JP2003035309A - Hinge structure and portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hinge structure where a hinge inserted into an interior portion of a device can be easily extracted to be able to be reutilized and provide a portable telephone utilizing the hinge structure. SOLUTION: A shaft inserting portion 2a for being inserted by a hinge 1 is provided at one end of a button side chassis 2, while a shaft inserting portion 3a for being inserted by the hinge 1 is provided at one end of a display side chassis 3. The hinge 1 is composed of a hinge portion 1a inserted into the shaft inserting portion 2a and a hinge portion 1b inserted into the shaft inserting portion 3a to be rotatable in relation to the hinge 1a, and these two hinge portions are joined together. A slit 1c is formed on an external peripheral surface of the hinge 1a, while a slit 1d is formed on an external peripheral surface of the hinge 1b. A key 2c engaging with the slit 1c is formed on an internal peripheral surface of the shaft inserting portion 2a, while a key 3c engaging with the slit 1d is formed on an internal peripheral surface of the shaft inserting portion 3a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention connects one shaft insertion portion provided in one housing and another shaft insertion portion provided in another housing to connect one housing and another housing. The present invention relates to a hinge structure for opening and closing a housing and a mobile phone using the hinge structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a hinge structure that connects one housing to another housing and opens and closes one housing and another housing. Such a hinge structure is widely used for mobile phones and the like having a foldable housing structure.

Such a hinge structure includes, for example, a shaft insertion portion provided in one casing and another casing, and a hinge inserted in the shaft insertion portion. The one housing and the other housing are connected in a state where the hinge is inserted in the shaft insertion portion,
The hinges can be used as axes to open and close each other. A claw portion is provided at the tip of the hinge, etc., and the shaft insertion portion is
A fitting portion for fitting the claw portion provided on the hinge portion is provided. Then, the hinge is housed inside the shaft insertion portion with the claw portion fitted in the fitting portion of the shaft insertion portion.

[0004]

However, in the above-described hinge structure, when the hinge is inserted into the shaft insertion portion, the claw portion of the hinge fits into the fitting portion of the shaft insertion portion. No problem occurs when inserting the hinge, but when pulling out the hinge, the claws may be broken. Therefore, the decomposability of the device deteriorates,
Reuse of a removed hinge may not be possible. Further, the claw portion of the hinge is broken, which may cause damage inside the device.

Further, since the hinge structure shown above has a structure in which the hinge is provided with the claw portion and the shaft insertion portion is provided with the fitting portion, the number of parts in the hinge structure is increased. There is. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the hinge structure may increase.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hinge structure in which the hinge inserted into the device can be easily pulled out, and the pulled-out hinge can be reused, and a mobile phone using the hinge structure. With the goal.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hinge structure according to the present invention includes one hinge portion inserted into one shaft insertion portion provided in one casing and another shaft provided in another casing. A hinge that is inserted into the insertion part and that is connected to another hinge part that is rotatable about the axis with respect to the one hinge part, has one slit formed on the outer peripheral surface of the one hinge part, and has the other hinge. Another slit is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion, one rib that engages with the one slit is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the one shaft insertion portion, and another slit is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the other shaft insertion portion. Another rib to be engaged is formed.

The one slit and the other slit are formed along the axial direction of the hinge, the one rib is formed along the axial direction of the one shaft insertion portion, and the other rib is formed in the other shaft insertion portion. It was formed along the axial direction of the part. With this configuration, the hinges inserted in the one shaft insertion portion and the other shaft insertion portion can be pulled out so as to slide on the one rib and the other rib along the axial direction.

The other slit is formed so as to be located on the extension line of the one slit when the other hinge portion is rotated around the axis to a certain position with respect to the one hinge portion.

The other rib is formed so as to be positioned on the extension line of the one rib when the other housing is rotated to a certain position about the hinge portion. In this way, only when the angle between another housing and one housing is a specific angle,
The hinges inserted in the one shaft insertion portion and the other shaft insertion portion can be pulled out. On the other hand, when the angle formed between the other housing and the one housing is not a specific angle, it is possible to prevent the hinges inserted in the one shaft insertion portion and the other shaft insertion portion from being pulled out. it can.

