TWI697758B - Pivoting assembly and electronic deivce - Google Patents

Abstract

A pivoting assembly is provided, which includes a pivoting shaft extending along an axis; an inner movable member, an intermediate movable member and an outer stationary member sequentially concentrically surrounding the axis; a number of first positioning structures and first engaging structures connected to one of the inner movable member and the intermediate movable member; a number of second positioning structures and second engaging structures connected one of the intermediate movable member and the outer stationary member. During the rotation of the shaft about the axis along an opening direction, the first engaging structures compress and slide across the first positioning structures, and during the rotation of the shaft about the axis along a closing direction the second engaging structures compress and slide across the second positioning structures.

Description

Pivot component and electronic device

The present invention relates to a component of an electronic device, in particular to a pivotal assembly that enables the cover of the electronic device to pivot.

Electronic devices usually have multiple slots for connecting peripheral units, but if the slots are exposed to the outside of the electronic device for a long time, dust is likely to accumulate. Therefore, a cover is usually connected to the housing of an electronic device, and the cover is used to cover the slot when the slot is not in use, and the cover is lifted when the slot is needed to prevent the slot from being exposed to the outside for a long time. Negative impact.

In recent years, user experience has gradually received attention, and any small details on electronic devices that affect user experience have been strictly examined. Therefore, how to improve the user's experience when turning the cover is one of the issues that needs to be faced.

In view of the above situation, it is necessary to provide a pivotal assembly that can provide a delicate hand feeling to realize the overturning of the cover, so as to solve the above problems.

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a pivot assembly, which includes a rotating shaft extending along an axis; an inner movable part connected to the rotating shaft and arranged around the axis; an intermediate movable part arranged around the inner movable part; and an outer fixed part, Set around the middle moving parts; A plurality of first limiting structures and a plurality of first engaging structures, each of which is connected to one of the inner movable part and the intermediate movable part and arranged in a staggered manner; and a plurality of second limiting structures and a plurality of second engaging structures , Each connects one of the middle movable part and the outer fixed part and is arranged in a staggered manner. When the rotating shaft rotates around the axis in an opening direction, the first engaging structure presses and passes through the first limiting structure, and when the rotating shaft rotates around the axis in a closing direction opposite to the opening direction, the second engaging structure The structure compresses and passes through the second limiting structure.

The disclosed embodiment also provides an electronic device using the above-mentioned pivotal assembly to realize the flip of the cover.

The pivotal assembly of the present disclosure allows the user to experience the click feel at a predetermined angle by feeling the contact between the engaging structure and the limiting structure, so it can provide a better user experience.

1: Electronic device

10: Shell 0

11: The first side shell

12: The second side shell 2

125: groove

13: bottom case

20: Lid

21: Side edge

30: pivot assembly

40: shaft

41: first end

42: second end

50: Floor moving parts

51: Pedestal

52: The first engagement structure

53: The first engagement surface

54: first slope

60: Middle moving parts

60: Pedestal

610: open

611: Interval 1

62: The second snap structure

63: The second engagement surface

64: second slope

65: The first limit structure

66: The first limit surface

67: guide surface

70: Outer fixings

71: Pedestal

72: Bar

75: second limit structure

76: second limit surface

77: guide surface

A: axis

OD: opening direction

CD: closing direction

V: Vertex

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the structure of the electronic device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the structure of some components of the electronic device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of some elements of a pivot assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 shows a cross-sectional view of the pivotal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotating shaft rotates in the opening direction so that the second engaging surface is against the second limiting surface, and the first engaging structure presses the first limiting structure Make it deformed.

6 shows a cross-sectional view of the pivotal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotating shaft rotates in the closing direction to make the first engaging surface abut against the first limiting surface.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a pivotal assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotation of the rotating shaft in the closing direction is stopped and the second engaging structure presses the second limiting structure to deform it.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or preferred examples to implement different features of this case. Of course, the present disclosure can also be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below. The following disclosures are combined with the drawings to describe specific examples of each component and its arrangement in detail, in order to simplify the description, make the disclosure more thorough and complete, and completely convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

The space-related terms used in the following, such as "below", "below", "lower", "above", "higher" and similar terms are used to facilitate the description of The relationship between an element or feature and another element or feature(s). In addition to the orientations depicted in the drawings, these spatially related terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation. The device may be turned in different orientations (rotated by 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatially related terms used here can be interpreted in the same way.

