JP3408496B2 - Hinge structure of foldable equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge structure applied to a foldable device such as a mobile phone, a notebook type personal computer and a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Foldable devices such as mobile phones and notebook computers mainly include an upper panel having a display section and a lower panel having various buttons, and the upper panel and the lower panel can be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism. Are linked to. Conventionally, as a hinge structure for such a foldable device, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2737770 (Patent Document 8)
No. 49494) and the like are known. This hinge structure includes a hinge provided on each of the upper panel and the lower panel for connecting the two panels so that they can be opened and closed, a receiving member provided on one of the hinges, and a hinge movable to the other hinge only in the axial direction of the hinge. The hinge boss member is provided, and a plurality of recesses for setting the opening angle are provided on one end surface of one end surface of the receiving member and the other end surface of the hinge boss member facing each other at a predetermined angle in the axial direction. A convex portion that engages with the concave portion is provided on the other end surface of the opposite end surfaces, and further, the mounting is screwed to the one hinge by penetrating the axial centers of the hinge boss member and the receiving member from the other hinge. Both hinges are connected by screws so that they can rotate relative to each other. A spring that biases the hinge boss member toward the member is interposed between the head of the mounting screw and the hinge boss member. Therefore, when the upper panel and the lower panel are opened, by engaging the convex portion with one arbitrary concave portion, the upper panel can be locked with respect to the lower panel at the open angle position set by the convex portion.

[0003]

In the hinge structure of the conventional folding type device as described above, the opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel can be set in a plurality of steps. Unable to set the opening angle of the upper and lower panels and lock them. That is,
Since the opening angle between the upper panel and the lower panel cannot be adjusted steplessly, it is impossible to finely adjust the opening angle between the upper panel and the lower panel according to individual users. Conventionally, there is a torque hinge mechanism that uses oil or a torsion spring in order to be able to adjust the opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel steplessly. When the panel is opened and the hand is released, there is a problem that the desired angle of opening cannot be maintained due to a return, and the torque hinge mechanism may become tired and cannot be fixed at the set angle of opening.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to set the opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel to any angular position desired by the user in a stepless manner. (EN) It is possible to provide a hinge structure for a foldable device that can be locked and that can prevent settling and return of a set angle due to aging.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a hinge structure for connecting an upper panel and a lower panel of a foldable device so that the upper panel and the lower panel can be opened and closed, and the hinge structure is provided at one end of the upper panel. A first hinge, and a second hinge provided at one end of the lower panel so as to face the first hinge so that the axis of the first hinge coincides with the first hinge.
A first hinge boss member provided on one of the first and second hinges so as to rotate integrally with the hinge; and a first hinge boss member provided on the first hinge boss member and coaxial with the one hinge on the other side. Of a predetermined length projecting toward the hinge side of the first hinge and the other hinge of the first and second hinges are provided so as to rotate integrally with the hinge, and are rotatable relative to the support portion. The second hinge boss member supported and the second hinge boss member on the side distant from the one hinge are provided so as to be rotatable about the axis of the other hinge, and the upper panel and the lower panel can be rotated. An angle setting member that sets the opening angle to an arbitrary angle, a screw member that fixes the angle setting member to the first hinge boss member, and an angle setting member that is provided between the angle setting member and the second hinge boss member. Characterized in that it comprises a first locking member for locking the opening angle of the upper and lower panels of the set angular position member.

