Hinge

Abstract

A hinge includes a fixed seat and two rotating units. The fixed seat has two first channels that are symmetric to each other and arc-shaped, and a recessed area located on the center line. The rotating units are symmetrically connected to the fixed seat and can be switched between an unfolded state and a folded state relative to each other. Each rotating unit includes a connecting rod, an orbital slider, a rotating bracket, and a door panel. The connecting rod is slidably disposed in one of the first channels and is connected to the orbital slider. The orbital slider can slide arcuately relative to the connecting rod and obliquely relative to the rotating bracket. The rotating bracket is pivotally disposed on the fixed seat. The door panel is interlocked with the connecting rod. In the folded state, the door panel and the recessed area of the fixed seat form a space for accommodating the bent portion of the flexible screen. The overall structure of the hinge can save the number of parts, reduce the assembly tolerance, the overall weight and cost, and can increase the space for accommodating the bent portion of the flexible screen in the folded state.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In recent years, with the increasing maturity of the technology of flexible screens, i.e., flexible display screens, foldable electronic devices using flexible screens have also been developed.

[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 hinge is used to support the flexible screen. Currently, according to whether the flexible screen is located inside or outside when the electronic device is folded, the folding method of the flexible screen is divided into an in-folding type and an out-folding type. When the electronic device is folded, the flexible screen of the in-folding type is located between the two halves of the casing and is generally bent in a U shape.

[0004] Existing hinges for in-folding flexible screens usually have a large number of parts. Since the forming tolerances of each part will accumulate, the assembly tolerance is large, which affects the flatness, straightness, etc. after overall assembly. Moreover, the large number of parts will also increase the overall weight and cost. In addition, if the existing hinge has an intermediate support plate, when the flexible screen is folded and bent, the middle bent part will be blocked by the intermediate support plate and cannot sink, resulting in insufficient space for storing the screen. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge that reduces the number of parts and increases the space for accommodating the bent portion of the screen.

[0006] In some embodiments, the hinge of the present invention is applicable to connect two housings so that the housings can be relatively opened and closed. The hinge includes a fixed seat and two rotating units. The fixed seat has two opposite long sides, two first channels located on both sides of the center line between the long sides, symmetric to each other and arc-shaped, and a recessed area located on the center line. The rotating units are symmetrically connected to the fixed seat on both sides of the center line and can be switched between an unfolded state and a folded state. Each rotating unit includes a connecting rod member, an orbital slider, a rotating bracket, and a door panel member. The connecting rod member has a body, a first arc-shaped slide rail connected to the body and slidably disposed in one of the first channels, and a second arc-shaped slide rail connected to the body and extending away from the fixed seat. The body has a bearing surface. The orbital slider is used to connect one of the housings and has a block body, a second channel formed in the block body and cooperating with the second arc-shaped slide rail to form an arc shape, and an inclined sliding portion. In the unfolded state, the block body is adjacent to one of the long sides and has a supporting surface parallel to the bearing surface to support the housing, and a side surface connecting the supporting surface and perpendicular to the long side. The inclined sliding portion is formed on the side surface. The rotating bracket is pivotally disposed on the fixed seat and has a frame body and an inclined guiding portion formed on the frame body and cooperating with the inclined sliding portion, so that the orbital slider slides relative to the second arc-shaped slide rail and the inclined guiding portion and rotates relative to the fixed seat during the process of switching from the unfolded state to the folded state. The door panel member is connected to the bearing surface and interlocks with the connecting rod member. In the unfolded state, the door panel members of the rotating units jointly cover the fixed seat. In the folded state, the door panel members are opposite to each other and the distance between them is wider on the side close to the fixed seat, and the supporting surfaces of the orbital sliders are parallel to each other.

[0007] In some embodiments, the inclined sliding portion is in the shape of a groove recessed from the side surface, and the inclined guiding portion is in the shape of a convex block protruding from the frame body.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fixed seat further has two avoidance areas located on both sides of the recessed area to provide a rotation space for the door panel members.

[0009] In some embodiments, the fixed seat includes a housing and an orbital bracket fixed to the housing and formed with the first channels.

