JP6850333B1 - Opening and closing mechanism and portable information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information device which can be placed horizontally or vertically with a simple structure, has sufficient strength, and has a wide angle adjustment range. A portable information device (10) rotates a housing (12), a stand (14), a first arm (30) and a second arm (32) connecting the housing (12) and the stand (14), and a housing (12) and a first arm (30). A first hinge 34 that is movably connected, a second hinge 36 that rotatably connects the housing 12 and the second arm 32, and a third hinge that rotatably connects the stand 14 and the first arm 30. A hinge 38 and a fourth hinge 40 that rotatably connects the stand 14 and the second arm 32 are provided. With the housing 12 and the stand 14 closed, the first hinge 34 and the fourth hinge 40 are arranged on the shaft J1, and the second hinge 36 and the third hinge 38 are displaced by 90 ° with respect to the shaft J1. It is arranged on the axis J2. The shafts J1 and J2 are along the edges of the housing 12 and the stand 14. [Selection diagram] Fig. 4

Description

The present invention relates to a portable information device including an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the first plate and the second plate, and a housing and a stand.

In recent years, tablet-type personal computers (tablet-type PCs) having a touch panel type liquid crystal display and not having a physical keyboard have become widespread. Normally, a tablet PC may be operated while being held by hand or placed on a desk or the like, and when used while being placed on a desk or the like, a stand is used. It may be used in an upright position. For the stand, for example, a kickstand whose inclination angle can be adjusted is used.

In a portable information device such as a tablet PC, the display is rectangular, and it is possible to switch between a vertical screen and a horizontal screen. However, the kickstand can only be installed horizontally or vertically. Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are examples of documents of portable information devices in which the display portion can be placed vertically or horizontally.

Patent Document 1 proposes a portable information device including a main body housing, a display housing, and a short connector provided between them. In this portable information device, the connecting body can be rotated by the first hinge with respect to the main body housing, and the display housing can be rotated by the second hinge with respect to the connecting body. The first hinge and the second hinge are orthogonal to each other. The tilt angle of the display housing can be adjusted in the vertical installation state by rotating only the first hinge, and the tilt angle can be adjusted in the horizontal installation state by rotating only the second hinge. .. The connection body is thinned according to the main body housing and the display housing.

Patent Document 2 proposes a portable information device including a first arm, a second arm longer than the first arm, and a connecting portion connecting the first arm on the back surface of the housing. The first arm and the second arm are parallel to each other and can be rotated by hinges inclined with respect to the long side of the housing. In this portable information device, the connecting portion is used as a mounting portion for horizontal installation, and the second arm is used as a mounting portion for vertical installation. Further, the inclination angle can be adjusted by the rotation angles of the first arm and the second arm.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-11196 Japanese Patent No. 6077060

By the way, in the portable information device described in Patent Document 1, since the first hinge and the second hinge are basically independent mechanisms, the display housing can be moved in any direction when both are rotated. Can be oriented to. Then, the display housing can be in an unnatural state without being limited to either vertical or horizontal installation. In other words, it cannot be used selectively for vertical and horizontal installation. Therefore, a switch or an interlock mechanism that prevents both the first hinge and the second hinge from rotating at the same time is required, which is complicated and causes an increase in cost. Further, since the connecting body is thin, either one of the first hinge and the second hinge is configured within the narrow range, and it is difficult to secure the strength.

In the portable information device described in Patent Document 2, the vertical housing tilt angle is adjusted by the tilt angle of the hinge and the rotation angle of the second arm, but the adjustment range is limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can be placed horizontally or vertically with a simple structure, has sufficient strength, and has an opening / closing mechanism having a wide angle adjustment range and is portable. The purpose is to provide information equipment.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the opening / closing mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention is an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the first plate and the second plate, and the first plate and the first plate. A first arm and a second arm connecting the two plates, a first hinge for rotatably connecting the first plate and one end of the first arm, and one end of the first plate and the second arm. A second hinge that rotatably connects the second plate, a third hinge that rotatably connects the second plate and the other end of the first arm, and the other end of the second plate and the second arm. The first hinge and the fourth hinge are arranged on the first axis in a state where the first plate and the second plate are closed, and the fourth hinge is provided. The second hinge and the third hinge are arranged on a second axis deviated by a predetermined angle from the first axis.

