Locking mechanism and foldable electronic device

Abstract

This application relates to the field of foldable electronic device technology, and more particularly to a locking mechanism and a foldable electronic device. The locking mechanism includes a fixed base, a locking member, a pressing member, and a connecting rod. The fixed base has a mounting groove and a mounting hole communicating with the mounting groove. An elastic reset member extending along a first direction is provided in the mounting hole. The locking member is movably disposed in the mounting groove along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The pressing member is movably disposed in the mounting hole along the first direction. The axial ends of the elastic reset member are respectively connected to the pressing member and the fixed base. The two ends of the connecting rod are rotatably connected to the pressing member and the locking member, respectively. When the pressing member moves along the first direction, the connecting rod moves and drives the locking member to move along the second direction, thereby switching the locking member between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of foldable electronic device technology, and more particularly to locking mechanisms and foldable electronic devices. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous advancement of technology, various foldable electronic devices have become indispensable products in daily life and production, such as tablets and foldable screen phones.

[0003] Taking foldable screen phones as an example, foldable screen phones generally include two shells that are rotatably connected. When the foldable screen phone is in the folded state, the two shells need to be relatively fixed. At this time, a locking mechanism is required to lock the two shells to prevent them from opening relative to each other. When the foldable screen phone needs to switch from the folded state to the unfolded state, the locking mechanism releases the lock on the two shells so that the two shells can open relative to each other.

[0004] The existing locking mechanism has the following disadvantages in the process of switching between locking and unlocking: (1) the pressing part will deflect in direction during the pressing or resetting process, which can easily cause jamming; (2) the pressing part changes a lot in pressure during the pressing process, making it difficult to control the pressing force, thus affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a locking mechanism and a foldable electronic device, which aims to solve at least one of the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] This application provides a locking mechanism, including:

[0007] The mounting base is provided with a mounting groove and a mounting hole communicating with the mounting groove. An elastic reset member is provided in the mounting hole, and the elastic reset member extends along a first direction.

[0008] A locking member is movably disposed in the mounting groove along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The locking member has a locking position extending out of the mounting groove and an unlocking position retracting into the mounting groove.

[0009] The pressing member is movably disposed in the mounting hole along the first direction, and the two axial ends of the elastic reset member are respectively connected to the pressing member and the fixed base;

[0010] A connecting rod, with its two ends rotatably connected to the pressing member and the locking member respectively, when the pressing member moves along the first direction, the connecting rod moves and drives the locking member to move along the second direction, so that the locking member can switch between the locked position and the unlocked position.

[0011] In the locking mechanism of this application, by introducing a transmission link in cooperation with the pressing member, the locking member, and the elastic reset member, the movement of the pressing member in the first direction is converted into the movement of the locking member in the second direction, thereby realizing the switching of the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions. In the technical solution of this application, by setting the extension direction of the elastic reset member to be parallel to the pressing direction of the pressing member, the pressing force direction of the pressing member is parallel to the extension direction of the elastic reset member, which means that the force between the pressing member and the elastic reset member is transmitted in the same direction. This can effectively improve the problem of the pressing member deflecting and jamming due to the deflection of the force direction of the elastic reset member during the pressing process. Moreover, since the two ends of the link are rotatably connected to the pressing member and the locking member respectively, the force transmission angle of the link is different under different pressing amounts. With the design of the elastic reset member, the pressing member can achieve an approximately constant pressing force during the pressing process, which can improve the user experience.

[0012] In one embodiment, the second direction includes a second positive direction, the locking member extends out of the mounting groove along the second positive direction, the connecting rod has a first end and a second end, the first end is hinged to the pressing member, the second end is hinged to the locking member, the second end points towards the first end along a third direction, and the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is an acute angle. The connecting rod structure in this embodiment is simple, and because the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is acute, the downward pressure of the pressing member can be converted into a force that pushes the locking member back into the mounting groove via the connecting rod.

