JP6686115B1 - Portable information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information device capable of reducing a gap formed in a housing when folded. A portable information device (10) has an inner surface of a first housing member (12A) so as to cover a gap (G) between one edge portion of a first housing member (12A) and one edge portion of a second housing member (12B). The back cover member 60 is provided so as to extend between the back cover member 60 and the inner surface of the second housing member 12B. The spine cover member 60 is bent so as to project from the gap G when the first casing member 12A and the second casing member 12B are folded in half by the hinge mechanism 19 and the gap G is enlarged. To form a bent portion 60a that covers the gap G, and includes wall members 62 to 67 that close at least a part of the opening A formed in the side portion of the bent portion 60a. [Selection diagram] Fig. 11B

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information device in which a foldable display is provided inside a pair of foldable housing members.

  In recent years, portable information devices such as tablet PCs and smartphones that have a touch panel type liquid crystal display and do not have a physical keyboard have rapidly become widespread. The display of this type of portable information device is preferably large when used, but is desired to be miniaturized when carried. Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a portable information device in which not only the housing but also the display can be folded by using a flexible display such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

JP, 2018-112834, A

  The configuration of Patent Document 1 includes a spine cover member that closes a gap between the casing members formed when the pair of casing members is folded in two. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the housing through the gap between the housing members at the time of folding, and it is also possible to prevent deterioration of appearance quality.

  By the way, this spine cover member is a flexible flat plate member. Therefore, when the housing member is folded, the bent portion of the spine cover member projects from the gap between the housing members, and an opening is formed at the side portion thereof. Then, there is a possibility that foreign matter may enter the inside of the housing through this opening, and it is desired to eliminate this problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable information device capable of reducing a gap formed in a housing when folded.

  A portable information device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a portable information device that can be folded in two, and has a first housing member and a second housing member in which one edge portion is adjacently arranged, Between a hinge mechanism that rotatably connects the one edge portions of the first housing member and the second housing member, and an inner surface of the first housing member and an inner surface of the second housing member. A display foldable in two and foldable in half, and the first casing so as to cover a gap between the one edge portion of the first casing member and the one edge portion of the second casing member. A spine cover member provided between an inner surface of a body member and an inner surface of the second housing member, wherein the spine cover member includes the first housing member and the second housing member by the hinge mechanism. When the housing member and the housing member are folded in two and the gap is enlarged, bend so as to project from the gap. It is those in obtained state to form the bent portion to cover the gaps, comprising a wall member for closing at least a portion of the opening formed in the side of the bending portion.

  According to such a configuration, when folded in half, the wall member forms an opening formed on the side of the bent portion of the spine cover member protruding from the gap between the first housing member and the second housing member. Can be closed. Therefore, the back cover member can close the gap between the housing members, and the wall member can also close the opening of the bent portion of the back cover member. Therefore, in the portable information device, it is possible to reduce a gap formed in the casing when the casing members are folded in two, and foreign matter or the like may enter the casing through the gap. Can be prevented.

  The wall member may be provided on a side portion of the spine cover member, and may include a protruding piece protruding from the side portion toward the back surface of the display. Then, the wall member can be configured with a simple configuration.

  A first plate member fixed to the inner surface side of the first housing member and supporting the back surface of the display, and a second plate member fixed to the inner surface side of the second housing member and supporting the back surface of the display. And the first plate member and the second plate member have one end surfaces when the first housing member and the second housing member are opened in a flat plate shape by the hinge mechanism. When the first housing member and the second housing member are folded in half by the hinge mechanism when they are in contact with each other, one end masks of the two are separated from each other, and at the same time, they are separated from the back surface of the display. It may be configured. Then, the wall member can prevent foreign matter from entering between the display and each plate member.

  The wall member supports the back surface of at least one of the first plate member and the second plate member when the first housing member and the second housing member are opened in a flat plate shape. It may be configured. Then, when the portable information device is used, the wall member can function as a pillar that reinforces the back surface of the display through the plate members.

  The spine cover member includes a plurality of strip-shaped plate-like members arranged in a line from the first housing member toward the second housing member, and a flexible sheet-like member connecting the plate-shaped members. And the wall member may be provided on at least a part of the plate-shaped member that forms at least the bent portion among the plurality of plate-shaped members.

  According to the above aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the gap formed in the housing when folded.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a portable information device according to an embodiment of the present invention is closed and stored. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the portable information device shown in FIG. 1 is opened and used. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the internal structure of the portable information device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part of the portable information device shown in FIG. 1 with the back cover member omitted. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the spine cover member. FIG. 6A is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along the line VIA-VIA in FIG. 1. FIG. 6B is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along line VIB-VIB in FIG. 3. FIG. 7A is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. 1. FIG. 7B is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along line VIIB-VIIB in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an essential part schematically showing the cross-sectional structure along the direction in which the grooves of the spine cover member are arranged. FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part schematically showing the cross-sectional structure along the longitudinal direction of the spine cover member. FIG. 10A is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts showing a state in which the spine cover member according to the modification is used. FIG. 10B is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part showing a state in which the spine cover member shown in FIG. 10A is stored. FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross-sectional structure in a use form of a portable information device including the spine cover member shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of the portable information device 10 including the spine cover member shown in FIG. 10B in a stored form. FIG. 12 is a side view of the portable information device shown in FIG. 11B as viewed from the spine cover member side.

