Double axis synchronous hinge

Abstract

A dual-axis synchronous hinge comprises a base unit and two rotating shaft units. The base unit comprises a base. The base comprises a first surface, two rotating grooves recessed and formed on the first surface, and two rotating shaft grooves formed through the first surface, wherein the rotating groove comprises a straight section extending up and down and an arc section connecting the straight section and extending outward and downward in an arc shape. The rotating shaft units are rotatably arranged on the base of the base unit, respectively, and each rotating shaft unit comprises a rotating shaft rotatably arranged on the rotating shaft groove of the base, a rotating member fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft, and a pivot plate fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft. The rotating member forms a slider movably accommodated in the corresponding rotating groove. When the dual-axis synchronous hinge is applied to two bodies of an electronic device, the distance between the two bodies in the unfolded state can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a hinge, in particular to a double-axis synchronous hinge. Background Art

[0002] When a conventional dual-axis hinge is provided in a foldable electronic device, the two bodies of the electronic device are respectively connected to the two rotating shaft units of the dual-axis hinge. In order to prevent the two bodies from colliding during the opening and closing process, the design will result in a larger distance between the two bodies in the unfolded state. Therefore, there is still room for improvement. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a dual-axis synchronous hinge that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] The dual-axis synchronous hinge of the present invention comprises a base unit, including a base, the base having a first surface, two rotation slots recessed and formed on the first surface, and two rotation axis slots formed through the base, the rotation slot comprising a straight section extending up and down and an arc section connecting the straight section and extending outward and downward in an arc shape, the straight section having a lower end and an upper end, the arc section connecting the upper end and having an end away from the straight section, the rotation axis slot having an inner end and an outer end opposite to the inner end; and two rotation axis units, which are rotatably inserted into the base of the base unit respectively, each rotation axis unit comprising a rotation axis rotatably inserted into the rotation axis slot of the base, a rotation member fixedly sleeved on the rotation axis, and a pivot plate fixedly sleeved on the rotation axis, the rotation member forming a movable A slider accommodated in the corresponding rotating slide groove; wherein the rotating shaft unit can move between an initial position, a first expanded position and a second expanded position. In the initial position, the sliders are respectively located at the lower end of the rotating slide groove, the pivot plates are respectively extended upward relative to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shafts are respectively located at the outer ends of the rotating shaft slide grooves. In the first expanded position, the sliders are respectively located at the upper ends of the rotating slide grooves, the pivot plates are respectively extended horizontally outward relative to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shafts are respectively located at the inner ends of the rotating shaft slide grooves. In the second expanded position, the sliders are respectively located at the ends of the rotating slide grooves, the pivot plates are respectively extended downward relative to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shafts are respectively located at the inner ends of the rotating shaft slide grooves.

[0005] The double-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention, the base unit also includes a linkage block movably arranged on the base, the linkage block has two linkage grooves for the sliders to extend into respectively, when one of the sliders moves in the corresponding straight section, it will drive the linkage block and the other slider to move synchronously.

[0006] In the dual-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention, each rotating member has a main body and a convex portion protruding outward from the main body, and a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the main body forms a plurality of first gear teeth. When one of the sliders moves in the corresponding arc segment, the first gear teeth of the main body engage with each other so that the slider can move synchronously. The slider is formed on the convex portion.

[0007] In the dual-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention, a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the convex portion of each rotating member forms a plurality of second gear teeth. When one of the sliders moves in the corresponding straight section, the second gear teeth of the main body engage with each other so that the slider can move synchronously.

[0008] In the dual-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention, the main body portion of each rotating member is protruding with at least one limit block, and the first surface of the base of the base unit is formed with two limit grooves in which the limit blocks can be movably accommodated. When the slider moves in the corresponding arc segment, the limit blocks are respectively movably accommodated in the limit grooves to prevent the rotating members from respectively driving the rotating shafts to move in the rotating shaft slide grooves.

[0009] The dual-axis synchronous hinge of the present invention, the base unit also includes a protective cover arranged on the base, the protective cover is engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the base and covers the first surface of the base.