[0013] In one embodiment, in the locked position, the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is α1; in the unlocked position, the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is α2, where α2 < α1. When the pressing member is pressed along the first direction, the pressing member pushes the locking member into the mounting groove via the connecting rod. When the pressing member is released, the elastic reset member pushes the locking member out of the mounting groove via the pressing member and the connecting rod.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fixing base is further provided with a guide groove extending along the first direction, and the pressing member is disposed in the guide groove and moves along the extending direction of the guide groove. By providing a guide groove to restrict the movement of the pressing member along the first direction, the situation of jamming during the movement of the pressing member due to the pressing force deviating from the first direction is further avoided.

[0015] In one embodiment, the fixing base includes a detachably connected base and a cover plate, the mounting groove is formed by the base and the cover plate, and the mounting hole penetrates the cover plate. By making the base and cover plate detachably connected, the assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism are facilitated, improving the ease of assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism.

[0016] In one embodiment, the pressing member includes a detachably connected pressing part and a connecting part. The pressing part is located on the outside of the cover plate, and the connecting part passes through the mounting hole and is rotatably connected to the connecting rod. By placing the pressing part on the outside of the cover plate, it is convenient to press the pressing member from outside the locking mechanism, while the cover plate also limits the pressing depth of the pressing member. Furthermore, by detachably connecting the pressing part and the connecting part, the ease of assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism is improved.

[0017] In one embodiment, the connecting part includes a connecting plate and a connecting foot. The connecting foot is connected to the pressing part through the connecting plate. The connecting foot is rotatably connected to the connecting rod. The connecting foot is disposed in the guide groove and moves along the extension direction of the guide groove.

[0018] In one embodiment, there are two of each of the connecting rod, connecting foot, and guide groove, and each of the connecting rod, connecting foot, and guide groove is configured in a one-to-one correspondence. This configuration improves the overall force balance of the pressing component during the pressing process, which helps to solve the problem of the pressing component getting stuck.

[0019] In one embodiment, the two connecting rods, the two connecting feet, and the two guide grooves are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the central axis of the pressing part. This arrangement can further improve the overall force balance of the pressing part during the pressing process, which helps to avoid the pressing part from deviating from its movement path due to uneven force on the pressing part, thereby preventing the pressing part from getting stuck.

[0020] In one embodiment, a slider adapted to the guide groove is provided at the end of the connecting foot away from the pressing part, and the slider is slidably disposed in the guide groove. By providing a slider adapted to the guide groove at the lower end of the connecting foot, the guiding accuracy of the guide groove can be improved.

[0021] In one embodiment, the connecting plate is provided with a guide post that extends along the first direction. The elastic reset member is sleeved on the guide post and extends and retracts along the extension direction of the guide post. By providing a guide post to guide the elastic reset member, it is possible to avoid the pressing member getting stuck due to the extension and retraction axis of the elastic reset member deviating from the first direction.

[0022] In one embodiment, the locking member has a clearance hole facing the guide post at one end near the pressing member. One end of the elastic reset member abuts against the connecting plate, and the other end passes through the clearance hole and abuts against the base. By providing a clearance hole on the locking member, the guide post can be positioned in the middle of the two connecting rods, which helps to balance the force on each section of the axial section of the elastic reset member.

[0023] In one embodiment, the axial direction of the guide post coincides with the central axial direction of the pressing member. This arrangement helps to ensure that the forces on each segment of the axial section of the elastic reset member are balanced, thereby facilitating the expansion and contraction of the elastic reset member along the first direction and preventing the pressing member from jamming.

[0024] In one embodiment, the mounting groove has an opening, and the locking member includes a connecting section, a limiting section, and a snap-fit ​​section connected in sequence. The connecting section is located near the pressing member and is rotatably connected to the connecting rod. The limiting section is located between the guide groove and the opening. The snap-fit ​​section is correspondingly provided with respect to the opening.

[0025] In the locked position, the snap-fit ​​section extends from the slot, and the limiting section abuts against the wall of the mounting slot where the slot is located, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the locking member in the locked position.

[0026] In the unlocked position, the locking segment retracts into the mounting groove, and the limiting segment abuts against the guide groove, which can prevent the pressing member from being pressed too much, improve the positioning accuracy of the locking member to the unlocked position, and enhance the user experience.

[0027] In one embodiment, the connecting segment is disposed between the two guide grooves, and both sides of the connecting segment are rotatably connected to a connecting foot via a connecting rod. An opening is provided on the opposite side of the two guide grooves to allow the connecting rods on both sides of the connecting segment to be avoided.

