Electronic device with rotatable structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9829917-B2
Application number	US-201615237199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Aug 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device electronic device that has a single part, which allows a wheel dial to be fixed to a housing of the electronic device, and prevents the wheel dial from moving horizontally and vertically relative to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing that includes a first face that faces in a first direction, and a second face that faces in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
a circular opening that is formed in the first face of the housing;
a circular display that is at least partially exposed through the circular opening;
a first ring-shaped structure that is disposed around the circular opening;
a second ring-shaped structure that is disposed around the circular opening, and is physically rotatable; and
a coupling structure that is disposed between at least a portion of the first ring-shaped structure and at least a portion of the second ring-shaped structure,
wherein the first ring-shaped structure includes:
a first portion that is flat and is positioned adjacent to the display, which is at least partially exposed, along a periphery of the display;
a second portion that protrudes in the first direction from a region of the first portion, which is adjacent to the display; and
a first recess that is formed along a periphery of the second portion,
wherein the second ring-shaped structure includes a second recess that is formed along the periphery of the second ring-shaped structure, and
wherein the coupling structure includes:
a body that forms a closed loop that extends along the at least one of first ring-shaped structure and the second ring-shaped structure;
a first protrusion that fills at least a portion of the first recess; and
a second protrusion that fills at least a portion of the second recess.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first recess is formed in a third direction that is directed to a center of the first ring-shaped structure,
wherein the second recess is formed in a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction,
wherein the first protrusion protrudes in the third direction from the body and is seated in the first recess, and
wherein the second protrusion protrudes in the third direction from the body and is seated in the second recess.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the coupling structure includes a third protrusion that protrudes in the second direction from the body.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the third protrusion protrude from different portions of the body, respectively.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion protrude alternately and in alternate directions from the body.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the third protrusion is provided at a position that corresponds to a mounting position of the second protrusion, and
wherein the second protrusion and the third protrusion form a “ ” shape in a cross section or a “ ” shape in the cross section.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein one or more embossed portions are provided on either the second protrusion or the third protrusion.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second ring-shaped structure is formed of a material that has surface lubricity.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second ring-shaped structure includes at least one of polyoxymethylene, polyacetal, and polyamide.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with an insertion member that is supported by an elastic member, and
wherein a plurality of holes are formed on a bottom face of the second ring-shaped structure such that the insertion member is seated in the plurality of holes while being moved.

11. An electronic device comprising:
a housing that includes a first face that faces in a first direction, and a second face that faces in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
a circular opening that is formed in the first face of the housing;
a circular display that is at least partially exposed through the opening;
a first ring-shaped structure that is disposed around the opening;
a second ring-shaped structure that is disposed around the opening, and is physically rotatable; and
a coupling structure that is disposed between at least a portion of the first ring-shaped structure and at least a portion of the second ring-shaped structure,
wherein the first ring-shaped structure includes:
a first portion that is flat and is positioned adjacent to the display, which is at least partially exposed, along a periphery of the display; and
first hook portions that are spaced apart from each other along the periphery of the first portion and protrude in the first direction,
wherein the second ring-shaped structure includes a second hook portion that is formed along a periphery of the second ring-shaped structure, and
wherein the coupling structure includes:
a body that forms a closed loop that extends along at least one of the first ring-shaped structure and the second ring-shaped structure;
a first protrusion that is at least partially hooked to the first hook portion; and
a second protrusion that is at least partially hooked to the second hook portion.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first hook portion forms a hook ring in a third direction that is directed to a center of the first ring-shaped structure,
wherein the second hook portion forms a hook face in the third direction,
wherein the first protrusion protrudes in a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction, and
wherein the second protrusion protrudes in the fourth direction from the body.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the coupling structure includes a recess portion that is formed to be recessed in the first direction from the body, and
wherein the housing includes an insertion protrusion that is at least partially introduced into the recess portion.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion protrude alternately and in alternate directions from a same portion of the body.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the first protrusion is formed to have a protrusion length that is shorter than the second protrusion, and the electronic device is provided with a rotary device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the first hook portion passes between the second hook portion and the first protrusion to be at least partially hooked to the second protrusion.

17. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the recess portion is provided at a position that corresponds to a mounting position of the second protrusion.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the embossed portions is provided on the second protrusion.

19. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the second ring-shaped structure is formed of a material that has surface lubricity.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the second ring-shaped structure includes at least one of polyoxymethylene, polyacetal, and polyamide.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Hyung-Woo

Classifications

• G04B19/286

  with locking means to prevent undesired rotations in both directions · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title

• G04G17/08

  Housings · CPC title

• G04G17/00

  Structural details; Housings (constructional details of radio-controlled time-pieces, e.g. antennas G04R60/00) · CPC title