US20210307186A1

US20210307186A1 - Foldable device and an electronic device

Info

Publication number: US20210307186A1
Application number: US17/211,106
Authority: US
Inventors: Zhuping Hong; Shuai Su; Wenjun Liu
Original assignee: Shenzhen Royole Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Royole Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-15
Filing date: 2021-03-24
Publication date: 2021-09-30
Also published as: CN113383378A; CN113366407A; WO2021007906A1; CN211117099U; CN112449525B; CN211370997U; WO2021007910A1; WO2021007936A1; CN112443565A; WO2021007750A1; CN112392851A; WO2021007911A1; CN113366406A; CN113424512A; CN112392851B; CN211117098U; CN113383377A; CN211370996U; CN211123831U; CN113446303A

Abstract

A foldable device is provided. The foldable device includes a foldable assembly, a connecting hinge disposed on a side of the foldable assembly, a drop limiting mechanism, and a positioning member. The connecting hinge is slidable relative to the foldable assembly. The positioning member is connected to the foldable assembly. The drop limiting mechanism includes a connecting member connected with the foldable assembly and a first connecting rod connecting the connecting hinge and the connecting member. The positioning member includes a first limiting portion. When unfolding the foldable device, the connecting member moves relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod to move toward the first limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 202010595165.3, filed on Jun. 24, 2020, and International Patent application No. PCT/CN2020/081100, filed on Mar. 25, 2020, the disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of support for flexible members, and particularly to a foldable device for supporting a flexible member and an electronic device provided with the foldable device.

BACKGROUND

With the development of displayers, a bendable and ultra-thin electronic display screen (that is, a flexible member) has been developed. The flexible member is widely favored by consumers due to its advantages such as foldability and flexibility in comparison with a traditional display device. Existing plate-type support structures obviously cannot meet requirements of the flexible member, thus the industry has developed a support structure that can adapt to bendability of the flexible member. In order to compensate for the difference in length due to bending, the flexible member is normally connected to a hinge via a sliding member. However, when an end of the flexible member is impacted by an external force, the sliding member will drive the flexible member to slide relative to the hinge, thereby causing arching of the flexible member, which easily damages the flexible member.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a foldable device with a flexible member which is not easily damaged, and an electronic device provided with the foldable device.
A foldable device is provided. The foldable device includes a foldable assembly, a connecting hinge disposed on a side of the foldable assembly, a drop limiting mechanism, and a positioning member. The connecting hinge is slidable relative to the foldable assembly. The positioning member is connected to the foldable assembly. The drop limiting mechanism includes a connecting member connected with the foldable assembly and a first connecting rod connecting with the connecting hinge and the connecting member. The positioning member includes a first limiting portion. When unfolding the foldable device, the connecting member moves relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod to move toward the first limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving relatively toward the foldable assembly.
An electronic device is further provided. The electronic device includes a flexible member, a housing, and the foldable device. The housing includes a first frame and a second frame. The foldable device is disposed between the first frame and the second frame. The flexible member is disposed on the housing and the foldable device, the flexible member is bent or unfolded with the foldable device.
The foldable device of the electronic device provided in the present disclosure includes the foldable assembly and the drop limiting mechanism. The drop limiting mechanism includes a connecting member connected with the foldable assembly and a first connecting rod connecting the connecting hinge and the connecting member. The positioning member includes the first limiting portion. When bending the foldable assembly, the first connecting rod moves toward the first limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion to prevent the connecting hinge from further unfolding or bending. As such, the connecting hinges are prevented from retracting relative to one another when the electronic device is dropped, and damage to the flexible screen which is fixedly connected to the connecting hinges due to arching is avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the implementations of the present disclosure more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the implementations. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description illustrate some implementations of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art may also obtain other drawings based on these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the electronic device which includes a flexible member, a housing, and a supporting sheet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a foldable device of the electronic device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic perspective view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 3 from another perspective.

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded schematic perspective view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is another exploded schematic perspective view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a middle hinge assembly and two connecting assemblies illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the middle hinge assembly and the two connecting assembles illustrated in FIG. 7 from another perspective.

FIG. 9 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a first connecting hinge illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the first connecting hinge illustrated in FIG. 9 from another perspective.

FIG. 11 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the second connecting hinge illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the second connecting hinge illustrated in FIG. 11 from another perspective.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of one of the two connecting assemblies illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the connecting assembly illustrated in FIG. 13 from another perspective.

FIG. 15 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the connecting assembly illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the connecting assembly illustrated in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of one of positioning members illustrated in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of a shielding mechanism on the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view of the shielding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the shielding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view of structures at an end of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 22 is a schematic structural view of front structures of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV of FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 22.

FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view of the electronic device illustrated in FIG. 1 in a folded state.

FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view of the foldable device of the electronic device in the folded state according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is a schematic side view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a schematic view of structures at an end of the foldable device in FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXI-XXXI of FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXII-XXXII of FIG. 29.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIII-XXXIII of FIG. 29.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIV-XXXIV of FIG. 29.

FIG. 35 is an exploded schematic perspective view of an electronic device which includes a flexible member, a housing, and a supporting sheet according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 36 is a partial exploded schematic perspective view of a foldable device of the electronic device illustrated in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a further exploded schematic perspective view of the foldable device of the electronic device illustrated in FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is a schematic perspective view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 37 from another perspective.

FIG. 39 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of one of connecting assemblies of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 37.

FIG. 40 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of another one of the connecting assembly of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 37.

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable device of the electronic device in a folded state according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 42 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 43 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the electronic device which includes a flexible member, a supporting member, and a housing illustrated in FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the electronic device which includes the flexible member, the supporting member, the foldable device, and the housing illustrated in FIG. 42 from another perspective.

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XLV-XLV of FIG. 42;

FIG. 46 is an enlarged view of structures in circle XLVI of FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 44.

FIG. 48 is a partially exploded schematic perspective view of the foldable device illustrated in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a schematic perspective view of FIG. 48 from another perspective.

FIG. 50 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a shielding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a partially exploded schematic perspective view of the fixing member illustrated in FIG. 50.

FIG. 52 is a schematic perspective view of the shielding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 50 from another perspective.

FIG. 53 is an enlarged schematic view of a covering member and an elastic member illustrated in FIG. 50.

FIG. 54 is a schematic perspective view of the shielding mechanism according to another implementation.

FIG. 55 is an exploded perspective view of a bendable mechanism illustrated in FIG. 48.

FIG. 56 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a middle hinge assembly illustrated in FIG. 55.

FIG. 57 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the bendable mechanism illustrated in FIG. 49.

FIG. 58 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the middle hinge assembly illustrated in FIG. 57;

FIG. 59 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a positioning member 27 illustrated in FIG. 55.

FIG. 60 is schematic perspective view of the folding-assisting assembly illustrated FIG. 59 from another perspective.

FIG. 61 is a cross-sectional view taken along line LXI-LXI of FIG. 47.

FIG. 62 is a schematic perspective view of one of positioning members illustrated in FIG. 57.

FIG. 63 is a schematic perspective view of the positioning member illustrated in FIG. 62 from another perspective.

FIG. 64 is a cross-sectional view taken along line LXIV-LXIV illustrated in FIG. 47.

FIG. 65 is an enlarged view of structures in circle LXV illustrated in FIG. 64.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED IMPLEMENTATIONS