Such an opening / closing mechanism has a simple structure that does not require a switch or an interlock mechanism for switching between horizontal and vertical installation. Further, the first hinge to the fourth hinge have an appropriate length along the first axis and the second axis and have sufficient strength. Further, according to the first hinge to the fourth hinge, the angle adjustment range between the first plate and the second plate can be sufficiently widened in both the horizontal and vertical installations.

The predetermined angle of 90 ° is suitable when each plate is rectangular.

When the first axis and the second axis are set along the edges of the first plate and the second plate, respectively, each plate can be lengthened and is stable when used as a stand. In addition, there is a sense of unity in design and it is suitable.

The first arm and the second arm each include an orthogonal portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis at an end portion, and an inclined portion connecting the two orthogonal portions. You may. The orthogonal portion tends to form a hinge. The inclined portion can shorten the arm length.

At least one of the first arm and the second arm may be provided in plurality, and the first arm and the second arm may be arranged alternately. As a result, the first arm and the second arm can be arranged in a well-balanced manner according to the shape and size of each plate.

The first plate is rectangular in a plan view, the first axis is set parallel to the long side of the first plate, and a pair of the first arms are provided with the second arm interposed therebetween. A pair of first hinges may be provided on the first axis with the fourth hinge interposed therebetween.

The first plate and the second plate may have the same shape in a plan view.

The portable information device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a portable information device including a housing and a stand, and the first arm and the second arm connecting the housing and the stand, and the housing. A first hinge that rotatably connects the housing and one end of the first arm, a second hinge that rotatably connects the housing and one end of the second arm, and the stand and the first arm. The housing and the stand are provided with a third hinge that rotatably connects the other end of the second arm and a fourth hinge that rotatably connects the other end of the stand and the second arm. In the closed state, the first hinge and the fourth hinge are arranged on the first axis, and the second hinge and the third hinge are on the second axis deviated by a predetermined angle from the first axis. It is arranged in.

At least one of a switch, a power jack, and a connector is provided on at least one of the side surface along the first hinge and the fourth hinge and the side surface along the second hinge and the third hinge in the housing. It may be.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, it can be placed horizontally or vertically with a simple structure, has sufficient strength, and has a wide angle adjustment range.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable information device according to the embodiment as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable information device according to the embodiment as viewed diagonally from the back surface, (a) is a perspective view viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view viewed from diagonally below. .. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable information device in which the stand is omitted in the state shown in FIG. 2A. 4A and 4B are views for explaining the opening / closing operation of the portable information device, FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which the first arm is operating, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the second arm is operating. is there. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing a state in which the stand is opened so that the portable information device is placed horizontally, FIG. 5A is a perspective view viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view viewed from diagonally below. It is a perspective view. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing a state in which the stand is opened so that the portable information device is placed vertically, FIG. 6A is a perspective view viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view viewed from diagonally below. It is a perspective view. 7A and 7B are views showing a portable information device when placed horizontally, FIG. 7A is a schematic side view of the stand opened by about 30 °, and FIG. 7B is a schematic side view of the stand opened by about 90 °. It is a schematic side view. 8A and 8B are views showing a portable information device when installed vertically, FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of a state in which the stand is opened by about 30 °, and FIG. 8B is a state in which the stand 14 is opened by about 90 °. It is a schematic side view of. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing a modified example, FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of a portable information device according to the first modified example, and FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of the portable information device according to the second modified example. It is a figure. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the portable information device according to the third modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the opening / closing mechanism and the portable information device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a portable information device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The direction notation in the description of the portable information device 10, that is, the left and right, top and bottom, is based on the state of FIG. However, the notation in this direction is for convenience, and the portable information device 10 can actually be used in any direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable information device 10 includes a housing (first plate) 12 and a stand (second plate) 14 that supports the housing 12 in an inclined state. The housing 12 and the stand 14 are rectangular in which the vertical direction is shorter than the horizontal direction. As will be described later, the stand 14 can be opened and closed in two directions with respect to the housing 12, and the housing 12 can be selectively supported horizontally (see FIG. 7) and vertically (see FIG. 8). it can. The housing 12 and the stand 14 have the same shape in a plan view (when the display 16 is viewed from the front). The stand 14 is a plate having moderate strength.

