[0001] The present invention relates generally to electronic equipment including a portable
communication terminal, and more particularly to a cover unit for covering ports of
various electronic equipments.
[0002] In general, "portable communication terminals" are devices that are portable and
enable owners of the devices to communicate in a wireless way. The portable communication
terminals may be classified into several types of communication terminals based on
their external appearances. For example, the portable communication terminals may
be classified into a bar-type communication terminal, a flip-type communication terminal,
and a folder-type communication terminal. The bar-type communication terminal has
a bar-type single housing, the flip-type communication terminal includes a bar-type
housing and a flip part pivotably attached to the housing, and the folder-type communication
terminal includes a bar-type housing and a folder part pivotably attached to the housing.
[0003] Additionally, portable communication terminals may be classified into a necklace-type
communication terminal and a wrist-type communication terminal based on a position
or way in which a user puts it on. The necklace-type communication terminal is worn
on the neck of a user using a string, and the wrist-type communication terminal is
worn around the wrist of the user.
[0004] Further, portable communication terminals may be classified into a rotation-type
communication terminal and a sliding-type communication terminal based on the method
of opening and closing the device. In the case of the rotation-type communication
terminal, two housings are rotatably connected to each other when the housings face
opposite to each other. The rotation-type communication terminal is opened or closed
by the rotation of the two housings, thus the housings are rotated apart from or close
to each other. In the case of the sliding-type communication device, two housings
are longitudinally slid. The sliding-type communication terminal is opened or closed
by the sliding movement of the two housings, thus the housings are slid apart from
or close to each other. The above described various types of communication terminals
are easily understood by a person having an ordinary skill in the art to which the
present invention pertains.
[0005] Such portable communication terminals are equipped with various ports, which are
provided for connecting with information processing devices, such as personal computers
or peripheral devices. For example, the ports may include USB ports for connecting
with personal computers, interface connectors for connecting with portable chargers,
and ear-microphone jacks for connecting with ear-microphones. The ports are provided
at the lower end or the side of the portable communication terminal. The ports are
generally protected by covers, preferably made of rubber.
[0006] However, the conventional portable communication terminal has lack of aesthetic appearance
because the cover for protecting the port of the portable communication terminal is
made of rubber. The rubber used in the conventional portable communication terminal
is quite different from an injection-molded material used for the portable communication
terminal itself, although it is provided at the outer side of the portable communication
terminal when being exposed at the outside. Furthermore, the cover is usually opened
with the fingernail of a user, which may cause inconvenience for the user.
[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problem.
[0008] It is the object of the present invention to provide a port cover unit for portable
communication terminals, which can be made preferably utilizing injection molding.
[0009] This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.
[0010] Preferred embodiments are defmed by the dependent claims.
[0011] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a port cover unit for portable
communication terminals, which can be easily opened or closed.
[0012] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a port cover unit for portable
communication terminals having an elastic member, by which a port cover is easily
opened and closed.
[0013] It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a port cover unit
for portable communication terminals having a port cover that can be slidably moved
or rotated.
[0014] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects
and advantages can be accomplished by the provision of a port cover unit located at
a preferred region on electronic equipment for protecting various ports exposed at
the outside of the electronic equipment. The port cover unit includes a cover housing
positioned on the port of the electronic equipment and opened in the upper and lower
directions for exposing the port to the outside of the electronic equipment, a sliding
cover slidably attached to an upper end of the cover housing and moved in the longitudinal
direction of the cover housing for partially opening or closing the cover housing,
and a stationary cover attached to the upper end of the cover housing, the stationary
cover aligned with the sliding cover or placed below the sliding cover depending on
the position of the sliding cover.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a port cover unit is
mounted to a predetermined region of an electronic component for protecting various
ports exposed to an outside of the electronic component, the port cover unit comprising:
a mounting groove formed at a predetermined region of the electronic component, the
mounting groove being provided at an inside thereof with a port hole; a sliding cover
disposed in the mounting groove, the sliding cover being slidably moved upward and
downward in the longitudinal direction of the mounting groove for opening and closing
the port hole; a stationary cover disposed at a bottom part of the sliding cover,
the stationary cover being aligned with the sliding cover and placed below the sliding
cover as the sliding cover is moved; and an elastic member disposed at a rear of the
stationary cover for providing an elastic force for supporting the stationary cover
when the stationary cover is aligned with the sliding cover or placed below the sliding
cover.
