Hinge

Abstract

A hinge includes a base, two sliding seats, two rotating members, and two linkage mechanisms. The two sliding seats are arranged on the base along a first direction, and each of the two sliding seats can slide relative to the base between an outer position and an inner position along the first direction. Each sliding seat has a slide rail portion extending around a rotation axis, and the two rotation axes corresponding to the two sliding seats extend along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are arranged along the first direction. Each rotating member has a sliding portion, and the sliding portions of the two rotating members are respectively slidably arranged on the slide rail portions of the two sliding seats so that the two rotating members can respectively rotate around the two rotation axes. The two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to slide between the outer position and the inner position during the above rotation process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge, and particularly to a hinge applied between two bodies provided with a flexible screen. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, flexible screens have gradually been applied to electronic devices in daily life. Generally, such electronic devices include two bodies, a flexible screen disposed on the two bodies, and at least one hinge disposed between the two bodies. The hinge has a base, and two rotating members disposed on the base and respectively for the two bodies to be disposed. The two rotating members can rotate relative to the base about two rotation axes respectively through the cooperation of a slide rail and a slider. However, due to the bending characteristics of the flexible screen, the flexible screen will be pulled or squeezed during the process of the two bodies being unfolded and folded. For example, when the two bodies are changed from a state with an included angle of 180 degrees with each other to a state with an included angle of 150 degrees with each other through the hinge, the flexible screen will be pulled by the two bodies, and this situation will cause the shortening of the service life of the flexible screen or even damage. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge that can improve at least one drawback in the prior art.

[0004] In some embodiments, the hinge of the present invention includes a base, two sliding seats, two rotating members, and two linkage mechanisms. The two sliding seats are disposed on the base along a first direction. Each of the two sliding seats can slide relative to the base between an outer position and an inner position along the first direction. When in the outer position, the two sliding seats are relatively far away from each other. When in the inner position, the two sliding seats are relatively close to each other. Each sliding seat has a slide rail portion extending around a rotation axis. The two rotation axes corresponding to the two sliding seats extend along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are arranged along the first direction. Each rotating member has a sliding portion. The sliding portions of the two rotating members can be slidably disposed on the slide rail portions of the two sliding seats respectively, so that the two rotating members can rotate relative to the two sliding seats about the two rotation axes respectively. The two linkage mechanisms are respectively disposed on the two rotating members and on the two sliding seats. During the rotation of the two rotating members, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to slide between the outer position and the inner position.

[0005] In some embodiments, each of the two rotating members can rotate relative to the corresponding sliding seat between a deployed position and a retracted position, and passes through a transition position between the deployed position and the retracted position. When the two rotating members are in the deployed position, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to the outer position. When the two rotating members are in the transition position, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to the inner position.

[0006] In some embodiments, when the two rotating members are in the retracted position, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to the outer position.

[0007] In some embodiments, each of the linkage mechanisms includes a rotating shaft member rotatably passing through the base along the second direction, a linkage rod connected between the rotating shaft member and the corresponding rotating member, a linkage wheel provided on the rotating shaft member, and a linkage block provided on the corresponding sliding seat and connected to the linkage wheel. The linkage wheel is formed with an arc-shaped linkage groove along the second direction, and the linkage block is slidably inserted into the arc-shaped linkage groove along the arc-shaped linkage groove of the linkage wheel. The linkage rod is used to link the rotating shaft member and the linkage wheel to rotate together when the corresponding rotating member rotates. And, through the cooperation of the arc-shaped linkage groove on the rotating linkage wheel and the linkage block, the corresponding sliding seat slides between the outer position and the inner position along the first direction.

[0008] In some embodiments, each of the rotating members further has a chute, and the linkage rod of each of the linkage mechanisms is sleeved on the rotating shaft member and has a slider slidably provided in the chute of the corresponding rotating member.

[0009] In some embodiments, the linkage rod of each of the linkage mechanisms is sleeved on the rotating shaft member and has a gear portion sleeved on a part of the rotating shaft member. The hinge further includes a synchronous motion gear member meshing between the gear portions of the linkage rods of the two linkage mechanisms and used to make the linkage rods of the two linkage mechanisms move synchronously.

