Hinge

Abstract

A hinge includes two brackets and a sliding module. The bracket has a support shaft and a support plate connected to the support shaft. The sliding module includes a track seat, two track sliding keys, two shaft sliding keys and two auxiliary extension frames. The track seat has a seat body, two arc-shaped inner groove rails, two receiving grooves and two arc-shaped outer groove rails. The track sliding key has a main body received in the corresponding receiving groove, a sliding convex rail connected to the main body and capable of sliding along the inner groove rail, and an arc-shaped inner groove rail provided on the main body and located on the opposite side of the sliding convex rail. The shaft sliding keys are slidably provided on the inner groove rails of the track sliding keys and are respectively pivotally connected to the support shaft. The auxiliary extension frame is slidably provided on the outer groove rail and slidably connected to the bracket. By adjusting the rotation center and curvature of the inner groove rail and the inner groove rail, the moving trajectory of the shaft sliding key and the track sliding key is adjusted, thereby affecting the relative sliding amount of the bracket and the auxiliary extension bracket to meet the properties and requirements of different flexible screens.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge, and particularly to a hinge suitable for a flexible screen. Background Art

[0002] With the increasing maturity of flexible screen technology, foldable electronic devices using flexible screens have also developed accordingly.

[0003] Generally, the casing of a foldable electronic device needs to be equipped with a hinge so that the two overlapping halves of the casing can be relatively unfolded and folded, and the flexible screen needs to be supported by the hinge. Since the flexible screen is stretched and squeezed during the unfolding and folding processes, it is prone to damage.

[0004] Therefore, how to reduce the amount of stretching and the degree of extrusion suffered by the flexible screen during the unfolding and folding processes is a subject that needs to be further improved in the hinge structure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a hinge that can be adjusted according to the bending requirements of a flexible screen.

[0006] In some embodiments, the hinge of the present invention includes two brackets and a sliding module. Each bracket has a support shaft body extending in a first direction and a support plate body connected to the support shaft body. The support shaft body has a pivoting section and a bearing section. The bearing section and the support plate body together form a support surface. The support plate body has a sliding surface on the opposite side of the support surface. The brackets are arranged along the first direction and are symmetrically arranged adjacent to and spaced apart from each other with the pivoting sections. The sliding module includes a track base, two track sliding keys, two rotating shaft sliding keys, and two auxiliary extension frames. The track base has a base body, two arc-shaped inner track grooves, two accommodating grooves, and two arc-shaped outer track grooves. The base body has two track portions corresponding to the brackets respectively, and defines one side adjacent to the brackets as the inner side and the side opposite to the inner side as the outer side. The inner track grooves are respectively arranged on the inner side of the track portions. The accommodating grooves are respectively arranged on the inner side of the track portions and communicate with the corresponding inner track grooves and are closer to the corresponding brackets than the corresponding inner track grooves. The outer track grooves are respectively arranged on the outer side of the track portions. The inner track grooves are open at one end away from each other, and the outer track grooves are open at one end away from each other. The track sliding keys are respectively arranged on the inner side of the track portions. Each track sliding key has a main body accommodated in the corresponding accommodating groove, a sliding convex rail connected to the main body and cooperating with the inner track groove and capable of sliding along the inner track groove, and an arc-shaped inner layer track groove arranged on the main body and on the opposite side of the sliding convex rail. The rotating shaft sliding keys are respectively arranged in the inner layer track grooves of the track sliding keys and can slide along the inner layer track grooves and are respectively pivoted to the pivoting sections of the support shaft bodies. The auxiliary extension frames are respectively slidably arranged along the outer track grooves and are respectively slidably connected to the sliding surfaces relative to the sliding surfaces of the brackets. The brackets can be switched between an unfolded state where the support surfaces are coplanar and a folded state where the support surfaces are opposite and spaced apart. During the process of switching from the unfolded state to the folded state, on the inner side of the track base, the rotating shaft sliding keys are linked with the brackets and first slide along the inner layer track grooves and then drive the track sliding keys to slide along the inner track grooves; on the outer side of the track base, the auxiliary extension frames are linked with the brackets and slide along the outer track grooves respectively, and in the folded state, the brackets can slide away from the track base relative to the auxiliary extension frames.

