JP2000192939A - Hinge mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hinge mechanism having the service life and a smooth feeling and capable of setting an optional load by exceeding about 180 degrees in a turning angle of a rotary member to a fixed member. SOLUTION: In a hinge mechanism for rotatably pivoting a rotary member on a fixed member, the hinge mechanism has a first can 12 arranged on the fixed member, a second cam 17 being arranged on the rotary member and rotating together with the rotary member and an elastic member 11 for energizing either of at least both cams 12, 17 in the pressure contact direction, and recess/projection parts 15, 16 are arranged in a symmetrical shape of the rotational center in both cams 12, 17 in a position nonoverlapping in the circumferential direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism applied to an opening / closing member which needs to adjust a rotation angle of a display unit such as a notebook type or a desktop personal computer, a portable telephone or an opening / closing lid of various mechanical devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a rotating member has been rotatably supported on a main body portion (fixed member), and the rotating member has been operated to a desired rotating angle so that the rotating angle of the rotating member can be adjusted. Various hinge mechanisms have been proposed in which the position of the rotating member is automatically maintained by simply performing the operation.

[0003] Of the contact surfaces between the friction surface provided on the pivot of the rotating member and the friction surface of the fixed member, those in which an elastic body such as rubber constitutes the friction surface may cause inconvenience of deterioration over time. For this reason, there is one that can be used without much inferior locking mechanism for long-term use, such as that described in JP-A-64-59992.
In this apparatus, a cam having a traveling portion is provided on both a fixed member and a rotating member as position locking means, and spring means for pressing a cam constituting a friction surface are provided. It has two symmetrical traveling parts. FIG. 8 is a development view showing the frictional state of both cams in an example frequently used in the conventional example as described above.
(A), (b), and (c) show a state in which the rotation angle increases in the order, and reference numerals 71, 71, 72, and 72 denote business trip parts of the cam.

[0004]

However, since each cam has two symmetrical traveling portions on the same circumference, there is a sense of smoothness during rotation, but the rotation angle is 180 degrees. If this is exceeded, the toggle load again becomes 0 to 180 degrees as shown in the development view of FIG. 8, so that an arbitrary load cannot be set (an arbitrary load of 180 degrees or less cannot be set due to the up and down movement of the cam). In some cases). Therefore, in order to set an arbitrary load beyond about 180 degrees, there is no other choice but to provide one business trip section for each cam. In this case, the operation becomes inclined and unstable, resulting in a long life and a smooth feeling during rotation. There was a problem that can not be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a long life and a smooth feeling. Further, when the rotation angle of the rotating member with respect to the fixed member exceeds about 180 degrees, an arbitrary load can be set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge mechanism that can be used.

[0006]

The present invention employs the following structure to achieve the object.

In other words, the hinge mechanism of the present invention is a hinge mechanism that rotatably supports a rotating member with respect to a fixed member, wherein the first cam provided on the fixed member and the first cam provided on the rotating member rotate with the rotating member. A second cam, and an elastic member for urging at least one of the two cams in a pressing direction, wherein the two cams have at least two concave and convex portions in a position substantially non-overlapping in the circumferential direction so as to be substantially symmetrical about the center of rotation. It is provided in double.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as an "embodiment") of a hinge mechanism according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of being attached to an opening / closing member, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lid, that is, a rotating member 2 is pivotally supported on the main body, that is, the fixed member 1 so as to be rotatable. From the position, it can rotate to a range close to about 360 degrees.

Next, the details of the hinge mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. The fixing member 1 has therein a storage portion 4 for storing a cylindrical holder 3 having a bottom. A guide groove 5 is provided in the storage portion 4, and a guide protrusion 6 formed on an outer peripheral portion of the holder 3 is engaged with the guide groove 5, so that the holder 3 is non-rotatably connected to the fixing member 1. .

