TW201417684A - Hinge structure and portable device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge structure of the prevent disclosure to be used with a cable is provided. The hinge structure includes a first position member, a second position member, and at least one cable. One side of the first position member forms a plurality of first fixed portions, and the other side has a shaft. The shaft has two openings and an axle hole connecting the two openings for the passage of the cable. The shaft further forms a slot for receiving the cable. One side of the second position member has a sleeve portion, and the other side has a plurality of second fixed portions. The sleeve portion is rotatively engaged with the shaft, such that the cable of the hinge of the present disclosure can be reduced its dimensions. Accordingly, the portable computer applying the hinge can be light-weighted and miniaturized.

Description

Hinge structure and portable device thereof

The present invention relates to a hinge structure, and more particularly to a portable electronic component having a hinge, wherein the hinge has a hollow bearing that can pass through an electrical conductor such as a cable or a wire.

Hinge is mainly placed between two objects, so that the two objects can pivot at a certain angle, so it is usually used in portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, mobile phones, and electronic dictionaries. That is to say, these portable electronic devices are consumer electronic products having a body and an upper cover, respectively. The operation of picking up or closing the upper cover relative to the body by connecting the hinge of the body with the upper cover of the screen.

In the prior art, the electronic device of the upper cover and the body is only connected by a hinge, and the wire must be connected to the screen of the upper cover from the main body board by a hinge to transmit the signal to the screen. However, as the size of electronic devices continues to grow toward thinness and lightness, how to avoid electronic circuits from being hindered by hinges, as well as affecting the layout and appearance of the wiring, is testing the design capabilities of the industry. . Also, since the development trend of electronic products is light and thin, the serial design of the electronic circuit between the upper cover and the body is rather difficult. That is to say, when the overall structure of the electronic device is getting smaller, the hinge structure is also reduced, so how to arrange the wire path to prevent the electronic circuit from being wound on the hinge, or to avoid damage to the line or the hinge is not smooth. Both test the wisdom of the relevant industry.

Conventional techniques, such as the "Computer with Hollow Pivot" of US Publication No. 2011/0242756, disclose a design in which an electronic wire passes through a hinge. As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow pivot 10 includes a fixed bracket 20, a scooping portion 30, a friction portion 40, and a pivot bracket 48. The scooping portion 30 is integrally formed with the fixed socket 24 formed with a plurality of positioning holes 22 at the other end, so that the fixing bracket 20 has better rigidity. The friction portion 40 is rotatably sleeved on the scooping portion 30 to form a torsion. The pivoting bracket 48 forming a plurality of positioning holes 46 extends on one side of the friction portion 40 for attachment to an upper cover (not shown) of the electronic product. The fixed socket 24 is fixed to the body of the electronic product (not shown). In addition, a pivot hole 32 is formed in the scooping portion 30, One or more electronic wires (not shown) are provided.

However, in the actual assembly process, the electronic wire must first pass through the hollow pivot 10, and then the connector (not shown) and the electronic wire are welded. Due to the inconvenience caused by the process of soldering the connector due to the hinge passing through the wire, the welding automation is not easy and the cost of the work is increased. In view of this, the inventors have solved the problem that the conventional hinge and the electronic wire are designed by different manufacturers to be difficult to assemble, and an integrated design scheme is specially designed to facilitate the development of the portable electronic product in the direction of miniaturization and weight reduction. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge structure that is not integrally formed and that facilitates the passage of electrical conductors therethrough and a portable device therefor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge structure and a portable device thereof that are easy to assemble and process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge structure and a portable device thereof which can reduce cost and man-hours.

The present invention provides a hinge structure for assembly with an electrical conductor as exemplified in one embodiment. In this embodiment, the hinge structure includes a first positioning member, a second positioning member and at least one electrical conductor. The plurality of first fixing portions are formed at one end of the first positioning member, and the pivot shaft is formed at the other end of the first positioning member. The plurality of first fixing portions may be formed on the positioning plate of the first fixing member, and the positioning plate and the pivot shaft may be separated from each other. That is to say, the first positioning portion (ie, the hinge structure) may be formed in a non-integral shape. The pivot further includes a cover and the cover does not necessarily have to be disengaged from the pivot. In addition, the pivot further includes two openings, and a passage connecting the two openings such that the electrical conductor can pass through the openings at both ends. The sleeve portion is formed at one end of the second positioning member, and the plurality of second fixing portions are formed at the other end. The sleeve portion is fixed to a cover member for accommodating the pivot so that the cover member can pivot according to the pivot.

