Foldable mobile terminal

Abstract

The present application relates to a foldable mobile terminal, including a shell assembly, a folding mechanism and a flexible display screen. The shell assembly includes a first shell and a second shell. The folding mechanism includes a cover plate and a folding assembly, and the folding assembly includes a first worm, a worm wheel, a second worm, a first connecting rod, and a second connecting rod. When the foldable mobile terminal is folded, the flexible display screen is hidden between the first shell and the second shell. In the process of folding the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the first worm to rotate through the first connecting rod, the first worm can drive the worm wheel to rotate, the worm wheel can drive the second worm to rotate, and the second worm can drive the second shell to flip through the second connecting rod; in the process of unfolding the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the second shell to flip through the folding mechanism. The above structure enables the first shell and the second shell to be linked, thereby making the unfolding and folding of the foldable mobile terminal more convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of mobile terminals, and in particular to a foldable mobile terminal. Background Art

[0002] The flexible display screen has a bendable property, which makes it possible for a mobile terminal (such as a smart phone) to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. In the process of unfolding and folding the mobile terminal, the two sides of the mobile terminal cannot form a linkage, which is inconvenient to use. Summary of the invention

[0003] A technical problem solved by the present application is how to make the foldable mobile terminal more convenient to unfold and fold.

[0004] A foldable mobile terminal, comprising:

[0005] A housing assembly comprising a first housing and a second housing;

[0006] A folding mechanism, the folding mechanism includes a cover plate and a folding assembly, the folding assembly includes a first worm, a worm wheel, a second worm, a first connecting rod, and a second connecting rod; the cover plate is located between the first shell and the second shell, the first worm and the second worm are connected to the cover plate, and the first worm and the second worm can rotate relative to the cover plate, the worm wheel is located between the first worm and the second worm, and the worm wheel is respectively engaged with the first worm and the second worm, so that the first worm can drive the second worm to rotate; one end of the first connecting rod is connected to the first shell, the other end of the first connecting rod is connected to the first worm, one end of the first connecting rod is connected to the second shell, and the other end of the second connecting rod is connected to the second worm; and

[0007] A flexible display screen is covered on the first shell and the second shell; when the foldable mobile terminal is folded, the flexible display screen is hidden between the first shell and the second shell;

[0008] During the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the first worm to rotate through the first connecting rod, the first worm can drive the worm wheel to rotate, the worm wheel can drive the second worm to rotate, and the second worm can drive the second shell to flip through the second connecting rod; during the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the second shell to flip through the folding mechanism.

[0009] In one embodiment, the cover plate is strip-shaped, the first shell and the second shell are arranged in the width direction of the cover plate, and a first top wall is provided at one end in the length direction of the cover plate; the folding assembly also includes a stopper, which is fixed to the cover plate and arranged opposite to the first top wall; the two ends of the first worm gear and the second worm gear respectively pass through the first top wall and the stopper, so that the first worm gear and the second worm gear can rotate relative to the cover plate.

[0010] In one embodiment, a first slide groove is formed on the first shell, and a second slide groove is formed on the second shell;

[0011] The folding assembly includes a first elastic member and a second elastic member, the first elastic member is respectively connected to one end of the first connecting rod away from the first worm gear and the first housing, the first connecting rod is slidably disposed in the first sliding groove; the second connecting rod is slidably disposed in the second sliding groove, one end of the second connecting rod away from the second worm gear is connected to the second elastic member, and the second elastic member is connected to the second housing;

[0012] During the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the first worm to rotate through the first connecting rod, and the first elastic member pushes the first connecting rod to slide in the first sliding groove to drive the cover plate to move in the direction away from the bendable area of ​​the flexible display screen; when the second connecting rod drives the second shell to flip, the second elastic member pushes the second connecting rod to slide in the second sliding groove; the cover plate and the first shell and the second shell form a receiving space for receiving the bendable area; during the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the second shell to flip through the folding mechanism, and the cover plate can move in the direction close to the bendable area.

[0013] In one of the embodiments, the first shell includes a first top plate and a third elastic member, the second shell includes a second top plate and a fourth elastic member, the first top plate is rotatably connected to the first shell, the second top plate is rotatably connected to the second shell, the third elastic member is respectively connected to the first top plate and the first shell, and the fourth elastic member is respectively connected to the second top plate and the second shell; during the unfolding and folding of the foldable mobile terminal, the third elastic member can make the first top plate abut against the bendable area, and the fourth elastic member can make the second top plate abut against the bendable area.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, a side of the first top plate facing the bendable area is flush with a side of the second top plate facing the bendable area.