Technical solutions in the implementations of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in the implementations of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described implementations are merely some rather than all implementations of the present disclosure. All other implementations obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the implementations of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
In addition, the implementations is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings to illustrate specific implementations that can be implemented in the present disclosure. Directional terms such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “in”, “out”, “side”, and the like referred to herein are only for reference to directions illustrated in accompanying drawings. Thus, the directional terms adopted are for describing and understanding the present disclosure better and more clearly, rather than explicitly or implicitly indicate that apparatuses or components referred to herein must have a certain direction or be configured or operated in a certain direction and therefore cannot be understood as limitation on the present disclosure.
It is noted that, in the description of the present disclosure, terms such as “installing”, “coupling”, “connecting”, “disposing” should be understood in broader sense. For example, coupling may be a fixed coupling, a removable coupling, or an integrated coupling, may be a mechanical coupling, and may be a direct coupling, an indirect coupling through a medium, or a communication coupling between two components, unless stated otherwise. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific situations.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, an electronic device 100 in an implementation of the present disclosure includes a housing 20 and a flexible member 30 disposed on the housing 20. The flexible member 30 can be a flexible component with corresponding functions such as a flexible display, a flexible touch screen, and a flexible touch display. Alternatively, the flexible member 30 can be a flexible component to which a flexible support plate is fixedly attached, such as a flexible display screen or a flexible touch screen to which a flexible steel plate is attached. The housing 20 includes a first frame 21, a second frame 23, and a foldable device 22 connected between the first frame 21 and the second frame 23. A supporting member 50 is attached to a front surface of the foldable device 22. In this implementation, the supporting member 50 is a bendable supporting sheet. The flexible member 30 is disposed on the first frame 21, the second frame 23, and the foldable device 22 which is disposed on the front surface of the foldable device 22. The flexible member 30 has a bendable region 31 corresponding to the foldable device 22 and two non-bendable regions 33 connected to two opposite sides of the bendable region 31. The two non-bendable regions 33 of the flexible member 30 can be fixed on the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 respectively. The foldable device 22 is used to support the bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30. The flexible member 30 is operable to be bent or unfolded with the foldable device 22. The foldable device 22 includes a bendable mechanism 25, two connecting assemblies 24, and a shielding mechanism 29. The two connecting assemblies 24 are disposed at two opposite ends of the bendable mechanism 25. In implementations of the present disclosure, the bendable mechanism 25 is a hinge. In an implementation, the bendable mechanism 25 can also be other mechanisms that can meet requirements of bending, such as a flexible belt, a spring, soft rubber, a flexible steel plate, a rubber sheet, and so on. The bendable mechanism 25 includes a middle hinge assembly 250 and a connecting hinge disposed on two opposite sides of the middle hinge assembly 250. Two opposite sides of the supporting member 50 are respectively fixedly connected to the connecting hinge which is disposed on the two opposite sides of the bendable mechanism 25. Each connecting assembly 24 includes a drop limiting mechanism 26, a positioning member 27, and a linkage mechanism 28. The drop limiting mechanism 26 includes a connecting member 260 connecting the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting hinge and a first connecting rod 263 connected between the connecting hinge and the connecting member 260. In this implementation, the positioning member 27 includes a chain assembly. The connecting member 260 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting hinge. The connecting member 260 can be bent and unfolded, along with the bendable mechanism 25, to slide relative to the connecting hinge. The connecting assembly 24 includes a first limiting portion 2401. In an implementation, the first limiting portion 2401 is disposed on the positioning member 27. When bending or unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves relative to the connecting member 260 and the middle hinge assembly 250. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves toward the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401 to prevent or restrict a movement of the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401, so as to prevent or restrict the bendable mechanism 25 from bending in a reverse direction.
In an implementation, the bendable mechanism 25 can be bent until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401, so as to avoid an excessive bending of the bendable mechanism 25.
In an implementation, the middle hinge assembly 250 of the bendable mechanism 25 and the linkage mechanism 28 of the connecting assembly 24 cooperate to form a foldable assembly. In an implementation, the foldable device 22 includes the foldable assembly, the connecting hinge, the drop limiting mechanism 26, and the positioning member 27. The first limiting portion 2401 is connected to the foldable assembly. The connecting member 260 is also connected to the foldable assembly. In an implementation, the connecting hinge is located on a side of the foldable assembly and can slide relative to the foldable assembly. In addition to the middle hinge assembly 250 and the linkage mechanism 28, the foldable assembly may also include other corresponding matching elements, such as a second shaft, screws, and so on. In an implementation, the first limiting portion 2401 can rotate around the same axis as the connecting member 260. Alternatively, the first limiting portion 2401 can rotate around an axis which is staggered with an axis around which the connecting member 260 rotates. In an implementation, when unfolding the foldable device 22, the connecting member 260 slides relative to the corresponding connecting hinge. In an implementation, when unfolding the foldable device 22, the first connecting rod 263 moves toward the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401 to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly. In an implementation, when unfolding the foldable device 22, the connecting member 260 slides relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod 263 to move relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, the connecting member 260 slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, the foldable device 22 further includes a second limiting portion 2402. When bending the foldable device 22, the first connecting rod 263 moves relative to the connecting hinge toward the second limiting portion 2402, until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402 to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly.
In an implementation, each of two opposite sides of the middle hinge assembly 250 is provided with one connecting hinge. There is one connecting member 260 provided between each connecting hinge and the foldable assembly 250. There is one first connecting rod 263 provided between each connecting member and the corresponding connecting hinge. When unfolding the foldable device 25, each first connecting rod 263 moves until it abuts against or is adjacent to a corresponding first limiting portion. When folding the foldable device 25, each first connecting rod 263 moves until it abuts against or is adjacent to a corresponding second limiting portion. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device, the connecting member 260 slides relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod 263 to move relative to the connecting hinge.
The shielding mechanism 29 is disposed on an inner side of the bendable mechanism 25. The shielding mechanism 29 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and one of the connecting hinge or the connecting member 260. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting hinge can drive the shielding mechanism 29 to slide relative to the bendable mechanism 25. The shielding mechanism 29 always covers the inner side of the bendable mechanism 25. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the shielding mechanism 29 rotates about a rotation axis relative to the middle hinge assembly 250.
In this implementation, the connecting hinge includes a first connecting hinge 255 movably disposed on one side of the middle hinge assembly 250 and a second connecting hinge 258 movably disposed on the other side of the middle hinge assembly 250. Each connecting assembly 24 is connected with the middle hinge assembly 250, the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting hinge 258. The connecting assembly 24 also includes the second limiting portion 2402. The first connecting rod 263 moves relative to the connecting member 260 and the connecting hinge when bending the bendable mechanism 25. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves toward the second limiting portion 2402 relative to the connecting hinge until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402 to limit the movement of the connecting hinge. In an implementation, the positioning member 27 is connected to the foldable assembly. The first limiting portion 2401 is provided on the positioning member 27. In an implementation, the positioning member 27 is also provided with a second limiting portion 2402. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 is moved, until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402 to restricting the movement of the connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 25, and the first connecting rod 263 is separated from the first limiting portion 2401. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 is moved, until the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401 to restrict the movement of the connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 25, and the first connecting rod 263 is separated from the second limiting portion 2402. In an implementation, the first limiting portion 2401 is inclined relative to a bending axis of the bendable mechanism 25, and the second limiting portion 2402 is parallel to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 25. In an implementation, the first limiting portion 2401 is inclined relative to the second limiting portion 2402. In an implementation, the first limiting portion 2401 is adjacent to or connected to the second limiting portion 2402. In an implementation, the first connecting rod 263 has one end rotatably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end slidably and rotatably connected to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, the first connecting rod 263 has one end slidably and rotatably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end rotatably connected to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, the first connecting rod 263 includes two connecting pieces rotatably connected with one another, one of the two connecting pieces has one end rotatably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end rotatably connected to one end of the other of the two connecting pieces, and the other end of the other of the two connecting pieces is rotatably connected to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting member 260 slides outward relative to the connecting hinge, and an end of the first connecting rod 263 connected to the connecting member 260 slides outward relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the other end of the first connecting rod 263 connected to the connecting hinge slides inward relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 and also slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 rotates. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the positioning member 27 slides outward relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the foldable assembly 25, a sliding distance of the positioning member 27 relative to the connecting hinge is less than a sliding distance of the connecting member 260 relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the positioning member 27 is rotatable on an axis which is different from an axis on which the connecting member 260 is configured to rotate. In an implementation, the axis of the positioning member 27 is not coplanar with the axis of the connecting member 260. In an implementation, the axis of the positioning member 27 is closer to the flexible member 30 than the axis of the connecting member 260. In an implementation, when the bendable mechanism 25 is bent to be a bent state, a side surface of the first connecting rod 263 is abutted against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting member 260 slides inward relative to the connecting hinge, and the end of the first connecting rod 263 connected to the connecting member 260 slides inward relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the other end of the first connecting rod 263 connected to the connecting hinge slides outward relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 and at the same time also slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 rotates in a reverse direction. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the positioning member 27 slides outward relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, a sliding distance of the positioning member 27 relative to the connecting hinge is less than a sliding distance of the connecting member 260 slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when the bendable mechanism 25 is unfolded at a predetermined angle to an unfolded state, the side surface of the first connecting rod 263 is abutted against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401. In an implementation, the unfolded state and the bent state are relative terms, and the bendable mechanism 25 has a greater deployment angle in the unfolded state than the bent state. In an implementation, the unfolded state may include a flatten state, and the bent state may include a folded state. In an implementation, the second limiting portion 2402 may also be a positioning block formed on the connecting hinge, and the positioning block is disposed opposite to an end of the connecting member 260. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the end of the connecting member 260 is gradually moved toward the positioning block until it abuts against or is adjacent to the positioning block to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the middle hinge assembly 250, thereby providing a movement limiting effect when the electronic device 100 is dropped. In an implementation, the first limiting portion 2401 may also be a positioning block formed on the connecting member 260, and the positioning block is disposed opposite to the side surface of the first connecting rod 263. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the side surface of the first connecting rod 263 is gradually moved toward the positioning block until it abuts against or is adjacent to the positioning block to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the middle hinge assembly 250, thereby providing a movement limiting effect when the electronic device 100 is dropped.
Terms such as “adjacent to” or “close to” in implementations of the present disclosure mean that a distance between a connecting rod (for example, the first connecting rod 263) and a limiting portion (for example, the first limiting portion 2401 or the second limiting portion 2402) is less than a preset length. In this way, when the electronic device 100 is dropped with a side surface hitting the ground or the side surface is impacted, even leading to a decreasing in a gap between the connecting rod and the limiting portion, it will not cause a significant arching of the flexible member 30 or the supporting member 50, a risk such as damaging the flexible member 30, detachment of the flexible member 30 from the supporting member 50, and detachment of the supporting member 50 from the foldable device 22 can be avoided (in certain cases, a slight arching may be acceptable). In an implementation, the preset length may be any value greater than zero and less than or equal to 1 cm, such as, 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 10 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can be any value greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.8 cm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 8 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can be any value greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.6 cm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 6 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can be any value greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.5 cm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 5 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 3 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 3 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 1 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 1 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 0.8 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 0.8 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 0.6 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 0.6 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 0.5 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 0.5 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 0.3 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 0.3 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 0.2 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm . . . 0.2 mm, and so on. In an implementation, the preset length can also be any value greater than zero and less than 0.1 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.1 mm, and so on.
It is noted that, in implementations of the present disclosure, limiting/restricting the movement of the connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 250 or the foldable assembly refers to limiting/restricting a movement stroke of the connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 250 or the foldable assembly 24. The movement stroke depends on a distance between the first connecting rod 263 and the first limiting portion 2401/the second limiting portion 2402, or depends on a distance between the second connecting rod 267 and the third limiting portion 25553/the fourth limit portion 25554. When the first connecting rod 263 is abutted against the first limiting portion 2401 or the second limiting portion 2402, or when the second connecting rod 267 is abutted against the third limiting portion 25553 or the fourth limiting portion 25554, the movement stroke is equal to zero. When the first connecting rod 263 is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401 or the second limiting portion 2402, or when the second connecting rod 267 is adjacent to the third limiting portion 25553 or the fourth limiting portion 25554, the movement stroke depends on a range of the aforementioned value which is defined by the terms such as “adjacent to” or “close to” (for example, the preset length). In other words, limiting/restricting the movement of the connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 250 or the foldable assembly does not mean completely stopping the movement of connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 250 or the foldable assembly (that is, the movement stroke equals zero), but the movement stroke within the range of the aforementioned value, which is defined by the terms such as “adjacent to” or “close to”, also falls within the definition of limiting/restricting the movement of the connecting hinge toward the middle hinge assembly 250 or the foldable assembly.
In implementations, the front surface refers to a surface which faces the same direction as a light emitting surface of the flexible screen, and a rear surface refers to a surface which faces an opposite direction to the light emitting surface of the flexible screen. The electronic device 100 is, for example, but not limited to, a product or an element with display functions such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a display, a liquid crystal panel, an OLED panel, a television, a smart watch, a VR head-mounted displays, a car display, and the like. Term “connect” described in implementations of the present disclosure may refer to direct connect or indirect connect. For example, when A is connected with B, it may refer to that A is directly connected with B or is indirectly connected with B via a third element C or more other elements. The terms “connect” may also refer to integrally connect or non-integrally connect. Term “integrally connect” refers to that A and B are integrally formed and connected, while term “non-integrally connect” refers to that A and B are non-integrally formed and connected. It is noted that, unless specified by modifiers, prefixes, or suffixes, etc., the term “connect” in implementations of the present disclosure can be understood to include but not limited to fixedly connect, rotationally connect, slidably connect, pivotedly connect, threadingly connects, movably connect, connect with interference, frictionally connect, elastically connect, rigidly connect, and connect via an adhesive, etc. It is noted that term “fix” in implementations of the present disclosure may refer to, but not limited to, directly fix two elements, and may also refer to indirectly fix via a third-party element or more elements. It is noted that, terms for defining various specific connection relationships such as “rotationally connect”, “slidably connect”, “elastically connect”, “rigidly connect”, “fixedly connect”, “movably connect”, “pivotedly connect”, and “threadingly connects” are not limited to directly connect two elements, but may also refer to indirectly connect two elements via a third-party element or more other elements, unless otherwise clearly specified that the two elements are directly connected.
The foldable device 22 of the electronic device 100 herein includes the bendable mechanism 25 and the drop limiting mechanism 26. The drop limiting mechanism 26 includes the connecting member 260 connected with the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting hinge and the first connecting rod 263 connected between the connecting hinge and the connecting member 260. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, it can drive the connecting member 260 to move relative to the connecting hinge. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 is moved relative to the connecting hinge toward the first limiting portion 2401 until it abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 is moved relative to the connecting hinge toward the second limiting portion 2402 until it abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402. In this way, the connecting hinge can be prevented from collapsing on the bendable mechanism 25 when the electronic device 100 is dropped, so as to prevent the supporting member 50 fixedly connected to the connecting hinge from arching and damaging the flexible member 30. In addition, the drop limiting mechanism 26 in this implementation is integrated into the outermost hinge (that is, the connecting hinge) of the bendable mechanism 25, and internal structures of the connecting hinge serve as limiting movement of the connecting hinge without additional components when the electronic device 100 is dropped, the space occupied by the bendable mechanism 25 can be saved, and the arrangement of other components of the electronic device 100 can be facilitated.
In this implementation, the first connecting rod 263 has one end movably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end movably connected to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, one end of the first connecting rod 263 of each connecting assembly 24 close to the first connecting hinge 255 is movably connected to a corresponding connecting member 260, and the other end of the first connecting rod 263 is movably connected to the first connecting hinge 255. The first connecting hinge 255 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 to allow the corresponding connecting member 260 to move relative to the first connecting hinge 255, such that the first connecting rod 263 is moved until it abuts against or is adjacent to a corresponding first limiting portion 2401 or a corresponding second limiting portion 2402 of the first connecting rod 263. One end of the first connecting rod 263 of each connecting assembly 24 close to the second connecting hinge 258 is movably connected to a corresponding connecting member 260, and the other end of the first connecting rod 263 is movably connected to the second connecting hinge 258. The second connecting hinge 258 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 to allow the corresponding connecting member 260 to move relative to the second connecting hinge 258, such that the first connecting rod 263 is moved until it abuts against or is adjacent to a corresponding first limiting portion 2401 or a corresponding second limiting portion 2402 of the first connecting rod 263.
The linkage mechanism 28 is connected between the drop limiting mechanism 26 and the middle hinge assembly 250. That is, the linkage mechanism 28 is connected between the two drop limiting mechanisms 26. When one connecting hinge rotates, it drives one connecting member 260 on the same side with the one connecting hinge to rotate, and through the linkage mechanism 28, the other connecting member 260 on the other side is driven to rotate, and the other connecting member 260 then drives the other connecting hinge to rotate. In an implementation, when the first connecting hinge 255 rotates, it drives the connecting member 260 connected therewith to rotate, the connecting member 260 connected with the first connecting hinge 255 drives the other connecting member 260 opposite thereto to rotate through the linkage mechanism 28, and the other connecting member 260 then drives the second connecting hinge 258 to rotate. When the second connecting hinge 258 rotates, it drives the connecting member 260 connected with the second connecting hinge 258 to rotate, the connecting member 260 connected with the second connecting hinge 258 drives the other connecting member 260 opposite thereto to rotate through the linkage mechanism 28, and the other connecting member 260 drives the first connecting hinge 255 to rotate. In this way, the linkage of components of the bendable mechanism 25 is realized.
In an implementation, the movement of the connecting hinge relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 includes rotating movement relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 and sliding movement relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. That is, the connecting hinge rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 while sliding relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. Thus, the first connecting hinge 255 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 while sliding relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. The second connecting hinge 258 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 while sliding relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting hinge slides toward the middle hinge assembly 250. In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting hinge slides away from the middle hinge assembly 250 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250.
Each connecting member 260 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the corresponding connecting hinge and can slide relative to the connecting hinge when bending the bendable mechanism 25. The shielding mechanism 29 is disposed on the inner side of the bendable mechanism 25. The shielding mechanism 29 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting hinge. Alternatively, the shielding mechanism 29 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting member 260. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the shielding mechanism 29 can slide relative to the bendable mechanism 25. The connecting member 260 connects the middle hinge assembly 250 with the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258.
As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the middle hinge assembly 250 includes an intermediate hinge 251 and two rotating hinges 253 disposed on two opposite sides of the intermediate hinge 251. The intermediate hinge 251 is strip-shaped. The intermediate hinge 251 includes a front surface with a circular arc-shaped cross section and a rear surface 2510 opposite to the front surface. The intermediate hinge 251 defines two fixing grooves 2511 on two opposite ends the rear surface 2510 of the intermediate hinge 251. The intermediate hinge 251 also defines a connecting groove 2515 close to the middle of the intermediate hinge 251 on the rear surface 2510. The intermediate hinge 251 defines two avoidance holes 2512 spaced apart from one another and a fixing hole 2513 between the two avoidance holes 2512 on a bottom surface of each fixing groove 2511. The intermediate hinge 251 is provided with a rotating space 2516 on two opposite inner sides of the connecting groove 2515. The intermediate hinge 251 also defines a cutout 2517 on each of two opposite sidewalls of the intermediate hinge 251. The cutout 2517 is in communication with the rotating space 2516. The intermediate hinge 251 defines a fixing hole 2518 on a bottom surface of the connecting groove 2515. The intermediate hinge 251 defines two connecting holes 2519 spaced apart from one another on two opposite ends of the intermediate hinge 251. The connecting holes 2519 are used to respectively connect the corresponding connecting assemblies 24.
The rotating hinge 253 is strip-shaped. The rotating hinge 253 includes a front surface with a circular arc-shaped cross section and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. The middle hinge assembly 250 is provided with a reinforcing assembly. The reinforcing assembly is fixedly connected to the rotating hinge 253 and rotatably connected to the intermediate hinge 251 and a moving hinge 256. The reinforcing assembly includes a connecting portion 2530 protruding from the middle of the rear surface of the rotating hinge 253. The connecting portion 2530 includes a connecting shaft 2531 disposed on a side of the connecting portion 2530 close to the intermediate hinge 251 and a hinge portion 2533 connected to the connecting shaft 2531. The connecting shaft 2531 extends along a length direction parallel to the rotating hinge 253. The hinge portion 2533 defines a hinge hole 2534 along an axial direction parallel to the connecting shaft 2531. The hinge hole 2534 and the connecting shaft 2531 are respectively located at two opposite ends of the hinge portion 2533. The rotating hinge 253 is provided with a connecting end piece 2535 in a substantial waist-shape on two opposite ends of the rotating hinge 253. The connecting end piece 2535 defines a through hole 2536 at each of two opposite ends of the connecting end piece 2535. The rotating hinge 253 is provided with a connecting post 2537, between each connecting end piece 2535 and the connecting portion 2530, on the rear surface of the rotating hinge 253.
The reinforcing assembly further includes a positioning plate 2504 and a locking member 2508 disposed on the middle hinge assembly 250. The positioning plate 2504 is substantially rectangular. The positioning plate 2504 defines a through hole 2505 on the middle of the positioning plate 2504. The positioning plate 2504 defines a cutout 2506 at each of two opposite ends of the positioning plate 2504.
When assembling the middle hinge assembly 250, the connecting shafts 2531 of two rotating hinges 253 are respectively accommodated in the two rotating spaces 2516 of the intermediate hinge 251, and the two hinge portions 2533 are respectively accommodated in the two cutouts 2517 of the intermediate hinge 251. The positioning plate 2504 is placed in the connecting groove 2515 of the intermediate hinge 251, such that the through hole 2505 of the positioning plate 2504 faces the fixing hole 2518 of the intermediate hinge 251, and the two cutouts 2506 respectively face the hinge portions 2533 of the two rotating hinges 253. The locking member 2508 is then inserted through the through hole 2505 to be locked to the fixing hole 2518, such that the two rotating hinges 253 are rotatably connected to the intermediate hinge 251. The rotating hinge 253 and the intermediate hinge 251 are connected through the reinforcing assembly, such that the connection between the rotating hinge 253 and the intermediate hinge 251 is stabilized.
As illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the first connecting hinge 255 includes a first plate body 2551 which is strip-shaped and two second plate bodies 2553 disposed at two opposite ends of the first plate body 2551. There are two sliding members 259 connected to the first connecting hinge 255. Each sliding member 259 is disposed on a side of the first connecting hinge 255 away from the middle hinge assembly 250. The middle hinge assembly 250 further includes two moving hinges 256 that are slidably connected to the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258, respectively. The moving hinge 256 is slidably connected to a side of the first connecting hinge 255 away from the two sliding members 259. The first plate body 2551 is provided with a connecting block 2552 on each of two opposite ends of the first plate body 2551. Each connecting block 2552 defines a fixing hole thereon and is provided with a bump. Each of the two second plate bodies 2553 defines a positioning groove 2554 corresponding to the connecting block 2552 at one end thereof close to the first plate body 2551. The positioning groove 2554 defines a connecting hole corresponding to the fixing hole of the connecting block 2552 and a positioning hole corresponding to the bump of the connecting block 2552 on an inner surface of the positioning groove 2554. When the connecting block 2552 is accommodated in the corresponding positioning groove 2554, the fixing hole of the connecting block 2552 faces the connecting hole of the positioning groove 2554, and the bump of the connecting block 2552 is inserted into the positioning hole of the positioning groove 2554, such that the first plate body 2551 is fixedly connected with the two second plate bodies 2553. Each second plate body 2553 is provided with a lug 2555, which extends vertically outward from a side of the second plate body 2553, at one end thereof away from the first plate body 2551, away from the middle hinge assembly 250. Each second plate body 2553 is provided with a sliding piece 2556, which is disposed close to a rear surface of the second plate body 2553, at one end thereof facing the first plate body 2551. The sliding piece 2556 extends in a direction parallel to the lug 2555.
Each lug 2555 defines a first guide groove 2557, extending from an extending direction of the lug 2555, at a rear surface of the lug 2555. The first guide groove 2557 extends through the second plate body 2553 and the lug 2555. Each second plate body 2553 defines a second guide groove 2558, which is close to the lug 2555 and parallel to the first guide groove 2557, at a surface of the second plate body 2553 facing the middle hinge assembly 250. The second guide groove 2558 penetrates the second plate body 2553. Each second plate body 2553 defines two avoidance groove spaced apart from one another on a front surface of the second plate body 2553. Each avoidance groove defines a positioning hole 2559 on a bottom surface of the avoidance groove. A positioning block 25590 is inserted into the positioning hole 2559. The positioning hole 2559 is used to fixedly connect a rear surface of the supporting member 50 with the second plate body 2553.
In an implementation, the lug 2555 defines a through hole 25551, which is in communication with the first guide groove 2557, on a front surface of the lug 2555. The lug 2555 is provided with a stop bar 25552 at one end of the through hole 25551 away from the second plate body 2553. The bendable mechanism 25 includes the third limiting portion 25553 and the fourth limiting portion 25554 disposed on the first connecting hinge 255. Both the third limiting portion 25553 and the fourth limiting portion 25554 are formed on an inner wall of the through hole 25551. In an implementation, the third limiting portion 25553 is formed at one end of the inner wall of the through hole 25551 close to the second plate body 2553. The drop limiting mechanism 26 also includes the second connecting rod 267 connected between the connecting member 260 and the sliding member 259 (as illustrated in FIG. 3). The second connecting rod 267 is substantially sheet-shaped and has one end rotatably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end slidably and rotatably connected to the sliding member 259. In an implementation, the second connecting rod 267 may have one end slidably and rotatably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end rotatably connected to the sliding member 259. In an implementation, the second connecting rod 267 may be composed of two connecting pieces rotatably connected with one another. One of the two connecting pieces has one end rotatably connected to the connecting member 260 and the other end rotatably connected to one end of the other one of two connecting pieces, and the other end of the other one of the two connecting pieces rotatably connected to the sliding member 259. The second connecting rod 267 is located between the stop bar 25552 and the third limiting portion 25553. When unfolding, the bendable mechanism 25 can drive the second connecting rod 26 to move relative to the sliding member 259. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the second connecting rod 267 moves toward the third limiting portion 25553 relative to the sliding member 259, until the second connecting rod 267 abuts against or is adjacent to the third limiting portion 25553 to prevent the sliding member 259 from further moving relative to the bendable mechanism 25. In this implementation, the third limiting portion 25553 is an inclined limiting surface disposed on the lug 2555, and the fourth limiting portion 25554 is disposed on the lug 2555. As an example, the fourth limiting portion 25554 is adjacent to the third limiting portion 25553. The fourth limiting portion 25554 is parallel to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 250. The third limiting portion 25553 is inclined relative to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 250. The third limiting portion 25553 has a limiting surface which is inclined with respect to a limiting surface of the fourth limiting portion 25554. In an implementation, the third limiting portion 25553 is a side surface of an extending piece extending from the second plate body 2553 to the through hole 25551. The through hole 25551 serves as a receiving groove at one side of the third limiting portion 25553. The limiting surface of the third limiting portion 25553 is disposed at one end of the extending piece away from the second plate body 2553. The limiting surface of the fourth limiting portion 25554 is connected with the limiting surface of the third limiting portion 25553 and is parallel to a length direction of the second plate body 2553. The second connecting rod 267 moves relative to the connecting member 260 and the sliding member 259 when bending the bendable mechanism 25. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the second connecting rod 267 moves relative to the sliding member 259 toward the fourth limiting portion 25554 until it abuts against or is adjacent to the fourth limiting portion 25554. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting member 260 slides outward relative to the first connecting hinge 255, and the sliding member 259 slides inward relative to the first connecting hinge 255. In an implementation, the sliding distance of the connecting member 260 relative to the first connecting hinge 255, as well as the sliding distance of the sliding member 259 relative to the first connecting hinge 255, is related to a bending angle of the bendable mechanism 25. In an implementation, the sliding distance of the connecting member 260 relative to the first connecting hinge 255, as well as the sliding distance of the sliding member 259 relative to the first connecting hinge 255, is proportional to the bending angle of the bendable mechanism 25. In an implementation, when bending the bendable mechanism 25, the sliding distance of the sliding member 259 relative to the first connecting hinge 255 is less than the sliding distance of the connecting member 260 relative to the first connecting hinge 255. In an implementation, when sliding relative to the first connecting hinge 255, the connecting member 260 drives one end of the second connecting rod 267 close to the connecting member 260 to rotate in such a way that the second connecting rod 267 moves gradually away from the third limiting portion 25553. At the same time, the other end of the second connecting rod 267 away from the connecting member 260 slides and rotates relative to the first connecting hinge 255 to gradually approach the fourth limiting portion 25554. When the bendable mechanism 25 is in the folded state, the other end of the second connecting rod 267 abuts against or is adjacent to the fourth limiting portion 25554. Similarly, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the other end of the second connecting rod 267 slides and rotates relative to the first connecting hinge 255 and gradually moves away from the fourth limiting portion 25554, one end of the second connecting rod 267 close to the connecting member 260 rotates relative to the connecting member 260 and gradually approaches the third limiting portion 25553. When the bendable mechanism 25 is in the unfolded state, one end of the second connecting rod 267 close to the connecting member 260 abuts against or is adjacent to the third limiting portion 25553.
In other implementations, the fourth limiting portion 25554 may also disposed on the sliding member 259. That is, the sliding member 259 is provided with a protrusion, and a surface of the protrusion opposite to a distal end of the connecting member 260 serves as the fourth limiting portion 25554. When the bendable mechanism 25 is in the folded state, a distal end of the second connecting rod 267 is in contact with or adjacent to the fourth limiting portion 25554.
The sliding member 259 is connected with the connecting hinge via an elastic member 25531. When bending the bendable mechanism 250, the sliding member 259 slides relative to the connecting hinge in such a way that the elastic member 25531 is compressed. The sliding member 259 can be fixed to the first frame 21 or the second frame 23. In an implementation, the second plate body 2553 is provided with two elastic members 25531, which are respectively located at two sides of the lug 2555, on a side surface of the second plate body 2553 facing the sliding member 259. That is, the elastic member 25531 is disposed between the sliding member 259 and the second plate body 2553 so that the elastic member 25531 can elastically drive the sliding member 259. There is an elastic member 25535 disposed between the connecting hinge and the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 25535 is used to drive the connecting hinge to move away from the middle hinge assembly 250. For this point, the elastic member 25535 is disposed and elastically compressed between the first connecting hinge 255 and the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 25535 includes a compression spring and a rod connected to one end of the compression spring. In an implementation, the second plate body 2553 defines at least one receiving groove 25532, which is between the first guide groove 2557 and the second guide groove 2558, on a side surface of the second plate body 2553 away from the lug 2555. The at least one receiving groove 25532 is used for accommodating the elastic member 25535. In an implementation, the elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the first connecting hinge 255 and the corresponding connecting member 260.
Each second plate body 2553 defines a receiving groove 25536, which is in communication with the second guide groove 2558, on the rear surface of the second plate body 2553. The receiving groove 25536 is used for accommodating the first connecting rod 263. The second plate body 2553 is provided with a shaft 25537 protruded from a bottom surface of the receiving groove 25536. The shaft 25537 is used for movably connecting to the first connecting rod 263.
Each lug 2555 is slidably sleeved with one sliding member 259. The second connecting rod 267 is movably accommodated in the through hole 25551 of each lug 2555. In an implementation, the sliding member 259 defines a guide groove 2591 on a front surface of the sliding member 259. The lug 2555 can be slidably inserted into the guide groove 2591. The sliding member 259 is provided with a connecting post 2593 which protrudes into the sliding groove 2591 and corresponds to the through hole 25551 of the lug 2555. The connecting post 2593 axially defines a connecting hole 2594. The sliding member 259 is provided with two positioning posts 2595 respectively located at two opposite sides of the guide groove 2591. When the sliding member 259 is sleeved on the lug 2555, the positioning posts 2595 are clamped into cutouts on the lug 2555. In this way, the sliding member 259 can be positioned relative to the lug 2555 during pre-assembly, and the positioning posts 2595 are removed from the cutouts on the lug 2555 after complete assembly.
The moving hinge 256 includes a connecting plate 2561 in a stripe shape. The reinforcing assembly includes multiple connecting rings 2563 arranged on a side of the connecting plate 2561 away from the first connecting hinge 255. In an implementation, the connecting plate 2561 is provided with one connecting ring 2563 at each of the two opposite ends of connecting plate 2561. The connecting plate 2561 is further provided with two connecting rings 2563 spaced apart from one other at the middle of the connecting plate 2561, the two connecting rings 2563 cooperate to define a receiving groove which is used for accommodating the hinge portion 2533 of the rotating hinge 253, so that the hinge portion 2533 is sandwiched between the two connecting rings 2563. A hinge pin is inserted into the connecting ring 2563 and the hinge hole 2534 of the hinge portion 2533 to rotatably connect the moving hinge 256 and the rotating hinge. The connecting plate 2561 defines two through holes 2566 spaced apart from one another on a front surface of the connecting plate 2561. The reinforcing assembly is connected with the moving hinge 256, the rotating hinge 253, and the intermediate hinge 251 in series, good reinforcement effect is achieved, and stable connections among the moving hinge 256, the rotating hinge 253, and the intermediate hinge 251 are reinforced.
Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, when assembling the first connecting hinge 255, the connecting blocks 2552 at the two opposite ends of the first plate body 2551 are first engaged with the two second plate bodies 2553 correspondingly, where the bump of the connecting block 2552 is inserted into the positioning hole of the positioning groove 2554, and a locking member is inserted into and lock the fixing hole of the connecting block 2552 and the connecting hole of the positioning groove 2554. Then, each sliding member 259 is sleeved on a corresponding one of the lugs 2555, and the two elastic members 25531 is installed between the sliding member 259 and a corresponding one of the second plate bodies 2553. And then, the two elastic members 25535 are inserted into the receiving grooves 25532 of the two second plate bodies 2553 correspondingly. The moving hinge 256 connected to the rotating hinge 253 is movably covered on a front surface of the first connecting hinge 255.
Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the second connecting hinge 258 is similar to the first connecting hinge 255 in structure, except that compared with the first connecting hinge 255, the second connecting hinge 258 is not provided with the first plate body 2551 and the sliding member 259, which is descried in detail below.
The second connecting hinge 258 includes a mounting frame but does not include two sliding members 259. The mounting frame includes two plate bodies 2583. Each one of the two plate bodies 2583 is provided with a connecting plate 2584 at one end thereof facing the other one of the two plate bodies 2583. The connecting plate 2584 defines several connecting holes thereon. The connecting plate 2584 is connected with the second frame 23. The connecting plate 2584 of each of the two plate bodies 2583 is provided with a sliding piece 2586 protruded from a side of the connecting plate 2584 that faces the other one of the two plate bodies 2583. The sliding piece 2586 extends in a direction parallel to the connecting plate 2584. The plate body 2583 defines a first guide groove 2587, which is on a side surface of the plate body 2583 facing the middle hinge assembly 250, at one end of the plate body 2583 away from the sliding plate 2586. The first guide groove 2587 extends through the plate body 2583. The plate body 2583 defines a second guide groove 2588, which is on the side surface of the plate body 2583 facing the middle hinge assembly 250, at the other end of the plate body 2583 close to the sliding plate 2586. The second guide groove 2588 extends through the plate body 2583. The plate body 2583 defines a receiving groove 2589, which is located between the first guide groove 2587 and the second guide groove 2588, on the side surface of the plate body 2583 facing the middle hinge assembly 250.
Each plate body 2583 is provided with an elastic member 2582 which is between the connecting hinge and the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 2582 is used to drive the second connecting hinge 258 to move away from the middle hinge assembly 250. That is, the elastic member 2582 is elastically abutted between the second connecting hinge 258 and the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 2582 includes a compression spring and a rod connected with one end of the compression spring of the elastic member 2582. The compression spring of the elastic member 2582 has the other end which is away from the rod and positioned in the receiving groove 2589. In an implementation, the elastic member 2582 is elastically abutted between the second connecting hinge 258 and the corresponding connecting member 260.
Each plate body 2583 defines a receiving groove 25832, which in communication with the second guide groove 2588, on a rear surface thereof. The receiving groove 25832 is used for accommodating the first connecting rod 263. The plate body 2583 is provided with a shaft 25834 protruded from a bottom surface of the receiving groove 25832. The shaft 25834 is movably connected to the first connecting rod 263. The second connecting hinge 258 movably connected with the moving hinge 256.
Referring to FIGS. 13 to 16, in this implementation, each connecting assembly 24 includes one linkage mechanism 28, the two drop limiting mechanisms 26 disposed on two opposite sides of the linkage mechanism 28, and the positioning member 27 disposed at one end of the linkage mechanism 28. The positioning member 27 is connected to one end of the middle hinge assembly 25, so as to realize connection of the connecting assembly 24 to the bendable mechanism 25. In this implementation, the drop limiting mechanism 26 includes the two connecting members 260 disposed on two opposite sides thereof, the two first connecting rods 263, and one second connecting rod 267. That is, one of the two connecting members 260 disposed on one side of the drop limiting mechanism 26 is connected with one first connecting rod 263 and one second connecting rod 267, and the other one of the connecting members 260 disposed the other side of the drop limiting mechanism 26 is connected with one first connecting rod 263. In an implementation, the connecting member 260 includes a hinge portion 261, a first connecting portion 262, which is disposed on a side of the hinge portion 261 away from the linkage mechanism 28, at one end of the hinge portion 261, and a second connecting portion 264, which is disposed on the side of the hinge portion 261 away from the linkage mechanism 28, at the other end of the hinge portion 261. The hinge portion 261, the first connecting portion 262, and the second connecting portion 264 may be integrally formed. The first connecting portion 262 is spaced apart from the second connecting portion 264. The hinge portion 261 defines a matching groove 2611 on a side of the hinge portion 261 away from the first connecting portion 262. The matching groove 2611 has a cross section in a circular arc shape. There is provided with a connecting sleeve 2613 at one end of an inner surface of the matching groove 2611. The connecting sleeve 2613 defines a waist-shaped connecting hole 2615 which extends along an axial direction of the connecting sleeve 2613. The first connecting portion 262 is a connecting rod extending in a direction perpendicular to the hinge portion 261. The second connecting portion 264 is a connecting rod extending in a direction perpendicular to the hinge portion 261. The first connecting portion 262 has a length less than the second connecting portion 264. The hinge portion 261 defines a positioning hole 2616, which is located between the first connecting portion 262 and the second connecting portion 264, at a side of the hinge portion 261 away from the connecting sleeve 2613, and the positioning hole 2616 is used for positioning the elastic member. The first connecting portion 262 is provided with a connecting post 2621, which is disposed on a rear surface of the first connecting portion 262, at one end thereof away from the hinge portion 261. The connecting post 2621 is movably connected to one end of the corresponding first connecting rod 263. The second connecting portion 264 defines a connecting hole 2641 at one end thereof away from the hinge portion 261. The connecting hole 2641 is used for movably connecting the second connecting rod 267.
The connecting member 260 defines a positioning groove 2643 thereon. In an implementation, the second connecting portion 264 defines a positioning groove 2643 on a rear surface of the second connecting portion 264, and the positioning groove 2643 is elongated along an extending direction of the second connecting portion 264. An inner end wall of the positioning groove 2643 away from the hinge portion 261 is provided with a positioning post 2644. The second connecting portion 264 defines a receiving groove 2640 on a front surface of the second connecting portion 264, and the receiving groove 2640 is elongated along the extending direction of the second connecting portion 264. The positioning groove 2643 is staggered with the receiving groove 2640. An inner end wall of the receiving groove 2640 away from the hinge portion 261 is provided with two positioning posts 2642 spaced apart from one another. The receiving groove 2640 is provided with a partition plate 2645 on a bottom surface of the receiving groove 2640, where the partition plate 2645 is between the two positioning posts 2642 to partition the receiving groove 2640 into two spaces. The receiving groove 2640 defines two receiving holes 2646 on an inner end wall thereof close to the hinge portion 261. The two receiving holes 2646 is in communication with the two spaces of the receiving groove 2640 and the matching groove 2611. Each drop limiting mechanism 26 also includes an elastic positioning member 268 arranged between the connecting member 260 and the linkage mechanism 28. The elastic positioning member 268 is selectively clamped between the connecting member 260 and the linkage mechanism 28 to position the bendable mechanism 25. In an implementation, the elastic positioning member 268 includes a connecting block 2681, an elastic member 2683 disposed on one side of the connecting block 2681, and a positioning head 2685 disposed on the other side of the connecting block 2681 away from the elastic member 2683. The elastic member 2683 is connected between the positioning head 2685 and the connecting member 260. The positioning head 2685 is slidably abutted against and positioned on the linkage mechanism 28. In this implementation, each elastic positioning member 268 includes two elastic members 2683 disposed on one side of the connecting block 2681 and two positioning heads 2685 disposed on the other side of the connecting block 2681 away from the elastic member 2683. One end of each of the two elastic members 2683 away from the positioning heads 2685 extends through a corresponding one of the two receiving holes 2646 and is clamped on a corresponding one of the two positioning posts 2642. One end surface of each positioning head 2685 away from the elastic member 2683 is a spherical surface. The linkage mechanism 28 defines at least one first positioning hole 2866 (as illustrated in FIG. 15 or FIG. 16). The elastic member 2683 is used to elastically push the positioning head 2685 to move toward the linkage mechanism 28, such that the positioning head 2685 is inserted into the first positioning hole 2866, and the bendable mechanism 25 can be positioned in the unfolded state.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, each first connecting rod 263 is a substantially strip-shaped plate, which has two opposite end surfaces in a circular arc shape. The first connecting rod 263 defines an elongated hole 2631 at one end of the first connecting rod 263 and a connecting hole 2633 at the other end of the first connecting rod 263. The elongated hole 2631 is movably connected to the connecting hinge or the connecting member 261. The connecting hole 2633 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 261 or the connecting hinge. In an implementation, the elongated hole 2631 of the first connecting rod 263 is movably connected to the connecting member 261, the connecting hole 2633 of the first connecting rod 263 is rotatably connected to the corresponding connecting hinge. Alternatively, the elongated hole 2631 of the first connecting rod 263 is movably connected to the corresponding connecting hinge, the connecting hole 2633 of the first connecting rod 263 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 261. The elongated hole 2631 extends along a length direction of the first connecting rod 263. In an implementation, the first connecting rod 263 is provided with a roller 2635 received the elongated hole 2631. The shaft 25537 of the connecting hinge, the shaft 25834 of the connecting hinge, or the connecting post 2621 of the connecting member 261 can be inserted into the roller 2635.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, each second connecting rod 267 is a substantially strip-shaped plate, which has two opposite end surfaces in a circular arc shape. The second connecting rod 267 defines an elongated hole 2671 at one end of the second connecting rod 267 and a connecting hole 2673 at the other end of the second connecting rod 267. The elongated hole 2671 is movably connected to the sliding member 259 or the connecting member 261. The connecting hole 2673 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 261 or the sliding member 259. The elongated hole 2671 extends along a length direction of the second connecting rod 267. In an implementation, the connecting hole 2673 of the second connecting rod 267 is aligned with the connecting hole 2641 of the second connecting portion 264, and the two are connected via a pin so that the second connecting rod 267 and the second connecting portion 264 are rotationally connected. The elongated hole 2671 of the second connecting rod 267 is movably connected to the sliding member 259 via a pin, so that the second connecting rod 267 is movably connected to the sliding member 259. In an implementation, the second connecting rod 267 is also provided with a roller (not illustrated) received in the elongated hole 2671, and the pin is inserted into the roller.
In implementations of the present disclosure, term “movably connect” refers to at least one of rotatably connect or slidably connect.
As illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 17, the linkage mechanism 28 includes two parallel first shafts 281 which are spaced apart from one another, a linkage 282, two fixing piece assemblies 283, a connecting frame 284, a fixing block 286, a connecting post 287, and an end plate 288. The two first shafts 281 are disposed on two opposite sides of the linkage 282. The fixing piece assemblies 283, the connecting frame 284, and the fixing block 286 cooperate to connect the two first shafts 281 with the linkage 282. The two first shafts 281 are solid. Each of the two first shafts 281 is connected to a corresponding one of the two connecting members 260. The linkage 282 is connected between the two first shafts 281. When each connecting member 260 rotates, it drives one of the two first shafts 281 that is connected therewith to rotate, and the first shaft 281 connected with the connecting member 260 then drives the other one of the two first shafts 281 to rotate via the linkage 282, such that the other one of the two connecting members 260 also rotates. The two first shafts 281 are symmetrical about the center line of the linkage 282.
Each first shaft 281 is connected to the linkage 282 through a spiral guide groove 2811 a sliding block 2821 that matches the spiral guide groove 2811. One of the two first shafts 281 rotates to drive the sliding block 2821 to slide in the spiral guide groove 2811 matched with the sliding block 2821, such that the linkage 282 moves in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the first shaft 281 to drive the other one of the two first shafts 281 to rotate together.
The linkage 282 is in a block shape. The linkage 282 includes two opposite side surfaces 2822. Each of the two side surfaces 2822 defines a receiving groove 2823 thereon which extends along the axial direction of the first shaft 281. Each receiving groove 2823 has a cross section in a circular arc shape. The sliding block 2821 protrudes from an inner surface of the receiving groove 2823. In an implementation, each sliding block 2821 has a spherical outer surface. In this implementation, the inner surface of each receiving groove 2823 has a semicircular cross section. The linkage 282 is provided with at least one sliding block 2821, which extend along on an extending direction of the receiving groove 2823, on the inner surface of each receiving groove 2823 of the linkage 282. In other implementations, there are two or more sliding blocks 2821, which are spaced apart from one another and extend along the extending direction of the receiving groove 2823, provided on the inner surface of each receiving groove 2823. The linkage 282 defines a through hole 2825, which extends along the extending direction of the receiving groove 2823, at the middle of the linkage 282.
Each of the two first shafts 281 has an outer peripheral wall which is rotatably received in a corresponding one of the two receiving grooves 2823. Each of the two first shafts 281 defines at least one spiral guide groove 2811 on the outer peripheral wall thereof. When each first shaft 281 is received in the corresponding receiving groove 2823, the sliding block 2821 in the receiving groove 2823 is slidably inserted into the spiral guide groove 2811. In an implementation, each spiral guide groove 2811 has an inner surface which has a semicircular cross section. The outer surface of the sliding block 2821 is slidably fitted to the inner surface of the corresponding spiral guide groove 2811. In an implementation, each first shaft 281 is provided with a rotating cylinder 2812 which is fixedly sleeved on the middle of the first shaft 281. The rotating cylinder 2812 is a cylinder. The spiral guide groove 2811 is defined on an outer peripheral wall of the rotating cylinder 2812. In this implementation, each rotating cylinder 2812 defines one spiral guide groove 2811 on the outer peripheral wall thereof. In other implementations, each rotating cylinder 2812 defines two or more spiral guide grooves 2811, which are spaced apart from one another, on the outer peripheral wall thereof. In an implementation, the rotating cylinder 2812 has a radius equal to that of the receiving groove 2823, so that the outer peripheral wall of each rotating cylinder 2812 is closely attached to an inner peripheral wall of the corresponding receiving groove 2823. The rotating cylinder 2812 of each first shaft 281 defines an annular groove 2814, which extends along a circumferential direction of the rotating cylinder 2812, at two opposite end thereof. The groove 2814 is used for clamping the fixing piece assembly 283. Each first shaft 281 has a first end 2815 which has a waist-shaped cross section and a second end 2816 which is opposite the first end 2815 and has a circular cross section. The first end 2815 of each first shaft 281 is used to be connected with the corresponding connecting member 260, so that the connecting member 260 is fixedly connected to the first shaft 281.
Each fixing piece assembly 283 includes a clamping piece 2831 and a fixing piece 2835. The clamping piece 2831 defines a hook 2832 at each of two opposite ends of the clamping piece 2831 and a clamping hole 2834 at the middle of the clamping piece 2831. Each hook 2832 can be inserted into a corresponding one of the grooves 2814. The fixing piece 2835 defines one shaft hole 2836 at each of two opposite ends of the fixing piece 2835 and a through hole 2837 at the middle of the fixing piece 2835. The fixing piece 2835 defines one connecting hole 2838 between each shaft hole 2836 and the through hole 2837. The connecting frame 284 includes an abutting block 2841, a connecting block 2843, and several spacers 2844 sandwiched between the abutting block 2841 and the connecting block 2843. The abutting block 2841 is substantially strip-shaped. The abutting block 2841 has a front surface in a circular arc shape. The abutting block 2841 includes two opposite side surfaces. The abutting block 2841 defines two opposite receiving grooves 28411, which extend along the axial direction of the first shaft 281, on the two opposite side surfaces of the abutting block 2841. The abutting block 2841 defines a connecting hole 28413 at the middle of the abutting block 2841 along the axial direction of the first shaft 281. The connecting block 2843 is provided with a lap piece 28431, which extends along the axial direction of the first shaft 281, on one side surface of the connecting block 2843 and a positioning rod 28433, which extends along the axial direction of the first shaft 281, on the other side surface of the connecting block 2843. The connecting block 2843 defines one shaft hole 28435 at two opposite ends of the connecting block 2843 and one connecting hole 28436 between each shaft hole 28435 and the lap piece 28431. The several spacers 2844 are stacked in sequence. Each spacer 2844 defines one shaft hole 28441 at two opposite ends thereof and one positioning hole 28443 at the middle thereof. Each spacer 2844 defines a connecting hole 28445 between each shaft hole 28441 and the positioning hole 28443. Each connecting hole 28445 communicates with the shaft hole 28441 close thereto.
