A multi-stage switching hinge device

Abstract

The application provides a multi-section switching hinge device, which comprises a seat assembly, a shaft seat body, a first shaft body and a second shaft body rotatably arranged in the shaft seat body, an intermittent switching assembly connected with the seat assembly, a locking member connecting the first shaft body and the second shaft body, and a switching member intermittently locking the shaft seat body and any shaft body, and a guide assembly arranged between the first shaft body and the second shaft body and guiding the switching member to change the locking state during rotation. The multi-section switching hinge device provided by the application dynamically locks the shaft seat body and any shaft body by using the intermittent switching assembly, changes the locking state by using the guide assembly, and realizes multi-section switching control of the rotation state of the shaft body at a specific opening and closing angle. Meanwhile, the system end connected with the second shaft body and the hinge device are almost in parallel at the end of the first section rotation, the presence of the hinge device is reduced, and the overall aesthetic feeling is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic equipment mechanical technology, and specifically to a multi-segment switching hinge device. Background Technology

[0002] Laptops and other electronic devices typically employ a hinge design, which includes the main system hardware and the system end, as well as a display end that rotates and opens relative to the system end. The hinge design allows the display end to be closed for easy carrying when stored, and opened to allow the display end to stand upright for convenient use when needed. Therefore, the hinge located between the system end and the display end plays a crucial role in the laptop's open / closed state and user experience.

[0003] As laptop performance improves, more and more laptops are moving towards becoming all-in-one thin and light tablets. This places higher demands on the opening angle of the screen and system, as well as the position of the hinge. The hinge must be able to maintain a fixed opening angle of large or even full angles while minimizing its presence.

[0004] In existing dual-axis hinges, several sets of incomplete gears are added between the two axes when large or full-angle opening and closing are required. This inevitably increases the hinge width, thus affecting the thinness and lightness of the laptop. Some multi-stage switching hinges incorporate a switcher and several cam components between the two axes, using the cooperation between the switcher and the cams to alternate the rotation of each axis. In this type of multi-stage switching hinge, the cam's shearing action affects the switching feel when changing axis rotation states. Furthermore, the cams used need to be specially customized according to the opening angle, resulting in higher component costs. Long-term use also leads to significant wear, and replacement and repair costs are high. Other hinges with switchable rotation integrate the components for rotation switching and angle limiting to reduce the number of internal parts and shorten the axis length. However, due to structural limitations, the rotation process can only be segmented in 180-degree intervals. Given the current trend towards thinner and lighter laptops, this type of hinge appears somewhat awkward and lacks flexibility when combined with the laptop's overall shape. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of complex multi-axis hinge structure and poor opening and closing feel in the prior art, thereby providing a multi-segment switching hinge device.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a multi-segment switching hinge device, comprising:

[0007] A seat assembly includes a bearing seat body, and a first shaft and a second shaft rotatably disposed in the bearing seat body;

[0008] An intermittent switching assembly, connected to the base assembly, includes a locking member connecting the first shaft and the second shaft, and a switching member for intermittently locking the shaft base and either shaft;

[0009] A guiding component, located between the first shaft and the second shaft, includes a sliding trigger and several limiting channels. The sliding trigger moves in different limiting channels as the shaft rotates. When the sliding trigger switches the limiting channel, it guides the switching component to change the locking state.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the first shaft and the second shaft are arranged in parallel and rotate independently relative to the shaft seat, and the shaft seat is provided with a first shaft hole and a second shaft hole for accommodating the first shaft and the second shaft.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the locking member includes a first locking ring and a second locking ring respectively disposed on the first shaft and the second shaft, and the first locking ring and the second locking ring rotate together with the first shaft and the second shaft respectively, and the switching member moves back and forth between the first locking ring and the second locking ring, and intermittently locks with one of the locking members.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the switching member includes an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface, and both the first locking ring and the second locking ring are provided with arc-shaped locking grooves. When the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface enters the arc-shaped locking groove, the switching member and the locking member are dynamically locked.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the intermittent switching component further includes a switching limiting structure, which guides the movement of the switching member, and includes:

[0014] A switching limit bearing is provided on one side of the locking member, and it is provided with the first shaft hole and the second shaft hole;

[0015] A switching limit side plate is provided on both sides of the switching component and is fixedly connected to the switching limit shaft seat;

[0016] The switching component has switching limiting surfaces on both sides that fit against the switching limiting side plate, allowing the switching component to move linearly along the axis perpendicular to the shaft.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the guiding component includes:

[0018] A spiral guide is sleeved on the first shaft and rotates with the first shaft. It is provided with a spiral groove.