It must be understood that elements not specifically shown or described can exist in various forms well known to those skilled in the art. In addition, if the embodiment describes that a first feature is formed on or above a second feature, it means that it may include the case where the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or it may include additional features. It is formed between the first feature and the second feature so that the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact.

The same element numbers and/or words may be used repeatedly in the following different embodiments. These repetitions are for the purpose of simplification and clarity, and are not used to limit the discussion. There are specific relationships between different embodiments and/or structures. In the drawings, the shape or thickness of the structure may be enlarged to simplify or facilitate labeling.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 1 includes a housing 10, a cover 20, and a pivot assembly 30. In one embodiment, the housing 10 includes a first side shell member 11, a second side shell member 12 and a bottom shell member 13. The first side shell 11 is disposed opposite to the second side shell 12, and the bottom shell 13 is connected between the first side shell 11 and the second side shell 12. The cover body 20 is arranged adjacent to the front edges of the first side shell member 11, the second side shell member 12, and the bottom shell member 13, and is pivotally fixed to the first side shell member 11 and the first side shell member 11 through the pivot assembly 30. Above the two side shells 12.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the structure of the electronic device 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the structure of some elements of the pivot assembly 30. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pivot assembly 30 includes a rotating shaft 40, an inner movable part 50, a plurality of first engaging structures 52, an intermediate movable part 60, a plurality of second engaging structures 62, and a plurality of The first limiting structure 65, an outer fixing member 70, and a plurality of second limiting structures 75.

The rotating shaft 40 extends along the axis A (FIG. 1) and has a first end 41 and a second end 42 opposite to the first end 41. The first end 41 is connected to the inner movable member 50, and the second end 41 is pivoted on the groove 125 on the top edge of the second side shell 12.

In the following content, the "opening direction" refers to the clockwise direction viewed from the axis A toward the first end 41 of the shaft 40, and the "closed direction" refers to the counterclockwise direction viewed from the axis A toward the first end 41 of the shaft 40 direction.

The inner movable member 50 can be a columnar structure and is penetrated by a channel. The first end 41 of the rotating shaft 40 is inserted into the above-mentioned passage, so that the inner movable member 50 is arranged around the axis A. The first engaging structure 52 is arranged on the outer surface of the inner movable part 50 along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. In one embodiment, the first engaging structure 52 is disposed in the middle of the outer surface of the inner movable part 50. That is, the front and rear side edges of the first engaging structure 52 and the inner movable member 50 in the direction parallel to the axis A are separated by a distance and are not connected.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the first engaging structure 52 protrudes from the outer surface of the inner movable member 50 and has a first engaging surface 53 and a first inclined surface 54. The first engaging surface 53 is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the inner movable part 50 or sandwiches an acute angle with the outer surface of the inner movable part 50. In addition, the first inclined surface 54 and the outer surface of the inner movable member 50 sandwich an acute angle. Therefore, the first engagement structure 52 has a triangular cross-section on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A. The first engaging surfaces 53 of the plurality of first engaging structures 52 all face the same direction in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the first engaging surfaces 53 all face the closing direction.

4 is a schematic diagram of the intermediate movable member 60, the second engaging structure 62 and the first limiting structure 65 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the middle movable part 60 has a ring structure and is arranged around the inner movable part 50. A plurality of rectangular openings 610 are arranged on the middle movable part 60 in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. In one embodiment, the opening 610 is disposed in the middle of the middle movable part 60. That is, the opening 610 and the front and rear side edges of the middle movable member 60 in the direction parallel to the axis A are separated by a distance and are not connected.

