CN113366405A

CN113366405A - Covering mechanism, folding device and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113366405A
Application number: CN201980090072.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 苏帅; 刘文俊
Original assignee: Shenzhen Royole Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Royole Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-18
Filing date: 2019-08-30
Publication date: 2021-09-07
Also published as: CN211378428U; WO2020211257A1

Abstract

The application provides electronic equipment, which comprises a flexible part, a shell and a folding device, wherein the shell comprises a first frame body and a second frame body; the folding device comprises a bendable part and a covering mechanism arranged on the bendable part, the covering mechanism comprises a covering piece covering the bendable part and a transmission assembly connected between the covering piece and the bendable part, and the transmission assembly drives the covering piece to bend or unfold when the bendable part is bent or unfolded. The application also provides a folding device and a covering mechanism of the electronic equipment.

Description

Covering mechanism, folding device and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of flexible piece support, in particular to a covering mechanism, a folding device provided with the covering mechanism and electronic equipment.

Background

With the development of display devices, a bendable ultrathin electronic display screen, i.e., a flexible display screen, has appeared. Compared with the traditional display device, the flexible display screen has the advantages of being foldable, transparent, curved, flexible, stretchable and the like, and is widely favored by consumers. A foldable flexible display screen generally includes a folding device for supporting and protecting a flexible member, and a flexible member that is bent or flattened with the folding device. One side of the folding device in the prior art, which is far away from the flexible part, is not provided with a covering mechanism generally, and the dustproof requirement cannot be met.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a cover mechanism with dustproof effect, be provided with cover mechanism's folding device and be provided with folding device's electronic equipment.

The covering mechanism comprises a covering piece and a transmission assembly connected between the covering piece and the bendable part, and the bendable part is bent or unfolded through the transmission assembly.

The application also provides a folding device, which comprises a bendable part and a covering mechanism arranged on the bendable part, wherein the covering mechanism comprises a covering piece covering the bendable part and a transmission assembly connected between the covering piece and the bendable part, and the bending or unfolding of the bendable part drives the covering piece to bend or unfold through the transmission assembly.

The application also provides electronic equipment, which comprises a flexible part, a shell and a folding device, wherein the shell comprises a first frame body and a second frame body, the folding device is arranged between the first frame body and the second frame body, and the flexible part is arranged on the shell and the folding device; the folding device comprises a bendable part and a covering mechanism arranged on the bendable part, the covering mechanism comprises a covering piece covering the bendable part and a transmission assembly connected between the covering piece and the bendable part, and the transmission assembly drives the covering piece to bend or unfold when the bendable part is bent or unfolded.

The folding device of the electronic equipment comprises a bendable part and a covering mechanism, wherein the covering mechanism comprises a covering piece covering the bendable part and a transmission assembly connected with the covering piece and the bendable part, and the covering piece is bent or unfolded along with the bendable part through the transmission assembly. The cover piece covers the bendable part and can be bent or unfolded along with the bendable part, so that the cover piece can prevent dust or sundries from entering the electronic equipment from the bendable part, can prevent light leakage and can protect the strength of the folding device.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the flexible display, housing, and cover mechanism of the electronic device of fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the foldable member and the cover mechanism of the folding device of FIG. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the covering mechanism of fig. 3 from another perspective.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cover mechanism of fig. 4.

FIGS. 6-7 are schematic views of the cover mechanism of FIG. 3 mounted to a bendable member.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the electronic device in fig. 1 in a bent state.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a folded state of the folding device of the electronic apparatus in fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the end structure of the folding device of fig. 10 in a folded state.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience in describing the present invention and simplifying the description, but do not imply or indicate that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed in a specific orientation, and be operated, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Referring to fig. 1 to fig. 3, an electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 20 and a flexible element 30 disposed on the housing 20. The housing 20 includes a first frame 21, a second frame 23, and a folding device 24 connected between the first frame 21 and the second frame 23. The flexible material 30 is provided on the first frame 21, the second frame 23, and the folding device 24. The flexible element 30 is provided with a bendable region 31 corresponding to the folding means 24 and two non-bendable regions 33 connected to opposite sides of the bendable region 31. The folding device 24 is used to support the bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30, and the bendable region 31 is bent or flattened with the folding device 24. The folding device 24 comprises a bendable part 26 and a covering mechanism 28 arranged on the bendable part 26; specifically, the covering mechanism 28 is located on a side of the bendable part 26 facing away from the flexible member 30, the covering mechanism 28 includes a covering member 280 covering the bendable part 26 and a transmission assembly 285 connected to the covering member 280 and the bendable part 26, and the bending or unfolding of the bendable part 26 drives the covering member 280 to bend or unfold through the transmission assembly 285.

