JP2001241254A - Plastic housing equipped with folding hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide housings which are entirely formed of a plastic inclusive of bearing portions (brackets) of hinge portions arranged in both the housings of a display panel and an operation panel and at end portions of the same, and to impart durability to the housings so as to withstand repeated opening/closing operations. SOLUTION: A first housing 1 and a second housing 4 molded of a plastic are connected together via a rotary hinge portion 5 in a foldable and openable manner. The bearing portion is comprised of first and second bearings 11, 14, and projective ribs. The first and second bearings 11, 14 molded of a plastic, are adjacently fitted into end portions of the first and second housings in one body. The projective ribs are formed in shaft holes defined by the first and second bearings along an axial direction. A spindle portion is comprised of first and second rotary bodies 22, 23, and a click mechanism. The first and second rotary bodies 22, 23 molded of a plastic, are axially supported by a metallic spindle 21 in a rotatable manner and having recessed ribs on the periphery thereof. The click mechanism temporarily stops and locks the first and second rotary bodies so that a predetermined rotational angle difference θ is relatively retained with respect to the spindle. Then, the spindle portion is fitted into the bearing portion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Foldable mobile phones and PHs
The present invention relates to a housing having a folding hinge portion for a portable information terminal, and more particularly to a plastic housing having a folding hinge portion made entirely of plastic.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In portable information terminals and other portable communication devices such as mobile phones and PHS phones equipped with an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves, if the entire housing (outer case) of the device is made of metal, the radio waves are shielded. As a result, the antenna inside the device becomes unusable, so that a housing made of plastic is conventionally used for such a device using an antenna.

[0003] In particular, a portable device has a foldable structure that can be folded via a hinge for folding in order to make the entire device compact. For example, in a portable telephone or a PHS machine, etc. Is equipped with a display panel-side housing body (housing body by overlapping a front case section and a rear case section) with a speaker (receiver) and a liquid crystal display panel, etc., an operation keyboard and a microphone (transmitter), etc. The operation panel side housing body (a housing body obtained by overlapping the front case section and the rear case section) is openably and closably coupled to each other via a folded hinge portion at each end thereof. It is used by opening horizontally to each other through the hinge part, and when not in use, both housing bodies are connected through the hinge part. And bent so as to overlap, so that can be folded in half the size.

[0004] In such a foldable device, sufficient strength and durability are required for the opening / closing operation of the hinge portion and the handling operation in the open state during use, and the entire housing including the hinge portion is required. When a plastic housing is used, sufficient strength and durability cannot be obtained. Therefore, a hinge portion of a portable terminal having a folding hinge portion and a front case portion of a housing integrated with the hinge portion are generally provided. A metal material (such as a magnesium alloy having good moldability) is used, and a plastic material is often used only for the rear case portion of the housing.

[0005] Also, in particular, when the user manually folds it in two and closes it (closed angle 0 °; overlaps both the display panel side and the operation panel side housing when not in use),
Opening operation (for example, opening angle within 160 ° to 180 °)
In this case, it is desirable that the respective operation end points of the closing operation (overlapping operation) and the opening operation can be transmitted to the operator's finger as a click feeling and confirmed.

[0006] For this purpose, an operation end point position for keeping the inner angle of the hinge portion in the closed and open use at a constant angle as described above is set, and a temporary stop for giving a click feeling for confirming the sled position. Is important, and the strength of the structure is an important factor for the durability of the entire hinge portion.

[0007]

Therefore, in order to improve the durability and accuracy of the stopper rib structure and the lock mechanism, the ends of the plastic housings on the display panel side and the operation panel side are entirely made of a metal material. An attempt to use a metal material for a hinge (opening / closing rotation shaft) which is a structure of a metal hinge and a bearing (bracket) having a shaft hole for supporting the shaft. Has been made.

However, the joint between the plastic housing and the structure of the metal hinge portion provided at the end cannot provide sufficient strength or the design setting of the entire housing including the hinge portion. In such a case, there is a problem that the degree of freedom is lost and restrictions are imposed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a housing provided with a folding hinge portion, including the housing on both the display panel side and the operation panel side and the bearing portion (bracket) of the hinge portion provided at the end thereof. The front case part and the rear case part integrated with the parts are made of a plastic housing, and the strength of the hinge part is made durable enough to withstand repeated opening and closing operations of about 30,000 times.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a first housing and a second housing are foldably connected to each other via a rotary hinge portion 5 so as to be openable and closable, and a first plastic molded member is provided. A first bearing 11 and a second bearing 14 formed of plastic, which are fitted adjacent to each other at one end of the second housing.
In a bearing portion provided with a protruding rib provided along the axial direction in a shaft hole of the bearing, a plastic second member provided with a groove-shaped rib on an outer periphery rotatably supported by a metal support shaft 21 is provided. A click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the first rotator 22 and the second rotator 23 made of metal and the first and second rotators at a position having a predetermined rotation angle difference θ relatively to each other about the support shaft; The inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and the protruding rib shape are provided in the shaft hole of the second bearing into which the second rotating body 23 made of metal is inserted by inserting the folding hinge portion into which the supporting shaft portion having the following is inserted. A plastic housing provided with a folding hinge portion, wherein a cylindrical body formed of metal is loaded in a shape that follows the shape of a metal.