[0007] In some embodiments, it further includes another sliding module. The sliding modules have the same structure and are symmetrically connected to opposite sides of the brackets to jointly support the brackets.

[0008] In some embodiments, each auxiliary extension frame has an arc-shaped track sliding portion that matches the corresponding outer track groove and a connecting sliding portion extending along the first direction from one end of the track sliding portion. The connecting sliding portion abuts against the corresponding sliding surface and can slide relative to the sliding surface.

[0009] In some embodiments, each support plate body further has at least one mounting hole penetrating through the support surface and the sliding surface for setting a locking member, and the connecting sliding portion of each auxiliary extension bracket has a through groove corresponding to the at least one mounting hole and extending along the first direction.

[0010] In some embodiments, the rotation centers of the inner groove rail and the inner layer groove rail are different.

[0011] In some embodiments, the curvatures of the inner groove rail and the inner layer groove rail are the same or different.

[0012] In some embodiments, each track sliding key further has an avoidance groove rail provided on the sliding convex rail and communicating with the inner layer groove rail. Each rotating shaft sliding key has an arc-shaped body that can slide along the inner layer groove rail, and a pushing block connected to the body and capable of sliding along the avoidance groove rail. The body has a first end closer to another track sliding key and a second end opposite to the first end. The pushing block is connected to the first end and can jointly push the corresponding track sliding key with the second end, so that the track sliding key slides along the corresponding inner groove rail.

[0013] In some embodiments, each rotating shaft sliding key further has a shaft rod connected to the first end and located on the opposite side of the pushing block. The pivoting section of each bracket has a shaft hole for accommodating the corresponding shaft rod, so that the bracket can rotate around the shaft rod.

[0014] The present invention has at least the following effects: By adjusting the rotation centers and curvatures of the inner groove rail and the inner layer groove rail, the movement trajectories of the rotating shaft sliding key and the track sliding key are adjusted, thereby affecting the relative sliding amount between the bracket and the auxiliary extension bracket, so as to be applicable to different flexible screens and meet the properties and requirements of different flexible screens. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hinge of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of this embodiment;

[0018] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of this embodiment;

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the track seat of this embodiment;

[0020] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the track sliding key and the rotating shaft sliding key of this embodiment;

[0021] Figures 6 to 8 is a side view of the process of the embodiment rotating from the self-unfolding state to the folding state; and

[0022] Figures 9 to 11 respectively correspond to Figures 6 to 8 side views, in which some components of the bracket on the right side and the sliding module on the front side are removed. Detailed implementation manners

[0023] Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , an embodiment of the hinge 100 of the present invention is applicable to support a flexible display screen or a flexible screen (not shown), and the hinge 100 includes two brackets 1 and two sliding modules 2.

[0024] Each bracket 1 has a support shaft body 11 extending in a first direction D1 and a support plate body 12 connected to the support shaft body 11. The support shaft body 11 has a pivot section 111 and a bearing section 112. The bearing section 112 and the support plate body 12 together form a support surface 13 for supporting the flexible screen. The support plate body 12 has a sliding surface 121 on the opposite side of the support surface 13, and a plurality of mounting holes 122 penetrating through the support surface 13 and the sliding surface 121, and each mounting hole 122 is used for setting a locking member (not shown). The brackets 1 are arranged along the first direction D1 and are symmetrically arranged adjacent to and spaced apart from each other with the pivot sections 111.

[0025] The sliding modules 2 have the same structure and are symmetrically connected to opposite sides of the brackets 1 to jointly support the brackets 1. In this embodiment, the sliding modules 2 are arranged on both sides of the brackets 1 in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1, so that each of the brackets 1 can pivot about a variable axis parallel to the second direction D2, which will be described in detail below.

[0026] Each sliding module 2 includes a track seat 3, two track sliding keys 4, two rotating shaft sliding keys 5 and two auxiliary extension frames 6. For the convenience of description, only the structure of a single sliding module 2 will be described below.