In this embodiment, the two opposite ends of the bendable part 26 are respectively provided with a transmission assembly 285, and the electronic device 100 is, for example, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a display, a liquid crystal panel, an OLED panel, a television, a smart watch, a VR head-mounted display, a vehicle-mounted display, or any other product and part with a display function.

The folding device 24 of the electronic device 100 of the present application comprises a bendable member 26 and a covering mechanism 28, wherein the covering mechanism 28 comprises a covering member 280 covering the bendable member 26 and a transmission assembly 285 connected to the covering member 280 and the bendable member 26, and the covering member 280 is bent or unfolded with the bendable member 26 through the transmission assembly 285. Since the cover 280 covers the foldable member 26 and can be folded or unfolded with the foldable member 26, the cover 280 can prevent dust or foreign materials from entering the electronic apparatus 100 from the foldable member 26, prevent light leakage, and protect the strength of the folding device 24.

The two opposite sides of the bendable part 26 are respectively provided with at least one sliding part 265, the covering mechanism 28 comprises at least two transmission assemblies 285, the two transmission assemblies 285 are respectively connected between the two sliding parts 265 and the covering part 280, and the bending or unfolding of the bendable part 26 drives the sliding parts 265 to move and drives the covering part 280 to bend or unfold through the transmission assemblies 285. In this embodiment, the sliding portion 265 is a slider.

As shown in fig. 3, the bendable member 26 includes a central hinge 261 at a central position thereof, supports 264 at opposite sides of the central hinge, and at least one support hinge 262 hinged between each support 264 and the central hinge 261. In this embodiment, the supporting members 264 are connecting hinges, the middle hinge 261, the supporting hinge 262 and the supporting members 264 are rotatably connected into a whole through the linkage 29, wherein the bending or flattening of one supporting member 264 drives the other supporting member 264 and the supporting hinge 262 to bend or flatten together through the linkage 29, thereby realizing the bending or flattening of the bendable part 26. Each support member 264 is rotatably connected to the corresponding support hinge 262 by a first rotation shaft 2601, and each support hinge 262 is rotatably connected to the corresponding side of the middle hinge 261 by a second rotation shaft 2603.

At least one sliding part 265 is arranged on one side of at least one supporting hinge joint 262 facing the supporting part 264, each sliding part 265 is rotatably connected with the supporting hinge joint 262, the sliding part 265 is slidably inserted into the corresponding supporting part 264, and a transmission assembly 285 is arranged between the sliding part 265 and the covering mechanism 28. In this embodiment, the two opposite ends of the supporting hinge 262 facing the corresponding supporting member 264 are respectively provided with a sliding part 265, and a transmission assembly 285 is arranged between each sliding part 265 and the covering mechanism 28. Each sliding portion 265 is slidably connected to the corresponding supporting member 264 along a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the bendable part 26, and the sliding of the sliding portion 265 causes the covering member 280 to bend or unfold through the corresponding transmission assembly 285. The link mechanism 29 includes a rotating shaft 290 connected to the sliding portion 265, and the sliding portion 265 is rotatable about an axis of the rotating shaft 290.

Specifically, each supporting element 264 has a guiding slot 2640 corresponding to the sliding portion 265, the guiding slot 2640 extends along a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the bendable member 26, and the sliding portion 265 slides in the corresponding guiding slot 2640. A connecting column 2652 is disposed on a side of each sliding portion 265 away from the corresponding support hinge 262, and the connecting column 2652 is provided with a connecting hole 2654 along an axial direction thereof. Two opposite ends of one side of each supporting element 264, which faces away from the middle hinge 261, are respectively provided with a lug 2642, a connecting sheet 2644 is fixedly connected to the lug 2642, a guide post 2645 is arranged on the connecting sheet 2644, and a connecting hole 2646 is formed in the guide post 2645 along the axial direction. Each support 264 has a rotating hole 2647 near the corresponding sliding guide slot 2640, and the sliding guide slot 2640 is located between the rotating hole 2647 and the guiding post 2645.

