JP4523036B2 - Biaxial hinge device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a biaxial hinge device having two rotational axes whose angles to each other are perpendicular.

  As this type of conventional hinge device, for example, there are those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below. These biaxial hinge devices include a hinge body, a turning member connected to the hinge body so as to be rotatable about a first turning axis, and first turning axes on both sides of the turning member. And a pair of connecting members that are connected so as to be rotatable about a second rotation axis that is orthogonal to each other. A first click mechanism is provided between the hinge body and the rotation member to stop the rotation member with a predetermined magnitude of force at a predetermined rotation position. A second click mechanism is provided between the rotating member and the connecting member to stop the connecting member at a predetermined rotating position with a predetermined amount of force.

When the hinge device having the above structure is used for a mobile phone, the hinge main body is fixed to the transmitting side housing, and the pair of connecting members are fixed to the receiving side housing. Thereby, the receiving side housing is connected to the transmitting side housing so as to be rotatable about the first and second rotation axes. The receiving-side housing can be turned in various directions by appropriately rotating around the first and second rotation axes. In addition, the receiving side housing can be stopped with a click feeling at each predetermined rotation position by the first and second click mechanisms.
JP 2004-187186 A JP 2004-332827 A

    In the conventional hinge device, the first click mechanism and the second click mechanism are provided independently of each other. Therefore, the first click mechanism and the second click mechanism are composed of different parts, resulting in a problem that the manufacturing cost of the hinge device increases.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention has a hinge body having a main shaft portion and a connecting hole, and the main shaft portion is rotatably fitted in the connecting hole, so that A rotation member connected to be rotatable about one rotation axis, and a second rotation axis whose angle between the one rotation portion of the rotation member and the first rotation axis is a right angle. A connecting member provided rotatably, a first click mechanism provided between the hinge body and the rotating member, and a second click provided between the rotating member and the connecting member. In the biaxial hinge device provided with a mechanism, the first click mechanism extends along the second rotation axis at one side portion of the rotation member so that the first click mechanism protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the connection hole. Formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first movable member movably provided and the main shaft portion, The first movable member is detachably engaged with the rotation of the rotation member, and the second click mechanism is between the connection member and the first movable member. A second movable member disposed on the pivotable member so as to be movable in the second pivotal axis direction and non-rotatable; the coupling member; and the second movable member. Engagement protrusions provided on one of the opposing surfaces facing each other in the direction of the dynamic axis and the engagement protrusions provided on the other opposing surface are detachably engaged with the rotation of the connecting member. A biasing means is disposed between the first movable member and the second movable member, and the biasing means places the first movable member on the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft portion. And pressing the second movable member toward the connecting member to push the engaging protrusion and the other opposing surface It is characterized in that it is shared by the first, second click mechanism as urging means for pressing together.

  According to the present invention having the above-described characteristic configuration, since the biasing means is shared by the first and second click mechanisms, the conventional hinge device in which the first and second click mechanisms are respectively provided with the biasing means. The number of urging means can be reduced compared to Therefore, the cost required for the first and second click mechanisms can be reduced, and consequently the manufacturing cost of the hinge device can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the mobile telephone using the biaxial hinge apparatus which concerns on this invention in the state which positioned the receiving side housing | casing in the closed position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mobile phone in a state where a receiving housing is located at a call position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mobile phone in a state where a receiving side housing is located at a reverse open position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mobile phone in a state where a receiving side housing is located at a deployment position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mobile phone in a state in which the receiving housing is rotated from the closed position by about 30 ° about the second rotation axis. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a biaxial hinge device according to the present invention. It is a side view of the embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view which follows the XX line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of FIG. 8 shown in the state which made the receiving side housing | casing located in a closed position. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating a state in which the receiver-side housing is rotated approximately 45 ° from the closed position about the first rotation axis. It is sectional drawing which follows the YY line | wire of FIG. 8 shown in the state which located the receiving side housing | casing in the closed position. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11, illustrating a state where the receiver-side housing is rotated 180 ° around the first rotation axis from the closed position. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a biaxial hinge device according to the present invention. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the same embodiment from the direction different from FIG.

