Folding electronic device

Abstract

The present application provides a foldable electronic device, which comprises a first body, at least one second body and a locking member. The first body has a first shaft with a recess. The second body has a second shaft coaxially connected with the first shaft, and the second shaft has a clamping hole. The locking member is movably arranged in the recess and the clamping hole. When the locking member moves away from the clamping hole, the first body and the second body are pivoted relative to each other through the first shaft and the second shaft. When the locking member moves into the clamping hole, the locking member interferes with the first shaft and the second shaft, thereby preventing the first body and the second body from being pivoted relative to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a foldable electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Most laptops with movable or rotatable screens utilize strong magnets placed on the screen, stand, or main unit. When the screen rotates along an axis to a specific position, the magnets create a magnetic attraction phenomenon, thus fixing (or positioning) the screen angle.

[0003] In addition to requiring the device to have space for a strong magnet, the aforementioned technical means also require users to exert effort to release the fixed (or positioned) state due to the strong attraction. In other words, users need to hold the host or stand with one hand while rotating the screen with the other, which causes considerable inconvenience and trouble. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a foldable electronic device that provides relative rotation of the body in a timely manner through a locking mechanism within a pivot.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a foldable electronic device includes a first body, at least one second body, and a locking member. The first body has a first shaft with a recess. The second body has a second shaft, and the first shaft and the second shaft are coaxially pivotally connected together, the second shaft having a locking hole. The locking member is movably disposed in the recess and the locking hole so that when the locking member moves out of the locking hole, the first body and the second body pivot relative to each other via the first shaft and the second shaft, or when the locking member moves into the locking hole, the locking member interferes with the first shaft and the second shaft, thereby preventing the first body and the second body from pivoting relative to each other.

[0006] Based on the above, the foldable electronic device is coaxially pivotally connected to each other via a first shaft and a second shaft, enabling the first body with the first shaft and the second body with the second shaft to pivot relative to each other. Furthermore, a movable locking element is provided within the shaft to engage with a recess in the first shaft and a locking hole in the second shaft. The movement of the locking element between the recess and the locking hole creates a locking or unlocking state for the first and second shafts, thereby enabling the first and second bodies to pivot relative to each other at specific times and under specific conditions, depending on the position of the locking element. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in another state;

[0009] Figure 3This is an exploded view of some components of a foldable electronic device;

[0010] Figure 4A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state;

[0011] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A Enlarged view of some components;

[0012] Figure 4C yes Figure 4A Enlarged sectional view of some components;

[0013] Figure 5A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state;

[0014] Figure 5B yes Figure 5A Enlarged view of some components;

[0015] Figure 6A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state;

[0016] Figure 6B yes Figure 6A Enlarged view of some components;

[0017] Figure 7A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state;

[0018] Figure 7B yes Figure 7A Enlarged view of some components. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same component reference numerals are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in another state. Figure 3 This is an exploded view of some components of a foldable electronic device. Please also refer to... Figures 1 to 3In this embodiment, the foldable electronic device 100 includes a first body 110, at least one second body 121, and a locking member 140. The first body 110 has a first shaft 111 with a recess 111b. The second body 121 has a second shaft 121b, and the first shaft 111 and the second shaft 121b are coaxially pivotally connected together, with the second shaft 121b having a locking hole H2. The locking member 140 is movably disposed in the recess 111b and the locking hole H2, such that when the locking member 140 moves away from the locking hole H2, the first body 110 and the second body 121 pivot relative to each other via the first shaft 111 and the second shaft 121b, or when the locking member 140 moves into the locking hole H2, the locking member 140 interferes with the first shaft 111 and the second shaft 121b, thus preventing the first body 110 and the second body 121 from pivoting relative to each other.