[0027] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 4, the track base 3 has a base body 31, two arc-shaped inner groove tracks 32, two receiving grooves 33 and two arc-shaped outer groove tracks 34. The base body 31 has two track portions 311 whose positions correspond to the brackets 1 respectively, and defines the side adjacent to the bracket 1 as the inner side and the side opposite to the inner side as the outer side. The inner groove tracks 32 are respectively arranged on the inner sides of the track portions 311. The receiving grooves 33 are respectively arranged on the inner sides of the track portions 311, communicate with the corresponding inner groove tracks 32 and are closer to the corresponding brackets 1 than the corresponding inner groove tracks 32. The outer groove tracks 34 are respectively arranged on the outer sides of the track portions 311. The inner groove tracks 32 are open ends at the ends relatively far away from each other, and the outer groove tracks 34 are open ends at the ends relatively far away from each other. In this embodiment, both ends of the outer groove track 34 are open ends.

[0028] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 , the track sliding keys 4 are respectively arranged on the inner sides of the track portions 311. Each track sliding key 4 has a main body 41 received in the corresponding receiving groove 33, a sliding convex rail 42 connected to the main body 41 and cooperating with the inner groove track 32 and capable of sliding along the inner groove track 32, an arc-shaped inner layer groove track 43 arranged on the main body 41 and located on the opposite side of the sliding convex rail 42, and an avoidance groove track 44 arranged on the sliding convex rail 42 and communicating with the inner layer groove track 43. The rotating shaft sliding keys 5 are respectively arranged in the inner layer groove tracks 43 of the track sliding keys 4, can slide along the inner layer groove tracks 43 and are respectively pivotally connected to the pivot sections 111 of the support shafts 11. In this embodiment, each rotating shaft sliding key 5 has an arc-shaped main body 51 capable of sliding along the inner layer groove track 43, and a pushing block 52 connected to the main body 51 and capable of sliding along the avoidance groove track 44. The main body 51 has a first end 511 closer to another track sliding key 4 and a second end 512 opposite to the first end 511. The pushing block 52 is connected to the first end 511 and can jointly push the corresponding track sliding key 4 with the second end 512, so that the track sliding key 4 slides along the corresponding inner groove track 32. Each rotating shaft sliding key 5 also has a shaft rod 53 connected to the first end 511 and located on the opposite side of the pushing block 52. The pivot section 111 of each bracket 1 has a shaft hole 113 for receiving the corresponding shaft rod 53, so that the bracket 1 can rotate around the shaft rod 53.

[0029] Refer to Figures 1 to 3, the auxiliary extension brackets 6 are respectively slidably disposed along the outer groove rails 34 and are respectively slidably connected to the sliding surface 121 of the bracket 1 relative to the sliding surface 121 of the bracket 1. In this embodiment, each auxiliary extension bracket 6 has a track sliding portion 61 that cooperates with the corresponding outer groove rail 34 to form an arc and a connection sliding portion 62 that extends from one end of the track sliding portion 61 along the first direction D1. The connection sliding portion 62 abuts against the corresponding sliding surface 121 and can slide relative to the sliding surface 121, and has a through groove 621 corresponding to the mounting hole 122 and extending along the first direction D1 for a locking member disposed in the mounting hole 122 to pass through.

[0030] Refer to Figures 6 to 8 , the bracket 1 can be in a deployed state coplanar with the support surface 13 (such as Figure 6 shown) and a retracted state in which the support surfaces 13 are opposite and spaced apart (such as Figure 8 shown) conversion.

