Hinge

Abstract

A hinge includes a base, two connecting members, and two sliding members. The base has two first arc-shaped tracks, and the two first arc-shaped tracks extend respectively around two first rotation axes that are spaced apart and arranged side by side. Each connecting member has a first sliding portion provided on the corresponding first arc-shaped track, and a second arc-shaped track, so that each connecting member can rotate around the corresponding first rotation axis relative to the base, and the second arc-shaped tracks of the two connecting members extend respectively around two second rotation axes that are spaced apart and arranged side by side. Each sliding member has a second sliding portion provided on the corresponding second arc-shaped track, so that each sliding member can rotate around the corresponding second rotation axis relative to the corresponding connecting member, and the two sliding members can rotate between an initial position and a terminal position relative to the base. In this way, the rotation paths of the two sliding members can be variable, so that the positions of the two first rotation axes and the two second rotation axes can be adjusted according to the bending requirements of the flexible screens of different products during design.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly to a hinge that can be applied to a foldable electronic device having a flexible screen. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, foldable electronic devices having flexible screens have gradually emerged in daily life and may even replace non-foldable electronic devices in the future. Such foldable electronic devices with flexible screens usually have two bodies for setting the flexible screen and a hinge connected between the two bodies. This hinge usually generates a fixed rotation mode through a slider and a slide rail that cooperate with each other. However, this fixed rotation mode cannot meet the bending requirements according to the flexural characteristics of the flexible screen. Therefore, how to adjust and design the hinge to make it close to or meet the bending requirements of the flexible screen is an important issue. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge that can be close to or meet the bending requirements of a flexible screen.

[0004] In some embodiments, the hinge of the present invention includes a base, two connecting members, and two sliding members. The base has two first arc-shaped tracks that respectively extend around two first rotation axes arranged side by side at intervals. The two connecting members are respectively disposed on the two first arc-shaped tracks. Each connecting member has a first sliding portion disposed on the corresponding first arc-shaped track and a second arc-shaped track. The first sliding portion can slide along the first arc-shaped track so that each connecting member can rotate relative to the base around the corresponding first rotation axis. The second arc-shaped tracks of the two connecting members respectively extend around two second rotation axes arranged side by side at intervals. The two second rotation axes and the two first rotation axes are parallel to each other but do not coincide. The two sliding members are respectively disposed on the second arc-shaped tracks of the two connecting members. Each sliding member has a second sliding portion disposed on the corresponding second arc-shaped track. The second sliding portion can slide along the second arc-shaped track so that each sliding member can rotate relative to the corresponding connecting member around the corresponding second rotation axis. The two sliding members can rotate relative to the base between an initial position and a termination position.

[0005] In some embodiments, each of the first arcuate tracks has a first starting end and a first terminating end, and each of the second arcuate tracks has a second starting end and a second terminating end; during the process of the two sliding members rotating from the initial position to the terminating position relative to the base, a transition position is passed through. When the two sliding members are in the initial position, the first sliding portions of the two connecting members are relatively closer to the first starting ends of the two first arcuate tracks respectively, and the second sliding portions of the two sliding members are relatively closer to the second starting ends of the two second arcuate tracks respectively; at the transition position, the first sliding portions of the two connecting members are relatively closer to the first starting ends of the two first arcuate tracks respectively, and the second sliding portions of the two sliding members are relatively closer to the second terminating ends of the two second arcuate tracks respectively; at the terminating position, the first sliding portions of the two connecting members are relatively closer to the first terminating ends of the two first arcuate tracks respectively, and the second sliding portions of the two sliding members are relatively closer to the second terminating ends of the two second arcuate tracks respectively.

[0006] In some embodiments, the base further has two auxiliary arcuate tracks corresponding to the two sliding members respectively. Each of the sliding members further has an auxiliary sliding portion slidably disposed in the corresponding auxiliary arcuate track. Each of the auxiliary arcuate tracks has a first segment and a second segment connected to each other. The first segments of the two auxiliary arcuate tracks extend around the two first rotation axes respectively, and the second segments of the two auxiliary arcuate tracks extend around the two second rotation axes respectively; when the two sliding members are between the initial position and the transition position, the auxiliary sliding portions of the two sliding members are at least partially located in the second segments of the two auxiliary arcuate tracks respectively; when the two sliding members are between the transition position and the terminating position, the auxiliary sliding portions of the two sliding members are at least partially located in the first segments of the two auxiliary arcuate tracks respectively.