The first limiting structure 65 is located in the opening 610 and extends clockwise from an edge of the opening 610 into the gap between the inner movable part 50 and the middle movable part 60, so it has a length in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. Moreover, in the direction parallel to the axis A, there is a gap between the opposite sides of the first limiting structure 65 and the edge of the opening 610, and they are not connected. In an embodiment, the first limiting structure 65 has a first limiting surface 66 located on its end surface. In addition, the first limiting structure 65 has a guiding surface 67 facing the inner movable member 50 (FIG. 3 ), and connecting the first limiting surface 66 and the edge of the opening 610. The first limiting surfaces 66 of the plurality of first limiting structures 65 all face the same direction in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the first limiting surfaces 66 all face the opening direction. The first limiting structure 65 can be made of elastic plastic or metal.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the number of the first engaging structures 52 is the same as the number of the first limiting structures 65, and the two are arranged in a staggered manner. In addition, the first engaging surface 53 of the first engaging structure 52 and the first limiting surface 66 of the first limiting structure 65 face opposite directions.

In addition, two adjacent first limiting structures 65 are spaced at the same angle with respect to the axis A, and the pivot assembly 30 includes eight first limiting structures 65, so the included angle between two adjacent first limiting structures 65 Is 45 degrees. In one embodiment, the pivotal assembly 30 includes at least two first engaging structures 52 and two first limiting structures 65, and two adjacent first limiting structures 65 are separated by 180 degrees, so that the cover 20 Perform a 180-degree flip operation.

It is worth noting that the positions of the first engaging structure 52 and the first limiting structure 65 are not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the first limiting structure 65 is formed on the inner movable part 50, and the first engaging structure 52 is formed on the middle movable part 60. In addition, the shape of the first limiting structure 65 can also be changed as required. For example, the first limiting structure 65 may include convex points provided on the inner surface of the intermediate movable part 50. The above-mentioned bumps can be made of elastically deformable materials, such as rubber.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second engaging structures 62 are arranged on the outer surface of the intermediate movable part 60 along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. In one embodiment, the second engaging structure 62 is disposed adjacent to the edge of the middle movable member 60 and aligned with the gap 611 between the openings 610.

In one embodiment, the second engaging structure 62 protrudes from the outer surface of the intermediate movable part 60 and has a second engaging surface 63 and a second inclined surface 64. The second engaging surface 63 is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the intermediate movable part 60 or sandwiches an acute angle with the outer surface of the intermediate movable part 60. In addition, the second inclined surface 64 and the outer surface of the intermediate movable member 60 sandwich an acute angle. Therefore, the second engaging structure 62 has a triangular cross section on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A, and has a vertex V defined between the second engaging surface 63 and the second inclined surface 64. The second engaging surfaces 63 of the plurality of second engaging structures 62 all face the same direction in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the second engaging surfaces 63 all face the opening direction.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the outer fixing member 70 includes a base 71 and a plurality of bars 72. The base 71 has a ring structure and is fixed on the first side shell 11. The bar 72 is connected to the edge of the base 71 away from the first side shell 11. The second limiting structure 75 enters the gap between the intermediate movable member 60 and the outer fixing member 70 from the end of the bar 72 in the closing direction, so the second limiting structure 75 has a length in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the second limiting structure 75 has a second limiting surface 76 located on its end surface. In addition, the second limiting structure 75 has a guiding surface 77 facing the middle movable member 60 and connected between the bar 72 and the second limiting surface 76. The second limiting surfaces 76 of the plurality of second limiting structures 75 all face the same direction in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 40. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the second limiting surfaces 76 all face the closing direction. The second limiting structure 75 may be made of elastic plastic or metal parts.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the number of the second engaging structures 62 is the same as the number of the second limiting structures 75, and the two are arranged in a staggered manner. In addition, the second engaging surface 63 of the second engaging structure 62 and the second limiting surface 76 of the second limiting structure 75 face opposite directions. In addition, two adjacent second limiting structures 75 are spaced at the same included angle with respect to the axis A, and the pivot assembly 30 includes eight second limiting structures 75, so the included angle between two adjacent second limiting structures 75 Is 45 degrees.