  Preferred embodiments of the portable information device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. Description of Overall Configuration of Portable Information Device FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the portable information device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is closed to be in a storage form. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the portable information device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is opened and used. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the internal structure of the portable information device 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable information device 10 includes a first housing member 12A and a second housing member 12B, a spine cover member 14, and a display 16. In this embodiment, a tablet PC that can be folded in two like a book is illustrated as the portable information device 10. The portable information device 10 may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, an electronic notebook, or the like.

  Each of the housing members 12A and 12B is a rectangular plate-shaped member in which side walls are formed upright on three sides other than the side corresponding to the spine cover member 14. Each of the housing members 12A and 12B is made of, for example, a metal plate made of stainless steel, magnesium, aluminum or the like, or a fiber reinforced resin plate containing reinforcing fibers such as carbon fibers. The display 16 is fixed to the inner surfaces of the housing members 12A and 12B via a support plate 18 (see also FIG. 6B). The housing members 12A and 12B are connected to each other via a pair of hinge mechanisms 19 and 19 provided at both ends of the spine cover member 14. The hinge mechanism 19 foldably connects the housing members 12A and 12B between the housing configuration shown in FIG. 1 and the usage configuration shown in FIG. A line C indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 3 indicates a bending center C that is the center of the folding operation of the housing members 12A and 12B.

  In the case members 12A and 12B, the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba on the spine cover member 14 side are the hinge side, and the outer end surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb on the opposite side to the spine cover member 14 side are the open end side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main board 20, the communication module 21, the cooling fan 22 and the like are attached and fixed to the inner surface of the first housing member 12A by using screws or the like not shown. The sub-board 24, the antenna 25, the battery device 26, and the like are attached and fixed to the inner surface of the second housing member 12B by using screws or the like not shown. The main board 20 is an electronic board for performing overall control of the portable information device 10, and various electronic components such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory (not shown) are mounted on the main board 20. The communication module 21 is a device that performs information processing of various wireless communications such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) transmitted and received by the antenna 25. The cooling fan 22 is a fan for cooling the heat generated in the central processing unit mounted on the main board 20. The sub-board 24 is an electronic board that functions as a controller that controls the display of the display 16. The battery device 26 is a power source of the portable information device 10 and can be charged from an external power source via a power cable (not shown).

  The display 16 is, for example, a touch panel liquid crystal display. The display 16 has a structure that can be folded together when the housing members 12A and 12B are folded. The display 16 is, for example, a flexible display such as an organic EL having a highly flexible paper structure, and opens / closes in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the housing members 12A and 12B.

  The display 16 is attached and fixed to the inner surface side of each housing member 12A, 12B via a support plate 18 by using a screw (not shown). The rear surface of the display surface (front surface) of the display 16 is attached and fixed to the surface of the support plate 18 using an adhesive, a double-sided tape or the like. In the case of the present embodiment, the support plate 18 has a pair of plate members 18a and 18a which are respectively arranged on the inner surface sides of the housing members 12A and 12B and which are foldably connected to each other about the bending center C. (See Figures 6A and 6B). A sheet-like member 18b is fixed on the entire surface of the pair of plate members 18a, 18a, and thereby the plate members 18a, 18a are foldably connected to each other.

  Each plate member 18a is formed of a fiber-reinforced resin plate obtained by impregnating a matrix plate made of a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin with a metal plate made of stainless steel, magnesium, aluminum, or the like, or a reinforcing fiber such as carbon fiber. In this embodiment, a carbon fiber reinforced resin plate using carbon fibers as a reinforced resin is used. The sheet-like member 18b is a thin film made of a flexible material such as a thin resin film or a metal foil. The sheet-shaped member 18b is fixed over the entire surface of each plate member 18a, 18a. In this embodiment, a metal foil made of stainless steel is used as the sheet-shaped member 18b. The display 16 is adhered to the surface of the sheet-shaped member 18b using an adhesive or the like. The sheet-shaped member 18b functions as a bent portion (flexible hinge) of the support plate 18 at a portion that covers the adjacent end portion of each plate member 18a.

  The support plate 18 is a usage pattern in which the housing members 12A and 12B are opened in a flat plate shape, and adjacent end surfaces of the pair of plate members 18a and 18a are in contact with each other (see FIG. 6B). In the support plate 18, in a storage mode in which the housing members 12A and 12B are folded in two, adjacent end surfaces of the pair of plate members 18a and 18a are separated from each other (see FIG. 6A).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display 16 is attached and fixed to the inner surface side of the housing members 12A and 12B, and the bezel member 27 is arranged on the outer peripheral edge portion of the surface thereof (see also FIG. 8). The bezel member 27 is provided so as to cover the non-display area (inactive area) R2 of the outer peripheral edge portion except the display area (active area) R1 on the surface of the display 16.

  In this manner, the portable information device 10 opens and closes the display 16 provided inside by opening and closing the pair of housing members 12A and 12B, and the portable information device 10 is placed in the storage form shown in FIG. 1 and the use form shown in FIG. It can be transformed.

