JPH05263563A - Hinge mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To freely set characteristics on a rotationally moving speed or the like, in a hinge mechanism. CONSTITUTION:A single compression coil spring 31 is fitted on a rotationally moving shaft 32 by fitting its first engaging section 31a on the guide channel 33 of the rotationally moving shaft 32. The coil spring 31 and the rotationally moving shaft 32 are contained in a guide pipe 34, and a second engaging section 31b is engaged with a hole 34c. By the guide channel 33, the rotational movement of the rotational moving shaft 32 is converted to the compression of the coil spring 31, and the spring force of the coil spring 31 is converted to the rotationally moving force of the rotationally moving shaft 32.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism, and more particularly to a hinge mechanism suitable for folding mobile phones.

As shown in FIG. 9, a foldable mobile phone 1 has a structure in which a frame cover 3 is connected to a phone body 2 by a hinge mechanism 4.

The telephone body 2 is provided with a receiver section 5 and a ten-key section 6.

A transmitter portion 7 is incorporated in the frame cover 3.

When not in use, as shown in FIG. 10 (A), the frame cover 3 is folded and locked to cover the ten-key pad 6.

During a call, the frame cover 3 is shown in FIG.
It is used in the expanded state as shown in (B).

Further, due to its portability, it may be accidentally dropped or stomped.

Therefore, the hinge mechanism 4 is required to satisfy the following two requirements.

When the lock is released in the state of FIG. 10 (A), the frame cover 3 is automatically expanded (rotated in the direction of arrow A ₁ ) and held at the call position P 1 of FIG. 10 (B). To let.

In the state of FIG. 10 (B), when a strong force is applied, the frame cover 3 further rotates in the direction of arrow A ₁ to allow excessive expansion, and again the call position of FIG. 10 (B) is obtained. Automatically return to.

[0011]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 shows a conventional hinge mechanism 10.

Reference numerals 2Aa and 2Ab are parts of the telephone body.

3A is a frame cover.

Reference numeral 13 is a first torsion coil spring, which expands the frame cover 3A to the call position P ₁ in FIG. 10 (B).

Reference numeral 14 denotes a second screw coil spring, which allows the frame cover 3A to be unfolded excessively.
A is returned to the call position P ₁ again.

The first and second torsion coil springs 13 and 14 are fitted and supported by a pipe 15.

The shaft 16 protruding from the part 2Aa of the main body is
The bridge 17 and the pipe 15 are inserted and fitted and fixed to a tubular portion 18 protruding from a part 2Ab of the main body.

The arm portion 13a at one end of the first torsion coil spring 13 is fitted in the slit 16a of the shaft 16. The arm portion 13b at the other end is in contact with a holding plate 19 fixed on the frame cover 3A.

The arm portion 14a at one end of the second torsion coil spring 14 is sandwiched between the pressing plate 19 and the frame cover 3A. The arm portion 14b at the other end is inserted into the hole 17a of the piece 17 that is rotatably fitted to the shaft 16.

The piece 17 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 16 within the range of the cutout 17b, and when the protrusion 17c contacts the stopper 20, further rotation (clockwise rotation as viewed from the direction of arrow B). Be restricted.

When not in use, as shown in FIG.
7 is in a state in which it can freely rotate, and the second torsion coil spring 14 does not store an elastic force in the torsion direction.
The elastic force in the torsional direction is stored only in the first torsion coil spring 13.

When the lock is released in the state of FIG. 10 (A), the frame cover 3A has the first torsion coil spring 1
It is rotated in the A ₁ direction by the elastic force in the twisting direction of 3 and is deployed.

At this time, the piece 17 turns around the shaft 16.

When the protrusion 17c of the piece 17 is locked by the stopper 21, the frame cover 12 is restricted from further expansion, and the telephone is held in the state shown in FIG. 10 (B).

When a strong force is erroneously applied in the direction of arrow A _{1 in} the state shown in FIG. 10B, the second torsion coil spring 14 is twisted and the frame cover 3A is moved to the position shown in FIG.
Further open as shown in (C). At this time, the first torsion coil spring 13 is not twisted.

