LG is one of the companies that focuses on the development of roll-up devices. At the beginning of this year, the Korean manufacturer announced the commercial introduction of the world’s first rollable TV, the Signature OLED TV R, also known as LG Roled. A series of new trademark applications raise the suspicion that LG is also preparing for the introduction of a roll-up device in the form of a mobile phone.
LG roll-up telephone
On 10 April 2019, LG Electronics submitted ten trademark applications to the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). All requests are related to a rollable device.
The applications were filed by patent and law firm Mitscherlich from Munich, Germany. This company has often acted in the name of LG Electronics. Mitscherlich recorded various LG G8 functions earlier this year and the trademarks for LG Bendi, Flex, Foldi and Duplex were also requested by this company.
This time it concerns the following names: LG The Roll, Bi-Roll, Double Roll, Dual Roll, E Roll, Signature R, R Screen, R Canvas, Roll Canvas, and finally Rotolo.
All applications are categorized as Class 9. Although the description leaves something to the imagination, the applications are in any case related to a smartphone. The following is stated for all ten trademarks: ‘displays for smartphones; batteries for mobile telecommunications equipment; speakers for smartphones; cameras for smartphones; cell phone cases’.
Possibly The Roll becomes the model name. The names Double Roll, Dual Roll, Bi-Roll and E-Roll seem to relate to the applied screen, which may roll in two directions. Signature R, R Screen, R Canvas, Roll Canvas, and Rotolo also very likely refer to the roll-up display.
LG is developing a foldable and rollable smartphone
At the start of this year, Tom’s Guide announced that LG Electronics is actually developing a rollable phone. This information was disclosed by IP Park, CTO, and president of LG Electronics, in an interview during CES 2019. LG is working on both a foldable and a rollable phone, the chief executive said.
Earlier this month, LetsGoDigital was able to retrieve a number of product photos showing an LG foldable phone with a flexible screen, which is located in the test laboratory. Chances are that we will hear more about this device later in the year.
It is still unknown what LG’s roll-up phone will look like. At the end of last year, a patent was published for an LG smartphone with a roll-up display. This device had a narrow housing on either side of the roll-up screen, which also served as a grip. A year earlier, the company also patented a mobile device with a retractable display.