Referring to fig. 3 to 5, the covering element 280 includes a covering sheet 281 attached to a side of the foldable member 26 away from the flexible screen 30 and two sliding elements 284 disposed on opposite sides of the covering sheet 281, each transmission assembly 285 includes a transmission element 286 connected between the corresponding sliding element 284 and the sliding element 265, the bending or unfolding of the foldable member 26 drives the sliding element 265 to move, and the sliding element 265 drives the two sliding elements 284 to move through the transmission element 286, so that the covering sheet 281 is bent or unfolded with the foldable member 26. The transmission member 286 is used for amplifying the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 and outputting the amplified sliding distance to the sliding member 284, and in this embodiment, the transmission member 286 is a strip-shaped transmission piece, one end of the transmission piece is rotatably connected to the supporting member 264, the sliding portion 265 is rotatably and slidably connected to the middle portion of the transmission piece, and the other end of the transmission piece is rotatably and slidably connected to the sliding member 284, so that the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 is output to the sliding member 284. In other embodiments, the transmission member may also be an amplifying gear set for amplifying the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 to output to the sliding member 284.

Specifically, the cover sheet 281 comprises a fixing portion 282 located at the middle portion thereof and a connecting portion 283 connected between the fixing portion 282 and each sliding member 284, wherein the connecting portion 283 can be bent or flattened along with the foldable member 26. The connecting portion 283 is made of a bendable material such as rubber, silicone or liquid metal, the fixing portion 282 and the connecting portion 283 may be made of the same material or different materials, the fixing portion 282 is used for being fixedly connected to the middle hinge 261, the connecting portion 283 is hermetically connected between the fixing portion 282 and the corresponding sliding member 284, and the fixing portion 282, the connecting portion 283 and the sliding member 284 are hermetically covered on the bendable member 26. The fixing portion 282, the two connecting portions 283 and the two sliders 284 are integrated, and specifically, the fixing portion 282, the two connecting portions 283 and the two sliders 284 can be connected into a whole by gluing, clamping or integrally forming.

At least one lug 2840 is disposed on a side of each sliding member 284 facing away from the covering sheet 281, at least one lug 2840 defines a guiding slot 2842, and the guiding slot 2842 extends along a direction perpendicular to a bending axis of the bendable member 26. In this embodiment, two opposite ends of each sliding member 284 facing away from the covering sheet 281 are respectively provided with a lug 2840, and each lug 2840 is provided with a guiding slot 2842 along a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the bendable part 26. Each slider 284 is provided with a positioning slot 2844 adjacent to the lug 2840, and two positioning slots 2844 on the same side of each slider 284 are located between the two lugs 2840.

The first end of the transmission member 286 is rotatably connected to the supporting member 2642, the opposite second end of the transmission member 286 is movably connected to the corresponding sliding member 284, and the sliding portion 265 is movably connected to the middle portion of the corresponding transmission member 286. The movement of the sliding portion 265 drives the first end of the transmission member 286 to rotate relative to the supporting member 2642, so that the second end of the transmission member 286 moves to drive the sliding member 284 to move.

Specifically, driving medium 286 is the bar piece, and first connecting groove 2861 is seted up along its length direction in the middle part of driving medium 286, and rotation hole 2863 is seted up to the first end of driving medium 286, and second connecting groove 2865 is seted up to the second end of driving medium 286, and first connecting groove 2861 and second connecting groove 2865 all extend along the length direction of driving medium 286, and the extension length of second connecting groove 2865 is greater than the extension length of first connecting groove 2861.

Each transmission assembly 285 further comprises a connecting piece 287 connected between each transmission piece 286 and the slide 284, the connecting piece 287 being fixedly connected to the slide 284, and the connecting piece 287 being movably connected to the transmission piece 286. Specifically, the connecting pieces 287 are fixedly connected to the corresponding positioning grooves 2844. A connecting rod 2870 is disposed at one end of the connecting piece 287 corresponding to the second connecting groove 2865 of the driving member 286, and the connecting rod 2870 is movably inserted into the second connecting groove 2865. An annular groove 2872 is formed in the outer side wall of the connecting post 2870, and the peripheral wall of the second connecting groove 2865 of the transmission piece 286 is accommodated in the annular groove 2872.