[0016] The above object and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present
invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable communication terminal to which
a port cover unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
mounted;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the port cover unit shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover unit shown in Fig. 1 with
the port closed;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover shown in Fig. 1 with the
port opened;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover unit shown in Fig.
3;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover unit shown in Fig.
5;
Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of a port cover
unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the encircled portion A of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged plan view illustrating a mounting groove of the port
cover unit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the port cover unit according
to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the encircled portion B of Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the port cover unit according
to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a partially enlarged perspective view of Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a sliding cover of the port cover
unit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention before
the sliding cover is slid;
Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the sliding cover of the port
cover unit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention after
the sliding cover is slid;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a curved portable communication terminal
to which the port cover unit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention is mounted, when the sliding cover is closed; and
Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the curved portable communication terminal
with the port cover unit of Fig. 16 mounted, after the sliding cover is opened.
[0017] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements
are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different
drawings. In the following, a detailed description of known functions and configurations
incorporated herein will be omitted for clarity where they are well known in the art.
[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable communication terminal 10 to
which a port cover unit 100, to which the preferred embodiment of the present invention
is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, the port cover unit 100 is situated on a port (not
shown), such as an ear-microphone jack, of the portable communication terminal 10.
[0019] The portable communication terminal 10 includes a main body 11 including a keypad
13 which is a data input unit, a microphone 14 formed thereon, a folder part 12 including
a display unit 15 which is a data output unit, and a speaker phone 16 formed thereon.
The folder part 12 is rotatably attached to the main body 11 of the portable communication
terminal 10 by a hinge unit (not shown), thus the folder part 12 is located on top
of the main body 10.
[0020] The port cover unit 100 is positioned to a side of the main body 11, which is preferably
located close to an upper end of the portable communication terminal 10. An ordinary
ear-microphone jack is provided preferably near the upper end of the main body 11
of the portable communication terminal 10. Specifically, the ear-microphone jack is
provided at a rear part or the side of the main body 11. Referring to Fig. 1, the
ear-microphone jack is provided at the side of the main body 11, and the port cover
unit 100 is positioned to the side of the main body 11 corresponding to the ear-microphone
jack.
[0021] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the port cover unit 100 located on the
portable communication terminal 10 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the port cover
unit 100 of the present invention includes a cover housing 101, a sliding cover 102,
a stationary cover 103, and a cover base 104.
[0022] The cover housing 101 is positioned to one side of the main body 11 of the portable
communication terminal 10. The cover housing 101 has a sidewall 111 extending in the
longitudinal direction of the main body 11 and opened in the upper and lower directions.
The sidewall 111 is provided at the upper inside part thereof with a first guide rib
113a, which protrudes toward an inside of the sidewall 111 by a predetermined length.
The first guide rib 113a guides the movement of the sliding cover 102 when it prevents
the sliding cover 102 and the stationary cover 103 from separating from the cover
housing 101. At the sidewall 111 of the cover housing 101 are formed a coupling piece
115a for coupling with the main body 11 or the cover base 104, and two first coupling
holes 115b. At the coupling piece 115a is also formed a second coupling hole 117.
The coupling piece 115a or the coupling holes 115b and 117 are formed corresponding
to coupling protrusions 149 formed at the cover base 104. Consequently, the cover
housing 101 and the cover base 104 are coupled with each other.
[0023] The sliding cover 102 is slidably moved in the longitudinal direction of the main
body 11 when being guided using the first guide rib 113a of the cover housing 101.
The sliding cover 102 is provided at the lower outside part thereof with a second
guide rib 121a. The sliding cover 102 is slidably moved in the cover housing 101 when
a first step-shaped portion 113b formed at the first guide rib 113a is located in
contact with a second step-shaped portion 121b formed at the second guide rib 121a.