[0015] In one embodiment, the third elastic member is a torsion spring having two free ends; one of the first shell and the first top plate is provided with a rotating shaft, and the other is provided with an axial hole, and the rotating shaft can be rotatably arranged in the axial hole to enable the first top plate to be rotatably connected to the first shell; the torsion spring is sleeved on the rotating shaft, and one free end of the torsion spring is connected to the first top plate, and the other free end of the torsion spring is connected to the first shell.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, the cover plate includes a bottom wall and a first side wall and a second side wall extending from two oppositely disposed edges of the bottom wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the bottom wall form a groove; when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, the first side wall abuts against the first top plate, and the second side wall abuts against the second top plate; when the foldable mobile terminal is folded, the end of the first top plate is accommodated in the groove and abuts against the first side wall, the end of the second top plate is accommodated in the groove and abuts against the second side wall, and the first top plate, the first side wall, the bottom wall, the second side wall and the second top plate define the receiving space.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, a first recessed groove is formed on the first shell, a second recessed groove is formed on the second shell, and the cover plate is slidably disposed in the first recessed groove and the second recessed groove; when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, the bottom wall is accommodated in the first recessed groove and the second recessed groove, and the bottom wall is blocked by the first shell and the second shell and hidden in the shell assembly; when the foldable mobile terminal is folded, a portion of the first side wall is accommodated in the first recessed groove, a portion of the second side wall is accommodated in the second recessed groove, and another portion of the first side wall, another portion of the second side wall and the bottom wall are exposed from the shell assembly.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first shell includes a first left end face and a first right end face arranged opposite to each other, and the first recessed groove passes through the first right end face; the second shell includes a second left end face and a second right end face arranged opposite to each other, and the second recessed groove passes through the second left end face; when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, the first right end face abuts against the first left end face.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first connecting rod includes an integrally formed sliding portion, a connecting portion and a rotating portion, the sliding portion and the rotating portion are respectively connected to two ends of the connecting portion, the rotating portion is connected to the first worm gear, the sliding portion is connected to the first elastic member, and the sliding portion and the connecting portion are slidably disposed in the first sliding groove; the first shell is provided with a boss, and when the sliding portion slides in the first sliding groove, the boss can abut against the sliding portion to limit the sliding range of the sliding portion.

[0020] In one embodiment, the folding assembly includes a first sleeve, a fifth elastic member and a latch member, the first sleeve and the latch member are respectively sleeved on the first worm gear, the first sleeve is respectively slidably connected to the first worm gear and the first connecting rod, the stop member is fixedly connected to the cover plate, and the two ends of the fifth elastic member are respectively connected to the stop member and the first sleeve; the latch member is provided with a plurality of first grooves along the circumference of the first worm gear, the first sleeve is provided with a first protrusion, and the first protrusion can be latched in the first groove; the first connecting rod can drive the first worm gear to rotate through the first sleeve, and when the first worm gear rotates, the first sleeve can slide and retract along the axial direction of the first worm gear, and the first protrusion can enter from one first groove to another first groove.

[0021] In one embodiment, the folding assembly includes a second sleeve and a sixth elastic member, the locking member is also sleeved on the second worm, the second sleeve is sleeved on the second worm, and the second sleeve is slidably connected to the second worm and the second connecting rod respectively, and the two ends of the sixth elastic member are respectively connected to the stop member and the second sleeve; the locking member is provided with a plurality of second slots along the circumference of the second worm, the second sleeve is provided with a second protrusion, and the second protrusion can be clamped in the second slot; the second connecting rod can drive the second worm to rotate through the second sleeve, and when the second worm rotates, the second sleeve can slide and retract along the axial direction of the second worm, and the second protrusion can enter another second slot from one second slot.

[0022] In one embodiment, the first sleeve has a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other, and the first protrusion is located at the first end; a positioning groove is provided on the stop member, one end of the fifth elastic member abuts against the second end, and the other end of the fifth elastic member is accommodated in the positioning groove and abuts against the stop member.

[0023] During the folding and unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell drives the first worm to rotate through the first connecting rod, the first worm drives the second worm to rotate through the worm wheel, and the second worm drives the second shell to flip through the second connecting rod, so that a linkage is formed between the first shell and the second shell, thereby making the folding and unfolding of the foldable mobile terminal very convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0025] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a foldable mobile terminal in a folded state according to an embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional image of the foldable mobile terminal in another viewing angle in a folded state;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A perspective view of the foldable mobile terminal in an unfolded state;

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A perspective view of the foldable mobile terminal in an unfolded state from another viewing angle;

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 3 An exploded view of the foldable mobile terminal shown;

[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partial view of a housing assembly of the foldable mobile terminal;

[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A partial view of a housing assembly of the foldable mobile terminal shown is provided with a folding mechanism;

[0032] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A front view of the foldable mobile terminal shown;

[0033] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the foldable mobile terminal along AA;

[0034] Fig.10 for Fig. 9An enlarged schematic diagram of the foldable mobile terminal B is shown;

[0035] Fig.11 for Figure 3 A front view of the foldable mobile terminal shown;

[0036] Fig.12 for Fig.11 A cross-sectional view of the foldable mobile terminal along CC;

[0037] Fig.13 for Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram showing a folding mechanism of the foldable mobile terminal in an unfolded state;

[0038] Fig.14 for Fig.13 A three-dimensional view of the folding mechanism shown in a folded state;

[0039] Fig.15 for Fig.13 a perspective view of a folding assembly of the folding mechanism shown;

[0040] Fig.16 for Fig.15 An exploded view of a folding assembly of the folding mechanism shown in one perspective;

[0041] Fig.17 for Fig.15 A perspective view of the folding assembly of the folding mechanism shown in another perspective;

[0042] Fig.18 for Fig.17 An exploded view of another perspective of the folding components of the folding mechanism shown.