The fixing block 286 includes a front surface 2861 in a circular arc shape, two opposite end surfaces, and two opposite side surfaces 2862. The front surface 2861 of the fixing block 286 defines a through hole 2863 at the middle thereof. The fixing block 286 is provided with a lap piece 2864 extended outward at the middle of one side of the fixing block 286. The fixing block 286 is provided with one connecting cylinder 2865, which extends along the axial direction of the first shaft 281, on each of the two side surfaces 2862 of the fixed block 286. The connecting cylinder 2865 defines two first positioning holes 2866 which is spaced apart from one another and two sliding grooves 2867 which each is aligned with a corresponding one of the two first positioning holes 2866 on an outer peripheral wall of the connecting cylinder 2865. In implementations, the connecting cylinder 2865 can be regarded as a first portion, and the connecting member 260 can be regarded as a second portion. In an implementation, the first portion includes but is not limited to a connecting cylinder, and the second portion includes but is not limited to a connecting member. The sliding groove 2867 extends along a circumferential direction of the connecting cylinder 2865. Each sliding groove 2867 has a width less than a diameter of the first positioning hole 2866. The fixing block 286 defines a positioning groove 2868 at the middle of the fixing block 286 along the axial direction of the first shaft 281. The end plate 288 is provided with two positioning rods 2883 and a position post 2881 between two positioning rods 2883, which protrude along the axial direction of the first shaft 281, at a side of the end plate 288 facing the fixed block 286. The positioning post 2881 corresponds to the positioning groove 2868 of the fixing block 286. The two positioning rods 2883 correspond to inner cavities of the two connecting cylinders 2865 of the fixing block 286.
In an implementation, referring to FIGS. 61 to 64, the first positioning hole 2866 is spaced apart from the sliding groove 2867 aligned with the first positioning hole 2866, and the connecting cylinder 2865 is provided with a resisting portion between the first positioning hole 2866 and the sliding groove 2867 aligned with the first positioning hole 2866. An outer diameter of the connecting cylinder 2865 at a position of the abutting portion is greater than its outer diameter at the first positioning hole 2866 and its outer diameter at the sliding groove 2867. The first positioning hole 2866 has a diameter gradually inwardly decreased. In an implementation, the diameter of the first positioning hole 2866 gradually decreases from a side close to the elastic positioning member 268 to a side away from the elastic positioning member 268. In an implementation, the first positioning hole 2866 is a through hole. The diameter of the first positioning hole 2866 at the side away from the elastic positioning member 268 is less than an outer diameter of the positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268. In an implementation, the first positioning hole 2866 has a depth greater than the sliding groove 2867. The elastic positioning member 268 can be clamped in the first positioning hole 2866 to provide force feedback when unfolding the foldable device 22 to the unfolded state. In an implementation, the elastic positioning member 268 can be clamped in the first positioning hole 2866 to provide transient damping when the foldable device 22 is bent from the unfolded state.
In an implementation, when the elastic positioning member 268 slides from the sliding groove 2867 to slide over the abutting portion, since the outer diameter of the connecting cylinder 2865 at the position of abutting portion is greater than its outer diameter at the sliding groove 2867, the elastic member 2683 of the elastic positioning member 268 is further compressed. When the elastic positioning member 268 slides into the first positioning hole 2866 from the resisting portion, the elastic member 2683 is instantaneously released, so that the elastic positioning member 268 is locked into the first positioning hole 2866. In other words, when the foldable device 22 is expanded from the bent state to the unfolded state, the compression amount of the elastic positioning member 268 will first increase and then decrease. The elastic positioning member 268 has the maximum elastic potential energy when being abutted against the resisting portion, and the elastic potential energy stored in the elastic positioning member 268 will be released when the elastic positioning member 268 slides into the first positioning hole 2866. In an implementation, the connecting cylinder 2865 may not be provided with a resisting portion, that is, the first positioning hole 2866 is in communication with the sliding groove 2867. Since the elastic member 2683 has a greater compression amount when being at the groove 2867 than being at the first positioning hole 2866, a similar force feedback or transient damping can also be achieved.
In an implementation, the sliding groove 2867 has a depth which gradually decreases along a direction toward the first positioning hole 2866. As a result, the elastic positioning member 268 will have a gradually increased elastic potential energy when sliding in the sliding groove 2867 toward the first positioning hole 2866, and will have the maximum elastic potential energy when sliding to be abutted against the resisting portion. In an implementation, when the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, the elastic positioning member 268 is located at a first position in the groove 2867. An end of the sliding groove 2867 between the first position and the resisting portion is referred to as a second position. The sliding groove 2867 has the maximum depth at the first position and the minimum depth at the second position. The sliding groove 2867 has a depth gradually decreased from the first position to the second position. As a result, the elastic positioning member 268 has the minimum compression when the foldable device 22 is in the folded state, so as to reduce the load of the elastic member 2683 in the folded state. Since the sliding groove 2867 has a continuously varied depth, the elastic positioning member 268 can be prevented from being stuck and jammed during sliding.
In other implementations, the linkage mechanism 28 further defines at least a second positioning hole thereon. The elastic member 2683 elastically pushes the positioning head 2685 to move toward the linkage mechanism 28, so that the positioning head 2685 snaps into the second positioning hole, so as to keep the bendable mechanism 25 in the bent state (for example, the folded state). In an implementation, the second positioning hole is defined on an outer peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder 2865 away from the first positioning hole 2866. When the bendable mechanism 25 is in the bent state (for example, the folded state), the positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 snaps into the second positioning hole, so that the bendable mechanism 25 remains in the bent state.
Each positioning member 27 includes two second elements, two first elements, and two second shafts 275. In an implementation, the second element includes a middle connecting block 271, the first element includes an end connecting block 273. A surface of each of the middle connecting blocks 271 close to the other one of the middle connecting blocks 271 is a circular arc surface 2711. The middle connecting block 271 defines a shaft hole 2712 at an end of the middle connecting block 271 close to the circular arc surface 2711. The circular arc surface 2711 has an axis which is collinear with that of the shaft hole 2712. Each of the middle connecting blocks 271 defines a matching groove 2714, which has a circular arc-shaped cross section, on a side thereof away from the other one of the middle connecting blocks 271. There is a connecting sleeve 2715 is provided on an inner surface of the matching groove 2714. The connecting sleeve 2715 defined a shaft hole 2717 which extends along an extending direction of the connecting sleeve 2715. Each middle connecting block 271 defines a connecting hole 2718 extended from a front surface to a rear surface of the middle connecting block 271. In an implementation, the positioning member 27 is provided with the end connecting block 273. Alternatively, the positioning member 27 is provided with the end connecting block 273 and the middle connecting block 271. Each end connecting block 273 defines a matching groove 2731 at a side thereof close to the middle connecting block 271. Each end connecting block 273 is provided with two connecting cylinders 2733 at two opposite ends of an inner surface of the matching groove 2731. Each of the two connecting cylinders 2733 defines one shaft hole 2735 thereon, and the shaft hole 2735 extends along an extending direction of the connecting cylinder 2733. The two connecting cylinders 2733 cooperates to define a receiving mouth 2736 therebetween. The end connecting block 273 is provided with a supporting plate 2737 on a side thereof away from the connecting cylinder 2733. The supporting plate 2737 is used to support the first connecting rod 263. In this implementation, each connecting assembly 24 includes two first limiting portions 2401, and each first limiting portion 2401 corresponds to the first connecting rod 263. When the first connecting rod 263 is adjacent to or in contact with the first limiting portion 2401, the first connecting rod 26 prevent the bendable mechanism 25 from being further bent, so as to realize drop limiting effect. The first limiting portion 2401 is a first limiting surface of the end connecting block 273 facing the first connecting rod 263. The first connecting rod 263 includes a first positioning surface 2636 facing the first limiting surface. When the first positioning surface 2636 is in contact with the first limiting surface, the bendable mechanism 25 is in the unfolded state, and the first connecting rod 263 is inclined relative to an axial direction of the second shaft 275 here. A side of each end connecting block 273, which is close to the support plate 2737 is provided with the first limit surface. That is, the first limiting surface is an inclined surface disposed on the side of the end connecting block 273. The inclined surface inclinedly extends in a direction from the connecting hinge to the middle hinge 250 and the connecting member 260. Each end connecting block 273 defines a connecting hole 2738 extending from a front side to a rear side thereof. The two second shafts 275 are arranged in parallel with and spaced apart from one another. There is a connecting piece 2751 provided at one end of the two second shafts 275 to keep the two second shafts 275 in parallel with and spaced apart with one another. In an implementation, the end connecting block 273 is also provided with the second limiting portion 2402. The second limiting portion 2402 is in connection with the first limiting portion 2401. The second limiting portion 2402 is parallel to the axial direction of the second shaft 275. The second limiting portion 2402 is closer to the outside of the end connecting block 273 than the first limiting portion 2401. When the bendable mechanism 25 is in the bent state, the second limiting portion 2402 is adjacent to or in contact with the first positioning surface 2636 of the first connecting rod 263, and the first connecting rod 263 is parallel to the axial direction of the second shaft 275 here.
In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, the connecting member 260 slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, the positioning member 27 is bent and slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, the end connecting block 273 of the positioning member 27 rotates relative to the middle connecting block 271 and slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, a sliding distance of the positioning member 27 relative to the connecting hinge is less than a sliding distance of the connecting member 260 relative to the connecting hinge.
When assembling each connecting assembly 24, the two first connecting rods 263 is mounted on the two connecting members 260 respectively. As an example, the connecting post 2621 of each of the two connecting members 260 is rotatably inserted into the connecting hole 2633 of a corresponding one of the two first connecting rods 263. Each of the second connecting rods 267 is mounted on a corresponding one of the two connecting members 260. In an implementation, the second connecting rod 267 is placed on the second connecting portion 264 of the connecting member 260. The connecting hole 2673 of the second connecting rod 267 faces the connecting hole 2641 of the second connecting portion 264, and a locking member extends through the connecting hole 2673 to be connected with the connecting hole 2641. The end of the elastic member 2683 of each of the two elastic positioning members 268 away from the positioning head 2685 is inserted into the two receiving holes 2646 of a corresponding one of the two connecting members 260, and further passes through the two receiving holes 2646 to be clamped with the positioning posts 2642. At this time, the end of each positioning head 2685 away from the elastic member 2683 is exposed outside an inner peripheral surface of the matching groove 2611. The rotating cylinder 2812 of each of the two first shafts 281 is accommodated in a corresponding one of the two receiving grooves 2823 of the linkage 282, such that each sliding block 2821 is slidably accommodated in a corresponding one of the spiral guide grooves 2811. Each hook 2832 of each of the clamping pieces 2831 of the two fixing piece assemblies 283 is inserted into a corresponding one of the grooves 2814. At this time, the clamping holes 2834 of the two fixing pieces 2831 face the through hole 2825 of the linkage 282. Each of the two fixing pieces 2835 is sleeved on a corresponding one of two opposite ends of the two first shafts 281. That is, the first ends 2815 of the two first shafts 281 are inserted into the two shaft holes 2836 of one of the two fixing pieces 2835, the two second ends 2816 are inserted into the two shaft holes 2836 of the other one of the two fixing pieces 2835, and each of the two fixing pieces 2835 is abutted against a corresponding one of the two opposite ends of the rotating cylinder 2812. At this time, the through hole 2837 of the fixing piece 2835 faces the clamping hole 2834 of the clamping piece 2831. In an implementation, the clamping piece 2831 defines a through hole corresponding to the connecting hole 2838 of the fixing piece 2835. Each of the two connecting members 260 is mounted on a corresponding one of the two first shafts 281. As an example, the first end 2815 of each of the two first shafts 281 is inserted into the connecting hole 2615 of the connecting sleeve 2613 of a corresponding one of the two connecting members 260, an outer peripheral surfaces of the two first shafts 281 are closely contacted to the inner peripheral surfaces of the matching grooves 2611 of the two connecting members 260, so that the first connecting rod 263 is away from the connecting sleeve 2613. The connecting frame 284 is mounted on the two first shafts 281. As an example, the abutting block 2841 is placed on the connecting sleeves 2613 of the two connecting members 260. The two connecting sleeves 2613 are rotatable relative to the abutting block 2841. The connecting hole 28413 of the abutting block 2841 faces the through hole 2837 of the fixing piece 2835. The two receiving grooves 28411 face the connecting holes 2838 of the fixing piece 2835. The connecting post 287 sequentially extends through the through hole 2837 of the fixing piece 2835, the clamping hole 2834 of one of the two clamping pieces 2831, the through hole 2825 of the linkage 282, the clamping hole 2834 of the other one of the two clamping pieces 2831, and the through hole 2837 of the fixing piece 2835 to be fixedly connected to the connecting hole 28413 of the abutting block 2841. The several spacers 2844 are sleeved on the first ends 2815 of the two first shafts 281, that is, the first ends 2815 of the two first shafts 281 are inserted into the two shaft holes 28441 of each spacer 2844. The connecting block 2843 is sleeved on the first ends 2815 of the two first shafts 281, that is, the first ends 2815 of the two first shafts 281 are inserted into the two shaft holes 28435 of the connecting block 2843, and the positioning rod 28433 of the connecting block 2843 is inserted into the positioning hole 28443 of each spacer 2844. The positioning member 27 is mounted on one end of the linkage mechanism 28. As an example, the connecting sleeves 2715 of the two middle connecting blocks 271 are first inserted into the receiving mouths 2736 of the two end connecting blocks 273, such that the shaft hole 2717 of each connecting sleeve 2715 faces the shaft hole 2735 of a corresponding one of the end connecting blocks 273. Two pin shafts are respectively inserted into the shaft holes 2735 of the two end connecting blocks 273 and the shaft holes 2717 of the middle connecting blocks 271, so that the two end connecting blocks 273 are rotatably connected to the two middle connecting blocks 271. An end of each of the two second shafts 275 away from the connecting piece 2751 is inserted to pass through the shaft hole 2712 of the middle connecting block 271, the connecting hole 28436 of the connecting block 2843, the connecting hole 28445 of the spacer 2844, the receiving groove 28411 of the abutting block 2841, the connecting hole 2838 of the fixing piece 2835, and the through hole of the clamping piece 2831. The fixing block 286 is sleeved on the two first shafts 281, that is, the second ends 2816 of the two first shafts 281 are inserted into the inner cavities of the two connecting cylinders 2865 of the fixing block 286, so that the lap piece 2864 of the fixing block 286 covers a front surface of the sliding block 2821, a front surface of the clamping piece 2831, and a front surface of the fixing piece 2835. The end plate 288 is then mounted on one end of the fixing block 286 away from the first shaft 281, that is, the positioning post 2881 of the end plate 288 is inserted into the positioning groove 2868 of the fixing block 286 and the two positioning rods 2883 of the end plate 288 are inserted into the inner cavities of the connecting cylinders 2865. In this way, the spherical surface of the positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 of each connecting member 260 is clamped into a corresponding one of the first positioning holes 2866, and the connecting assembly 24 is in an unfolded state here.
When one of the two connecting members 260 rotates toward the other one of the two connecting members 260, it will drive the first shaft 281 connected therewith to rotate, and the first shaft 281 in turn drives the sliding block 2821 to slide in the spiral guide groove 2811, so as to enable the sliding block 2821 to slide along the connecting post 287. The sliding block 2821 then drives the other first shaft 281 to rotate, thereby realizing linkage of the linkage mechanism 28.
The shielding mechanism 29 is disposed on the inner side of the bendable mechanism 25. The shielding mechanism 29 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting hinge. Alternatively, the shielding mechanism 29 is connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting member 260. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting hinge can drive the shielding mechanism 29 to slide relative to the bendable mechanism 29.
Referring to FIGS. 18 to 20, the shielding mechanism 29 includes two covering members 291 covering a rear portion of the bendable mechanism 25 and a hinge 295 disposed between the two covering members 291. A side of each covering member 291 close to the middle hinge assembly 250 is hinged to the middle hinge assembly 250 along the rotation axis. In an implementation, each of the two covering members 291 rotates relative to the other one of the two covering members 291 via the hinge 295 when bending or unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, so as to realize bending and unfolding of the two covering members 291. Since there is the linkage mechanism 28 disposed between the connecting member 260 and the middle hinge assembly 250, when one connecting hinge rotates, the one connecting hinge drives one connecting member 260 on the same side with the one connecting hinge to rotate, and through the linkage mechanism 28, the other connecting member 260 on the other side is driven to rotate, and the other connecting member 260 then drives other connecting hinge to rotate, so that the two covering members 291 rotate synchronously. Each covering member 291 includes a first covering portion 2911 covering the inner side of the bendable mechanism 25 and one second covering portion 2913 disposed at each of two opposite ends of the first covering portion 2911. The second covering portion 2913 is used to cover ends of the bendable mechanism 25. The first covering portion 2911 is a strip-shaped shielding sheet. The second covering portion 2913 is a shielding sheet protruded on an end side of the first covering portion 2911. Each first covering portion 2911 is provided with two fixing pieces 2912, which are spaced apart from one another, on a rear surface thereof. A side surface of each fixing piece 2912 away from the first connecting rod 263 is fixedly connected to the rear surface of the first covering portion 2911. The covering member 291 is provided with a connecting sleeve 2916 on a side of the covering member 291 away from the connecting hinge. As an example, each fixing piece 2912 is provided with the connecting sleeve 2916 on a side thereof close to the hinge 295.
In an implementation, the covering member 291 is connected with the connecting hinge via matching between the guide grooves 2915 and the sliding pieces 2556, 2586. The guide groove extends along a direction perpendicular to a bending axis of the bendable mechanism 25. When bending or unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the sliding piece slides in the guide groove to drive the covering member 291 to rotate with the connecting hinge relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, when bending the foldable device 22, a sliding distance of the covering member 291 relative to the connecting hinge is greater than a sliding distance of the covering member 291 relative to the connecting member 260. In this implementation, the guide grooves 2915 are disposed on the covering member 291, and the sliding pieces 2556, 2586 are provided on the connecting hinge. As an example, the first covering portion 2911 is provided with one guide bar 2914 at a position adjacent to each fixing piece 2912 on the rear surface of the covering portion 2911. The guide bar 2914 extends along a length direction perpendicular to the first covering portion 2913. Each guide bar 2914 defines the guide groove 2915, which extends along the length direction of the guide bar 2914, on a side surface thereof away from the other guide bar 2914, and the guide groove 2915 extends through two opposite end surfaces of the guide bar 2914.
The covering member 291 is provided with a protrusion 2910 received in the positioning groove 2643 of the connecting member 260. There is an elastic member 292 disposed in the positioning groove 2643. When the covering member 291 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the protrusion 2910 slides in the positioning groove 2643 (see FIG. 16), and the elastic member 292 elastically abuts against the protrusion 2910. As an example, the first covering portion 2913 is provided with the protrusion 2910, which is on the rear surface of the first covering portion 2913, at each of the two opposite ends of the first covering portion 2913. Each protrusion 2910 can be slidably received in the positioning groove 2643 of a corresponding one of the connecting members 260. The shielding mechanism 29 also includes four elastic members 292. Each of the four elastic members 292 faces a corresponding one of the protrusions 2910 of the two covering members 291. Each elastic member 292 is received in the positioning groove 2643, and each protrusion 2910 abuts against a corresponding one of the four elastic members 292. When the covering member 291 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the protrusion 2910 slides in the positioning groove 2643 to enable the elastic member 292 to be elastically abutted against the protrusion 2910, so that the covering member 291 remains tightening. The elastic member 292 applies an elastic force which is parallel to a sliding direction in which the covering member 291 slides relative to the bendable mechanism 25, so as to prevent the covering member 291 from swinging back and forth along the sliding direction. In addition, the elastic member 292 abutted against the protrusion 2910 can also play a role in assisting the covering member 291 to slide, and prevent jamming at a certain bending angle. In an implementation, the elastic member 292 includes a compression spring 2921 and an abutting member 2923 disposed at one end of the compression spring 2921. The compression spring 2921 and the abutting member 2923 are received in the positioning groove 2643. The abutting member 2923 abuts against the protrusion 2910.
In an implementation, the positioning groove can also be defined on the connecting hinge. The elastic member 292 elastically abuts between an end of the positioning groove of the connecting hinge and the protrusion 2910 of the covering member 291. As such, same effect can be achieved. As an implementation, the positioning groove 2643 is defined on the connecting member 260, and the elastic member 292 elastically abuts between the connecting member 260 and the protrusion 2910 of the covering member 291. When bending the foldable device 22, since the sliding distance of the covering member 291 relative to the connecting member 260 is less than the sliding distance of the covering member 291 relative to the connecting hinge, arranging the elastic member 292 between the connecting member 260 and the covering member 291 is beneficial to reducing the movement stroke of the compression spring 2921 during unfolding or bending, so as to avoid effecting the overall stability due to excessive compression to the compression spring 2921 which will generate an excessive elastic force.
In other implementations, the guide groove can be defined on the connecting hinge. The sliding piece is disposed on the covering member 291. As an example, the first connecting hinge 255 defines the guide groove, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 25, on the rear surface of the first connecting hinge 255. The covering member 291 covering the rearing surface of the first connecting hinge 255 is provided with the sliding piece corresponding to the guide groove. When bending or unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the sliding piece slides in the corresponding guide groove to drive the covering member 291 to rotate relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, and the covering member 291 remains covering the inner side of the bendable mechanism 25.
Each hinge 295 includes a fixing member 296 connected to the middle hinge assembly 250 and a connecting rod 297 connected between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the covering member 291. The connecting rod 297 is connected to the middle hinge assembly 250 via the fixing member 296. Each connecting rod 297 is provided with one rotating shaft on each of two opposite ends thereof. One rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the middle hinge assembly 250, and the other rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the covering member 291. As an example, the fixing member 296 includes a fixing block 2961 which is used to be fixed in the fixing groove 2511 of the middle hinge assembly 250. The fixing block 2961 is provided with one protrusion 2962 at each of two opposite ends of the fixing block 2961. The fixing member 296 defines a through hole 2963. The rotating shaft disposed one end of the connecting rod 297 is accommodated in the fixing groove 2511 and rotatably inserted into the through hole 2963 of the fixing member 296. The rotating shaft disposed at the other end of the connecting rod 297 is rotatably inserted into the connecting sleeve 2916. As an example, the two protrusions 2962 are staggered with one another. The fixing member 296 defines the through hole 2963, which extends along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the covering member 291, at an end of each protrusion 2962. The fixing block 2961 defines a through hole 2965 between the two protrusions 2962. The fixing block 2961 is also provided with a clamping post at a rear surface thereof. The connecting rod 297 is provided with a rotating shaft at each of two opposite ends of the connecting rod 297, where one of two rotating shafts is rotatably connected to the middle hinge assembly 250, and the other one of the two rotating shafts is rotatably connected to the covering member 291. As an example, each connecting rod 297 includes a rod 2971 and a rotating shaft disposed at each of two opposite ends of the rod 2971. The rotating shaft includes a first rotating shaft 2972 disposed at one end of the rod 2971 and movably connected to the rod 2971 and a second rotating shaft 2974 at the other end of the rod 2971. The rod 2971 defines a waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 at an end thereof away from the first rotating shaft 29723. The second rotating shaft 2974 is inserted into the waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 and the through hole 2963.
In an implementation, when folding the foldable device 22, the covering member 291 slides relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when folding the foldable device 22, the covering member 291 slides toward the connecting hinge, and the connecting rod also follows the covering member 291 to rotate toward a corresponding side. The second covering portion 2913 of the covering member 291 is sandwiched between the end plate 288 and the middle hinge assembly 250. The second covering portion 2913 partially overlaps the end plate 288 as well as the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, an overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the end plate 288 has an area greater than an overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when the foldable device 22 is in the bent state, the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the end plate 288 has an area greater than the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the end plate 288 has a decreased area, while the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the connecting hinge has an increased area. The end plate 288 has a semi-circular shape. The end plate 288 cooperates with the second covering part 2913 to cover a side of the foldable device 22, such that internal portions are prevent from being exposed. When bending the foldable device 22, the second covering portion 2913 rotates relative to the end plate 288, the second covering portion 2913 slides relative to the end plate 288 and the connecting hinge, and the connecting hinge slides relative to the end plate 288.
When assembling the shielding mechanism 29, the two covering members 291 are placed side by side and spaced apart from one another, and the hinge 295 is connected between the two covering members 291. As an example, the first rotating shaft 2972 of each of the two connecting rods 297 of each hinge 295 is inserted into a corresponding one of the connecting sleeves 2916. As such, the waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 of each of the two connecting rods 297 faces a corresponding one of the through holes 2963. The two second rotating shafts 2974 respectively extend through the waist-shaped or circular holes 2973 of the two connecting rods 297 and are connected to the through holes 2963, such that each connecting rod 297 is rotatably connected between the fixing member 296 and the covering member 291. When the foldable device 22 is in the bent state, the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the end plate 288 has an area greater than the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the connecting hinge. When the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the end plate 288 has an area less than the overlapping region between the second covering portion 2913 and the connecting hinge.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 26, when assembling the foldable device 22, the two connecting assemblies 24 are respectively disposed at the two opposite ends of the intermediate hinge 251, such that the two second shafts 275 of each connecting assembly 24 are respectively inserted into the two connecting holes 2519 of the intermediate hinge 251. Two connecting end pieces 2535 of the two rotating hinges 253 are abutted against an end surface of the fixing block 286 away from the intermediate hinge 251, such that adjacent through holes 2536 of the two connecting end pieces 2535 face the inner cavities of the two connecting cylinders 2865 of the fixing block 286. Each of the connecting holes 2537 of each rotating hinge 253 faces a corresponding one of the connecting holes 2718 of the middle connecting block 271. A locking member extends through the connecting hole 2537 and is locked in the connecting hole 2718. For each of the two end plates 288, the positioning post 2881 is inserted into the positioning grooves 2868 of the fixing block 286, and the positioning rods 2883 pass through the through holes 2536 to insert into the inner cavities of the connecting cylinders 2865. As such, the two connecting assemblies 24 are respectively connected to the two opposite ends of the middle hinge assembly 250.
The first connecting hinge 255 is placed on one side of the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, the first connecting hinge 255 is placed on a side of the connecting member 260 where the second connecting rod 267 is provided, such that the first connecting portion 262 is slidably inserted into the first connecting hinge 255 and connected to the first connecting rod 263, and the second connecting portion 264 is slidably inserted into the first connecting hinge 255 and connected to the second connecting rod 267. That is, the first connecting portion 262 and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the connecting members 260, which are on such side of the middle hinge assembly 250, are slidably inserted into the first guide groove 2557 and the second guide groove 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255. At the same time, each of the supporting plates 2737 disposed on the same side is also inserted into the second guide groove 2558, such that two opposite ends of each elastic member 25535 are respectively inserted into the receiving groove 25532 and the positioning hole 2616 of the connecting member 260. Each first connecting rod 263 is accommodated in the receiving groove 25536. The first connecting rod 263 is supported on the support plate 2737. The elongated hole 2631 of the first connecting rod 263 is slidably sleeved on the shaft 25537. The connecting hole 2673 of the second connecting rod 267 is slidably sleeved on the connecting post 2593 of the sliding member 259. The connecting ring 2563 at each of the two opposite ends of the moving hinge 256 is contacted with the connecting end piece 2535 of the rotating hinge 253, such that the connecting ring 2563 faces the through hole 2536 at an end of the connecting end piece 2535 away from the intermediate hinge 251. A connecting shaft is inserted into an inner cavity of the connecting ring 2563 and the through hole 2536. The hinge portion 2533 of the rotating hinge 253 is inserted into the receiving groove defined between the two connecting rings 2563 disposed at the middle of the moving hinge 256. A connecting shaft is inserted into inner cavities of the two connecting rings 2563 and the hinge hole 2534. The two through holes 2566 of the moving hinge 256 face the connecting holes 2738 of the two positioning members 27. A locking member extends through the through holes 2566 and is locked in the corresponding connecting holes 2738.
