the lid and the base member. When the device is in the closed position, displacing the lid member of the device in the direction of the free end of the device may initiate movement of the device to the opened position.
Claims20
A mobile communication device comprising:
- a first member comprising a first outer surface of the device;
- a second member comprising a second outer surface of the device;
- a linked end and a free end;
- and
- a connecting mechanism rotatably coupling the first member and the second member at the linked end of the device such that the first member and the second member are moveable between an opened position and a closed position, the first outer surface being opposite to the second outer surface when the device is in the closed position,
- the connecting mechanism translationally coupling the first member and the second member such that the first member and the connecting mechanism are translationally displaceable with respect to the second member in a direction toward the free end of the device, thereby initiating movement of the device from the closed position to the opened position,
- the linked end of the device comprising a contact area formed by at least one of the connecting mechanism and the first member, the contact area extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface of the device, wherein
- pressing on the contact area in the direction toward the free end of the device translationally displaces the connecting mechanism and the first member relative to the second member.
A connecting mechanism for coupling a first member of a mobile communication device to a second member of the device at a linked end of the device, the first member comprising a first outer surface of the device, the second member comprising a second outer surface of the device, the connecting mechanism comprising:
- a slide member operable to slidably engage the second member of the device such that the first member and the connecting mechanism are translationally displaceable with respect to the second member in a direction toward a free end of the device;
- and
- a rotatable hinge operable to rotatably couple the first member to the slide member such that:
- the first outer surface is opposite to the second outer surface when the device is in a closed position;
- and
- the linked end of the device comprises a contact area formed by at least one of the connecting mechanism and the first member, the contact area extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface of the device, wherein
- pressing on the contact area in the direction toward the free end of the device translationally displaces the connecting mechanism and the first member relative to the second member.
A method for coupling a first member of a mobile communication device to a second member of the device at a linked end of the device, the first member comprising a first outer surface of the device, the second member comprising a second outer surface of the device, the first outer surface being opposite to the second outer surface when the device is in a closed position, the method comprising:
- rotatably connecting the connecting mechanism to the first member of the device at the linked end of the device such that the linked end of the device comprises a contact area formed by at least one of the connecting mechanism and the first member, the contact area extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface of the device;
- slidably connecting the connecting mechanism to the second member of the device such that the first member is translationally displaceable with respect to the second member in a direction toward a free end of the device, and such that pressing on the contact area in the direction toward a free end of the device translationally displaces the connecting mechanism and the first member relative to the second member;
- and
- releasably engaging the first and the second member with at least one retaining mechanism when the device is in a closed position, wherein
- displacing the first member disengages the retaining mechanism thereby initiating movement of the device to an opened position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.