A shaft 7 which is inserted into the holder 3 through a through hole 10 provided in the bottom of the holder 3 with a flange portion 8 in contact with the outer end surface of the bottom of the holder 3 and a shaft portion 9 is attached to the holder 3. .

Further, the holder 3 has an elastic member 11 (compression spring) whose one end is in contact with an inner end surface of the bottom and an elastic member 11.
The first cam 12 which is in contact with the other end of the first cam 12 is housed. A guide groove 13 is formed in the holder 3 (inside the guide protrusion 6), and a guide protrusion 14 is provided on the first cam 12.
By engaging the guide projection 14 of the first cam 12 with the guide groove 13 of the holder 3, the first cam 12 is stored in the holder 3 in a non-rotatable manner.

On the surface of the first cam 12 opposite to the surface in contact with the elastic member 11, uneven portions 15, 16 having a symmetrical shape about the center of rotation are provided.
Are provided at positions that do not overlap in the circumferential direction to form a cam surface. That is, the uneven portion 16 is provided on the outer peripheral side, and the uneven portion 15 is provided on the inner peripheral side. A second cam 17 fixed to the rotating member 2 and rotating with the rotating member 2 is in contact with the cam surface of the first cam 12.

The rotary member 2 is provided with a storage portion 18 for storing the second cam 17.
9 are formed. A projection 20 is formed on the outer periphery of the second cam 17, and the projection 20 is engaged with the key groove 19 of the storage section 18 so that the second cam 17 rotates together with the rotating member 2. I have. This second cam 1
7 is connected to the shaft 7 via a mounting screw 21.

On the surface of the second cam 17 which is in sliding contact with the cam surface of the first cam 12, uneven portions 22 and 23 having a symmetrical shape of the center of rotation are formed in concentric circles at positions not overlapping with each other in the circumferential direction. Is composed. FIG. 4 shows the second cam 12 as a plan view.
An uneven portion 22 is provided on the inner peripheral side. This outer peripheral side uneven portion 2
3 is a counterclockwise (counter-clockwise) ascending slope 31, plane 32, ascending slope 33, ascending slope 34, plane 3
5 (top surface), a stepped flat portion 36 (bottom surface), a rising slope portion 37, a flat portion 38, a descending slope portion 39, a flat portion 40 (bottom surface), a rising slope portion 41, a flat portion 42 (top surface), Following the step, the plane portion (bottom surface) 43 returns to the original ascending slope portion 31. Further, the inner peripheral side uneven portion 22 is provided with the ascending slope 5 counterclockwise.
1, flat portion 52, rising slope portion 53, rising slope portion 54, flat portion 55 (top surface), flat portion 56 (bottom surface) through steps, rising slope portion 57, flat portion 58, descending slope portion 59, flat portion 60
(The bottom surface), the rising slope portion 61, the flat portion 62, and the flat portion (bottom surface) 63 via the step, and then returns to the original slope portion 51 (see FIG. 5 described later).

That is, in the frictional state between the first cam 12 and the second cam 17, the outer peripheral side uneven portion 16 of the first cam 12 and the outer peripheral side uneven portion 23 of the second cam come into pressure contact with each other, and the inner peripheral side uneven portion of the first cam 12 is pressed. Part 1
5 and the inner circumferential uneven portion 22 of the second cam come into pressure contact with each other. Therefore, the first cam 12 and the second cam 17 are respectively provided on both sides with respect to the rotation axis with the concave and convex portions 15, 16, 22, 23.
Because of this, the shaft does not become oblique in the pressed state, and the load that bends the shaft is reduced, so that the shaft operates smoothly and has a long life.

A clip 24 is attached to the outer periphery of the second cam 17 to prevent the clip from coming off. An off-the-shelf E-ring may be used instead of the clip 24, as long as it is sufficient to prevent the clip from coming off.

Although the cover cap 25 is provided on the side of the shaft 7 opposite to the shaft portion 9 to improve the appearance, the cover cap 25 may be omitted if the appearance is not considered.

Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment (fluctuation in operating force) will be described.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are developed views showing the frictional state between the first cam 12 and the second cam 17 (the upper part is the uneven parts 16 and 23).
(The lower part shows the frictional state between the concave and convex portions 15 and 22), and shows the state in which the rotation angle increases in the order of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. First, the state shown in FIG. 5 is a state in which the rotating member 2 assumes the folding position (the rotation angle is 0 degree) with respect to the fixed member 1. From the folded position to the position where the rotation angle of the rotating member 2 is opened (rotated) by about 10 degrees, the urging force of the elastic member 11 and the rising slope 3 of the uneven portions 22 and 23 are used.
Due to 1, 51, a force for returning to the position of 0 degrees (a force for closing) acts.

Next, when the rotating member 2 is further rotated, the plane portion 32 is rotated to a position at which it is rotated by about 120 degrees (see FIG. 6).
Since 53 continues, the urging force of the elastic member 11 and the friction force between the two cam surfaces are kept constant. That is, from about 10 degrees to about 120 degrees, the flat portions 32 and 52 can be held in a free stop state. When the rotating member 2 rotates about 120 degrees, the cam reaches the peaks of the concave and convex portions 15, 16, 22, and 23.
3 requires an appropriate operating force, so that the angle required for a telephone call at, for example, a mobile phone can be maintained at about 120 degrees.

When the rotating member 2 is further rotated, it reaches the tops of the peaks of the concave and convex portions 15, 16, 22, 23, and eventually reaches 180 degrees. Here, the uneven portions 15, 16, 22,
23 is provided at a position that does not overlap the symmetrical shape of the center of rotation in the circumferential direction, so that even if the rotation angle exceeds 180 degrees, FIG.
An arbitrary load can be set as shown in FIG. Further, when reaching the descending slope portions 39 and 59, a springing force (opening force) acts. As described above, the hinge mechanism of the present invention employs the force for closing by the rising slope 31 and the like,
Force to hold a required angle by a free rising slope portion 33 or the like (a necessary angle may be held by providing a concave portion instead of a steep rising slope portion) or a descending slope. The force of raising (opening force) by the part 39 and the like is effective for all of them.

In the above embodiment, the concave and convex portions 15,
16, 22, and 23 are provided symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis and doubly provided at positions that do not overlap in the circumferential direction, but may be double or more, and may be formed in triple or quadruple, for example. good.

In the above embodiment, the first cam 12 is provided on the fixed member 1 and the second cam 17 is provided on the rotating member 2. Needless to say, it's good.

[0026]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the cam surface is formed by forming the symmetrical uneven portion of the center of rotation at a position that does not overlap in the circumferential direction, the load on the shaft can be reduced. It is possible to provide a hinge mechanism that has a life and a smooth feeling and that can set an arbitrary load when the rotation angle of the rotating member with respect to the fixed member exceeds about 180 degrees.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a usage example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a second cam according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a developed view showing a friction state of a cam having a rotation angle of 0 ° according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a developed view showing a friction state of a cam having a rotation angle of 120 degrees according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a developed view showing a friction state of a cam having a rotation angle of 230 degrees according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a development view showing a frictional state of a conventional cam.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed member 2 Rotating member 11 Elastic member 12 First cam 15 Irregular part 16 Irregular part 17 Second cam 22 Irregular part 23 Irregular part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2E032 BA01 CA02 EA03 EC02 3J105 AA02 AA03 AB22 AC07 DA15 DA23

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a hinge mechanism rotatably supporting a rotating member with respect to a fixed member, at least a first cam provided on the fixed member, a second cam provided on the rotating member and rotating with the rotating member, An elastic member for urging one of the two cams in the press-contact direction, wherein the two cams are provided with at least a double symmetrical concave / convex portion having a substantially symmetrical shape about the center of rotation at a position where they do not overlap in the circumferential direction. Features hinge mechanism.