[0010] In some embodiments, the orbital bracket has two groove side walls arranged at intervals in a direction parallel to the center line and opposite to each other, a groove bottom wall connecting the groove side walls, and two pairs of groove top walls located on both sides of the center line. The two groove top walls of the same pair respectively extend towards each other from the relative inner sides of the groove side walls and are spaced relative to the groove bottom wall. The groove bottom wall has two groove bottom surfaces located on both sides of the center line and symmetric arc surfaces relative to the center line. Each of the groove top walls has a groove top surface facing the groove bottom wall and in the shape of an arc surface. Each pair of groove top walls, the groove bottom surface located on the same side of the center line, and the groove side wall jointly define one of the first channels.

[0011] In some embodiments, each of the groove side walls has a top surface, a middle concave arc surface that is recessed from the top surface and located on the center line, and two side concave arc surfaces located on both sides of the middle concave arc surface, and the side concave arc surfaces integrally extend to the groove top wall that is connected to the corresponding groove side wall. The middle concave arc surface defines the recessed area, and the side concave arc surfaces respectively define two avoidance areas that provide a rotation space for the door panel member.

[0012] In some embodiments, the track bracket further has two fixing portions that are respectively connected to the opposite outer sides of the groove side walls and are used for fixing to the housing.

[0013] The present invention has the following effects: The overall structure of the hinge can save the number of parts, reduce the assembly tolerance, the overall weight and cost, and can increase the space for accommodating the bent portion of the flexible screen in the closed state. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hinge of the present invention in the unfolded state;

[0016] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment;

[0017] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment, wherein the two door panel members are not shown;

[0018] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the Figure 1 IV-IV straight line in;

[0019] Figure 5 is an incomplete exploded perspective view of the embodiment, wherein the two door panel members are not shown;

[0020] Figure 6 is a corresponding Figure 5 incomplete exploded perspective view from another perspective;

[0021] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment in the closed state; and

[0022] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the Figure 7 VIII-VIII straight line in. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Refer to Figures 1 to 4, an embodiment of the hinge 100 of the present invention is applicable to connecting two housings 200 to enable the housings 200 to open and close relative to each other, and is used to support a flexible screen 300. The hinge 100 includes a fixed seat 1, two rotating units 2, and a torsion synchronization mechanism 7. In this embodiment, two sets of hinges 100 are jointly used to connect the housings 200.

[0024] The fixed seat 1 includes a housing 11, an orbital bracket 12 fixed to the housing 11, and a fixed bracket 13 fixed to the housing 11. The housing 11 has two opposite long sides 111. A center line C is defined between the long sides 111. The center line C is parallel to the long sides 111 and is located at the center of the long sides 111. The orbital bracket 12 is formed with two first channels 121 that are symmetric to each other and arc-shaped on both sides of the center line C. The fixed seat 1 has a recessed area 14 on the center line C, and two avoidance areas 15 on both sides of the recessed area 14.

[0025] Refer to Figure 3 、 Figure 5 And Figure 6 , the orbital bracket 12 has two channel side walls 122 arranged at intervals along a direction parallel to the center line C and opposite to each other, a channel bottom wall 123 connecting the channel side walls 122, two pairs of channel top walls 124 on both sides of the center line C, and two fixing parts 125 respectively connected to the opposite outer sides of the channel side walls 122 and used to be fixed to the housing 11. The two channel top walls 124 of the same pair extend towards each other from the opposite inner sides of the channel side walls 122 and are spaced relative to the channel bottom wall 123. The channel bottom wall 123 has two channel bottom surfaces 123a that are symmetric arc surfaces on both sides of the center line C. Each channel top wall 124 has a channel top surface 124a facing the channel bottom wall 123 and being arc-shaped. Each pair of channel top walls 124, the channel bottom surface 123a on the same side of the center line C, and the channel side walls 122 jointly define one of the first channels 121. Each of the channel side walls 122 has a top surface 122a, an intermediate concave arc surface 122b recessed from the top surface 122a and located on the center line C, and two side concave arc surfaces 122c on both sides of the intermediate concave arc surface 122b. The side concave arc surfaces 122c integrally extend to the channel top walls 124 connected to the corresponding channel side walls 122. The intermediate concave arc surface 122b defines the recessed area 14, and the side concave arc surfaces 122c respectively define the avoidance areas 15. Specifically, the recessed area 14 is the area where the intermediate concave arc surface 122b extends along a direction parallel to the center line C, and the components fixed in this extended area in the fixed seat 1 do not protrude above the intermediate concave arc surface 122b. Similarly, the avoidance area 15 is the area where the side concave arc surfaces 122c extend along a direction parallel to the center line C, and the components fixed in this extended area in the fixed seat 1 do not protrude above the side concave arc surfaces 122c.

