JP2011169361A - Opening/closing device of small electronic apparatus, and small electronic apparatus using the opening/closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening/closing device of a small electronic apparatus in which a second casing can be opened/closed in a free-stop manner with respect to a first casing in a normal mode while the second casing can be temporarily and stably stopped with respect to the first casing at a requested opening angle as necessary. <P>SOLUTION: The opening/closing device of the small electronic apparatus includes a tilt hinge for relatively opening/closing first and second casings of the small electronic apparatus, and a stably stopping means 7 for stably stopping the motion of the tilt hinge. The stably stopping means 7 has a pressing member 19 which is pressed against a turning part of the tilt hinge to stop the turn, and the pressing member 19 can be operated manually. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switchgear suitable for use in a small electronic device such as a notebook computer or a portable game machine, and a small electronic device using the switchgear.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a notebook personal computer, an opening / closing device called a tilt hinge is used to connect a first housing provided with a keyboard portion and a second housing provided with a display portion so as to be relatively openable and closable. Is used. The tilt hinge has a function of temporarily stopping and holding at an arbitrary use angle after the second casing is opened with respect to the first casing. For example, as shown in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3 Are known.

JP 2008-196655 A JP 2004-116540 A JP 2000-346047 A

  The open / close devices shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3 all have a friction mechanism, and after opening the second housing to the first housing with respect to the first housing with the friction mechanism, Even if you release your hand, it will be held without falling naturally. However, when the touch operation function is touched by hand to the display screen, the second casing falls backward due to the pressing force, and the proper opening angle cannot be maintained. Since the opening angle of the body has to be adjusted again, there is a problem that it is complicated. However, if the friction torque of the friction mechanism is increased, a new problem arises that the smooth opening / closing operation of the second housing relative to the first housing is hindered.

  The object of the present invention is to open and close the second housing in a free stop with respect to the first housing in a normal state, but the second housing with respect to the first housing at a necessary opening angle as required. It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening / closing device for a small electronic device and a small electronic device using the opening / closing device that can be stably stopped temporarily.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a tilt hinge that relatively opens and closes a first housing and a second housing of a small electronic device, and stable stop means that stably stops the movement of the tilt hinge. The stable stopping means has a pressing member that presses against the rotating portion of the tilt hinge and stops the rotation, and is configured such that the pressing member can be manually operated.

  In this case, the present invention provides an attachment member attached to the first housing, a hinge shaft rotatably attached to a bearing portion of the attachment member, and the first hinge fixed to the hinge shaft. 2 and a friction mechanism provided between the mounting member and the hinge shaft, and the pressing member of the stable stopping means is configured to be pressed by the hinge shaft. be able to.

  The present invention is also characterized in that when the pressing member is pressed against the hinge shaft, the hinge shaft is provided with a taper member, and the pressing member is provided with a pressing portion that fits into the taper member as necessary. .

  The present invention further includes an attachment member that is attached to the first housing, a hinge shaft that is fixed to a bearing portion of the attachment member, and the second that is rotatably attached to the hinge shaft. And a friction mechanism provided between the support member and the hinge shaft, and the pressing member of the stable stop means is pressed by the support member. It is characterized by.

  The present invention further includes a pressing member that is slidable in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, and a swing that engages with the pressing member and slides the pressing member in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. It can comprise with a member.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a small electronic device in which the switchgear configured as described above is attached between a first housing and a second housing.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the second casing provided with the display unit by the function inherent to the tilt hinge can be arranged at an arbitrary opening / closing angle with respect to the first casing provided with the keyboard unit. In addition to being able to stop and hold, this stop and hold state is achieved by using the stable stop means at an arbitrary opening / closing angle of the second housing with respect to the first housing and using the fingers to touch the display screen of the second housing. It can be stopped and held so as not to move as long as it is touched.

It is a perspective view of the opening state of the notebook type personal computer as an example of the small electronic device using the switchgear according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of the switchgear concerning the present invention. It is a front view before operation | movement of the stable stop means of the switchgear concerning this invention. It is a front view after the operation | movement of the stable stop means of the switchgear concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing of the part of the principal part of the stable stop means which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the switchgear concerning the present invention.