According to the present invention, since the angle setting member is configured to be rotatable about the axis of the other hinge in the direction in which the opening angle between the upper panel and the lower panel increases and decreases in direction, the screw By rotating the angle setting member with the member loosened, it is possible to set the opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel to any angle position desired by the user and lock it continuously. It becomes possible to prevent the settling due to changes and the return of the set angle.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a hinge structure for a foldable device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a case where the hinge structure according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge structure in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 (A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge structure, and FIG. 4 (A) is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation along BB of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are closed in the embodiment of the present invention. ) Is CC of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are closed in the embodiment of the present invention.
5A is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation according to FIG. 5, and FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation along BB of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are opened in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a sectional view for explaining the operation along the line CC of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are opened in the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the foldable type telephone comprises a rectangular upper panel 1 having a display section 11 and a rectangular lower panel 2 having various buttons 21. The upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 are provided. One end in the longitudinal direction is connected by a hinge mechanism 3 so that it can be opened and closed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge mechanism 3 includes a cylindrical first hinge 1A provided at one longitudinal end of the upper panel 1 and a first hinge 1 provided at one longitudinal end of the lower panel 2.
A second hinge 2A having a cylindrical shape is provided adjacent to A so that the axes thereof coincide with each other, and further, the first hinge boss member 3 is provided.
1, 2nd hinge boss member 32, angle setting member 33, screw member 34, coil spring 35, ring-shaped leaf springs 36, 37
Is equipped with.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of convex portions 1A1 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first hinge 1A on the opening end side at intervals of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. ,
At the center of the partition wall 1A2 provided in the first hinge 1A, the first
A through hole 1A3 for attaching the hinge boss member 31 is formed. The second hinge 2A is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, a small-diameter inner peripheral portion 2A1 into which the second hinge boss member 32 is fitted and a large-diameter inner peripheral portion 2A2 into which the angle setting member 33 is inserted are formed. On the inner peripheral surface, a pair of protrusions 2A3 are formed in the circumferential direction.
It is formed with an interval of 0 degree.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first hinge boss member 31 is fitted in the first hinge 1A and engages with the convex portion 1A1 thereof to rotate integrally with the first hinge 1A. Disk portion 312 having a concave portion 311 on its outer peripheral surface for preventing rotation, and the through hole 1A of the first hinge 1A, which is projectingly provided on one end surface of the disk portion 312 with its axis aligned.
The cylindrical shaft portion 313 having the slotting and retaining claws 313A to be fitted to 3 and the other end surface of the disc portion 312 are aligned with the axis line and project toward the second hinge 2A by a predetermined length. , A cylindrical portion 314 having a diameter smaller than that of the disc portion 312,
The axis of the cylindrical portion 314 is aligned with the end face of the second hinge 2
The second hinge boss member 3 is provided so as to project to the A side by a predetermined length.
A cylindrical support portion 315 having a slot and a retaining claw 315A for supporting 2 is provided. In addition, the cylindrical portion 31
4 is a ring-shaped groove 31 into which the coil spring 35 is inserted.
6 are formed concentrically, and a female screw hole 317 into which the screw member 34 is screwed is formed at the center of the end surface of the cylindrical portion 314.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the second hinge boss member 32 has a small-diameter inner peripheral portion 2A of the second hinge 2A.
1 and is engaged with the convex portion 2A3 of the second hinge 2
A large-diameter cylindrical portion 322 having a concave portion 321 for preventing rotation so as to be able to rotate integrally with A, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 323 continuously provided with one end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 322 such that the axis line is aligned. A shaft hole 324 that is rotatably fitted into the cylindrical support portion 315 of the first hinge boss member 31 is formed on the central axis of the small diameter cylindrical portion 323. In addition, the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 322 is equal to that of the first hinge boss member 31.
Is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 314, so that a space 38 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 322 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 314.

The angle setting member 33 sets the opening angle α between the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 to an arbitrary angle. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the screw member 34 is inserted through the center of the angle setting member 33. Disk portion 332 having a through hole 331
And the second hinge boss member 32 on the outer periphery of the disc portion 332.
Is provided with a cylindrical portion 333 projecting toward
3 has an outer diameter corresponding to the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 2A2 of the second hinge 2A, and the second hinge boss member 3
The inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the second small-diameter cylindrical portion 323, and a space 39 is formed between the outer circumference of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 323 and the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 333. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion 332, an instruction mark 333B for instructing the opening angle α of the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 is formed, and further opened to the end surface of the second hinge 2A corresponding to the instruction mark 333B. A scale 2A4 is formed as a guide for the angle α.
The screw member 34 tightens and fixes the angle setting member 33 to the first hinge boss member 31.
A disk-shaped head portion 34 that press-contacts the disk portion 332.
1 and a disk portion 332 which is provided so as to project from the axial center of the head portion 341.
A cylindrical portion 342 inserted into the through hole 331 and a male screw portion 343 provided at the tip of the cylindrical portion 342.