Explanation of symbols

L1 1st axis of rotation L2 2nd axis of rotation 10 Biaxial hinge device 11 Hinge body 11B Main shaft part 12 Rotating member 12d Connecting hole 13 First connecting member (connecting member)
13a Opposing surface 60 First click mechanism 62 Sphere (first movable member)
64 Coil spring (biasing means)
66 engagement groove (engagement part)
70 Second click mechanism 71 Movable member (second movable member)
71a Opposing surface 73 Sphere (engagement protrusion)
74 First cam recess (engagement recess)
75 Second cam recess (engagement recess)
76 Third cam recess (engagement recess)

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
1 to 5 show a mobile phone 1 using a biaxial hinge device 10 according to the present invention. The mobile phone 1 includes a transmission side housing 2 and a reception side housing 3. The transmitter-side housing 2 has a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape, and various operation buttons 4 and a microphone (not shown) are provided on the front surface 2a. The reception-side housing 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a small thickness, and has substantially the same length and width as the transmission-side housing 2. A liquid crystal screen 5, a speaker (not shown), and the like are provided on the front surface 3a of the receiver-side housing 3. The transmitter-side housing 2 and the receiver-side housing 3 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about the first and second rotation axes L1 and L2 orthogonal to each other by a biaxial hinge 10 (see FIGS. 6 to 14). Has been. However, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed here that the transmitting-side casing 2 is fixed in position and the receiving-side casing 3 rotates with respect to the transmitting-side casing 2. In FIGS. 1 to 5, the biaxial hinge device 10 is covered with the cover 6 so that portions protruding from the transmitting side housing 2 and the receiving side housing 3 are not visible from the outside. The hinge device 10 is not shown. The first rotation axis L <b> 1 is substantially orthogonal to the front surface 2 a of the transmission side housing 2. Therefore, the second rotation axis L2 is substantially parallel to the front surface 2a. And the 2nd rotation axis L2 is extended in the width direction of the transmission side housing | casing 2. As shown in FIG. When the reception side housing 3 is located at the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the front surface 3a of the reception side housing 3 is substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis L1 and substantially parallel to the second rotation axis L2. ing.

  Now, it is assumed that the receiving housing 3 is located at the closed position shown in FIG. When the receiver-side housing 3 is located at the closed position, the receiver-side housing 3 is located at the same position as the transmitter-side housing 2 in the circumferential direction around the first rotation axis L1. In other words, when the receiving side housing 3 is viewed from the direction of the first rotation axis L1, the receiving side housing 3 is located on the same plane as the both side surfaces of the transmitting side housing 2, respectively. The side housing 3 overlaps the transmission side housing 2 in the first rotation axis L1 direction. In addition, when the reception-side housing 3 is located at the closed position, the front surface 3 a of the reception-side housing 3 abuts against the front surface 2 a of the transmission-side housing 2. The receiver-side housing 3 can rotate 180 ° from the closed position in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions (hereinafter referred to as forward and reverse directions) around the first rotation axis L1. It can be rotated 180 ° from the closed position about the rotation axis L2. As a result, the receiving side housing 3 has an open position where the back surface 3b hits the front surface 2a of the transmitting side housing 2, and the back surface 3b of the receiving side housing 3 hits the front surface 2a of the sending side housing 2. The reception side housing 3 is rotated by 180 ° about the first rotation axis L1 from the reverse open position (see FIG. 3) where it overlaps the transmission side housing 2 in the first rotation axis L1 direction and the closed position. It can be rotated to various positions such as a deployment position (see FIG. 4).

  As described above, the receiver-side housing 3 can be rotated in the range of 180 ° in the forward and reverse directions around the first rotation axis L1, and is in the closed position around the second rotation axis L2. The range of 180 ° from the open position to the open position can be rotated. However, the receiving side housing 3 is not necessarily rotatable in such a rotation range, and the rotation range may be limited by the hinge device 10. For example, when the receiver-side housing 3 rotates about the second rotation axis L2 from the closed position, it can only rotate to the call position shown in FIG. In addition, when the receiver-side housing 3 is rotated about the first and second rotation axes L1 and L2 by the hinge device 10, it is stopped at a predetermined rotation position with a click feeling. . The hinge device 10 having such a function will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 14, the hinge device 10 includes a hinge body 11, a rotating member 12, a first connecting member (connecting member) 13, and a second connecting member 14 as main components.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the hinge body 11 has a flat plate-like substrate portion 11A, and a main shaft portion 11B to which a lower end portion is fixed in a state of standing vertically to the upper surface 11a of the substrate portion 11A. . The substrate portion 11A is fixed to the transmission side housing 2. The axis of the main shaft portion 11B is aligned with the first rotation axis L1.

  As shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the rotating member 12 is formed by a hollow rectangular parallelepiped body portion 12a formed on both side portions of the body portion 12a so that the respective axes coincide with each other. 1 and 2nd cylinder parts 12b and 12c. A connecting hole 12d penetrating the main body 12a is formed at the center of the main body 12a. The connecting hole 12d is disposed so that its axis is orthogonal to the axes of the first and second cylindrical portions 12b and 12c. The main shaft portion 11B is rotatably fitted in the connecting hole 12d. Thereby, the rotation member 12 is connected to the hinge body 11 so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis L1. Moreover, the axes of the first and second cylinder portions 12b and 12c are made to coincide with the second rotation axis L2.