  The case where the present invention is applied to a notebook personal computer, which is an example of a small electronic device, will be described below. However, the present invention can also be used for small electronic devices such as portable game machines. Further, in the claims and means for solving the problems, there is a description of “rotating part”, which is a part of the hinge shaft or supporting member which is a part that rotates when the tilt hinge operates. It is used as a concept. Further, in the claims and the means for solving the problems, only the “mounting member” is described as both the first mounting member and the second mounting member or the first mounting member. Used to include.

  FIG. 1 shows a notebook personal computer embodying the present invention. According to the drawing, the notebook computer 1 includes a first housing 2 having a keyboard portion 2a on the upper surface, a second housing 3 having a display portion 3a on the lower surface, and the second housing. The body 3 and the first casing 2 are configured by opening and closing devices 4 and 5 that relatively open and close.

  Both the opening / closing devices 4 and 5 may have the same structure. However, in the following description, the case where the present invention is applied to the left opening / closing device 4 will be described. Of course, this does not prevent the present invention from being implemented in the right opening / closing device 5.

  2 to 6 show the switchgear 4 according to the present invention. According to the drawings, the opening / closing device 4 according to the present invention is a combination of a tilt hinge 6 and a stable stop means 7 acting on a hinge shaft 9 as an example of a rotating portion of the tilt hinge 6. I will explain from the part.

  The tilt hinge 6 includes a first attachment plate portion 8a attached to the upper surface of the rear end side portion of the first housing 2, and both side plates 8b and 8b raised from both ends of the first attachment plate portion 8a. The first mounting member 8 including a mounting plate 8c raised from the front side of the first mounting plate portion 8a and the wall plate 8d raised from the rear end side, and both side plates 8b of the first mounting member 8 The hinge shaft 9 having a flange portion 9a pivotably mounted in bearing holes 8f and 8f provided in the bearing portions 8e and 8e of the shaft 8b, and the bearing of the hinge shaft 9 on the side where the flange portion 9a is provided. A second attachment member 10 inserted through a bearing hole 10b provided in the portion 10a, a friction mechanism 11 provided on the second attachment member 10 side, and a support member 12 attached to the other end portion side of the hinge shaft 9; It consists of The spacer 26 is inserted between the support member 12 and the side plate 8b of the first mounting member 8 by inserting a deformation insertion hole 26a provided in the axial direction of the central portion thereof into the fourth deformation shaft portion 9f of the hinge shaft 9. Intervened.

  More specifically, the hinge shaft 9 includes a first deformed shaft portion 9b having a substantially elliptical cross section provided on the second mounting member 10 side with the flange portion 9a interposed therebetween, and the first deformed shaft portion. 9b and a second deformed shaft portion 9c having a slight thickness, and a circular shaft portion 9d on the side of the support member 12 across the flange portion 9a and the circular shaft portion 9d. A third deformation shaft portion 9e having an elliptical cross section, a fourth deformation shaft portion 9f provided subsequent to the third deformation shaft portion 9e, and a first locking portion 9g provided by cutting out the edge of the flange portion 9a. And a second locking portion 9h.

  The second mounting member 10 further includes a second mounting plate portion 10d that is mounted to the holding plate portion 8h extending from the first mounting plate portion 8a of the first mounting member 8 via the mounting screw 27, and this second mounting member. And a side plate 10e having a bearing portion 10a raised from a side portion of the plate portion 10d.