[0026] The strong force is removed, the torsion direction of the bullet揆力the second torsion coil spring 14, is returned to the position at the time of the call shown in FIG. 10 (B) in the arrow A ₂ direction.

[0027]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hinge mechanism 10 described above.
Has a large number of parts, and therefore has a large size.

Therefore, it is not suitable for a device such as a foldable mobile phone having a small space for mounting the hinge mechanism.

Further, when the above-mentioned hinge mechanism 10 is applied to a foldable mobile phone, there are the following problems.

The operation of unfolding the frame cover 3A from the non-use state of FIG. 10A to the call state of FIG.
It is those made by the torsional restoring force of the first torsion coil spring 13, the rate of expansion of the frame cover 3A becomes straight as shown by line I _b in FIG. 8, the control according to the position to deploy this I can't do it.

Further, due to the inertial force of the frame cover 3A, the speed becomes considerably high just before the position during the call (when the desired force is kept at the position during the call, the speed becomes considerably high), and the protrusion 17c violently collides with the stopper 20, and the impact IMP ₁ becomes considerably large. For this reason, not only does it feel uncomfortable, but there is also the danger of dropping the phone. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge mechanism that realizes control of the deployment speed and downsizing.

[0032]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a single coil spring having a first locking portion at one end and a second locking portion at the other end, and a single coil spring inserted into the coil spring. And a guide portion that is formed on the peripheral side surface of the rotary shaft so as to extend obliquely with respect to the axis of the rotary shaft and that guides the first locking portion. The second locking portion is fixedly incorporated into the fixing member, and the guide portion rotates the rotation shaft.
Instead of the axial deformation of the coil spring, conversely, the axial resilient force of the coil spring is changed to the rotational force of the rotary shaft.

According to the invention of claim 2, the guide portion of claim 1 is
The configuration is such that a plurality of portions having different inclination angles are continuous.

According to the invention of claim 3, the guide portion of claim 1 is
The guide groove is formed on the peripheral side surface of the rotating shaft.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the fixing member according to the first aspect is a tubular member that houses the coil spring and the rotating shaft.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first locking portion is provided at one end,
A single compression coil spring having a second locking portion at the other end;
A rotating shaft inserted into the coil spring, and a guide portion formed on the peripheral side surface of the rotating shaft so as to extend obliquely with respect to the axis thereof and for guiding the first locking portion. A guide member configured to fix the second locking portion of the coil spring and to house the coil spring and the rotating shaft, the guide portion rotating the rotating shaft. Instead of compression deformation, on the contrary,
A hinge mechanism configured to change the elastic force of the coil spring into the rotational force of the rotary shaft is incorporated between the telephone body and the frame cover.

[0037]

The structure provided with the guide portion of claim 1 functions so as to allow the characteristics of the hinge mechanism to be freely determined by appropriately determining the shape thereof.

The structure provided with the single coil spring of the first aspect functions to make the hinge mechanism compact.

The structure of the guide portion of the second aspect acts so as to change the characteristic of the hinge mechanism for each rotation section.

The guide groove of the third aspect acts so as to be easily formed.

The tubular member according to a fourth aspect of the present invention functions so that the hinge mechanism forms one tubular assembly.

The hinge mechanism of the fifth aspect operates so as to be easily incorporated into the telephone.

[0043]

1 and 2 show a hinge mechanism 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a compression coil spring as a single coil spring, which has a predetermined free length L and a predetermined spring constant k, and has at one end a first engagement member extending toward the center. It has a stop 31a and the other end has a second locking portion 31b extending in the axial direction.

Reference numeral 32 is a rotary shaft, and a guide groove 33 as a guide portion is formed on the peripheral surface.

The guide groove 33 is composed of first to fifth 33 _{-1 to} 33 _{-5 as} shown in FIG.

The first groove portion 33 _-1 has an end 32 of the rotary shaft 32.
a part from position 100 to position 101 facing a,
It is used when combining the compression coil spring 31 and the rotating shaft 32.

The second groove portion 33 _-2 extends in connection with the first groove portion 33 _-1 , extends from position 101 to position 102, and forms an angle θ _{1 with} respect to the axis 34 of the rotary shaft 32. It is inclined.