[0010] The double-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention has a protective cover comprising a base wall and a surrounding wall extending from the periphery of the base wall toward the base and engaging with the outer peripheral surface of the base, the surface of the base wall is recessed toward the base to form two positions corresponding to the rotation matching grooves of the rotation slide groove, two positions corresponding to the shaft matching grooves of the shaft slide groove, and two positions corresponding to the limit matching grooves of the limit groove, each sliding block is penetrated by the convex portion and protrudes toward the base and the protective cover respectively, and can be movably accommodated in the corresponding rotation slide groove and the rotation matching groove, the rotating shaft can be rotatably penetrated by the shaft slide groove of the base and the shaft matching groove of the protective cover respectively, and the main body of each rotating member is convexly provided with two limit blocks facing the base and the protective cover respectively, and the limit blocks can be movably accommodated in the corresponding limit groove and the limit matching groove respectively.

[0011] The dual-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention, the rotating shaft unit also includes at least one pair of friction plates respectively sleeved on the rotating shaft and located between the base and the pivot plate, and at least one pair of elastic gaskets respectively fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft and located between the base and the pivot plate.

[0012] The dual-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention has a base that also has a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is recessed to form a receiving groove for accommodating the friction plate and the elastic gasket. Each elastic gasket has a main body and elastic arm portions at both ends respectively connected to the main body, and the elastic arm portions are formed with protrusions. The base is recessed to form two slots for the protrusions to be inserted into.

[0013] The double-axis synchronous hinge described in the present invention, each rotating shaft has a first penetration section fixedly penetrated by the rotating member, a contact plate section connected to the first penetration section for abutting one of the friction plate and the elastic gasket, a sleeve section connected to the abutment plate section for sleeve mounting of the friction plate and the elastic gasket, and a second penetration section connected to the sleeve section for fixedly penetrating the pivot plate.

[0014] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the rotating shaft unit can move between the initial position, the first expanded position and the second expanded position. When the slider moves upward to the upper end and reaches the first expanded position, it will drive the rotating shaft to move to the inner end, so that the distance between the two bodies driven by the rotating shaft unit can also be shortened accordingly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of an embodiment of the dual-axis synchronous hinge of the present invention disposed between two machine bodies, wherein the two rotating shaft units of the embodiment are in a first unfolded position and the machine bodies are in a first unfolded state;

[0016] Figure 2 is similar Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the invention, wherein the rotating shaft unit is in an initial position and the body is in a folded state;

[0017] Figure 3 is a stereogram of the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the embodiment;

[0019] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of a base of a base unit of the embodiment;

[0020] Figure 6 is a three-dimensional diagram of the base of the embodiment from another perspective;

[0021] Figure 7 is a rear view of a protective cover of a base unit of the embodiment;

[0022] Figure 8 is a top view of the embodiment;

[0023] Fig. 9 Is Figure 8A sectional view obtained by the section line IX-IX, illustrating that the shaft unit is in the first unfolded position;

[0024] Fig.10 Is Figure 8 A sectional view obtained by the section line XX, showing that the shaft unit is in the first unfolded position;

[0025] Fig.11 is similar Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view of the shaft unit, illustrating the shaft unit is in the initial position;

[0026] Fig.12 is similar Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of the shaft unit, illustrating the shaft unit is in the initial position;

[0027] Fig.13 is similar Fig. 9 , illustrating the shaft unit in a second unfolded position; and

[0028] Fig.14 is similar Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of the shaft unit is shown in the second unfolded position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0030] See also Figures 1 to 3 An embodiment of the dual-axis synchronous hinge 10 of the present invention is suitable for being disposed between two bodies 20 to form an electronic device 30. The electronic device 30 can be, for example, a foldable device or a handheld device such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, etc. The dual-axis synchronous hinge 10 includes a base unit 1 and two rotating shaft units 2.

[0031] See also Figures 4 to 7The base unit 1 includes a base 11, a linkage block 12 movably disposed on the base 11, and a protective cover 13 disposed on the base 11. The base 11 has a first surface 111, a second surface 112 opposite to the first surface 111, two rotational slide grooves 113 recessed in the first surface 111, two rotational shaft slide grooves 114 formed through, two limiting grooves 115 respectively connected to the rotational shaft slide grooves 114, a receiving groove 116 recessed in the second surface 112, and two clamping grooves 117 recessed in the second surface 112 and connected to the receiving groove 116 and located above it. Each rotational slide groove 113 is generally in an inverted J shape, and includes a straight section 113a extending up and down and an arc section 113b connecting the straight section 113a and extending outward and downward in an arc shape. The straight section 113a has a lower end 113a1 and an upper end 113a2, and the arc section 113b is connected to the upper end 113a2 and has a terminal end 113b1 away from the straight section 113a. Each shaft slide 114 extends along the length direction of the base 11 and has an inner end 114b and an outer end 114a opposite to the inner end 114b, and the distance between the inner ends 114b is smaller than the distance between the outer ends 114a. The limiting grooves 115 are respectively connected to the outer ends 114a of the shaft slide 114 and extend downward in an arc shape, and their functions will be described later.