[0010] In some embodiments, the base has an accommodation space, and the two sliding seats can be slidably provided in the accommodation space relative to the base along the first direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, the base further has a guiding concave portion communicating with the accommodation space and extending along the first direction. Each of the sliding seats has a guiding convex portion slidably inserted into the guiding concave portion along the first direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the base further has a bottom plate and two end plates that jointly define the accommodation space. The two end plates are disposed on the bottom plate side by side at intervals along the second direction. The hinge further includes two limiting rods. The two limiting rods are disposed on the two end plates of the base along the second direction and are located outside the two sliding seats in the first direction, and are respectively used to limit the two sliding seats from the outside in the first direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the sliding seats further has a sliding groove for accommodating the corresponding limiting rod. When the two sliding seats slide relative to the base along the first direction, the two limiting rods respectively slide relative to each other along the first direction in the sliding grooves of the two sliding seats.

[0014] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: the hinge can be linked during the rotation of the two rotating members through the two sliding seats and slide between the outer position and the inner position, so that the flexible screen provided on the two bodies of the two rotating members can obtain a compensation displacement amount during the opening and closing of the two bodies, thereby avoiding the flexible screen from being pulled or squeezed during the above-mentioned opening and closing process. 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 a perspective view of the embodiment viewed from another perspective;

[0018] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a perspective exploded view of;

[0019] Figure 4 is Figure 2 a perspective exploded view of;

[0020] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a further perspective exploded view of;

[0021] Figure 6 is Figure 2 a further perspective exploded view of;

[0022] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing the multiple linkage mechanisms of the embodiment. In the figure, the two rotating members of the embodiment are in the unfolded position;

[0023] Figure 8It is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing two sliding seats of the embodiment. In the figure, the two rotating members of the embodiment are in the deployed position;

[0024] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing multiple linkage mechanisms of the embodiment. In the figure, the two rotating members of the embodiment are in the transitional position;

[0025] Figure 10 It is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing two sliding seats of the embodiment. In the figure, the two rotating members of the embodiment are in the transitional position;

[0026] Figure 11 It is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing multiple linkage mechanisms of the embodiment. In the figure, the two rotating members of the embodiment are in the retracted position;

[0027] Figure 12 It is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, showing two sliding seats of the embodiment. In the figure, the two rotating members of the embodiment are in the retracted position. Detailed implementation manner

[0028] Refer to Figures 1 to 4 , an embodiment of the hinge 100 of the present invention includes a base 1, two sliding seats 2, two limiting rods 3, two rotating members 4, four linkage mechanisms 5, and two synchronous gear members 6. Among them, the two limiting rods 3 and the two synchronous gear members 6 can be omitted in other implementation manners, and this embodiment is not restrictive.

[0029] The base 1 in this embodiment includes a first section 11 in the middle and two second sections 12 provided at both ends of the first section 11. The two sliding seats 2 are arranged along a left-right direction D1 (first direction) on the first section 11 of the base 1, and each of the two sliding seats 2 can slide relative to the base 1 along the left-right direction D1 between an outer position (see Figure 8 ) and an inner position (see Figure 10 ). When in the outer position, the two sliding seats 2 are relatively far away from each other, and when in the inner position, the two sliding seats 2 are relatively close to each other.

[0030] Refer to Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 6, in this embodiment, the first section 11 of the base 1 has a bottom plate 112 and two end plates 113 that jointly define an accommodation space 111. The two end plates 113 are arranged side by side at intervals in a front-back direction D2 (second direction) perpendicular to the left-right direction D1 on the bottom plate 112. The two sliding seats 2 are disposed in the accommodation space 111 of the first section 11. The first section 11 of the base 1 further has two guiding recesses 114 that communicate with the accommodation space 111 and extend along the left-right direction D1. The two guiding recesses 114 are opposite to each other in the front-back direction D2 and are respectively formed on the two end plates 113. Each sliding seat 2 has two guiding protrusions 21 that can be slidably inserted into the two guiding recesses 114 along the left-right direction D1, so that the two sliding seats 2 can be respectively disposed in the accommodation space 111 and slid relative to the base 1 along the left-right direction D1. The two limiting rods 3 are arranged on the two end plates 113 of the first section 11 of the base 1 in the front-back direction D2 and are located outside the two sliding seats 2 in the left-right direction D1, and are respectively used to limit the two sliding seats 2 from the outside in the left-right direction D1 to prevent the two sliding seats 2 from sliding out of the base 1 along the left-right direction D1. In addition, each sliding seat 2 further has a sliding groove 22 for accommodating the corresponding limiting rod 3. When the two sliding seats 2 slide relative to the base 1 along the left-right direction D1 (first direction), the two limiting rods 3 respectively slide relative to each other in the sliding grooves 22 of the two sliding seats 2 along the left-right direction D1 (first direction). That is to say, the two limiting rods 3 can also assist in restricting the movement directions of the two sliding seats 2. In addition, both ends of each limiting rod 3 are inserted into the two second sections 12 of the base 1 to assist in fixing the relative positions between the first section 11 of the base 1 and the two second sections 12.