Next, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that
In a foldable plastic housing in which a housing and a second housing are foldably openably connected via a rotating hinge provided at an end thereof, a first housing and a second housing formed of plastic are respectively provided at one end of the first housing and the second housing. A first bearing and a second bearing, which are integrally formed of plastic and are fitted adjacent to each other, and a protruding rib provided along an axial direction in a shaft hole of the first and second bearings. A first rotating body made of plastic and a second rotating body made of metal, provided with a groove-shaped rib on the outer periphery rotatably supported by a metal supporting shaft; a first rotating body and a second rotating body; A rotating shaft and a supporting shaft portion having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the rotating body at a position having a predetermined rotational angle difference relative to the supporting shaft. In each shaft hole, The second bearing having a folding hinge portion in which the first rotator and the second rotator are fitted and fitted with the protruding rib and the groove-shaped rib, and in which the metal second rotator 23 is fitted. A plastic housing provided with a folding hinge, wherein a cylindrical body formed of metal is loaded in the shaft hole so as to follow the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and the shape of the protruding rib. .

Next, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is directed to the first aspect.
In a foldable plastic housing in which a housing and a second housing are foldably openably connected via a rotating hinge provided at an end thereof, a first housing and a second housing formed of plastic are respectively provided at one end of the first housing and the second housing. A first bearing and a second bearing, which are integrally formed of plastic and are fitted adjacent to each other, and a protruding rib provided along an axial direction in a shaft hole of the first and second bearings. A first rotating body made of plastic and a second rotating body made of metal, provided with a grooved rib on the outer periphery rotatably supported on a metal supporting shaft; A pressing plate which is inserted through the support shaft and is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating body, and is urged by an elastic body along the support shaft to press the second rotating body; Protrusions provided at both ends of the support shaft And two ends opposed to each other with the support shaft of the pressing surface of the second rotating body interposed therebetween, and both ends on a straight line whose rotation phase angle differs by a predetermined angle with respect to a straight line connecting the center of the support shaft and both ends. The protrusion of the pressing plate elastically fits into the recess, and the protrusion and the recess are fitted at a position having a predetermined rotation angle difference, so that the relative rotation between the first rotating body and the second rotating body is achieved. A shaft portion having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the rotation, and a first rotating body and a second rotating body are respectively provided in the shaft holes of the first bearing and the second bearing. A grooved rib is fitted and inserted, and an engaging portion provided at a tip end of the second rotating body is engaged with an inner end of the second bearing to be fixed. A shape that follows the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and the shape of the protruding rib in the shaft hole of the second bearing into which the second rotating body 23 is inserted. It is plastic housing with a folding hinge, characterized in that in-cylinder-shaped body forming a metal is loaded in.

[0013] Next, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the housing of the third aspect of the present invention, the housing is provided with a folding hinge portion having a rotation phase angle different by an angle of 10 ° to 25 °. Housing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the housing according to the first to fourth aspects, the predetermined rotational angle difference is any one of 155 ° to 170 °. It is a plastic housing provided with a folding hinge part.

Next, the invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is directed to the first aspect.
In a foldable plastic housing in which a housing and a second housing are foldably openably connected via a rotating hinge provided at an end thereof, a first housing and a second housing formed of plastic are respectively provided at one end of the first housing and the second housing. A first bearing and a second bearing, which are integrally formed of plastic and are fitted adjacent to each other, and a protruding rib provided along an axial direction in a shaft hole of the first and second bearings. A first rotating body made of plastic and a second rotating body made of metal, provided with a grooved rib on the outer periphery rotatably supported on a metal supporting shaft; A pressing plate which is inserted through the support shaft and is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating body, and is urged by an elastic body along the support shaft to press the second rotating body; Protrusions provided at both ends of the support shaft And a recessed portion in which projections of the pressing plate provided at both ends opposed to each other with a support shaft of the pressing surface of the second rotating body interposed therebetween are elastically fitted, and at a position having a predetermined rotation angle difference. The first bearing and the second bearing are constituted by a spindle having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the relative rotation of the first rotating body and the second rotating body by fitting the projection and the recessed part. The first rotating body and the second rotating body are fitted into the respective shaft holes by fitting the protruding ribs and the groove-shaped ribs, and the engaging portion provided at the distal end of the second rotating body is inserted into the second rotating body. A folding hinge portion engaged with and fixed to an inner end of the bearing, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and a protruding rib are provided in a shaft hole of the second bearing into which the second rotating body 23 made of metal is inserted; A plus with a folding hinge characterized by being loaded with a tubular body formed of metal in a shape that follows the shape Tsu is a click-made housing.