The ring-shaped leaf spring 36 is provided in the upper panel 1.
And the lower panel 2 constitutes a first locking member for locking the lower panel 2 in the closed position. The ring-shaped leaf spring 36 has a large diameter of the second hinge boss member 32 in the space 38 as shown in FIGS. The fixing piece 3 engaged with the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 322 and further provided at one end of the ring-shaped leaf spring 36.
The slit 3 in which 61 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 322
The ring-shaped leaf spring 36 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 322 by engaging with 22A. In addition, the other end of the ring-shaped leaf spring 36 has a locking portion 3 bent into a V shape.
62 is provided, and the locking portion 362 is always in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 314 of the first hinge boss member 31, and the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 314 is provided with the upper panel 1. A V-shaped recess 314A with which the locking portion 362 is engaged is formed at a position where the lower panel 2 is closed.

The ring-shaped leaf spring 37 constitutes a second lock member for locking the opening angle of the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 at the angular position set by the angle setting member 33. 37 is engaged with the outer periphery of the small diameter cylindrical portion 323 of the second hinge boss member 32 in the space 39 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and a fixing piece provided at one end of the ring-shaped leaf spring 37. By engaging 371 with a slit 323A formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 323, the ring-shaped leaf spring 37 is moved to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 32.
It is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of 3. Further, the other end of the ring-shaped leaf spring 37 is provided with an engaging portion 372 bent into an inverted V shape, and the engaging portion 372 is constantly pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 333 of the angle setting member 33. It is configured to be
Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 333, a V-shaped concave portion 333A with which the locking portion 372 engages at the angular position where the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 are set by the angle setting member 33 is formed.

Next, a case where the hinge mechanism configured as described above is assembled to a foldable device, that is, a mobile phone will be described. First, with the concave portion 311 of the first hinge boss member 31 aligned with the convex portion 1A1 of the first hinge 1A, the cylindrical shaft portion 313 of the first hinge boss member 31 is pushed into the through hole 1A3 of the first hinge 1A and fitted. To do. In the state where the cylindrical shaft portion 313 is fitted in the through hole 1A3,
Claws 313A for retaining that are provided at the tip of the cylindrical shaft portion 313.
Engages with the edge of the through hole 1A3, so that the first hinge boss member 31 is stably supported by the first hinge 1A without coming off. Then, the recess 311 of the first hinge boss member 31.
Is engaged with the convex portion 1A1 of the first hinge 1A, the first hinge boss member 31 is held so as to be rotatable integrally with the first hinge 1A.

Then, after inserting the coil spring 35 into the ring-shaped groove 316 of the first hinge boss member 31, the concave portion 321 of the second hinge boss member 32 having the ring-shaped leaf springs 36 and 37 mounted thereon is replaced with the convex portion 2A3 of the second hinge 2A. The cylindrical support portion 315 of the first hinge boss member 31 is pushed into the shaft hole 324 of the second hinge boss member 32 to fit the second hinge boss member 32 relative to the first hinge boss member 31. Make it rotatably supported. At this time,
The recess 321 of the second hinge boss member 32 has the second hinge 2A.
Of the second hinge boss member 3 since it is engaged with the convex portion 2A3 of
2 is held so that it can rotate integrally with the second hinge 2A. Further, since the retaining hook 315A provided at the tip of the cylindrical support portion 315 engages with the edge portion of the shaft hole 324, the second hinge boss member 32 does not come off and the cylindrical support portion 315 of the first hinge boss member 31 does not come off. Is supported by the coil spring 35 and is biased by the coil spring 35 in a direction in which it is pressed against the retaining claw 315A.