  As shown in FIG.6 and FIG.8, the 1st connection member 13 is arrange | positioned in the front of the 1st cylinder part 12b so that the front end surface of the 1st cylinder part 12b may be contact | connected substantially. The first connecting member 13 is rotatably connected to the rotating member 12 via a shaft 15. The axis of the shaft 15 is matched with the second rotation axis L2. Therefore, the first connecting member 13 is rotatable with respect to the rotating member 12 around the second rotation axis L2. The 2nd connection member 14 is fitted by the 2nd cylinder part 12c so that rotation is possible. Therefore, the second connecting member 14 is also connected to the rotating member 12 so as to be rotatable about the second rotation axis L2. The 2nd connection member 14 cannot escape to the tip side to the 2nd cylinder part 12c.

  The receiver-side housing 3 is fixed to the first and second connecting members 13 and 14. As a result, the receiving side housing 3 is connected to the transmitting side housing 2 so as to be rotatable about the first and second rotation axes L1 and L2. When the reception-side housing 3 rotates about the first rotation axis L1, the rotation member 12 rotates integrally with the reception-side housing 3, and the reception-side housing 3 rotates to the second rotation axis. When rotating around L2, the first and second connecting members 13 and 14 rotate integrally with the receiver-side housing 3. Therefore, the respective rotation positions of the rotation member 12 and the first and second connecting members 13 and 14 are given the same names as the respective rotation positions of the receiver-side housing 3.

  As described above, the rotation member 12 rotates integrally with the reception-side housing 3 around the first rotation axis L1. Therefore, the rotation range around the first rotation axis L <b> 1 of the rotation member 12 is limited to a range of 180 ° from the closed position in the forward and reverse directions, like the receiver-side housing 3. In order to limit the rotation range of the rotation member 12 in this way, a first rotation restriction mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 8 is provided between the hinge body 11 and the rotation member 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first rotation restriction mechanism 20 has a rotation restriction member 21. The rotation restricting member 21 has a ring portion 21a and an abutment portion 21b that is formed integrally with the outer peripheral surface of the ring portion 21a and projects radially from the outer peripheral surface. A lower end portion of the main shaft portion 11B is rotatably fitted to the ring portion 21a. On the other hand, the abutting portion 21b is a part of the stopper portion 22 formed to protrude from the upper surface of the substrate portion 11A when the rotation restricting member 21 is rotated clockwise from the closed position about the first rotation axis L1. When it hits the end face and rotates counterclockwise, it hits the other end face of the stopper portion 22. When the contact portion 21b abuts against one end surface and the other end surface of the stopper portion 22, the rotation range in the forward / reverse direction around the first rotation axis L1 from the closed position of the rotation restriction member 21 is restricted. Has been.

  Here, if the turning member 12 is always turned integrally with the turning restriction member 21, the turning range of the turning member 12 is the same as the turning range of the turning restriction member 21. . As a result, the rotation range in the forward / reverse direction from the closed position of the rotation restricting member 21 is the length from the one end surface to the other end surface of the stopper portion 22 in the circumferential direction around the first rotation axis L1. The corresponding angle and the angle corresponding to the width of the contact portion 21b should be less than 180 ° by half of the angle α (see FIG. 12). However, as described above, the actual rotation range of the rotation member 12 is 180 degrees in the forward and reverse directions.

  The rotation member 12 is rotatable with respect to the rotation restricting member 21 in order to ensure 180 ° as a rotation range of the rotation member 12 in the forward and reverse directions. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, first and second contact surfaces 23, 24 that are separated in the circumferential direction about the first rotation axis L <b> 1 are formed at the lower end portion of the rotation member 12. ing. The first and second abutting surfaces 23 and 24 are configured so that the first and second contact surfaces 23 and 24 are rotated by an angle α relative to the rotation regulating member 21 in the forward and reverse directions about the first rotation axis L1. 2 The contact surfaces 23 and 24 are disposed so as to abut against one side surface and the other side surface of the contact portion 21b. Therefore, the rotation member 12 can rotate relative to the rotation restricting member 21 by the angle α. That is, the rotation restricting member 21 is the rotation restricting member 21 corresponding to the angle α from when one of the first and second contact surfaces 23, 24 hits the contact portion 21 b to when the other contacts the contact portion 21 b. It can rotate more greatly. Therefore, the rotation range around the first rotation axis L1 of the rotation member 12 is not narrowed by the circumferential lengths of the stopper portion 22 and the contact portion 21b, and the closed position of the rotation member 12 is not closed. The rotation range in the forward / reverse direction around the first rotation axis L1 from the center is 180 °.