In another embodiment, the pivot further includes a slit connecting the two openings for receiving the electrical conductor. The slit can be covered by the cover. When the slit is covered by the cover, the cover and pivot can be secured together by welding, gluing, screwing, or other suitable means. As long as the conductor can be fixed to the pivot The cover may be of any suitable length. That is, the cover may be longer, shorter, or equal to the length of the slit.

The present invention further discloses a portable electronic component including a seat member, a cover member, and a hinge structure connecting the seat member and the cover member. The seat member and the first positioning member are fixed together, and the cover member and the second positioning member are fixed together such that the seat member and the cover member can pivot relative to each other by the hinge structure.

In one embodiment, there is a hinged structure that allows an electrical conductor to pass through a hollow pivot and a portable electronic component that is mated thereto. Yet another embodiment provides a hinge structure that facilitates fabrication and assembly, and a portable electronic component thereof. In addition, there is a hinge structure and a portable electronic component thereof, which can save manufacturing time and cost, and achieve the purpose of lightness, thinness and shortness.

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that all modifications in accordance with the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

2A through 2E are side views of a hinge structure having a pivot and a cover, according to some embodiments of the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B , the disclosed hinge structure 100 includes a first positioning member 200 , a second positioning member 300 , and at least one electrical conductor 500 . The electrical conductor 500 may comprise a set of cables, wires, or other electrical connectors (not shown) that are shielded or bound together by an outer insulator. The electrical conductor 500 is typically between the cover member and the seat member of the portable electronic component (not shown) for providing power or signal transmission, such as power and data transfer from the housing member to the display of the cover member.

As shown, a plurality of first fixing portions 210 may be formed at one end of the first positioning member 200, and a pivot 220 and a cover 230 may be formed at the other end of the first positioning member 200. In this embodiment, the first fixing portion 210 may be a screw, a bolt, a bolt, a rivet, or other suitable suitable fixing member. Further, the first fixing portion 210 is formed on the positioning plate 212 that is connected to one end of the pivot 220. It is to be noted that Figures 2A and 2B are merely illustrative of the positioning plate 212 connecting the pivot 220, but may not be integrally formed. That is, the positioning plate 212 and The pivots 220 may be separate components from each other. Referring to Figure 2C, the positioning plate 212 and the pivot 220 are separated from one another, and the positioning plate 212 may be secured to the pivot 220 by electrical welding, ultrasonic welding, clamping, or any conventional bonding technique. Additionally, the pivot 220 may include two openings 222 and one of the axial passages 224 connecting the two openings 222 such that the electrical conductor 550 can pass therethrough. The pivot 220 may further include a slit 226 that engages the two openings 222 in conjunction with the cover 230. The slit 226 can allow the electrical conductor 500 to be received in the hinge structure 100 without having to pass directly through the two openings. That is, the slit 226 provides the convenience of assembling the electrical conductor 500 and the hinge structure 100 together. After the electrical conductor 500 is received in the axial passage 224 through the slit 226, the slit 226 can be covered by the cover 230 so that the electrical conductor can be fixed in the pivot 220. The conductor 500 held in the pivot 220 can reduce the chance of the conductor slipping and twisting and tangling. In this embodiment, reducing the chance of the conductor twisting and tangling can increase reliability. When the cover 230 covers the slit 220, the cover can be secured to the pivot 220 by welding, sliding means, bolts, or other suitable combination. Other combinations will be exemplified by Figures 3A-3E and 4A-4C. The length of the cover 230 is substantially equal to the length of the slit 226. In other embodiments, as long as the electrical conductor 500 can be fixed in the pivot 220, the length of the cover can be greater than the length of the slit 226.

The second positioning member 300 may include a sleeve portion 320 at one end and a plurality of fixing portions 310 at the other end. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, it has a pair of sleeve portions 320 connected by a receiving piece 312. The structure of the second fixing portion 310 is similar to that of the first fixing portion 210. That is to say, the second fixing portion 310 may be capable of accommodating screws, bolts, bolts, rivets, or other suitable suitable fixing members. The sleeve portion 320 can be secured to a cover member (not shown) and receive the pivot 220 such that the cover member can be rotated about the pivot 220. Additionally, the sleeve portion 320 can provide a frictional force relative to the pivot 220 as the component rotates. As shown, the sleeve gap 322 of the sleeve portion 320 is formed between the sleeve portion 320 and the second positioning member 300 (i.e., the receiving piece 312). In one embodiment, the sleeve portion 320 and the receiving piece 312 may be integrally formed SK7, tool steel, or other suitable material.