The second connecting hinge 258 is placed on the other side of the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, the second connecting hinge 258 is placed on a side of the connecting member 260 without the second connecting rod 267, such that the first connecting portion 262 and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the connecting members 260 on the such side of the middle hinge assembly 250 are slidably inserted into the first guide groove 2587 and the second guide groove 2588 of the second connecting hinge 258. At the same time, each of the supporting plates 2737 disposed on such side of the middle hinge assembly 250 is also inserted into the second guide groove 2558, such that two opposite ends of each elastic member 2582 are respectively inserted into the receiving groove 2589 and the positioning hole 2616 of the connecting member 260. Each first connecting rod 263 is accommodated in the corresponding second guide groove 2588. The first connecting rod 263 is supported on the support plate 2737. The elongated hole 2631 of the first connecting rod 263 is slidably sleeved on the shaft 25834. The connecting ring 2563 at each of the two opposite ends of the moving hinge 256 is contacted with the connecting end piece 2535 of the rotating hinge 253, such that the connecting ring 2563 faces the through hole 2536 at an end of the connecting end piece 2535 away from the intermediate hinge 251. A connecting shaft is inserted into an inner cavity of the connecting ring 2563 and the through hole 2536. The hinge portion 2533 of the rotating hinge 253 is inserted into the receiving groove defined between the two connecting rings 2563 disposed at the middle of the moving hinge 256. A connecting shaft is inserted into inner cavities of the two connecting rings 2563 and the hinge hole 2534. The two through holes 2566 of the moving hinge 256 face the connecting holes 2738 of the two positioning members 27. A locking member extends through the through holes 2566 and is locked in the corresponding connecting holes 2738.
The shielding mechanism 29 covers the rear surface of the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the two sliding pieces 2556 of the first connecting hinge 255 are slidably inserted into the guide grooves 2915 of the two guide bars 2914 of one of the two covering members 291, and the two sliding pieces 2586 of the second connecting hinge 258 are slidably inserted into the guide grooves 2915 of the two guide bars 2914 of the other one of the two covering members 291. The two fixing members 296 of the shielding mechanism 29 are accommodated in the two fixing grooves 2511 of the intermediate hinge 251. The two protrusions 2962 are accommodated in the two avoidance holes 2512. The through hole 2965 of each fixing member 296 faces the fixing hole 2513. A locking member extends through the through hole 2965 and is locked in the fixing hole 2513. Each elastic member 292 is accommodated in a corresponding one of the positioning grooves 2643, so that the end of the compression spring 2921 away from the abutting member 2923 is sleeved on the positioning post 2644. The protrusion 2910 of the covering member 291 is inserted into the positioning groove 2643 and abuts against the abutting member 2923. As such, the shielding mechanism 29 is stably covered on the rear surface of the bendable mechanism 25, dust and other impurities can be prevented from entering the foldable device 22 through the rear surface of the bendable mechanism 25. The supporting member 50 is connected to the front surface of foldable device 22. As an example, the rear surface of the supporting member 50 is fixedly connected to the front surface of the first connecting hinge 255 and the front surface of the second connecting hinge 258. In this implementation, one side of the rear surface of the supporting member 50 is fixedly connected to a front surface of the positioning block 25590 of the first connecting hinge 255, the other side of the rear surface of the supporting member 50 is fixedly connected to the front surface of the second connecting hinge 258. The supporting member 50 is bent or unfolded along with the foldable device 22.
In an implementation, the second connecting hinge 258 is fixed to the second frame 23. The sliding member 259 is fixed to the first frame 21. One of two opposite sides of the flexible member 30 is fixed on the first frame 21 and the other one of the two opposite sides of the flexible member 30 is fixed on the second frame 23.
In an implementation, the supporting member 50 may have a relatively large length, where one side of the supporting member 50 is still fixed to the first connecting hinge 255, and the other side of the supporting member 50 is fixed to the second frame 23.
In an implementation, when bending the electronic device 100, both the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 slide toward the middle hinge assembly 250, and the sliding member 259 slides toward the middle hinge assembly 250. In an implementation, when bending the electronic device 100, both the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 slide toward the moving hinge 256 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. In an implementation, when bending the electronic device 100, the sliding member 259 slides relative to the first connecting hinge 255. In an implementation, when bending the electronic device 100, the sliding member 259 slides toward the middle hinge assembly 250 relative to the first connecting hinge 255.
In an implementation, the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 can slide relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the supporting member 50 suffers from to a reduced tensile force when bending the electronic device 100. Since the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 can slide relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 are provided with a first-level drop limit structure (for example, the first connecting rods 263), so as to reduce or prevent a sliding movement of the first connecting hinge 255 or the second connecting hinge 258 due to being impacted when the electronic device 100 is dropped, and an undesirable arching of the supporting member 50 is avoided.
In an implementation, the sliding member 259 can slide relative to the first connecting hinge 255, such that the supporting member 50 suffers from to a reduced tensile force when bending the electronic device 100. Since the sliding member 259 can slide relative to the first connecting hinge 255, there is also provided with a second-level fall limit structure (for example, the second connecting rods 267), so as to reduce or prevent a sliding movement of the first connecting hinge 255 or the second connecting hinge 258 due to being impacted when the electronic device 100 is dropped, and an undesirable arching of the supporting member 50 is avoided.
In an implementation, the sliding distance of the sliding member 259 relative to the first connecting hinge 255 is less than the sliding distance of the first connecting hinge 255 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. In an implementation, the sliding distance of the sliding member 259 relative to the first connecting hinge 255 is less than the sliding distance of the first connecting hinge 255 relative to the moving hinge 256 of the middle hinge assembly 250.
The first-level drop limit structure is received within the foldable device 22 and does not occupy an internal space of the first frame 21 and the second frame 23, facilitating arrangement of elements within the first frame 21 and the second frame 23.
In an implementation, the connecting assembly 24 connects the middle hinge assembly 250 with the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258, and is used to drive the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 to move relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. That is, the connecting assembly 24 has a first end rotatably connected to the middle hinge assembly 250 and a second end slidably connected to one of the first connecting hinge 255 or the second connecting hinge 258. As an example, the connecting member 260 on one side of each connecting assembly 24 has one end rotatably connected to the middle hinge assembly 250 and the other end slidably connected to the first connecting hinge 255, and the connecting member 260 on the other side of each connecting assembly 24 has one end rotatably connected to the middle hinge assembly 250 and the other end slidably connected to the second connecting hinge 258.
Referring to FIGS. 27 to 34, when bending the foldable device 22, the first connecting hinge 255 is rotated toward the second connecting hinge 258. The first connecting portion 262 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the second guide grooves 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the first guide grooves 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255. Each first connecting portion 262 slidably pushes a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate away from the middle hinge assembly 250, such that one end of the first connecting rod 263 rotates along a corresponding one of the connecting posts 2621, and the elongated hole 2631 at the other end of the first connecting rod 263 slides relative to and rotates around a corresponding one of the shaft 25537. Each second connecting portion 264 slidably drives a corresponding one of the second connecting rods 267 to rotate away from the middle hinge assembly 250, such that one end of the second connecting rod 267 rotates in a corresponding one of the connecting holes 2641, and the elongated hole 2671 at the other end of the second connecting rod 267 slides relative to and rotates around the connecting post 2593 of a corresponding one of the sliding members 259. At this point, the elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed such that the positioning head 2685 moves out of a corresponding one of the first positioning holes 2866. The elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the first connecting hinge 255. Both of the first connecting portion 262 and the end connecting member 273 slide in the second guide groove 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting portion 264 slides in the first guide groove 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected via the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it will drive the first shaft 281 on one side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate. The first shaft 281 on the one side of the linkage mechanism 28 then drives the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate via the linkage 282, and the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 in turn drives the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, such that the second connecting hinge 258 rotates toward the first connecting hinge 255 synchronously. As such, the second connecting hinge 258 drives the first connecting portion 262 to slide in the second guide groove 2588 and drives the second connecting portion 264 to slide in the first guide groove 2587. The first connecting portion 262 slidably drives a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate away from the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the first connecting rod 263 moves apart from the first limiting portion 2401 until it comes into contact with the second limiting portion 2402. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 slides along the sliding groove 2867 until it slides to one end of the sliding groove 2867 away from the first positioning hole 2866. The two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are brought close to each other to realize linkage bending of the foldable device 22. When bending the foldable device 22, the elastic member 25535 is maintained in compression.
When folding the foldable device 22, the first connecting portion 262 of the connecting member 260 drives a first end of the first connecting rod 263 to rotate relative to the first connecting portion 262 and a second end of the first connecting rod 263 to slide and rotate relative to the shaft 25537 of the first connecting hinge 255, such that the first connecting rod 263 moves away from the first limiting portion 2401 until it abuts against the second limiting portion 2402. At the same time, the second connecting portion 264 drives a first end of the second connecting rod 267 to rotate relative to the second connecting portion 264 and a second end of the second connecting rod 267 to slide and rotate relative to the connecting post 2593 of the sliding member 259, such that the second connecting rod 267 moves away from the third limiting portion 25553 until it abuts against the fourth limiting portion 25554. The first connecting hinge 255 rotates around the first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, the first connecting hinge 255 rotates around the first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 as well as rotates and slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. The moving hinge 256 connected with the first connecting hinge 255 rotates around the second shaft 275 with the positioning member 27 as well as slides relative to the mounting frame. The second connecting hinge 258 rotates around the other first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 as well as slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. The moving hinge 256 connected with the second connecting hinge 258 rotates along the second shaft 275 with the positioning member 27 as well as slides relative to the mounting frame. The two moving hinges 256 respectively drives the two rotating hinges 253 to rotate relative to the intermediate hinge 251 until the foldable device 22 is in the folded state or the unfolded state. When the foldable device 22 is in the folded state, a front surface of the intermediate hinge 251, a front surface of the rotating hinge 253, a front surface of the moving hinge 256, a front surface of the first connecting hinge 255, and a front surface of the second connecting hinge 258 cooperate together to form a continuous arc-shaped supporting surface, where each first connecting rod 263 is in contact with a corresponding one of the second limiting portions 2402, and each second connecting rod 267 is in contact with a corresponding one of the fourth limiting portions 25554. When the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, the front surface of the intermediate hinge 251, the front surface of the rotating hinge 253, the front surface of the moving hinge 256, the front surface of the first connecting hinge 255, and the front surface of the second connecting hinge 258 cooperate together to form a planar support surface, where each first connecting rod 263 is in contact with a corresponding one of the first limiting portions 2401, and each second connecting rod 267 is in contact with a corresponding one of the third limiting portions 25553.
When bending the foldable device 22, each covering member 291 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 via a corresponding one of the connecting rods 297. That is, the first rotating shaft 2972 of the connecting rod 297 rotates in the through hole 2963, and the waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 of the connecting rod 297 is movably connected to the connecting sleeve 2916 via the second rotating shaft 2974. At the same time, each of the two sliding pieces 2556 of the first connecting hinge 255 slides along a corresponding one of the guide grooves 2915, and each of the two sliding pieces 2586 of the second connecting hinge 258 slides along a corresponding one of the guide grooves 2915, so that the two covering members 291 rotate and move toward one another. The covering member 291 remains in attachment to the rear surface of the foldable device 22. The protrusion 2910 of the covering member 291 slidably pushes the elastic member 292 along the positioning groove 2643 to allow the elastic member 292 to be elastically abutted between the connecting member 260 and the covering member 291, such that the covering member 291 can be positioned and prevented from swinging.
In other implementations, the second connecting hinge 258 is rotated toward the first connecting hinge 255. The first connecting portion 262 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the second guide grooves 2558 of the two plate bodies 2583 of the second connecting hinge 258, and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the first guide grooves 2557 of the two plate bodies 2583 of the second connecting hinge 258. Each first connecting portion 262 slidably pushes a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate away from the middle hinge assembly 250, such that one end of the first connecting rod 263 rotates along a corresponding one of the connecting posts 2621, and the elongated hole 2631 at the other end of the first connecting rod 263 slides relative to and rotates around a corresponding one of the shaft 25834. The elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed such that the positioning head 2685 moves out of a corresponding one of the first positioning holes 2866. The elastic member 2582 is elastically abutted between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the second connecting hinge 258. Both of the first connecting portion 262 and the end connecting member 273 slide in the second guide groove 2588 of the second connecting hinge 258, and the second connecting portion 264 slides in the first guide groove 2587 of the second connecting hinge 258. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected via the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it will drive the first shaft 281 on one side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate. The first shaft 281 on the one side of the linkage mechanism 28 then drives the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate via the linkage 282, and the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 in turn drives the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, such that the first connecting hinge 255 rotates toward the second connecting hinge 258 synchronously. As such, the first connecting hinge 255 drives the first connecting portion 262 to slide in the second guide groove 2558 and drives the second connecting portion 264 to slide in the first guide groove 2557. The first connecting portion 262 slidably drives a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate away from the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the first connecting rod 263 moves away from the first limiting portion 2401 until it comes into contact with the second limiting portion 2402. The second connecting portion 264 slidably drives a corresponding one of the second connecting rods 267 to rotate away from the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the second connecting rod 267 moves away from the third limiting portion 25553 until it comes into contact with the fourth limiting portion 25554. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 slides along the sliding groove 2867 until it slides to one end of the sliding groove 2867 away from the first positioning hole 2866. The two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are brought close to each other to realize linkage bending of the foldable device 22. When bending the foldable device 22, the elastic member 25535 is maintained in compression.
In other implementations, the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 can also be simultaneously implemented to rotate toward one another. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected with one another via the linkage mechanism 28, the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 together drive the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 to rotate to drive the two first shafts 281 to rotate. As such, the two connecting members 260 are brought close to each other, so that the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 are brought close to each other synchronously, and the foldable device 22 is bent accordingly.
When unfolding the foldable device 22, the first connecting hinge 255 is rotated away from the second connecting hinge 258. The first connecting portion 262 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the second guide grooves 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the first guide grooves 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255. Each first connecting portion 262 slidably drives a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate close to the middle hinge assembly 250, such that one end of the first connecting rod 263 rotates along a corresponding one of the connecting posts 2621, and the elongated hole 2631 at the other end of the first connecting rod 263 slides relative to and rotates around a corresponding one of the shaft 25537. Each second connecting portion 264 slidably drives a corresponding one of the second connecting rods 267 to rotate close to the middle hinge assembly 250, such that one end of the second connecting rod 267 rotates around a corresponding one of the connecting holes 2641, and the elongated hole 2671 at the other end of the second connecting rod 267 slides relative to and rotates around the connecting post 2593 of a corresponding one of the sliding members 259. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 slides along the sliding groove 2867. The elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed such that the positioning head 2685 moves out of a corresponding one of the first positioning holes 2866. The elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the first connecting hinge 255. Both of the first connecting portion 262 and the end connecting member 273 slide in the second guide groove 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting portion 264 slides in the first guide groove 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected via the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it will drive the first shaft 281 on one side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate. The first shaft 281 on the one side of the linkage mechanism 28 then drives the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate via the linkage 282, and the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 in turn drives the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, such that the second connecting hinge 258 rotates away from the first connecting hinge 255 synchronously. As such, the second connecting hinge 258 drives the first connecting portion 262 to slide in the second guide groove 2588 and drives the second connecting portion 264 to slide in the first guide groove 2587. The first connecting portion 262 slidably drives a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate toward the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the first connecting rod 263 moves apart from the second limiting portion 2402 until it comes into contact with the first limiting portion 2401. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 is abutted and stopped in the first positioning hole 2866. As such, the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are brought away from each other to realize linkage unfolding of the foldable device 22. When unfolding the foldable device 22, the elastic member 25535 is maintained in compression.
When unfolding the foldable device 22, the first connecting portion 262 of the connecting member 260 drives the first end of the first connecting rod 263 to rotate relative to the first connecting portion 262 and the second end of the first connecting rod 263 to slide and rotate relative to the shaft 25537 of the first connecting hinge 255, such that the first connecting rod 263 moves apart from the first limiting portion 2401 until it abuts against the first limiting portion 2401. At the same time, the second connecting portion 264 drives the first end of the second connecting rod 267 to rotate relative to the second connecting portion 264 and the second end of the second connecting rod 267 to slide and rotate relative to the connecting post 2593 of the sliding member 259, such that the second connecting rod 267 moves apart from the fourth limiting portion 25554 until it abuts against the third limiting portion 25553 of the first connecting hinge 255. The first connecting hinge 255 rotates around the first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, the first connecting hinge 255 rotates around the first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 to away from the second connecting hinge 258, as well as slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. The moving hinge 256 connected with the first connecting hinge 255 rotates around the second shaft 275 with the positioning member 27 as well as slides relative to the mounting frame. The second connecting hinge 258 rotates around the other first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 to away from the first connecting hinge 255, as well as slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. The moving hinge 256 connected with the second connecting hinge 258 rotates along the second shaft 275 with the positioning member 27 as well as slides relative to the mounting frame. The two moving hinges 256 move away from one another to drive the two rotating hinges 253 to rotate relative to the intermediate hinge 251 and away from one another, until the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state. When the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, the front surface of the intermediate hinge 251, the front surface of the rotating hinge 253, the front surface of the moving hinge 256, the front surface of the first connecting hinge 255, and the front surface of the second connecting hinge 258 cooperate together to form a planar support surface, where each first connecting rod 263 is in contact with a corresponding one of the first limiting portions 2401, and each second connecting rod 267 is in contact with a corresponding one of the third limiting portions 25553. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 snaps into the first positioning hole 2866.
When unfolding the foldable device 22, each covering member 291 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 via a corresponding one of the connecting rods 297. That is, the first rotating shaft 2972 of the connecting rod 297 rotates in the through hole 2963, and the waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 of the connecting rod 297 is movably connected to the connecting sleeve 2916 via the second rotating shaft 2974. At the same time, each of the two sliding pieces 2556 of the first connecting hinge 255 slides along a corresponding one of the guide grooves 2915, and each of the two sliding pieces 2586 of the second connecting hinge 258 slides along a corresponding one of the guide grooves 2915, so that the two covering members 291 rotate to be unfolded relative to one another. The covering member 291 remains in attachment to the rear surface of the foldable device 22. The protrusion 2910 of the covering member 291 slidably pushes the elastic member 292 along the positioning groove 2643 to allow the elastic member 292 to be elastically abutted between the connecting member 260 and the covering member 291, such that the covering member 291 can be positioned and prevented from swinging.
In other implementations, the second connecting hinge 258 is rotated away from the first connecting hinge 255. The first connecting portion 262 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the second guide grooves 2558 of the two plate bodies 2583 of the second connecting hinge 258, and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the first guide grooves 2557 of the two plate bodies 2583 of the second connecting hinge 258. Each first connecting portion 262 slidably drives a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate close to the middle hinge assembly 250, such that one end of the first connecting rod 263 rotates along a corresponding one of the connecting posts 2621, and the elongated hole 2631 at the other end of the first connecting rod 263 slides relative to and rotates around a corresponding one of the shaft 25834. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 slides along the sliding groove 2867. The elastic member 2582 is elastically abutted between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the second connecting hinge 258. Both of the first connecting portion 262 and the end connecting member 273 slide in the second guide groove 2588 of the second connecting hinge 258, and the second connecting portion 264 slides in the first guide groove 2587 of the second connecting hinge 258. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected via the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it will drive the first shaft 281 on one side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate. The first shaft 281 on the one side of the linkage mechanism 28 then drives the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate via the linkage 282, and the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 in turn drives the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, such that the first connecting hinge 255 rotates away from the second connecting hinge 258 synchronously. As such, the first connecting hinge 255 drives the first connecting portion 262 to slide in the second guide groove 2558 and drives the second connecting portion 264 to slide in the first guide groove 2557. The first connecting portion 262 slidably drives a corresponding one of the first connecting rods 263 to rotate close to the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the first connecting rod 263 moves until it comes into contact with the first limiting portion 2401. The second connecting portion 264 slidably drives a corresponding one of the second connecting rods 267 to rotate toward the middle hinge assembly 250, such that the second connecting rod 267 moves until it comes into contact with the third limiting portion 25553. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 slides along the sliding groove 2867 until it slides to be clamped in the first positioning hole 2866. The two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are brought to move away from each other to realize linkage unfolding of the foldable device 22. When unfolding the foldable device 22, the elastic member 25535 is maintained in compression.
In other implementations, the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 can also be simultaneously implemented to rotate away from one another. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected with one another via the linkage mechanism 28, the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 together drive the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 to rotate to drive the two first shafts 281 to rotate. As such, the two connecting members 260 are brought to move away from each other, so that the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 are brought to move away from each other synchronously, and the foldable device 22 is unfolded accordingly.
When the connecting hinge moves relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the drop limiting mechanism 26 slides relative to the connecting hinge. As an example, when the first connecting hinge 255 rotates and slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the middle hinge assembly 250 slides relative to the first connecting hinge 255. When the second connecting hinge 258 rotates and slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the middle hinge assembly 250 slides relative to the second connecting hinge 258.