The hinge structure according to the present invention is inserted in one hinge portion inserted in one shaft insertion portion provided in one casing and another shaft insertion portion provided in another casing, A hinge that is connected to one hinge part and another hinge part that can rotate around an axis is provided, and one rib is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the one hinge part, and another rib is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the other hinge part. Ribs are formed, one slit that engages with one rib is formed on the inner peripheral surface of one shaft insertion portion, and another slit that engages with another rib is formed on the inner peripheral surface of another shaft insertion portion. Is formed.

The hinge structure may be incorporated in a mobile phone or the like.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone using a hinge structure according to the present invention.

The mobile phone shown in FIG. 1 includes a hinge 1, a button side casing 2 and a display side casing 3. The button-side housing 2 is formed with a button hole for embedding a dial button or the like, a microphone hole for inputting voice from a caller, and the like. The display-side housing 3 is provided with a display hole for embedding a display panel (liquid crystal panel) for displaying the telephone number of the called party, a talk time, etc., a speaker hole for outputting a voice received from the called party, and the like. . The hinge 1 is used to connect the button side body 2 and the display side body 3. The button-side housing 2 corresponds to one housing, and the display-side housing 3 corresponds to another housing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge 1. The hinge 1 includes a hinge portion 1a and a hinge portion 1b. The hinge portion 1b is provided at the tip of the hinge portion 1a.
The hinge portion 1a and the hinge portion 1b are formed of a tubular body having the same diameter dimension. The hinge part 1 a is housed in the button-side housing 2, and the hinge part 1 b is housed in the display-side housing 3.
The hinge part 1a and the hinge part 1b are rotatable about the same axis. That is, the hinge portion 1b
Are rotatable about an axis with respect to the hinge portion 1a. The hinge portion 1a corresponds to one hinge portion, and the hinge portion 1b
Corresponds to another hinge part.

For example, in the hinge portion 1a, an engaging claw is projected on one end surface which is in contact with the hinge portion 1b. In the hinge portion 1b, a claw is projected on one end surface which is in contact with the hinge portion 1a. The hinge part 1b is attached to the hinge part 1a by engaging the engaging claw protruding on the hinge part 1a and the claw protruding on the hinge part 1b.
Then, the claw of the hinge portion 1b slides on the engaging claw of the hinge 1a, so that the hinge portion 1b rotates about the axis with respect to the hinge portion 1a.

On the outer peripheral surface of the hinge portion 1a, a slit 1c is formed along the axial direction. The slit 1c is formed by cutting a part of the hinge portion 1a from the outer peripheral surface to the axis along the axial direction. A slit 1d is formed along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the hinge portion 1b.
Are formed. Similarly to the slit 1c, the slit 1d is also formed by cutting out a part of the hinge portion 1a along the axial direction at a depth extending from the outer peripheral surface to the shaft. Further, two slits 1c are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hinge portion 1a at intervals of 180 degrees. Similarly, the slits 1d are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hinge portion 1b at intervals of 180 degrees (see FIG. 4). The slits 1c and 1d are provided to fix the hinge portions 1a and 1b without rotating when they are housed in the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a. The slits 1c and 1d have the same depth and width. The slit 1c corresponds to one slit,
The slit 1d corresponds to another slit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the button-side casing 2 and the display-side casing 3. A shaft insertion portion 2a and a semi-cylindrical portion 4a are provided at one end of the button-side housing 2 so as to project. Two shaft insertion portions 2a are provided, and the semi-cylindrical portion 4a is provided at a position sandwiched between one shaft insertion portion 2a and another shaft insertion portion 2a. The hinge portion 1a is inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a. The shaft insertion portion 2a corresponds to one shaft insertion portion.