The portable information device 10 includes an opening / closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, when the housing 12 is regarded as the first plate and the stand 14 is regarded as the second plate, the portable information device 10 has an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the first plate and the second plate.

The housing 12 is a plate-shaped so-called tablet PC, which is provided with a touch panel display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display) 16 on the front side, and has a configuration in which a circuit board, an arithmetic unit, a memory, a battery, and the like are housed. Has been done. The portable information device 10 may be a smartphone or the like. The display 16 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the housing 12, and the vertical screen and the horizontal screen can be switched by a sensor signal or a setting operation. As the display 16, a known display 16 having an aspect ratio set to, for example, 16: 9 or 4: 3 can be applied. The display 16 is surrounded by a frame body 18. The frame body 18 is composed of an upper frame 18a, a lower frame 18b, a right frame 18c, and a left frame 18d. The upper frame 18a is a portion that is along the first hinges 34a and 34b and the fourth hinge 40, which will be described later, and is upward in the horizontal position. The lower frame 18b is placed downward in the horizontal position. The right frame 18c is a portion that is along the second hinge 36 and the third hinges 38a and 38b, which will be described later, and is upward in the vertical installation state. The left frame 18d is downward in the vertical position.

A pair of left and right speakers 20, 20, a power jack 22, and a connector 24 are provided on the side surface of the upper frame 18a. The connector 24 is for communication, image output, or the like. A camera 26 is provided in front of the upper frame 18a. A switch 28 is provided on the side surface of the right frame 18c. The switch 28 is, for example, a power switch. The power jack 22, the connector 24, the switch 28, and the like are not provided on the side surface of the lower frame 18b and the side surface of the left frame 18d. This is because the side surface of the lower frame 18b and the side surface of the left frame 18d become mounting surfaces when the portable information device 10 is placed horizontally or vertically, which makes it difficult to insert and remove plugs and manually operate them. .. On the other hand, if at least one of the switch 28, the power jack 22 and the connector 24 is provided on at least one of the side surface of the upper frame 18a and the side surface of the right frame 18c which are upward when vertically or horizontally installed, plugs can be inserted. Easy to remove and operate manually. Depending on the design conditions, the speaker 20 may be provided on the side surface of the lower frame 18b and the side surface of the left frame 18d. The back surface near the corner where the lower frame 18b and the left frame 18d intersect is supported by a spacer 29 protruding from the stand 14.

2A and 2B are perspective views of the portable information device 10 viewed from an obliquely back surface, FIG. 2A is a perspective view seen from obliquely above, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view seen from obliquely below. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable information device 10 in which the stand 14 is omitted in the state shown in FIG. 2A.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the portable information device 10 further includes two first arms 30a and 30b and a second arm 32 connecting the housing 12 and the stand 14, and the housing 12 and the first arm. The first hinges 34a and 34b that rotatably connect one end of 30a and 30b, the second hinge 36 that rotatably connects the housing 12 and one end of the second arm 32, the stand 14 and the first. It includes a third hinge 38a and 38b that rotatably connects the other ends of the arms 30a and 30b, and a fourth hinge 40 that rotatably connects the other end of the stand 14 and the second arm 32.

Either one of the first arm 30a and the first arm 30b may be referred to as a "third arm", but both are members having the same function and are distinguished in the present application for convenience of explanation. Instead, it is called the "first arm". The same applies to the first hinge 34a and the first hinge 34b, and the third hinge 38a and the third hinge 38b. The first arm 30a and the first arm 30b are typically also referred to as the first arm 30, the first hinge 34a and the first hinge 34b are typically also referred to as the first hinge 34, and the third hinge 38a and the third hinge. 38b is also typically referred to as a third hinge 38.