Next, a seventh aspect of the present invention is a plastic housing provided with a folding hinge part in which the predetermined rotation angle difference is 180 ° in the housing according to the sixth aspect of the present invention. .

Next, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the housing according to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, the metal second rotating body has an engaging portion at a tip portion. Plastic housing provided with a folding hinge portion composed of a front rotating portion formed of plastic and a rear rotating portion formed of metal provided with a concave portion into which a protrusion of a pressing plate is elastically fitted. It is.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A plastic housing provided with a folding hinge according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable information terminal such as a foldable portable telephone or a PHS device for explaining an example of a plastic housing having a folding hinge according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. .

The housing of the present invention comprises an operation keyboard 2
And the first on the operation panel side equipped with a transmitter 3 (microphone)
A second panel on the display panel side including a housing 1, a liquid crystal display panel 5, a receiver 6 (speaker), an antenna unit 7, and the like.
The first housing 1 includes a housing 4.
The second housing 4 is formed by overlapping the front case 1a and the rear case 1b.
a and the rear case 4b are overlapped with each other, and the first and second housings 1, 4
a and 4a are provided integrally with the respective ends of the first bearing 11 and the second bearing 14, respectively. It is connected so that it can be folded and folded in two.

As shown in the drawing, the first bearing 11 and the second bearing 14 are integrally molded with plastic at one end thereof together with the first housing 1 and the second housing 4, and are fitted adjacent to each other. It is combined as follows.

The first housing 1 on the operation panel side and the second housing 4 on the display panel side have a bent inner angle of 0 ° to 170 ° (eg, 0 °).
°, open inner angle 160 °)
At the time of use, it can be opened from its internal angle of 0 ° to the direction of an open internal angle of 160 °, and when not in use, it is folded in two and closed in the direction of 160 ° to 0 °, and both housings can be overlapped and folded.

The first and second housings 1 and 4 are made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).
It is made of resin. Of course, polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (AB
A copolymer of S) and polycarbonate may be used. However, a synthetic resin (amorphous resin) that has a high drop strength, is easy to mold, and has a small molding shrinkage ratio is preferable.

A keyboard section 2 is provided on the front surface of the first housing 1 on the operation panel side, and a battery cover 8 made of an alloy of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene is provided on the back side of the housing 1, A lock knob (not shown) for locking the battery cover 8 is provided, and an earphone jack cap 9 made of nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) is attached to an outer end of the housing 1.

A liquid crystal display panel 5 is provided on the surface of the second housing 4 on the display panel side, and a transparent lens-shaped liquid crystal display panel cover made of polycarbonate is attached. In the case of a plastic housing, a screen part for screen simulation display for printing characters and symbols displayed on the screen on a liquid crystal display panel made of polymethyl methacrylate for simulated display is attached. .

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating the inside of the rotating hinge 5, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional views of the first bearing 11 and the second bearing 14 in the rotating hinge 5. The first bearing 11 provided at one end of the first housing 1 on the panel side has a shaft hole 11a, and the second bearing 14 provided at one end of the second housing 4 on the display panel side has a shaft hole 14a.
And as shown in FIG. 3, the shaft holes 11a and 14 are respectively provided.
A support shaft portion 20 is inserted into the portion a from the left to the right in the drawing.

In the shaft hole 11a of the first bearing 11,
As shown in FIG. 6 (a), a protruding rib 11b is provided along the axial direction, and in the axial hole 14a of the second bearing 14, along the axial direction as shown in FIG. 6 (b). Protruding ribs 14b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the spindle 20 is
The first and second rotators 22 and 23 are composed of a first rotator 22 made of plastic and a second rotator 23 made of metal which are rotatably supported on the first rotator. Thus, it is rotatable about the support shaft 21.

As shown in FIG. 6A, grooved ribs 22a, 22a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body 22 which constitutes the support shaft portion 20 with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 6 (b), groove-shaped ribs 23a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second rotating body 23, which is made of
23a.

The spindle 20 in the present invention will be described in detail based on a side view of the spindle 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and a side sectional view of the spindle 20 shown in FIG. 4B. To explain,
The support shaft portion 20 includes a plastic first rotating body 22 and a metal second rotating body 23 rotatably supported on a support shaft 21.
The first and second rotating bodies 22 and 23 are rotatable about the support shaft 21 independently of each other, and are provided with locking plates 21 a and 21 b at both ends of the support shaft 21. , The first and second rotating bodies 22 and 23 are prevented from falling off.