[0019] An angle limiting component is sleeved on the second shaft and rotates with the second shaft. It is provided with several limiting channels.

[0020] A sliding trigger is disposed between the spiral guide and the angle limiting member, and includes a sliding end and a limiting end that move in the spiral groove and the limiting channel, respectively;

[0021] When the sliding trigger contacts the limiting surface in the limiting channel, it triggers the switching element to change the locking state.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the limiting channel is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the angle limiting member, including a first circumferential channel, a transfer channel, and a second circumferential channel; one end face of the first circumferential channel and the second circumferential channel are respectively a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface; when the sliding triggering member contacts the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface, it triggers the switching member to change position.

[0023] When the limiting end of the sliding trigger slides along the circumference of the second shaft in the first circumferential channel and the second circumferential channel, the first shaft and the shaft seat are relatively fixed; when the limiting end of the sliding trigger moves along the axial direction of the second shaft in the transfer channel, the second shaft and the shaft seat are relatively fixed.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the guiding component further includes an axial sliding guiding structure to guide the sliding trigger to move axially within the transfer channel, comprising:

[0025] A sliding guide shaft seat is provided on one side of the spiral guide and the angle limiting member, and has the first shaft hole and the second shaft hole thereon;

[0026] A sliding guide rail plate is fixedly mounted on the sliding guide shaft seat, and a sliding rail protruding from it is slidably connected to the side of the sliding trigger.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the guiding component further includes a second angle limiting sleeve and a second angle limiting device. The second angle limiting sleeve is disposed on the first shaft, and the second angle limiting sleeve is provided with a third circumferential channel. The two ends of the third circumferential channel are a third limiting surface and a fourth limiting surface, respectively. When the second angle limiting device contacts the third limiting surface and the third limiting surface, it triggers the switching component to change position.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the multi-segment switching hinge device of the present invention, the second angle limiter is provided on the end face of the first locking ring near the sliding guide shaft seat, and the second angle limiter protrudes from the sliding guide shaft seat.

[0029] The technical solution of this invention has the following advantages:

[0030] 1. The multi-segment switching hinge device provided by this invention incorporates an intermittent switching component and a guiding component between the first and second shafts. The intermittent switching component dynamically locks the shaft seat and any one of the shafts, while the guiding component selects and changes the locking state at specific opening and closing angles, thus achieving multi-segment switching control of the shaft rotation state. Furthermore, since the switching angle can be set as needed, at the end of the first segment of rotation, the system end connected to the second shaft and the hinge device can be almost parallel, reducing the visual presence of the hinge device and enhancing the overall aesthetics.

[0031] 2. The multi-segment switching hinge device provided by the present invention has locking rings set on two shafts in the intermittent switching component. The switching component is set between the locking rings so that it dynamically locks with one of the locking rings within a certain angle range. After entering the next angle range, it automatically switches to the other locking ring and releases the original locking ring, thus realizing automatic alternating dynamic locking of the shafts. At the same time, only one set of intermittent locking components can realize bidirectional angle switching of opening and closing, simplifying the structure.

[0032] 3. The multi-segment switching hinge device provided by this invention uses an arc-shaped outer circumferential surface and an arc-shaped locking groove for dynamic locking between the switching component and the locking component. This results in less wear on the components themselves and extends their service life. Furthermore, this structure requires less punching during switching compared to a cam structure, and provides a smoother user experience.

[0033] 4. The multi-segment switching hinge device provided by this invention employs a multi-segment limiting channel within the guiding component as an angle limiting element. This, combined with a sliding trigger element, moves and triggers the switching element during rotation, further simplifying the structure. Simultaneously, a spiral guide element guides the movement direction and manner of the sliding trigger element, thereby enabling it to coordinate with the connection movement relationships between different components after shaft switching, achieving a triggering effect for changing the position of the switching element at a specific angle.

[0034] 5. The multi-segment switching hinge device provided by this invention includes a second angle limiting sleeve and a second angle limiter in the guiding component, which are used for limiting within the range of mid-segment angle changes. This triggers the switching element to switch positions when the mid-segment angle range intersects with the first-end angle range, allowing the switching element to change or return to its original position in both opening and closing directions. From an overall structural perspective, one set of intermittent switching components and one set of guiding components are sufficient for bidirectional control. Compared to existing hinges that require two or more sets to achieve bidirectional control, this significantly simplifies the structural complexity of the hinge device, thereby reducing its size and visual impact, and meeting the needs of thinner and lighter laptops. Attached Figure Description

[0035] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a multi-segment switching hinge device;

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the right end of the multi-segment switching hinge device;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the intermittent switching component.

