Panel unit swing mechanism

Claim 2

The panel unit swing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the swing shaft is arranged in the panel unit at a certain position in such a way that the bottom side of said panel unit which is under the first state can be placed upon that of said panel unit which is under the second state.

Claim 3

The panel unit swing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said movement regulating guide groove is formed like a straight line parallel to the bottom side of said panel unit which is under the first state and that of said panel unit which is under the second state.

Claim 4

The panel unit swing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said movement regulating guide groove is formed like a curve or arc which comes nearer to the swing shaft at its center.

Claim 5

The panel unit swing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said panel unit includes a panel-like display.

Claim 6

The panel unit swing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said panel unit swings between the first and the second state by 90°.

Claim 7

The panel unit swing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide member is arranged at a lower corner of the panel unit.

Claim 8

A panel unit swing mechanism suitable for use with the personal information device provided with a body (1) having a key input section (2) in the top thereof, and a panel unit (7) having a display section in its face which is opposed to the key input section in the body, comprising a support unit (5) shaped like a panel and freely swingably attached to the body at its bottom end through hinges (6) and serving to support the panel unit swingable to a first state (FIG. 1) under which the panel unit is set with its longer sides parallel to the horizontal direction or a second state (FIG. 9) under which it is set with its shorter sides parallel to the horizontal direction; a swing shaft (17) arranged in the panel unit at a certain position thereof to serve as a center shaft round which the panel unit is swung relative to the support unit; a guide member (18) positioned between a lower corner of the panel unit and the swing shaft when the panel unit is under the first state and under the second state; a movement regulating guide groove (14) arranged in the support unit under the swing shaft to regulate the movement of the guide member when the panel unit is swung round the swing shaft from the first state to the second one and vice versa; and a swing shaft guide groove (13) arranged in the support unit to move the swing shaft up and down as the guide member moves along the movement regulating guide groove when the panel unit is swung round the swing shaft from the first state to the second one and vice versa.

Claim 9

The panel unit swing mechanism in the personal information device according to claim 8, characterized in that the swing shaft is arranged in the panel unit at a certain position thereof in such a way that the bottom side of the panel unit which is under the first state can be placed upon that of the panel unit which is under the second state.

Claim 10

The panel unit swing mechanism in the personal information device according to claim 8, characterized in that the movement regulating guide groove is formed like a straight line parallel to the bottom side of the panel unit which is under the first state and that of the panel unit which is under the second state.

Claim 11

The panel unit swing mechanism in the personal information device according to claim 8, characterized in that the movement regulating guide groove is shaped like a curve which comes nearer to the swing shaft at its center.

Claim 12

The panel unit swing mechanism in the personal information device according to claim 8, characterized in that the panel unit swings in a range of 90° from the first state to the second one and vice versa.

Claim 13

The panel unit swing mechanism in the personal information device according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide member is arranged at a lower corner of the panel unit.

Claim 14

A personal information device provided with a body (1) having a key input section (2) in the top thereof, and a display unit having a display section in that face thereof which is opposed to the key input section of the body, comprising a support unit (5) freely swingably attached to the body by hinges (6) to support the display unit swingable; a first guide groove (13) formed in the support unit, extending in a direction perpendicular to a shaft of the hinges; a second guide groove (14) formed in the support unit, extending in a direction parallel to the shaft of the hinges; a swing shaft (17) arranged in the display unit at a certain position thereof to connect the display and support units with each other and guided by the first guide groove when the display unit is swung relative to the support unit; and a guide member (18) arranged between a corner of the display unit and the swing shaft and guided by the second guide groove when the display unit is swung relative to the support unit; wherein when the display unit is swung relative to the support unit, the guide member is guided by the second guide groove to move in a direction parallel to the shaft of hinges, and as the guide member moves in the direction, the swing shaft moves along the first guide groove in a direction perpendicular to the shaft of hinges.