  The friction mechanism 11 inserts the circular shaft portion 9d of the hinge shaft 9 between the one side portion of the flange portion 9a and the side plate 8b of the first mounting member 8 into a circular insertion hole 13a provided in the central portion axial direction. The first friction plate 13 engaging the first locking piece 13b provided on the edge with the first locking portion 9g provided on the flange portion 9a, and the flange portion 9a and the second mounting member 10 A second deforming shaft portion 9c of the hinge shaft 9 is inserted into a circular insertion hole 14a provided in the center axial direction therebetween, and a second locking piece 14b provided on the edge thereof is provided in the flange portion 9a. The second friction plate 14 locked to the two locking portions 9h and the cam portion 15b on the side contacting the cam portion 10c provided on the bearing portion 10a of the second mounting member 10 have a cam portion 10c, 15b. In contact with The second deformation shaft portion 9c of the hinge shaft 9 is inserted into the deformation insertion hole 15a provided in the central axis direction so as to rotate with the hinge shaft 9 and the second friction plate 14 abuts. A plurality of disc springs 16 (or spring washers) provided to be inserted through the first deformation shaft portion 9b and the second deformation shaft portion 9c of the hinge shaft 9 into an insertion hole 16a provided in the center axis direction of the lever, It comprises a fixed washer 17 that abuts against the disc spring 16 and is fixed by crimping its deformation mounting hole 17a to the end of the hinge shaft 9, and this fixed washer 17 is connected to the end of the hinge shaft 9 by the hinge shaft 9 The cam portion 15b of the cam member 15 is connected to the bearing portion 10a of the second mounting member 10 via the disc spring 16 due to the caulking torque when the end portion 9 is caulked and fixed. Pressed against the cam portion 10c provided is a configuration in which the second friction plate 14 is pressed against between the bearing portion 10a of the flange portion 9a and the second mounting member 10. The first friction plate 13 is pressed between the other side surface of the flange portion 9 a and the side plate 8 b of the first mounting member 8.

  Next, the stable stop means 7 will be described. The stable stopping means 7 is a taper member 18 attached to the hinge shaft 9 by restricting the rotation by inserting the fourth deformation shaft portion 9f of the hinge shaft 9 into a deformation insertion hole 18a provided in the axial direction of the central portion. And a taper outer peripheral portion 18b of the taper member 18 with its taper curved portion 19a abutting on the first mounting plate portion 8a of the first mounting member 8 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 9 The shaft attachment hole 22a of the support pin 21 attached via the E-ring 20 is attached to the member 19 and the attachment hole 8g provided in the attachment plate 8c of the first attachment member 8, and the hinge shaft 9 swings to the left and right in the axial direction. The oscillating member 22 made of a resin material (or thermoplastic resin), which is attached so as to be able to engage with the engaging convex portion 19b of the pressing member 19 with the engaging concave portion 22b provided on itself. , In is configured. A spacer 25 is formed by inserting the circular shaft portion 9d of the hinge shaft 9 through the insertion hole 25a provided in the axial direction of the central portion between the taper member 18 and the side plate 8b.

  In FIGS. 3 and 4, the instruction symbols 23 and 24 arranged in parallel with the upper portion of the swing member 22 are operation buttons, and the indication symbol 23 is the operation ON button and the indication symbol 24. Is an operation OFF button. Since the operation ON button 23 and the operation OFF button 24 are located on the raised portions 22d and 22e of the swing member 22 and are exposed and protruded from the upper surface of the first housing 2, the operation is pressed. It is a configuration that can.

  Next, the effect of the switchgear 4 according to the present invention described above will be described. Although not fully illustrated in the drawings in the following description, the rear portion of the first housing 2 is attached to the first attachment member 8 and the second attachment member 10 of the opening / closing device 4. A description will be given assuming that the rear portion of the second housing 3 is attached to the support member 12.

  First, when the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are relatively opened and closed via the opening / closing device 4 in a normal state, the tilt hinge 6 portion of the opening / closing device 4 operates to operate the second housing. The body 3 can be opened and closed in a free stop at an arbitrary opening / closing position by the friction function of the friction mechanism 11 with respect to the first housing 2, and even if the hand is released at an arbitrary opening / closing angle, the second housing 3 can be opened. However, there is no worry that it will naturally fall with respect to the first housing 2. An operator operates the keyboard unit 2a of the first casing 2 in a state where the second casing 3 is opened at an arbitrary opening angle with respect to the first casing 2 so that the display unit 3a can be easily seen. The personal computer 1 can be used.

  In normal use, no trouble occurs due to the friction function of the tilt hinge 6. However, when the display screen of the display unit 3a of the second casing 3 is operated by touching with a finger, the second casing 3 is pushed backward by this touch operation. Since the stop holding capacity of the friction mechanism 11 is exceeded and the second casing 3 is pushed and rotated rearward, it is necessary to use the stable stop means 7 according to the present invention.

