The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1996
Kazuhito Kaise, Tokyo, JP;
Masahiro Higuchi, Tokyo, JP;
Kenji Sasaki, Tokyo, JP;
Tsunenori Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An electronic apparatus, such as a car stereo, includes a main apparatus portion, a front panel and a supporting mechanism. The front panel has an operating portion having at least an operating switch. The front panel is provided on the front side of the main apparatus portion. The supporting mechanism rotatably supports the front panel relative to the front surface of the main apparatus portion. The supporting mechanism also supports the front panel for rotation between a position parallel to the front surface of the main apparatus portion and a position rotated from the front side of the main apparatus. The supporting mechanism is made up of the front panel, a shaft portion provided on one of the front panel and the main apparatus portion and a bearing provided in the other of the front panel and the main apparatus portion. One of the shaft and the bearing is movable in the direction of the rotational axis.