[0039] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the locking component;

[0040] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the guide component;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the angle limiting component;

[0042] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the intermittent switching component when the opening / closing angle is 0 degrees.

[0043] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the guide component's state when the opening / closing angle is 0 degrees.

[0044] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the intermittent switching component when the opening / closing angle is 70 degrees.

[0045] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the guide component's state when the opening angle is 70 degrees.

[0046] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the intermittent switching component when the opening / closing angle is 250 degrees.

[0047] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the guide component's state when the opening angle is 250 degrees.

[0048] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the intermittent switching component when the opening / closing angle is 360 degrees.

[0049] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the guide component's state when the opening angle is 360 degrees.

[0050] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0051] 100. Seat assembly; 200. Intermittent switching assembly; 300. Guiding assembly;

[0052] 101. First shaft; 102. Second shaft; 103. Shaft seat; 104. Housing; 105. Damper;

[0053] 103a, First shaft hole; 103b, Second shaft hole;

[0054] 201. Locking component; 202. Switching component; 203. Switching limit structure;

[0055] 201a, First locking ring; 201b, Second locking ring; 201c, Arc-shaped locking groove;

[0056] 201c-1, First locking groove; 201c-2, Second locking groove; 201c-3, Third locking groove;

[0057] 202a, Arc-shaped outer circumference; 202b, Switching limit surface; 202c, Sliding head;

[0058] 203a, Switching the limit bearing; 203a-1, Switching the limit side plate;

[0059] 301. Spiral guide; 302. Angle limiting component; 303. Sliding trigger component; 304. Sliding guide structure; 305. Second angle limiting sleeve;

[0060] 301a, spiral groove;

[0061] 302a, First circumferential channel; 302b, Second circumferential channel; 302c, Transfer channel;

[0062] 302a-1, First limiting surface; 302b-1, Second limiting surface;

[0063] 303a, sliding end; 303b, limiting end; 303c, sliding side groove;

[0064] 304a, sliding guide shaft seat; 304b, sliding guide rail plate; 304b-1, sliding rail;

[0065] 304a-1, Second Angle Limiter;

[0066] 305a, Third circumferential channel; 305a-1, Third limiting surface; 305a-2, Fourth limiting surface; Detailed Implementation

[0067] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0068] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0069] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0070] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other. Example

[0071] This embodiment provides a multi-segment switching hinge device, which can be used for connection between the system end and the display end of electronic products such as laptops. It includes a base assembly 100, an intermittent switching assembly 200, and a guide assembly 300, with the structure as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown.

[0072] The seat assembly 100 includes a bearing seat 103, and a first shaft 101 and a second shaft 102 rotatably disposed in the bearing seat 103.

[0073] Since the hinge device in this embodiment needs to achieve 360-degree opening and closing, the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102 are arranged in parallel and rotate independently relative to the bearing seat 103. The bearing seat 103 is provided with a first shaft hole 103a and a second shaft hole 103b for accommodating the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102. The first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102 rotate alternately in the shaft holes to achieve an opening and closing angle of 0-360 degrees.

[0074] The intermittent switching assembly 200 connects to the base assembly 100 and includes a locking member 201 connecting the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102, as well as a switching member 202 that intermittently locks the shaft base 103 and any one shaft. The intermittent switching assembly 200 can intermittently lock any one shaft and the shaft base 103, allowing the other shaft to rotate freely. When a specific opening angle is reached, the locking state is changed, thereby realizing multi-stage switching of shaft rotation.

[0075] The guide assembly 300 is located between the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102, and includes a sliding trigger 303 and several limiting channels. The sliding trigger 303 moves in different limiting channels as the shafts rotate. When the sliding trigger 303 switches the limiting channel, it guides the switching member 202 to change the locking state. When the opening angle reaches a specific angle, the guide assembly 300 restricts the movement relationship between specific components inside the hinge device, thereby generating a force that triggers the switching member 202 to change position, realizing the change of the locking state, and thus realizing the alternating rotation between the two shafts relative to the shaft seat 103.

[0076] The multi-segment switching hinge device provided in this embodiment adds an intermittent switching component 200 and a guide component 300 between the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102. The intermittent switching component 200 dynamically locks the shaft seat 103 and any shaft, and the guide component 300 changes the locking state, thereby realizing multi-segment switching control of the shaft rotation state at a specific opening and closing angle.