When the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, the first connecting rod 263 can be in close contact with the first limiting portion 2401. The second connecting rod 267 can be in close contact with the third limiting portion 25553. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 is snapped into the first positioning hole 2866. The elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the first connecting hinge 258 and the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 2582 is elastically abutted between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the second connecting hinge 258. As such, when the foldable device 22 is dropped, the sliding member 259 is prevented from retracting into the lug 2555 and the connecting hinges are prevented from retracting relative to one another, damage to the flexible screen which is fixedly connected to the foldable device 22 due to arching is avoided. When the foldable device 22 is in the folded state, the first connecting rod 263 can be in close contact with the second limiting portion 2402, and the second connecting rod 267 can be in close contact with the fourth limiting portion 25554. The positioning head 2685 of the elastic positioning member 268 is positioned at one end of the sliding groove 2867. The elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the first connecting hinge 258 and the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 2582 is elastically abutted between the middle hinge assembly 250 and the second connecting hinge 258. As such, when the foldable device 22 is dropped, the sliding member 259 can also be prevented from retracted into the lug 2555 and the connecting hinges can also be prevented from retracting relative to one another, damage to the flexible screen which is fixedly connected to the foldable device 22 due to arching is avoided.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 11 to 14, the assembled foldable device 22 is disposed between the first frame 21 and the second frame 23. The two lugs 2555 of the first connecting hinge 255 are received within the first frame 21. The sliding members 259 are received and fixed within the first frame 21. The moving hinge 256 and the mounting frame 255 are slidable relative to one another along a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 25535 exerts an elastic pushing force to the mounting frame 255 in a direction away from the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic member 25531 exerts an elastic pushing force on the sliding member 259 in a direction away from the first connecting hinge 255. At this point, one sliding member 259 is disposed on one side of the bendable mechanism 25 and is connected to the first frame 21. The second frame 23 is connected to the other side of the bendable mechanism 25 away from the one sliding member 259. The elastic member 2582 exerts an elastic pushing force on the mounting frame in a direction away from the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, all of the elastic members 25535, the elastic members 2582, and the elastic members 25531 are pre-compressed and mounted in corresponding positions. The front surface of the supporting member 50 on the foldable device 22 is coplanar with a front surface of the first frame 21 as well as a front surface of the second frame 23. The rear surface of the flexible screen 30 is fixed to the front surface of the first frame 21 and the front surface of the second frame 23. The rear surface of the flexible screen 30 is slidably connected to the front surface of the supporting member 50, and optionally, via an elastic adhesive. The rear surface of the supporting member 50 is slidably connected to the middle hinge assembly 250, and optionally, via an elastic adhesive.
In an implementation, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the supporting member 50 includes a first connecting region 522, a second connecting region 524, and a bendable region 526 located between the first connecting region 522 and the second connecting region 524. In an implementation, the first connecting region 522 of the supporting member 50 is connected to the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting region 524 is connected to the second connecting hinge 258. In an implementation, the first connecting region 522 of the supporting member 50 is fixed to the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting region 524 is fixed to the second connecting hinge 258. In an implementation, the supporting member 50 may have a relatively large length, and in this case, the first connecting region 522 of the supporting member 50 is connected to the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting region 524 is connected to the second frame 23 and the second connecting hinge 258. As an example, the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50 is slidably connected with the middle hinge assembly 250 located between the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258. When bending the foldable device 22, the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50 slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 located between the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, both the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 slide relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 to allow the supporting member 50 to suffer from a reduced tensile force and to have a constant or basically constant length. Since the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 is capable of providing sliding compensation by themselves when bending the foldable device 22, there is no need to additionally provide any components to realize the sliding compensation for bending the foldable device 22, which can effectively save the space occupied by the foldable device 22.
In an implementation, the flexible member 30 includes a first connecting portion 301, a second connecting portion 303, and a bendable portion 305 located between the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 303. The bendable portion 305 faces the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50. As an example, the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 303 include the non-bendable region 33, and the bendable portion 305 includes the bendable region 31. It is noted that, the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 303 may also be bendable. As an example, the first connecting portion 301 is connected to the first frame 21. The second connecting portion 303 is connected to one of the second frame 23 or the second connecting region 524 of the supporting member 50. The bendable portion 305 is slidably connected to the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50. As an example, the first connecting portion 301 is fixed to the first frame 21, and the second connecting portion 303 is fixed to one of the second frame 23 or the second connecting region 524 of the supporting member 50. As an example, the first frame 21 is connected to the sliding member 259. In an implementation, the first frame 21 is elastically connected or fixedly connected to the sliding member 259. When bending the foldable device 22, the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 slide relative to the middle hinge assembly 250, the first frame 21 slides relative to the first connecting hinge 255, the second frame 23 is fixed relative to the second connecting hinge 258, and the bendable portion 305 slides relative to the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50. As such, the tensile force exerted on the flexible member 30 is reduced and the flexible member 30 has a constant or basically constant length.
In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, two opposite sides of the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50 slide inward relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. The whole bendable portion 305 of the flexible member 30 slides relative to the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50 in a direction from the bendable region 526 to the second connecting region 524 of the supporting member 50. The bendable portion 305 slides relative to the bendable region 526 in a same direction in which a side of the bendable region 526 of the supporting member 50 adjacent to the first connecting region 522 slides relative to the middle hinge assembly 250.
In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, a sliding distance of one side of the bendable portion 305 of the flexible member 30 close to the second connecting portion 303 relative to the supporting member 50 is less than a sliding distance of the flexible member 30 on the other side of the bendable portion 305 close to the first connecting portion 301 relative to the supporting member 50.
In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 22, a sliding distance of the bendable portion 305 of the flexible member 30 relative to the supporting member 50 is less than a sliding distance of the first connecting portion 301 relative to the supporting member 50.
Since the sliding compensation is implemented bidirectionally inside the foldable device 22, both a sliding distance of the first connecting hinge 255 and a sliding distance of the second connecting hinge 258 slides can be reduced, thereby improving the reliability of handing the foldable device 22. The sliding compensation is implemented unidirectionally outside the foldable device 22, such that a reduced space is occupied within the second frame 23, and a layout of components in the second frame 23 can be optimized, for example, a large capacity battery can be accommodated in the second frame 23.
In an implementation, the sliding compensation is also implemented unidirectionally inside the foldable device 22. That is, only one of the connecting hinges on one side of the foldable device 22 is slidable, and the other one of the connecting hinges on the other side of the foldable device 22 is fixedly or rotatably connected with the adjacent middle hinge assembly.
When the foldable device 22 is in the unfolded state, the first connecting rod 263 of the drop limiting mechanism 26 is in contact with or adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401, and the second connecting rod 267 is in contact with or adjacent to the third limiting portion 25553. In this way, when the foldable device 22 in the unfolded state suffers from a pressing force (for example, an impact force when the foldable device 22 is dropped) toward the middle region of the foldable device 22, retraction of the foldable device 22 in a lateral direction caused by the pressing force can be avoided, and an the flexible screen 30 is prevented from arching. When the foldable device 22 is in the bent state, the first connecting rod 263 of the drop limiting mechanism 26 is in contact with or adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402, and the second connecting rod 267 is in contact with to or adjacent to the fourth limiting portion 25554. In this way, when the foldable device 22 in the bent state suffers from a pressing force (for example, an impact force when the foldable device 22 is dropped) toward the middle region of the foldable device 22, retraction of the foldable device 22 in a lateral direction caused by the pressing force can be avoided, and the flexible screen 30 is prevented from arching.
In an implementation, the supporting member 50 is fixedly connected to the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258. When bending the foldable device 22, the mounting frame can be driven to slide relative to the moving hinge 256. The supporting member 50 can be bent when bending the foldable device 22. The bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 can be bent when bending the supporting member 50. During bending the foldable device 22, the supporting member 50 has a constant size. The elastic members 25535 and 2582 are pushed against the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 outward to allow the supporting member 50 to be at tension. The elastic member 25531 pushes the sliding member 259 outward to allow the flexible screen 30 to be at tension.
When the flexible member 30 is in the unfolded state, the positioning head 2685 of each elastic positioning member 268 is snapped into the corresponding first positioning hole 2866. The first connecting rod 263 is abutted against the first limiting portion 2401, and the second connecting rod 267 is abutted against the third limiting portion 25553 to position the bendable mechanism 25 to remain in the unfolded state.
Referring to FIGS. 26 to 34, when bending the electronic device 100, a bending force is applied to at least one of the first frame 21 or the second frame 23 of the electronic device 100, which allows the first connecting hinge 255 connected to the first frame 21 and the second connecting hinge 258 connected to the second frame 23 to rotate toward one another, so as to bend the foldable device 22 via two connecting assemblies 24, and the bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 is bent when bending the supporting member 50. As an example, when the bending force is applied to the first frame 21, the first frame 21 drives the first connecting hinge 255 to rotate around the first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 in a direction away from the flexible member 30. The first connecting hinge 255 drives the corresponding connecting members 260 of the two connecting assemblies 24 to rotate. The two first connecting portions 262 slide in the two second guide grooves 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255, the two second connecting portions 264 respectively slide in the two first guide grooves 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255, such that the elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed to allow the positioning head 2685 to disengage from the corresponding first positioning hole 2866. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected via the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connecting the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it will drive the first shaft 281 on one side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate. The first shaft 281 on the one side of the linkage mechanism 28 then drives the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate via the linkage 282, and the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 in turn drives the connecting member 260 connecting the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, such that the second connecting hinge 258 rotates toward the first connecting hinge 255 synchronously. Each of the two first connecting rods 263 rotates toward the second limiting portion 2402 in the receiving groove 25536 of the first connecting hinge 255, and each of the two second connecting rods 267 rotates in the through hole 25551 toward the fourth limiting portion 25554, so that the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are also close to each other, and thus the foldable device 22 is bent accordingly. The bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 is bent when bending the foldable device 22 until the rear surface of the first frame 21 comes into contact with the rear surface of the second frame 23.
At this point, the foldable device 22 is bent and in the folded state, and the flexible member 30 is bent along with the foldable device 22. As such, the front surface of the middle hinge assembly 250, the front surface of the first connecting hinge 255, and the front surface of the second connecting hinge 258 are connected to form an arcuate surface in an arch shape, thereby facilitating attaching of the flexible member 30.
When bending the foldable device 22, each of the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 rotates around the corresponding first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250. As an example, the two covering members 291 of the shielding mechanism 29 rotate relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 when bending the foldable device 22, so that the covering member 291 always covers the rear surface of the bendable mechanism 25 to prevent dust and other impurities from entering the foldable device 22 from the rear surface of the electronic device 100.
The electronic device 100 can also be bent in other manners. As an example, it is also possible to apply the bending force only to the second frame 23. The second frame 23 drives the second connecting hinge 258 to rotate around the first shaft 281 relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 in a direction away from the flexible member 30. The second connecting hinge 255 drives the corresponding connecting members 260 of the two connecting assemblies 24 to rotate. The two first connecting portions 262 respectively slide in the two second guide grooves 2588 of the second connecting hinge 258, the two second connecting portions 264 respectively slide in the two first guide grooves 2587 of the second connecting hinge 258, such that the elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed to allow the positioning head 2685 to disengage from the corresponding first positioning hole 2866. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected via the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it will drive the first shaft 281 on one side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate. The first shaft 281 on the one side of the linkage mechanism 28 then drives the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate via the linkage 282, and the first shaft 281 on the other side of the linkage mechanism 28 in turn drives the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, such that the first connecting hinge 255 rotates toward the second connecting hinge 258 synchronously. Each of the two first connecting rods 263 rotates toward the second limiting portion 2402 in the receiving groove 25536 of the first connecting hinge 255, and each of the two second connecting rods 267 rotates toward the fourth limiting portion 25554 in the through hole 25551, so that the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are also close to each other, and thus the foldable device 22 is bent accordingly. The bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 is bent when bending the foldable device 22 until the rear surface of the first frame 21 comes into contact with the rear surface of the second frame 23.
The electronic device 100 can also be bent in other manners. For example, it is also possible to apply a bending force to the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 at the same time. The first frame 21 and the second frame 23 respectively drive the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 to rotate away from the flexible member 30, and implement the bending of the electronic device 100 via the foldable device 22.
When unfolding the electronic device 100, the first frame 21 or the second frame 23 is pulled outward, so that the first connecting hinge 255 connected to the first frame 21 and the second connecting hinge 258 connected to the second frame 23 rotate away from one another. As an example, an outward pulling force is applied to at least one of the first frame 21 or the second frame 23 of the electronic device 100, so that the first connecting hinge 255 connected to the first frame 21 and the second connecting hinge 258 connected to the second frame 23 rotate away from one another. When the outward pulling force is applied to the first frame 21, the first frame 21 drives the connecting member 260 of the first connecting hinge 255 to rotate around the first shaft 281 toward one side of the flexible member 30. The first connecting portion 262 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the second guide grooves 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255, and the second connecting portion 264 of each of the two connecting members 260 slides in a corresponding one of the first guide grooves 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255, such that the first connecting rod 263 and the second connecting rod 267 are driven to rotate toward the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed, and the positioning head 2685 slides along the corresponding sliding groove 2867. Since the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are connected through the linkage mechanism 28, when the connecting member 260 connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the linkage mechanism 28 rotates, it can drive the corresponding first shaft 281 to rotate. The first shaft 281 drives the other side first shaft 281 to rotate through the linkage mechanism 28. The rotation of the first shaft 281 on the other side drives the connecting member 260 connected between the second connecting hinge 258 and the linkage mechanism 28 to rotate, so that the second connecting hinge 258 rotates synchronously away from the first connecting hinge 255. The connecting member 260 connected to second the connecting hinge 258 drives the corresponding first connecting rod 263 and the second connecting rod 267 to rotate toward the middle hinge assembly 250. The elastic positioning member 268 is elastically deformed until the positioning head 2685 snaps into the corresponding first positioning hole 2866. As such, the two connecting members 260 of each connecting assembly 24 are also moved away from one another until the foldable device 22 comes into the unfolded state. The bendable region 31 of the flexible member 30 is unfolded when unfolding the foldable device 22.
The electronic device 100 can also be unfolded in other manners. For example, it is also possible to apply an outward pulling force to the second frame 23 only, and the second frame 23 implements the unfolding of the electronic device 100 via the foldable device 22.
The electronic device 100 can also be unfolded in other manners. For example, it is also possible to simultaneously apply an outward pulling force to each of the first frame 21 and the second frame 23. The first frame 21 and the second frame 23 respectively drive the corresponding connecting hinge to rotate around the corresponding first shaft 281 toward one side of the flexible member 30. As such, the electronic device 100 can be unfolded.
Referring to FIGS. 35 to 41, an electronic device 100 a provided according to another implementation of the present implementation is substantially identical with the electronic device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 34 in structure, except in the electronic device 100 a, a connecting assembly 24 a, a drop limiting mechanism 26 a, a shielding mechanism 29 a, and an elastic member 25535 illustrated in FIGS. 35 to 41 are different from those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 34 in structure. In addition, the foldable device of the electronic device 100 a illustrated in FIGS. 35 to 41 is not provided with the positioning member 27, and each connecting assembly 24 a is directly connected to the connecting hinge and the middle hinge assembly 250. Details are described as follows.
As illustrated in FIGS. 35 to 41, the connecting assembly 24 a also includes the drop limiting mechanism and the linkage mechanism 28. The drop limiting mechanism includes a connecting member 260 a connected with the middle hinge assembly 250 and the connecting hinge, and a first connecting rod 263 and a second connecting rod 267 connected between the connecting hinge and the connecting member 260 a. The connecting member 260 a includes a first connecting member 2601 and a second connecting member 2602 connected to the middle hinge assembly 250. The first connecting member 2601 and the second connecting member 2602 are separated. The first connecting member 2601 has one end connected to the first shaft 281 and the other end, which is away from the middle hinge assembly 250, inserted into the connecting hinge and connected to the first connecting rod 263. The second connecting member 2602 has one end connected to the first shaft 281 and the other end, which is away from the middle hinge assembly 250, inserted into the connecting hinge and connected to the second connecting rod 267. As an example, the first connecting member 2601 of each connecting member 260 a close to the first connecting hinge 255 is provided with a first connecting portion 2603 at one end away from the first shaft 281. The first connecting portion 2603 is slidably inserted into the second guide groove 2558 of the first connecting hinge 255. The first connecting rod 263 is connected between the first connecting portion 2603 and the shaft 25537 of the first connecting hinge 255. The second connecting member 2602 of each connecting member 260 a close to the first connecting hinge 255 is provided with a second connecting portion 2604 at one end away from the first shaft 281. The second connecting portion 2604 is slidingly inserted into the first guide groove 2557 of the first connecting hinge 255. The second connecting rod 267 is connected between the second connecting portion 2604 and the connecting post 2593 of the corresponding sliding member 259. In this implementation, the first connecting member 2601 and the second connecting member 2602 of the connecting member 260 a are separated. The elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the connecting member 260 a and the first connecting hinge 255. As an example, the elastic member 25535 is elastically abutted between the first connecting portion 2603 and the first connecting hinge 255. As an example, the first connecting hinge 255 is provided with a protruding post on one side of the first connecting portion 2603 facing the first connecting hinge 255. The first connecting hinge 255 defines a receiving groove thereon. The elastic member 25535 is received in the receiving groove, and the elastic member 25535 is fixedly sleeved on the protruding post at one end of the elastic member 25535.
The shielding mechanism 29 a is also rotatably connected to the rear surface of the middle hinge assembly 250 via the hinge 295. The shielding mechanism 29 a includes two covering members 291. Each covering member 291 is connected to the corresponding connecting member 26 a via an elongated hole and a guide portion. The elongated hole extends in a direction perpendicular to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 25. The guide portion has one end slidably received in the elongated hole and the other end connected to the covering member 291 or the connecting member 26 a. The elongated hole is defined on one of the connecting member 26 a or the covering member 291. When the connecting member 26 a rotates around the first shaft 281, the guide portion slides in the corresponding elongated hole. In this implementation, the elongated hole is used as the strip groove 2606. The strip groove 2606 is defined on the second connecting member 2602 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first shaft 281. The guide portion is a sliding rod 2918 disposed on the covering member 291. One end of the sliding rod 2918 away from the covering member 291 is slidably received in the strip groove 2606.
In other implementations, the strip groove may also be defined in the covering member 291. The strip groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first shaft 281. The guide portion may be a sliding rod disposed on the connecting member 26 a. One end of the sliding rod away from the connecting member 26 a is slidably accommodated in the elongated hole.
In an implementation, the sliding rod 2918 is connected to the strip groove 2606 via a locking member 2919. The locking member 2919 is slidably disposed in the strip groove 2606.
The first connecting portion 2603 is provided with an elastic positioning member 268. That is, the first connecting portion 2603 defines a receiving groove thereon, and the elastic positioning member 268 is received in the receiving groove. The elastic positioning member 268 has one end abutted against an end wall of the receiving groove away from the first shaft 281 and the other end which passes through the first connecting portion 2603 and is clamped to the first positioning hole 2866 of the linkage mechanism, so as to position the foldable device 22 a to be in the unfolded state or the bent state.
In this implementation, several hinges 295 are arranged adjacent to connection between the two covering members 291 along a length direction of the covering member 291. Two opposite ends of each hinge 295 are respectively hinged with a connecting rod 297. One end of the connecting rod 297 away from the hinge 295 is hinged to one of the covering members 291, and one end of the other connecting rod 297 away from the hinge 295 is hinged to the other covering member 291. The middle hinge assembly 250 defines several fixing grooves 2511, which face the hinges 295 of the shielding mechanism 29 a, on the rear surface of the middle hinge assembly 250. When the shielding mechanism 29 a is covered on the rear surface of the foldable device 22 a, each hinge 295 is accommodated and fixed in the corresponding fixing groove 2511, and each connecting rod 297 is movable in the corresponding fixing groove 2511.
Referring to FIG. 38 and FIG. 41, each connecting rod 297 defines a limiting groove 2975 on one side thereof facing the corresponding covering member 291. When the foldable device is in the folded state, one side of the covering member 291 close to the hinge 295 is accommodated in the limiting groove 2975 of the corresponding connecting rod 297 to position the covering member 291. That is, when the foldable device 22 a is folded, an edge of the covering member 291 close to the hinge 295 is matched with the limiting groove 2975 of the corresponding connecting rod 297 to position the covering member 291.
In other implementations, the hinge 295 and the middle hinge assembly 250 may also be integrally formed.
In this implementation, when bending the foldable device 22 a, each covering member 291 rotates relative to the middle hinge assembly 250 via a corresponding connecting rod 297. The two sliding rods 2918 of the covering member 291 slide along the corresponding two strip grooves 2606, so that the two covering members 291 rotate and move toward one other. The covering member 291 is always in contact with the rear surface of the foldable device 22 to prevent dust and other impurities from entering the foldable device 22 from the rear surface of the foldable device 22.
Referring to FIGS. 42 to 49, an electronic device 100 b provided according to another implementation of the present disclosure is substantially identical with the electronic device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 34 in structure, except in the electronic device 100 b, the supporting member, the shielding mechanism 29 b, the drop limiting mechanism 26 b, and the positioning member illustrated in FIGS. 42 to 50 are different from those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 34 in structure. Elements, structures, functions, effects, functions, coordination relationships, connection relationships, assembly manners, operating principles, and operating modes that are not mentioned or explicitly mentioned in this implementation are identical with or similar to the foregoing implementations, and reference can be made to descriptions of the foregoing implementations.
As illustrated in FIGS. 42 to 50, the supporting member 50 a is provided between the flexible member 30 and the foldable device 22 b. The supporting member 50 a includes a supporting member 52 and a supporting layer 54 laminated with the supporting member 52. The supporting member 52 has two opposite sides which are respectively connected to front surfaces of the connecting hinges on two opposite sides of the bendable mechanism 25. As an example, the two opposite sides of the supporting member 52 are respectively fixedly connected to the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258.
In an implementation, the first frame 21 and the second frame 23 are disposed on two opposite sides of the bendable mechanism 25. In this implementation, the first connecting hinge 255 is connected to the first frame 21, and the second connecting hinge 258 is connected to the second frame 23. The supporting member 52 has one side fixedly connected to the first connecting hinge 255 and the other side which is away from the first connecting hinge 255 and can be fixedly connected to the second connecting hinge 258 and the second frame 23.
Both the supporting member 52 and the supporting layer 54 are bendable supporting sheets. Two opposite sides of a rear surface of the supporting member 52 are respectively fixedly connected to a front surface of the first connecting hinge 255 and a front surface of the second connecting hinge 258 of the bendable mechanism 25. The supporting member 52 has a cross section, which is perpendicular to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 25, with a constant length. That is, the length of the cross section of the supporting member 52 when the foldable device 22 is unfolded remains the same as that of the supporting member 52 when the foldable device 22 is folded.
Both the supporting member 52 and the supporting layer 54 can be, but are not limited to, a sheet made of copper foil, liquid metal, plastic or other composite materials. In this implementation, the supporting member 52 is a liquid metal sheet.
In other implementations, the supporting layer 54 may also be a flexible transparent cover plate, such as a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film layer, a polyimide (PI) film layer, and the like.
In an implementation, the supporting member 52 is fixedly connected to the front surface of the connecting hinge via clamping posts and clamping holes matched with the clamping posts. Alternatively, the supporting member 52 is connected with the connecting hinge via an adhesive. As an example, the supporting member 52 is provided with multiple clamping posts 521 on the rear surface thereof, and each of the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258 defines multiple clamping holes on the front surface thereof. The multiple clamping posts 521 of the supporting member 52 are respectively clamped into the corresponding clamping holes, so that the supporting member 52 is fixedly connected between the first connecting hinge 255 and the second connecting hinge 258.
In this implementation, the first connecting hinge 255 defines multiple clamping holes 25501 on the front surface of the first connecting hinge 255 along its length direction. The supporting member 52 is provided with multiple clamping posts 521 on the rear surface of the supporting member 52 corresponding to the multiple clamping holes 25501. Each clamping post 521 is clamped in the corresponding clamping hole 25501 to fix one side of the supporting member 52 to the first connecting hinge 255. As an example, several clamping holes 25501 are defined on the front surface of the first connecting hinge 255, and the clamping posts 521 of the supporting member 52 are respectively clamped into the corresponding clamping holes 25501 to fixedly connect to the first connecting hinge 255. The other side of the supporting member 52 away from the first connecting hinge 255 is fixedly connected to the second connecting hinge 258 and the second frame 23 via an adhesive.
In this implementation, each of two opposite ends of one side of the first connecting hinge 255 away from the second connecting hinge 258 is provided with the lug 2555 which extends vertically outwardly. There is a sliding member 259 slidingly sleeved on each lug 2555. The first frame 21 is connected to the sliding member 259. The second frame 23 is connected to the second connecting hinge 258. The rear surface of the supporting member 52 is fixedly connected to the first connecting hinge 255, the second connecting hinge 258, and the second frame 23.
In an implementation, the supporting layer 54 can be considered as a part of the flexible member 30. That is, the flexible member 30 includes a flexible screen and a supporting layer 54 attached to the bottom of the flexible screen. The supporting layer 54 can have a same size as the flexible screen. The supporting layer 54 can be fixedly connected with the flexible screen via an adhesive.