Referring to fig. 3 and 8, when the cover mechanism 28 is assembled to the bendable member 26, the connecting rod 2870 of the connecting piece 287 of each transmission assembly 285 is inserted into the second connecting slot 2865, so that the peripheral wall of the second connecting slot 2865 of the transmission piece 286 is received in the annular groove 2872 of the connecting rod 2870; securing the tab 287 of each drive assembly 285 in the corresponding slot 2844 to connect the cover 280 to the drive member 286; covering the covering mechanism 28 on the bendable part 26 to fixedly connect the fixing part 282 to the middle hinge 261, specifically, the fixing part 282 may be connected to the middle hinge 261 by screwing, welding, gluing or clamping; the rotation hole 2863 and the first connection slot 2861 of each transmission element 286 are opposite to the corresponding rotation hole 2647 and the corresponding connection post 2652, respectively, and the guide post 2645 is slidably inserted into the guide slot 2842, so as to provide a plurality of screws to be inserted into the rotation hole 2863 and the first connection slot 2861 and locked in the corresponding rotation hole 2647 and the corresponding connection hole 2654, respectively. At this time, the sliding part 265 is connected to the first connecting slot 2861 through the locking member 2866, the rotating hole 2863 of the transmission member 286 is rotatably connected to the corresponding rotating hole 2647 through the locking member, and the sliding of the sliding part 265 causes the locking member 2866 to slide and rotate in the first connecting slot 2861, so that the transmission member 286 rotates along the axis of the rotating hole 2647; the guide posts 2645 are inserted into the guide slots 2842 of the corresponding lugs 2642, and the bending or unfolding of the bendable part 26 causes the guide posts 2645 to slide in the guide slots 2842.

As shown in fig. 8, the two supporting members 264 are respectively hinged to the two corresponding supporting hinges 262, one side of the two supporting hinges 262 far away from the supporting members 264 is respectively hinged to two opposite sides of the middle hinge 261, specifically, each supporting hinge 264 rotates with the corresponding supporting hinge 262 through a first virtual axis a1, each supporting hinge 262 rotates with the middle hinge 261 through a second virtual axis a2, the two second virtual axes a2 are located between the two first virtual axes a1, and the two first virtual axes a1 are respectively at the same distance from the corresponding second virtual axis a2 and equal to the distance between the two second virtual axes a 2. The two supports 264 rotate about the corresponding first virtual axes a1, respectively; the two support hinges 262 are each rotatable about a corresponding second virtual axis a 2. Each first virtual axis A1 is spaced parallel to the second virtual axis A2, and the first virtual axis A1 has the same axis radius as the second virtual axis A2. In the flattened state, the distance between two opposite side surfaces of the two supporting members 264 is L, that is, the linear distance between the two side surfaces of the two supporting members 264 at the bending outer sides when the two supporting members are flattened is L. The first virtual axis a1 and the second virtual axis a2 are located outside the bendable part 26, and preferably, the first virtual axis a1 and the second virtual axis a2 are located on the flexible element 30 covering the bendable part 26, so that the bending resistance of the flexible element 30 can be improved, and the flexible element 30 can be guaranteed not to be damaged to the maximum extent. Further, the first virtual axis a1 and the second virtual axis a2 may also be located on the neutral layer of the flexure.

The neutral layer is that the outer layer of the flexible member 30 is stretched and the inner layer of the flexible member 30 is extruded during the bending process of the flexible member 30, and a transition layer which is not stretched and is not extruded or stretched or extruded has relatively small acting force is arranged on the section of the transition layer, the stress of the transition layer is small, and the transition layer is the neutral layer.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the folding device 24 is disposed between the first frame 21 and the second frame 23, the lugs 2642 of the two connecting links 264 are respectively connected to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23, the back surfaces of the two non-bending areas 33 of the flexible element 30 are respectively attached to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23, and the back surface of the bendable area 31 of the flexible element 30 is disposed on the front surface of the folding device 24. At this time, the back surface of the flexible member 30 is fixed to the first frame 21, the second frame 23 and the folding device 24, the covering mechanism 28 covers the side of the bendable part 26 away from the flexible member 30, and the bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 and the covering mechanism 28 can be bent and unfolded with the bending of the folding device 24.

Referring to fig. 9 to 11, when the electronic apparatus 100 is bent, a bending force is applied to at least one of the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 of the electronic apparatus 100, so that the connecting links 264 connected to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 rotate in opposite directions, and the synchronous bending of the folding device 24 is realized through the linkage mechanism 29. Each sliding portion 265 pushes the corresponding transmission element 286 to a side far from the middle hinge joint 261 along with the bending of the folding device 24, specifically, the connection post 2652 on each sliding portion 265 slidably pushes the inner wall of the first connection slot 2861 of the corresponding transmission element 286, so that the transmission element 286 rotates toward the side far from the middle hinge joint 261 along the axial line of the corresponding rotation hole 2647, the transmission element 286 drives the corresponding sliding element 284 to slide toward the side far from the middle hinge joint 261 by sliding and rotating the connection post 2870 of the connection piece 287 in the second connection slot 2865 of the corresponding transmission element 286, and each guide post 2645 slides along the corresponding guide slot 2842. Since the fixing portion 282 is fixed to the middle hinge 261 and the connecting portion 283 is made of a bendable material, when the two sliding members 284 slide together in a direction away from the middle hinge 261, the two connecting portions 283 are elastically deformed and bent, so that the covering member 28 bends along with the bending of the folding device 24, and the covering member 28 is always attached to the bendable part 26 to prevent dust, sundries or glare from entering the electronic device 100.