As the sliding cover 102 is slidably moved in the cover housing 101, the cover housing
101 is partially opened or closed. When the cover housing 101 is partially opened
by sliding cover 102, the port of the portable communication terminal, for example,
the ear-microphone jack is exposed at the outside. On the top surface of the sliding
cover 102 may be formed protrusions of preferred shapes, therefore a user can easily
move the sliding cover 102.
[0024] The stationary cover 103 is aligned with the sliding cover 102 when the cover housing
101 is closed by the sliding cover 102. The stationary cover 103 is moved vertically
in the cover housing 101 by a predetermined height. The stationary cover 103 is provided
at the lower outside part thereof with a third guide rib 131a. A third step-shaped
portion 131b formed at the third guide rib 131a is engaged with the first step-shaped
portion 113b formed at the first guide rib 113a. Consequently, the stationary cover
103 is not separated from the cover housing 101.
[0025] The sliding cover 102 has a first inclined surface 123 formed at an end thereof.
Similarly, the stationary cover 103 has a second inclined surface 133 formed at an
end thereof. The first and second inclined surfaces 123 and 133 are opposite to each
other. When the sliding cover 102 is aligned with the stationary cover 103, the first
inclined surface 123 fully contacts with the second inclined surface 133 when the
first inclined surface 123 is placed on the second inclined surface 133. When the
sliding cover 102 is slidably moved, the sliding cover 102 is moved to an end of the
cover housing 101 along the second inclined surface 133 of the stationary cover 103,
thus the sliding cover 102 is placed on the top surface of the stationary cover 103.
In other words, the stationary cover 103 is placed below the sliding cover 102 when
the sliding cover 102 is moved to the end of the cover housing 101 where the stationary
cover 103 is disposed.
[0026] The sliding cover 102 and the stationary cover 103 are placed inside the first guide
rib 113a of the cover housing 101. The sliding cover 102 and the stationary cover
103 are provided with the second guide rib 121a and the third guide rib 131a, respectively,
by which the sliding cover 102 and the stationary cover 103 are placed at the upper
end of the cover housing 101. As the sliding cover 102 is slidably moved in the cover
housing 101, the port of the portable communication terminal 10 is exposed at the
outside or hidden from the outside. When the cover housing 101 is closed, the sliding
cover 102 is aligned with the stationary cover 103, thus the covers 102 and 103 are
flush with the outer surface of the portable communication terminal 10.
[0027] The cover base 104 is attached to a lower end of the cover housing 101. The cover
base 104 is provided at a side thereof with a first opening 141, which communicates
with a space defined by the sidewall 111 of the cover housing 101. The cover base
104 is also provided at the other side thereof with a second opening 145, which longitudinally
extends from a preferred position. The first opening 141 communicates with the space
of the cover housing 101 closed by the sliding cover 102. As the sliding cover 102
is slidably moved in the cover housing 101, the first opening 141 of the cover base
104 is opened. Consequently, the ear-microphone jack of the portable communication
terminal 10 is exposed at the outside through the first opening 141. Between the cover
base 104 and the first guide rib 113a of the cover housing 101 is formed a linear
groove 119 (See Fig. 6), along which the second guide rib 121a of the sliding cover
102 is moved. To an end of the second opening 145, which is located preferably closer
to the first opening 141, is attached an elastic piece 147, which extends longitudinally.
The elastic piece 147 has a supporting member 143 formed at the end thereof. The supporting
member 143 provides the elastic force applied to the stationary cover 103. Consequently,
when the stationary cover 103 is placed below the sliding cover 102, the supporting
member 143 is retracted, thus an elastic force is accumulated in the elastic piece
147. When the sliding cover 102 is slidably moved to close the cover housing 101,
the supporting member 143 is moved to the upper end of the cover housing 101 using
the elastic force accumulated in the elastic piece 147. Consequently, the stationary
cover 103 is placed at the upper end of the cover housing 101.
[0028] The cover base 104 is provided at the outside thereof with one or more of coupling
protrusion 149, which is engaged in the corresponding coupling holes 115b and 117.
Therefore, the cover housing 101 and the cover base 104 are coupled with each other.