The third groove portion 33 _-3 extends in connection with the second groove portion 33 _-2 , is a portion from position 102 to position 103, and forms an angle θ ₂ (> θ) with respect to the axis 34. ₁ ) It is inclined.

The fourth groove portion 33 _-4 extends so as to be connected to the third groove portion 33 _-3 , is a portion from the position 103 to the position 104, and forms an angle θ ₃ (≈θ) with respect to the axis 34. ₁ ) It is inclined.

Fifth Groove FIG. 33 _-5 extends in connection with the fourth groove 33 _-4 and extends from position 104 to position 105 at an angle (90 + θ ₄ ) with respect to the axis 34. It is inclined. θ ₄ ≈ θ ₁ .

The second to fifth groove portions 33 _{-2 to} 33 _-5 are all linear.

The second to fourth groove portions 33 _-2 , 33 _-3 , 33
_-4 is used for turning between when not in use and during a call.

The fifth groove portion _33-5 is used for excessive rotation.

The fourth and fifth groove portions 33 _-4 and 33 _-5 are V-shaped, and the position 104, which is a V-shaped trough, holds the frame cover 3B at the position for talking. Used to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a ring groove 32b is provided at the end 32a of the rotary shaft 32, and a flange portion 32c and a D cut portion 32d are provided on the side opposite to the end 32a.

Reference numeral 34 is a guide pipe as a fixing member, and has a hole 34b in the center of the bottom portion 34a and a hole 34c in the peripheral portion.

In the hinge mechanism 30, the first locking portion 31a is engaged in the guide groove 33 from the position 100 to the position 104, and the compression coil spring 31 is fitted around the rotating shaft 32. The compression coil spring 31 and the rotating shaft 32 are fitted into the guide pipe 34, the rotating shaft 32 is inserted through the hole 34b, and the second locking portion 31b is fitted in the hole 34c. 31 is compressed by Δx, and the rotary shaft 32 is fixed to the bottom 34a.
It is further projected and the snap ring 35 is fitted into the ring groove 32b for assembly.

The rotating shaft 32 is in a state in which the flange portion 32c is fitted to the opening end side of the guide pipe 34, and is prevented from coming off by the retaining ring 35. Further, since the flange portion 32c is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the guide pipe 34, the rotation shaft 32 is restricted in its shaft runout and smoothly rotates.

The compression coil spring 31 is housed in an annular columnar space between the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide pipe 34, and the first locking portion 31a is a guide groove. 33, and the second locking portion 31b is fitted in the hole 34c.

When the hinge mechanism 30 is assembled as described above, it is easy to construct and handle one tubular assembly, and to easily incorporate it into equipment.

This hinge mechanism 30, as shown in FIG.
The guide pipe 34 is fixed to the telephone body 2B, the D-cut portion 32d of the rotary shaft 32 is fixed to the frame cover 3B, and the guide pipe 34 is incorporated into the foldable mobile telephone 1B.

Here, since the hinge mechanism 30 uses a single compression coil spring 31, and both the compression coil spring 31 and the rotary shaft 32 are incorporated in the guide pipe 34, the structure shown in FIG. It is considerably smaller than the conventional example.

Therefore, the space required for mounting the hinge mechanism 30 is small and sufficient, and the foldable mobile phone 1 is provided.
It is easily installed in B.

Next, the operation of the hinge mechanism 30 when the telephone 1B is operated will be described.

During a call (FIG. 10 (B), FIG. 5) The first locking portion 31a is located at a position 104 which is a valley in the guide groove 33 as shown in FIG.

The compression coil spring 31 has Δx from the free length L.
Is compressed, the first engaging portion 31a is press sidewalls 33 _-4a and 33 _-5a a force F _1.

The rotation of the frame cover 3B at the time of talking in the folding direction (arrow A ₂ ) is the fourth groove 33.
_-4 side wall 33 _-4a . Frame cover 3
The rotation in the direction of further expanding B (arrow A ₁ ) is _limited by the side wall 33 _-5a of the fifth groove 33 _-4 .