The first rotating body 22 is provided with groove-shaped ribs 22a, 22a on the outer peripheral surface opposed to each other with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween.
The inside of the rotating body 22 is hollow, and the inside of the hollow body includes a helical spring 2 as an elastic body fitted to the support shaft 21.
7 is attached, and a support shaft 21 is provided inside the tip end side of the first rotating body 22 (the side close to the second rotating body 23).
The pressing plate 26 to be inserted into the first rotating body 22 is provided by being urged toward the tip end of the first rotating body 22 by the elastic force of the spiral spring 27,
The pressing plate 26 has both ends inserted into notches 22b, 22b provided on the peripheral surface on the distal end side of the first rotating body 22 opposed to each other with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween. It is capable of rotating integrally with the rotation of the body 22. Further, at both end portions of the pressing plate 26, projections 26a, 26a facing the adjacent surface of the adjacent second rotating body 23 are provided.

The second rotating body 23 made of metal has its support shaft 21
Groove-shaped ribs 23a, 23a are provided on the outer peripheral surface opposed to the first pressing member 26, and the protrusions of the second pressing plate 26 urged by the elastic member 27 are provided on the adjacent surface adjacent to the first rotating member 22. 26a, the recessed portion 23 is located at a corresponding position where the 26a can be fitted.
b and 23b are provided.

The first rotator 2 of the second rotator 23 (made of metal)
A resilient split pin-shaped engaging portion 23c is provided on the opposite side of the adjacent surface adjacent to 2 (made of plastic), and as shown in FIG. When fitted into the shaft holes 11a and 14a of the first and second bearings 11 and 14 in the rightward direction, the leading end of the split pin-shaped engaging portion 23c is inserted into the shaft hole of the second bearing 14. 1
After fitting into the thin shaft hole of 4a, the claw at the tip of the engaging portion 23c is engaged with the outer end surface of the shaft hole 14a, so that the entire support shaft portion 20 is outward (leftward in the drawing). So that it does not come off.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4C, the support shaft 2
After the rotary hinge portion 5 is formed by inserting the rotary hinge portion 5 into the shaft holes 11a and 14a, the decorative cover 30 is attached to the locking portion 21a at the outer end of the support shaft portion 20 by the locking portion 21a.
a is slid along the cutouts on both sides to be covered.

FIG. 5 (a) is a front view of the support shaft portion 20 shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (c) when viewed from the second rotating body 23 side. The part 23c is divided into four parts and has a split pin shape.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line MM of the support shaft portion 20 shown in FIG. 3. The first rotating body 22 has a hollow inside and is provided on an outer peripheral surface opposed to the support shaft 21 with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween. Groove rib 22
a, 22a are provided, and the pressing plate 26 is slidably fitted along the support shaft 21. Both ends of the pressing plate 26 are opposed to each other across the support shaft 21 of the first rotating body 22. It is inserted into the notches 22b, 22b provided in the section.

FIG. 5C is a sectional view taken along the line NN of the support shaft portion 20 shown in FIG. 3. The second rotating body 23 has groove-like ribs 23a, 23a on the outer peripheral surface opposed to the support shaft 21 therebetween. Are provided.

FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken along line MM of the first bearing 11 and the first rotating body 22 of the rotary hinge portion 5 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6B is a rotary hinge portion of FIG. 5 is an NN cross-sectional view of the second bearing 14 and the second rotating body 23 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the first rotating body 22 of the support shaft 20 is provided in the shaft hole 11a of the first bearing 11 provided at the end of the first housing 1 on the operation panel side. Are fitted, and the protruding ribs 11b of the shaft hole 11a and the grooved ribs 22a of the rotating body 22 are fitted to each other, and the first bearing 11 of the first housing 1 is supported by the support shaft 20. It rotates integrally with the first rotating body 22 about the shaft 21.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the second bearing 1 provided at the end of the second housing 4 on the display panel side.
The second rotating body 23 of the support shaft portion 20 is fitted into the shaft hole 14a of the fourth shaft 4, and the protruding rib 14b of the shaft hole 14a and the groove-shaped rib 23a of the rotating body 23 are fitted to each other. The second bearing 14 of the second housing 4 is connected to the support shaft 2 of the support shaft 20.
1 and rotates integrally with the second rotating body 23.