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the portable information device 10, the direction from the spine cover member 14 toward the outer end surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb is the X direction, and the direction along the longitudinal direction of the spine cover member 14 is the Y direction. Call and explain. Regarding the X direction, the direction from the spine cover member 14 toward the one outer end surface 12Ab may be referred to as the X1 direction, and the direction toward the other outer end surface 12Bb may be referred to as the X2 direction. Similarly, regarding the Y direction, a direction toward one side (upper side in FIG. 3) in the longitudinal direction of the spine cover member 14 is called a Y1 direction, and a direction toward the other side (lower side in FIG. 3) is called a Y2 direction. There is also.

2. Description of Hinge Mechanism A configuration example of the hinge mechanism 19 that connects the housing members 12A and 12B will be described. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the portable information device 10 shown in FIG. 1 with the back cover member 14 omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge mechanisms 19 are arranged at positions overlapping both ends of the spine cover member 14 in the longitudinal direction. Each hinge mechanism 19 is provided at a position outside the outer shape of the display 16, and has a line-symmetrical structure with respect to each other. The hinge mechanism 19 includes a first hinge housing 28A, a second hinge housing 28B, a first arm 30, and a second arm 31.

  The first hinge housing 28A is a thin block-shaped component made of resin, metal, or the like. The first hinge housing 28A is fixed to the inner surface of the first housing member 12A using the fixing screw 32. The second hinge housing 28B is a thin block-shaped component made of resin, metal, or the like. The second hinge housing 28B is fixed to the inner surface of the second housing member 12B using the fixing screw 32.

  The first hinge housing 28A has a concave portion 34 on the back surface side that lands on the inner surface of the first housing member 12A. The recessed portion 34 has a recessed shape in which an inner surface of the first hinge housing 28A (a side surface on the Y2 side in the upper hinge mechanism 19 in FIG. 3) to a side surface on the folding center C side (a side surface on the X2 side) is opened. (See also FIGS. 7A-8). The second hinge housing 28B has a concave portion 35 on the back surface side that lands on the inner surface of the second housing member 12B. The recessed portion 35 has a recessed shape in which an opening extends from the inner side surface of the second hinge housing 28B (the side surface on the Y2 side in the upper hinge mechanism 19 in FIG. 3) to the side surface on the folding center C side (the side surface on the X1 side). (See also FIGS. 7A-8). The concave portions 34 and 35 are in communication with each other with the bending center C interposed (see FIGS. 3 and 7B).

  One end of the first arm 30 is rotatably connected to the first hinge housing 28A via the first hinge shaft 36a, while the other end is second to the second hinge housing 28B. It is rotatably connected via a hinge shaft 36b (see also FIGS. 7A and 7B). One end of the second arm 31 is rotatably connected to the second hinge housing 28B via the third hinge shaft 36c, while the other end is fourth to the first hinge housing 28A. It is rotatably connected via a hinge shaft 36d (see also FIGS. 7A and 7B).

  The first arm 30 and the second arm 31 are arranged in parallel in the Y direction. The second hinge shaft 36b of the first arm 30 is located between the third hinge shaft 36c and the fourth hinge shaft 36d of the second arm 31. The third hinge shaft 36c of the second arm 31 is located between the first hinge shaft 36a and the second hinge shaft 36b of the first arm 30. As a result, the first arm 30 and the second arm 31 are displaced in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side.

  When the hinge members 19A and 12B of the hinge mechanism 19 are folded around the bending center C, the arms 30 and 31 rotate via the hinge shafts 36a to 36d (see FIG. 4). Thereby, the hinge mechanism 19 is rotatably connected between the housing members 12A and 12B from a folded state to a flat state.

3. Description of spine cover member The spine cover member 14 will be described. In the storage form shown in FIG. 1, the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba between the housing members 12A, 12B are largely separated from each other to form a gap (see also FIG. 4). Therefore, in the portable information device 10, the spine cover member 14 is provided in order to prevent the internal display 16, the main board 20, the battery device 26, and the like from being exposed by covering the gap. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the back cover member 14. FIG. 6A is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along the line VIA-VIA in FIG. 1. FIG. 6B is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along line VIB-VIB in FIG. 3.

  The spine cover member 14 is a member serving as a spine cover when the portable information device 10 is folded, and is a flexible thin plate member. The back cover member 14 is provided between the housing members 12A and 12B so as to cover the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba from the inside while straddling the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba (see FIGS. 3, 6A and 6B).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the spine cover member 14 includes a sheet-shaped member (flexible sheet-shaped member) 40, a first support member 42, a second support member 43, and a plurality of reinforcing members 44a, 44b ,. 44c and 44d.

  The first support member 42 and the second support member 43 are thin plate-shaped members extending in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the spine cover member 14. The reinforcing members 44a to 44d are thin plate-shaped members extending in the longitudinal direction of the spine cover member 14, and are narrower in the X direction than the support members 42 and 43. The reinforcing members 44a to 44d are arranged between the support members 42 and 43 in the X2 direction from the first housing member 12A to the second housing member 12B. The first support member 42, the second support member 43, and the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are thin plate members made of resin, metal, or the like.

  The sheet-shaped member 40 is a fiber-reinforced resin plate in which reinforcing fibers such as carbon fibers are impregnated with a thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin. The sheet-shaped member 40 is a thin sheet-shaped member having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, for example, and has flexibility and high strength. As the reinforcing fiber, various materials such as metal fiber such as stainless fiber and inorganic fiber such as glass fiber may be used. The sheet member 40 may be formed of a resin film, a metal foil, or the like.