As a result, the frame cover 3B has 14
It is held in a clicked manner at the call position that is expanded 5 times.

The holding force, that is, the limiting force described above, is mainly determined by the angles θ ₃ and θ ₄ , and becomes larger as the angle θ ₃ becomes smaller and the angle θ ₄ becomes larger.

In this embodiment, the angles θ ₃ and θ ₄ are about 50 degrees, and the frame cover 38 is held at the talking position with a force that does not easily move.

When folding (FIG. 10 (B),
(A), FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7) The frame cover 3B is rotatably operated in the direction of arrow A ₂ to be folded.

At this time, first, the fourth groove 33_-FourSide wall
33_-4a, And then the third groove 33 _-3Side wall 33_-3a,
Finally the second groove 33_-2Side wall 33_-2aBut the first lock
Guide the portion 31a to gradually compress the compression coil spring 31.
It

The load applied to the operator's hand during this folding is changed such that the load is slightly heavy at the beginning, becomes lighter thereafter, and becomes slightly heavy again at the end, as indicated by the middle line II in FIG.

Since the load is mostly light, the folding operation is easy.

Further, since the weight becomes slightly heavy at the end, the operator is urged to push strongly at the end, and the frame cover 3B is surely folded to the last position where it is locked.

During the above folding operation, the groove portions 33 _-4 , 33
_-3 , 33 _-2 and the first locking portion 31a act to change the rotation of the rotation shaft 32 into the compressive deformation of the coil spring 31. In the case of unfolding (FIGS. 10 (A), (B), FIG. 8) In the folding state, the first locking portion 31a is at the position 101 in FIG. 3 and is enlarged as shown in FIG. The side wall 33 _-2a is pushed by force F ₂ (> F ₁ ). Due to the spring force of the coil spring 31 in the extending direction, the first locking portion 31a first pushes the side wall 33 _-2a, and then the side wall _33-2a.
Press the _-3a, and then press the side wall 33 _-4a.

This pushing force causes the rotation shaft 32 to move toward the arrow A.
Rotational force in _one direction acts to expand the frame cover 3B.

The above-mentioned rotational force is mainly due to the angles θ ₁ , θ ₂ ,
It is determined by θ ₃ , and the smaller the angle, the larger the value. θ ₁ is about 45 degrees and θ ₂ is about 75 degrees.

The developing speed of the frame cover 3B corresponds to the above force.

Therefore, the frame cover 3B is developed so that the frame cover 3B is fast at the beginning, slows at the end, and fast at the end, as indicated by the line I _a in FIG. The deployment is completed when the first locking portion 31a falls to the valley position 104.

Therefore, the shock IMP ₂ is considerably smaller than in the conventional case, and the telephone is not dropped.

Further, the feel that the operator obtains at the time of unfolding becomes a high-grade feeling as compared with the conventional one.

During the unfolding operation described above, the first locking portion 31
a and the groove portions 33 _-2 , 33 _-3 , 33 _-4 are the coil springs 31.
Acts so as to change the deformation that restores in the extending direction to the rotational movement of the rotational shaft 32.

When a strong force is applied (see FIG. 10)
(B), (C), FIG. 5) When a strong force in the further developing direction acts on the frame cover 3B during a call, the fifth groove portion 33 _-5 acts on the first locking portion 31a. , While compressing the coil spring 31,
The frame cover 3B is rotated in the arrow A ₁ direction to absorb the strong force.

When the strong force is removed, the coil spring 31
The spring force of the first locking portion 31a causes the fifth groove portion 3 to move.
By pushing the side wall 33 _{-5a of} 3 _-5 , a rotational force in the direction of the arrow A ₂ acts on the rotary shaft 32, and the frame cover 3B returns to the original position for talking.

Next, a modification of the present invention will be described.

[Modification 1] As can be seen from the above description, one side wall of the guide groove 33 is actually functioning.

Therefore, instead of the guide groove 33, a rib protruding from the peripheral side wall of the rotary shaft may be formed, and the side wall of this rib may guide the first engaging portion 31a.