[0043] Folding mobile terminal 10 Shell assembly 20 First shell 210 First slide groove 211 Boss 212 First top plate 213 First baffle 214 First elastic member 215 First sink groove 217 First left end surface 218 First right end surface 219 Second shell 220 Second slide groove 221 Second top plate 223 Axis hole 2231 Second baffle 224 Main body 2241 Rotating shaft 2243 Second elastic member 225 Second sink groove 227 Second left end surface 228 Second right end surface 229 Folding mechanism 30 Cover plate 310 Bottom wall 311 First side wall 313 Second side wall 315 First top wall 316 Groove 317 Folding assembly 320 Third elastic member 321 First slide bar 322 Sliding portion 3221 Connecting part 3223 rotating part 3225 second sliding rod 326 fourth elastic member 327 first sleeve 3281 first protrusion 3282 fifth elastic member 3283 first end 3284 blocking member 3285 first slot 3286 stopping member 3287 positioning slot 3288 second end 3289 second sleeve 3291 second protrusion 3292 sixth elastic member 3293 second slot 3295 gear assembly 330 first worm 331 worm wheel 332 second worm 333 flexible display screen 40 bendable area 410 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. The preferred embodiments of the present application are provided in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0045] As used herein, "terminal equipment" refers to a device that can receive and / or send communication signals, including but not limited to a device that is connected via any one or more of the following connection methods:

[0046] (1) Connection via wired lines, such as Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), digital cable, and direct cable connection;

[0047] (2) Via wireless interfaces, such as cellular networks, wireless local area networks (WLAN), digital television networks such as DVB-H networks, satellite networks, and AM-FM broadcast transmitters.

[0048] Terminal devices configured to communicate via a wireless interface may be referred to as "mobile terminals". Examples of mobile terminals include, but are not limited to, the following electronic devices:

[0049] (1) Satellite phone or cellular phone;

[0050] (2) Personal Communications System (PCS) terminals that can combine cellular radio telephones with data processing, fax, and data communications capabilities;

[0051] (3) Radiotelephone, pager, Internet / intranet access, Web browser, notepad, calendar, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;

[0052] (4) conventional laptop and / or palmtop receivers;

[0053] (5) Conventional laptop and / or palmtop radio telephone transceivers, etc.

[0054] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the present application provides a foldable mobile terminal 10. Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the foldable mobile terminal 10 includes a housing assembly 20, a folding mechanism 30 and a flexible display screen 40. The housing assembly 20 includes a first housing 210 and a second housing 220. The folding mechanism 30 includes a cover plate 310 and a folding assembly 320, and the folding assembly 320 includes a first worm 331, a worm wheel 332, a second worm 333, a first connecting rod 322, and a second connecting rod 326; the cover plate 310 is located between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, the first worm 331 and the second worm 333 are connected to the cover plate 310, and the first worm 331 and the second worm 333 can both rotate relative to the cover plate 310, the worm wheel 332 is located between the first worm 331 and the second worm 333, and the worm wheel 332 is respectively engaged with the first worm 331 and the second worm 333, so that the first worm 331 can drive the second worm 333 to rotate. One end of the first connecting rod 322 is connected to the first housing 210, the other end of the first connecting rod 322 is connected to the first worm 331, one end of the second connecting rod 326 is connected to the second housing 220, and the other end of the second connecting rod 326 is connected to the second worm 333. The flexible display screen 40 is covered on the first housing 210 and the second housing 220; when the foldable mobile terminal 10 is folded, the flexible display screen 40 is hidden between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. During the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first shell 210 can drive the first worm 331 to rotate through the first connecting rod 322, the first worm 331 can drive the worm wheel 332 to rotate, the worm wheel 332 can drive the second worm 333 to rotate, and the second worm 333 can drive the second shell 220 to flip over through the second connecting rod 326; during the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first shell 210 can drive the second shell 220 to flip over through the folding mechanism 30; during the folding and unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, both the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 can rotate relative to the cover plate 310.

[0055] Through the above arrangement, during the process of unfolding and folding the mobile terminal 10, the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 form a linkage through the first worm 331, the worm wheel 332 and the second worm 333, so that when the first shell 210 rotates, the second shell 220 can be driven to rotate, so that the mobile terminal 10 can rotate relatively more smoothly during the process of unfolding and folding, and it is more convenient to use.