  A second rotation restricting mechanism 30 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is provided between the rotating member 12 and the second connecting member 14. The second rotation restricting mechanism 30 is configured so that when the reception side housing 3 is rotated from the closed position to the open position side around the second rotation axis L2, the reception side housing 3 is stopped at the call position. This is for limiting the rotation range, and includes the stopper portion 22 and a contact protrusion portion 31 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second connecting member 14. The contact projecting portion 31 is disposed so as to abut against the stopper portion 22 when the receiving-side housing 3 and the second connecting member 14 are rotated by 160 ° from the closed position about the second rotation axis L2. When the abutting protrusion 31 hits against the stopper portion 22, the receiving-side housing 3 is prevented from further rotating in the direction away from the closed position. The position of the receiving side housing 3 at this time is the call position.

  The stopper portion 22 is provided on the substrate portion 11 </ b> A, and the contact protrusion portion 31 is provided on the second connecting member 14. Therefore, when the second connecting member 14 rotates together with the rotating member 12 about the first rotation axis L1 from the closed position in the forward and reverse directions by a predetermined angle (for example, 20 °) or more, the stopper portion 22 and the contact protrusion 31 are formed. Are separated from each other in the circumferential direction around the first rotation axis L1 and cannot be brought into contact with each other. Therefore, in this state, the receiver-side housing 3 can be rotated by 160 ° or more from the closed position about the second rotation axis L2, and when the receiver-side housing 3 is rotated by 180 °, the back surface 3b of the receiver-side housing 3 is on the transmitter side. It strikes the front surface 2a of the housing 2 and cannot be rotated any further. At this time, the rotational position of the reception-side casing 3 is the open position. However, the receiving side housing 3 can actually be rotated to the open position when the receiving side housing 3 and the rotating member 12 are located at a locking position described later, and at other positions. Cannot rotate to the open position.

  The rotating member 12 is locked at a closed position, a position 90 ° away from the closed position in the forward and reverse directions around the first rotation axis L1, and a position 180 ° apart (hereinafter, three positions excluding the closed position). In this case, the hinge body 11 is locked so as not to rotate. The rotation member 12 is locked to the hinge body 11 by a locking mechanism 40 provided between the hinge body 11 and the rotation member 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the locking mechanism 40 has a locking member 41. The locking member 41 has a substantially quadrangular frame shape, and a through hole 41a is formed therein. The 2nd cylinder part 12c is penetrated by this through-hole 41a. The through hole 41a has a larger diameter than the second cylinder portion 12c, and a gap of a predetermined size is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 41a and the outer peripheral surface of the second cylinder portion 12c. Therefore, the locking member 41 can move relative to the second cylindrical portion 12c in the first rotation axis L1 direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 9 and 10). A guide recess 42 extending in parallel with the first rotation axis L1 is formed on the side surface of the rotation member 12 where the second cylinder portion 12c is formed. A locking member 41 is fitted in the guide recess 42 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide recess 42 and not movable in the width direction of the guide recess 42. Therefore, the locking member 41 rotates integrally with the rotation member 12 when the rotation member 12 rotates about the first rotation axis L1. In other words, when the locking member 41 stops with respect to the hinge body 11, the rotating member 12 also stops. Note that the locking member 41 substantially abuts against the end surface of the second connecting member 14 fitted to the second cylindrical portion 12c, thereby preventing the locking member 41 from escaping from the guide recess 42 in the direction of the second rotation axis L2. ing.

  Four position restricting holes 43 are formed in the substrate portion 11 </ b> A of the hinge body 11. The respective position restricting holes 43 are arranged 90 ° apart from each other in the circumferential direction on one circumference centered on the first rotation axis L1. Moreover, each position restricting hole 43 has a protrusion 41b formed on the lower surface of the locking member 41 inserted into any position restricting hole 43 when the rotating member 12 is turned to the closed position or any stop position. It arrange | positions so that it may fit (engage) removably. When the protruding portion 41b is fitted into the position restricting hole 43, the locking member 41 cannot be rotated about the first rotation axis L1. As a result, the rotating member 12 cannot rotate with respect to the hinge body 11. The protruding portion 41b is inserted into the position restricting hole 43 until the locking member 41 substantially comes into contact with the upper surface 11a of the substrate portion 11A. Therefore, when the locking member 41 is moved upward along the first rotation axis L1 from the substrate portion 11A by the amount of protrusion of the protrusion portion 41b, the protrusion portion 41b escapes from the position restricting hole 43, and the substrate portion 11A. The locking state of the locking member 41 is released.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a moving mechanism 50 is provided between the second connecting member 14 and the locking member 41. The moving mechanism 50 moves the locking member 41 between a fitting position where the protruding portion 41 b is fitted in the position restricting hole 43 and an escape position where the protruding portion 41 b is escaped from the position restricting hole 43. And a through hole 41 a of the locking member 41 and an arcuate protrusion 51 formed in the second connecting member 14.