[0031] Another reference is made to Figures 9 to 11 , during the process of the bracket 1 being converted from the deployed state to the retracted state, inside the track base 3, the rotating shaft sliding key 5 is linked with the bracket 1 and first slides along the inner layer groove rail 43 and then drives the track sliding key 4 to slide along the inner groove rail 32. In this embodiment, each inner layer groove rail 43 has an inner end 431 relatively close to another inner layer groove rail 43 and an outer end 432 opposite to the inner end 431, and a partial boundary of the inner end 431 is defined by the track base 3. As Figure 9 shown, when the bracket 1 is in the deployed state, the first end portion 511 of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 is located at the inner end 431 of the inner layer groove rail 43 and abuts against the track base 3. As Figure 10 shown, when the bracket 1 is pivoted about 45 degrees, the rotating shaft sliding key 5 slides along the inner layer groove rail 43 until the second end portion 512 is located at the outer end 432 of the inner layer groove rail 43 and abuts against the outer end 432 defined by the corresponding track sliding key 4. At the same time, referring to Figure 5 , the pushing block 52 of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 slides along the avoidance groove rail 44 to a abutting end 441 corresponding to the avoidance groove rail 44 and abuts against the abutting end 441 defined by the track sliding key 4. As Figure 11As shown, when the bracket 1 continues to rotate to this folded state, the rotating shaft sliding keys 5 respectively push against the corresponding track sliding keys 4 to slide along the inner groove track 32, and the track sliding keys 4 extend out of the track seat 3 from the open end of the inner groove track 32. During the process of the bracket 1 being converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, the pivoting section 111 of the bracket 1 and the shaft rod 53 of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 move together and pivot around the corresponding shaft rod 53 as the center, and the shaft rod 53 first moves along the inner layer groove track 43 and then along the inner groove track 32 along with the rotating shaft sliding key 5, thereby changing the position of the axis of the bracket 1 along with the moving position of the shaft rod 53. In this embodiment, the rotation centers of the inner groove track 32 and the inner layer groove track 43 are different, so that the rotation angle of the bracket 1 during the rotation process can be closer to the bending requirement of the flexible screen, reducing the improper tensile force and extrusion force on the flexible screen, and thus reducing the risk of damaging the flexible screen. In addition, the curvatures of the inner groove track 32 and the inner layer groove track 43 can be the same or different, and are adjusted according to the properties and requirements of different flexible screens.

[0032] Refer to again Figures 6 to 8 , during the process of the bracket 1 being converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, outside the track seat 3, the auxiliary extension frame 6 is linked with the bracket 1 and slides along the outer groove track 34 respectively. As Figure 8 shown, in the folded state, the bracket 1 can slide relative to the auxiliary extension frame 6 in a direction away from the track seat 3, that is to say, the top end of the bracket 1 is higher than the top end of the auxiliary extension frame 6. Moreover, as Figure 11 shown, the bracket 1 drives the rotating shaft sliding key 5 together with the track sliding key 4 to extend out of the track seat 3 more from the open end of the inner groove track 32. Since the bracket 1 has the freedom to slide relative to the auxiliary extension frame 6, and the bracket 1 is pivotally connected to the rotating shaft sliding key 5 and has the freedom to rotate relative to the shaft rod 53 of the rotating shaft sliding key 5, when the bracket 1 slides relative to the auxiliary extension frame 6, it also rotates relative to the shaft rod 53 of the rotating shaft sliding key 5, and at the same time drives the shaft rod 53 to move and makes the position of the shaft rod 53 higher than the top surface of the track seat 3. Thereby increasing the extension amount of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 and the track sliding key 4 out of the track seat 3, that is to say, increasing the displacement amount of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 and the track sliding key 4. In this way, the top end of the bracket 1 can be farther away from the top surface of the track seat 3, that is to say, increasing the distance between the top end of the bracket 1 and the top surface of the track seat 3, and the flexible screen can be stretched upward more to reduce the curvature of the bending part near the track seat 3. In other words, by adjusting the rotation centers and curvatures of the inner groove track 32 and the inner layer groove track 43, the moving trajectories of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 and the track sliding key 4 are adjusted, and further the relative sliding amount between the bracket 1 and the auxiliary extension bracket 6 is affected to meet the properties and requirements of different flexible screens.

[0033] In summary, by adjusting the rotation centers and curvatures of the inner groove rail 32 and the inner layer groove rail 43, the movement trajectories of the rotating shaft sliding key 5 and the rail sliding key 4 are adjusted, thereby affecting the relative sliding amount between the bracket 1 and the auxiliary extension bracket 6, so as to be applicable to different flexible screens and meet the properties and requirements of different flexible screens.