[0077] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, when the opening angle is 0 degrees, there is a horizontal distance between the axial centers of the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102. Thus, when the first rotation of the second shaft 102 relative to the bearing 103 ends, the hinge device is in a sunken state, and the system end connected to the second shaft 102 and the hinge device are almost parallel. This reduces the presence of the hinge device and enhances the overall aesthetics. Example

[0078] This embodiment provides a multi-segment switching hinge device, including a base assembly 100, including a shaft seat 103, and a first shaft 101 and a second shaft 102 rotatably disposed in the shaft seat 103; an intermittent switching assembly 200, connected to the base assembly 100, including a locking member 201 connecting the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102, and a switching member 202 intermittently locking the shaft seat 103 and any one of the shafts; and a guide assembly 300, disposed between the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102, guiding the switching member 202 to change its locking state during rotation.

[0079] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102 are arranged in parallel and rotate independently relative to the shaft seat 103. The shaft seat 103 is provided with a first shaft hole 103a and a second shaft hole 103b for accommodating the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102, respectively. The multi-segment switching hinge device provided in this embodiment adds an intermittent switching component 200 and a guide component 300 between the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102. The intermittent switching component 200 dynamically locks the shaft seat 103 and any shaft, and the guide component 300 changes the locking state, realizing multi-segment switching control of the shaft rotation state at a specific opening and closing angle.

[0080] To ensure force balance during shaft rotation, this embodiment features intermittent switching components 200 and guide components 300 at both ends of the hinge device, with symmetrical arrangements on both sides. For ease of demonstration, the right end will be described in detail below.

[0081] like Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the intermediate shaft seat 103, guide assembly 300, and intermittent motion assembly are arranged in parallel from the outside to the inside along the shaft. A damper 105 is also connected to the inner end of the shaft, which can rotate the shaft to any angle and keep it fixed at all times. An outer shell 104 is fitted on the outside, making the shaft structure compact and reducing the space occupied. The outer shell 104 is integrally molded with a hollow MIM shaft, which can reduce costs and improve product stability.

[0082] When the multi-segment switching hinge device of this embodiment is used in hinged electronic devices such as laptops, the first axis 101 is connected to the display screen end, and the second axis 102 is connected to the system end. Because the hinge device in this embodiment has a compact structure, it can be applied to ultra-thin laptops.

[0083] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the locking member 201 in this embodiment includes a first locking ring 201a and a second locking ring 201b respectively disposed on the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102. The first locking ring 201a and the second locking ring 201b rotate together with the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102, respectively. The switching member 202 moves back and forth between the first locking ring 201a and the second locking ring 201b, and intermittently locks with one of the locking members 201.

[0084] To maintain a relative fixation between the locking member 201 and the shaft, in this embodiment, the outer circumferential surfaces of the first shaft 101 and the second shaft 102 are provided with flat key surfaces, while the locking member 201 is sleeved on the shaft and has a corresponding flat key surface on its inner circumferential surface, thereby fixing the two relatively. The first shaft hole 103a and the second shaft hole 103b in the shaft seat 103 are completely curved surfaces, allowing the shaft to rotate freely within the shaft holes.

[0085] The intermittent switching assembly 200 is equipped with locking rings on two shafts. The switching component 202 is placed between the locking rings, so that it dynamically locks with one of the locking rings within a certain angle range. After entering the next angle range, it automatically switches to the other locking ring and releases the original locking ring. This achieves automatic alternating dynamic locking of the shafts. Only one set of intermittent locking assemblies is needed to achieve bidirectional angle switching, which simplifies the structure.

[0086] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the switching component 202 is approximately cylindrical in shape and includes an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a. The corresponding first locking ring 201a and second locking ring 201b are both provided with an arc-shaped locking groove 201c. When the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a enters the arc-shaped locking groove 201c, the switching component 202 and the locking component 201 are dynamically locked.

[0087] Specifically, a switching limit structure 203 is provided around the switching component 202 to restrict the movement direction of the switching component 202. That is, the switching component 202 can only move linearly along the connection direction of the two shaft axes. Therefore, when the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a enters one side of the arc-shaped locking groove 201c, the locking ring on that side is stuck and cannot rotate, while the locking ring on the other side is not constrained and can rotate freely, thereby achieving locking between one side of the shaft and the shaft seat 103. After the switching component 202 disengages from one side of the arc-shaped locking groove 201c and enters the other side of the arc-shaped locking groove 201c, the locking state of the shaft can be switched. At this time, the guide assembly 300 applies a certain external force at a specific opening and closing angle to change the position of the switching component 202.