The sleeve portion 320 and its corresponding sleeve gap 322 may have a number different from the above example Objective and structure. For example, in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the second positioning member 300 can have two sleeve portions 320, and its corresponding sleeve gap 322 can be opened on the opposite sides of the receiving piece 312. As another example of FIG. 2D, the second positioning member 300 can have two sleeve portions 320, and its corresponding sleeve gap 322 can be open on the same side of the receiving piece 312. In another example as illustrated in FIG. 2E, the second positioning member 300 may have only one sleeve portion 320. In summary, the second positioning member 300 can have any number and configuration of the sleeve portion 320 and its corresponding sleeve gap 322 under conventional ease of mass, cost, strength of the hinge structure 100, or other reasonable considerations. .

The cross-sectional shape of the pivot 220 may be cylindrical, but is not limited thereto. When the hardness of the pivot 220 is relatively high, there is a better friction between the sleeve portion 320 and the pivot 220. In one embodiment, the constituent materials of the cover 230 and the pivot 220 are the same. The constituent materials may be medium carbon quick-cut steel (S50C), nickel-iron alloy injection molding, zinc alloy die-casting, or other suitable materials. However, in another embodiment, the cover 230 and the pivot 220 can be of different compositional materials to provide different torques for the pivot 220. In summary, the hardness of the sleeve portion 320 is preferably less than the hardness of the cover 230 and the pivot 220. In other embodiments, however, the stiffness of the sleeve portion 320 can be greater than the stiffness of the cover 230 and the pivot 220, thereby providing the friction/torsion required for the hinge structure 100. The outer surface of the pivot 220 may have a groove that can be filled with lubricating oil, thereby reducing the wear of the pivot 220 caused by the rotation and improving the reliability of the pivot 220.

3A and 3B are side views of a hinge structure having a sliding cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3C to 3E are cross-sectional views of a hinge structure having a cover.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hinge structure 100 may include a cover 230 that covers the slit 226 after the electrical conductor 500 is received by the pivot 220, as in the above embodiments. In some embodiments, the cover 230 may be secured to the pivot 220 by welding, adhesive, bolting, or other suitable securing means. Alternatively, one end of the cover has at least one guiding portion to guide the cover 230 to slide into the slit 226. For example, referring to Figures 3C and 3D, one end of the cover may be generally T-shaped, and when the cover 230 slides in (inserted) into the axial passage 224, the cover 230 may be substantially fixed to the pivot 220 to avoid electrical conductors ( Not shown) is disengaged from the pivot 220. That is, the cover 230 includes a substantially T-shaped guide portion and is a cover body in a sliding form. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, the inner surface of the pivot 220 may further include at least one protruding combination to mate with the guide. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3D, the pivot 220 has no protruding combination to engage the guide. After the cover 230 slides into the pivot 220, the cover 230 can be secured to the pivot 220 using conventional securing means. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3E, the cover 230 is not a sliding cover. Here, after the electrical conductor (not shown) is placed in the axial passage 204, the cover 230 can prevent the electrical conductor from coming off the pivot 220. Additionally, the securing member 228 can secure the cover 230 to the pivot 220. For example, the fixing member 228 can be a bolt, a bolt, a plug, a nail, or a rivet, but is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 3D, the axial passage 224 may be off-axis relative to the center of the pivot 220. That is, the center of the axial passage 224 is closer to the slit 226 than the center of the pivot 220. In other words, the thickness d1 measured from the first position of the pivot is greater than the thickness d2 measured from the second position of the pivot. In this embodiment, the first position is generally located on the other side relative to the slit 226 and the second position is closer to the slit 226 than the first position. Such a structure can increase the strength of the pivot 220 and slow the deformation of the pivot 220 due to rotation. Such an eccentric design can be applied to any of the hinge structures 100 having a cover as disclosed herein. In other words, although the thicknesses d1 and d2 in FIGS. 3C and 3E are substantially the same, d1 may be larger than d2 to increase the strength of the pivot 220.