The first housing 1 and the second housing 4 are connected to each other through the spindle 20 inserted through the first bearing 11 and the second bearing 14, respectively. The collapsible plastic housing having the rotating hinge 5 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed which can be opened and closed about the support shaft 21. When the first housing 1 and the second housing 4 are fully opened at a predetermined inner angle θ, the first housing 1 and the second housing 4 are not fully opened at a further inner angle, as shown in FIG. An abutment portion 11c for stopping is provided in a portion of the outer periphery of the bearing 11 directly below the support shaft 21, and as shown in FIG.
An abutment back portion 14c for stopping can be provided in a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the second bearing 14 directly below the support shaft 21.
When the housing 1 and the second housing 4 are fully opened at a predetermined inner angle θ, the abutting back portion 14c abuts on the abutting portion 11c so that the housing 1 and the second housing 4 are not opened beyond the set inner angle θ in the fully open state.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the rotating hinge 5
Press plate 2 rotatable integrally with the first rotating body 22 in FIG.
The protrusions 26a, 26a at both end portions of the elastic member 27 are always elastically moved by the elastic body 27 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
When the first housing 1 and the second housing 4 are opened and closed via the rotating hinge 5, the first rotating body is integrally urged with the housings 1 and 4. The rotation body 22 and the second rotating body 23 relatively rotate about the support shaft 21.

At a predetermined relative rotation angle in the opening / closing operation of the first housing 1 and the second housing 4, a projection 2 integrated with the plastic first rotating body 22 is formed.
6a, 26a are fitted into recesses 23b, 23b provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions 26a, 26a on the surface of the metal second rotator 23 adjacent to the first rotator 22, respectively. The stop is temporarily locked.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a first rotating body 22 that rotates integrally with the first housing 1 (first bearing 11).
The pressing plate 26 is, for example, attached to the first housing 1 in the direction of a straight line A1 -B1 as shown in the drawing, and in a direction substantially orthogonal to the straight line A1 -B1, A fitting point with the rib 22a is provided.

The projections 26a, 26a of the pressing plate 26 are provided on straight lines A1-B1 at both ends of the pressing plate 26, respectively, so that the first housing 1 and the second housing 4 rotate in a predetermined direction. In the opening / closing operation by the angle θ, the first housing 1 (the first bearing 11)
It rotates relative to the housing 4 (second bearing 14) about the support shaft 21 by the predetermined rotation angle θ, and forms a straight line A1 −
The projections 26a, 26a on B1 rotate and move on a straight line A2-B2.

As shown in FIG. 6B, a second rotating body 23 which rotates integrally with the second housing 4 (second bearing 14).
Recessed portion 23 provided on the surface adjacent to first rotating body 22
b, 23b are provided at positions corresponding to the rotation of the protrusions 26a, 26a at a predetermined rotation angle θ. For example, as shown, the second housing 4 is on a straight line A1-B1 and a straight line A2-B2. In the direction substantially orthogonal to the straight line A1-B1, a fitting point between the convex rib 14b and the groove rib 23a is provided.

In the opening / closing operation of the first housing 1 and the second housing 4 at a predetermined angle θ, the second housing 4 (the first bearing 14) moves with respect to the first housing 1 (the first bearing 11). The concave portions 23b, 23b on the straight line A1-B1 are relatively rotated about the support shaft 21 by the predetermined rotation angle .theta.
The upper concave portions 23b, 23b on 2 move rotationally on a straight line A1-B1.

The setting of the predetermined rotation angle θ is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the metal rotary plate 23 is provided with the concave portions 23a, 23a of the metal second rotary member 23 into which the protrusions 26a, 26a (made of metal) of the metal pressing plate 26 on the first rotary member 22 side are fitted. The rotation phase angle difference between the straight line A1-B1 and the straight line A2-B2 is set to 180 ° -θ, and the spindle is set as a click point (a fully-open stop position) when one of the straight lines A1-B1 is opened (fully opened). A pair of recessed portions 23 opposed to each other with 21 interposed therebetween
a, 23a, and a click point at the time of closing (fully closing) on the other straight line A2-B2 (a lock position at which closing and stopping are performed).
A pair of concave portions 23a facing each other with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween;
23a, and thus the two pairs of recessed portions 23a, 2a
3a can be implemented by providing the second rotating body 23 on the surface adjacent to the first rotating body 22.

Here, the inner angle at the time of closing when the two housings 1, 4 are overlapped with each other and folded is 0 °, and the inner angle at the time of opening is, for example, any one of 155 ° to 170 °. In the case of setting, the predetermined rotation angle θ (predetermined relative rotation angle) required for the opening / folding operation (opening / closing operation) via the rotating hinge portion 5 between the first housing 1 and the second housing 4 is 155 ° to 170 °.

Therefore, the predetermined rotation angle θ is, for example, 1
When the angle is set to any angle from 55 ° to 170 °, the rotational phase angle difference between the straight lines A1 -B1 and the straight lines A2 -B2 where the concave portions 23a, 23a of the second rotating body 23 are provided is 180 ° -θ = 180 °-(155 ° -170
(°) = 25 ° to 10 °, and the recesses 23a, 23a are provided on the straight lines A1-B1 and A2-B2, respectively.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a plastic housing having a folding hinge portion according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6 (a) and 6 (b). As shown in FIG. 3, a first bearing 11 and a second bearing formed of plastic, which are integrally fitted adjacent to each other at one end of a first housing 1 and a second housing 4 formed of plastic. 14 is provided.