[0088] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the switching limiting structure 203 in this embodiment includes a switching limiting shaft seat 203a, which is located on one side of the locking member 201 and has a first shaft hole 103a and a second shaft hole 103b; a switching limiting side plate 203a-1, which is located on both sides of the switching member 202 and is fixedly connected to the switching limiting shaft seat 203a; and switching limiting surfaces 202b that fit against the switching limiting side plate 203a-1 on both sides of the switching member 202, so that the switching member 202 can move linearly along the axis direction perpendicular to the shaft body.

[0089] To further ensure the stability of the movement of the switching component 202, a sliding head 202c protrudes from the end of the switching component 202, and a long slotted sliding groove is also provided on the side of the bearing body 103 near the sliding head 202c.

[0090] In this embodiment, the switching component 202 and the locking component 201 are dynamically locked together by using an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a in conjunction with an arc-shaped locking groove 201c. This results in less wear on the components themselves and extends their service life. Furthermore, this structure requires less punching during switching compared to a cam structure, resulting in a smoother user experience.

[0091] Since the opening and closing angles in this embodiment are multi-segmented, the first shaft 101 needs to be locked multiple times. Therefore, the first locking ring 201a is provided with a first locking groove 201c-1 and a third locking groove 201c-3, and the second locking ring 201b is provided with a second locking groove 201c-2. The switching member 202 first rotates the second shaft 102 in the first locking groove 201c-1. After rotating a certain angle, under the trigger of the guide component 300, the switching member 202 disengages from the first locking groove 201c-1 and enters the second locking groove 201c-2, allowing the first shaft 101 to rotate. After rotating a certain angle, under the trigger of the guide component 300 again, the switching member 202 disengages from the second locking groove 201c-2 and enters the third locking groove 201c-3, allowing the second shaft 102 to rotate again.

[0092] To prevent the switching element 202 from slipping out of the locking groove during rotation, the distance between the first locking ring 201a and the second locking ring 201b in this embodiment is less than the outer diameter of the switching element 202. When the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a of one side of the switching element 202 enters the arc-shaped locking groove 201c on one side, the outer peripheral surface of the locking ring on the other side contacts the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a of the switching element 202, and the two slide and rub against each other until the arc-shaped locking groove 201c on the locking ring on the other side is aligned with the switching element 202, and the locking state of the switching element 202 is changed under the trigger of the guide component 300.

[0093] like Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the guide component 300 in this embodiment includes a spiral guide 301, an angle limiting component 302, and a sliding trigger component 303.

[0094] The spiral guide 301 is sleeved on the first shaft 101 and rotates with the first shaft 101, and has a spiral groove 301a. The angle limiting member 302 is sleeved on the second shaft 102 and rotates with the second shaft 102, and has several limiting channels for limiting the rotation angle, which, together with the sliding trigger 303, produces a limiting effect. The sliding trigger 303 is located between the spiral guide 301 and the angle limiting member 302, and includes a sliding end 303a and a limiting end 303b that move in the spiral groove 301a and the limiting channels, respectively.

[0095] When the sliding trigger 303 contacts the limiting surface in the limiting channel, the trigger switching element 202 changes the locking state.

[0096] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the limiting channel is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the angle limiting member 302, including a first circumferential channel 302a, a transfer channel 302c, and a second circumferential channel 302b; the first circumferential channel 302a, the transfer channel 302c, and the second circumferential channel 302b are connected end-to-end in sequence. One end face of the first circumferential channel 302a and the second circumferential channel 302b is the first limiting surface 302a-1 and the second limiting surface 302b-1, respectively; when the sliding trigger member 303 contacts the first limiting surface 302a-1 and the second limiting surface 302b-1, the trigger switching member 202 changes position:

[0097] When the limiting end 303b of the sliding trigger 303 slides along the circumferential direction of the second shaft 102 in the first circumferential channel 302a and the second circumferential channel 302b, the first shaft 101 and the shaft seat 103 are relatively fixed; when the limiting end 303b of the sliding trigger 303 moves along the axial direction of the second shaft 102 in the transfer channel 302c, the second shaft 102 and the shaft seat 103 are relatively fixed.

[0098] like Figure 5As shown, a spiral groove 301a is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the spiral guide 301. The sliding end 303a of the sliding trigger 303 is a cylinder placed in the spiral groove 301a. When the first shaft 101 where the spiral guide 301 is located can rotate, the sliding trigger 303 will move linearly in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the shaft due to the axial sliding guide structure 304 around it. When the first shaft 101 is locked, the sliding trigger 303 will rotate relative to the second shaft 102 along with the first shaft 101 due to the restriction of the axial sliding guide structure 304 and the spiral groove 301a. That is, the limiting end 303b of the sliding trigger 303 rotates circumferentially within the circumferential channel.