Referring to Figures 4A and 4B, and the embodiments described above, the hinge structure 100 may include a cover 230. When the electrical conductor 500 is received by the pivot 220, the cover 230 can cover the slit 226. Here, the cover 230 is rotatably engaged with the pivot 220. For example, the cover 230 can be assembled by the latch 232 and the pivot such that the cover 230 can be pivoted relative to the pivot 220 to receive the electrical conductor 500. In detail, the cover 230 has an engaging portion 234 through which the latch 232 can pass through the joint portion 234. There may be two short pins (not shown) that pass through the different ends of the joint 234 such that the cover 230 can be twisted between an open position in which the electrical conductor can be received and a closed position in which the slit 226 can be received. After the electrical conductor 500 is received in the pivot, the cover 230 can be covered to close the slit to prevent the electrical conductor 500 from coming off the pivot. 220. 4C is a partial cross-sectional view of a hinge structure 100 having a slidable cover. The latch 232 passes through the joint 234, thereby connecting the cover 230 and the pivot 220 such that the cover 230 can pivot about the latch 232.

5A to 5C are partial side views of a hinge structure not including a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a pivot 220 having an axial passage 224. As disclosed in the previous embodiments, the axial passage 224 is for receiving an electrical conductor (not shown). However, unlike the embodiment disclosed in Figures 2A through 4, the pivot 220 can also be used to prevent the electrical conductor from disengaging from the pivot 220 without the cover 230. That is, before the electrical conductor is completely placed in the pivot 220, the radial dimension of the electrical conductor can be compressed and finally can be inserted into the axial passage 224, and then the electrical conductor can substantially return to the original radial dimension, thus being Limited within the axial passage 224. In another preferred embodiment, the pivot 222 can have one or more stop members 222 to prevent the plugged electrical conductor from disengaging to further ensure that the electrical conductor does not disengage from the axial passage 224. The stop element 222 can be composed of a suitable elastomeric material that allows the electrical conductor to pass through without damage. As shown in Figures 3C through 3E, the axial passage 224 may be off-axis relative to the center of the pivot 220. That is, the center of the axial passage 224 is closer to the slit 226 than the center of the pivot 220. Referring to FIG. 5B, the thickness d1 measured from the pivot first position 2202 is greater than the thickness d2 measured from the pivot second position 2204. In this embodiment, the first position 2202 is located substantially opposite the other side of the slit 226, and the second position 2204 is closer to the slit 226 than the first position 2202. Such a configuration can increase the strength of the pivot 220, slow the deformation of the pivot 220 due to rotation, and can provide a fixed or variable torsion between the pivot 220 and the sleeve portion 320 when rotated. Such an eccentric design can be applied to any of the hinge structures 100 having a cover as disclosed herein. In other words, although the thicknesses d1 and d2 in FIGS. 5A and 5C are substantially the same, d1 may be larger than d2 to increase the strength of the pivot 220.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a portable electronic component incorporating a hinge structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the embodiment has a seat member 610, a cover member 720620, and the above A portable electronic component 600 that is pivotable to mechanically couple the hinge member 100 of the seat member 610 and the cover member 620. Here, the portable electronic component 600 can be an Ultrabook or other lightweight laptop. Alternatively, the portable electronic component 600 can be a cell phone, an electronic dictionary, or other folded electronic component. The seat member 610 can be fixed with the first positioning member 200, and the cover member 620 can be fixed with the second positioning member 300. Thus, the seat member 610 and the cover member 620 can be moved or pivoted through the hinge structure 100. Turn. In detail, the seat member 610 is fixed by a fixing member (not shown) and a positioning plate 212 for assembly with the hinge structure 100; the cover member 620 is fixed by a fixing member (not shown) and a receiving plate 312. Used to assemble with the hinge structure 100. The hinge structure 100 and its constituent elements have been described in detail in the previous embodiments and will not be described again.

Finally, it should be noted that the sleeve 320 can be made of high carbon steel, and the pivot 220 can be made of medium carbon steel to maintain friction or torque between the two. Alternatively, the surfaces of the sleeve 320 and the pivot 220 can be heat treated to achieve different stiffnesses to create different friction or torsion forces.

The above is only an embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various changes and modifications resulting from the description are still within the scope of the specification. In addition, the various embodiments and various modifications are not necessarily to be construed as a The abstract and title are for patent search only, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

10‧‧‧ hollow pivot

20‧‧‧Fixed Shelf

22‧‧‧Positioning holes

24‧‧‧Fixed seat

30‧‧‧Capture Department

32‧‧‧Pivot hole

40‧‧‧ Friction Department

46‧‧‧Positioning holes

48‧‧‧ pivoting frame

100‧‧‧Hinged structure

200‧‧‧First positioning piece

210‧‧‧First Fixed Department

212‧‧‧ Positioning board

220‧‧‧ pivot

222‧‧‧ openings

224‧‧‧Axial channel

226‧‧‧slit

228‧‧‧Fixed components

230‧‧‧ cover

234‧‧‧ joints

300‧‧‧Second positioning parts

310‧‧‧Fixed Department

312‧‧‧Support film

320‧‧‧ casing department

322‧‧‧ casing clearance

500‧‧‧Electrical conductor

700‧‧‧Portable electronic components

710‧‧‧ pieces

720‧‧ ‧covering

2202‧‧‧First position

2204‧‧‧second position

FIG. 1 is a hinge structure disclosed in "Computer with a hollow pivot" of US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0242756.