  First and second protrusions 52 and 53 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 41a. The first and second protrusions 52 and 53 are substantially 180 in the circumferential direction about the second rotation axis L2 so as to face the first rotation axis L1 with the second rotation axis L2 in between. ° Located apart. The distance between the first and second projecting portions 52 and 53 in the first rotation axis L1 direction is larger than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 12c by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of an arc-shaped projecting portion 51 described later. It has become. Therefore, the locking member 41 is movable in the first rotation axis L1 direction by the thickness of the arcuate protrusion 51 with respect to the second cylindrical portion 12c.

  The arcuate protrusion 51 is formed on the end surface of the second connecting member 14 facing the locking member 41 so as to protrude toward the locking member 41, and has a circumference centered on the second rotation axis L2. Along the arc. The arcuate protrusion 51 is inserted into the through hole 41a. The radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of the arc-shaped protruding portion 51 is set to be substantially the same as the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 12c, and the inner peripheral surface of the arc-shaped protruding portion 51 is the same as that of the second cylindrical portion 12c. It is in contact with the outer peripheral surface in a rotatable manner. As described above, the thickness of the arcuate protrusion 51 is substantially equal to the value obtained by subtracting the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 12c from the distance between the first and second protrusions 52 and 53.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when one end portion in the circumferential direction of the arc-shaped projecting portion 51 enters between the first projecting portion 52 and the second cylindrical portion 12 c arranged on the lower side, the first projecting portion 52 becomes a circular shape. The locking member 41 is moved downward by being pushed downward by the arcuate protrusion 51. The locking member 41 is moved downward until its lower surface substantially contacts the upper surface 11a of the substrate portion 11A, that is, to the fitting position. As a result, the protruding portion 41 b is fitted into the position restricting hole 43. In a state in which the arc-shaped protruding portion 51 enters between the first protruding portion 52 and the second cylindrical portion 12c, the second protruding portion 53 disposed on the upper side substantially contacts the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 12c. ing. This is because the thickness of the arcuate protrusion 51 is set to be approximately equal to the value obtained by subtracting the outer diameter of the second cylinder 12c from the distance between the first and second protrusions 52 and 53. Moreover, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the arcuate protrusion 51 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 41a. Therefore, when the arcuate protrusion 51 enters between the first protrusion 52 and the second cylinder 12c, the locking member 41 is moved to the fitting position by the second cylinder 12c and the arcuate protrusion 51 for the first time. The position is fixed so as not to move in the direction of the movement axis L <b> 1, and the protruding portion 41 b is maintained in a state of being fitted in the position restriction hole 43.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the second connecting member 14 is rotated a predetermined angle (30 ° in this embodiment) or more from the position shown in FIG. 9 (the position when the receiving housing 3 is in the closed position). When moved, one end of the arcuate protrusion 51 escapes from between the first protrusion 52 and the second cylinder 12c, and the other end of the arcuate protrusion 51 is the second protrusion 53 and the second cylinder. It enters between the part 12c. Then, the second protrusion 53 is pushed upward by the arcuate protrusion 51, and the locking member 41 moves upward by the thickness of the arcuate protrusion 51 and reaches the release position. The thickness of the arcuate protruding portion 51 is set to be slightly thicker than the interval between the fitting position and the escape position, that is, the fitting depth of the protruding portion 41b with respect to the position restricting hole 43 at the fitting position. Therefore, when the arcuate protruding portion 51 enters between the second protruding portion 53 and the second cylindrical portion 12 c, the protruding portion 41 b escapes upward from the position restricting hole 43. In this state, the first protrusion 52 is substantially in contact with the second cylindrical part 12c, and the outer peripheral surface of the arc-shaped protrusion 51 is substantially in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 41a. Therefore, the locking member 41 is fixed at the release position, and as a result, the protruding portion 41 b is maintained in a state of being escaped from the position restricting hole 43.

  When the arcuate protrusion 51 rotates more than a predetermined angle (160 ° in this embodiment) from the position shown in FIG. 9, the arcuate protrusion 51 moves from between the second protrusion 53 and the second cylinder 12c. As it escapes, the other end in the circumferential direction of the arcuate protrusion 51 enters between the first protrusion 52 and the second cylinder 12c. As a result, the locking member 41 moves downward to the fitting position, and the protrusion 41 b is fitted into the position restricting hole 43. Therefore, the projecting portion 41 b is maintained in the state where the projecting portion 41 b is fitted in the position restricting hole 43 even when the other end portion of the arc-shaped projecting portion 51 enters between the first projecting portion 52 and the second cylindrical portion 12 c.