[0034] The above are only examples 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: Include: Two brackets, each bracket having a support shaft extending in a first direction and a support plate connected to the support shaft, the support shaft having a pivot section and a bearing section, the bearing section and the support plate together forming a support surface, the support plate having a sliding surface located on the opposite side of the support surface, the brackets being arranged along the first direction and adjacent to the pivot section and symmetrically spaced apart; Sliding module, including A track seat, comprising a seat body, two arcuate inner groove rails, two accommodating grooves and two arcuate outer groove rails, the seat body having two track parts respectively corresponding to the positions of the brackets and defining a side adjacent to the brackets as an inner side and a side opposite to the inner side as an outer side, the inner groove rails are respectively arranged on the inner sides of the track parts, the accommodating grooves are respectively arranged on the inner sides of the track parts and are connected to the corresponding inner groove rails and are closer to the corresponding brackets than the corresponding inner groove rails, the outer groove rails are respectively arranged on the outer sides of the track parts, the inner groove rails are open at one end relatively far away from each other and the outer groove rails are open at one end relatively far away from each other, Two track sliding keys are respectively arranged on the inner side of the track portion, each track sliding key comprises a main body accommodated in the corresponding accommodation groove, a sliding convex rail connected to the main body and matched with the inner groove rail and capable of sliding along the inner groove rail, and an arc-shaped inner groove rail arranged on the main body and located on the opposite side of the sliding convex rail. Two rotating shaft sliding keys are respectively arranged on the inner groove tracks of the track sliding keys and can slide along the inner groove tracks and are respectively pivotally connected to the pivoting sections of the supporting shaft body, and Two auxiliary extension frames, which are respectively slidably disposed on the outer groove rail along the outer groove rail and are respectively slidably connected to the sliding surface relative to the sliding surface of the bracket; The bracket can be switched between an expanded state in which the support surfaces are coplanar and a folded state in which the support surfaces are opposite and spaced apart. During the switching process from the expanded state to the folded state, on the inner side of the track seat, the rotating shaft sliding key is linked with the bracket and first slides along the inner groove rail and then drives the track sliding key to slide along the inner groove rail; on the outer side of the track seat, the auxiliary extension frame is linked with the bracket and slides along the outer groove rail respectively, and in the folded state, the bracket can slide relative to the auxiliary extension frame in the direction away from the track seat.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: Another sliding module is also included. The sliding modules have the same structure and are symmetrically connected to the opposite sides of the bracket to jointly support the bracket.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each auxiliary extension frame has an arc-shaped track sliding part matching the corresponding outer groove rail and a connecting sliding part extending from one end of the track sliding part along the first direction. The connecting sliding part abuts against the corresponding sliding surface and can slide relative to the sliding surface.

4. The hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each supporting plate body also has at least one mounting hole penetrating the supporting surface and the sliding surface for the locking element to be installed, and the connecting sliding portion of each auxiliary extension frame has a through slot corresponding to the at least one mounting hole and extending along the first direction.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner groove rail and the inner layer groove rail have different rotation centers.

6. The hinge according to claim 5, characterized in that: The curvature of the inner groove rail and the inner layer groove rail is the same or different.

7. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each track sliding key also has an avoidance groove rail arranged on the sliding convex rail and connected to the inner groove rail. Each shaft sliding key has an arc-shaped body that can slide along the inner groove rail, and a push block connected to the body and can slide along the avoidance groove rail. The body has a first end closer to another track sliding key and a second end opposite to the first end. The push block is connected to the first end and can push the corresponding track sliding key together with the second end to make the track sliding key slide along the corresponding inner groove rail.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, characterized in that: Each rotating shaft sliding key also has a shaft rod connected to the first end and located at the opposite side of the push block, and the pivot section of each bracket has a shaft hole for accommodating the corresponding shaft rod, so that the bracket can rotate around the shaft rod.

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