It is worth noting that the placement positions of the second engaging structure 62 and the second limiting structure 75 are not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the second limiting structure 75 is formed on the intermediate movable member 60, and the second engaging structure 62 is formed on the outer fixing member 70. In addition, the shape of the second limiting structure 75 can also be changed as required. For example, the second limiting structure 75 may include bumps provided on the inner surface of the outer fixing member 70. The above-mentioned bumps can be made of elastically deformable materials, such as rubber.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation mode of the pivotal assembly 30 is described as follows: In one embodiment, when the cover 20 is to be opened from the closed state shown in FIG. 1 to expose the slot (not shown) of the electronic component provided inside the housing 10, the user lifts it in the opening direction OD Open the cover body 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, during the movement of the cover 20 in the opening direction OD, the rotating shaft 40 drives the inner movable member 50 to rotate, so that the first engaging structure 52 abuts the guiding surface 67 of the first limiting structure 65. When the second engaging surface 63 has not yet resisted the second limiting surface 76, the intermediate movable member 60 will be pushed by the first engaging structure 52 and rotate around the opening direction OD until the second engaging surface 63 resists And face to the second limit surface 76. However, when the second engaging surface 63 has resisted and faces the second limiting surface 76, the intermediate movable part 60 will not be pushed by the first engaging structure 52. The first engaging structure 52 sequentially presses the first limiting structure 65 to deform and pass the first limiting structure 65 until the cover 20 is set to a desired angle (for example, 90 degrees) relative to the bottom shell 13.

Since the first limiting structure 65 is made of an elastic material, when the first limiting structure 65 is pressed by the first engaging structure 52, it will elastically deform and move into the opening 610 (FIG. 3 ). Moreover, after the first engaging structure 52 passes the first limiting structure 65, the first limiting structure 65 returns to the original position. Therefore, in the process of opening the cover 20, the user can have a click feeling through repeated contact and separation of the first engaging structure 52 and the first limiting structure 65. On the other hand, since the first engaging structure 52 is in intermittent contact with the first limiting structure 65, the friction generated by the rotation is less.

When intending to return the lid body 20 to the closed state shown in FIG. 1, the user closes the lid body 20 in the closing direction CD. As shown in Figure 7, during the movement of the cover 20 in the closing direction CD, the rotating shaft 40 drives the inner movable member 50 to rotate, so that the first engaging surface 53 of the first engaging structure 52 resists and faces the first limit. The first limiting surface 66 of the positioning structure 65 further drives the intermediate movable member 60 to rotate in the closing direction CD.

During the rotation of the intermediate movable member 60 in the closing direction CD, the second engaging structure 62 sequentially presses the second limiting structure 75 to deform and pass through the second limiting structure 75 until the cover 20 is opposed to the bottom shell 13 Set to the desired angle (for example: 0 degrees).

Since the second limiting structure 75 is an elastically deformable material, when the second limiting structure 75 is pressed by the second engaging structure 62, it will elastically deform and move toward the gap between two adjacent bars 72. Furthermore, after the second engaging structure 62 passes through the second limiting structure 75, the second limiting structure 75 returns to the original position. Therefore, in the process of closing the cover 20, the user can have a click feeling through repeated contact and separation of the second engaging structure 62 and the second limiting structure 75. On the other hand, because the second engaging structure 62 is in intermittent contact with the second limiting structure 75, the friction generated by the rotation is less.

It is worth noting that before the cover 20 is completely closed (the angle of the cover 20 relative to the bottom shell 13 is greater than 0 degrees), when the operation of the cover 20 in the closing direction CD is stopped, the rotating shaft 40, the inner movable part 50 and the middle The movable member 60 may be actuated by the gravity of the cover body 20, and naturally rotate a predetermined angle along the closing direction CD. However, the aforementioned natural rotation will be stopped by the cooperation of the second engaging structure 62 and the second limiting structure 75.

Specifically, since the torque generated by the gravity of the cover 20 is less than the external force required to completely elastically deform the second limiting structure 75 to the extent that the second engaging structure 62 can pass, it is at the apex of the second engaging structure 62 When V resists to the guiding surface 77 of the second limiting structure 75, the natural rotation mentioned above will stop. Therefore, by the cooperation of the second engaging structure 62 and the second limiting structure 75, the cover 20 can be hung at a specific angle without being fully opened or closed.