  Here, one end portion in the circumferential direction of the arc-shaped projecting portion 51 enters between the first projecting portion 52 and the second cylindrical portion 12c because the receiver-side housing 3 is moved from the closed position to the open position side. The other end in the circumferential direction of the arc-shaped projecting portion 51 enters between the first projecting portion 52 and the second cylindrical portion 12c when it is located between the position separated by a degree. This is when the side housing 3 is located between the open position and a position away from the open position by 20 ° (a position separated by 160 ° from the closed position). Therefore, in a state where the receiver-side housing 3 is positioned at the locking position, a range between the closed position and a position 30 ° away from the second rotation axis L2 or a position separated by 160 ° from the closed position. The receiving side housing 3 can be locked with respect to the transmitting side housing 2 so as not to rotate about the first rotation axis L1. On the other hand, when one end or the other end of the arc-shaped protruding portion 51 escapes from between the first protruding portion 52 and the second cylindrical portion 12c, the other end or one end of the arc-shaped protruding portion 51 is almost simultaneously therewith. The circumferential length is set so that the portion enters between the second projecting portion 53 and the second cylindrical portion 12c. Therefore, when the arcuate protruding portion 51 is positioned between the position where the receiving-side housing 3 is separated by 30 ° from the closed position and the position separated by 160 °, the protruding portion 41b escapes from the position restricting hole 43, and the receiving side The housing 3 can be rotated about the first rotation axis L1.

  When the receiver-side housing 3 is located at a position other than the closed position and the locking position, the circumferential positions of the protrusion 41b and the position restricting hole 43 around the first rotation axis L1 are mutually different. Since they are different, the protruding portion 41 b of the locking member 41 cannot be fitted into the position restricting hole 43. Therefore, the locking member 41 cannot move downward from the escape position shown in FIG. 10 to the fitting position shown in FIG. For this reason, when the receiving side housing 3 is located at a position other than the closed position and the locking position, the rotation range around the second rotation axis L2 is changed from the closed position to the second rotation axis L2. It is restricted between a position 30 ° apart from the center and a position 160 ° apart, and cannot be rotated to the closed position or the open position.

  As described above, when the receiving-side housing 3 is positioned within a range of 30 ° to 160 ° from the closed position with the second rotation axis L2 as the center, the receiving-side housing 3 is locked by the locking mechanism 40. Is released. As a result, the receiver-side housing 3 should be able to freely rotate about the first rotation axis L1. However, in practice, the first click mechanism 60 is provided between the hinge body 11 and the rotating member 12, and the first click mechanism 60 causes the receiving-side housing 3 to have the same locking position as the locking mechanism 40. Is stopped with a predetermined force. The first click mechanism 60 is configured as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a guide hole 61 is formed in the rotating member 12. The guide hole 61 is disposed on a side portion of the rotating member 12 where the first cylindrical portion 12b is formed. Moreover, the guide hole 61 is disposed substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis L1 and substantially parallel to the second rotation axis L2. One end portion of the guide hole 61 opens in the inner peripheral surface of the connection hole 12d, and the other end portion opens in the first tube portion 12b. A spherical body (first movable member) 62 and a pressing member 63 each having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the guide hole 61 are provided at the inner end (the connecting hole 12d side) and the outer end of the guide hole 61, respectively. Each is inserted so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide hole 61. Adjacent ends of the spherical body 62 and the pressing member 63 are in contact with each other. A part of the spherical body 62 can project from the guide hole 61 into the connecting hole 12d. A part of the pressing member 63 protrudes from the guide hole 61 into the first cylindrical portion 12b. The end of the pressing member 63 protruding into the first tube portion 12b is urged toward the connecting hole 12d via a washer 65 by a coil spring (biasing means) 64 housed in the first tube portion 12b. Has been. As a result, the spherical body 62 is urged toward the connecting hole 12 d side by the coil spring 64 through the washer 65 and the pressing member 63.

Four engaging grooves (engaging portions) 66 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft portion 11 </ b> B of the hinge body 11. Each engagement groove 66 extends in parallel with the first rotation axis L1 and is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the main shaft portion 11B, that is, 90 ° apart from each other. In addition, each engagement groove 66 is arranged such that the sphere 62 enters (engages) one of the engagement grooves 66 when the receiver-side housing 3 and the rotation member 12 are located at the closed position or the locking position. Has been. When the spherical body 62 enters the engagement groove 66, it strikes only the side edges of the engagement groove 66 in the width direction, and is separated from the center portion of the engagement groove 66 in the width direction. In addition, the spherical body 62 is biased by the coil spring 64. Therefore, when the spherical body 62 enters the engaging groove 66, the receiving side housing 3 and the rotating member 12 are stopped with a click feeling with a predetermined amount of force at any of the locking positions on the main shaft portion 11B.
A shaft body (first movable member) is used instead of the sphere 62, and a concave portion is formed on the surface of the shaft body facing the main shaft portion 11B, while the rotating member 12 is rotated on the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft portion 11B. Accordingly, a convex portion (engaging portion) that enters and exits the concave portion may be formed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a second click mechanism 70 is provided between the rotating member 12 and the first connecting member 13. The second click mechanism 70 stops the first connecting member 13 that rotates about the second rotation axis L2 with a click feeling with a predetermined amount of force at each of the closed position, the call position, and the open position, Eventually, the receiving side housing 3 is stopped with a click feeling at each of the closed position, the call position, and the open position, and is configured as follows.