[0056] Combination Fig.13 Hehe Fig.14The cover plate 310 is in a strip shape, the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 are arranged in the width direction of the cover plate 310, and a first top wall 316 is provided at one end of the length direction of the cover plate 310; the folding assembly 320 also includes a stopper 3287, which is fixed on the cover plate 310, and the stopper 3287 is arranged opposite to the first top wall 316; the first worm 331 and the second worm 333 have two ends that penetrate the first top wall 316 and the stopper 3287 respectively, so that the first worm 331 and the second worm 333 can rotate relative to the cover plate 310. A second top wall is also provided at the other end of the length direction of the cover plate 310, and the folding assembly 320 is provided with two groups, which are respectively installed on the first top wall 316 and the second top wall. The stopper 3287 is provided with two shaft holes, and the first top wall 316 is also provided with two shaft holes. One end of the first worm 331 passes through an shaft hole on the stopper 3287, and the other end of the first worm 331 passes through an shaft hole on the first top wall 316, so that the first worm 331 can be fixed on the cover plate 310 and can rotate relative to the cover plate 310. It can be understood that the configuration of the second worm 333 is the same as that of the first worm 331.

[0057] Combination Figure 6 and Figure 7 The first housing 210 is provided with a first slide groove 211, and the second housing 220 is provided with a second slide groove 221. The folding assembly 320 includes a first elastic member 215 and a second elastic member 225, the first elastic member 215 is respectively connected to one end of the first connecting rod 322 away from the first worm gear 331 and the first housing 210, the first connecting rod 322 is slidably disposed in the first slide groove 211; the second connecting rod 326 is slidably disposed in the second slide groove 221, one end of the second connecting rod 326 away from the second worm gear 333 is connected to the second elastic member 225, and the second elastic member 225 is connected to the second housing 220. During the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first shell 210 can drive the first worm 331 to rotate through the first connecting rod 322, and the first elastic member 215 pushes the first connecting rod 322 to slide in the first slide groove 211 to drive the cover plate 310 to move in the direction of the bendable area 410 away from the flexible display screen 40; when the second connecting rod 326 drives the second shell 220 to flip, the second elastic member 225 pushes the second connecting rod 326 to slide in the second slide groove 221; the cover plate 310 and the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 form a receiving space for accommodating the bendable area 410; during the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first shell 210 can drive the second shell 220 to flip through the folding mechanism 30, and the cover plate 310 can move in the direction close to the bendable area 410.

[0058] refer to Figure 8 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10In the process of closing the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first shell 210 can drive the first worm 323 to rotate through the first connecting rod 322, and the first elastic member 321 pushes the first connecting rod 322 to slide in the first slide groove 211 to drive the cover plate 310 to move in the direction away from the bendable area 410 of the flexible display screen 40, the first worm 323 can drive the worm wheel 324 to rotate, the worm wheel 324 can drive the second worm 325 to rotate, the second worm 325 can drive the second shell 220 to flip through the second connecting rod 326, and the second elastic member 327 pushes the second connecting rod 326 to slide in the second slide groove 221. The portion of the flexible display screen 40 covering the first housing 210 is driven by the first housing 210, and the portion of the flexible display screen 40 covering the second housing 220 is driven by the second housing 220. The bendable area 410 of the flexible display screen 40 is bent during the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, and the cover plate 310, the first housing 210, and the second housing 220 form a receiving space for receiving the bendable area 410. Fig.11 and Fig.12 In the process of unfolding the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first housing 210 can drive the second housing 220 to flip through the folding mechanism 30, and the cover plate 310 can move in the direction close to the bendable area 410. Specifically, the rotation of the first worm 323 in the process of closing the foldable mobile terminal 10 can be positive, and in the process of unfolding the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first housing 210 can drive the first worm 323 to rotate in the opposite direction through the first connecting rod 322, and the first elastic member 321 pulls the first connecting rod 322 to slide in the first slide groove 211 to drive the cover plate 310 to move in the direction close to the bendable area 410 of the flexible display screen 40, the first worm 323 can drive the worm wheel 324 to rotate, the worm wheel 324 can drive the second worm 325 to rotate, the second worm 325 can drive the second housing 220 to flip through the second connecting rod 326, and the second elastic member 327 pulls the second connecting rod 326 to slide in the second slide groove 221. The portion of the flexible display screen 40 covering the first housing 210 is driven by the first housing 210, and the portion of the flexible display screen 40 covering the second housing 220 is driven by the second housing 220, and the bendable area 410 of the flexible display screen 40 is gradually flattened during the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10. In other embodiments, the foldable mobile terminal 10 may be a tablet or the like.

[0059] During the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, the folding assembly 320 can drive the cover plate 310 to move, and the cover plate 310, the first housing 210, and the second housing 220 can form a receiving space for receiving the bendable area 410 of the flexible display screen 40, and the length of the side of the foldable mobile terminal 10 facing away from the flexible display screen 40 can be extended. During the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, the length of the side of the foldable mobile terminal 10 facing away from the flexible display screen 40 can be shortened. The above structure can adapt to the size changes of the side where the flexible display screen 40 is located and the side facing away from the flexible display screen 40 in different states, thereby facilitating the smooth unfolding and folding of the foldable mobile terminal 10.