  If the operation ON button 23 is pressed down when the second housing 3 is at an appropriate working angle with respect to the first housing 2, the swing member 22 swings clockwise around the support pin 21 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the rotation of the hinge shaft 9 is prevented when the pressing member 19 slides to the left and is brought into pressure contact with the tapered outer peripheral portion 18b of the tapered member 18 by the tapered curved portion 19a. The second housing 3 is prevented from rotating backward even if the display screen is touched with a finger through the support member 12 having the deformation mounting hole 12a fixed by caulking the end of 9f. It is. In this way, the operability of the notebook computer 1 is improved.

  When the use of the notebook computer 1 is finished, when the operation OFF button 24 is pressed down, the swinging member 22 swings counterclockwise with the support pin 21 as a fulcrum, and simultaneously the pressing member 19 slides to the right. Since the pressure contact force with respect to the taper member 18 by the taper curved portion 19a of the member 19 is released and only the friction torque of the friction mechanism 11 acts on the hinge shaft 9, the opening / closing operation can be performed with a free stop. .

  Further, when the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2, the cam provided on the cam portion 15 b of the cam member 15 that rotates with the hinge shaft 9 and the bearing portion 10 a of the second mounting member 10. The second housing 3 is locked in the closed state with respect to the first housing 2 by a known suction function by the portion 10c.

  The lock function by the cam portion 15b of the cam member 15 and the cam portion 10c of the second mounting member 10 can be used at any other opening / closing angle.

  Next, although not shown in the drawings, as another embodiment, the tilt hinge is configured so that the rotation of the hinge shaft is restricted by the mounting member so that it does not rotate, and the non-rotating hinge shaft is supported as a rotating portion. The member may be rotatably supported, and a friction mechanism may be provided between the support member and the hinge shaft.

  Furthermore, the friction mechanism has been described in the embodiment in which the mounting member is composed of the first mounting member 8 and the second mounting member 10 and the friction mechanism 11 is mainly provided on the second mounting member 10 side. The second mounting member 10 constituting the mounting member may be omitted and only the first mounting member 8 may be provided, and a friction mechanism may be provided on the first mounting member 8 side. The stable stop means may be configured to stop the rotation of the bracket. Further, the cam member functions as a stable stop means without this. Furthermore, the pressing member can be configured to maintain a stable stop state using elastic means. In short, it is sufficient if it acts on the tilt hinge and stops the movement of the rotating portion.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, in a small electronic device having a second casing provided with a display unit with respect to the first casing having a keyboard unit, a push button provided in the second casing, The display screen can be widely used for touch operations with fingers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Notebook-type personal computer 2 1st housing | casing 3 2nd housing | casing 4 Opening / closing device 5 Opening / closing device 6 Tilt hinge 7 Stabilization stop means 8 1st attachment member 8e Bearing part
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Hinge shaft 10 2nd attachment member 10a Bearing part 11 Friction mechanism 12 Support member 18 Taper member 19 Press member 22 Swing member

Claims (6)

  A tilt hinge that relatively opens and closes the first housing and the second housing of the small electronic device, and stable stop means that stably stops the movement of the tilt hinge. An opening / closing device for a small electronic device, comprising: a pressing member that presses against a rotating portion to stop the rotation, and is configured to be manually operated.   The tilt hinge is attached to an attachment member attached to the first housing, a hinge shaft rotatably attached to a bearing portion of the attachment member, and the second housing fixed to the hinge shaft. The support member, and a friction mechanism provided between the mounting member and the hinge shaft, wherein the pressing member of the stable stop means is pressed against the hinge shaft. The opening / closing apparatus of the small electronic device of 1.   The press member is provided with a taper member when the press member is pressed against the hinge shaft, and the press member is provided with a press member that fits into the taper member as necessary. The opening / closing device of the described small electronic device.   The tilt hinge is attached to an attachment member attached to the first housing, a hinge shaft fixed to a bearing portion of the attachment member, and the second housing attached to the hinge shaft so as to be rotatable. And a friction mechanism provided between the support member and the hinge shaft, and the pressing member of the stable stop means is pressed against the support member. The opening / closing device of the small electronic device according to claim 1.   The stable stop means includes a pressing member that is slidable in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, and a swinging member that engages with the pressing member and slides the pressing member in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The opening / closing device for a small electronic device according to claim 1, wherein   A small electronic device, wherein the switchgear according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is attached between a first housing and a second housing.

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