[0026] Refer again to Figures 1 to 4 , the rotating unit 2 is symmetrically connected to the fixed seat 1 on both sides of the center line C and can be switched between an unfolded state (as shown in Figure 1 ) and a folded state (as shown in Figure 7 ). Each rotating unit 2 includes a connecting rod member 3, an orbital slider 4, a rotating bracket 5 and a door panel member 6.

[0027] The connecting rod member 3 has a body 31, a first arc-shaped slide rail 32 connected to the body 31 and slidably disposed in one of the first channel 121, and a second arc-shaped slide rail 33 connected to the body 31 and extending away from the fixed seat 1. The body 31 has a bearing surface 311.

[0028] The orbital slider 4 is used to connect one of the housings 200 and has a block 41, a second channel 42 formed in the block 41 and cooperating with the second arc-shaped slide rail 33 to form an arc, and an inclined sliding portion 43. In the unfolded state, the block 41 is adjacent to one of the long sides 111 and has a support surface 411 parallel to the bearing surface 311 to support the housing 200, and a side surface 412 connecting the support surface 411 and perpendicular to the long side 111. The inclined sliding portion 43 is formed on the side surface 412. In this embodiment, the inclined sliding portion 43 is in the shape of a groove recessed from the side surface 412 and is inclined with respect to the support surface 411.

[0029] The rotating bracket 5 is pivotally disposed on the fixed seat 1 and has a frame body 51, an inclined guiding portion 52 formed in the frame body 51 and cooperating with the inclined sliding portion 43, and a pivot 53 connected to the frame body 51 and extending parallel to the center line C. In this embodiment, the inclined guiding portion 52 is in the shape of a convex block protruding from the frame body 51, and the pivot 53 is pivotally disposed on the fixed bracket 13 so that the rotating bracket 5 rotates about the pivot 53 as the axis.

[0030] The door panel member 6 is connected to the bearing surface 311 and is interlocked with the connecting rod member 3.

[0031] Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 , in the unfolded state, the door panel members 6 of the rotating unit 2 jointly cover the fixed seat 1. Refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8, in this closed state, the door panel members 6 face each other and the distance between them is wider on the side closer to the fixed seat 1, and the support surfaces 411 of the track sliders 4 are parallel to each other. Specifically, the door panel members 6 move synchronously with the link members 3, and the plate surfaces of the door panel members 6 are respectively parallel to the bearing surfaces 311 of the connected link members 3. During the process of the link members 3 transitioning from the unfolded state to the closed state, the first arc-shaped slide rails 32 slide along the corresponding first channels 121 respectively. In the closed state, the bearing surfaces 311 are relatively closer to the side closer to the fixed seat 1 on the side away from the fixed seat 1, making the distance between the bearing surfaces 311 narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. At the same time, the distance between the door panel members 6 is also narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. Thus, the space between the door panel members 6 can accommodate the bent portion of the flexible screen 300 which is generally in a water droplet shape. In addition, the recessed area 14 of the fixed seat 1 can accommodate the bottom of the bent portion of the flexible screen 300 to increase the space for storing the flexible screen 300. The avoidance area 15 provides a rotation space for the door panel members 6 so that the door panel members 6 will not be obstructed during the rotation process. During the process of each rotation unit 2 transitioning from the unfolded state to the closed state, the track slider 4 slides relative to the second arc-shaped slide rail 33 and the oblique guiding portion 52 and rotates relative to the fixed seat 1. Through the cooperation of the arc-shaped sliding and oblique sliding of the track slider 4, when the track slider 4 is in the closed state, the support surface 411 can be parallel to the support surface 411 of another track slider 4, thereby enabling the housings 200 to be stacked parallel to each other.