[0029] Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover unit 100 shown in Fig. 1
with the port closed, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port
cover unit 100 shown in Fig. 3. When the sliding cover 102 of the port cover unit
100 is placed in such a manner that the cover housing 101 is closed by the sliding
cover 102 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the sliding cover 102 is aligned with the stationary
cover 103 at the upper end of the cover housing 101. Consequently, the outer surfaces
of the sliding cover 102 and the stationary cover 103 are flush with the outer surfaces
of the cover housing 101 and the portable communication terminal 10. The supporting
member 143 illustrated in Fig. 5 supports the lower surface of the stationary cover
103. At this time, a prescribed amount of the elastic force is accumulated in the
elastic piece 147, which ensures that the outer surface of the stationary cover 103
is flush with the outer surface of the cover housing 101.
[0030] Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the port cover 100 shown in Fig. 1 with
the port opened, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the port cover
unit 100 shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the sliding cover 102 is slidably
moved in the direction indicated by an arrow (See Fig. 3), thus the cover housing
101 is partially opened. The stationary cover 103 is placed below the sliding cover
102. As the cover housing 101 is partially opened by placing the sliding cover 102
on the top of the stationary cover 103, the first opening 141 of the cover base 104
is also opened. At this time, the outer surface of the sliding cover 102 is flush
with the outer surface of the cover housing 101, and the stationary cover 103 is placed
below the sliding cover 102. Consequently, the stationary cover 103 is moved inwardly
into the inside of the cover housing 101 by a predetermined depth. The supporting
member 143 is retracted by the stationary cover 103, thus the elastic force is accumulated
in the elastic piece 147. The elastic force is applied to the stationary cover 103,
thus the stationary cover 103 pushes the sliding cover 102. Consequently, the sliding
cover 102 is placed at the upped end of the cover housing 101. Consequently, the outer
surface of the sliding cover 102 is flush with the outer surface of the cover housing
101 although the sliding cover 102 is placed on the top of the stationary cover 103.
[0031] The port cover unit 100 of the portable communication terminal 10 can be easily opened
or closed because the sliding cover 102 is moved in a desired direction by gently
pushing the sliding cover 102 when the sliding cover 102 is slightly depressed. Consequently,
the port cover unit 100 of the present invention is conveniently used. Also, the port
cover unit 100 can be made preferably utilizing injection molding.
[0032] A port cover unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 17.
[0033] As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the port cover unit is mounted to an electronic
component, for example, a portable communication terminal 10.
[0034] Specifically, the port cover unit of the portable communication terminal 10 is mounted
on a port (not shown), such as an ear-microphone jack 1 (shown in Fig. 12), of the
portable communication terminal 10.
[0035] As illustrated in Fig. 8, the port cover unit has a mounting groove 200, a sliding
cover 300, a stationary cover 400, and an elastic member 500. The mounting groove
200 is formed at a predetermined position of the portable communication terminal 10.
The mounting groove 200 is provided with a port hole 201.
[0036] As illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the sliding cover 300 is disposed in the mounting
groove 200 and is slidably moveable vertically along a longitudinal direction of the
mounting groove 200 so that the port hole 201 is opened and closed.
[0037] As illustrated in Fig. 11, the stationary cover 400 is disposed at a bottom part
of the sliding cover 300 and the stationary cover 400 is aligned with the sliding
cover 300 or is placed below the sliding cover 300 depending on the position of the
sliding cover 300.
[0038] As illustrated in Fig. 14, the elastic member 500 for providing an elastic force
is disposed at a rear of the stationary cover 400. The stationary cover 400 is supported
by the elastic force when the stationary cover 400 is aligned with the sliding cover
300 or placed below the sliding cover 300 depending on the position of the sliding
cover 300.
[0039] Preferably, the elastic member 500 is a V-shaped spring.
[0040] When the port hole 201 is opened, the sliding cover 300 is slidably moved downward,
as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 15.