[0032] The linkage block 12 is movably disposed on the straight section 113a of the rotating slide groove 113 and has two linkage grooves 121 open outward. The protection cover 13 engages with the outer peripheral surface of the base 11 and covers the first surface 111 of the base 11. It has a base wall 131 and a surrounding wall 132 extending from the periphery of the base wall 131 toward the base 11 and engaging with the outer peripheral surface of the base 11. The base wall 131 is concave toward the surface of the base 11 to form two positions corresponding to the rotating matching grooves 131a of the rotating slide groove 113, two positions corresponding to the rotating shaft matching grooves 131b of the rotating shaft slide groove 114, and two positions corresponding to the limiting matching grooves 131c of the limiting groove 115. Among them, the rotating groove 113, the rotating shaft groove 114, the limiting groove 115, the locking groove 117, the rotating matching groove 131a, the rotating shaft matching groove 131b and the limiting matching groove 131c are all mirror-imaged and symmetrical to each other with respect to the vertical center line of the base 11.

[0033] See also Figure 4 and Figure 8, the rotating shaft units 2 are rotatably mounted on the base 11 of the base unit 1. Each rotating shaft unit 2 includes a rotating shaft 21 rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft slot 114 of the base 11, a rotating member 22 fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft 21, a pivot plate 25 fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft 21, a pair of friction plates 23 respectively mounted on the rotating shaft 21 and located between the base 11 and the pivot plate 25, and a pair of elastic gaskets 24 respectively mounted on the rotating shaft 21 and located between the base 11 and the pivot plate 25. Each rotating shaft 21 has a first penetration section 211 fixedly penetrated by the rotating member 22 and rotatably penetrated by the rotating shaft sliding groove 114 of the base 11 and the rotating shaft matching groove 131b of the protective cover 13, a contact plate section 212 connected to the first penetration section 211 for abutting against one of the friction plate 23 and the elastic gasket 24, a sleeve section 213 connected to the contact plate section 212 for sleeved by the friction plate 23 and the elastic gasket 24, and a second penetration section 214 connected to the sleeve section 213 and fixedly penetrated by the pivot plate 25. The contact plate section 212 is generally disc-shaped, and its diameter is larger than that of the sleeve section 213, and the diameter of the sleeve section 213 is larger than that of the first penetration section 211 and the second penetration section 214.

[0034] Each rotating member 22 has a main body 221 and a convex portion 222 protruding outward from the main body 221. A portion of the outer circumference of the main body 221 forms a plurality of first gear teeth 221a, and the main body 221 is provided with a substantially fan-shaped limit block 224 protruding toward the base 11 and the protective cover 13 respectively. The convex portion 222 is provided with a slider 223, and a portion of the outer circumference of the convex portion 222 forms a plurality of second gear teeth 222a. The slider 223 penetrates the convex portion 222 and protrudes toward the base 11 and the protective cover 13 respectively, and is movably accommodated in the corresponding linkage groove 121, the rotation slide groove 113 and the rotation matching groove 131a respectively. The limit block 224 is movably accommodated in the corresponding limit groove 115 and the limit matching groove 131c respectively. The two pairs of friction plates 23 and the two pairs of elastic gaskets 24 are arranged alternately and sleeved on the sleeve section 213 of the rotating shaft 21 and are accommodated in the accommodating groove 116. The friction between the friction plate section 212 and the abutment plate section 212 provides the torque required for the dual-axis synchronous hinge 10 of the present invention to be actuated. Each elastic gasket 24 has a main body 241 sleeved on the corresponding sleeve section 213 and elastic arms 242 connected to the main body 241 at both ends. The elastic arm 242 is formed with a convex point 242a. The convex point 242a can be inserted into the corresponding slot 117 to position the rotating shaft unit 2. Each pivot plate 25 is connected to the corresponding body 20 (see Figure 1) and is locked to the second penetration section 214 of the rotating shaft 21 by means of two nuts 26 and a plurality of washers 27. The washer 27 is a disc spring to provide a positive force between the friction plate 23 and the elastic gasket 24, so that the rotating shaft 21 can generate a stable torque, but the method of generating torque is not limited to this form. In other embodiments, the protective cover 13 can omit the rotation matching groove 131a, the rotating shaft matching groove 131b and the limiting matching groove 131c, and the slider 223 and the limiting block 224 of each rotating member 22 can only protrude toward the base 11, and are not limited to the state of this embodiment. And the number of friction plates 23 and elastic gaskets 24 of the two rotating shaft units 2 is not limited to two pairs, and can also be other numbers in other embodiments, as long as at least one is sufficient.