The first hinge 34, the second hinge 36, the third hinge 38, and the fourth hinge 40 are torque hinges, and the opening / closing angle between the housing 12 and the stand 14 can be maintained at an arbitrary angle.

The first arms 30a and 30b and the second arm 32 are thin plates having appropriate strength, and are interposed between the housing 12 and the stand 14. One end of the first arm 30a is connected to the back side of the housing 12 by a first hinge 34a near the right end of the upper frame 18a, and the other end is connected to the back side of the stand 14 by a third hinge 38a near the lower end. Has been done. One end of the first arm 30b is connected to the back side of the housing 12 by a first hinge 34b near the left end of the upper frame 18a, and the other end is connected to the back side of the stand 14 by a third hinge 38b near the upper end. Has been done. One end of the second arm 32 is connected to the back side of the stand 14 by a second hinge 36 at the center of the top and bottom, and the other end is connected to the back side of the housing 12 by a fourth hinge 40 at the center of the left and right of the upper frame 18a. Has been done.

With the housing 12 and the stand 14 closed (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, etc.), the first hinge 34a, the fourth hinge 40, and the first hinge 34b are axes in this order from right to left. They are arranged on J1 (first axis) with almost no gap. Similarly, the third hinge 38b, the second hinge 36, and the third hinge 38a are arranged in this order from top to bottom on the axis J2 (second axis) deviated by 90 ° from the axis J1 with almost no gap. Has been done. In other words, the first arms 30a and 30b are provided in pairs with the second arm 32 interposed therebetween, the first hinges 34a and 34b are provided with the fourth hinge 40 sandwiched on the shaft J1, and the third hinges 38a and 38b are provided. A second hinge 36 is provided on the shaft J2 with the second hinge 36 interposed therebetween. The axis J1 is along the upper edge of the portable information device 10, in other words, parallel along the long side. The axis J2 is along the left edge of the portable information device 10, in other words, parallel along the short side. Since the shaft J1 and the shaft J2 are set along the edges of the housing 12 and the stand 14, the vertical and horizontal lengths of the stand 14 can be lengthened, and the stand is stable as a stand. In addition, there is a sense of unity in design and it is suitable.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first arm 30a is provided substantially diagonally in the portable information device 10, and extends from the upper edge to the axis J1 in the direction orthogonal to the orthogonal portion 42a and from the left edge. An orthogonal portion 42b extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis J2 and an inclined portion 42c connecting the two orthogonal portions 42a and 42b are provided. The second arm 32 has an orthogonal portion 44a extending in the direction orthogonal to the axis J1 from the upper edge, an orthogonal portion 44b extending in the orthogonal direction from the left edge to the axis J2, and two orthogonal portions 42a, It is provided with an inclined portion 44c connecting 42b. The first arm 30b is a substantially right triangle in which an orthogonal portion and an inclined portion are integrated. There is almost no gap between the inclined portion 42c and the inclined portion 44c. There is almost no gap between the inclined portion 44c and the inclined surface of the first arm 30b. The orthogonal portions 42a, 42b, 44a, 44b can easily form each hinge. The inclined portions 42c and 44c can shorten the first arm 30a and the second arm 32.

As described above, in the portable information device 10, a pair of first arms 30 are provided so as to sandwich one second arm 32, but the first arm 30 is 1 or 3 depending on the shape and size of the housing 12. The number may be 2 or more, and the number of the second arm 32 may be 2 or more. When at least one of the first arm 30 and the second arm 32 is provided in plurality, the balance is good when the first arm 30 and the second arm 32 are arranged alternately.

When the housing 12 and the stand 14 are closed, the first arm 30 and the second arm 32 are biased to the right and upward, and are not arranged in the left and lower regions. Vents 46 are provided in this area of the housing 12. The ventilation holes 46 are not blocked by the first arm 30 and the second arm 32, and a certain amount of gap is formed between the ventilation holes 46 and the stand 14, so that the heat inside the housing 12 can be dissipated. Auxiliary ventilation holes 47 (shown by virtual lines in FIG. 5B) may be provided in the region of the stand 14 facing the ventilation holes 46.