[0041] The sliding cover 300 is provided at both sides thereof with guide protrusions 302
(illustrated in Fig. 8), which are engaged with guide rails 204 formed at both sides
of the mounting groove 200. The guide protrusions 302 are formed in the longitudinal
direction of the sliding cover 300. Thus, the guide protrusions 302 are slidably moved
along the guide rails 204, respectively. As a result, the guide protrusions 302 are
slidably moved along the corresponding guide rails 204, as illustrated in Fig. 15.
[0042] An inclined cover surface 301 of the sliding cover 300 is opposite to an inclined
guide surface 401 of the stationary cover 400. Accordingly, the inclined cover surface
301 is guided along the inclined guide surface 401 as the sliding cover 300 is slidably
moved.
[0043] When the sliding cover 300 is completely moved, the stationary cover 400 is placed
below the sliding cover 300, and the port hole 201 of the mounting groove 200 is opened,
as illustrated in Fig. 13.
[0044] The distance between both ends 501 of the elastic member 500, which are provided
at a rear of the stationary cover 400, is increased, as illustrated in Fig. 15. Consequently,
the ends 501 of the elastic member 500 are engaged into supporting grooves 205 formed
at a bottom surface of the mounting groove 200.
[0045] As illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, the elastic member 500 is provided at the center
part 502 thereof with a through-hole 503, through which an insertion protrusion 403
formed at the rear part of the stationary cover 400 is inserted. The insertion protrusion
403 of the stationary cover 400 is inserted through the through-hole 503 of the elastic
member 500. As the distance between both ends 501 of the elastic member 500 is increased,
the stationary cover 400 is moved into a receiving space 202 defined in the mounting
groove 200. Therefore, the insertion protrusion 403 of the stationary cover 400 is
inserted into an insertion hole 203 formed in the mounting groove 200.
[0046] The ear-microphone jack 1 is inserted through the port hole 201. Thus, the ear-microphone
jack 1 is put in the port (not shown) provided in the portable communication terminal
10, as illustrated in Fig. 12.
[0047] When the sliding cover 300 is slidably moved upward so that the port hole 201 is
closed, the guide protrusions 202 of the sliding cover 300 are moved along the guide
rails 204 of the mounting groove 200.
[0048] The stationary cover 400 is moved outward from the mounting groove 200 by an elastic
force of the elastic member 500 provided at the rear of the stationary cover 400,
whereby the stationary cover 400 is returned to its original position.
[0049] The stationary cover 400 is aligned with the sliding cover 300 and thus, the inclined
cover surface 301 of the sliding cover 300 is opposite to the inclined guide surface
401 of the stationary cover 400. The stationary cover 400 includes at an outer circumference
thereof, a cover protrusion 402, which is caught by a stopper 206 formed in the mounting
groove 200.
[0050] Additionally, the stationary cover 400 includes at the rear part thereof, a supporting
groove 404 for supporting the elastic member 500.
[0051] The sliding cover 300 includes at the front part thereof, a plurality of knob protrusions
303, by which an external force is transmitted to the sliding cover 300.
[0052] Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate modifications of the sliding cover 300 and the stationary
cover 400. The sliding cover 300 and the stationary cover 400 may be curved when an
external appearance of the portable communication terminal 10 is curved. In this case,
the sliding cover 300 is slidably moveable and rotatable in a curved line along the
curved portable communication terminal 10.
[0053] As the sliding cover 300 is slidably moved and rotated in the curved line, the stationary
cover 400 is placed below the sliding cover 300. Consequently, the port hole 201 is
opened.
[0054] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for
illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. For example, the port cover unit
of the present invention may be applied to audio equipment, such as a portable CD
(Compact Disk) player, in addition to the portable communication terminal.
1. A port cover unit for protecting at least one port exposed at an outside of an electronic
component, the port cover unit comprising:
a cover housing;
a sliding cover slidably attached to an upper end of the cover housing and slidable
in a longitudinal direction of the cover housing for partially opening or closing
the cover housing; and
a stationary cover attached to the upper end of the cover housing, the stationary
cover being aligned with the sliding cover.
2. The unit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first inclined surface formed
at an end of the sliding cover, and a second inclined surface formed at an end of
the stationary cover, the first and second inclined surfaces being opposite to each
other, wherein the first inclined surface is placed on the second inclined surface,
making contact with the second inclined surface, when the sliding cover is aligned
with the stationary cover.