[0031] Each sliding seat 2 has a slide rail portion 23 that extends around a rotation axis A as an axis. The two rotation axes A corresponding to the two sliding seats 2 extend in the front-back direction D2 and are arranged in the left-right direction D1. Further, the two rotation axes A are located above the two sliding seats 2 in an up-down direction D3.

[0032] Each of the rotating members 4 has a sliding portion 41 and a setting portion 42 extending from the sliding portion 41. The sliding portions 41 of the two rotating members 4 are respectively slidably disposed on the slide rail portions 23 of the two sliding seats 2, so that the two rotating members 4 can respectively rotate relative to the two sliding seats 2 with the two rotation axes A as axes. The setting portions 42 of the two rotating members 4 are respectively for setting two bodies (not shown in the figure) of an electronic device. The electronic device can be, for example but not limited to, a folding mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook computer, a portable electronic device or other devices or equipment.

[0033] The four linkage mechanisms 5 are paired in two groups, and the two groups of linkage mechanisms 5 are respectively disposed on the two rotating members 4 and respectively disposed on the two sliding seats 2. Among them, the two linkage mechanisms 5 in the same group are disposed on the corresponding rotating member 4 and the corresponding sliding seat 2 opposite to each other along the front-rear direction D2, and are respectively partially received in an accommodation cavity 121 in one of the two second sections 12 of the base 1. The accommodation cavity 121 is jointly defined by a first member 122 and a second member 123 of the corresponding second section 12. During the rotation of the two rotating members 4, the linkage mechanism 5 links the two sliding seats 2 to slide between the outer position and the inner position. It should be noted that in other embodiments, there may be only two linkage mechanisms 5. In this case, the two linkage mechanisms 5 are respectively disposed on the two rotating members 4 and respectively disposed on the two sliding seats 2.

[0034] Each of the linkage mechanisms 5 includes a rotating shaft member 51 rotatably passing through the second section 12 of the corresponding base 1 along the front-rear direction D2 (second direction), a linkage rod 52 connected between the rotating shaft member 51 and the corresponding rotating member 4, a linkage wheel 53 disposed on the rotating shaft member 51 and having an arc-shaped linkage groove 531 formed thereon, and a linkage block 54 disposed on the corresponding sliding seat 2 and connected to the linkage wheel 53. It should be noted that although the linkage rod 52 and the linkage wheel 53 are separate components in this embodiment, in other embodiments, the linkage wheel 53 may also be integrally formed on the rotating shaft member 51; similarly, although the linkage block 54 and the sliding seat 2 are separate components in this embodiment, in other embodiments, the linkage block 54 may also be integrally formed on the sliding seat 2.

[0035] Each setting part 42 of each of the rotating parts 4 has a chute 421. The link rod 52 of each of the linkage mechanisms 5 is sleeved on the rotating shaft part 51 so as to be able to rotate synchronously with the rotating shaft part 51, and has a slider 521 slidably disposed in the chute 421 of the corresponding rotating part 4. The linkage wheel 53 forms the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 along the front-back direction D2 (the second direction), and the linkage block 54 is inserted into the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 of the linkage wheel 53 so as to be slidable along the arc-shaped linkage groove 531. The link rod 52 is used for driving the rotating shaft part 51 and the linkage wheel 53 to rotate together when the corresponding rotating part 4 rotates. Moreover, through the cooperation between the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 on the rotating linkage wheel 53 and the linkage block 54, the corresponding sliding seat 2 provided with the linkage block 54 slides between the outer position and the inner position along the left-right direction D1 (the first direction). In addition, in this embodiment, each end plate 113 of the first section 11 of the base 1 has two accommodating grooves 113a formed on the side away from the accommodating space 111 and respectively used for accommodating the corresponding two linkage wheels 53, and two through holes 113b respectively communicating with the two accommodating grooves 113a and respectively for the corresponding two linkage blocks 54 to penetrate through. Through the two through holes 113b, the linkage block 54 can penetrate through the end plate 113 and be correspondingly connected with the linkage wheel 53 in a matching manner.