In other bending modes of the electronic device 100, a bending force may be applied to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 at the same time, the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 respectively drive the corresponding supporting member 264 to rotate relative to the supporting hinge 262 toward a side away from the flexible member 30, the electronic device 100 is folded by the linkage mechanism 29, and the foldable member 26 is covered by the covering mechanism 28 to prevent dust, impurities or strong light from entering the electronic device 100.

When the electronic apparatus 100 is unfolded, a force for flattening is applied to at least one of the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 of the electronic apparatus 100, so that the connecting links 264 connected to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 are rotated in directions away from each other, and the linkage mechanism 29 is used to synchronously unfold the folding device 24. Each sliding portion 265 pulls the corresponding transmission element 286 to a side close to the middle hinge joint 261 along with the unfolding of the folding device 24, specifically, the connecting post 2652 on each sliding portion 265 slidingly pulls the inner wall of the first connecting slot 2861 of the corresponding transmission element 286, so that the transmission element 286 rotates toward the side close to the middle hinge joint 261 along the axial line of the corresponding rotating hole 2647, the transmission element 286 slides and rotates in the second connecting slot 2865 of the corresponding transmission element 286 through the connecting post 2870 of the connecting piece 287 to drive the corresponding sliding element 284 to slide toward the side close to the middle hinge joint 261, and each guide post 2645 slides along the corresponding guide slot 2842. Since the fixing portion 282 is fixed to the middle hinge 261 and the connecting portion 283 is made of a bendable material, when the two sliding members 284 slide together in a direction close to the middle hinge 261, the two connecting portions 283 are elastically restored to be unfolded, so that the covering member 28 is unfolded along with the unfolding of the folding device 24, and the covering member 28 is always attached to the bendable part 26 to prevent dust, sundries or glare from entering the electronic device 100.

In other bending modes of the electronic device 100, a flattening force may be applied to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 at the same time, the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 respectively drive the corresponding supporting pieces 264 to rotate towards one side close to the flexible piece 30 relative to the supporting hinges 262, the electronic device 100 is flattened through the linkage mechanism 29, and the foldable part 26 is covered by the covering mechanism 28, so as to prevent dust, impurities or strong light from entering the electronic device 100.

The folding device 24 completes the bending, and the flexible member 30 is bent along with the folding device 24. As shown in fig. 11, the distance between the two opposite sides of the support member 264 in the bent state along the bending outer side of the bendable part 26 is also L, i.e. the straight line distance between the two support members 264 of the bendable part 26 located on the bending outer side in the unfolding state is equal to the distance along the bending outer side of the bendable part 26 in the folding state, so that the width of the bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 covered on the bendable part 26 in the bending state is equal to the width in the unfolding state, and the flexible member 30 can be prevented from being crushed, protruded or stretched to damage the screen. When the bendable member 26 is in the bent state, the first virtual axis a1 and the second virtual axis a2 are both located outside of the bendable member 26, and preferably, the first virtual axis a1 and the second virtual axis a2 are located on a neutral layer of the flexible member 30 covering the bendable member 26. The first virtual axis a1 and the second virtual axis a2 of the bendable elements 26 of the present invention are both located on the neutral layer when the electronic device 100 is bent or flattened, thereby ensuring that the flexible elements 30 are not damaged to the maximum extent.

When the foldable member 26 is folded, the transmission assembly 285 drives the sliding member 284 to move relative to the foldable member 26 in a direction away from the foldable member 26. The bendable member 26 includes a support 264 and a sliding portion 265 capable of sliding relative to the support 264, and the transmission assembly 285 includes a transmission member 286 connecting the sliding portion 265 and the sliding member 284, and the sliding portion 265 slides relative to the support 264 to drive the sliding member 284 to slide relative to the support 264 via the transmission member 286. When the bendable part 26 is bent, the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 relative to the support 264 is smaller than the sliding distance of the sliding member 284 relative to the support 264. When slide portion 265 and slide member 284 rotate by the same angle following bending of bendable member 26, slide portion 265 slides a smaller distance with respect to support 264 than slide member 284 slides with respect to support 264.