Although the embodiments and their advantages are described in detail above, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and modifications can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the scope of the appended application. In addition, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments of the manufacturing process, machinery, manufacturing, material composition, tools, methods, and steps described in the specification. As a person of ordinary skill in the art will easily learn from It is understood in this disclosure that, according to this disclosure, it is possible to use existing or future-developed processes, machines, manufacturing, and material compositions that perform substantially the same functions or achieve substantially the same results as the corresponding embodiments described in this disclosure. , Tools, methods or steps. Therefore, the scope of the attached patent application intends to include these processes, machines, manufacturing, material composition, tools, methods or steps within their scope. In addition, each patent application scope constitutes a separate embodiment, and the combination of different patent applications and embodiments are within the scope of the present disclosure.

1: Electronic device

11: The first side shell

20: Lid

30: pivot assembly

40: shaft

41: first end

50: inner movable parts

52: The first engagement structure

53: The first engagement surface

54: first slope

60: Middle moving parts

610: open

62: The second snap structure

65: The first limit structure

70: Outer fixings

71: Pedestal

72: Bar

75: second limit structure

A: axis

Claims (10)

A pivot assembly includes: a rotating shaft extending along an axis; an inner movable part connected with the rotating shaft and arranged around the axis; an intermediate movable part arranged around the inner movable part; an outer fixed part surrounding the The middle movable part is arranged; a plurality of first engaging structures and a plurality of elastically deformable first limiting structures are respectively connected to one of the inner movable part and the middle movable part and arranged in a staggered manner; and a plurality of second The engaging structure and the elastically deformable plurality of second limiting structures are each connected to one of the intermediate movable part and the outer fixed part and arranged in a staggered manner; wherein during the process of rotating the shaft around the axis in an opening direction, The first engaging structures press and pass through the first limiting structures, and when the rotating shaft rotates around the axis in a closing direction opposite to the opening direction, the second engaging structures press and pass These second limit structures. The pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein during the rotation of the shaft toward the opening direction, the plurality of second limit surfaces of the second limit structures resist the corresponding second engagement structures The plurality of second engaging surfaces of the first engaging structure; and in the process of the rotation shaft rotating in the closing direction, the plurality of first limiting surfaces of the first limiting structure resist the plurality of first engaging structures of the first engaging structure One snap surface. The pivot assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first engaging surfaces and the second engaging surfaces face opposite directions on the circumference of the rotating shaft. The pivotal assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the second engaging structures has a length in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft and extends toward the space between the intermediate movable part and the outer fixing part, and the second card The joint surface is located on the end surface of the second clamping structure. The pivot assembly according to claim 4, wherein when the rotation of the shaft in the closing direction around the axis is stopped, the second engaging structures abut against the guides of the second limiting structures Leading surfaces, the guiding surfaces face the middle movable part or the outer fixing part of the second engaging structure, and are connected to the second engaging surfaces. The pivotal assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of the second limiting structures includes an inclined surface adjacent to the corresponding second limiting surface, and when the rotation of the shaft in the closing direction around the axis stops, the The second limit surface and the apex of the inclined surface abut against the guide surface. The pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate movable part is composed of a ring structure, and a plurality of openings are arranged along the circumferential direction of the intermediate movable part, and the first limiting structures are arranged in the openings and The edges of the openings extend toward the inner movable part, and the second engaging structures are formed on an outer surface of the middle movable part facing the outer fixed part. The pivot assembly according to claim 7, wherein the openings are located in the middle of the intermediate movable part, and the second engaging structures are adjacent to the edge of the intermediate movable part. The pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer fixing member includes an annular base and a plurality of bars connecting the edges of the annular base, and the second limiting structures move from the bars toward the middle Piece extension. An electronic device, comprising: a housing, including two side shell members arranged oppositely; a cover body located between the two side shell members; and the pivotal connection according to any one of claims 1-9 The assembly, wherein the rotating shaft is connected to the cover body, and the outer fixing part is connected to one of the two side shell parts of the casing, so that the cover body can rotate relative to the casing.

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