In an implementation, the rear surface of the supporting layer 54 has one side fixedly connected to the first frame 21 and the sliding member 259 and the other side fixedly connected to the second frame 23. When bending or unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first frame 21 and the sliding member 259 slide with the supporting layer 54 relative to the corresponding connecting hinge, and the supporting member 52 is slidable relative to the supporting layer. As an example, the supporting layer 54 is laminated on the front surface of the supporting member 52. The rear surface of the supporting layer 54 has one end fixedly connected to the front surface of the supporting member 52 away from the bendable mechanism 25 (that is, the rear surface of the supporting layer 54 is fixedly connected to the supporting member 52 which is on the front surface of the second frame 23) and the other side fixedly connected to the first frame 21. The supporting member 52 is in sliding contact with the supporting layer 54 at a bendable region. In this implementation, the supporting member 52 can be connected with the supporting layer 54 by means of adhesive connection, clamping connection, etc. The supporting layer 54 can be connected with the first frame 21 by means of adhesive connection, clamping connection, screw connection, etc.
As illustrated in FIG. 43 and FIG. 44, in an implementation, the supporting member 50 further includes a supporting plate 56 which is fixedly covered on the front surface of the first frame 21. When the supporting plate 56 is connected to the front surface of the first frame 21, the front surface of the supporting member 52 is coplanar with the front surface of the supporting plate 56, and a part of the rear surface of the supporting layer 54 corresponding to the first frame 21 is fixed and covers the front surface of the supporting plate 56.
In an implementation, when unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, each of the two connecting hinges moves with the supporting member 52 relative to a corresponding first connecting rod 263. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves toward the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the connecting hinge, until it abuts against the first limiting portion to prevent the bendable mechanism 25 from further unfolding or bending. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves toward the second limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until it abuts against the second limiting portion to prevent the bendable mechanism 25 from further unfolding or bending.
As illustrated in FIG. 48, the rear surface of the intermediate hinge 251 is provided with a supporting portion 25101. The shielding mechanism 29 b is supported by the supporting portion 25101 of the intermediate hinge 251. Side portions of the shielding mechanism 29 b away from the supporting portion 25101 are slidably connected to the connecting hinges. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the connecting hinge can drive the shielding mechanism 29 b to slide relative to the bendable mechanism 25. That is, the supporting portion 25101 is used to support one side of each covering member 291 close to the intermediate hinge 251 on the rear surface of the intermediate hinge 251.
In this implementation, the shielding mechanism 29 b includes a fixing member 296 positioned on the supporting portion 25101 and two covering members 291 hinged with two opposite sides of the fixing member 296. The covering member 291 is used to cover the rear surface of the bendable mechanism 25. One side of the covering member 291 away from the fixing member 296 is connected to a corresponding connecting hinge.
As illustrated in FIGS. 50 to 56, the supporting portion 25101 includes two rows of positioning pieces 25102 disposed on two opposite sides of the rear surface of the intermediate hinge 251. The intermediate hinge 251 defines a cavity at a position corresponding to the covering member 291, and the supporting portion 25101 is disposed in the cavity. The rear surface of the intermediate hinge 251 cooperates with the two rows of positioning pieces 25102 to define a positioning space 25103 therebetween. The fixing member 296 is positioned in the positioning space 25103, so as to position the shielding mechanism 29 b on the intermediate hinge 251 and to limit a movement stroke of the shielding mechanism 29 b. The fixing member 296 can be positioned on the intermediate hinge 251 through clamping connection, screw connection, or adhesive connection. In this implementation, the rear surface of the intermediate hinge 251 is provided with multiple clamping posts 25105 and defines multiple locking holes 25106 in the positioning space 25103. The fixing member 296 includes a fixing strip 2960 and multiple connecting rods 297. Each connecting rod 297 is connected between the fixing strip 2960 and the corresponding covering member 291. Each connecting rod 297 is provided with a rotating shaft at each of two opposite ends thereof. One of the rotating shafts is rotatably connected to the fixing member 296, and the other one of the rotating shafts is rotatably connected to the corresponding covering member 291. As an example, each connecting rod 297 includes a connecting rod body 2971, a first rotating shaft 2972 disposed at one end of the connecting rod body 2971, and a second rotating shaft 2974 movably connected to the other end of the connecting rod 2971. The connecting rod body 2971 defines a waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 at one end thereof away from the first rotating shaft 2972. The second rotating shaft 2974 is inserted into the waist-shaped or circular hole 2973 and connected with the fixing strip 2960. It is noted that, both ends of the connecting rod body 2971 can be provided with a rotating shaft integrated with the connecting rod body 2971, and alternatively, both ends of the connecting rod body 2971 can be provided with a waist-shaped or circular hole to movably connect to a rotating shaft.
In an implementation, the positioning piece 25102 of the supporting portion 25101 extends toward the covering member 291. As an example, when the foldable device 22 b is in the bent state, the supporting portion 25101 is used to support the covering member 291 or is spaced apart from the covering member 291. As an example, when the foldable device 22 b is in the unfolded state, the supporting portion 25101 is used to support the covering member 291. As an example, when bending the foldable device 22 bt, the supporting portion 25101 slides relative to the covering member 291. The supporting portion 25101 is used to support the covering member 291 to prevent the covering member 291 from being significantly sagged when being excessively pressed by a user. In an implementation, the supporting portion 25101 supports one side of the covering member 291 close to the intermediate hinge 251. As an example, a pair of positioning pieces 25102 for supporting each of the two covering members 291 has different heights. For the pair of positioning pieces 25102, one of the positioning pieces 25102 directly abuts against or is adjacent to the rear surface of one covering member 291, and the other one of the positioning pieces 25102 directly abuts against or is adjacent to a rear surface of the fixing piece 2912 of the other covering member 291. In an implementation, the supporting portion 25101 can abut against or be adjacent to the covering member 291. As an example, since the supporting portion 25101 is used to prevent the covering member 291 from being significantly sagged under pressure, the supporting portion 25101 does not have to abut against the covering member 291, but can be separated from the covering member 291 by a small gap and adjacent to the covering member 291. By defining a small gap between the supporting portion 25101 and the covering member 291, it is possible to reduce or avoid friction between the supporting portion 25101 and the covering member 291 when bending the foldable device 22 b, and thus influence to the sliding of the covering member 291 can be avoided. As an example, when the supporting portion 25101 is adjacent to the covering member 291, it indicates that the gap between the supporting portion 25101 and the covering member 291 is less than or equal to a preset distance. In an implementation, the preset distance can be greater than zero and less than or equal to 8 mm. That is, it is only necessary to ensure that the covering member 291 does not appear to sag significantly when being pressed. In an implementation, the supporting portion 25101 can also directly abut against the covering member 291 to provide a better supporting.
In an implementation, when the foldable device 22 b is in the unfolded state, the supporting portion 25101 is covered by the covering member 291. When the foldable device 22 b is in the unfolded state, the supporting portion 25101 is located outside the covering member 291. In an implementation, an outer side of the supporting portion 25101 abuts against one side of the bendable mechanism 25, and an inner side is disposed corresponding to the supporting portion 25101.
The fixing member 296 is provided with multiple protrusions 2962 on one side of the fixing member 296 facing the supporting portion 25101. Each protrusion 2962 defines a through hole 2963 which extends along a direction parallel to the rotation axis. The rotating shaft of the connecting rod 297 away from the covering member 291 is accommodated in the through hole 2963. The middle hinge 251 defines an avoidance hole 25105 corresponding to the protrusion 2962. As an example, the two connecting rods 297 are respectively disposed at the two opposite ends of the fixing strip 2960, and each connecting rod 297 is rotatably connected to the fixing strip 2960. Each of two opposite sides of each end of the fixing strip 2960 defines a receiving groove 29601 thereon, and each receiving groove 29601 rotatably accommodates the connecting rod 297. Each end of the fixing strip 2960 is provided with one protrusion 2962 on one side of each receiving groove 29601, and each protrusion 2962 defines the through hole 2963 which extends along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 2972. The second rotating shaft 2974 at one end of each connecting rod 297 is rotatably inserted into the through hole 2963 of the fixing strip 2960, and the first rotating shaft 2972 at the other end of the connecting rod 297 is rotatably inserted into the connecting sleeve 2916 of the corresponding covering member 291. The fixing strip 2960 defines multiple through holes 2965 corresponding to the multiple locking holes 25106 of the intermediate hinge 251. The fixing strip 2960 defines multiple clamping holes 29604 corresponding to the multiple clamping posts 25105 of the intermediate hinge 251. The fixing member 296 is accommodated in the positioning space 25103 of the intermediate hinge 251, so that the clamping post 25105 is clamped into the corresponding clamping hole 29604 of the fixing member 296. The locking holes 25106 of the intermediate hinge 251 respectively face the through holes 2965 of the fixing strip 2960. A locking member extends through the through hole 2965 and is locked in the locking hole 25106.
The fixing pieces 2912 on one of the covering members 291 are staggered with the fixing pieces 2912 on other one of the covering members 291. The fixing piece 2912 is fixedly connected with the corresponding covering member 291 via clamping posts and clamping holes. As illustrated in FIG. 50, in this implementation, the covering member 291 defines a fixing groove 29106 corresponding to the fixing piece 2912 on the rear surface of the covering member 291, and the fixing piece 2912 is accommodated in the fixing groove 29106. The covering member 291 is provided with a clamping post 29107 on the rear surface of the covering member 291 in the fixing groove 29106. Each fixing piece 2912 defines a clamping hole 29120 thereon. When the fixing piece 2912 is received in the corresponding fixing groove 29106, each clamping post 29107 is clamped into the corresponding clamping hole 29120, so that the fixing piece 2912 is fixedly connected to the covering member 291. In this implementation, each fixing piece 2912 defines two clamping holes 29120 thereon, and the two clamping holes 29120 are spaced apart from one another, and each fixing groove 29106 of the covering member 291 is provided with two clamping posts 29107. When the fixing member 2912 is received in the fixing groove 29106, the two clamping posts 29107 are respectively clamped into the two clamping holes 29120. As an example, when each fixing piece 2912 is received in a corresponding fixing groove 29106, the connection between the fixing piece 2912 and the fixing groove 29106 can be reinforced via an adhesive. As an example, a surface of each fixing piece 2912 facing the covering member 291 defines an adhesive containing groove. The adhesive containing groove is defined by protrudes on surface edges of the fixing piece 2912 facing the covering member 291 and is used for accommodating the adhesive adhered to the fixing piece 2912 and the covering member 291.
As illustrated in FIG. 50, FIG. 52, and FIG. 53, the protrusion 2910 on the rear surface of the covering member 291 defines a hook 29109 corresponding to the abutting member 2923 thereon. The compression spring 2921 abuts and pushes the abutting member 2923 to be clamped with the hook 29109. As an example, the protrusion 2910 on the rear surface of the covering member 291 defines a hook 29109 on one side thereof facing the abutting member 2923. The hook 29109 is provided with a clasp 29230 on one side of the abutting member 2923 facing the hook 29109. The elastic member 2921 abuts against the abutting member 2923, so that the clasp 29230 is engaged with the hook 29109. When the covering member 291 rotates with the bendable mechanism 25 relative to the intermediate hinge 251, the clasp 29230 of the abutting member 2923 remains in engagement with the hook 29109 to prevent the covering member 291 from being separated from the bendable mechanism 25.
In this implementation, a positioning rod 29232 is provided on one side of the abutting member 2923 away from the clasp 29230, and one end of the elastic member 2921 is sleeved on the positioning rod 29232, so that the elastic member 2921 and the abutting member 2923 are fixedly connected.
As illustrated in FIG. 54, in an implementation, each fixing piece 2912 can also be directly fixedly connected to the rear surface of the covering member 291. As an example, the covering member 291 is provided with a clamping block 29108 in a rectangular shape on the rear surface of the covering member 291 corresponding to the fixing piece 2912. The fixing piece 2912 defines a clamping hole 29121 corresponding to the clamping block 29108 thereon. When mounting the fixing piece 2912, the clamping block 29108 is clamped into the clamping hole 29121 of the fixing piece 2912, so that the fixing piece 2912 is fixedly connected with the covering member 291. As an example, when each fixing piece 2912 is connected to the covering member 291 through connection of the clamping block 29108 and the clamping hole 29121, the connection between the fixing piece 2912 and the covering member 291 can be reinforced via an adhesive. As an example, the surface of each fixing piece 2912 facing the covering member 291 defines an adhesive containing groove. The adhesive containing groove is defined by protrudes on surface edges of the fixing piece 2912 facing the covering member 291 and is used for accommodating the adhesive adhered to the fixing piece 2912 and the covering member 291.
In other implementations, each fixing piece 2912 is fixedly connected with the covering member 291 via an adhesive.
Referring to FIGS. 57 to 61, a positioning member is connected between the middle hinge 250 and the connecting hinge. The first limiting portion 2401 and the second limiting portion 2402 are both provided on the positioning member. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves relative to the connecting member 264 and the middle hinge assembly 250. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves toward the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the connecting hinge until it abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401. When bending the bendable mechanism 25, the first connecting rod 263 moves relative to the connecting hinge toward the second limiting portion 2402 until it abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402.
The positioning member includes a first positioning member 27 a disposed on the rear surface of the middle hinge assembly 250. The first positioning member 27 a includes an end connecting block 273 at one end thereof. The first limiting portion 2401 is a first limiting surface disposed on the end connecting block 273 and facing the first connecting rod 264. The second limiting portion 2402 is a second limiting surface disposed on the end connecting block 273 and adjacent to the first limiting surface. The second limiting surface is parallel to the bending axis of the bendable mechanism 250. The first limiting surface is inclined relative to the second limiting surface. The first limit surface is adjacent to or connected to the second limit surface. When the bendable mechanism 25 is bent to the folded state, the side surface of the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion 2402. When the bendable mechanism 25 is unfolded to the unfolded state, the side surface of the first connecting rod 263 abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion 2401. That is, when bending or unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the end connecting block 273 moves relative to the first connecting rod 264. When the first connecting rod 264 is in contact with the first limiting surface, the bendable mechanism 25 remains in the unfolded state. When the first connecting rod 264 is in contact with the second limiting surface, the bendable mechanism 25 remains in the folded state.
The first positioning member 27 a also includes a middle connecting block 271 hinged on one side of the end connecting block 273 away from the connecting hinge. The middle connecting block 271 is connected to the corresponding rotating hinge 253. The end connecting block 273 is connected to the corresponding moving hinge 256. As an example, the middle connecting block 271 is fixed to a corresponding rotating hinge 253 through screw connection, clamping connection, adhesive connection, etc. The end connecting block 273 is fixed to a corresponding moving hinge 256 through screw connection, clamping connection, adhesive connection, etc.
There is an elastic member 276 provided on the end connecting block 273. The elastic member 276 is used to elastically push the end connecting block 273 toward the corresponding first connecting rod 263. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the end connecting block 273 enables the first limiting portion 2401 on the end connecting block 273 to be in close contact with a corresponding first connecting rod 263 under an elastic pushing force of the elastic member 276. As such, the first limiting surface is in close contact with the corresponding first connecting rod 263.
In an implementation, the end connecting block 273 is hinged with a corresponding middle connecting block 271 via a rotating shaft. There is a gap between the end connecting block 273 and the middle connecting block 271 along an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The elastic member 276 is sleeved on the rotating shaft and is elastically compressed between the middle connecting block 271 and the end connecting block 273. The rotating shaft is parallel to the first shaft 281 and the second shaft 275.
When unfolding the foldable device 22 b, the elastic member 276 elastically drives the positioning member 27 a to move toward the corresponding first connecting rod 264, so that the first connecting rod 264 comes into contact with the first limiting portion 2401 to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly 24. As an example, when unfolding the foldable device, the elastic member 276 keep elastically pushing the end connecting block 273 to move toward the first connecting rod 264 until the first limiting surface of the positioning member 27 a is in contact with the first positioning surface of the first connecting rod 264. That is, there is a clearance between the first limit surface and the first positioning surface.
Furthermore, there is the elastic member 276 provided on the end connecting block 273. The elastic member 276 is used to elastically push the end connecting block 273 toward the corresponding first connecting rod 263. When unfolding the bendable mechanism 25, the end connecting block 273 enables the first limiting portion 2401 on the end connecting block 273 to be in close contact with a corresponding first connecting rod 263 under an elastic pushing force of the elastic member 276. As such, the first limiting surface is in close contact with the corresponding first connecting rod 263.
In an implementation, the end connecting block 273 is hinged with a corresponding middle connecting block 271 via a rotating shaft. The elastic member 276 is sleeved on the rotating shaft and is elastically compressed between the middle connecting block 271 and the end connecting block 273.
In this implementation, the end connecting block 273 is provided with two spaced first connecting blocks 2733 on one side of the end connecting block 273 facing the middle connecting block 271. The two first connecting blocks 2733 define a hinge notch 2735 therebetween. The middle connecting block 271 is provided with a second connecting block 2713, which is corresponding to the hinge notch 2735, on one side of the middle connecting block 271 facing the end connecting block 273. The second connecting block 2713 is rotatably received in the hinge notch 2735. There is a gap defined between the end connecting block 273 and the middle connecting block 271 along an axial direction of the rotating shaft 272. That is, the length of the second connecting block 2713 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 272 is less than a distance between the two first connecting blocks 2733 (the length of the hinge notch 2735). Each of the two first connecting blocks 2733 defines a connecting hole along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 272, and the second connecting block 2713 defines a through hole along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 272, and the rotating shaft 272 is inserted into the connecting hole of each first connecting block 2733 and the through hole of the second connecting block 2713.
The middle connecting block 271 is provided with a positioning block 2716 at one end, which is away from the first limiting portion 2401, of one side of the middle connecting block 271 where the second connecting block 2713 is located. The rotating shaft 272 has one end connected to the positioning block 2716 and the other end inserted into the connecting holes of the two first connecting blocks 2733 and the through hole of the second connecting block 2713. The elastic member 276 is elastically compressed between the positioning block 2716 and the corresponding first connecting block 2733.
The end connecting block 273 is provided with a supporting plate 2737 at one side of the end connecting block 273 facing the first connecting rod 263. The supporting plate 2737 is used to support the first connecting rod 263. The supporting plate 2737 defines an avoidance opening 27370 on one side of the supporting plate 2737 away from the first limiting portion 2401. The avoidance opening 27370 is used to receive a connecting post connected to one end of the first connecting rod 263 away from the connecting member 260. As an example, when the foldable device 22 is in the folded state, the connecting post connected to the end of the first connecting rod 263 away from the connecting member 260 is accommodated in the avoidance opening 27370.
In an implementation, when unfolding the foldable device 22 b, a moving direction of the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the foldable assembly 24 is different from a moving direction of the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, when unfolding the foldable device 22 b, the moving direction of the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the foldable assembly 24 is perpendicular to the moving direction of the first limiting portion 2401 relative to the connecting hinge. In an implementation, the end connecting block 273 can slide relative to the middle connecting block 271 along the axial direction of the bending axis of the foldable device 22 b. As an example, the elastic member 276 is in an elastic compression state and generates an elastic force that pushes the end connecting block 273 toward a corresponding end of the foldable device 24 (that is, an elastic force that pushes the first limiting portion 2401 toward the first connecting rod 263). In an implementation, the elastic force of the elastic member 276 is perpendicular to the sliding direction of the end connecting block 273 relative to the connecting hinge. As an example, the compression amount of the elastic member 276 when the foldable device 24 is in the bent state is less than the compression amount of the elastic member 276 when the foldable device 24 is in the unfolded state. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 24, the first limiting portion 2401 moves apart from the first connecting rod 263, and the elastic member 276 recovers from deformation to drive the first limiting portion 2401 to slide along the bending axis of the foldable device 24. In an implementation, when bending the foldable device 24, the first limiting portion 2401 moves apart from the first connecting rod 263, and the elastic member 276 at least partially recovers from deformation to drive the first limiting portion 2401 to slide toward one end of the foldable device 24 close to the first limiting portion 2401 along the axial direction of the bending axis of the foldable device 24. At this time, the elastic member 276 stretches. When the end connecting block 273 abuts against the limit mechanism of the middle connecting block 271, the end connecting block 273 stops sliding and the elastic member 276 stops deforming. In an implementation, when unfolding the foldable device 24, the first limiting portion 2401 gradually approaches the first connecting rod 263, the elastic member 276 is gradually compressed, and the first limiting portion 2401 slides away from the end of the foldable device 24 close to the first limiting portion 2401 along the axial direction of the bending axis of the foldable device 24. When the first limiting portion 2401 abuts against the first connecting rod 263, the elastic member 276 has the largest compression.
A gap between the first connecting rod 263 and the first limiting portion 2401 in the unfolded state due to assembly tolerances, manufacturing accuracy, etc. can be eliminated through the axial sliding of the first limiting portion 2401 and the elastic force of the elastic member 276, such that the first connecting rod 263 is in close contact with the first limiting portion 2401, the limitation effect when foldable device 24 is dropped is improved.
It is noted that, term “bending axis” in the implementations of the present disclosure refers to an axis around which the component is bent or folded, and is not limited to a physical axis or a virtual axis. For example, the “bending axis” may refer to a physical shaft (such as the first shaft, the second shaft, etc. of the implementations of the present disclosure) or a virtual axis of a physical shaft hinged between component A and component B, or a virtual shaft around which component A rotates relative to component B.
In an implementation, the foldable device 24 also includes a reinforcing assembly 27 b on the rear surface of the middle hinge assembly 250. The reinforcing assembly 27 b includes middle connecting blocks 2771 respectively hinged on two opposite sides of the intermediate hinge 251 and end connecting blocks 2773 each hinged on one side of each middle connecting block 2771 away from the intermediate hinge 251. Each middle connecting block 2771 of the reinforcing assembly 27 b is connected to a corresponding rotating hinge. Each end connecting block 2773 of the reinforcing assembly 27 b is connected to a corresponding moving hinge 256. As an example, the reinforcing assembly 27 b includes two middle connecting blocks 2771 hinged on two opposite sides of the intermediate hinge 251 and one end connecting block 2773 hinged on one end of each middle connecting block 2771 away from the intermediate hinge 251. Each middle connecting block 2771 is connected to the rear surface of the intermediate hinge 251 via a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is parallel to the bending shaft, the bending axis, the first shaft, or the second shaft of the bendable mechanism 25. Each middle connecting block 2771 is fixedly connected to the corresponding rotating hinge 253 via screws. Each end connecting block 2773 is fixedly connected to the corresponding moving hinge 256 via screws.
The above-mentioned reinforcing assembly 27 b is substantially identical with the positioning member 27 in structure, except that the positioning member 27 is additionally provided with the first limiting portion 2401 and the second limiting portion 2402 compared to the reinforcing assembly 27 b. Therefore, the positioning member 27 can be understood being used to set the first limiting portion 2401 and the second limiting portion 2402 on the reinforcing assembly 27 b. As an example, the end connecting block 273 of the positioning member 27 is additionally provided with the first limiting portion 2401 and the second limiting portion 2402 in comparison with the end connecting block 273 of the reinforcing assembly 27 b.
Referring to FIGS. 62 to 65, the flexible positioning member 268 a in this implementation is disposed between the connecting member 260 and the linkage mechanism 28. The elastic positioning member 268 a is used to be selectively clamped between the connecting member 260 and the linkage mechanism 28 to position the bendable mechanism 25. The elastic positioning member 268 a includes the positioning head 2685 and an elastic member 2683. The positioning head 2685 slidably abuts against the linkage mechanism 28 or the connecting member 260. The elastic member 2683 elastically pushes the positioning head 2685. The elastic member 2683 pushes the positioning head 2685 to be positioned at the linkage mechanism 28 or the connecting member 260, so that the linkage mechanism 28 and the connecting member 260 are relatively positioned.
In an implementation, the connecting cylinder 2865 of the linkage mechanism 28 defines the first positioning hole 2866 corresponding to the positioning head 2685 on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The elastic member 2683 elastically pushes the positioning head 2685 into the first positioning hole 2866 to position the bendable mechanism 25 to maintain in the unfolded state. Alternatively, the connecting member 260 defines a first positioning hole corresponding to the positioning head 2685, the elastic member 2683 elastically pushes the positioning head 2685 into the first positioning hole to position the bendable mechanism 25 to maintain in the unfolded state.
In an implementation, the linkage mechanism 28 defines the sliding groove 2867 corresponding to the positioning head 2685, and the elastic member 2683 elastically pushes the positioning head 2685 into the sliding groove 2867. Alternatively, the connecting member 260 defines the sliding groove 2867 corresponding to the positioning head 2685, and the elastic member 2683 elastically pushes the positioning head 2685 into the sliding groove 2867.
In this implementation, the connecting member 260 defines a positioning groove 2640 thereon. The elastic member 2683 is accommodated in the positioning groove 2640. The connecting member 260 defines the receiving hole 2646 in communication with the positioning groove 2640 on one side of the connecting member 260 facing the linkage mechanism 28. The positioning head 2685 is a bead accommodated in the receiving hole 2646. The elastic member 2683 is accommodated in the positioning groove 2640 and elastically pushes the bead, such that a part of the bead protrudes from the receiving hole 2646 to be positioned in the first positioning hole 2866 or the sliding groove 2867 of the linkage mechanism 28.
In an implementation, there is a connecting block 2681 provided between the elastic member 2683 and the bead. The connecting block 2681 defines a recess on one side thereof facing the bead. A part of the bead is rotatably received in the recess.
As illustrated in FIG. 62, FIG. 64, and FIG. 65, the connecting cylinder 2865 is rotatably sleeved in the matching groove 2611 of the connecting member 260. The elastic positioning member 268 a rotates with the connecting member 260 relative to the connecting cylinder 2865 so that the bead is locked into the first positioning hole 2866 or the sliding groove 2867. In this implementation, radius B of the connecting cylinder 2865 is less than radius A of the matching groove 2611. When folding or unfolding the foldable device 24, matching relationships between the elastic positioning member 268 a and the first positioning hole 2866, the resisting portion, and the sliding groove 2867 can refer to the forgoing implementations, which will not be repeated herein.
In this implementation, when the compression spring 2921 is accommodated in the positioning groove 2643 and the elastic positioning member 268 a is accommodated in the positioning groove 2640, the first shaft 281 is rotationally connected to the connecting member 260 through a positioning bracket 269 to prevent the compression spring 2921 and the elastic positioning member 268 a from being disengaged from the connecting member 260.
The above description are preferred implementations of the present disclosure, and it is noted that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the application to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the improvement and the modification are also considered as the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable device, comprising a foldable assembly, a connecting hinge disposed on a side of the foldable assembly, a drop limiting mechanism, and a positioning member, wherein