[0036] In addition, it should be noted that the linkage mechanism 5 may be composed of other forms of components capable of driving the rotating part 4 and the sliding seat 2 in other embodiments, and should not be limited by this embodiment.

[0037] Referring to Figure 7 、 Figure 9 and Figure 11 , further, each of the two rotating parts 4 can rotate relative to the corresponding sliding seat 2 between an unfolded position (see Figure 7 ) and a folded position (see Figure 11 ), and passes through a transition position (see Figure 9 ) between the unfolded position and the folded position. For example, when the two rotating parts 4 are in the transition position, the included angle between the setting parts 42 is about 150 degrees, but is not limited thereto. In the left-right direction D1 (the first direction), the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 of the linkage wheel 53 of each of the linkage mechanisms 5 is located at a relatively inner side compared with the rotating shaft part 51, and the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 has a first groove part 531a and a second groove part 531b at both ends, and a transition groove part 531c located between the first groove part 531a and the second groove part 531b, and the position of the transition groove part 531c is farther from the rotating shaft part 51 than the positions of the first groove part 531a and the second groove part 531b.

[0038] As Figure 7 and Figure 8 shown, when the two rotating members 4 are in the deployed position, the linkage block 54 of each linkage mechanism 5 is located in the first groove portion 531a of the arc-shaped linkage groove 531, and the two linkage mechanisms 5 link the two sliding seats 2 to the outer position; as Figure 9 and Figure 10 shown, when the two rotating members 4 are in the transition position, the linkage block 54 of each linkage mechanism 5 is located in the transition groove portion 531c of the arc-shaped linkage groove 531, and the two linkage mechanisms 5 link the two sliding seats 2 to the inner position; as Figure 11 and Figure 12 shown, when the two rotating members 4 are in the retracted position, the linkage block 54 of each linkage mechanism 5 is located in the second groove portion 531b of the arc-shaped linkage groove 531, and the two linkage mechanisms 5 link the two sliding seats 2 to the outer position. Specifically, since the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 is located relatively more inwardly with respect to the rotating shaft member 51, and the position of the transition groove portion 531c is farther from the rotating shaft member 51 than the positions of the first groove portion 531a and the second groove portion 531b, therefore, when the linkage block 54 of the linkage mechanism 5 is located in the transition groove portion 531c of the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 (that is, when the two rotating members 4 are in the transition position), the two linkage mechanisms 5 will link the two sliding seats 2 to the inner position where they are relatively closer to each other. At this time, the distance between the two sliding seats 2 is reduced, thereby enabling the left and right side portions of a flexible screen (not shown) provided on the two bodies of the electronic device to obtain an inward compensation displacement amount at this time, thereby avoiding the flexible screen from being pulled.

[0039] It should be noted that the mode and displacement amount of the above two sliding seats 2 being slidably linked between the outer position and the inner position can be adjusted by changing the structure of the arc-shaped linkage groove 531 according to the bending requirements of the flexible screen, so that the flexible screen provided on the two bodies of the two rotating members 4 can obtain an appropriate compensation displacement amount during the opening and closing process of the two bodies, thereby avoiding the flexible screen from being relatively pulled or relatively squeezed during the above opening and closing process.

[0040] In addition, in the present embodiment, the link rod 52 of each of the linkage mechanisms 5 further has a gear portion 522 sleeved on a part of the rotating shaft member 51. The two synchronous gear members 6 are respectively disposed in the accommodating cavities 121 of the two second segments 12 of the base 1 and are engaged between the gear portions 522 of the link rods 52 of the two adjacent linkage mechanisms 5. Specifically, each of the synchronous gear members 6 has two synchronous gear portions 61 respectively engaged between the gear portions 522 of the link rods 52 of the two adjacent linkage mechanisms 5. The two synchronous gear members 6 are configured to synchronize the movement of the link rods 52 of the two adjacent linkage mechanisms 5 and thereby drive the two rotating members 4 to move synchronously.

