IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,192,391
Granted Patent B2
US 12,192,391 · App. 17/624,422 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Mobile terminal

Inventors: Hosung Nam (Seoul, KR); Taeki Um (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
H04M1/0216G06F1/1681H04M2201/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,192,391
App. No.
17/624,422
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile terminal having a flexible display. The present application provides a mobile terminal comprising: a first body; a second body rotatably provided in the first body; a display which is provided on surfaces, of the first and second bodies, which face each other when the first and second bodies rotate, the display being configured to fold when the first and second bodies rotate toward each other and unfold when the first and second bodies rotate away from each other; a first hinge which rotatably couples the first and second bodies and is configured to revolve around first and second axes disposed between the first and second bodies; and a second hinge which rotatably couples the first and second bodies and is configured to interlock the first and second bodies in order to rotate the first and second bodies together.

Claims (35)

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body;

a second body rotatably provided to the first body;

a display provided to surfaces of the first and second bodies confronting each other when the first and second bodies rotate, the display configured to be folded when the first and second bodies rotate toward each other, the display configured to be unfolded when the first and second bodies rotate away from each other;

a first hinge rotatably coupling the first and second bodies together and configured to revolve around first and second axes disposed between the first and second bodies; and

a second hinge rotatably coupling the first and second bodies together and configured to interlock the first and second bodies to rotate the first and second bodies together,

wherein the first hinge comprises:

a first hinge arm coupled to the first body and configured to revolve around the first axis;

a second hinge arm coupled to the second body and configured to revolve around the second axis; and

a supporter disposed between the first and second hinge arms and guiding revolutions of the first and second hinge arms,

wherein the first and second hinge arms comprise first and second pins, respectively, and

wherein the supporter comprises first and second grooves extended along revolution paths of the first and second hinge arms and receiving the first and second pins therein, respectively.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein adjacent lateral parts of the first and second bodies are spaced apart from each other in a prescribed interval.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2 , wherein the first and second hinges are disposed between the lateral parts of the first and second bodies.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first and second axes are oriented side by side with the lateral parts between the adjacent lateral parts of the first and second bodies and spaced apart from each other in a prescribed interval.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge arm is spaced apart from the second hinge arm in a prescribed interval.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein the first and second hinge arms are extended in a manner of overlapping each other.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hinge arms are configured to adjust a horizontal relative interval between the first and second hinge arms.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge arm is configured to slide with respect to the second hinge arm and wherein the second hinge arm is configured to slide with respect to the second hinge.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the second hinge is configured to rotate the first and second bodies by a same angle simultaneously.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , the second hinge comprising:

a third hinge arm coupled to the first body and configured to revolve around the first axis;

a fourth hinge arm coupled to the second body and configured to revolve around the second axis; and

an interlock mechanism coupled to the third and fourth hinge arms and configured to interlock the third and fourth hinge arms with each other.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the interlock mechanism is disposed in a manner of being spaced apart from the third and fourth hinge arms in a vertical direction.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the interlock mechanism comprises a gear train connecting the third and fourth hinge arms to be driven simultaneously.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , the interlock mechanism comprising:

a first gear engaging with the third hinge arm;

a second gear engaging with the fourth hinge arm; and

at least one or more idle gears engaging with the first and second gears, respectively to rotate the first and second gears together.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13 , wherein the third hinge arm comprises a first rack gear engaging with the first gear and wherein the fourth hinge arm comprises a second rack gear engaging with the second gear.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the second hinge comprises a holding mechanism configured to maintain relative positions of the first and second bodies.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15 , wherein the holding mechanism comprises a friction member provided to the third and fourth hinge arms to apply frictional force of a prescribed size to the third and fourth hinge arms.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hinges are covered overall by the display.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a cover provided between the first and second bodies and configured to cover the first and second hinges.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2022
From: NAM, HOSUNG; UM, TAEKI
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 059579/0475 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220417351A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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