[0032] The door panel members 6 of the rotation unit 2 jointly cover the fixed seat 1 in the unfolded state, eliminating the need for an intermediate support plate. This not only reduces the assembly tolerance, overall weight, and cost due to the reduction in the number of parts and achieves thinning, but also provides a space for accommodating the water droplet-shaped bent portion of the flexible screen 300 in the closed state by rotating the door panel members 6. In particular, the bottom of the bent portion of the flexible screen 300 can extend into the recessed area 14 of the fixed seat 1, so that the space for accommodating the bent portion of the flexible screen 300 can be further increased.

[0033] Refer to again Figure 2 And Figure 3 , in this embodiment, the torque synchronization mechanism 7 is provided on the outer shell 11 and connected to the rotating bracket 5 to enable the rotation units 2 to rotate synchronously and provide torque.

[0034] In summary, the overall structure of the hinge 100 can reduce the number of parts, assembly tolerance, overall weight, and cost, and can increase the space for accommodating the bent portion of the flexible screen 300 in the closed state.

[0035] The above are only the embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of implementation of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. That is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge adapted to connect two housings so that the housings can be opened and closed relative to each other, characterized in that: The hinge comprises: A fixed seat having two opposite long sides, two first channels located on both sides of the center line between the long sides, symmetric to each other and arc-shaped, and a recessed area located on the center line; and Two rotating units symmetrically connected to the fixed seat on both sides of the center line and capable of being converted between an unfolded state and a folded state relative to each other. Each rotating unit includes A link member having a body, a first arc-shaped slide rail connected to the body and slidably disposed in one of the first channels, and a second arc-shaped slide rail connected to the body and extending away from the fixed seat. The body has a bearing surface, A track slider for connecting one of the housings, having a block body, a second channel formed in the block body and cooperating with the second arc-shaped slide rail to form an arc, and an oblique sliding portion. In the unfolded state, the block body is adjacent to one of the long sides and has a support surface parallel to the bearing surface for supporting the housing, and a side surface connecting the support surface and perpendicular to the long side. The oblique sliding portion is formed on the side surface, A rotating bracket pivotally disposed on the fixed seat and having a frame body and an oblique guiding portion formed on the frame body and cooperating with the oblique sliding portion, so that the track slider slides relative to the second arc-shaped slide rail and the oblique guiding portion and rotates relative to the fixed seat during the process of converting from the unfolded state to the folded state, and A door panel member connected to the bearing surface and interlocked with the link member; In the unfolded state, the door panel members of the rotating units jointly cover the fixed seat; in the folded state, the door panel members face each other and the distance between them is wider on the side close to the fixed seat, and the support surfaces of the track sliders are parallel to each other.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oblique sliding portion is in the shape of a groove recessed from the side surface, and the oblique guiding portion is in the shape of a convex block protruding from the frame body.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed seat further has two avoidance areas located on both sides of the recessed area to provide a rotation space for the door panel members.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed seat includes a housing and a track bracket fixed to the housing and formed with the first channels.

5. The hinge according to claim 4, characterized in that: The track bracket has two groove side walls arranged at intervals in a direction parallel to the center line and opposite to each other, a groove bottom wall connecting the groove side walls, and two pairs of groove top walls located on both sides of the center line. The two groove top walls of the same pair respectively extend towards each other from the relative inner sides of the groove side walls and are spaced relative to the groove bottom wall. The groove bottom wall has two groove bottom surfaces located on both sides of the center line and symmetrically arc-shaped with respect to the center line. Each of the groove top walls has a groove top surface facing the groove bottom wall and in the shape of an arc surface. Each pair of groove top walls, the groove bottom surface located on the same side of the center line, and the groove side walls jointly define one of the first channels.

6. The hinge according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the groove side walls has a top surface, an intermediate concave arc surface that is recessed from the top surface and located on the center line, and two side concave arc surfaces located on both sides of the intermediate concave arc surface, and the side concave arc surfaces integrally extend to the groove top wall that is connected to the corresponding groove side wall. The intermediate concave arc surface defines the recessed area, and the side concave arc surfaces respectively define two avoidance areas that provide a rotation space for the door panel member.

7. The hinge according to claim 5, wherein: The rail bracket further has two fixing portions that are respectively connected to the relatively outer sides of the groove side walls and are used for fixing to the housing.

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