[0041] In summary, through the two sliding seats 2, the hinge 100 of the present invention can be driven to slide between the outer position and the inner position during the rotation of the two rotating members 4, so that a flexible screen provided on two bodies disposed on the two rotating members 4 can obtain a compensated displacement amount during the opening and closing of the two bodies, thereby preventing the flexible screen from being pulled or squeezed during the above-mentioned opening and closing process.

[0042] 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 of the present invention and the content of the embodiments still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge, characterized in that, the hinge comprises: a base; two sliding seats arranged along a first direction on the base, each of the two sliding seats being capable of sliding relative to the base between an outer position and an inner position along the first direction. When in the outer position, the two sliding seats are relatively far away from each other; when in the inner position, the two sliding seats are relatively close to each other. Each sliding seat has a slide rail portion extending around a rotation axis, and the two rotation axes corresponding to the two sliding seats extend along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are arranged along the first direction; two rotating members, each rotating member having a sliding portion, the sliding portions of the two rotating members being slidably arranged on the slide rail portions of the two sliding seats respectively, so that the two rotating members can rotate relative to the two sliding seats respectively with the two rotation axes as axes; and two linkage mechanisms respectively arranged on the two rotating members and respectively arranged on the two sliding seats. During the rotation of the two rotating members, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to slide between the outer position and the inner position.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: each of the two rotating members is capable of rotating relative to the corresponding sliding seat between an unfolded position and a folded position and passes through a transition position between the unfolded position and the folded position. When the two rotating members are in the unfolded position, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to the outer position; when the two rotating members are in the transition position, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to the inner position.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that: when the two rotating members are in the folded position, the two linkage mechanisms link the two sliding seats to the outer position.

4. The hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: each linkage mechanism includes a rotating shaft member rotatably passing through the base along the second direction, a linkage rod connected between the rotating shaft member and the corresponding rotating member, a linkage wheel arranged on the rotating shaft member, and a linkage block arranged on the corresponding sliding seat and connected to the linkage wheel. The linkage wheel is formed with an arc-shaped linkage groove along the second direction, and the linkage block is slidably inserted into the arc-shaped linkage groove along the arc-shaped linkage groove of the linkage wheel; the linkage rod is used to link the rotating shaft member and the linkage wheel to rotate together when the corresponding rotating member rotates, and through the cooperation between the arc-shaped linkage groove on the rotating linkage wheel and the linkage block, the corresponding sliding seat slides between the outer position and the inner position along the first direction.

5. The hinge according to claim 4, characterized in that: each rotating member further has a chute, the linkage rod of each linkage mechanism is sleeved on the rotating shaft member and has a slider slidably arranged in the chute of the corresponding rotating member.

6. The hinge according to claim 4, characterized in that: The linkage rod of each of the linkage mechanisms is sleeved on the rotating shaft member, and has a gear portion sleeved on a part of the rotating shaft member. The hinge further includes a synchronous movement gear member that meshes between the gear portions of the linkage rods of the two linkage mechanisms and is used to synchronously move the linkage rods of the two linkage mechanisms.

7. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein: The base has an accommodation space, and the two sliding seats are respectively arranged in the accommodation space so as to be slidable relative to the base along the first direction.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein: The base further has a guiding concave portion that communicates with the accommodation space and extends along the first direction. Each of the sliding seats has a guiding convex portion that can be slidably inserted into the guiding concave portion along the first direction.

9. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein: The base further has a bottom plate and two end plates that jointly define the accommodation space. The two end plates are arranged side by side at intervals along the second direction on the bottom plate. The hinge further includes two limiting rods. The two limiting rods are arranged along the second direction on the two end plates of the base and are located outside the two sliding seats in the first direction, and are respectively used to limit the two sliding seats from the outside in the first direction.

10. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein: Each of the sliding seats further has a sliding groove for accommodating the corresponding limiting rod. When the two sliding seats slide relative to the base along the first direction, the two limiting rods respectively slide relative to each other along the first direction in the sliding grooves of the two sliding seats.

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