[0035] It should be noted that the linkage block 12 is movably disposed in the straight section 113a of the rotating slot 113 in this embodiment, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the linkage block 12 may also slide along the first surface 111 of the base 11 without extending into the rotating slot 113, as long as the slider 223 can keep moving together when moving between the straight section 113a of the rotating slot 113. The limiting grooves 115 are respectively connected to the outer ends 114a of the rotating shaft slot 114 in this embodiment, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the limiting grooves 115 may be connected to the middle section of the rotating shaft slot 114, or even not connected, because the position of the limiting grooves 115 depends on the distance between the limiting block 224 and the axis of the rotating shaft 21.

[0036] See also Fig. 9 , Fig.11 and Fig.13 The rotating shaft unit 2 can move between an initial position, a first unfolded position and a second unfolded position. Figure 2 , Fig.11 and Fig.12 In the initial position, the slider 223 is located at the lower end 113a1 of the rotating slot 113, the pivot plate 25 extends upward relative to the rotating shaft 21, and the rotating shaft 21 is located at the outer end 114a of the rotating shaft slot 114. When the rotating shaft unit 2 rotates, the pivot plate 25 can link the body 20 to a folded state, a first unfolded state (see Figure 1) and a second unfolded state, at which time the body 20 corresponds to the folded state. When the user wants to use the electronic device 30 and needs to separate and unfold the body 20, the hinge unit 2 continues to rotate so that the slider 223 moves upward toward the straight section 113a. The linkage block 12 and the rotating slide 113 are both mirror-imaged. When one of the sliders 223 moves in the corresponding straight section 113a, it will drive the linkage block 12 and the other slider 223 to move synchronously. The second gear teeth 222a of the protrusion 222 are meshed with each other, which can also enable the slider 223 to move synchronously to the first unfolded position. In the process, because the distance between each rotating shaft 21 and the lower end 113a1 is smaller than the distance between the rotating shaft 21 and the upper end 113a2, the slider 223 will drive the rotating shaft 21 to move toward the inner end 114b during the upward movement.

[0037] Matching reference Figure 1 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 In the first unfolded position, the sliders 223 are respectively located at the upper ends 113a2 of the rotating slots 113, the pivot plates 25 extend horizontally outward relative to the shafts 21, and the shafts 21 are respectively located at the inner ends 114b of the shaft slots 114. At this time, the machine body 20 corresponds to the first unfolded state, the angle between the machine bodies 20 is 180 degrees, and the convex points 242a of the two pairs of elastic gaskets 24 are inserted into the slots 117, thereby fixing the machine body 20 in the first unfolded state. When the slider 223 moves upward to the upper end 113a2, the shaft 21 is driven to move to the inner end 114b, so that the distance between the two machine bodies 20 driven by the shaft unit 2 can also be shortened accordingly. The rotating shaft unit 2 can continuously rotate so that the slider 223 moves along the arc segment 113b to the end 113b1. During the process, the limit blocks 224 respectively enter the limit grooves 115 to prevent the rotating member 22 from driving the rotating shaft 21 to move in the rotating shaft groove 114 and changing the distance between the two bodies 20.

[0038] Matching reference Fig.13 and Fig.14 In the second unfolded position, the sliders 223 are located at the ends 113b1 of the rotating slots 113, the pivot plates 25 extend downward relative to the shafts 21, and the shafts 21 are located at the inner ends 114b of the shaft slots 114. At this time, the body 20 corresponds to the second unfolded state, and the angle between the body 20 is 360 degrees. As can be seen from the above, the dual-axis synchronous hinge 10 of the present invention can allow the body 20 to open and close at an angle between 0 and 360 degrees, which can be used in a variety of usage scenarios.

[0039] In summary, the dual-axis synchronous hinge 10 of the present invention can move between the initial position, the first expanded position and the second expanded position by means of the rotating shaft unit 2. When the slider 223 moves upward to the upper end 113a2 and reaches the first expanded position, it will drive the rotating shaft 21 to move to the inner end 114b, so that the distance between the two bodies 20 driven by the rotating shaft unit 2 can also be shortened accordingly, so the purpose of the present invention can be achieved.