[0007] In some embodiments, the auxiliary sliding portion of each of the sliding members is disposed on the second sliding portion.

[0008] In some embodiments, the curvatures of the two first arcuate tracks are different from the curvatures of the two second arcuate tracks.

[0009] The hinge of the present invention enables each of the sliding members to rotate relative to the base around the corresponding first rotation axis and the corresponding second rotation axis through the two first arcuate tracks extending around the two first rotation axes respectively and the two second arcuate tracks extending around the two second rotation axes respectively, thereby making the rotation paths of the two sliding members more variable. Moreover, the positions of the two first rotation axes and the two second rotation axes can also be adjusted according to the foldable screens of different products during design to be close to or meet the folding requirements of the foldable screens. Description of the Drawings

[0010] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hinge of the present invention, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the starting position in the figure;

[0012] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment;

[0013] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an exploded perspective view of the embodiment in viewed from another perspective;

[0014] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating the mating relationship between the first arcuate track of the base of the embodiment and the first sliding portion of the connecting member, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the starting position in the figure;

[0015] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating the mating relationship between the second arcuate track of the connecting member of the embodiment and the second sliding portion of the sliding member, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the starting position in the figure;

[0016] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating the mating relationship between the auxiliary arcuate track of the base of the embodiment and the auxiliary sliding portion of the sliding member, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the starting position in the figure;

[0017] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the terminating position in the figure;

[0018] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the transitional position in the figure;

[0019] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating the mating relationship between the first arcuate track of the base of the embodiment and the first sliding portion of the connecting member, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the transitional position in the figure;

[0020] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating the mating relationship between the second arcuate track of the connecting member of the embodiment and the second sliding portion of the sliding member, where the sliding member of the embodiment is in the transitional position in the figure;

[0021] Figure 11is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing the mating relationship between the auxiliary arc track of the base of the embodiment and the auxiliary sliding portion of the slider. In the figure, the slider of the embodiment is in the transition position;

[0022] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing the mating relationship between the first arc track of the base of the embodiment and the first sliding portion of the connecting member. In the figure, the slider of the embodiment is in the end position;

[0023] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing the mating relationship between the second arc track of the connecting member of the embodiment and the second sliding portion of the slider. In the figure, the slider of the embodiment is in the end position; and

[0024] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing the mating relationship between the auxiliary arc track of the base of the embodiment and the auxiliary sliding portion of the slider. In the figure, the slider of the embodiment is in the end position. Detailed implementation manner

[0025] Refer to Figures 1 to 3 , an embodiment of the hinge 100 of the present invention is applicable to be disposed between two bodies (not shown in the figure) of a foldable electronic device (not shown in the figure), and the two bodies are used for disposing a flexible screen (not shown in the figure). The foldable electronic device can be, for example but not limited to, electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets or notebook computers. The hinge 100 includes a base 1, two connecting members 2, and two sliders 3.

[0026] Refer to Figures 1 to 5 , for example, the base 1 extends substantially along the left-right direction D1, and has two first arc tracks 11 recessed along the front-back direction D2. The two first arc tracks 11 respectively extend around two first rotation axes A1. The two first rotation axes A1 are arranged side by side at intervals along the left-right direction D1 and are located above the base 1 along the up-down direction D3. Each of the first arc tracks 11 has a first starting end 111 located on the relatively inner side in the left-right direction D1 and a first terminating end 112 located on the relatively outer side in the left-right direction D1.

