Hinge

Abstract

A hinge includes a fixed seat and two support modules. The fixed seat has an arc track. The support module includes a pivot guide unit and a sliding unit. The pivot guide unit is pivotally connected to the fixed seat and has a bearing surface and an oblique guide portion. The sliding unit has a sliding pivot arm linked by the pivot guide unit and a slider for connecting a shell. The sliding pivot arm has an arm body, and a sliding shaft and a forward guide portion respectively connected to opposite ends of the arm body. The sliding shaft can slide and pivot along the arc track. The slider has a block body, a slide groove for accommodating the forward guide portion, and an oblique sliding portion matched with the oblique guide portion. When the support module is converted from an unfolded state to a folded state, the slider slides relative to the forward guide portion and the oblique guide portion under the action of the sliding pivot arm, and moves away from the fixed seat and close to another slider. In this way, the shell connected to the slider can reduce the gap when folded, thereby reducing the overall thickness when folded.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In recent years, as the technology of flexible screens, i.e. bendable display screens, has become more mature, foldable electronic devices using flexible screens have also developed accordingly.

[0003] Generally, the housing of a foldable electronic device needs to be equipped with a hinge so that the two halves of the housing can be relatively unfolded and folded, and the hinge is used to support the flexible screen. Currently, the folding methods of flexible screens are divided into inward folding and outward folding according to whether the flexible screen is located on the inside or outside when the electronic device is folded. The inward folding flexible screen is located between the two halves of the housing when the electronic device is folded, and is generally bent in a U shape.

[0004] Since the flexible screen is bent in a U-shape, a certain distance needs to be reserved between the two halves of the casing to accommodate the flexible screen, which makes the casing thicker. Summary of the invention

[0005] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a hinge that can reduce the required thickness of a housing.

[0006] In some embodiments, the hinge of the present invention is suitable for connecting two superimposable shells, and the hinge includes a fixed seat and two support modules. The fixed seat includes two seat bodies connected side by side along a first direction. Each seat body has two arc-shaped tracks located on the inner side relative to the other seat body and arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and symmetrical to each other. The support modules are symmetrically connected to the fixed seat and can be relatively switched between an expanded state and a folded state. In the expanded state, the support modules are connected to opposite sides of the fixed seat along the second direction. Each support module includes a pivot guide unit and a sliding unit. The pivot guide unit is pivotally connected to the fixed seat and has a bearing surface and an oblique guide portion extending obliquely relative to the bearing surface. The sliding unit has a sliding pivot arm linked to the pivot guide unit and a slider for connecting one of the shells. The sliding pivot arm has an arm body, and a sliding shaft and a forward guide part respectively connected to opposite ends of the arm body. The sliding shaft is arranged between a pair of opposing arc tracks of the seat body and can slide along the arc tracks, and the sliding pivot arm can pivot around the sliding shaft. The slider has a block body, a slide groove arranged on the block body and cooperating with the forward guide part and a part of the arm body, and an oblique sliding part arranged on the block body and cooperating with the concave and convex of the oblique guide part. When the support module is converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, the sliding pivot arm of each support module slides and pivots along the arc track of the fixed seat, and the slider slides relative to the forward guide part in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface and relative to the oblique guide part, so that the slider of the support module moves in a direction away from the fixed seat and relatively close to it.

[0007] In some embodiments, the block has an inner supporting surface in the form of an inclined arc surface, an outer supporting surface opposite to the inner supporting surface, a first end surface connecting the inner supporting surface and the outer supporting surface and close to the fixed seat, a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, and two side surfaces located on opposite sides and provided with the inclined sliding portion. The thickness of the block gradually decreases from the second end surface toward the first end surface so that the inner supporting surface is an inclined arc surface. In the expanded state, the inner supporting surface does not protrude from the bearing surface. In the folded state, the inner supporting surface protrudes from the bearing surface and is close to the inner supporting surface of another supporting module.