[0099] Specifically, the axial sliding guide structure 304 in this embodiment guides the sliding trigger 303 to move axially within the transfer channel 302c. It includes: a sliding guide shaft seat 304a, located on one side of the spiral guide 301 and the angle limiting member 302, with a first shaft hole 103a and a second shaft hole 103b; and a sliding guide track plate 304b, fixedly mounted on the sliding guide shaft seat 304a, with a protruding sliding track 304b-1 that slidably connects to the sliding side groove 303c on the side of the sliding trigger 303. The bottom of the limiting end 303b of the sliding trigger 303 is arc-shaped, allowing it to slide in close contact with the limiting channel.

[0100] The guide component 300 incorporates a multi-segment limiting channel as an angle limiting element 302, which, in conjunction with the sliding trigger element 303, moves and triggers the switching element 202 during rotation, further simplifying the structure. Simultaneously, a spiral guide element 301 guides the movement direction and manner of the sliding trigger element 303, thereby enabling it to coordinate with the movement relationships between different components after shaft switching, achieving a triggering effect for changing the position of the switching element 202 at specific angles.

[0101] In this embodiment, when the first shaft finishes rotating and then switches to the second shaft, the angle can be limited by the end of the spiral groove stroke in conjunction with the sliding end of the sliding trigger. However, as a preferred embodiment, this embodiment uses a separate set of angle limiting sleeves and angle limiters to trigger the switching of the middle angle range, so as to protect the structural life of the spiral guide and the sliding trigger.

[0102] Specifically, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the guide component 300 in this embodiment also includes a second angle limiting sleeve 305 and a second angle limiter 304a-1, which are used to provide angle limitation within the opening and closing angle range of the middle section, thereby realizing the change of the position of the switching component 202.

[0103] The second angle limiting sleeve 305 is disposed on the first shaft 101, and the second angle limiting sleeve 305 is provided with a third circumferential channel 305a. The two ends of the third circumferential channel 305a are the third limiting surface 305a-1 and the fourth limiting surface 305a-2, respectively. When the second angle limiter 304a-1 contacts the third limiting surface 305a-1 and the third limiting surface 305a-2, the switching member 202 is triggered to change its position.

[0104] In order to make the overall structure compact, the second angle limiter 304a-1 in this embodiment is opened on the end face of the first locking ring 201a near the sliding guide shaft seat 304a, and the second angle limiter 304a-1 protrudes from the sliding guide shaft seat 304a.

[0105] The multi-segment switching hinge device provided in this embodiment uses the second angle limiting sleeve 305 and the second angle limiter 304a-1 in the guide component 300 to limit the position within the mid-segment angle variation range. This triggers the switching element 202 to switch positions when the mid-segment angle range intersects with the first-end angle range, allowing the switching element 202 to change or return to its original position in both opening and closing directions. From an overall structural perspective, one set of intermittent switching component 200 and one set of guide component 300 can achieve bidirectional control. Compared to existing hinges that require two or more sets to achieve bidirectional control, this greatly simplifies the structural complexity of the hinge device, thereby reducing its size and visual impact, meeting the needs of thinner and lighter laptops. Example

[0106] This embodiment provides a multi-segment switching hinge device, whose structure is the same as that in Embodiment 2. Preferably, the multi-segment switching hinge device in this embodiment is used on hinged electronic devices such as laptops. The first axis 101 is connected to the display screen end, and the second axis 102 is connected to the system end, dividing the opening angle of the laptop into three stages: 0-70 degrees, 70-250 degrees, and 250-360 degrees. This embodiment will demonstrate the position and movement of each component in the seat assembly 100, the intermittent switching assembly 200, and the guide assembly 300 in each stage from 0 degrees to 360 degrees as follows.

[0107] The opening and closing angle is in the range of 0-70 degrees:

[0108] like Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, in this stage, the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a on the switching component 202 is located in the first locking groove 201c-1, locking the first locking ring 201a, thereby fixing the first shaft 101 and the shaft seat 103 relatively, while the second shaft 102 can rotate. The sliding trigger 303 in the guide assembly 300 is stationary relative to the spiral guide 301. As the first shaft 101 rotates relative to the second shaft 102, the trigger end slides circumferentially within the first circumferential channel 302a until it contacts the first limiting surface 302a-1.