[0060] In one embodiment, the first elastic member 321 is a spring or an elastic column, and the elastic column can be a columnar structure made of silicone material, a columnar structure made of rubber material, or a columnar structure made of other elastic materials. When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the first elastic member 321 is in a compressed state. In the process of closing the foldable mobile terminal 10, the elastic potential energy of the first elastic member 321 is released to push the first connecting rod 322 to move in the first slide groove 211, and then push the cover plate 310 to move in the direction away from the bendable area 410 of the flexible display screen 40 through the first connecting rod 322. In the process of closing the foldable mobile terminal 10, the first elastic member 321 is compressed again. In one embodiment, the second elastic member 327 is a spring or an elastic column, and the structure of the second elastic member 327 can be the same as that of the first elastic member 321, which will not be repeated here. It is understandable that the structure of the first connecting rod 322 can be the same as that of the second connecting rod 326, and the first connecting rod 322 and the second connecting rod 326 are axially symmetrically arranged on both sides of the worm wheel 324; the structure of the first worm 323 can be the same as that of the second worm 325, and the first worm 323 and the second worm 325 are axially symmetrically arranged on both sides of the worm wheel 324. The above structure enables the forces on both sides of the worm wheel 324 to be axially symmetrically distributed about the worm wheel 324 during the unfolding and folding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10, which is conducive to achieving stable unfolding and folding of the foldable mobile terminal 10.

[0061] refer to Figure 7The first housing 210 includes a first top plate 213 and a third elastic member 215, and the second housing 220 includes a second top plate 223 and a fourth elastic member 225. The first top plate 213 is rotatably connected to the first housing 210, and the second top plate 223 is rotatably connected to the second housing 220. The third elastic member 215 is respectively connected to the first top plate 213 and the first housing 210, and the fourth elastic member 225 is respectively connected to the second top plate 223 and the second housing 220. In the process of unfolding and folding the foldable mobile terminal 10, the third elastic member 215 can make the first top plate 213 abut against the bendable area 410, and the fourth elastic member 225 can make the second top plate 223 abut against the bendable area 410. Furthermore, the first top plate 213 is roughly in the shape of a rectangular thin plate, and the second top plate 223 is roughly in the shape of a rectangular thin plate. When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the side of the first top plate 213 facing the bendable area 410 is flush with the side of the second top plate 223 facing the bendable area 410. With the above arrangement, the bendable area 410 can be kept flat after being unfolded by using the supporting effect of the first top plate 213 and the second top plate 223 on the bendable area 410, so as to prevent the bendable area 410 from having uneven areas.

[0062] exist Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the third elastic member 215 is a torsion spring having two free ends. One of the first housing 210 and the first top plate 213 is provided with a rotating shaft, and the other is provided with an axial hole, and the rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in the axial hole so that the first top plate 213 is rotatably connected to the first housing 210. The torsion spring is sleeved on the rotating shaft, one free end of the torsion spring is connected to the first top plate 213 and its position relative to the first top plate 213 remains unchanged, and the other free end of the torsion spring is connected to the first housing 210 and its position relative to the first housing 210 remains unchanged. When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the torsion spring generates a pre-tightening force on the first top plate 213 so that the first top plate 213 abuts against and supports the bendable area 410. In the process of folding and unfolding the foldable mobile terminal 10, the torsion spring can keep the first top plate 213 in contact with the bendable area 410 to effectively support the bendable area 410. It can be understood that the structure and working principle of the fourth elastic member 225 can be the same as those of the third elastic member 215, which will not be repeated here.

[0063] In other embodiments, the third elastic member 215 may be a spring or an elastic column, one end of the third elastic member 215 is connected to the first housing 210, and the other end of the third elastic member 215 is connected to the side of the first top plate 213 facing away from the bendable area 410. When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the spring or elastic column is in a compressed state, and can generate a pre-tightening force on the first top plate 213 so that the first top plate 213 abuts against and supports the bendable area 410. In the process of folding and unfolding the foldable mobile terminal 10, the torsion spring can keep the first top plate 213 in contact with the bendable area 410 to effectively support the bendable area 410. It can be understood that the fourth elastic member 225 may also be a spring or an elastic column, and its structure and working principle are the same as those of the third elastic member 215, which will not be repeated here.

[0064] refer to Fig.13 and Fig.14 In one embodiment, the cover plate 310 includes a bottom wall 311 and a first side wall 313 and a second side wall 315 extending from two opposite edges of the bottom wall 311. The first side wall 313, the second side wall 315 and the bottom wall 311 are surrounded by a groove 317. Fig.12 When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the side of the first top plate 213 facing away from the bendable area 410 abuts against the first side wall 313, and the side of the second top plate 223 facing away from the bendable area 410 abuts against the second side wall 315. The above structure can support the first top plate 213 by the first side wall 313, and support the second top plate 223 by the second side wall 315, which is conducive to the reliable positioning of the first top plate 213 and the second top plate 223. When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is closed, refer to Fig.10 The end of the first top plate 213 is accommodated in the groove 317 and abuts against the first side wall 313, and the end of the second top plate 223 is accommodated in the groove 317 and abuts against the second side wall 315. The first top plate 213, the first side wall 313, the bottom wall 311, the second side wall 315 and the second top plate 223 define a receiving space. The above arrangement can limit the first top plate 213 by the first side wall 313 and limit the second top plate 223 by the second side wall 315, thereby limiting the rotation range of the first top plate 213 and the second top plate 223 to prevent the first top plate 213 and the second top plate 223 from interfering with other components inside the foldable mobile terminal 10 during the rotation process.