[0008] In some embodiments, the forward guide portion is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped connected to the end of the arm body, and the width of the forward guide portion is greater than that of the arm body and protrudes toward both sides of the arm body, the slide groove has a limiting groove portion close to the second end face and penetrating the inner abutment surface and the outer abutment surface in a direction perpendicular to the load-bearing surface and cooperating to accommodate the forward guide portion, and an extension groove portion having a width that cooperates with the arm body and extends from the limiting groove portion through the first end face, the inner abutment surface and the outer abutment surface.

[0009] In some embodiments, the pivot guide unit includes a first pivot member and a second pivot member respectively pivoted to the base body, and the first pivot member and the second pivot member are connected to each other to pivot synchronously, and together form the bearing surface, the inclined guide portion, and a receiving groove for accommodating the slider, so that the slider is located between the first pivot member and the second pivot member.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first pivot member has a first connection portion close to the fixed seat, and the second pivot member has a second connection portion connected to the first connection portion and jointly limiting the arm body, and the arm body can slide between the first connection portion and the second connection portion along the extension direction of the arm body.

[0011] In some embodiments, the oblique guide portion is a plurality of ribs symmetrically distributed on the inner sides of the first pivot member and the second pivot member and extending obliquely relative to the bearing surface, and the oblique sliding portion is a plurality of grooves distributed on the side and respectively matched with the ribs.

[0012] In some implementations, the slider further has a shell connecting portion connected to the block and located outside the receiving groove for connecting to the shell.

[0013] In some implementations, the shell connecting portion is mainly connected to the second end surface.

[0014] In some implementations, the second connection portion forms a gap for the arm to pass through and accommodate the first connection portion, so that the arm can be linearly moved between the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

[0015] The present invention has the following effects: when the support module is converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, the slider moves in a direction away from and relatively close to the fixing seat, so that the shell connected to the slider can reduce the gap when folded, thereby reducing the overall thickness when folded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 is a stereoscopic diagram of an embodiment of the hinge of the present invention being applied to connecting two housings;

[0018] Figure 2 It corresponds to Figure 1 3D exploded view of

[0019] Figure 3 It corresponds to Figure 2 a perspective view with the housing removed;

[0020] Figure 4 It corresponds to Figure 33D exploded view of

[0021] Figure 5 is a perspective view of this embodiment;

[0022] Figure 6 is a perspective exploded view of this embodiment;

[0023] Figure 7 is a three-dimensional exploded view of another viewing angle of the embodiment;

[0024] Figure 8 is an incomplete exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly relationship between the embodiment and the housing;

[0025] Fig. 9 is an incomplete cross-sectional view illustrating the connection relationship between the embodiment and the housing in the unfolded state;

[0026] Fig.10 is an incomplete cross-sectional view illustrating the connection relationship between the embodiment and the housing in the folded state;

[0027] Fig.11 is a left side view of the embodiment in the unfolded state;

[0028] Fig.12 is a right side view of the embodiment in the unfolded state;

[0029] Fig.13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment in the unfolded state;

[0030] Fig.14 is a left side view of the embodiment in the folded state;

[0031] Fig.15 is a right side view of the embodiment in the folded state;

[0032] Fig.16 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment in the folded state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] See also Figures 1 to 4 , the embodiment of the hinge 10 of the present invention is suitable for connecting two superimposable shells 20 to jointly carry a flexible screen (not shown). In this embodiment, each shell 20 includes an inner shell 201 and an outer shell 202 that are combined and connected, and the hinge 10 is used to connect the inner shell 201 of the shell 20. In this embodiment, the shells 20 are jointly connected by two hinges 10, and a synchronous torque mechanism 30 and two carriers 40 are connected between the hinges 10. The synchronous torque mechanism 30 includes an axle seat 301 and two torque units 302, which are used to enable the hinge 10 to pivot synchronously. The carrier 40 is used to support the flexible screen together with the inner shell 201.