The bendable member 26 further includes a rotating shaft 290 connected to the sliding portion 265, and the sliding portion 265 is rotatable around an axis of the rotating shaft 290. When the bendable part 26 is bent, the rotating shaft 290 rotates and drives the sliding portion 265 to rotate, and the sliding portion 265 slides and abuts against the supporting member 264 to drive the supporting member 264 to rotate and simultaneously slide relative to the supporting member 264. When the bendable part 26 is bent, the sliding part 265 drives the sliding part 284 to slide relative to the bendable part 26 in the axial direction away from the rotating shaft 290 through the transmission assembly 285. The support 264 is rotatably connected to the shaft 290 by at least one other shaft 2601. When sliding portion 265 rotates by the same angle as that of slider 284 about the axis of rotary shaft 290 following bending of bendable part 26, sliding portion 265 slides a smaller distance with respect to support 264 than sliding distance of slider 284 with respect to support 264. The bendable member 26 further includes a central hinge 261 pivotally connected to the support 264, and a pivot 290 is provided on the central hinge 261. The bendable member 26 also includes a support hinge 262 that pivotally connects the support 264 with the central hinge 261.

The transmission member 286 is used for transmitting the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 relative to the support 264 to the sliding member 284. The transmission 286 amplifies and outputs the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 to the slider 284. The transmission member 286 is used to adjust the sliding distance of the slider 284 relative to the support 264 according to the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 relative to the support 264. The sliding distance of the slider 284 with respect to the support 264 is enlarged by the transmission 286 in comparison with the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 with respect to the support 264, and preferably, the sliding distance of the slider 284 with respect to the support 264 is enlarged in equal proportion to the sliding distance of the sliding portion 265 with respect to the support 264 by the transmission 286. Slider 284 is closer to the inside of the bend of bendable part 26 than slider 265.

The sliding member 284 is connected to a first position of the transmission member 286, and the sliding portion 265 is connected to a second position of the transmission member 286, the first position being different from the second position. The transmission distance of transmission member 286 relative to sliding portion 265 in the second position is smaller than the transmission distance of transmission member 286 relative to slider 284 in the first position. Drive 286 rotates about axis 290 as bendable member 26 is bent, the first position being further from the axis than the second position. The transmission distance refers to the distance that one element drives another element to move or the distance that one element is driven by another element to move.

One end of the transmission member 286 is rotatably connected to the supporting member 264, the sliding portion 265 is connected to the second position of the transmission member 286 through the locking member 2866, and when the sliding portion 265 slides relative to the supporting member 264, the locking member 2866 moves relative to the supporting member 264 and the shaft simultaneously. When the bendable section 26 is bent, the locking member 2866 slides toward the hinge 290 and simultaneously slides relative to the support member 264. The slider 284 is connected to the first position of the transmission 286 through the connecting rod 2870, and when the slider 284 slides relative to the support 264, the connecting rod 2870 simultaneously moves relative to the support 264 and the rotating shaft 290. When the bendable part 26 is bent, the connecting post 2870 slides toward the rotating shaft 290 and simultaneously slides relative to the supporting member 260; when the bendable part 26 is bent, the connecting post 2870 slides a larger distance relative to the rotating shaft 290 than the locking member 2866 slides relative to the rotating shaft 290.

When the foldable member 26 is in the unfolded state, the driving member 283 tilts with respect to the supporting member 264. Slider 284 includes a lug 2840, lug 2840 slidably connected to the end of support 264. Cover 280 further includes a fixed portion 282 separate from slider 284, fixed portion 282 being fixedly connected to bendable member 26, slider 284 being slidably connected to bendable member 26. When the bendable member 26 is bent, the distance between the slider 284 and the fixed portion 282 changes.

The cover 281 further includes a connecting portion 283 for connecting the fixing portion 282 and the slider, and when the foldable member 26 is folded, the distance between the slider 284 and the fixing portion 282 is changed to press the connecting portion 283. The coupling portion 283 is made of a flexible material, and the fixing portion 282 and the slider 284 are made of a hard material.

The foregoing is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it should be noted that it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the principles of the invention, and such modifications and enhancements are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