[0065] refer to Fig.12In one embodiment, a first recess 217 is formed on the first housing 210, a second recess 227 is formed on the second housing 220, and the cover 310 is slidably disposed in the first recess 217 and the second recess 227. When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the bottom wall 311 is accommodated in the first recess 217 and the second recess 227, and the bottom wall 311 is blocked by the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 and hidden in the housing assembly 20. Fig.10 When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is folded, a portion of the first side wall 313 is accommodated in the first sink groove 217, a portion of the second side wall 315 is accommodated in the second sink groove 227, and another portion of the first side wall 313, another portion of the second side wall 315 and the bottom wall 311 are exposed to the housing assembly 20. With the above structure, the cover plate 310 can slide in the first slide groove 211 and the second slide groove 221, which is conducive to the movement and positioning of the cover plate 310 on the housing assembly 20. Further, referring to Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The first housing 210 may include a first left end surface 218 and a first right end surface 219 that are disposed opposite to each other, and the first sinking groove 217 passes through the first right end surface 219. The second housing 220 may include a second left end surface 228 and a second right end surface 229 that are disposed opposite to each other, and the second sinking groove 227 passes through the second left end surface 228. Fig.12 When the foldable mobile terminal 10 is unfolded, the first right end surface 219 abuts against the first left end surface 218. The above structure enables the foldable mobile terminal 10 to have a better appearance when unfolded and folded.

[0066] refer to Fig.15 and Fig.16 The first connecting rod 322 may include an integrally formed sliding portion 3221, a connecting portion 3223 and a rotating portion 3225, wherein the sliding portion 3221 and the rotating portion 3225 are respectively connected to both ends of the connecting portion 3223. Figure 7 The rotating part 3225 is connected to the first worm 323, the sliding part 3221 is connected to the first elastic member 321, and the sliding part 3221 and the connecting part 3223 are slidably disposed in the first sliding groove 211. Figure 6 The first housing 210 is provided with a boss 212, and the boss 212 is protruding in the first slide groove 211. When the sliding part 3221 slides in the first slide groove 211, the boss 212 can abut against the sliding part 3221 to limit the sliding range of the sliding part 3221. It can be understood that the structure of the second connecting rod 326 can be the same as that of the first connecting rod 322, and the second slide groove 221 can also be provided with a structure having the same function as the boss 212 to limit the moving range of the second connecting rod 326, which will not be repeated here.

[0067] Further, refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6, the first housing 210 may include a baffle 214, which is covered on the first slide groove 211 and is detachably connected to the first housing 210. There are many ways of detachable connection, for example, the baffle 214 can be detachably connected to the first housing 210 by a threaded structure, and the baffle 214 can also be detachably connected to the first housing 210 by a snap-fitting manner. After the baffle 214 is covered on the first slide groove 211, it can limit the first connecting rod 322 and the first elastic member 321, preventing the first connecting rod 322 and the first elastic member 321 from falling out of the first slide groove 211 during the unfolding and folding process of the foldable mobile terminal 10. It can be understood that the baffle 214 can also be covered on the second slide groove 221 to limit the second connecting rod 326 and the second elastic member 327, which will not be repeated here.

[0068] refer to Fig.14 , Fig.15 and Fig.16 In one embodiment, the folding assembly 320 includes a first sleeve 3281, a fifth elastic member 3283 and a stopper 3285. The first sleeve 3281 and the stopper 3285 are respectively sleeved on the first worm 323. The first sleeve 3281 is slidably connected to the first worm 323 and the first connecting rod 322 respectively. The stopper 3287 is fixedly connected to the cover plate 310. The two ends of the fifth elastic member 3283 are respectively connected to the stopper 3287 and the first sleeve 3281. The stopper 3285 is provided with a plurality of first slots 3286 along the circumference of the first worm 323. The first sleeve 3281 is provided with a first protrusion 3282, which can be stuck in the first slot 3286. The first connecting rod 322 can drive the first worm 323 to rotate through the first sleeve 3281, and when the first worm 323 rotates, the first sleeve 3281 can slide and retract along the axial direction of the first worm 323, and the first protrusion 3282 can enter another first slot 3286 from one first slot 3286. The cooperation between the first slot 3286 and the first protrusion 3282 can achieve the pause of the first shell 210 at a specific angle. For example, the above structure can achieve the pause of the flexible display screen 40 at multiple positions such as 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, and 180 degrees, and when the distribution of the first slots 3286 is more dense, more specific angles can be achieved. The cooperation between the first slot 3286 and the first protrusion 3282 can also give the user feedback on the feel. For example, when the first protrusion 3282 enters another first slot 3286 from one first slot 3286, an obvious sense of frustration will be generated, which is conducive to improving the user experience.