[0021] Furthermore, the foldable electronic device 100 also includes a third body 130 and a hinge 123. The third body 130 is, for example, the system host of a laptop computer. The second body 121 is, for example, a pair of arms of a stand 120, connected to each other via a crossbeam 122 to form the stand 120. One end of each arm is pivotally connected to the third body 130 via the hinge 123, and the other end of each arm is provided with a first shaft 111, which engages with the second shaft 121b and is pivotally connected to the first body 110. The first body 110 is, for example, a screen, which is pivotally connected to the stand 120 with axis X1 as its rotation axis. The stand 120 is pivotally connected to the system host via the hinge 123 with axis X2 as its rotation axis. Therefore, the first body 110 and the second body 121 can first rotate and unfold relative to the third body 130 via the hinge 123 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 As shown), the first body 110 and the second body 121 are then pivoted relative to each other via the first shaft 111 and the second shaft 121b (as shown). Figure 2 (As shown).

[0022] Please refer to this again. Figure 3In this embodiment, the first body 110 includes a display body 112 and a first shaft 111, wherein the first shaft 111 is assembled to the side 112a of the display body 112. Related assembly components (e.g., screws or rivets) are omitted here. The first shaft 111 has a hollow shaft portion 111a and a recess 111b formed within the hollow shaft portion 111a. The opening 111c of the recess 111b exposes the outer side of the hollow shaft portion 111a. The second body 121 includes an arm body 121a and the aforementioned second shaft 121b. The arm body 121a also has a side wall W1 and a receiving recess W2. The second shaft 121b is assembled to the inner surface of the side wall W1, and the second shaft 121b has a bushing portion H1 and a retaining hole H2 located on the bushing portion H1. The bushing portion H1 is located in the receiving recess W2 and correspondingly sleeves onto the outer side of the hollow shaft portion 111a, causing both to pivot about the same axis X1. In practice, the bushing H1 and the hollow shaft 111a are pivotally connected by riveting, while simultaneously allowing friction between them to enable the display body 112 to rotate relative to the arm 121a and stop at any angle. Furthermore, the locking member 140 is movably disposed within the recess 111b of the first shaft 111, and may sink into or partially protrude from the recess 111b depending on the movement of the first shaft 111, as will be explained later.

[0023] Figure 4A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state. Figure 4B yes Figure 4A Enlarged view of some components. Figure 4C yes Figure 4A Enlarged sectional views of some components. Please also refer to... Figures 4A to 4C In this embodiment, the foldable electronic device 100 is in a closed state, meaning that the first body 110 and the second body 121 can be considered to be on the same plane, such as... Figure 4B As shown by the dashed line, the locking member 140 is, for example, a double-layered coaxial protrusion, whose larger outer diameter post is smaller than or equal to the inner diameter of the recess 111b, allowing the locking member 140 to move smoothly within the recess 111b. The inner diameter of the locking hole H2 is larger than the smaller outer diameter post of the locking member 140, but smaller than the larger outer diameter post of the locking member 140. The locking hole H2 will pass through the opening 111c of the recess 111b as the second shaft member 121b rotates, thus producing a... Figure 4CIn the indicated state, the smaller outer diameter post portion of the locking member 140 can move into the locking hole H2, while the larger outer diameter post portion of the locking member 140 abuts against the bushing portion H1 and is substantially locked at the opening 111c of the recess 111b. At this time, the partial movement of the locking member 140 into the locking hole H2 simultaneously interferes with the first shaft 111 and the second shaft 121b, and the opening 111c of the recess 111b and the locking hole H2 are aligned and form an angle T1 relative to the plane. Here, the locking member 140 is made of, for example, stainless steel or a material with a specific gravity greater than 7 g / cm3, and the friction between the surface of the locking member 140 and the recess 111b and the locking hole H2 should be minimized as much as possible to ensure that the locking member 140 can smoothly achieve the above movement with the aid of gravity.