[0109] The opening and closing angle is in the range of 70-250 degrees:

[0110] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, when the opening angle is 70 degrees, the second locking groove 201c-2 rotates to face the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a, and the trigger end contacts the first limiting surface 302a-1. The second shaft 102 cannot rotate further. At this time, the torque applied from the outside is transmitted to the first locking ring 201a, which applies a squeezing force to the switching member 202, squeezing the switching member 202 out of the first locking groove 201c-1. The switching member 202 slides into the second locking groove 201c-2 under the guidance of the switching limiting structure 203, thereby releasing the first shaft 101 and locking the second shaft 102.

[0111] like Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, during the rotation of the first shaft 101 relative to the shaft seat 103, the sliding trigger in the guide assembly 300 can slide relative to the spiral guide 301, thereby starting to enter the transfer channel 302c and move along the axial direction parallel to the shaft under the constraint of the spiral groove 301a and the axial sliding guide structure 304.

[0112] Simultaneously, the second angle limiting sleeve 305 and the second angle limiting device 304a-1 also begin to slide relative to each other. The second angle limiting device 304a-1 moves closer to the third limiting surface 305a-1 within the third circumferential channel 305a until the second angle limiting device 304a-1 contacts the third limiting surface 305a-1. In this embodiment, the allowable travel of the second angle limiting sleeve 305 is 180 degrees, corresponding to an opening and closing angle of 70-250 degrees.

[0113] The opening and closing angle is in the range of 250-360 degrees:

[0114] like Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, when the opening angle is 250 degrees, the third locking groove 201c-3 on the first locking ring 201a rotates to face the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 202a, and the second angle limiter 304a-1 contacts the third limiting surface 305a-1. The first shaft 101 cannot rotate further. At this time, the torque applied from the outside is transmitted to the second locking ring 201b, which applies a squeezing force to the switching member 202, squeezing the switching member 202 out of the second locking groove 201c-2. The switching member 202 slides into the third locking groove 201c-3 under the guidance of the switching limiting structure 203, locking the first locking ring 201a again, thereby releasing the second shaft 102 to lock the first shaft 101.

[0115] like Figure 12 As shown, the trigger end of the sliding trigger 303 is located at the end of the transfer channel 302c and the beginning of the second axial channel.

[0116] like Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, during the rotation of the second shaft 102 relative to the shaft seat 103, the sliding trigger 303 and the spiral guide 301 remain relatively stationary. As the first shaft 101 rotates relative to the second shaft 102, the trigger end reaches the circumferential sliding end in the second circumferential channel 302b, at which point the opening and closing angle is 360 degrees.

[0117] This completes the opening process from 0 to 360 degrees.

[0118] The closing process from 360 degrees to 0 degrees is the reverse of the opening process from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. It should be noted that when the opening angle is 250 degrees, the sliding trigger 303 contacts the second limiting surface 302b-1, causing a change in the position of the switching element 202 and switching the locking state. When the opening angle is 70 degrees, the second angle limiter 304a-1 contacts the fourth limiting surface 305a-2, causing a change in the position of the switching element 202 and switching the locking state.

[0119] During the closing process, the internal components simply move in reverse along the path they took when opening, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0120] It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements of this application shown in several different exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, those who consult this disclosure will readily understand that many modifications are possible (e.g., changes in the size, dimensions, structure, shape, and proportions of various elements, as well as parameter values ​​(e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation, etc.) without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described in this application). For example, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be inverted or otherwise altered, and the nature or number or position of discrete elements may be changed or altered. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or rearranged according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any "device plus function" clause is intended to cover the structure described herein that performs the function, and not only structurally equivalent but also equivalent in structure. Other substitutions, modifications, alterations, and omissions may be made in the design, operation, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, but extends to various modifications that still fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0121] Furthermore, in order to provide a concise description of exemplary embodiments, not all features of actual embodiments (i.e., those features that are not relevant to the currently considered best mode for carrying out the invention, or those features that are not relevant to implementing the invention) may be omitted.

[0122] It should be understood that numerous specific implementation decisions can be made during the development of any practical implementation, such as in any engineering or design project. Such development efforts may be complex and time-consuming, but for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the development effort will be a routine work of design, manufacturing, and production without requiring much experimentation.