[0069] refer to Fig.17 and Fig.18The folding assembly 320 may include a second sleeve 3291 and a sixth elastic member 3293. The clamping member 3285 is also sleeved on the second worm 325. The second sleeve 3291 is sleeved on the second worm 325, and the second sleeve 3291 is slidably connected to the second worm 325 and the second connecting rod 326 respectively. The two ends of the sixth elastic member 3293 are respectively connected to the stopper 3287 and the second sleeve 3291. The clamping member 3285 is provided with a plurality of second slots 3295 along the circumference of the second worm 325. The second sleeve 3291 is provided with a second protrusion 3292, and the second protrusion 3292 can be clamped in the second slot 3295. The second connecting rod 326 can drive the second worm 325 to rotate through the second sleeve 3291, and when the second worm 325 rotates, the second sleeve 3291 can slide and retract along the axial direction of the second worm 325, and the second protrusion 3292 can enter another second slot 3295 from one second slot 3295. The arrangement of the second slot 3295 and the second protrusion 3292 is also conducive to achieving a pause at multiple specific positions, and can give the user hand-feel feedback, which is conducive to improving the user experience. It can be understood that the structures of the first sleeve 3281 and the second sleeve 3291 can be the same, and the first protrusion 3282 can be the same as the structure of the second protrusion 3292, and the first slot 3286 can be the same as the structure of the second slot 3295. The above arrangement is conducive to the symmetrical force on both sides of the worm wheel 324, so that the foldable mobile terminal 10 can be smoothly unfolded and closed.

[0070] refer to Fig.16 The first sleeve 3281 has a first end 3284 and a second end 3289 which are arranged opposite to each other, the first protrusion 3282 is located at the first end 3284, a positioning groove 3288 is provided on the stopper 3287, one end of the fifth elastic member 3283 abuts against the second end 3289, and the other end of the fifth elastic member 3283 is accommodated in the positioning groove 3288 and abuts against the stopper 3287. The above arrangement is conducive to the assembly and disassembly of the first sleeve 3281, the first worm 323 and the stopper 3287. It can be understood that the position of the stopper 3287 corresponding to the sixth elastic member 3293 can also be provided with the same structure as the positioning groove 3288, so as to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the second sleeve 3291, the second worm 325 and the stopper 3287, which will not be repeated here. In one embodiment, the number of folding components 320 is two groups, one group of folding components 320 is connected to one end of the cover plate 310, and the other group of folding components 320 is connected to the other end of the cover plate 310. The above structure can realize the smooth unfolding and folding of the foldable mobile terminal 10. It can be understood that the number of folding components 320 can also be more than the third group, which will not be repeated here.

[0071] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0072] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A foldable mobile terminal, characterized in that: include: The housing assembly comprises a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first housing is provided with a first slide groove, and the second housing is provided with a second slide groove; A folding mechanism, the folding mechanism comprises a cover plate and a folding assembly, the folding assembly comprises a first worm, a worm wheel, a second worm, a first connecting rod, and a second connecting rod; the cover plate is located between the first shell and the second shell, the first worm and the second worm are connected to the cover plate, and the first worm and the second worm can rotate relative to the cover plate, the worm wheel is located between the first worm and the second worm, and the worm wheel is respectively engaged with the first worm and the second worm, so that the first worm can drive the second worm to rotate; one end of the first connecting rod is connected to the first shell, the other end of the first connecting rod is connected to the first worm, one end of the second connecting rod is connected to the second shell, and the other end of the second connecting rod is connected to the second worm; and A flexible display screen is covered on the first shell and the second shell; when the foldable mobile terminal is folded, the flexible display screen is hidden between the first shell and the second shell; The cover plate is in a strip shape, the first shell and the second shell are arranged in the width direction of the cover plate, and a first top wall is provided at one end in the length direction of the cover plate; the folding assembly further comprises a stopper, which is fixed to the cover plate, and the stopper is arranged opposite to the first top wall; one end of the first worm passes through an axial hole on the stopper, and the other end passes through an axial hole on the first top wall, and one end of the second worm passes through an axial hole on the stopper, and the other end passes through an axial hole on the first top wall, so that the first worm and the second worm can rotate relative to the cover plate; The folding assembly includes a first elastic member and a second elastic member, the first elastic member is respectively connected to one end of the first connecting rod away from the first worm gear and the first housing, the first connecting rod is slidably disposed in the first sliding groove; the second connecting rod is slidably disposed in the second sliding groove, one end of the second connecting rod away from the second worm gear is connected to the second elastic member, and the second elastic member is connected to the second housing; During the folding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the first worm to rotate through the first connecting rod, and the first elastic member pushes the first connecting rod to slide in the first sliding groove to drive the cover plate to move in the direction away from the bendable area of ​​the flexible display screen, the first worm can drive the worm wheel to rotate, the worm wheel can drive the second worm to rotate, the second worm can drive the second shell to flip through the second connecting rod, and when the second connecting rod drives the second shell to flip, the second elastic member pushes the second connecting rod to slide in the second sliding groove; the cover plate and the first shell and the second shell form a receiving space for accommodating the bendable area; during the unfolding process of the foldable mobile terminal, the first shell can drive the second shell to flip through the folding mechanism, and the cover plate can move in the direction close to the bendable area.

2. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first shell includes a first top plate and a third elastic member, the second shell includes a second top plate and a fourth elastic member, the first top plate is rotatably connected to the first shell, the second top plate is rotatably connected to the second shell, the third elastic member is respectively connected to the first top plate and the first shell, and the fourth elastic member is respectively connected to the second top plate and the second shell; during the unfolding and folding of the foldable mobile terminal, the third elastic member can make the first top plate abut against the bendable area, and the fourth elastic member can make the second top plate abut against the bendable area.

3. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, a side of the first top plate facing the bendable area is flush with a side of the second top plate facing the bendable area.

4. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that: The third elastic member is a torsion spring having two free ends; one of the first shell and the first top plate is provided with a rotating shaft, and the other is provided with an axial hole, and the rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in the axial hole to enable the first top plate to be rotatably connected to the first shell; the torsion spring is sleeved on the rotating shaft, and one free end of the torsion spring is connected to the first top plate, and the other free end of the torsion spring is connected to the first shell.

5. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cover plate includes a bottom wall and a first side wall and a second side wall extending from two opposite edges of the bottom wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall and the bottom wall form a groove; when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, the first side wall abuts against the first top plate, and the second side wall abuts against the second top plate; when the foldable mobile terminal is folded, the end of the first top plate is accommodated in the groove and abuts against the first side wall, and the end of the second top plate is accommodated in the groove and abuts against the second side wall, and the first top plate, the first side wall, the bottom wall, the second side wall and the second top plate define the receiving space.

6. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first shell is provided with a first sunken groove, the second shell is provided with a second sunken groove, and the cover plate is slidably disposed in the first sunken groove and the second sunken groove; when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, the bottom wall is accommodated in the first sunken groove and the second sunken groove, and the bottom wall is blocked by the first shell and the second shell and hidden in the shell assembly; When the foldable mobile terminal is folded, a portion of the first side wall is accommodated in the first sink, a portion of the second side wall is accommodated in the second sink, and another portion of the first side wall, another portion of the second side wall and the bottom wall are exposed from the housing assembly.

7. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first shell includes a first left end face and a first right end face arranged opposite to each other, and the first recessed groove passes through the first right end face; the second shell includes a second left end face and a second right end face arranged opposite to each other, and the second recessed groove passes through the second left end face; when the foldable mobile terminal is unfolded, the first right end face abuts against the first left end face.

8. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connecting rod includes an integrally formed sliding portion, a connecting portion and a rotating portion, the sliding portion and the rotating portion are respectively connected to two ends of the connecting portion, the rotating portion is connected to the first worm gear, the sliding portion is connected to the first elastic member, and the sliding portion and the connecting portion are slidably arranged in the first sliding groove; the first shell is provided with a boss, and when the sliding portion slides in the first sliding groove, the boss can abut against the sliding portion to limit the sliding range of the sliding portion.

9. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The folding assembly includes a first sleeve, a fifth elastic member and a latch member, the first sleeve and the latch member are respectively sleeved on the first worm, the first sleeve is respectively slidably connected to the first worm and the first connecting rod, the stop member is fixedly connected to the cover plate, and the two ends of the fifth elastic member are respectively connected to the stop member and the first sleeve; the latch member is provided with a plurality of first slots along the circumference of the first worm, the first sleeve is provided with a first protrusion, and the first protrusion can be latched in the first slot; the first connecting rod can drive the first worm to rotate through the first sleeve, and when the first worm rotates, the first sleeve can slide and retract along the axial direction of the first worm, and the first protrusion can enter another first slot from one first slot.

10. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 9, characterized in that: The folding assembly includes a second sleeve and a sixth elastic member, the latch member is also sleeved on the second worm, the second sleeve is sleeved on the second worm, and the second sleeve is slidably connected to the second worm and the second connecting rod respectively, and the two ends of the sixth elastic member are respectively connected to the stop member and the second sleeve; the latch member is provided with a plurality of second slots along the circumference of the second worm, the second sleeve is provided with a second protrusion, and the second protrusion can be clamped in the second slot; the second connecting rod can drive the second worm to rotate through the second sleeve, and when the second worm rotates, the second sleeve can slide and retract along the axial direction of the second worm, and the second protrusion can enter from one second slot to another second slot.

11. The foldable mobile terminal according to claim 10, characterized in that: The first sleeve has a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other, and the first protrusion is located at the first end; a positioning groove is provided on the stop member, one end of the fifth elastic member abuts against the second end, and the other end of the fifth elastic member is accommodated in the positioning groove and abuts against the stop member.

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