Samsung has combined two popular cell phone form factors into one design, inventing the sliding-clamshell.

Photo: Samsung Invents Sliding-Clamshell Design Photo 1 - Opened

Having advantages of both sliding and folding phones, the new form is built from a soft cover, allowing the body to slide lengthwise as well as become extended and folded.

According to the patent application, clamshell phones have an advantage in portability due to their compact size; however the screen is typically very small. By contrast, sliding phones have large screens, but are often large. Additionally, LCDs on sliders are typically exposed without a protective cover, making them more susceptible to damage. Samsung's sliding-clamshell invention attempts to solve these problems by having a large, protected display while keeping a compact size.

The sliding-clamshell is similar in compactness to typical folding phones, with the addition of a transparent window protecting the screen beneath.

Opening the device, the soft external cover unfolds to become a track for the body, with a corrugated hinge linking the track in place. Sliding the body upwards, the phone unveils two keypad sections, reminiscent in layout to Nokia's 6800-series clamshells. Allowing consumers to use both hands in a horizontal view, the design is ideal for mobile gaming.

Often in conflict, manufacturers have thought of varied cell phone designs to improve usability while reducing size. Samsung hasn't released information on when, or if, it will manufacture a sliding-clamshell phone.

- Samsung Invents Sliding-Clamshell Design Photo 1 - Opened
- Samsung Invents Sliding-Clamshell Design Photo 2 - Closed
- Samsung Invents Sliding-Clamshell Design Photo 3 - Slide

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1. Posted by Pogo	Mon May 22, 2006 2:54 am
this is just too crazy. i actually want to see this succeed just to see how crazy it is!
2. Posted by SlimJim	Mon May 22, 2006 4:08 am
This is almost too absurd to be practial. Opening a clamshell is a hassle already, but adding a slide-down? It might be cool the first week, but it'll be incredibly annoying after the glow wears off. I'll take a block phone any day.
3. Posted by krypton	Mon May 22, 2006 6:59 am
it looks like a SE P910 wrapped in a tortilla.
4. Posted by Cadd	Mon May 22, 2006 7:50 am
Looks cool... not as cool as the Matrix slider, but still cool.
5. Posted by mgoblue	Mon May 22, 2006 2:13 pm
personally i agree with the drawbacks of the slider and the clamshell. granted it's a bit awkward and IMHO pretty ugly, the final product may not be so bad... and may even be well designed. usually product refinement comes into play before an actual device is released on the market. wait until you see it before you bash it.
6. Posted by stargrl357	Tue May 23, 2006 5:48 am
Yeah you can't really know what the final phone will look like from patent sketches
7. Posted by Cadd	Tue May 23, 2006 9:04 am
Yeah you can't really know what the final phone will look like from patent sketches I'm not sure you can make that thing any less funky.
8. Posted by GSMDude	Tue May 23, 2006 9:11 am
it looks like a SE P910 wrapped in a tortilla. LOL Great description.
9. Posted by booboy	Tue May 23, 2006 3:15 pm
and i already have a problem opening clamshells one handed... i'll stick with my candybar.
10. Posted by GSMDude	Thu May 25, 2006 11:11 am
Yeah usability seems to be a big problem. I can't imagine how people would be able to answer the phone while driving... which may not be such a bad thing. Maybe people will be able to answer calls without opening it.

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