Next, the angle setting member 33 is attached to the cylindrical portion 3 of the angle setting member 33.
33 is inwardly fitted to the large-diameter inner peripheral surface 2A2 of the second hinge 2A, the cylindrical portion 342 of the screw member 34 is inserted into the through hole 331 of the angle setting member 33, and the male screw portion 343 thereof is inserted.
The angle setting member 33 is fixed to the first hinge boss member 31 by screwing and tightening the screw into the female screw hole 317 of the first hinge boss member 31. At this time, the fixed position in the rotational direction of the angle setting member 33 with respect to the second hinge 2A is set so that the opening angle α desired by the user can be obtained.

Next, the operation when the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 are closed and the operation when they are opened will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. When closing the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2, for example, when the upper panel 1 is rotated in the closing direction,
The hinge 1A, the first hinge boss member 31, and the angle setting member 33 are rotated in the arrow L direction of FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B).
Then, when the upper panel 1 is rotated to the completely closed position, as shown in FIG. 4A, the V-shaped recess 314A provided in the first hinge boss member 31 causes the ring-shaped leaf spring 36 to move. Engages with the locking portion 362 of. As a result, the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 are locked in the closed state. At this time, since the angle setting member 33 is also rotated in the same direction, the concave portion 333A of the angle setting member 33 is disengaged from the locking portion 372 of the ring-shaped leaf spring 37, and is placed in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 4 (B). . In FIG. 4 (B), the angle between the recess 333A and the locking portion 372 corresponds to the opening angle α.

When the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 are opened, for example, when the upper panel 1 is rotated in the opening direction, the first hinge 1A, the first hinge boss member 31 and the angle setting member 33 are moved to the position shown in FIG. , (B) is rotated in the direction of arrow R. Then, when the upper panel 1 is rotated to an angle corresponding to the opening angle α shown in FIG. 4 (B), as shown in FIG. 5 (B), a V-shaped concave portion provided in the angle setting member 33. Three
33A engages with the locking portion 372 of the ring-shaped leaf spring 3.
As a result, the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 are locked in the open state. At this time, the recess 3 of the first hinge boss member 31
14A is disengaged from the locking portion 362 of the ring-shaped leaf spring 36,
The positional relationship shown in FIG. Further, when changing the opening angle α between the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2, the angle setting member 33 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
The angle α between the concave portion 333A and the locking portion 372 may be changed by rotating in the arrow A direction of (B). At this time, the opening angle α can be easily adjusted by moving the instruction mark 333B along the reference scale 2A4.

According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the support portion 3 of the first hinge boss member 31 provided on the first hinge 1A so as to rotate integrally with the first hinge 1A.
The second hinge boss member 32, which is provided so as to rotate integrally with the second hinge 2A, is rotatably supported by 15 and faces the small-diameter cylindrical portion 323 of the second hinge boss member 32. 33 is rotatably provided about the axis of the first hinge 1A, and with the screw member 34 for fixing the angle setting member 33 to the first hinge boss member 31 loosened, the opening angle between the upper panel 1A and the lower panel 2A. By rotating in the direction of increasing and decreasing
The recess 333A of the angle setting member 33 and the ring-shaped leaf spring 37
Since the opening angle α between the locking parts 372 can be set to an arbitrary angle, the opening angle α of the upper panel 1A and the lower panel 2A can be set steplessly to an arbitrary angular position desired by the user. In addition to being able to lock at this set angle position using the ring-shaped leaf spring 37, it prevents settling and set angle return due to changes over time like the conventional torque hinge mechanism. can do.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic device when the hinge mechanism 3 having the structure shown in FIG. 2 of the present invention is applied to a foldable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer or a word processor. 6, the foldable electronic device 4 includes an upper panel 41 having a display unit 411 and a lower panel 42 having a keyboard 421. The upper panel 41 and the lower panel 42 are the first panel provided on the upper panel 41. The hinge 41A and the second hinge 42 provided on the lower panel 42 so as to face the left and right ends of the first hinge 41A.
The hinge mechanism 3 attached to A is openably and closably connected. In such an electronic device as well, the same operational effects as those of the foldable mobile phone can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the ring-shaped leaf spring 37 is used as the first locking member for locking the opening angle of the upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 at the angular position set by the angle setting member 33. The ring-shaped leaf spring 37 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 323 of the second hinge boss member 32, and the locking portion 372 provided at the other end of the ring-shaped leaf spring 37 is provided in the cylindrical portion 333 of the angle setting member 33. The upper surface of the upper panel 1 and the lower surface of the lower panel 2 are formed in a V-shaped concave portion 333A with which the locking portion 372 engages at the angular position set by the angle setting member 33 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 333 while being constantly pressed against the peripheral surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one end of a leaf spring is fixed to one of the inner surface of the disc portion 332 of the angle setting member 33 and the end surface of the second hinge boss 32 facing the inner surface of the angle setting member 33, and the engaging portion provided at the other end of the leaf spring is attached to the other. The upper panel 1 and the lower panel 2 may be locked in the open angular position by engaging with the formed recess.