The shaft holes 11 of the first and second bearings 11 and 14
a, protruding rib 11 provided along the axial direction in 14a
b, 14b, and a first plastic member having a groove-shaped rib on the outer periphery rotatably supported on a metal support shaft 21.
A rotating body 22 and a second rotating body 23 made of metal are provided.

The support shaft 21 is inserted into the first rotating body 22 so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating body 22, and is urged by an elastic body 27 along the support shaft 21. The pressing plate 26 presses the second rotating body 23, and the pressing plate 26 has projections 26 at both ends with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween.
a, 26a, and as shown in FIG. 6A, the rotation angle difference between the protrusions 26a, 26a is 180 ° (straight line A1−
B1).

As shown in FIG. 3, at both ends of the pressing surface of the second rotating body 23 opposed to each other with the support shaft 21 interposed therebetween, two pairs of the projections 26a provided at both ends of the pressing plate 26 are provided. , 2
6a, the two projections 26a, 26a
Is provided with a pair of concave portions 23b, 23b into which elastically fits, and as shown in FIG.
The rotation angle difference of 3b is set to 180 ° (on the straight line A1-B1).

Thus, at the position having a rotation angle difference of 180 °, both the projections 26a, 26a and the
a and 23a are fitted, and a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the relative rotation of the first rotating body 22 and the second rotating body 23 is obtained.

The first bearing 11 and the second bearing 14
The support shaft portion including the first rotating body 22 and the second rotating body 23 is inserted into the shaft holes 11a and 14a, respectively.
And the groove-like rib 22a, the protrusion-like rib 14b and the groove-like rib 23a
Are fitted to each other, and the engaging portion 23c provided at the tip end of the second rotating body 23 is engaged with the inner end of the second bearing 23 and fixed.

The first and second bearings 11 and 14 of the first and second housings 1 and 4 and the rotary hinge portion 5 integral with the first and second housings of the present invention are also formed of plastic. , 14 shaft holes 11a, 1
4a, the support shaft 21, the support shaft 21, and the pressing plate 2
No. 6 projection 26a (or pressing plate 26 and projection 26a)
Except for the second rotating body 23, its concave portion 23 b, and the split pin-shaped engaging portion 23 c at the tip end of the second rotating body 23, all including the first rotating body 22 are formed of plastic.

As another embodiment of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a) to 4 (c), the second rotating body 23 made of metal is composed of two rotating bodies 24. , 25
May be formed by superimposing, the rotating body 25 on the side close to the first rotating body 22 is formed of metal, and the metal-shaped rotating body 25 is formed with groove-shaped ribs 23a and recessed portions 23b,
The rotating body 24 on the tip end side of the second rotating body 23 (on the side of the split pin 23c) may be made of plastic.

In the housing of the present invention, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 14a and the protruding ribs 14 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 14a of the second bearing 14 made of plastic in the second housing 4.
The inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 14a is covered with metal by loading a cylindrical protective cap 40 formed of metal in a shape following the shape of b, and the second rotating body 23 ( Metal rotator 23 or plastic rotator 24 and metal rotator 25 constituting rotor 23)
Is inserted as much as possible to minimize the occurrence of wear and breakage of the plastic due to contact between the plastic inside the rotating hinge portion 5 and the metal due to the repetition of the opening and closing operations.

FIG. 8A is a side view of the protective cap 40, FIG. 8B is a sectional side view thereof, and FIG. 8C is a front view thereof, wherein the inner circumference of the shaft hole 14a of the second bearing 14 is shown. A cylindrical side wall portion 41 that covers the surface, a bottom wall portion 42 provided at one end of the cylindrical side wall portion 41, and a side wall portion facing the cylindrical side wall portion 41 protruding toward the inside thereof. The protruding ribs 40a fitted to the protruding ribs 14b of the second bearing 14 and the grooved ribs 23a of the second rotating body 23, and the second rotating body 23 formed at the center of the bottom wall portion 42 are provided. Hole 43 into which the tip can be fitted
It is composed of Note that the bottom wall portion 42 of the protective cap 40 can be omitted. In addition, the protective cap 40 can be formed, for example, by deep drawing a thin metal plate, and can be formed by once deep drawing a metal plate and further punching the bottom.

The protective cap 40 also needs to be durable, and can be made of a carbon steel sheet (S10C to S22C) for mechanical structure of 0.25% or less carbon or brass. The protective cap 40 is 0.2 to 0.8 mm
Since it can be made of a thin metal material, the thickness and length of the rotating hinge part 5 need not be increased, and the increase in weight due to the use of the metal material is small, and the appearance is neat and compact. Can be.