The shaft insertion portion 2a is formed with an insertion hole 2b for inserting the hinge portion 1a and the hinge portion 1b. The insertion hole 2b is formed in a tubular shape, and the diameter dimension of the tube is approximately the same as the diameter dimensions of the hinge portion 1a and the hinge portion 1b. A key (engagement rib) 2c is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 2b so as to extend along the axial direction. Key 2c
Has a width similar to that of the slit 1c of the hinge portion 1a,
It is provided to engage with the slit 1c. Key 2
c is at an interval of 180 degrees on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 2b.
Is formed. The key 2c corresponds to one rib.

A shaft insertion portion 3a is provided at one end of the display side casing 3.
And a semi-cylindrical portion 4b is provided so as to project. Shaft insertion part 3a
Are provided, and the semi-cylindrical portion 4b is one shaft insertion portion 3a.
It is provided at a position sandwiched by the other shaft insertion portion 3a. The hinge portion 1b is inserted into the shaft insertion portion 3a.

The shaft insertion portion 3a is formed with an insertion hole 3b for inserting the hinge portion 1b, and a stopper 3 for defining the depth into which the hinge portion 1b is inserted.
d is formed. The stopper 3d is formed on the surface facing the surface on which the insertion hole 3b is formed. The insertion hole 3b is formed in a cylindrical shape with one end closed, and the diameter of the cylinder is about the same as the diameter of the hinge portion 1b. The stopper 3d is the surface of the cylinder bottom. A key (engagement rib) 3c is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 3b so as to extend in the axial direction. The key 3c is the slit 1d of the hinge portion 1b.
It has the same width as that of and is provided to engage with the slit 1d. The key 3c is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 3b.
Two of them are formed with an interval of 0 degree. Key 3c
Corresponds to other ribs.

The shaft insertion portion 3a includes the shaft insertion portion 2a and the semicylindrical portion 4.
and the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a.
By inserting the hinge 1 into the, the display side casing 3 and the button side casing 2 are coupled. The semi-cylindrical portion 4a of the button-side casing 2 and the semi-cylindrical portion 4b of the display-side casing 3 fit together. The key 2c is used when the display-side housing 3 is coupled to the button-side housing 2 and the display-side housing 3 is
It is arranged so as to be located on the extension line of the key 3c when it is bent at a specific angle with respect to. That is, the keys 2c and 3c are arranged such that the keys 2c and 3c are located on the same straight line when bent at a specific angle. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the specific angle is set to, for example, 170
I will proceed with the explanation as a degree. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the back surface housings of the button-side housing 2 and the display-side housing 3 are fitted with corresponding back surface housings.

Next, the operation of the hinge structure according to the present invention will be described. First, the operation of inserting the hinge 1 into the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a will be described. 5 is a view showing the joint between the button-side housing 2 and the display-side housing 3 shown in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section when it cut | disconnects in the cross section of B. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the opening / closing operation of the display-side housing 3.

First, the shaft insertion portion 3a of the display side casing 3 is inserted between the shaft insertion portion 2a of the button side casing 2 and the semi-cylindrical portion 4a, and the insertion hole 2b and the insertion hole 3b are aligned with each other. A cylindrical space with one end closed is formed inside the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a. That is, the insertion hole 2
The space formed by b and the space formed by the insertion hole 3b are communicated with each other.

Next, the display side casing 3 is rotated about the shaft inserting portion 2a and the shaft inserting portion 3a so that the angle formed between the display side casing 3 and the button side casing 2 becomes 170 degrees. (See FIG. 6A). Then, inside the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a, the key 2c comes to be located on the extension line of the key 3c (FIG. 5A). That is, the key 2c and the key 3c are located on the same straight line. In addition, by rotating the hinge portion 1b to a certain position in advance, the slit 1c is adjusted so as to be located on the extension line of the slit 1d.

In this state, the hinge 1 is inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a. At this time, the slit 1d is slid on the surfaces of the keys 2c and 3c so that the hinge 1
b into the shaft insertion portion 3a, and the slit 1c into the key 2c.
Then, the hinge portion 1a is inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a by sliding it on the surface (Figs. 5 (b) and 5 (c)). The hinge portion 1b abuts on the stopper 3d. As described above, the hinge 1 can be inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a only when the angle formed between the display-side housing 3 and the button-side housing 2 is 170 degrees.