[0040] However, the above is only an embodiment of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-axis synchronous hinge, characterized in that: The biaxial synchronous hinge comprises: A base unit, comprising a base, the base having a first surface, two rotational slide grooves recessed in the first surface, and two rotational shaft slide grooves formed through the first surface, the rotational slide groove comprising a straight section extending up and down and an arcuate section connecting the straight section and extending outward and downward in an arc shape, the straight section having a lower end and an upper end, the arcuate section connecting the upper end and having a terminal end away from the straight section, the rotational shaft slide groove having an inner end and an outer end opposite to the inner end; and Two rotating shaft units are rotatably inserted into the base of the base unit, each rotating shaft unit comprises a rotating shaft rotatably inserted into the rotating shaft slot of the base, a rotating member fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft, and a pivot plate fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft, the rotating member forming a sliding block movably accommodated in the corresponding rotating slot; Wherein, the rotating shaft unit can move between an initial position, a first expanded position and a second expanded position. In the initial position, the sliders are respectively located at the lower end of the rotating slide groove, the pivot plates are respectively extended upward relative to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shafts are respectively located at the outer ends of the rotating shaft slide grooves. In the first expanded position, the sliders are respectively located at the upper end of the rotating slide grooves, the pivot plates are respectively extended horizontally outward relative to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shafts are respectively located at the inner ends of the rotating shaft slide grooves. In the second expanded position, the sliders are respectively located at the ends of the rotating slide grooves, the pivot plates are respectively extended downward relative to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shafts are respectively located at the inner ends of the rotating shaft slide grooves.

2. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base unit also includes a linkage block movably arranged on the base, the linkage block has two linkage grooves for the sliders to extend into respectively, when one of the sliders moves in the corresponding straight section, it will drive the linkage block and the other slider to move synchronously.

3. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each rotating member has a main body and a convex portion protruding outward from the main body. A portion of the outer circumferential surface of the main body forms a plurality of first gear teeth. When one of the sliders moves in the corresponding arc segment, the first gear teeth of the main body engage with each other so that the slider can move synchronously. The slider is formed on the convex portion.

4. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that: A portion of the outer peripheral surface of the convex portion of each rotating member forms a plurality of second gear teeth. When one of the sliders moves in the corresponding straight section, the second gear teeth of the main body engage with each other so that the sliders can move synchronously.

5. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The main body of each rotating member is protruding with at least one limit block, and the first surface of the base of the base unit is formed with two limit grooves in which the limit blocks can be movably accommodated. When the slider moves in the corresponding arc segment, the limit blocks are respectively movably accommodated in the limit grooves to prevent the rotating members from driving the rotating shafts to move in the rotating shaft slide grooves.

6. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 5, characterized in that: The base unit also includes a protection cover arranged on the base, wherein the protection cover is engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the base and covers the first surface of the base.

7. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 6, characterized in that: The protective cover comprises a base wall and a surrounding wall extending from the periphery of the base wall toward the base and engaging with the outer peripheral surface of the base. The surface of the base wall is recessed toward the base to form two rotation matching grooves corresponding to the rotation slide groove, two positions corresponding to the shaft matching grooves of the shaft slide groove, and two positions corresponding to the limit matching grooves of the limit groove. Each sliding block passes through the convex portion and protrudes toward the base and the protective cover respectively, and is respectively movably accommodated in the corresponding rotation slide groove and the rotation matching groove. The rotating shaft is respectively rotatably passed through the shaft slide groove of the base and the shaft matching groove of the protective cover. The main body of each rotating member is convexly provided with two limit blocks facing the base and the protective cover respectively, and the limit blocks are respectively movably accommodated in the corresponding limit groove and the limit matching groove.

8. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating shaft unit also includes at least one pair of friction plates respectively sleeved on the rotating shaft and located between the base and the pivot plate, and at least one pair of elastic gaskets respectively fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft and located between the base and the pivot plate.

9. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 8, characterized in that: The base also has a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is recessed to form a receiving groove for accommodating the friction plate and the elastic gasket. Each elastic gasket has a main body and elastic arms connected to the main body at both ends, and the elastic arm has a protrusion. The base is recessed to form two slots for the protrusions to be inserted into.

10. The dual-axis synchronous hinge according to claim 8, characterized in that: Each rotating shaft has a first penetration section fixedly penetrated by the rotating member, a contact plate section connected to the first penetration section for the friction plate and the elastic gasket to abut against, a sleeve section connected to the contact plate section for the friction plate and the elastic gasket to sleeve, and a second penetration section connected to the sleeve section and fixedly penetrated by the pivot plate.

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