Lock mechanism, slide apparatus, and mobile handset apparatus
View Patent ↗A lock mechanism for a sliding object includes a slide arm, a rotating lever, and urging means. When an external pressing force presses the slide arm member in opposition to an urging force imparted by the urging means, the slide arm member is moved along a slide path, thereby causing the rotating lever member to rotate. When the slide arm member is pressed further, the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped against the lateral surface of the slide arm member, such that the slide arm member and the rotating lever member remain stopped at the current position even if the pressing force is released.
1. A lock mechanism for a sliding object, comprising:
a slide arm member configured to support the sliding object and to be slidable along a predetermined slide path;
a rotating lever member having a tip that abuts one end of the slide arm member and configured to rotate about a fixed rotational axis; and
urging means configured to apply an urging force that causes the rotating lever member to rotate in a given direction such that the slide arm member is urged along the slide path and toward one end thereof; wherein
when an external pressing force presses the slide arm member in opposition to the urging force of the urging means, the slide arm member is moved along the slide path, thereby causing the rotating lever member to rotate in the direction that is the opposite of the given direction, and
when the slide arm member is additionally and continuously pressed, the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped against the lateral surface of the slide arm member, such that the slide arm member and the rotating lever member remain stopped at the current position even if the pressing force is released.
2. The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the slide arm member includes an engaging portion provided on the lateral surface onto and by which the tip of the rotating lever member rides and is stopped, and wherein
the engaging portion causes the position of the slide arm member to become fixed on the slide path while additionally causing an operational click response to be produced.
3. The lock mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein
the slide arm member includes a recessed portion or protruding portion as the engaging portion provided on the lateral surface onto and by which the tip of the rotating lever member rides and is stopped, and wherein
when the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped by the lateral surface, a portion of the tip fits into the recessed portion or rides over the protruding portion.
4. The lock mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein
the slide arm member includes a first and a second slide arm that slide in parallel,
the rotating lever member includes a first and a second rotating lever corresponding to the first and the second slide arm, and wherein
the single urging means is shared by both the first and the second rotating lever.
5. A slide apparatus that stably holds a sliding object sliding along a predetermined slide path at two points on the slide path, the slide apparatus comprising:
a slide arm member configured to support the sliding object and to be slidable along a predetermined slide path;
a rotating lever member having a tip that abuts one end of the slide arm member and configured to rotate about a fixed rotational axis; and
urging means configured to apply an urging force that causes the rotating lever member to rotate in a given direction such that the slide arm member is urged along the slide path and toward one end thereof; wherein
when an external pressing force presses the slide arm member in opposition to the urging force of the urging means, the slide arm member is moved along the slide path, thereby causing the rotating lever member to rotate in the direction that is the opposite of the given direction, and
when the slide arm member is additionally and continuously pressed, the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped against the lateral surface of the slide arm member, such that the slide arm member and the rotating lever member remain stopped at the current position even if the pressing force is released.
6. The slide apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:
one or more slide guides configured to determine the slide path;
wherein the one or more slide guides include a step such that the sliding object rides onto the surface of the chassis of the slide apparatus when sliding from a closed position to an open position.
7. The slide apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the slide arm member includes an engaging portion provided on the lateral surface onto and by which the tip of the rotating lever member rides and is stopped, and wherein
the engaging portion causes the position of the slide arm member to become fixed on the slide path while additionally causing an operational click response to be produced.
8. The slide apparatus according to according to claim 7 , wherein
the slide arm member includes a recessed portion or protruding portion as the engaging portion provided on the lateral surface onto and by which the tip of the rotating lever member rides and is stopped, and wherein
when the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped by the lateral surface, a portion of the tip fits into the recessed portion or rides over the protruding portion.
9. The slide apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 8 , wherein
the slide arm member includes a first and a second slide arm that slide in parallel,
the rotating lever member includes a first and a second rotating lever corresponding to the first and the second slide arm, and wherein
the single urging means is shared by both the first and the second rotating lever.
10. A mobile handset apparatus, comprising:
a camera unit;
a cover able to be opened and closed with respect to the camera unit;
a slide arm member configured to support the cover and to be slidable along a predetermined slide path;
a rotating lever member having a tip that abuts one end of the slide arm member and configured to rotate about a fixed rotational axis; and
urging means configured to apply an urging force that causes the rotating lever member to rotate in a given direction such that the slide arm member is urged along the slide path and toward one end thereof; wherein
when an external pressing force presses the slide arm member in opposition to the urging force of the urging means, the slide arm member is moved along the slide path, thereby causing the rotating lever member to rotate in the direction that is the opposite of the given direction, and
when the slide arm member is additionally and continuously pressed, the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped against the lateral surface of the slide arm member such that the slide arm member and the rotating lever member remain stopped at the current position even if the pressing force is released.