  The support members 42, 43 and the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are fixed to the surface of the sheet-like member 40 using an adhesive, a double-sided tape or the like. The support members 42, 43, the reinforcing members 44a to 44d, and the sheet-shaped member 40 may be integrally formed. As a result, the spine cover member 14 can be folded along with the folding operation of the housing members 12A and 12B. The sheet-shaped member 40 has a bent portion 40a at a portion covering the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba of the housing members 12A and 12B (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The sheet member 40 has a plurality of notches 40b arranged in the Y direction on the edge portion on the second support member 43 side.

  The first support member 42 is provided on the inner surface side of the first housing member 12A so as to be slidable in the X direction along the inner surface and between the housing members 12A and 12B. The first support member 42 has pressing surfaces 42a on the surfaces of both ends in the longitudinal direction. The pressing surface 42a is a surface that is one step lower than the other surface of the first support member 42. The first support member 42 has a plurality of groove portions 42b in the X direction on the surface of the portion between the pair of pressing surfaces 42a, 42a in the longitudinal direction. The side surface 42c of the first support member 42 on the X2 side that faces the reinforcing member 44a is an inclined surface that recedes from the reinforcing member 44a side in the X1 direction in the direction from the back surface side (sheet-shaped member 40 side) to the front surface side. (See FIGS. 6A and 6B).

  The first support member 42 receives the biasing force of the tension spring (elastic member) 45 along the X direction (see FIGS. 3 and 6A). The tension spring 45 constantly biases the spine cover member 14 along the X1 direction from the second housing member 12B toward the first housing member 12A.

  The second support member 43 is non-slidably attached and fixed to the inner surface of the second housing member 12B using a fixing screw 46 with respect to the inner surface (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The second support member 43 has pressing surfaces 43a on the surfaces of both ends in the longitudinal direction. The pressing surface 43 a is a surface lower than the other surface of the second support member 43. The second support member 43 has a plurality of groove portions 43b in the X direction on the surface of the portion between the pair of pressing surfaces 43a, 43a. A through hole 47 for inserting the threaded portion of the fixing screw 46 is provided at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction of the second support member 43. The fixing screw 46 is fastened and fixed to the second housing member 12B through the cutout portion 40b of the sheet-shaped member 40. The side surface 43c of the second support member 43 on the X1 side facing the reinforcing member 44d is an inclined surface that recedes in the X2 direction from the reinforcing member 44d side in the direction from the back surface side (sheet-shaped member 40 side) to the front surface side. (See FIGS. 6A and 6B).

  Each of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d has a trapezoidal sectional shape in which the upper bottom and the lower bottom are slightly curved. Each of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d is provided with a pressing surface 44e, which is a surface that is one step lower than the other surface, on the surfaces of both ends in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 5). The pressing surfaces 44e are formed at substantially the same height positions as the pressing surfaces 42a and 43a of the support members 42 and 43 (see FIG. 7B). The number of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d installed can be changed as appropriate.

  Each of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d has a side surface 48a on the first support member 42 side (X1 side) and a side surface 48b on the second support member 43 side (X2 side) (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The two reinforcing members 44a and 44b near the first supporting member 42 side and the two reinforcing members 44c and 44d near the second supporting member 43 side are mutually based on the boundary line between the central reinforcing members 44b and 44c. It has a substantially line symmetrical shape. The side surface 48a of the reinforcing member 44a is an inclined surface that recedes in the X2 direction from the first support member 42 side in the direction from the back surface side (sheet-shaped member 40 side) to the front surface side. The side surface 48b of the reinforcing member 44d is an inclined surface that recedes in the X1 direction from the second support member 43 side in the direction from the back surface side (sheet-shaped member 40 side) to the front surface side. The other side surfaces 48a, 48b face the parallel side surfaces 48b, 48a, respectively, which are substantially parallel to each other, or are inclined surfaces in a direction in which they are slightly separated from each other.

  In the storage form shown in FIG. 6A, the respective reinforcing members 44a to 44d contact the side surfaces 48a and 48b of each other on the inner surface side of the bent portion 40a of the sheet-shaped member 40 that is folded in two, and the plurality of teeth have gaps. It forms an arch shape (arc shape) that is lined up without a line. At this time, the outer side surfaces 48a and 48b of the reinforcing members 44a and 44d at both ends contact the side surfaces 42c and 43c of the support members 42 and 43, respectively. Due to this arch shape, each of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d functions as a pillar that firmly supports the housing members 12A and 12B in a housed form in which the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba are separated from each other and the rigidity is reduced. That is, in the vicinity of the spine cover member 14 between the housing members 12A and 12B, the hinge mechanism 19 is provided at both ends in the Y direction in the stored form, but the portions other than the both ends have no rigidity and extend in the Y direction. Exists Therefore, in the portable information device 10, the supporting members 42 and 43 and the reinforcing members 44a to 44b form arch-shaped support columns extending in the Y direction to ensure the rigidity in the thickness direction in the stored form.

  In such a storage form, the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba of the housing members 12A, 12B are arranged at the positions most distant from each other. Therefore, the spine cover member 14 is in the retracted position in which the first support member 42 side, which is the slide side, is pulled closest to the inner end surface 12Aa side (X2 direction) on the inner surface of the first housing member 12A. At that time, the first support member 42 slides toward the inner end face 12Aa side against the biasing force of the tension spring 45.

