Mobile terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12284300-B2
Application number	US-202017904725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2020
Priority date	Feb 20, 2020
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a mobile terminal including a first frame, a second frame, a slide frame movable with respect to the second frame in a first direction or a second direction, a flexible display including a third region bent to surround the second frame, and a rolling plate attached to a rear of the flexible display. The second frame includes a side portion at an end thereof facing in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a slide rail formed on the side portion. The rolling plate includes a plurality of support bars extending in the third direction and arranged in the first direction, and a slide hook protruding from an end of each of the support bars and movably inserted into the slide rail. The terminal may maintain the display in a flat state by preventing the display from being separated when the second frame is moved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
a first frame;
a second frame configured to slidably move from the first frame in a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
a metal rolling ball inserted into a side portion of the second frame, and
a magnet provided in an insertion portion of the second frame to apply magnetic force to the rolling ball, the rolling ball being inserted into the second frame,
a flexible display comprising a fixed portion coupled to the first frame, and a variable portion bent in a manner of surrounding the second frame; and
a rolling plate attached to a rear surface of the variable portion of the flexible display,
wherein the second frame comprises:
the side portion positioned at an end thereof facing in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; and
a slide rail formed on the side portion,
wherein the rolling plate comprises:
a plurality of support bars extending in the third direction perpendicular to the first direction and arranged side by side in the first direction;
and
a slide hook protruding at an end of each of the support bars, and inserted into the slide rail to move along the slide rail,
wherein, when the second frame is moved in the first direction or the second direction, the rolling ball rotates in contact with the first frame.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the slide hook has a cylindrical shape.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2 , further comprising a ring-shaped slide roller, the slide roller being inserted into the slide hook.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fastening groove formed in a ring shape on an outer circumferential surface of the slide hook; and
a fastening protrusion protruding from an inner surface of the slide roller and inserted into the fastening groove.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising
a first expanded side portion extending from the end of each of the support bars to a position spaced apart from the flexible display,
wherein the slide hook formed at an end of the first expanded side portion, and
wherein a width of the first expanded side portion in the first direction is narrowed as the first expanded side portion extends away from the flexible display.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein the rolling plate further comprises:
a second expanded side portion forming a step with respect to the first expanded side portion,
wherein the second expanded side portion is disposed to overlap the first expanded side portion of a neighboring support bar among the support bars.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the side portion of the second frame comprises an opening positioned on a front side,
wherein a width of the opening corresponds to a size of the second expanded side portion.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7 , wherein the opening extends in the first direction,
the mobile terminal further comprising:
a connector arranged through the opening to connect a side portion of the first frame to a printed circuit board positioned inside the first frame.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising:
a roller coupled to the second frame to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the third direction perpendicular to the first direction,
wherein the variable portion is bent in a manner of surrounding the roller,
wherein each of the support bars comprises a curved surface corresponding to a curvature of the roller.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the slide rail comprises:
a first horizontal portion positioned adjacent to a rear of the second frame;
a second horizontal portion positioned in front of the second frame and arranged parallel to the first horizontal portion; and
a curved portion connecting ends of the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion facing in the first direction.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the side portion of the second frame comprises an opening positioned on a front side of the first horizontal portion,
wherein, when the second frame is moved in the first direction to switch from a first state to a second state, an end of the rolling plate facing in the third direction is exposed to an outside through the opening.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the rolling plate further comprises:
a rolling sheet having one surface coupled to the flexible display and an opposite surface coupled to the support bars.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12 , wherein the rolling sheet comprises a superelastic metal sheet.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 12 , wherein the rolling sheet comprises a kerf pattern provided with a plurality of grooves extending in the third direction and arranged in the first direction.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14 , wherein the grooves are positioned between the support bars.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14 , further comprising:
an adhesive tape positioned between the rolling sheet and the support bars and between the rolling sheet and the display.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flexible connector configured to connect the support bars.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Insu
• Kim Jaewook
• Lee Seongcheol
• Kim Minsoo

Classifications

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• H05K5/0086

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

• G06F1/1652 Primary

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M2201/08

  Magnetic elements · CPC title