  That is, the movable member (second movable member) 71 is fitted to the distal end portion of the first cylindrical portion 12b so as not to rotate about the rotation axis L1 and to move in the direction of the second rotation axis L2. ing. The coil spring 64 is disposed inside the first cylindrical portion 12b located between the movable member 71 and the washer 65. The movable member 71 is biased toward the first connecting member 13 by the coil spring 64. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, a pair of guide grooves 72, 72 are formed on a surface 71 a of the movable member 71 facing the first connecting member 13. The pair of guide grooves 72, 72 extend in the radial direction of the movable member 71, and are arranged 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction around the second rotation axis L2. In the guide grooves 72, 72, spherical bodies (engagement protrusions) 73, 73 are accommodated so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 72.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, a first cam recess (engagement recess) 74, a second cam recess (engagement recess) 75, and a first cam recess (engagement recess) 75 are formed on the surface 13 a of the first connecting member 13 facing the movable member 71. A pair of three cam recesses (engagement recesses) 76 is formed. A pair of 1st cam recessed parts 74 and 74 are arrange | positioned 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction on one circumference centering on the 2nd rotation axis L2. The pair of second cam recesses 75, 75 are arranged 180 ° apart from each other in the circumferential direction on a circumference larger in diameter than the circumference where the first cam recess 74 is arranged. The third cam recesses 76 are arranged 180 degrees apart from each other on the same circumference as the circumference where the second cam recess 75 is arranged.

  The first, second, and third cam recesses 74, 75, and 76 are configured so that the receiver-side housing 3 rotates about the second rotation axis L2 to any one of the closed position, the call position, and the open position. When positioned, the spheres 73 are arranged so as to enter, and cooperate with the sphere 73 to convert the urging force of the coil spring 64 into a rotating urging force.

  That is, the first cam recess 74 is located between the reception side housing 3 in the closed position and a position away from the closed position by a predetermined angle (for example, 10 °) about the second rotation axis L2 toward the open position. The spherical body 73 enters one end of the first cam recess 74 in the circumferential direction around the second rotation axis L2, and the spherical body 73 is arranged to abut against the inclined bottom surface of the first cam recess 74. ing. The inclined bottom surfaces of the sphere 73 and the first cam recess 74 abut against each other, thereby converting the urging force of the coil spring 64 into rotation urging. With this turning biasing force, the first connecting member 13 and the receiving side housing 3 are turned in the direction from the open position toward the closed position about the second turning axis L2, and the front surface 3a of the receiving side housing 3 is rotated. Is abutted against the front surface 2a of the transmitter-side housing 2. And the receiving side housing | casing 3 is maintained in a closed position.

  The second cam recess 75 has a position where the receiving-side housing 3 is separated by 160 ° from the closed position, and a position which is separated from the closed position side by a predetermined angle (for example, 10 °) around the second rotation axis L2. , The sphere 73 enters one end of the second cam recess 75 in the circumferential direction centered on the second rotation axis L2, and the sphere 73 reaches the inclined bottom surface of the second cam recess 75. It is arranged to hit. The inclined bottom surfaces of the sphere 73 and the second cam recess 75 abut against each other, thereby converting the urging force of the coil spring 64 into rotation urging. With this turning biasing force, the first connecting member 13 and the receiving housing 3 are turned in the direction from the closed position toward the open position about the second turning axis L2. In this case, when the receiving-side housing 3 is located within a predetermined angle range in the forward and reverse direction from the closed position about the first rotation axis L1, the contact protrusion 31 of the second connecting member 14 is the stopper. The receiver-side housing 3 is rotated until it hits the section 22, that is, to the call position. And the receiving side housing | casing 3 is maintained in a call position. When the receiver-side housing 3 is located at a position excluding a position within a predetermined angle range and a locking position in the forward and reverse directions around the first rotation axis L1 from the closed position, the arcuate protrusion It is rotated until 51 hits the first protrusion 52. The position of the receiving housing 3 when the arcuate protrusion 51 hits the first protrusion 52 is also the same position as the call position. Accordingly, also in this case, the receiving side housing 3 is maintained at the call position. When the reception-side casing 3 is located at any of the locking positions, the reception-side casing 3 can be rotated to the open position side beyond the call position. Accordingly, the receiver-side housing 3 is rotated to the open position side beyond the talking position by the rotation biasing force based on the coil spring 64 converted by the bottom surface of the second cam recess 75 and the sphere 73. When the receiving housing 3 is slightly moved beyond the talking position to the open position, the sphere 73 is fitted into the central portion of the second cam recess 75 in the circumferential direction around the second rotation axis L2. As a result, the receiver-side casing 3 is stopped with a click feeling with a predetermined magnitude of force.