  On the other hand, in the usage pattern in which the housing members 12A and 12B are opened in a flat plate shape, the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are arranged in a line with the supporting members 42 and 43 on the inner surface of the housing members 12A and 12B. It Therefore, the back cover member 14 has a flat plate shape with a minimum thickness. In this usage pattern, the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba of the housing members 12A, 12B are arranged at the positions closest to or in contact with each other. For this reason, the spine cover member 14 is at the forward position where the first support member 42 side, which is the slide side, is advanced to the outer end surface 12Ab side (X1 direction) that is the most opposite to the inner end surface 12Aa side on the inner surface of the first housing member 12A. Becomes At this time, the first support member 42 smoothly slides toward the outer end surface 12Ab by the urging force of the tension spring 45, so that the spine cover member 14 does not float or get caught when sliding.

4. Description of Relationship between Back Cover Member and Hinge Mechanism The relationship between the back cover member 14 and the hinge mechanism 19 will be described. FIG. 7A is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. 1. FIG. 7B is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along line VIIB-VIIB in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the spine cover member 14 extends to a position that covers the back surface side of each hinge mechanism 19, and the hinge mechanism 19 is exposed from between the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba of the housing members 12A, 12B. To prevent that.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 7A, 7B, and 8, the spine cover member 14 has pressing surfaces 42a, 43a, and 44e at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the back cover member 14 and the back surface of the hinge housings 28A and 28B and the housing member 12A. , 12B and the inner surface of 12B. Specifically, the pressing surfaces 42a, 43a, 44e of the spine cover member 14 are inserted and arranged in the concave portions 34, 35 of the hinge housings 28A, 28B. At this time, at least the first support member 42 and the pressing surfaces 42a and 44e of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are slidably held in the concave portion 34 of the first support member 42, and the inner surface of the first housing member 12A. It is guided between the top surface of the concave portion 34 and. In other words, the concave portion 34 on the side of the first hinge housing 28A guides the spine cover member 14 so as to be slidable in the X direction, and prevents lifting and the like during sliding. The concave portion 34 has a length dimension that can correspond to the sliding distance (sliding range) L (see FIG. 7A) of the back cover member 14. Therefore, the concave portion 34 is longer in the X direction than the concave portion 35 on the second hinge housing 28B side.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the hinge mechanism 19 has fitting protrusions 50 on the outer surfaces of the hinge housings 28A and 28B, respectively. On the other hand, a fitting concave portion 52a is formed on the inner side surface of the wall portion 52 which is a side wall extending from the inner surface of each housing member 12A, 12B facing the fitting convex portion 50 and extending in the X direction. The fitting convex portion 50 can be fitted into the fitting concave portion 52a, and at least the fitting convex portion 50 regulates the movement in the upward direction from the inner surfaces of the housing members 12A and 12B.

  Therefore, the first hinge housing 28A is sandwiched between the inner surface of the first housing member 12A and the top surface of the fitting recess 52a of the wall portion 52, and its lifting is prevented. The second hinge housing 28B is sandwiched between the inner surface of the second housing member 12B and the top surface of the fitting recess 52a of the wall portion 52, and its lifting is prevented. That is, since the hinge housings 28A, 28B are provided with concave portions 34, 35 into which the spine cover member 14 is inserted on the back surface side thereof, the fixing screw 32 can be fastened only around the concave portions 34, 35. Therefore, there is a concern that the hinge housings 28A and 28B may float when the hinge mechanism 19 moves. Therefore, in the portable information device 10, the hinge casings 28A and 28B are fitted and pressed against the wall portions 52 of the casing members 12A and 12B to prevent the hinges 28A and 28B from rising. The hinge housings 28A and 28B may be fitted in the fitting recess 52a without providing the fitting projection 50.

5. Description of Wiring Structure The wiring structure of the portable information device 10 will be described. The portable information device 10 employs a structure that can be folded in two. For this reason, it is necessary to properly arrange the electronic boards and electronic components on the inner surfaces of the left and right housing members 12A and 12B, and to provide the wirings connecting between them through the inner surface side of the spine cover member 14. For this reason, there is a concern that the wiring may be displaced when opening and closing the housing members 12A and 12B, and problems such as pinching and disconnection may occur, and it is desirable to prevent the wiring from being displaced. FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part that schematically shows the cross-sectional structure along the alignment direction (X direction) of the groove portions 42b and 43b of the spine cover member 14. FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part schematically showing the cross-sectional structure along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the spine cover member 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, in order to electrically connect between the first housing member 12A and the second housing member 12B, for example, between the main board 20 and the sub-board 24. A plurality of wirings 54 are provided. The wiring 54 is routed across the inner surface side of the back cover member 14 and between the housing members 12A and 12B. Therefore, the wiring 54 is inserted into the groove portions 42b and 43b in the X direction formed in the support members 42 and 43 of the spine cover member 14. In the back cover member 14, the height positions of the surfaces of the reinforcing members 44a to 44b substantially match the height positions of the bottom surfaces of the groove portions 42b and 43b (see FIG. 9A).