Next, the operation of the portable information device 10 configured in this way will be described.

4A and 4B are views for explaining the opening / closing operation of the portable information device 10, FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which the first arm 30 is operating, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the second arm 32 is operating. It is a figure which shows. In FIG. 4, the stand 14 is omitted. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing a state in which the stand 14 is opened so that the portable information device 10 is placed horizontally, FIG. 5A is a perspective view viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view obliquely downward. It is a perspective view seen from. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing a state in which the stand 14 is opened so that the portable information device 10 is placed vertically, FIG. 6A is a perspective view viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view obliquely downward. It is a perspective view seen from.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the first arms 30a and 30b can be rotated with respect to the housing 12 by the first hinges 34a and 34b at one end with respect to the shaft J1 and the third hinge 38a at the other end. , 38b are separated from the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 5, since the third hinges 38a and 38b are connected to the edges of the stand 14, the stand 14 rotates together with the first arms 30a and 30b with respect to the shaft J1. On the other hand, the second arm 32 does not rotate because the second hinge 36 is connected to the housing 12.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the second arm 32 can be rotated with respect to the housing 12 by the second hinge 36 at one end with respect to the shaft J2, and the fourth hinge 40 at the other end is the housing 12. Separate from. As shown in FIG. 6, since the fourth hinge 40 is connected to the edge of the stand 14, the stand 14 rotates with the second arm 32 with respect to the shaft J2. On the other hand, the first arms 30a and 30b do not rotate because the first hinges 34a and 34b are connected to the housing 12.

As described above, in the portable information device 10, the stand 14 can be opened and closed with reference to either one of the two axes J1 or the axis J2 orthogonal to the housing 12. The case where the axis J1 is used as a reference is the case of horizontal installation, and the case where the axis J2 is used as a reference is the case of vertical installation. That is, the portable information device 10 can be selectively used vertically or horizontally. In either case, the rotation angle range of the stand 14 is 0 ° to 180 °, which is a sufficiently wide range, and an arbitrary angle can be maintained.

The first hinges 34a and 34b have an appropriate length along the shaft J1 and have sufficient strength, and when placed horizontally, a certain amount of external force is applied with the housing 12 and the stand 14 open with the shaft J1 as a reference. No twisting or deformation occurs even if is added. Similarly, the second hinge 36 has an appropriate length secured along the shaft J2 and has sufficient strength, and the housing 12 and the stand 14 are opened to some extent with the shaft J2 as a reference when vertically placed. No twisting or deformation occurs even when an external force is applied.

When the portable information device 10 is leaned against the stand 14, it is assumed that the frequency and time of viewing a horizontally long screen such as watching a moving image is long, and that the portable information device 10 is placed horizontally rather than vertically. In the portable information device 10, in the case of horizontal installation, the space between the housing 12 and the stand 14 is opened by the first hinges 34a and 34b with reference to the shaft J1. Since the two first hinges 34a and 34b are provided near the left and right ends along the shaft J1, they can be leaned more stably.

7A and 7B are views showing a portable information device 10 when placed horizontally, FIG. 7A is a schematic side view of a state in which the stand 14 is opened by about 30 °, and FIG. 7B is a schematic side view in which the stand 14 is opened by about 90 °. It is a schematic side view of the state. 8A and 8B are views showing a portable information device 10 when installed vertically, FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of a state in which the stand 14 is opened by about 30 °, and FIG. 8B is a schematic side view in which the stand 14 is opened by about 90 °. It is a schematic side view of the state. Reference numeral G in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a mounting surface. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the portable information device 10 can be placed horizontally or vertically, and since the opening / closing angle range of the stand 14 with respect to the housing 12 is wide, it can be placed horizontally or vertically. In either case, the adjustment range of the inclination angle of the housing 12 is wide. As a result, the angle of the housing 12 can be freely adjusted according to the user's face position and preference.