3. The unit as set forth in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cover base attached to
the lower end of the cover housing, wherein the cover base is provided at one side
thereof with a first opening for exposing the port, and the cover base is provided
at the other side thereof with a supporting member for pushing the stationary cover
to the upper end of the cover housing.
4. The unit as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a second opening provided at
the other side of the cover base and extending in a longitudinal direction of the
cover base, and an elastic piece extending from an end of the second opening in a
longitudinal direction of the second opening, wherein the supporting member is formed
at an end of the elastic piece.
5. The unit as set forth in one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first guide rib
extending along an upper inside part of the cover housing and protruding inwardly
from the cover housing by a predetermined length, and a second guide rib extending
along a lower outside part of the sliding cover and protruding outwardly from the
sliding cover by a predetermined length, the second guide rib being opposite to the
first guide rib.
6. A port cover unit mounted to a region of an electronic component for protecting at
least one port exposed at an outside of the electronic component, the port cover unit
comprising:
a mounting groove formed at a predetermined region of the electronic component, the
mounting groove being provided at an inside thereof with at least one port hole;
a sliding cover disposed in the mounting groove, the sliding cover being slidably
moved upward and downward in a longitudinal direction of the mounting groove for opening
and closing the port hole;
a stationary cover disposed at a bottom part of the sliding cover, the stationary
cover being aligned with the sliding cover and placed below the sliding cover as the
sliding cover is moved; and
an elastic member disposed at a rear part of the stationary cover for providing an
elastic force for supporting the stationary cover when the stationary cover is aligned
with the sliding cover and is placed below the sliding cover.
7. The unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein the mounting groove includes a receiving
space defmed therein for receiving the stationary cover, an insertion hole, into which
an insertion protrusion formed at the rear part of the stationary cover is inserted,
guide rails, at both sides thereof, respectively, along which the sliding cover is
slidably moved, and includes a stopper, by which the stationary cover is caught.
8. The unit as set forth in claim 6 or 7, wherein the sliding cover includes an inclined
cover surface, at one end thereof, which is opposite to an inclined guide surface
formed at the stationary cover, and guide protrusions, at both sides thereof, which
are formed in the longitudinal direction of the sliding cover, the guide protrusions
being engaged with guide rails of the mounting groove, respectively.
9. The unit as set forth in one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the stationary cover includes
an inclined guide surface at one end thereof, which is opposite to an inclined cover
surface of the sliding cover, such that the inclined cover surface of the sliding
cover is guided by an inclined guide surface of the stationary cover as the port hole
is opened and closed, a cover protrusion, which is caught by a stopper of the mounting
groove, an insertion protrusion formed at the rear part thereof, the insertion protrusion
being inserted through the elastic member, and a supporting groove provided at the
rear part thereof for supporting the elastic member.
10. The unit as set forth in one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the stationary cover is aligned
with the sliding cover while an inclined cover surface of the sliding cover is opposite
to an inclined guide surface of the stationary cover when the port hole is closed,
and the inclined cover surface of the sliding cover is guided along the inclined guide
surface of the stationary cover so that the stationary cover is placed below the sliding
cover when the port hole is opened.
11. The unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein the inclined cover surface of the sliding
cover and the inclined guide surface of the stationary cover are curved.
12. The unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inclined cover surface of the sliding
cover and the inclined guide surface of the stationary cover are curved.
13. The unit as set forth in one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the elastic member is a V-shaped
spring.
14. The unit as set forth in claim 13, wherein both ends of the V-shaped spring are engaged
into supporting grooves formed at a bottom part of the mounting groove, and the V-shaped
spring contacts the rear part of the stationary cover at a center region thereof.
15. The unit as set forth in claim 13 or 14, wherein the V-shaped spring includes a through-hole
at center portion thereof, through which an insertion protrusion formed at a rear
part of the stationary cover is inserted.
16. The unit as set forth in one of claims 6 to 15, wherein the sliding cover and the
stationary cover are curved.