  Therefore, the wiring 54 is stably held in a state of being inserted through the groove portions 42b and 43b, so that it is possible to prevent a problem such as a positional deviation when the housing members 12A and 12B are opened and closed. That is, even when the spine cover member 14 slides due to the opening / closing operation of the housing members 12A and 12B, the wiring 54 slides in the groove portions 42b and 43b, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as displacement and pinching. To be done. The wiring 54 may be positioned and fixed to one of the housing members 12A and 12B on the outside of one of the groove portions 42b and 43b, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the upper openings of the grooves 42b and 43b are covered by the back surface of the support plate 18. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wiring 54 from floating from the upper openings of the groove portions 42b and 43b and dropping out of the groove portions 42b and 43b. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the lid member 56 that closes the openings of the groove portions 42b and 43b is provided to more reliably prevent the wiring 54 from falling off the groove portions 42b and 43b.

  The lid member 56 is a thin film made of a flexible material such as a thin resin film or a metal foil. The lid member 56 is provided over substantially the entire length of the spine cover member 14 excluding both ends in the Y direction and over the entire width in the X direction, and is attached to the surface of the spine cover member 14. In the case of this embodiment, a sheet-shaped member (stainless sheet) made of stainless steel is used for the lid member 56. The lid member 56 has, for example, an end portion (one end portion) on the X2 side fixed to the surface of the second support member 43, and an end portion (the other end portion) on the X1 side movably mounted on the surface of the first support member 42. (See FIGS. 6A and 6B). Therefore, the lid member 56 follows the slide of the spine cover member 14 and slides on the spine cover member 14, while preventing the wiring 54 from dropping from the groove portions 42b and 43b. The lid member 56 may be omitted and the plate member 18a may be used instead of the lid member 56.

6. Description of Operation and Effect of Portable Information Device As described above, in the portable information device 10 according to the present embodiment, one edge portion of the first housing member 12A and the second housing member 12B connected by the hinge mechanism 19 are connected. The spine cover provided between the inner surface of the one edge portion of the first housing member 12A and the inner surface of the one edge portion of the second housing member 12B so as to cover the gap with the one edge portion. A member 14 is provided. The spine cover member 14 is provided on the inner surface of one edge of the first housing member 12A so as to be slidable in the X direction along the inner surface from the second housing member 12B to the first housing member 12A. The inner surface of one edge of the second housing member 12B is fixed so as not to slide.

  Therefore, when the first housing member 12A and the second housing member 12B are folded in two via the hinge mechanism 19, the hinge-side edge portions of the housing members 12A and 12B (the inner end surface 12Aa, The back cover member 14 can cover the gap generated between (12 Ba). Therefore, it is possible to prevent each element such as the main board 20 inside from being exposed from this gap, and improve the appearance quality and durability of the product. Moreover, one edge of the spine cover member 14 is provided slidably with respect to the first housing member 12A, and the other edge is fixed with respect to the second housing member 12B. As a result, the spine cover member 14 slides following the opening / closing operation of the first housing member 12A and the second housing member 12B by the hinge mechanism 19. For this reason, when the two housing members 12A and 12B are opened in a flat plate shape and the gap between them is reduced, the spine cover member 14 is prevented from being lifted or displaced in the housing members 12A and 12B. it can.

  At this time, in the portable information device 10, the spine cover member 14 is fixed so as not to slide on the side of the second housing member 12B on which the battery device 26 is mounted. That is, of the elements mounted on the portable information device 10, the battery device 26 in particular needs to be as large as possible in order to support high capacity, and has a special shape as compared with the main board 20 and the like. It's difficult. Therefore, by setting the edge portion of the back cover member 14 on the battery device 26 side as the fixed side, it is not necessary to secure the slide distance L on the battery device 26 side, which can contribute to downsizing of the entire device. Of course, the settings of the slide side and the fixed side of the spine cover member 14 can be appropriately changed.

  The spine cover member 14 is fixed to an inner surface of the sheet-shaped member 40, which is a flexible sheet-shaped member that can be folded in two, and is fixed to the first housing member 12A and the second housing member 12B. The reinforcing members 44a and 44b extend in the Y direction along one edge. As a result, the spine cover member 14 can reinforce the portion that covers the gap between the housing members 12A and 12B folded in two with the reinforcing members 44a to 44d. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the spine cover member 14 from being deformed by receiving an external force and damaging each element such as the main board 20 inside. Moreover, since the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are fixed to the sheet member 40, it is possible to prevent the smooth folding operation of the spine cover member 14 from being hindered. Of course, even if the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are omitted and the spine cover member 14 is composed of only the sheet-like member 40, the effect of closing the gap between the housing members 12A and 12B can be secured.

  The plurality of reinforcing members 44a to 44d form an arch shape in which side surfaces 48a and 48b are in contact with each other on the inner surface side of the bent portion 40a of the sheet-shaped member 40 that is folded in two. Thereby, each of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d functions as a pillar that firmly supports between the folded housing members 12A and 12B. Therefore, the rigidity of the portable information device 10 in the thickness direction can be ensured, and the elements such as the display 16 inside can be damaged due to crushing between the folded housing members 12A and 12B. It can be prevented.

  In the portable information device 10, the groove portions 42b and 43b are closed by the lid member 56 made of metal foil to prevent the wiring 54 from falling off. For this reason, for example, when changing the storage form shown in FIG. 6A to the use form shown in FIG. 6B, the lid member 56 and the spine cover member 14 follow the bending operation of the pair of plate members 18a, 18a of the support plate 18. Can be folded with. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the wiring 54 from coming into contact with the adjacent ends (edges) between the plate members 18a, 18a, and the durability and reliability of the portable information device 10 are improved. The end on the X1 side, which is the end on the slide side of the lid member 56, may be configured to extend beyond the end on the X1 side of the first support member 42. Thereby, the wiring 54 can be protected in a wider area than the area in which the wiring 54 overlaps with the spine cover member 14.