Next, the portable information devices 10A to 10C according to the modified example of the portable information device 10 will be described. Regarding the portable information devices 10A to 10C, the same components as those of the portable information device 10 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing a modification, FIG. 9A is a schematic view of the portable information device 10A according to the first modification, and FIG. 9B is a schematic view of the portable information device 10B according to the second modification. It is a schematic diagram of.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the portable information device 10A is provided with two stands 14Aa and 14Ab on the back surface of the housing 12. The stands 14Aa and 14Ab can be opened and closed with respect to two orthogonal axes J1 and J2, respectively, similarly to the above-mentioned stand 14. The lateral axis J1 is provided with a first hinge 34 and a fourth hinge 40, respectively, and the vertical axis J2 is provided with a second hinge 36 and a third hinge 38, respectively. However, the shaft J1 of the stand 14Ab is provided at the upper end, and the shaft J1 of the stand 14Ab is provided at the lower end. Further, the shaft J2 of the right stand 14Aa is provided at the left end, and the shaft J2 of the left stand 14Ab is provided at the right end.

In such a portable information device 10A, when the stand 14Aa is opened with reference to the axis J1 of the stand 14Aa, the stand 14Ab can be erected horizontally so that the upper frame 18a faces upward. Can be erected horizontally so that the upper frame 18a faces downward when the is opened. Further, when the stand 14Aa is opened with reference to the axis J2 of the stand 14Aa, the left frame 18d can be leaned vertically so as to be upward, and when the stand 14Ab is opened with reference to the axis J2 of the stand 14Ab, the left frame 18d is downward. It can be leaned vertically so that it becomes.

The upper and lower edges of the stands 14Aa and 14Ab are set at positions slightly separated from the upper and lower edges of the housing 12, respectively. The axes J2 of the stands 14Aa and 14Ab are substantially centered in the left-right direction of the housing 12. The right edge of the stand 14Aa is set at a position slightly separated from the right edge of the housing 12, and the left edge of the stand 14Ab is set at a position slightly separated from the left edge of the housing 12. By setting the edges of the stands 14Aa and 14Ab slightly apart from the edges of the housing 12 in this way, it is possible to suppress the amount of protrusion of the stands 14Aa and 14Ab to the rear when leaning against them, and the stands 14Aa and 14Ab become compact. Become. Either the stand 14Aa or the stand 14Ab may be omitted depending on the design conditions.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the portable information device 10B includes a housing 12B and a stand 14B. The housing 12B and the stand 14B correspond to the housing 12 and the stand 14 described above, but are diamond-shaped in a plan view. In line with this, the shaft J1 and the shaft J2, which are the reference for opening and closing the housing 12B and the stand 14B, intersect at a predetermined angle other than 90 °. Similar to the first arm 30a, the first arm 30b and the second arm 32, the first arm 30Ba connects between the first hinge 34a and the third hinge 38a, and the first arm 30Bb is the first hinge 34b. And the third hinge 38b are connected to each other, and the second arm 32B is connected to the second hinge 36 and the fourth hinge 40. As described above, depending on the design conditions (for example, design requirements), the axis J1 and the axis J2 may intersect at a predetermined angle other than 90 °. Similar to the portable information device 10, the portable information device 10B can be opened and closed with reference to either the shaft J1 or the shaft J2. The portable information device 10B can also be placed horizontally or vertically by the stand 14B.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the portable information device 10C according to the third modification. The portable information device 10C includes a housing 12C and an opening / closing mechanism 50. The housing 12C is a single tablet PC and corresponds to the housing 12 described above. The opening / closing mechanism 50 replaces the housing 12 in the portable information device 10 with a plate 52. The housing 12C and the plate 52 can be attached to and detached from each other by a predetermined engaging mechanism or adhesive means. The housing 12C is lighter and thinner when the opening / closing mechanism 50 is removed, and when leaning against it, the opening / closing mechanism 50 may be attached as needed. Further, the opening / closing mechanism 50 may be an optional component for the housing 12C according to the user's needs. The housing 12C and the plate 52 may have the same shape in a plan view, or may differ in size to some extent. The opening / closing mechanism 50 may be attached upside down to the housing 12. The opening / closing mechanism 50 may have the stand 14 attached to the housing 12 and the plate 52 as a substantial stand. The application of the opening / closing mechanism 50 is not necessarily limited to the stand of the housing 12C, and can be applied to various applications.