[0123] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A multi-segment switching hinge device, characterized in that: include The seat assembly (100) includes a bearing body (103), and a first shaft (101) and a second shaft (102) rotatably disposed in the bearing body (103). Intermittent switching assembly (200), connected to the seat assembly (100), includes a locking member (201) connecting the first shaft (101) and the second shaft (102), and a switching member (202) intermittently locking the shaft seat (103) and any shaft. A guide component (300) is disposed between the first shaft (101) and the second shaft (102), including a sliding trigger (303) and a plurality of limiting channels. The sliding trigger (303) moves in different limiting channels as the shaft rotates. When the sliding trigger (303) switches the limiting channel, it guides the switching component (202) to change the locking state. The boot component (300) includes: A spiral guide (301) is sleeved on the first shaft (101) and rotates with the first shaft (101), and has a spiral groove (301a) on it. An angle limiting member (302) is sleeved on the second shaft (102) and rotates with the second shaft (102). The limiting channel is opened on the angle limiting member (302). A sliding trigger (303) is disposed between the spiral guide (301) and the angle limiting member (302), and includes a sliding end (303a) and a limiting end (303b) that move in the spiral groove (301a) and the limiting channel, respectively. When the sliding trigger (303) contacts the limiting surface in the limiting channel, it triggers the switching member (202) to change the locking state; The limiting channel is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the angle limiting member (302), including a first circumferential channel (302a), a transfer channel (302c), and a second circumferential channel (302b); one end face of the first circumferential channel (302a) and the second circumferential channel (302b) are respectively a first limiting surface (302a-1) and a second limiting surface (302b-1); when the sliding trigger (303) contacts the first limiting surface (302a-1) and the second limiting surface (302b-1), it triggers the switching member (202) to change position: When the limiting end (303b) of the sliding trigger (303) slides along the circumference of the second shaft (102) in the first circumferential channel (302a) and the second circumferential channel (302b), the first shaft (101) and the shaft seat (103) are relatively fixed; when the limiting end (303b) of the sliding trigger (303) moves along the axial direction of the second shaft (102) in the transfer channel (302c), the second shaft (102) and the shaft seat (103) are relatively fixed.

2. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first shaft (101) and the second shaft (102) are arranged in parallel and rotate independently relative to the bearing seat (103). The bearing seat (103) is provided with a first shaft hole (103a) and a second shaft hole (103b) for accommodating the first shaft (101) and the second shaft (102).

3. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking member (201) includes a first locking ring (201a) and a second locking ring (201b) respectively disposed on the first shaft (101) and the second shaft (102), and the first locking ring (201a) and the second locking ring (201b) rotate together with the first shaft (101) and the second shaft (102) respectively. The switching member (202) moves back and forth between the first locking ring (201a) and the second locking ring (201b) and intermittently locks with one of the locking members (201).

4. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The switching component (202) includes an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface (202a), and the first locking ring (201a) and the second locking ring (201b) are both provided with arc-shaped locking grooves (201c). When the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface (202a) enters the arc-shaped locking groove (201c), the switching component (202) and the locking component (201) are dynamically locked.

5. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The intermittent switching component (200) further includes a switching limiting structure (203) that guides the movement of the switching element (202), and includes: A switching limit bearing (203a) is provided on one side of the locking member (201), and has the first shaft hole (103a) and the second shaft hole (103b) thereon. The switching limit side plate (203a-1) is provided on both sides of the switching component (202) and is fixedly connected to the switching limit shaft seat (203a); The switching component (202) has switching limiting surfaces (202b) on both sides that fit with the switching limiting side plate (203a-1), so that the switching component (202) can move linearly along the axis direction perpendicular to the shaft.

6. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The guiding assembly (300) further includes an axial sliding guiding structure (304) that guides the sliding trigger (303) to move axially within the transfer channel (302c), comprising: A sliding guide shaft seat (304a) is provided on one side of the spiral guide (301) and the angle limiting member (302), and has a first shaft hole (103a) and a second shaft hole (103b). The sliding guide plate (304b) is fixedly mounted on the sliding guide shaft seat (304a), and the sliding track (304b-1) protruding thereon is slidably connected to the side of the sliding trigger (303).

7. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The guide assembly (300) further includes a second angle limiting sleeve (305) and a second angle limiter (304a-1). The second angle limiting sleeve (305) is disposed on the first shaft (101), and the second angle limiting sleeve (305) is provided with a third circumferential channel (305a). The two ends of the third circumferential channel (305a) are a third limiting surface (305a-1) and a fourth limiting surface (305a-2), respectively. When the second angle limiter (304a-1) contacts the third limiting surface (305a-1) and the fourth limiting surface (305a-2), it triggers the switching component (202) to change position.

8. The multi-segment switching hinge device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second angle limiter (304a-1) is located on the end face of the first locking ring (201a) near the sliding guide shaft seat (304a), and the second angle limiter (304a-1) protrudes from the sliding guide shaft seat (304a).

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