7. Description of Modification A spine cover member 60 according to a modification will be described. FIG. 10A is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts showing a state in which the spine cover member 60 according to the modified example is used. FIG. 10B is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts showing a state in which the spine cover member 60 shown in FIG. 10A is stored. FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross-sectional structure in a usage pattern of the portable information device 10 including the spine cover member 60 shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 11B is a sectional view schematically showing the sectional structure of the portable information device 10 including the spine cover member 60 shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a side view of the portable information device 10 shown in FIG. 11B as viewed from the spine cover member 60 side. 10A to 12, the same reference numerals as the reference numerals shown in FIGS. 1 to 9B indicate the same or similar configurations, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted as they exhibit the same or similar functions and effects. . 11A and 11B, illustration of the sheet-shaped member 18b, the tension spring 45, etc. is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the spine cover member 60 has wall members 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 at both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y direction). 10A and 10B, only the Y2 side end of the spine cover member 60 is illustrated, but the wall members 62 to 67 are also provided at the Y1 side end.

  The wall member 62 is provided on the side portion 42d of the first support member 42 and projects toward the back surface 16a of the display 16 (see FIG. 11A). The wall member 67 is provided on the side portion 43d of the second support member 43 and projects toward the back surface 16a of the display 16. The wall members 62 and 67 are projecting pieces formed of a trapezoidal thin plate, and have outer shapes in which the cross-sectional shapes of the support members 42 and 43 extend upward.

  The wall members 63 to 66 are provided on the side portions 44f of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d, respectively, and project toward the back surface 16a of the display 16 (see FIG. 11A). The wall members 63 and 64 on the side of the first support member 42 and the wall members 65 and 66 on the side of the second support member 43 are symmetrical with respect to the boundary line between the wall members 64 and 65 at the center. Each of the wall members 63 to 66 is a protruding piece formed of a trapezoidal thin plate, and has an outer shape in which the cross-sectional shape of each of the reinforcing members 44a to 44d is extended upward. The outer wall members 63 and 66 have a substantially triangular shape with narrow top surfaces 63a and 66a. The center side wall members 64 and 65 have a trapezoidal shape in which the top surfaces 64a and 65a are wider than the top surfaces 63a and 66a. These top surfaces 63a to 66a have a larger protruding height than the top surfaces 62a and 67a of the wall members 62 and 67 at both ends.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the support members 42 and 43 and the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are made of a resin material such as POS or ABS. The wall members 62 to 67 may be integrally formed with the support members 42 and 43 and the reinforcing members 44a to 44d, or may be formed separately and attached by adhesion or the like.

  Similar to the backstrip member 14 shown in FIG. 5, the backstrip member 60 is provided with pressing surfaces 42a and 43a at the ends of the support members 42 and 43. The wall members 62 and 67 are provided on the side portions 42d and 43d which are the bases of the pressing surfaces 42a and 43a. 10A and 10B exemplify a configuration in which the pressing surfaces 42a and 43a are provided only on the support members 42 and 43 at both ends, but the reinforcing members 44a to 44d are similar to the spine cover member 14 shown in FIG. The side surface 44f may be provided with the pressing surface 44e. In this way, the wall members 62 to 67 are arranged at positions inside the hinge mechanism 19 in the Y direction, and are arranged at positions overlapping the back surface 18c of the support plate 18 in a plan view.

  In the portable information device 10 provided with such a backstrip member 60, in the usage pattern shown in FIGS. 10A and 11A, the backstrip member 60 is formed in a flat plate shape, and the wall members 62 to 67 are arranged in a line in the horizontal direction. It will be lined up. At this time, the top surfaces 64a to 66a of the four central wall members 63 to 66 abut against the back surface 18c of the plate member 18a on the first housing member 12A side and support the same. That is, the wall members 63 to 66 function as columns that reinforce the support plate 18 (display 16) from the back side when the portable information device 10 is used. Note that FIG. 11A illustrates a configuration in which the wall members 63 to 66 are arranged at positions that support only the plate member 18a on the first housing member 12A side. However, the wall members 63 to 66 may be arranged together with the plate member 18a on the side of the first housing member 12A, or alternatively, at a position to support the plate member 18a on the side of the second housing member 12B.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, FIG. 12B, and FIG. 13, when the portable information device 10 in the usage form is folded into the storage form, the gap G between the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba of the housing members 12A, 12B is expanded. Then, like the spine cover member 14 described above, the spine cover member 60 forms a bent portion 60a that is protruded and bent rearward from the gap G. Here, since the spine cover member 60 is a flexible strip-shaped flat plate member, an arcuate opening A is formed on the side portion (Y direction side portion) of the bent portion 60a. The opening A projects rearward from the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba of the housing members 12A, 12B and opens toward the outside of the housing. Specifically, the opening A is a gap formed between the reinforcing members 44a to 44d shown by the broken line in FIG. 11B and the back surface 16a of the display 16, and is the gap of the spine cover member 14 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6A. It is similar to that formed on the bent portion.