[0024] Figure 5A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state. Figure 5B yes Figure 5A Enlarged views of some components are shown. Please also refer to... Figure 5A and Figure 5B Next, with the locking member 140 simultaneously interfering with the locking state of the first shaft member 111 and the second shaft member 121b, the first body 110 and the second body 121 are rotated and unfolded relative to the third body 130 to an angle T2, which is equivalent to... Figure 4A Rotate to the state shown Figure 5A As shown, the locking element 140 is then moved out of the locking hole H2 by gravity. At this point, the first body 110 and the second body 121 are released from their locking state and can be moved along the axis X1 (as shown). Figure 1 , Figure 2 (As shown) Relative pivoting can be performed, for example, the first body 110 can be pivoted to Figure 2 The state shown.

[0025] Figure 6A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state. Figure 6B yes Figure 6A Enlarged views of some components are shown. Please also refer to... Figure 6A and Figure 6B And compare Figure 2 Furthermore, the user can also continue to pivot the first unit 110 relative to the second unit 121. Figure 6A The state is such that the surface S1 (display surface) of the first body 110 faces away from the third body 130, while the surface of the first body 110 (back side) faces the third body 130, forming a near-flat plate state. It should be noted that, during the relative pivoting process of the first shaft 111 and the second shaft 121b, the recess 111b and the locking hole H2 are uniquely corresponding to each other, which is equivalent to the locking hole H2 being the only setting on the second shaft 121b. Therefore, only at a specific position (angle) can the locking member 140 move into the locking hole H2 and cause interference.

[0026] Figure 7A This is a side view of the foldable electronic device in another state. Figure 7B yes Figure 7A Enlarged views of some components are shown. Please also refer to... Figure 7A and Figure 7B And compare Figure 5A When the first body 110 and the second body 121 are on the same plane and simultaneously pivot relative to the third body 130 to an angle T3, that is, the aforementioned specific position (angle), the locking member 140 can move into the locking hole H2 again by gravity and switch to the locking state.

[0027] In summary, in the above embodiments of the present invention, the foldable electronic device is coaxially pivotally connected to each other via a first shaft and a second shaft, enabling the first body having the first shaft and the second body having the second shaft to pivot relative to each other. Furthermore, a movable locking member is provided within the shaft to engage with the recess of the first shaft and the locking hole of the second shaft. When the first and second shafts rotate relative to each other to a specific position (angle), the movement of the locking member between the recess and the locking hole causes the first and second shafts to be locked or unlocked. This allows the first and second bodies to have or be de-pivoted relative to each other at a specific time and under specific conditions, depending on the position of the locking member, thereby avoiding the inconvenience and trouble caused to the user by additional positioning structures on the body.

[0028] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that, include: A first body has a first shaft member, the first shaft member having a recess; At least one second body has a second shaft, and the first shaft and the second shaft are coaxially pivotally connected together, and the second shaft has a locking hole; as well as A locking member is movably disposed in the recess and the locking hole, such that when the locking member moves away from the locking hole, the first body and the second body pivot relative to each other via the first shaft and the second shaft, or when the locking member moves into the locking hole, the locking member interferes with the first shaft and the second shaft, thus blocking the relative pivot. The first shaft has a hollow shaft portion and the recess formed in the hollow shaft portion, the opening of the recess being exposed on the outer side of the hollow shaft portion. The locking member is movably disposed in the recess and sinks into the recess or partially protrudes from the recess depending on the movement state of the first shaft. The second shaft has a bushing portion and the locking hole located on the bushing portion, the bushing portion being sleeved on the outer side of the hollow shaft portion.

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking element moves into or out of the locking hole by gravity.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locating hole travels through the recessed opening as the second shaft rotates.

4. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the relative pivoting process of the first shaft and the second shaft, the recess and the locking hole are uniquely corresponding to each other.

5. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a third body and a hinge, the hinge connecting the second body and the third body.

6. The foldable electronic device according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes two second bodies, which are a pair of support arms of a bracket. The bracket is connected to the third body via the hinge, and one end of each support arm is provided with a second shaft to pivotally connect to the first body.

7. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the first body and the second body are located on the same plane, a portion of the locking member moves into the locking hole and interferes with the first shaft and the second shaft.

8. The foldable electronic device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The opening of the recess faces the same direction as the card hole and forms an acute angle with respect to the plane.

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