[0027] The two connecting members 2 are respectively disposed on the two first arc-shaped tracks 11. Each connecting member 2 has a first sliding portion 21 inserted into the corresponding first arc-shaped track 11, and a second arc-shaped track 22 recessed in the front-back direction D2. The first sliding portion 21 can slide along the first arc-shaped track 11, so that each connecting member 2 can rotate relative to the base 1 about the corresponding first rotation axis A1. The second arc-shaped tracks 22 of the two connecting members 2 respectively extend around two second rotation axes A2. The two second rotation axes A2 are arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction D1 and are located above the base 1 in the up-down direction D3. Each second arc-shaped track 22 has a second starting end 221 located on the relatively inner side in the left-right direction D1, and a second terminating end 222 located on the relatively outer side in the left-right direction D1. The two second rotation axes A2 and the two first rotation axes A1 are parallel to each other but do not coincide.

[0028] The two sliding members 3 are respectively disposed on the second arc-shaped tracks 22 of the two connecting members 2. Each sliding member 3 has a second sliding portion 321 inserted into the corresponding second arc-shaped track 22. In this embodiment, each sliding member 3 has a body 31, and a sliding block 32 inserted into the body 31 and having the second sliding portion 321. The bodies 31 of the two sliding members 3 are respectively for arranging the two bodies of the foldable electronic device, but in other embodiments, each sliding member 3 can also be integrally formed, and this is not limited thereto. The second sliding portion 321 can slide along the second arc-shaped track 22, so that each sliding member 3 can rotate relative to the corresponding connecting member 2 about the corresponding second rotation axis A2.

[0029] Through the mutual cooperation of the first arc-shaped track 11 and the first sliding portion 21, and the mutual cooperation of the second arc-shaped track 22 and the second sliding portion 321, the two sliding members 3 can rotate relative to the base 1 between an initial position (see Figure 1 ) and a terminating position (see Figure 7 ). Moreover, through the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 respectively extending around the two first rotation axes A1, and the two second arc-shaped tracks 22 respectively extending around the two second rotation axes A2, each sliding member 3 can rotate relative to the base 1 about the corresponding first rotation axis A1 and the corresponding second rotation axis A2, whereby the rotation paths of the two sliding members 3 can be more variable. In addition, the positions of the two first rotation axes A1 and the two second rotation axes A2 can also be adjusted according to the foldable screens of different products during design to approach or meet the bending requirements of the foldable screens.

[0030] In addition, in the present embodiment, the curvatures of the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 are different from the curvatures of the two second arc-shaped tracks 22. By adjusting the curvatures of the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 and the two second arc-shaped tracks 22, the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 and the two second arc-shaped tracks 22 can be adjusted to positions that meet the design requirements. However, it should be noted that in other embodiments, the curvatures of the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 and the two second arc-shaped tracks 22 may also be the same, and this embodiment is not limiting.

[0031] Refer to Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 6 In the present embodiment, the base 1 further has two auxiliary arc-shaped tracks 12 that are recessed along the front-back direction D2 and respectively correspond to the two sliding members 3. Each sliding block 32 of each sliding member 3 further has an auxiliary sliding portion 322 that is slidably inserted into the corresponding auxiliary arc-shaped track 12. Each auxiliary arc-shaped track 12 has a first section 121 and a second section 122 that are connected. The first sections 121 of the two auxiliary arc-shaped tracks 12 respectively extend around the two first rotation axes A1, and the second sections 122 of the two auxiliary arc-shaped tracks 12 respectively extend around the two second rotation axes A2. Specifically, the auxiliary sliding portion 322 of each sliding member 3 is provided at the end of the second sliding portion 321. Each connecting member 2 further has an avoidance groove portion 23 that communicates with the second arc-shaped track 22 and is used to avoid the corresponding auxiliary sliding portion 322. The two auxiliary arc-shaped tracks 12 of the base 1 respectively communicate with the two first arc-shaped tracks 11. The trajectory of the first section 121 of each auxiliary arc-shaped track 12 generally coincides with the trajectory of the corresponding first arc-shaped track 11 along the front-back direction D2. And for example, the second section 122 of each auxiliary arc-shaped track 12 only restricts the path of the auxiliary sliding block 32 from above the corresponding auxiliary sliding block 32.