[0023]

As described above, according to the hinge structure of the foldable device of the present invention, the opening angle between the upper panel and the lower panel can be set and locked steplessly at any angle position desired by the user. In addition, it is possible to prevent the settling and the return of the set angle due to the change over time as in the conventional torque hinge mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a case where a hinge structure according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view for explaining the operation along BB of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are closed in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is the embodiment of the present invention. 3C when the upper and lower panels are closed in the configuration
It is sectional drawing for operation | movement description along C.

5A is a sectional view for explaining the operation along BB of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are opened in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation along the line CC of FIG. 3 when the upper panel and the lower panel are opened in the form.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic device when the hinge mechanism of the present invention is applied to a foldable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer or a word processor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Top panel, 1A ... First hinge, 2 ... Lower panel, 2A ... Second hinge, 31 ... First hinge boss member, 32 ... Second hinge boss member, 332 ... Angle setting member, 34 ...... Screw members, 36, 37 ...... Ring-shaped leaf springs, 372 ...... Locking portions, 333A ...... Recesses, 333B ...
... Instruction mark, 2A4 ... Scale.

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Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hinge structure for connecting an upper panel and a lower panel constituting a foldable device so that the upper panel and the lower panel can be opened and closed, and a first hinge provided at one end of the upper panel, and a first hinge provided at one end of the lower panel. A second hinge provided so as to face the first hinge so that its axis line coincides with that of the first hinge; and one of the first and second hinges provided so as to rotate integrally with the second hinge. A first hinge boss member, a support portion provided on the first hinge boss member and having a predetermined length that is coaxial with the one hinge and protrudes toward the other hinge side; and the other hinge of the first and second hinges. A second hinge boss member that is provided so as to rotate integrally with the hinge and that is supported by the support portion so as to be relatively rotatable, and a second hinge boss member that is remote from the one hinge. Opponent And an angle setting member that is rotatably provided around the axis of the other hinge and that sets an opening angle between the upper panel and the lower panel to an arbitrary angle, and the angle setting member is fixed to the first hinge boss member. A first locking member that is provided between the angle setting member and the second hinge boss member and that locks the opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel at the angular position set by the angle setting member. A hinge structure for a foldable device, comprising: 2. A second lock member, which is provided between the first hinge boss member and the second hinge boss member, and locks the upper panel and the lower panel in a closed position. Folding equipment hinge structure. 3. An instruction mark for indicating an opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the angle setting member and one of the other hinges facing the outer peripheral surface of the angle setting member. The hinge structure for a foldable device according to claim 1, further comprising a scale serving as a guide for an opening angle. 4. The first lock member is composed of a leaf spring, one end of the leaf spring is fixed to one of the second hinge boss member and the angle setting member, and the other end thereof is the second hinge boss member and the angle. A locking portion for locking the other concave portion of the setting member is provided, and the locking angle of the locking portion holds the opening angle of the upper panel and the lower panel in a locked state. Item 2. A hinge structure for a foldable device according to item 1.