  The third cam recess 76 is configured such that when the receiver-side housing 3 is positioned between the open position and a position away from the open position by a predetermined angle (for example, 10 °), the spherical body 73 is The spherical body 73 is disposed so as to enter one end of the concave portion 76 and abut against the inclined bottom surface of the third cam concave portion 76. The inclined bottom surfaces of the sphere 73 and the third cam recess 76 abut against each other, thereby converting the urging force of the coil spring 64 into rotation urging. With this turning biasing force, the first connecting member 13 and the receiving housing 3 are turned in the direction from the closed position toward the open position. The receiver-side housing 3 is rotated until the back surface 3b hits the front surface 2a of the transmitter-side housing 2, that is, to the open position. And it maintains in an open position.

  Since the first cam recess 74 and the second cam recess 75 are separated from each other in the radial direction around the second rotation axis L2, the spherical body 73 has the first cam recess 74, the second cam recess 75, and the like. When moving between, it moves not only in the circumferential direction around the second rotation axis L2, but also in the radial direction. Thus, a guide groove 77 extending in a spiral shape is formed between the first cam recess 74 and the second cam recess 75. The sphere 73 moves between the first cam recess 74 and the second cam recess 75 through the guide groove 77. Since the 2nd cam recessed part 75 and the 3rd cam recessed part 76 are arrange | positioned on the same periphery and are arrange | positioned close to the circumferential direction, the guide groove is not formed between them. However, a guide groove may be formed between the second and third cam recesses 75 and 76.

  In the biaxial hinge device 10 configured as described above, since one coil spring 64 is used in common for the first click mechanism 60 and the second click mechanism 70, the first and second click mechanisms 60, 70 are connected to each other. The coil springs can be reduced as compared with the case where the coil springs are provided. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the biaxial hinge device 10 can be reduced.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can change suitably.
For example, in the above embodiment, the movable member 71 is provided with the sphere 73 and the first connecting member 13 is provided with the first, second, and third cam recesses 74, 75, and 76. 71 may be provided with first, second and third cam recesses, and the first connecting member 13 may be provided with a sphere. Instead of the sphere 73, the movable member 71 may be integrally provided with a hemispherical or other shape protrusion.
Further, when the first, second, and third cam recesses 74, 75, and 76 are provided in the first connecting member 13 as in this embodiment, the sphere 73 is directly attached to the rotating member 12 as well. You may provide so that it can move to the 2nd rotation axis L2 direction, and cannot rotate to the circumferential direction centering on the 2nd rotation axis L. In that case, the sphere 73 becomes the second movable member.

  A biaxial hinge device according to the present invention is configured to rotatably connect a transmitter and a receiver of a mobile phone, or to rotatably connect a main body and a display of a portable game machine. It can be used as a hinge.

Claims (1)

A hinge main body having a main shaft portion and a connecting hole, and the main shaft portion is rotatably fitted in the connecting hole, whereby the hinge main body is rotatably connected about the first rotation axis. A pivot member, a connecting member provided at one side of the pivot member so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis having a right angle with the first pivot axis, and the hinge In a biaxial hinge device comprising a first click mechanism provided between a main body and the rotating member, and a second click mechanism provided between the rotating member and the connecting member,
A first movable member provided on one side of the rotating member so as to be movable along the second rotation axis so that the first click mechanism protrudes and appears in the connection hole from the inner peripheral surface thereof. And an engaging portion that is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft portion and engages with the first movable member in a detachable manner as the rotating member rotates.
The second click mechanism is disposed between the connecting member and the first movable member, and is provided on the rotating member so as to be movable in the second rotating axis direction and non-rotatable. A movable member, an engagement protrusion provided on one of the opposed surfaces of the connecting member and the second movable member facing each other in the second rotation axis direction, and a coupling member provided on the other opposed surface; An engagement recess that engages and disengages the engagement protrusion with the rotation of the member;
An urging means is disposed between the first movable member and the second movable member. The urging means presses the first movable member against the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft portion, and the second movable member A biaxial hinge device shared by the first and second click mechanisms as urging means for urging the connecting member side to urge the engaging protrusion and the other opposing surface to each other. .

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