Table 1 below shows the results of actual open / close tests on the rotating hinge portion 5 (folding hinge portion) of the plastic housing provided with the folding hinge portion of the present invention.

[0063]

[Table 1]

[0064]

According to the present invention, the plastic housing having the folding hinge portion is entirely formed of plastic, and the rotating hinge portion for opening and closing the housing can also be manufactured integrally with the housing body by plastic.
In order to impart durability and strength to the bearing of the rotating hinge as in the past, the bearing of the rotating hinge formed of a metal material is joined to a plastic housing body, or the bearing of the rotating hinge is manufactured. There is an effect that a lightweight housing having excellent durability and sufficient strength can be manufactured without integrally molding the bearing and the front case of the housing body with a metal material.

Further, in the bearing portion and the spindle portion constituting the rotating hinge portion, a second rotating body having a metal grooved rib constituting the spindle portion, and fitted to the grooved rib. Since the metal protective cap is mounted between the inner periphery of the shaft hole of the second bearing having the plastic projecting rib to be fixedly supported by the shaft, the groove rib and the projecting rib are mutually separated. The metal-to-metal fitting has the effect of improving the durability and strength against repeated opening and closing operations of the housing.

Further, the plastic housing having the folding hinge portion of the present invention is used not only for a housing of a portable information terminal device or the like as an actual machine, but also for the customer to confirm the external shape and portable operability. Therefore, it can also be used as a housing as a display sample device for display at stores and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view illustrating an example of a plastic mobile phone housing provided with a folding hinge according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall plan view illustrating an example of a plastic mobile phone housing provided with a folding hinge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a bearing section in a rotating hinge section of a plastic housing having a folding hinge section according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is an overall side view of a spindle portion of a plastic housing provided with a folding hinge according to the present invention, and FIG.
1 is an overall cross-sectional view of the spindle portion, and FIG. 1C is an overall side view in which a decorative cover (outer cover) is attached to an outer end of the spindle portion.

5 (a) is a front view of a plastic housing provided with a folding hinge according to the present invention as viewed from the front end side of a spindle, and FIG. 5 (b) is a sectional view of the spindle of FIG. 3M-M. Yes,
FIG. 3C is a front cross-sectional view of the first rotating body and the pressing plate, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the supporting shaft portion of FIG.

6A is a cross-sectional view of a first bearing and a first rotating body in a rotating hinge section of a plastic housing having a folding hinge section according to the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view of a second bearing and a first rotating body in the rotating hinge section. Sectional drawing of a 2nd rotating body.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the second bearing and the second rotating body in which the protective cap is mounted in the rotating hinge part of the plastic housing having the folding hinge part of the present invention.

8A is a side view of a protective cap, and FIG.
The side sectional view, (c) is the top view.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st housing 1a ... front case 1b ... rear case 4 ... 2nd housing 4a ... front case 4b ... rear case 5 ... rotation hinge part 11 ... 1st bearing 14 ... 2nd bearing 20 ... spindle part 21 ... spindle 22: first rotating body 22a
... groove-shaped rib 22b ... notch 3 ... second rotating body 23a ... groove-shaped rib
23b: concave portion 23c: engaging portion 26: pressing plate 26a: projecting portion 27
... Elastic body 30 ... Decorative cover 40 ... Protective cap 40a ... Protrusion rib

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2E032 BA00 CA02 EC02 3J105 AA03 AA14 AB02 AB24 AC07 BA22 BB16 BB21 BB31 BB44 BB52 BC03 BC13 DA15 DA32 DA34 5K023 AA07 BB26 DD08 EE09 LL06 QQ05 RR01

Claims (8)