The folding device is characterized by comprising a bendable part and a covering mechanism arranged on the bendable part, wherein the covering mechanism comprises a covering piece covering the bendable part and a transmission assembly connected between the covering piece and the bendable part, and the bending or unfolding of the bendable part drives the covering piece to bend or unfold through the transmission assembly.
The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foldable member has at least one sliding portion on each of opposite sides thereof, said covering mechanism includes at least two transmission assemblies connected between said two sliding portions and said covering member, respectively, and the folding or unfolding of said foldable member drives said sliding portions to move and drives said covering member to fold or unfold via said transmission assemblies.
The folding apparatus of claim 2, wherein the covering member includes a covering sheet attached to a back surface of the foldable member, sliding members disposed on opposite sides of the covering sheet, each transmission assembly includes a transmission member connected between the corresponding sliding member and the sliding portion, the folding or unfolding of the foldable member drives the sliding portion to move, and the sliding portion drives the two sliding members to move through the transmission member, so that the covering sheet is folded or unfolded with the foldable member.
The folding device of claim 3 wherein said cover sheet includes a fixed portion at a central portion thereof and a connecting portion connected between the fixed portion and each of the sliding members, said fixed portion being fixedly connected to said foldable member, said connecting portion being capable of bending or flattening with the foldable member.
The folding apparatus of claim 4, wherein each connecting portion is made of a bendable material, and the connecting portion is sealingly connected between the fixed portion and the corresponding sliding member.
The folding apparatus of claim 4 wherein said two sliding members, said two connecting members and said fixed member are of unitary construction.
The folding apparatus of claim 4, wherein said foldable member includes a central hinge at a central portion thereof, support members at opposite sides of said central hinge, and at least one support hinge connected between each support member and said central hinge, two of said sliding members being respectively disposed at opposite sides of said central hinge, two of said drive members having first ends thereof respectively rotatably connected to said two support members, two of said drive members having second ends respectively movably connected to said two sliding members, each of said sliding members being movably connected to a central portion or a portion near the central portion of the corresponding drive member.
The folding apparatus of claim 7, wherein said drive member has a first connecting groove formed in a middle portion thereof along a length thereof, and said slide portion is connected to said first connecting groove by a locking member.
The folding apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second end of the driving member defines a second connecting slot extending along a length of the driving member, the driving assembly further comprising a connecting piece connected between each driving member and the sliding member, the connecting piece defining a connecting post fixedly connected to the sliding member, the connecting post being movably inserted into the second connecting slot.
The folding apparatus of claim 9, wherein an annular groove is formed in an outer side wall of the connecting column, and a peripheral wall of the second connecting groove of the transmission member is received in the annular groove.
The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each slider is provided with at least one lug on a side facing away from the covering sheet, at least one of the lugs defining a guide slot extending in a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the foldable member, the lug being connected to the corresponding support member by a locking member inserted into the guide slot.
The folding apparatus of claim 11, wherein said supporting member is provided with a guide post corresponding to said guide slot, said guide post being slidably inserted into said guide slot.
The folding apparatus of claim 7, wherein each connecting portion is made of a flexible material.
An electronic device comprising a flexible member, a housing and the folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the housing comprises a first frame and a second frame, the folding device is disposed between the first frame and the second frame, the flexible member is disposed on the housing and the folding device, and the flexible member is bent or flattened along with the folding device.
A covering mechanism for covering a bendable part, the covering mechanism comprising a covering member and a transmission assembly connected between the covering member and the bendable part, wherein the bending or unfolding of the bendable part drives the covering member to bend or unfold through the transmission assembly.
A cover mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the cover member includes cover sheets attached to the bendable members and sliding members disposed on opposite sides of the cover sheets, and the transmission assembly includes transmission members connected to the corresponding sliding members, and the bending or unfolding of the bendable members drives the transmission members to move so as to move the two sliding members, so that the cover sheets can be bent or unfolded with the bendable members.
The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cover sheet includes a fixed portion at a middle portion and a connecting portion connected between the fixed portion and each of the sliding members, the fixed portion, the connecting portion and the sliding members being sealingly connected together.
A cover mechanism according to claim 17, wherein each connecting portion is made of a flexible material, the connecting portion being sealingly connected between the fixed portion and the corresponding slider.
A cover mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the fixed portion is fixedly attached to a central portion of the bendable member.
A covering mechanism according to claim 15 wherein the drive assembly further comprises a connecting tab connected between each drive member and the corresponding slider member, the drive members defining a connecting slot, the connecting tabs being fixedly connected to the slider members, the connecting tabs defining connecting posts slidably and rotatably received in the connecting slots.
The folding device is characterized by comprising a bendable part, a covering part covering the bendable part and a transmission assembly connecting the bendable part and the covering part, wherein the bendable part drives the covering part to rotate through the transmission assembly when being bent.
The folding apparatus of claim 21, wherein said cover member includes a slider member coupled to said drive assembly, wherein said drive assembly moves said slider member relative to said flexible member during folding of said flexible member.