[0032] Refer to Figures 4 to 6 In addition, it should be noted that the contours of the first arc-shaped track 11 and the first sliding portion 21 generally correspond to each other, and the contours of the second arc-shaped track 22 and the second sliding portion 321 also generally correspond to each other, thereby making the relative movement between the base 1 and the two connecting members 2 and between the two connecting members 2 and the two sliding members 3 more stable; while the contours of the auxiliary arc-shaped track 12 and the auxiliary sliding portion 322 do not have a similar corresponding relationship, because the functions of the auxiliary arc-shaped track 12 and the auxiliary sliding portion 322 are mainly to restrict the movement trajectories of the two sliding members 3 relative to the base 1, and thereby also enable the auxiliary sliding portion 322 to slide flexibly between the first section 121 and the second section 122 of the auxiliary arc-shaped track 12.

[0033] Refer to Figures 1 to 2 and Figures 7 to 8 , through the mutual cooperation of the auxiliary arc track 12 and the auxiliary sliding part 322, when the two sliding parts 3 rotate relative to the base 1 from the initial position (see Figure 1 ) to the termination position (see Figure 7 ), a transition position (see Figure 8 ) will be passed through. The following describes the process of the two sliding parts 3 rotating relative to the base 1 from the initial position through the transition position to the termination position.

[0034] Refer to Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 6 , when the two sliding parts 3 are in the initial position, the first sliding parts 21 of the two connecting parts 2 are respectively relatively close to the first starting ends 111 of the two first arc tracks 11, the second sliding parts 321 of the two sliding parts 3 are respectively relatively close to the second starting ends 221 of the two second arc tracks 22, and the auxiliary sliding parts 322 of the two sliding parts 3 are respectively located in the second sections 122 of the two auxiliary arc tracks 12.

[0035] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 11 , when the two sliding parts 3 are between the initial position and the transition position, the auxiliary sliding parts 322 of the two sliding parts 3 can at least partially slide in the second sections 122 of the two auxiliary arc tracks 12. At this time, the two sliding parts 3 can only rotate relative to the base 1 around the two second rotation axes A2 respectively. Therefore, in this interval, only the two sliding parts 3 can rotate relative to the two connecting parts 2 around the two second rotation axes A2 respectively, and the two connecting parts 2 cannot rotate relative to the base 1 around the two first rotation axes A1 respectively.

[0036] Refer to Figure 2 and Figures 9 to 11 , when the two sliding parts 3 are in the transition position, the first sliding parts 21 of the two connecting parts 2 are respectively relatively close to the first starting ends 111 of the two first arc tracks 11, the second sliding parts 321 of the two sliding parts 3 are respectively relatively close to the second termination ends 222 of the two second arc tracks 22, and the auxiliary sliding parts 322 of the two sliding parts 3 are respectively located at the junctions between the second sections 122 and the first sections 121 of the two auxiliary arc tracks 12.

[0037] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 11 and Figure 14, when the two sliding members 3 are located between the termination position and the transition position, the auxiliary sliding portions 322 of the two sliding members 3 can be at least partially located within the first sections 121 of the two auxiliary arc-shaped tracks 12 and slide therein. At this time, the two sliding members 3 can only rotate around the two first rotation axes A1 relative to the base 1 respectively. Therefore, in this interval, the two sliding members 3 cannot rotate around the two second rotation axes A2 relative to the two connecting members 2 respectively, and only the two connecting members 2 can rotate around the two first rotation axes A1 relative to the base 1 respectively. That is to say, at this time, the two sliding members 3 rotate around the first rotation axis A1 relative to the base 1 together with the two connecting members 2.

[0038] Refer to Figure 2 and Figures 12 to 14 , when the two sliding members 3 are in the termination position, the first sliding portions 21 of the two connecting members 2 are relatively closer to the first termination ends 112 of the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 respectively, the second sliding portions 321 of the two sliding members 3 are relatively closer to the second termination ends 222 of the two second arc-shaped tracks 22 respectively, and the auxiliary sliding portions 322 of the two sliding members 3 are located within the first sections 121 of the two auxiliary arc-shaped tracks 12 respectively.