[0034] See also Figures 5 to 7 The hinge 10 includes a fixing base 1 and two supporting modules 2 .

[0035] The fixing base 1 includes two base bodies 11 connected side by side along a first direction D1. Each base body 11 has two arc-shaped tracks 111 located on the inner side of the other base body 11 and arranged along a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1 and symmetrical to each other, and two shaft columns 112 located on the outer side of the other base body 11. The base bodies 11 are locked together by a screw lock 12 and together form a top surface 13.

[0036] The support modules 2 are symmetrically connected to the fixing base 1 and can be relatively in an unfolded state (such as Figure 5 as shown) and a folded state (as shown Fig.14 In the unfolded state, the support modules 2 are connected to opposite sides of the fixing base 1 along the second direction D2. Each support module 2 includes a pivot guide unit 3 and a sliding unit 4.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the pivot guide unit 3 comprises a first pivot member 31 and a second pivot member 32 respectively pivoted to the base body 11, and the first pivot member 31 and the second pivot member 32 are connected to each other to pivot synchronously, and together form a bearing surface 33, an oblique guide portion 34, and an accommodating groove 35. In the present embodiment, the bearing surface 33 is coplanar with the top surface 13 of the fixed base 1 in the unfolded state. Specifically, one end of the first pivot member 31 is pivoted to the shaft column 112 of one of the base bodies 11, and has a first connecting portion 311 close to the fixed base 1. One end of the second pivot member 32 is pivoted to the shaft column 112 of the other base body 11, and has a second connecting portion 321 connected to the first connecting portion 311. The oblique guide portion 34 is a plurality of ribs symmetrically distributed on the opposite inner sides of the first pivot member 31 and the second pivot member 32 and extending obliquely relative to the bearing surface 33.

[0038] The sliding unit 4 has a sliding pivot arm 41 linked to the pivot guide unit 3 and a connecting member for connecting one of the housings 20 (see FIG. Fig. 9) of the slider 42. The sliding pivot arm 41 has an arm body 411, and a sliding shaft 412 and a forward guide portion 413 respectively connected to opposite ends of the arm body 411. The arm body 411 is oblong and limited between the first connection portion 311 and the second connection portion 321, and can slide linearly between the first connection portion 311 and the second connection portion 321 along the extension direction of the arm body 411. In this embodiment, the second connection portion 321 forms a notch 322 for the arm body 411 to pass through and accommodate the first connection portion 311, so that the arm body 411 can be linearly moved between the first connection portion 311 and the second connection portion 321. The sliding shaft 412 is disposed between a pair of opposing arc tracks 111 of the seat body 11 and can slide along the arc track 111, so that the sliding pivot arm 41 can pivot around the sliding shaft 412 as the axis. The forward guiding portion 413 is in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is connected to the end of the arm 411 . The forward guiding portion 413 is wider than the arm 411 and protrudes toward two sides of the arm 411 .

[0039] The slider 42 is located in the accommodating groove 35 between the first pivot member 31 and the second pivot member 32, and has a block 421, a slide groove 422 provided on the block 421 and cooperating with the forward guide portion 413 and a portion of the arm body 411, an oblique sliding portion 423 provided on the block 421 and cooperating with the oblique guide portion 34, and a shell connecting portion 424 connected to the block 421 and located outside the accommodating groove 35 for connecting to the shell 20. The block 421 has an inner abutting surface 421a in the form of an oblique arc surface, an outer abutting surface 421b opposite to the inner abutting surface 421a, a first end surface 421c connecting the inner abutting surface 421a and the outer abutting surface 421b and close to the fixing seat 1, a second end surface 421d opposite to the first end surface 421c, and two side surfaces 421e located at opposite sides and provided with the oblique sliding portion 423. The thickness of the block 421 gradually decreases from the second end surface 421d toward the first end surface 421c so that the inner abutting surface 421a is an oblique arc surface. In this embodiment, the slide groove 422 has a limit groove portion 422a close to the second end face 421d and penetrating the inner abutting surface 421a and the outer abutting surface 421b along the direction perpendicular to the bearing surface 33 and cooperating with the positive guide portion 413, and an extension groove portion 422b with a width matching the arm body 411 and extending from the limit groove portion 422a and penetrating the first end face 421c, the inner abutting surface 421a and the outer abutting surface 421b. The extension groove portion 422b is used for the arm body 411 to pass through. The oblique sliding portion 423 is a plurality of grooves distributed on the side surface 421e and respectively cooperating with the convex and concave of the convex rib. The shell connecting portion 424 is mainly connected to the second end face 421d.