[Claims] A first housing and a second housing are foldably connected to each other via a rotary hinge portion so as to be openable and closable, and are integrally formed adjacent to one ends of first and second housings formed of plastic, respectively. A metal bearing is provided on a bearing portion provided with first and second bearings 11 and 14 formed of plastic to be fitted, and a protruding rib provided in an axial hole of the first and second bearings along the axial direction. A first rotating body 22 made of plastic and a second rotating body 23 made of metal provided with groove-shaped ribs on the outer periphery rotatably supported by a supporting shaft 21 made of metal, and the first and second rotating bodies 23
A folding hinge portion fitted with a spindle portion having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the rotating bodies at a position having a predetermined rotation angle difference θ around the spindle with respect to each other; In the shaft hole of the second bearing into which the second rotating body 23 is inserted, a cylindrical body formed of a metal having a shape for protecting the inner peripheral surface of the plastic shaft hole and the protruding rib is loaded. A plastic housing provided with a folding hinge portion. 2. A foldable plastic housing in which a first housing and a second housing are foldably opened and closed via a rotating hinge portion provided at an end of the first housing and the second housing. A first bearing and a second bearing formed of plastics which are fitted adjacent to each other integrally with one end of each of the two housings, and are provided along the axial direction in the shaft holes of the first and second bearings. A first rotating body made of plastic and a second rotating body made of metal, provided with groove-shaped ribs on the outer periphery rotatably supported by a metal supporting shaft; A shaft portion having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the first rotator and the second rotator at a position having a predetermined rotational angle difference relative to each other about the support shaft; 1st and 2nd bearings The shaft holes, respectively, with said first rotary member and the folded hinge portion and a second rotating body was fitted by fitting the protruding rib and groove-shaped ribs, the metal of the second rotary member 2
A cylindrical body formed of a metal having a shape for protecting the inner peripheral surface of the plastic shaft hole and the protruding rib is loaded in the shaft hole of the second bearing into which the third bearing 3 is inserted. Plastic housing with folding hinges. 3. A foldable plastic housing in which a first housing and a second housing are foldably opened and closed via a rotating hinge provided at an end thereof, wherein the first housing and the second housing are formed of plastic. A first bearing and a second bearing formed of plastics which are fitted adjacent to each other integrally with one end of each of the two housings, and are provided along the axial direction in the shaft holes of the first and second bearings. A first rotating body made of plastic and a second rotating body made of metal, provided with groove-shaped ribs on the outer periphery rotatably supported by a metal supporting shaft; A pressing plate that is inserted into the first rotating body and is rotatably provided integrally with the rotating body and is urged by an elastic body along the rotating shaft to press the second rotating body. And the pressing plate sandwiching its support shaft. A projection provided on the portion, a straight line having a rotation phase angle different by a predetermined angle from a straight line connecting both ends facing the support shaft of the pressing surface of the second rotating body and the center and both ends of the support shaft. A recess provided on both ends of the pressing plate to which the protrusion of the pressing plate elastically fits, and the protrusion and the recess fitted at a position having a predetermined rotation angle difference to form the first rotating body and the first rotating body. A shaft having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the relative rotation of the two rotators, wherein a first rotator and a second rotator are respectively provided in shaft holes of the first bearing and the second bearing. Are inserted by fitting the protruding rib and the groove-shaped rib into each other, and the engaging hinge provided at the distal end of the second rotating body is engaged with the inner end of the second bearing to fix the folding hinge. Prepared,
In the shaft hole of the second bearing in which the metal second rotating body 23 is inserted, a cylindrical body formed of metal having a shape for protecting the inner peripheral surface of the plastic shaft hole and the protruding rib is provided. A plastic housing with a folding hinge, characterized by being loaded. 4. A plastic housing having a folding hinge according to claim 3, wherein said rotation phase angles differ by an angle of 10 ° to 25 °. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rotation angle difference is from 155 ° to 17 °.
The plastic housing provided with the folding hinge part according to claim 1, wherein the angle is any angle difference of 0 °. 6. A foldable plastic housing in which a first housing and a second housing are foldably opened and closed via a rotating hinge portion provided at an end thereof, wherein the first housing and the second housing are formed of plastic. A first bearing and a second bearing formed of plastics which are fitted adjacent to each other integrally with one end of each of the two housings, and are provided along the axial direction in the shaft holes of the first and second bearings. A first rotating body made of plastic and a second rotating body made of metal, provided with groove-shaped ribs on the outer periphery rotatably supported by a metal supporting shaft; A pressing plate that is inserted into the first rotating body and is rotatably provided integrally with the rotating body and is urged by an elastic body along the rotating shaft to press the second rotating body. And the pressing plate sandwiching its support shaft. A predetermined rotation angle difference between a protrusion provided on the second portion and a recess provided with protrusions of the pressing plate provided at both ends opposed to each other across a support shaft of the pressing surface of the second rotating body. A shaft portion having a click mechanism for temporarily stopping and locking the relative rotation of the first rotating body and the second rotating body by fitting the projection and the recessed portion at a position having The first rotating body and the second rotating body are fitted into the shaft holes of the first bearing and the second bearing, respectively, by fitting the protruding ribs and the groove-shaped ribs, and are provided at the distal end of the second rotating body. A folding hinge portion is provided in which the engaging portion is engaged with and fixed to the inner end portion of the second bearing, and the plastic hinge is inserted into the shaft hole of the second bearing into which the metal second rotating body 23 is inserted. Characterized by being loaded with a cylindrical body formed of a metal having a shape for protecting the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and the protruding rib. Plastic housing with Ritatami hinge portion. 7. A plastic housing provided with a folding hinge according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined rotation angle difference is 180 °. 8. The second rotating body made of metal has a front rotating portion formed of plastic having an engaging portion at a distal end portion, and a concave portion into which a projection of a pressing plate is elastically fitted. 8. A plastic housing comprising a folding hinge part according to claim 1, comprising a rear rotating part formed of a metal.