The folding apparatus of claim 22, wherein the drive assembly moves the slide member relative to the flexible member in a direction away from the flexible member during folding of the flexible member.
The folding apparatus of claim 22, wherein said foldable member includes a support member and a sliding member slidable relative to the support member, and the transmission assembly includes a transmission member connecting the sliding member and the sliding member, the sliding member being slidable relative to the support member by the transmission member when the sliding member slides relative to the support member.
The folding apparatus of claim 24, wherein the distance that the sliding portion slides relative to the support member is less than the distance that the sliding member slides relative to the support member when the bendable member is bent.
A folding apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said sliding portion slides relative to said support member by a distance less than the sliding distance of said sliding member relative to said support member when said sliding member is rotated by the same angle following bending of said foldable member.
The folding apparatus of claim 24, wherein said foldable member further comprises a shaft coupled to a slide, said slide being rotatable about the axis of said shaft.
The folding apparatus of claim 27, wherein when the foldable member is folded, the shaft rotates and drives the sliding portion to rotate, and the sliding portion slides against the supporting member to drive the supporting member to rotate and slide relative to the supporting member.
The folding apparatus of claim 27, wherein the sliding portion slides the sliding member relative to the bendable member in a direction away from the axis of the shaft via the transmission assembly when the bendable member is folded.
The folding apparatus of claim 27, wherein said support member is pivotally connected to said pivot shaft by at least one additional pivot shaft.
The folding apparatus of claim 27, wherein the sliding portion slides relative to the support member by a distance smaller than a sliding distance of the sliding member relative to the support member when the sliding member rotates by the same angle about the axis of the rotary shaft following the bending of the bendable member.
The folding apparatus of claim 27, wherein said flexible member further comprises a central hinge pivotally connected to said support member, said pivot being provided on said central hinge.
The folding apparatus of claim 32 wherein said foldable member further comprises a support hinge pivotally connecting said support member to said central hinge.
A folding apparatus according to any of claims 24 to 33, wherein said transmission member is adapted to transmit the sliding distance of the sliding member relative to the support member to the sliding member.
The folding apparatus of claim 34, wherein said transmission member is adapted to amplify the sliding distance of the sliding portion to be output to the sliding member.
A folding apparatus according to any of claims 24 to 33, wherein said transmission member is adapted to adjust the sliding distance of the sliding member relative to the support member in dependence on the sliding distance of the sliding portion relative to the support member.
A folding apparatus according to any of claims 24 to 33, wherein the sliding distance of said slider relative to said support member is enlarged by a transmission member in comparison with the sliding distance of said sliding portion relative to said support member.
A folding apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the sliding distance of said sliding member relative to said support member is proportionally enlarged by a transmission member as compared to the sliding distance of said sliding member relative to said support member.
A folding apparatus as claimed in any of claims 24 to 33, wherein said slider is closer to the inside of the bend of the foldable member than the slider.
A folding apparatus according to any of claims 24 to 33, wherein said slider member is connected to said drive member at a first location and said slider member is connected to said drive member at a second location, said first location being different from said second location.
A folding apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the drive distance of the drive member relative to the slide in the second position is less than the drive distance of the drive member relative to the slide in the first position.
A folding apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the drive member rotates about the pivot axis when the flexible member is folded, the first position being further from the axis than the second position.
A folding apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein said drive member is pivotally connected to said support member.
The folding apparatus of claim 42, wherein said slide is connected to said drive member at a second position by a lock member, said lock member simultaneously moving relative to said support member and said shaft when said slide slides relative to said support member.
A folding apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the latch member slides towards the shaft and simultaneously slides relative to the support member as the flexible member is flexed.
A folding apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said slider member is connected to said drive member at a first position by an attachment post, said attachment post moving simultaneously relative to said support member and said shaft as said slider member slides relative to said support member.
A folding apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the connecting posts slide toward the pivot axis and simultaneously slide relative to the support members when the flexible member is flexed.
The folding apparatus of claim 46, wherein the connecting post slides a greater distance relative to the pivot axis than the locking member slides relative to the pivot axis when the flexible member is folded.
A folding apparatus according to any of claims 24 to 33, wherein the drive member is inclined relative to the support member when the flexible member is in the extended condition.
A folding apparatus according to any of claims 24 to 33, wherein the slider includes a lug slidably connected to an end of the support member.
A folding apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said cover member further comprises a securing portion separate from said sliding member, said securing portion being fixedly connected to said foldable member, and said sliding member being slidably connected to said foldable member.
A folding apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the distance between the sliding member and the fixed member changes when the foldable member is folded.
A folding apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the cover member further includes a connecting portion for connecting the fixed portion to the sliding member, and the foldable member is folded such that the distance between the sliding member and the fixed portion is changed to press the connecting portion.
A folding apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said connecting portion is made of a flexible material and said stationary portion and said sliding member are made of a rigid material.