  Therefore, the back cover member 60 has wall members 62 to 67 formed upright on the side portions 42d, 43d, 44f thereof. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10B, 11B, and 12, in the portable information device 10, the wall members 62 to 67 close the opening A on the side of the bent portion 60a of the spine cover member 60. That is, the wall members 62 to 67 close the small edge (opening A) of the spine cover member 60 that is curved in a substantially semicircular shape. As a result, in the portable information device 10 including the spine cover member 60, in addition to the closing action between the housing members 12A and 12B by the spine cover member 60, the opening A of the bent portion 60a can be closed. It is possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the housing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11B, foreign matter enters between the bent portion 16b of the display 16 which is wide open in the stored form and the end surface 18d of each plate member 18a, and the foreign matter is used in the usage form for each plate member 18a and the display. It can be more reliably prevented from being caught between 16 and.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the portable information device 10, a hinge mechanism 19 is arranged at a position outside the spine cover member 60 in the Y direction. Therefore, foreign matter is prevented from entering the inside of the housing through this portion. As a matter of course, the spine cover member 60 is extended to a position where it covers the hinge mechanism 19, and the entire length of the inner end surfaces 12Aa, 12Ba of the housing members 12A, 12B in the Y direction is covered by the spine cover member 60 and the wall members 62 to 67. Good.

  The wall members 62 to 67 may be formed of only the portions corresponding to the bent portions 16b and 60a, that is, the wall members 63 to 66. Even if the wall members 63 to 66 are formed of only a part of the wall members 63 to 66, the above-described foreign matter intrusion is possible. A preventive effect can be obtained. That is, it is sufficient that the wall members 62 to 67 can block at least a part of the opening A of the bent portion 60a of the spine cover member 60 protruding from the housing members 12A and 12B. However, as shown in FIG. 11B, in particular, the top surfaces 63a to 66a of the wall members 63 to 66 are arranged at positions close to the back surface 16a of the bent portion 16b of the display 16, and a gap between the wall members 62 to 67 is formed. With such a configuration, not only foreign matter but also liquid or the like can be prevented from entering the inside of the housing, and high shielding performance can be obtained.

  As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the wall members 62 and 67 at both ends have a small area of the opening A to be closed, respectively, and this portion is another part (installed in the housing members 12A and 12B). Since it may interfere with the main board 20 and the battery device 26), the wall members 63 to 66 are made lower than the other wall members 63 to 66. These wall members 62 and 67 may be omitted depending on the amount of protrusion of the bent portion 60a from the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba of the housing members 12A and 12B, or may be the same as the other wall members 63 to 67. It may be configured at a height.

  The wall members 62 to 67 may be made of, for example, sponge or the like other than the plate piece. The wall members 62 to 67 may be provided not only on both sides of the spine cover member 60 but also over the entire length in the Y direction. Further, the wall members 62 to 67 may be provided on the housing members 12A and 12B side, and may be configured to move forward and backward so as to close the opening A of the bent portion 60a when the housing members 12A and 12B are folded. .

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be freely modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

10 Portable Information Equipment 12A First Housing Member 12B Second Housing Member 14,60 Back Cover Member 16 Display 18 Support Plate 19 Hinge Mechanism 28A First Hinge Housing 28B Second Hinge Housing 40 Sheet Member 40a Bent Part 42 1st supporting member 42c, 43c, 48a, 48b Side surface 43 2nd supporting member 44a-44d Reinforcing member 45 Tension spring 54 Wiring 56 Lid member 62-67 Wall member

Claims (4)

A portable information device that can be folded in two,
A first casing member and a second casing member whose one edges are arranged adjacent to each other;
A hinge mechanism that rotatably connects the one edge portions of the first housing member and the second housing member,
A display that is provided between the inner surface of the first housing member and the inner surface of the second housing member and that can be folded in two;
An inner surface of the first housing member and an inner surface of the second housing member so as to cover a gap between the one edge portion of the first housing member and the one edge portion of the second housing member. A spine cover member provided in between,
Equipped with
A state in which the spine cover member is bent so as to project from the gap when the first casing member and the second casing member are folded in two by the hinge mechanism and the gap is expanded. Is to form a bent portion that covers the gap,
A wall member for closing at least a part of the opening formed in the side portion of the bent portion ,
A first plate member that is fixed to the inner surface side of the first housing member and supports the back surface of the display;
A second plate member that is fixed to the inner surface side of the second housing member and supports the back surface of the display;
Equipped with
When the first housing member and the second housing member are opened in a flat plate shape by the hinge mechanism, the first plate member and the second plate member are in contact with each other at their one end surfaces, At the same time when the second housing member and the first housing member is folded in folio by said hinge mechanism is separated the one end face mechanic each other, and characterized that you spaced from the rear surface of the display Portable information equipment. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein
The portable information device, wherein the wall member is a protruding piece provided on a side portion of the spine cover member and protruding from the side portion toward a back surface of the display. The portable information device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein
The wall member supports the back surface of at least one of the first plate member and the second plate member when the first housing member and the second housing member are opened in a flat plate shape. A portable information device characterized by the above. The portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The spine cover member includes a plurality of strip-shaped plate-like members arranged in a line from the first housing member toward the second housing member, and a flexible sheet-like member connecting the plate-shaped members. Have
The portable information device, wherein the wall member is provided on at least a part of the plate-shaped member forming at least the bent portion among the plurality of plate-shaped members.

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