[0039] Refer to Figure 1 and Figures 7 to 8 , simply put, through the mutual cooperation of the auxiliary arc-shaped track 12 and the auxiliary sliding portion 322, during the process of the two sliding members 3 rotating from the initial position to the termination position, the two sliding members 3 first rotate around the second rotation axis A2 relative to the two connecting members 2, as Figure 8 shown. Then the two sliding members 3 rotate around the first rotation axis A1 relative to the base 1 together with the two connecting members 2, as Figure 7 shown, thereby enabling the sliding member 3 to rotate around the second rotation axis A2 and the first rotation axis A1 in sequence.

[0040] In summary, the present invention enables each sliding member 3 to rotate around the corresponding first rotation axis A1 and the corresponding second rotation axis A2 relative to the base 1 through the two first arc-shaped tracks 11 extending around the two first rotation axes A1 respectively and the two second arc-shaped tracks 22 extending around the two second rotation axes A2 respectively, thereby making the rotation paths of the two sliding members 3 more variable. Moreover, the positions of the two first rotation axes A1 and the two second rotation axes A2 can also be adjusted according to the flexible screens of different products during design to approach or meet the bending requirements of the flexible screens.

[0041] The above are only the embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of implementation of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. That is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge, characterized in that, the hinge comprises: a base having two first arcuate tracks, the two first arcuate tracks extending respectively around two first rotation axes arranged side by side at intervals; two connecting members respectively disposed on the two first arcuate tracks, each connecting member having a first sliding portion disposed on the corresponding first arcuate track and a second arcuate track, the first sliding portion being capable of sliding along the first arcuate track so that each connecting member can rotate relative to the base around the corresponding first rotation axis, the second arcuate tracks of the two connecting members extending respectively around two second rotation axes arranged side by side at intervals, the two second rotation axes being parallel to but not coincident with the two first rotation axes; and two sliding members respectively disposed on the second arcuate tracks of the two connecting members, each sliding member having a second sliding portion disposed on the corresponding second arcuate track, the second sliding portion being capable of sliding along the second arcuate track so that each sliding member can rotate relative to the corresponding connecting member around the corresponding second rotation axis, the two sliding members being capable of rotating relative to the base between an initial position and a termination position.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: each of the first arcuate tracks has a first starting end and a first termination end, and each of the second arcuate tracks has a second starting end and a second termination end; during the process of the two sliding members rotating relative to the base from the initial position to the termination position, a transition position is passed through. When the two sliding members are in the initial position, the first sliding portions of the two connecting members are respectively relatively close to the first starting ends of the two first arcuate tracks, and the second sliding portions of the two sliding members are respectively relatively close to the second starting ends of the two second arcuate tracks; in the transition position, the first sliding portions of the two connecting members are respectively relatively close to the first starting ends of the two first arcuate tracks, and the second sliding portions of the two sliding members are respectively relatively close to the second termination ends of the two second arcuate tracks; in the termination position, the first sliding portions of the two connecting members are respectively relatively close to the first termination ends of the two first arcuate tracks, and the second sliding portions of the two sliding members are respectively relatively close to the second termination ends of the two second arcuate tracks.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base further has two auxiliary arc tracks respectively corresponding to the two sliding members. Each of the sliding members further has an auxiliary sliding portion slidably disposed in the corresponding auxiliary arc track. Each auxiliary arc track has a first section and a second section connected to each other. The first sections of the two auxiliary arc tracks extend around the two first rotation axes respectively, and the second sections of the two auxiliary arc tracks extend around the two second rotation axes respectively. When the two sliding members are between the initial position and the transition position, the auxiliary sliding portions of the two sliding members are at least partially located in the second sections of the two auxiliary arc tracks respectively. When the two sliding members are between the transition position and the termination position, the auxiliary sliding portions of the two sliding members are at least partially located in the first sections of the two auxiliary arc tracks respectively.

4. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein: the auxiliary sliding portion of each sliding member is disposed on the second sliding portion.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein: the curvatures of the two first arc tracks are different from the curvatures of the two second arc tracks.

Images