[Modification 2] The second to fifth groove portions 33 described above
_{-2 to} 33 _-5 is an example, and other shapes may be used. For example, a shape in which the positions 101 and 104 are connected by a straight line may be used.

[Modification 3] Instead of the compression coil spring 31, a tension coil spring may be used. In this case, when the frame cover is folded, the coil spring is pulled and deformed, and when the frame cover is deployed, the coil spring contracts, and the force at this time is converted into a rotational force to be deployed. To do.

[Modification 4] The hinge mechanism 30 can be incorporated in a device other than a foldable mobile phone.

[0093]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the load applied when the rotary shaft is rotated can be freely determined by appropriately determining the shape of the guide portion. On the contrary, a hinge mechanism having the optimum characteristics in the place where it can be applied can freely determine the momentum (speed) of rotation of the rotary shaft when the rotary shaft freely rotates. Can be realized.

Since only one coil spring is incorporated, the size can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional one, and the foldable portable telephone can be easily incorporated.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the load of the rotating shaft and the rotating speed can be freely determined for each of the sections obtained by further dividing the rotating section.

According to the invention of claim 3, the manufacturing can be facilitated.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the hinge mechanism can be a cylindrical unitized assembly, and can be easily handled.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a foldable mobile phone in which the hinge mechanism is easily incorporated and the operation feeling of the frame cover is good.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a hinge mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the hinge mechanism of the present invention.

3 is a development view of a guide groove on a rotation shaft in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where the hinge mechanism of FIG. 2 is incorporated in a folding mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a state in which the first locking portion is fitted in the guide groove during a call.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing characteristics when the frame cover is folded.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a state where the first locking portion is fitted into the guide groove after the frame cover is folded (when not in use).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing characteristics when the frame cover is developed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a general folding mobile phone.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing changes in the shape of the telephone of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a conventional hinge mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1B Foldable mobile phone 2, 2B Telephone main body 3, 3B Frame cover 4 Hinge mechanism 5 Handset part 6 Numeric keypad part 7 Transmitter part 30 Hinge mechanism 31 Compression coil spring 31a First locking part 31b Second engagement Stop part 32 Rotating shaft 32a End 32b Ring groove 32c Collar part 32d D cut part 33 Guide groove 33 _-1 First groove part 33 _-2 Second groove part 33 _-3 Third groove part 33 _-4 Fourth groove part 33 _-5 Fifth groove 33 _{-2a to} 33 -5a _Side wall 34 Guide pipe 34a Bottom 34b, 34c Hole 35 Set shaft 104 Position (valley)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A single coil spring (3) having a first locking part (31a) at one end and a second locking part (31b) at the other end.
1), a rotating shaft (32) inserted into the coil spring, and a peripheral side surface of the rotating shaft extending obliquely with respect to the axis of the rotating shaft (32). Guide (3
3), the second locking portion of the coil spring is fixed to the fixing member (34).
The guide portion converts the rotation of the rotating shaft into axial deformation of the coil spring, and conversely, the axial resilient force of the coil spring is transferred to the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft. A hinge mechanism characterized in that it is configured to change to rotational force. 2. The hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion has a structure in which a plurality of portions (33 _{-1 to} 33 _-5 ) having different inclination angles are continuous. 3. The hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is a guide groove (33) formed on a peripheral side surface of the rotating shaft. 4. The hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is a tubular member (34) that houses the coil spring and the rotating shaft. 5. A single compression coil spring (31) having a first locking portion (31a) at one end and a second locking portion (31b) at the other end, and inserted into the coil spring. A rotating shaft (32) and a guide portion (3) formed on the peripheral side surface of the rotating shaft so as to extend so as to be inclined with respect to the axis of the rotating shaft (32) and guide the first locking portion.
3) and a tubular member (34) for fixing the second locking portion of the coil spring and accommodating the coil spring and the rotating shaft, the guide portion (33) includes the rotating shaft. The hinge mechanism (30) configured to change the rotation of the coil spring into the compressive deformation of the coil spring and, conversely, to change the elastic force of the coil spring into the rotational force of the rotating shaft is referred to as a telephone body (2B). Frame cover (3
A foldable mobile phone characterized in that it is incorporated between B).