the connecting hinge is slidable relative to the foldable assembly;

the positioning member is connected to the foldable assembly;

the drop limiting mechanism comprises a connecting member connected with the foldable assembly and a first connecting rod connecting the connecting hinge and the connecting member; and

the positioning member comprises a first limiting portion;

when unfolding the foldable device, the connecting member moves relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod to move toward the first limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly.

2. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein

the positioning member further comprises a second limiting portion; and

when bending the foldable device, the first connecting rod moves toward the second limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the second limiting portion to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly.

3. The foldable device of claim 2, wherein the second limiting portion is disposed on the positioning member, the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion face different directions.

4. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the connecting member slides relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod to rotate relative to the connecting hinge, when bending the foldable assembly.

5. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the positioning member is bent and slides relative to the connecting hinge, when bending the foldable assembly.

6. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein a sliding distance of the positioning member relative to the connecting hinge is less than a sliding distance of the connecting member relative to the connecting hinge, when bending the foldable assembly.

7. The foldable device of claim 2, wherein one end of the first connecting rod is movably connected to the connecting member and the other end of the first connecting rod is movably connected to the connecting hinge.

8. The foldable device of claim 3, wherein the first connecting rod defines an elongated hole at one end of the first connecting rod and a connecting hole at the other end of the first connecting rod, wherein

the elongated hole of the first connecting rod is movably connected to the connecting hinge and the connecting hole of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the connecting member; or

the elongated hole of the first connecting rod is movably connected to the connecting member and the connecting hole of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the connecting hinge.

9. The foldable device of claim 8, wherein

the connecting member or the connecting hinge is provided with a connecting post, the connecting post is inserted into the elongated hole or the connecting hole; and

the connecting post moves in the elongated hole along a direction in which the elongated hole extends, when folding or unfolding the foldable assembly.

10. The foldable device of claim 9, wherein the first connecting rod is provided with a roller received in the elongated hole, wherein

the connecting post of the connecting hinge is inserted into the roller; or

the connecting post of the connecting member is inserted into the roller.

11. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein

the foldable assembly comprises an intermediate hinge and a rotating hinge rotatably connected to the intermediate hinge, wherein the rotating hinge is connected to the positioning member; and

the positioning member rotates together with the rotating hinge rotate, when folding the foldable assembly.

12. The foldable device of claim 11, wherein

the positioning member comprises a middle connecting block rotatably connected to the intermediate hinge and an end connecting block rotatably connected to the middle connecting block; and

the foldable assembly further comprises a moving hinge rotatably connected to the rotating hinge, wherein the rotating hinge is fixed to the middle connecting block, and the moving hinge is fixed to the end connecting block.

13. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein

the foldable device further comprises a sliding member disposed on a side of the connecting hinge away from the foldable assembly, the sliding member being slidably connected to the connecting hinge;

the drop limiting mechanism further comprising a second connecting rod connected to the connecting hinge and the connecting member;

the connecting hinge comprises a third limiting portion; and

when unfolding the foldable device, the second connecting rod moves relative to the sliding member toward the third limiting portion, until the second connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the third limiting portion to prevent the sliding member from further moving toward the foldable assembly.

14. The foldable device of claim 13, wherein

the sliding member or the connecting hinge is provided with a fourth limiting portion;

when folding the foldable assembly, the second connecting rod moves toward the fourth limiting portion relative to the sliding member, until the second connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the fourth limiting portion to prevent the sliding member from further moving relative to the bendable mechanism.

15. The foldable device of claim 13, wherein

the sliding member is connected with the connecting hinge via an elastic member; and

the sliding member slides toward the connecting hinge such that the elastic member is compressed, when folding the foldable device.

16. The foldable device of claim 13, wherein

the connecting member comprises a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion spaced apart from the first connecting portion; and

the first connecting portion is slidably inserted into the connecting hinge and connected to the first connecting rod, the second connecting portion is slidably inserted into the connecting hinge and connected to the second connecting rod.

17. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein

an elastic member is provided between the connecting hinge and the foldable assembly; and

when folding the foldable device, the connecting hinge slides toward the foldable assembly such that the elastic member is compressed.

18. The foldable device of claim 2, wherein

each of two opposite sides of the foldable assembly is provided with one connecting hinge;

one connecting member is provided between each connecting hinge and the foldable assembly;

one first connecting rod is provided between each connecting member and the corresponding connecting hinge;

when unfolding the foldable device, each first connecting rod moves until it abuts against or is adjacent to a corresponding the first limiting portion; and

when folding the foldable device, each first connecting rod moves until is abuts against or is adjacent to a corresponding second limiting portion.

19. The foldable device of claim 18, wherein

the foldable assembly also comprises a middle hinge assembly and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism is connected between the drop limiting mechanism and the middle hinge assembly; and

when rotating one connecting hinge, the one connecting hinge drives one connecting member on the same side with the one connecting hinge to rotate, and through the linkage mechanism, the other connecting member on the other side is driven to rotate, and the other connecting member drives the other connecting hinge to rotate.

20. An electronic device, comprising a flexible member, a housing, and a foldable device, wherein

the foldable device comprises a foldable assembly, a connecting hinge disposed on a side of the foldable assembly, a drop limiting mechanism, and a positioning member, wherein

the connecting hinge is slidable relative to the foldable assembly;

the positioning member is connected to the foldable assembly;

the positioning member comprises a first limiting portion;

when unfolding the foldable device, the connecting member moves relative to the connecting hinge to drive the first connecting rod to move toward the first limiting portion relative to the connecting hinge, until the first connecting rod abuts against or is adjacent to the first limiting portion to prevent the connecting hinge from further moving toward the foldable assembly;

the housing comprises a first frame and a second frame, the foldable device is disposed between the first frame and the second frame; and

the flexible member is disposed on the housing and the foldable device, the flexible member is bent or unfolded with the foldable device.