[0040] See also Figures 8 to 10The shell connecting portion 424 is used to connect the inner shell 201 so that the inner shell 201 and the slider 42 are linked. The outer shell 202 is fixedly assembled with the inner shell 201 and is linked with the inner shell 201, so the outer shell 202 and the inner shell 201 move together with the slider 42, and the outer abutting surface 421b of the block 421 is used to abut against the inner surface of the outer shell 202.

[0041] See also Figures 11 to 13 When the support module 2 is in the expanded state, the inner abutment surface 421a of the slider 42 does not protrude from the bearing surface 33, the sliding shafts 412 of the sliding pivot arms 41 are respectively located at one end of the arc track 111 close to each other, the forward guide portion 413 is located at one end of the limiting groove portion 422a close to the corresponding inner abutment surface 421a, and the oblique guide portion 34 is located at one end of the oblique sliding portion 423 close to the corresponding inner abutment surface 421a.

[0042] See also Figures 14 to 16 When the support module 2 is converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, the sliding pivot arm 41 of each support module 2 slides and pivots along the arc track 111 of the fixing seat 1, and the slider 42 slides relative to the forward guide portion 413 in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface 33 and slides relative to the oblique guide portion 34, so that the slider 42 of the support module 2 moves in a direction away from the fixing seat 1 and relatively close to it. Specifically, in the folded state, the sliding shaft 412 of the sliding pivot arm 41 slides to the ends of the arc track 111 that are away from each other and pivots 90 degrees, the forward guide portion 413 is located at one end of the limiting groove portion 422a close to the corresponding outer abutment surface 421b, the oblique guide portion 34 is located at one end of the oblique sliding portion 423 close to the corresponding outer abutment surface 421b, and the inner abutment surface 421a of each support module 2 protrudes from the bearing surface 33 and approaches the inner abutment surface 421a of another support module 2. During the sliding and pivoting process, the sliding pivot arm 41 pivots synchronously with the first pivot member 31 and the second pivot member 32, and moves linearly between the corresponding first pivot member 31 and the second pivot member 32, thereby pushing the slider 42 to move. The slider 42 is pushed by the corresponding sliding pivot arm 41 to slide away from the fixing seat 1. During the sliding process, the oblique sliding portion 423 interacts with the oblique guiding portion 34, so that when the slider 42 slides away from the fixing seat 1, it can cooperate with the limiting groove portion 422a to interact with the positive guiding portion 413, so that the inner abutting surface 421a of the slider 42 moves in a relatively close direction. See also Fig. 9 and Fig.10When the slider 42 moves, it also moves with the housing 20, so that the housings 20 can be close to each other in the folded state, saving the gap between the housings 20, thereby reducing the overall thickness. The inner abutment surface 421a of the slider 42 is an inclined arc surface, so that in the folded state, the distance between the sliders 42 is wider near the fixing seat 1 and narrower away from the fixing seat 1, so as to form a space for accommodating the bend of the flexible screen (in the shape of a water drop).

[0043] In summary, when the support module 2 is transformed from the unfolded state to the folded state, the slider 42 moves away from the fixing base 1 and relatively close to it, so that the shell 20 connected to the slider 42 can reduce the gap when folded, thereby reducing the overall thickness when folded.