Next, the display side casing 3 is rotated about the shaft inserting portion 2a and the shaft inserting portion 3a, and the angle between the display side casing 3 and the button side casing 2 is 170 degrees or less ( Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, this angle is treated as 160 degrees, for example) (see FIG. 6A). At this time, the shaft insertion portion 3a rotates, and accordingly, the hinge portion 1b.
Also rotates. The same applies to the hinge portion 1a. Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, even if the hinge 1 is to be pulled out from the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a, the hinge portion 1b is blocked by the key 3c. That is, since the hinge portion 1b is caught by the key 3c, the hinge 1 inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a.
Can't pull out. In such a state, the angle formed by the display-side casing 3 and the button-side casing 2 is in the rotation movable range (0
If it is within 160 degrees), it will continue.

By assembling the mobile phone, the rotation movable range of the display side casing 3 with respect to the button side casing 2 is defined. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, by fitting the button-side housing 2 and the corresponding back housing, and by fitting the display-side housing 3 and the corresponding back housing, , The upper housing (display-side housing 3 and rear housing) is the lower housing (button-side housing 2 and rear housing)
With respect to, it should not be bent at an angle larger than the rotational movable range. That is, when the upper housing is to be bent at an angle larger than the rotation movable range with respect to the lower housing, the mobile phone is assembled so that one end of the upper housing is caught by one end of the lower housing. By assembling the mobile phone in this manner, it is possible to prevent the hinge 1 inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a from being pulled out at normal times.

Next, the operation of pulling out the hinge 1 inserted in the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a will be described.

First, the back housing fitted to the button-side housing 2 is removed, and the back housing fitted to the display-side housing 3 is removed. Then, the display-side housing 3 is rotated about the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3 so that the angle formed between the display-side housing 3 and the button-side housing 2 becomes 170 degrees. Then, the key 2c comes to be located on the extension line of the key 3c, and the slit 1c comes to be located on the extension line of the slit 1d.

Then, in this state, the slit 1d is slid on the surfaces of the keys 2c and 3c, and the slit 1c is slid on the surface of the key 2c to be inserted into the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a. Pull out the hinge 1. At this time, since the hinge 1 can be pulled out by sliding on the surfaces of the keys 2c and the keys 3c that are linearly connected, the hinge 1 can be easily pulled out, and the hinge 1 can be pulled out when pulling it out. It will not be damaged. Therefore, the disassemblability of the device can be improved, and the pulled-out hinge 1 can be reused.

As described above, in the hinge structure according to the present embodiment, the slit 1c and the slit 1d are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hinge 1, and the inside of the shaft insertion portion 2a provided in the button side body 2 is provided. A key 2c for engaging with the slit 1c is formed, and a key 2c for engaging with the slit 1d is provided inside the shaft insertion portion 3a provided in the display-side housing 3.
Is formed, and only when the angle formed by the button-side casing 2 and the display-side casing 3 reaches a specific angle, slide the hinge 1 by sliding on the linearly connected keys 2c and 3c. Since the hinge 1 inserted in the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a can be easily pulled out, the hinge 1 can be prevented from being damaged when the hinge 1 is pulled out. Therefore, the disassemblability of the device is improved, and the pulled-out hinge 1 can be reused.

In the hinge structure according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the hinge 1 with the claw portion, and the fitting for fitting the claw portion inside the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a is eliminated. It is not necessary to provide a joint. Therefore, the number of parts in the hinge structure can be reduced as compared with the conventional hinge structure, so that the manufacturing cost and the like can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the hinge 1 is formed with the slit 1c and the slit 1d, the shaft insertion portion 2a is formed with the key 2c, and the shaft insertion portion 3a is formed with the key 3c. An example is shown in Figure 7.
As shown in (a) to (d), the hinge 1 has a slit 1c.
And key 1e and key 1f instead of slit 1d
The slit 2d may be formed inside the shaft insertion portion 2a instead of the key 2c, and the slit 3e may be formed inside the shaft insertion portion 3a instead of the key 3c. Even in this case, the same function as that of the hinge structure according to the previous embodiment can be realized.