2A-2E are side views of a hinge structure having a pivot and a cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3A-3B are side views of a hinge structure having a slide cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3C-3E is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge structure having a cover

4A-4B are side views of a hinge structure having a flip cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of the hinge structure with a flip cover.

5A-5C are partial cross-sectional views of a hinge structure without a cover of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the hinge structure of the portable electronic component of the embodiment of the present invention.

100‧‧‧Hinged structure

212‧‧‧ Positioning board

220‧‧‧ pivot

226‧‧‧slit

230‧‧‧ cover

300‧‧‧Second positioning parts

310‧‧‧Fixed Department

312‧‧‧Support film

320‧‧‧ casing department

322‧‧‧ casing clearance

500‧‧‧Electrical conductor

Claims (14)

A hinge structure includes: a first positioning member having a plurality of first fixing portions at one end of the first positioning member, a pivot shaft at the other end of the first positioning member; and a second positioning member One end of the second positioning member has a sleeve portion, and the other end of the second positioning member has a plurality of second fixing portions, wherein the sleeve portion is rotatably engaged with the pivot shaft, and the pivot shaft extends A slit is formed in the direction of the long axis. The hinge structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot shaft comprises: a first opening at one end of the pivot, and a second opening at the other end of the pivot; and an axial direction a passage connecting the first opening and the second opening, the axial passage extending through the pivot, wherein the slit connects the first opening and the second opening along a long axis direction. The hinge structure of claim 1, wherein the first positioning member further comprises a positioning plate separable from the pivot, and the first fixing portions are respectively formed on the positioning plate. The hinge structure of claim 1, wherein a sleeve gap is included between the sleeve portion and the second fixing member. The hinge structure of claim 1, wherein the second positioning member or the sleeve portion has a hardness higher or lower than a hardness of the pivot. The hinge structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot shaft comprises a first thickness and a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness, wherein the first thickness is relative to the slit One of the other ends is measured by a first position, the second thickness being measured by a second position closer to the slit than the first position. The hinge structure of claim 2, wherein the axial passage is off-center with respect to a center of the pivot. A hinge structure includes: a first positioning member having a plurality of first fixing ends at one end of the first positioning member The other end of the first positioning member has a pivot body including a cover body, the pivot shaft forms a slit extending in the longitudinal direction; and a second positioning member at one end of the second positioning member The sleeve has a sleeve portion, and the other end of the second positioning member has a plurality of second fixing portions, wherein the cover covers the slit, and the sleeve portion is rotatably engaged with the pivot shaft and the cover body. The hinge structure of claim 8, wherein one side of the cover body has at least one guiding portion to guide the cover body to slide into the slit. The hinge structure of claim 8, further comprising a fixing member, the cover body being fixed to a side wall of the pivot shaft, so that the cover body can be rotated around the fixing member. The hinge structure of claim 8, wherein the cover is rotatably coupled to the slit by at least one latch, such that the cover can open the slit and close the slit. One of the slits moves between closed positions. A portable electronic device comprising: a hinge structure, comprising: a first positioning member having a plurality of first fixing portions at one end of the first positioning member and a pivot at the other end of the first positioning member And a second positioning member having a sleeve portion at one end of the second positioning member, and a plurality of second fixing portions at the other end of the second positioning member, wherein the sleeve portion is rotatably a pivoting engagement; a cover member combined with the first positioning member, and a member coupled to the second positioning member to pivot the cover member; and an electrical conductor passing through the hinge The structure electrically connects the cover member and the seat member. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the pivot further comprises a cover to cover the slit. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the pivot further comprises: a first opening at one end of the pivot, and a second opening at the other end of the pivot; An axial passage connecting the first opening and the second opening, the axial passage extending through the pivot so that an electric conductor can pass through; and a slit connecting the first opening along a long axis direction The second opening, the slit can accommodate the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor can be inserted into the axial passage through the slit.