Mobile terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10104790-B2
Application number	US-201715454278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2017
Priority date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal comprises a flexible display; a first body positioned at a rear of the flexible display, the first body connected to the flexible display; a second body positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the second body connected to the flexible display and spaced apart from the first body, the second body movable with respect to the first body; a hinge assembly positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the hinge assembly located between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly connecting the first body and the second body; and a hinge cover positioned at a lateral side of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover between the first body and the second body, wherein the hinge cover has a thinner thickness toward a central portion of the hinge cover from both ends of the hinge cover in a direction from the hinge cover toward the hinge assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
a flexible display;
a first body positioned at a rear of the flexible display, the first body connected to the flexible display;
a second body positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the second body connected to the flexible display and spaced apart from the first body, the second body foldable with respect to the first body;
a hinge assembly positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the hinge assembly located between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly elongated along between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly connecting the first body and the second body; and
a hinge cover positioned at an end of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover between the first body and the second body, the hinge cover coupled to the first and second bodies, the hinge cover covering the end of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover having a thickness in a direction from the flexible display to the hinge cover,
wherein the thickness of the hinge cover is smaller as it goes from the bodies toward a central portion of the hinge cover.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the hinge cover includes:
a first surface forming a rear surface of the hinge cover; and
a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface forming a front surface of the hinge cover.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2 , wherein the first surface is convex in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3 , wherein the first surface includes a groove.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3 , wherein a length of the first surface is greater than a length of the second surface in a direction between both ends of the hinge cover.

6. A mobile terminal comprising:
a flexible display;
a first body positioned at a rear of the flexible display, the first body connected to the flexible display;
a second body positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the second body connected to the flexible display and spaced apart from the first body, the second body foldable with respect to the first body;
a hinge assembly positioned at the rear of the flexible display, the hinge assembly located between the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly connecting the first body and the second body, the hinge assembly elongated along between the first body and the second body; and
a hinge cover positioned at an end of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover between the first body and the second body, the hinge cover coupled to the first and second bodies, the hinge cover covering the end of the hinge assembly,
wherein the hinge cover includes a plurality of layers, and
wherein a layer among the plurality of layers has a modulus different from a modulus of an another layer among the plurality of layers.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the hinge cover includes:
a first layer forming a rear surface of the hinge cover; and
a second layer positioned at a front of the first layer,
wherein the second layer has a modulus greater than a modulus of the first layer.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7 , wherein the hinge cover forms a neutral plane, wherein a side of the hinge cover is provided with a compressive stress, wherein an another side of the hinge cover is provided with a tensile stress, wherein the neutral plane is between the side of the hinge cover and the another side of the hinge cover.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein the neutral plane coincides with a boundary between the first layer and the second layer.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein the neutral plane of the hinge cover is located at the flexible display.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein the hinge cover includes a third layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the neutral plane is located in the third layer.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11 , wherein the third layer has a hardness greater than a hardness of the first layer and the second layer.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Haklim
• Han Jongbeom
• Cha Sunglyong

Classifications

• E05Y2900/606

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E05D11/0054

  Covers, e.g. for protection · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• H05K5/0017 Primary

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H05K5/0086

  portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus (casings for switching devices H01H9/02) · CPC title