Although the mobile phone is exemplified as the device incorporating the hinge structure, such a device is not limited to the mobile phone. For example, even when incorporated into a character input device (for example, a pocket board provided by NTT Docomo, Inc.) that transmits character information input by a user to a mobile phone via a connection medium such as a cable. Good. Further, the device may be incorporated not only in a device related to a mobile phone but also in an electronic device (notebook personal computer or the like) having a foldable housing structure.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which two slits 1c, two slits 1d, two keys 2c and two keys 3c are provided is shown.
One for each may be provided.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the hinge structure has one hinge portion inserted into one shaft insertion portion provided in one casing and another hinge portion provided in another casing. A hinge that is inserted into the shaft insertion part and that is connected to another hinge part that can rotate around the axis with respect to the one hinge part is provided, and one slit is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the one hinge part. Another slit is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hinge portion, one rib that engages with one slit is formed on the inner peripheral surface of one shaft insertion portion, and another slit is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the other shaft insertion portion. Since the other rib that engages with is formed, the hinge inserted in the one shaft insertion portion and the other shaft insertion portion is slid on the one rib and the other rib. Can be withdrawn. Therefore, it can be pulled out without damaging the hinge. Therefore, the disassembly of the device can be improved, and
The hinge can be reused.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone using a hinge structure according to the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of the hinge 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a button-side casing 2 and a display-side casing 3.

FIG. 4 shows the hinge 1 on the shaft insertion portion 2a and the shaft insertion portion 3a.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an inserting operation when inserting a.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the joint between the button-side housing 2 and the display-side housing 3 taken along the line AB in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an opening / closing operation of the display side casing 3.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the joint between the button-side casing 2 and the display-side casing 3 taken along the line AB in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 hinge 1a, 1b Hinge part 1c, 1d slit 2 button side housing 2a shaft insertion part 2b insertion hole 2c key 3 Display side housing 3a shaft insertion part 3b insertion hole 3c key 4a, 4b Semi-cylindrical part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A shaft insertion part provided in one housing and another shaft insertion part provided in another housing are connected to each other, and the two shaft insertion parts serve as axes to connect the one shaft insertion part. A hinge structure that allows the other casing to rotate with respect to a casing, wherein one hinge part inserted into the one shaft insertion part and one hinge part inserted into the other shaft insertion part A hinge in which another hinge part rotatable about an axis is connected to the hinge part, one slit is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the one hinge part, and another slit is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the other hinge part. Slits are formed, one rib that engages with the one slit is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the one shaft insertion portion, and the other slit is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the other shaft insertion portion. A hinge structure characterized in that other ribs are formed. 2. The one slit and the other slit are formed along the axial direction of the hinge, the one rib is formed along the axial direction of the one shaft insertion portion, and the other rib is formed in the other direction. The hinge structure according to claim 1, wherein the hinge structure is formed along the axial direction of the shaft insertion portion. 3. The other slit is formed so as to be located on an extension line of the one slit when the other hinge part is rotated around the axis to a certain position with respect to the one hinge part. The hinge structure according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The rib according to claim 1, wherein the other rib is formed so as to be located on an extension line of the one rib when the other housing is rotated to a position about the hinge. The hinge structure according to any one of the above. 5. One shaft insertion portion provided in one housing and another shaft insertion portion provided in another housing are connected to each other, and the one shaft insertion portion is used as an axis. A hinge structure that allows the other casing to rotate with respect to a casing, wherein one hinge part inserted into the one shaft insertion part and one hinge part inserted into the other shaft insertion part A hinge connected to another hinge part that is rotatable about an axis with respect to the hinge part; one rib is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the one hinge part; and another rib is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the other hinge part. Ribs are formed, one slit that engages with the one rib is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the one shaft insertion portion, and the other rib is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the other shaft insertion portion. A hinge structure having other slits formed therein. 6. A mobile phone using the hinge structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.