US Patent 7874745 Lock mechanism, slide apparatus, and mobile handset apparatus

A lock mechanism for a sliding object includes a slide arm, a rotating lever, and urging means. When an external pressing force presses the slide arm member in opposition to an urging force imparted by the urging means, the slide arm member is moved along a slide path, thereby causing the rotating lever member to rotate. When the slide arm member is pressed further, the tip of the rotating lever member rides onto and is stopped against the lateral surface of the slide arm member, such that the slide arm member and the rotating lever member remain stopped at the current position even if the pressing force is released.