As described above, the opening / closing mechanism and the portable information device according to the present embodiment have a simple structure that does not require a switch or an interlock mechanism for switching between horizontal and vertical installation. Further, the first hinge to the fourth hinge have an appropriate length along the shafts J1 and J2 and have sufficient strength. Further, in both the horizontal and vertical installations, the angle adjustment range between the housing and the stand is basically 0 ° to 180 °, which is sufficiently wide.

In the above-mentioned opening / closing mechanism and portable information device, there may be a limiting means for restricting the rotation angle at a predetermined angle depending on the design conditions for opening / closing the stand or the plate in two directions. Further, there may be a locking means for fixing the stand or the plate at an arbitrary angle. In addition, there may be indexing means that hold the stand or plate at several intermittent angles.

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.

10,10A, 10B, 10C Portable information equipment (opening and closing mechanism)
12, 12B, 12C housing (first plate)
14,14Aa, 14Ab, 14B stand (second plate)
16 Display 18 Frame 18a Upper frame 18b Lower frame 18c Right frame 18d Left frame 22 Power jack 24 Connector 28 Switch 30, 30a, 30b, 30Ba, 30Bb 1st arm 32, 32B 2nd arm 34, 34a, 34b 1st hinge 36 Second hinge 38, 38a, 38b Third hinge 40 Fourth hinge 42a, 42b, 44a, 44b Orthogonal portion 42c, 44c Inclined portion 50 Opening / closing mechanism 52 Plate J1 axis (first axis)
J2 axis (2nd axis)

Claims (9)

An opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the first plate and the second plate.
A first arm and a second arm connecting the first plate and the second plate,
A first hinge that rotatably connects the first plate and one end of the first arm,
A second hinge that rotatably connects the first plate and one end of the second arm,
A third hinge that rotatably connects the second plate and the other end of the first arm,
A fourth hinge that rotatably connects the second plate and the other end of the second arm,
With
With the first plate and the second plate closed, the first hinge and the fourth hinge are arranged on the first axis, and the second hinge and the third hinge are the first axis. An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that it is arranged on a second axis that is offset by a predetermined angle with respect to the above. In the opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1,
An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that the predetermined angle is 90 °. In the opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1 or 2.
An opening / closing mechanism, wherein the first axis and the second axis are set along the edges of the first plate and the second plate, respectively. In the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The first arm and the second arm are each
An orthogonal portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis at the end,
An inclined portion connecting the two orthogonal portions and an inclined portion
An opening / closing mechanism characterized by being provided with. In the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A plurality of the first arm and at least one of the second arms are provided.
An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that the first arm and the second arm are arranged alternately. In the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The first plate is rectangular in plan view and
The first axis is set parallel to the long side of the first plate.
A pair of the first arms are provided with the second arm interposed therebetween.
An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that a pair of the first hinges are provided on the first shaft with the fourth hinge interposed therebetween. In the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that the first plate and the second plate have the same shape in a plan view. A portable information device equipped with a housing and a stand.
A first arm and a second arm connecting the housing and the stand,
A first hinge that rotatably connects the housing and one end of the first arm,
A second hinge that rotatably connects the housing and one end of the second arm,
A third hinge that rotatably connects the stand and the other end of the first arm,
A fourth hinge that rotatably connects the stand and the other end of the second arm,
With
With the housing and the stand closed, the first hinge and the fourth hinge are arranged on the first axis, and the second hinge and the third hinge are relative to the first axis. A portable information device characterized in that it is arranged on a second axis deviated by a predetermined angle. In the portable information device according to claim 8.
At least one of a switch, a power jack, and a connector is provided on at least one of the side surface along the first hinge and the fourth hinge and the side surface along the second hinge and the third hinge in the housing. A portable information device characterized by being a connector.

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