Hinge module

Abstract

A hinge module is applicable to an electronic device comprising two bodies and a cable electrically connected to the two bodies. The hinge module includes a bracket, a pivot, and multiple clips. The pivot is rotatably mounted on the bracket and is hollow. The clips are assembled to the bracket. Each clip has a root and a clamping portion extending from the root. The root is assembled to the bracket, and the clamping portion has an open annular profile. The clamping portion fits onto and contacts a portion of the pivot to define a frictional force, which varies according to the relative rotation angle between the clamping portion and the pivot.

Claims

1. A hinge module suitable for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising two bodies and a cable electrically connected to the two bodies, the hinge module comprising: A support frame; A rotatable shaft is rotatably mounted on the bracket. The shaft has a hollow structure to allow the cable to pass through. And multiple clips are assembled on the bracket, each clip having a root and a clamping portion extending from the root, the root being assembled on the bracket, the clamping portion having an open annular profile, the clamping portion being fitted onto and contacting a portion of the rotating shaft to define a frictional force, and the frictional force changing according to the relative rotation angle between the clamping portion and the rotating shaft.

2. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1 further includes a pivot cover, wherein the bracket and the pivot cover are respectively assembled to the two bodies, and a connecting section of the pivot is fixedly inserted through the pivot cover.

3. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a body and a support ring extending from the body, the body having a groove on one side and the support ring located at one end of the groove, the pivot passing through the support ring, and the clips being sequentially assembled into the groove.

4. The hinge module as claimed in claim 3 further includes a retaining cap assembled to the body and located at the other end of the groove, such that the opposite ends of the groove are closed by the bearing ring and the retaining cap, and the clips are positioned between the bearing ring and the retaining cap.

5. The hinge module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the retaining cover has an annular portion and a stop plug, the annular portion being coaxial with the bearing ring for the shaft to pass through, the stop plug being filled into the groove such that the first and last positions of the clips abut against the bearing ring and the stop plug respectively, and the stop plug abutting against the root of the clip.

6. The hinge module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot has a torque section and a connecting section, the pivot passes through the bearing ring such that the torque section is positioned corresponding to the groove, and the connecting section protrudes from the groove, and the clamping portion of each of the clips is sleeved on the torque section.

7. The hinge module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pivot has an oil groove on the surface of the torque section, distributed between the bearing ring and the ring portion.

8. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open annular profile has an inner edge and an outer edge, a notch is formed at the adjoining point of the inner edge and the outer edge, the inner edge abuts against the pivot, and a relative width between the outer edge and the inner edge gradually increases from the notch toward the root.

9. The hinge module as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the clip is not clamping the pivot, the outer edge profile and the inner edge profile are two circles with their centers offset, and the center of the outer edge profile is located on a rotation axis of the pivot; when the clip clamps the pivot, the center of the outer edge profile and the center of the inner edge profile are both located on the rotation axis of the pivot.

10. The hinge module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inner edge is asymmetrically clamped relative to a rotation axis of the pivot.

11. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clips are detachably assembled to the bracket and stacked together.

12. The hinge module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot has a clearance portion to reduce the frictional force as an inner edge of the clamping portion passes through the clearance portion.

13. The hinge module of claim 12, wherein the clearance portion is a chordal section of the pivot, the open annular profile has an inner edge and an outer edge, a notch is formed at the adjoining point of the inner edge and the outer edge, and the chordal section moves away from the notch and to the inner edge to reduce the contact area between the inner edge of the clamping portion and a cylindrical surface of the pivot.

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