[0044] The above are merely embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. That is, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge suitable for connecting two superimposable shells. Features: The hinge contains: The fixing seat comprises two seat bodies connected side by side in a first direction, each seat body having two arc-shaped tracks which are located on the inner side relative to the other seat body and are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are symmetrical to each other; and Two support modules are symmetrically connected to the fixing base and can be relatively switched between an expanded state and a folded state. In the expanded state, the support modules are connected to opposite sides of the fixing base along the second direction. Each support module includes a pivot guide unit pivotally connected to the fixing seat and having a bearing surface and an oblique guide portion extending obliquely relative to the bearing surface, and The sliding unit comprises a sliding pivot arm linked by the pivot guide unit and a slider for connecting one of the housings, wherein the sliding pivot arm comprises an arm body, and A sliding shaft and a forward guide portion are respectively connected to opposite ends of the arm body, the sliding shaft is arranged between a pair of opposing arc tracks of the seat body and can slide along the arc tracks, and the sliding pivot arm can pivot around the sliding shaft as an axis, the slider comprises a block body, a slide groove arranged on the block body and cooperating with the forward guide portion and a part of the arm body, and an oblique sliding portion arranged on the block body and cooperating with the concave and convex of the oblique guide portion; When the support module is converted from the expanded state to the folded state, the sliding pivot arm of each support module slides and pivots along the arc track of the fixing seat, and the slider slides relative to the forward guide portion in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface and relative to the oblique guide portion, so that the slider of the support module moves in a direction away from the fixing seat and relatively close to it.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, Features: The block body has an inner supporting surface in the form of an inclined arc surface, an outer supporting surface opposite to the inner supporting surface, a first end surface connecting the inner supporting surface and the outer supporting surface and close to the fixing seat, a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, and two side surfaces located on opposite sides and provided with the inclined sliding portion. The thickness of the block body gradually decreases from the second end surface toward the first end surface so that the inner supporting surface is an inclined arc surface. In the expanded state, the inner supporting surface does not protrude from the bearing surface. In the folded state, the inner supporting surface protrudes from the bearing surface and is close to the inner supporting surface of another supporting module.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, Features: The forward guide portion is in the form of a rectangular structure and is connected to the end of the arm body. The width of the forward guide portion is greater than that of the arm body and protrudes toward both sides of the arm body. The slide groove has a limiting groove portion that is close to the second end surface and passes through the inner abutment surface and the outer abutment surface in a direction perpendicular to the load-bearing surface and cooperates to accommodate the forward guide portion, and an extension groove portion that has a width that matches the arm body and extends from the limiting groove portion to pass through the first end surface, the inner abutment surface and the outer abutment surface.

4. The hinge according to claim 2, Features: The pivot guide unit includes a first pivot member and a second pivot member respectively pivoted to the base body, and the first pivot member and the second pivot member are connected to each other to pivot synchronously, and together form the bearing surface, the inclined guide portion, and a receiving groove for accommodating the slider, so that the slider is located between the first pivot member and the second pivot member.

5. The hinge according to claim 4, Features: The first pivot member has a first connection portion close to the fixed seat, and the second pivot member has a second connection portion connected to the first connection portion and jointly limiting the arm body, and the arm body can slide between the first connection portion and the second connection portion along the extension direction of the arm body.

6. The hinge according to claim 5, Features: The oblique guide portion is a plurality of ribs symmetrically distributed on the inner sides of the first pivot member and the second pivot member and extending obliquely relative to the bearing surface. The oblique sliding portion is a plurality of grooves distributed on the side surface and respectively matched with the ribs.

7. The hinge according to claim 6, Features: The sliding block also has a shell connecting portion which is connected to the block and is located outside the accommodating groove and is used for connecting to the shell.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, Features: The shell connecting portion is mainly connected to the second end surface.

9. The hinge according to claim 5, Features: The second connection part forms a notch for the arm to pass through and accommodate the first connection part, so that the arm can be linearly moved between the first connection part and the second connection part.

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