[0028] In one embodiment, the thickness of the limiting segment matches the depth of the mounting groove to prevent the locking member from moving in the second direction. This arrangement maximizes the conversion of the vertical movement of the pressing member into the lateral movement of the locking member.

[0029] This application also provides a foldable electronic device, including:

[0030] First shell;

[0031] The locking mechanism described above is disposed in the first housing;

[0032] The second housing has a locking groove for inserting the locking member. The second housing is rotatably connected to the first housing. The foldable electronic device has a folded state and an unfolded state.

[0033] In the folded state, the locking member is located in the locked position and inserted into the locking groove; and,

[0034] When the locking member is in the unlocked position, the locking member retracts into the first housing, and the second housing can rotate relative to the first housing to enable the foldable electronic device to switch between the folded state and the unfolded state. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application in the first state;

[0037] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device in the second state;

[0038] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device in its third state;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism according to an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A partial exploded view;

[0041] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a partial structure;

[0042] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Another perspective view;

[0043] Figure 8 for Figure 4 Top view;

[0044] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Sectional view along axis AA;

[0045] Figure 10 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the fixed base;

[0046] Figure 11 for Figure 8 Exploded view;

[0047] Figure 12 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the middle pressing component;

[0048] Figure 13 for Figure 10 Exploded view;

[0049] Figure 14 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the central locking component.

[0050] Figure label:

[0051] label name label name 10 Foldable electronic devices (phones) 100 Display screen 110 First display section 120 Second display section 130 Third display section 200 main body 210 First shell 211 Part One 211a First cavity 211b Second cavity 212 Part Two 220 Second shell 220a Locking groove 230 Rotating mechanism 300 Locking mechanism 310 Fixed base 310a Mounting slot 311 base 311a Fixing hole 3111 Guide groove 313 cover plate 313a Mounting holes 313b groove 320 Pressing element 321 Pressing part 322 Connection part 3221 Connecting plate 3222 Connecting pins 3222a First connecting hole 3223 slider 323 Guide column 330 link 331 First end 331a Second connecting hole 332 Second end 332a Fourth connecting hole 340 Locking components 341 Connecting segment 341a clearance hole 341b Third connecting hole 342 Limiting segment 343 Card connector 350 Elastic reset element 360 Axle pin S1 First direction S2 Second direction S21 Second positive direction S22 Second opposite direction Detailed Implementation

[0052] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application in the first state. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application in the second state. Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the foldable electronic device 10 in its third state.

[0054] Figure 1 The foldable electronic device 10 shown is in a folded state. Figure 2 The foldable electronic device 10 shown is in a semi-expanded state. Figure 3 The unfolding angle of the foldable electronic device 10 shown is 180 degrees. The foldable electronic device 10 includes, but is not limited to, foldable fixed terminals or mobile terminals such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), handheld computers, touch-screen TVs, walkie-talkies, netbooks, POS machines, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wearable devices, and virtual reality devices. In this embodiment, a mobile phone is used as an example of the foldable electronic device 10 for illustration.

[0055] It should be noted that slight deviations are allowed in the angles illustrated in the embodiments of this application. For example, Figure 3 The 180-degree unfolding angle of the mobile phone 10 shown means that it can be exactly 180 degrees, or approximately 180 degrees, such as 170 degrees, 175 degrees, 185 degrees, and 190 degrees. The angles illustrated in the following text can be understood in the same way.

[0056] For ease of description, the width direction of the foldable electronic device 10 is defined as the X-axis direction, the length direction of the foldable electronic device 10 is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the thickness direction of the foldable electronic device 10 is defined as the Z-axis direction. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions are all perpendicular to each other.

[0057] The directional terms such as "up," "down," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "front," and "back" used in the description of the foldable electronic device 10 in this application are mainly based on the mobile phone 10 attached to the device. Figure 1 The orientation of the foldable electronic device 10 is described in the diagram, with the positive Z-axis direction as "top" or "up", the negative Z-axis direction as "bottom" or "down", the positive X-axis direction as "right", the negative X-axis direction as "left", the positive Y-axis direction as "back", and the negative Y-axis direction as "front". This does not constitute a limitation on the orientation of the foldable electronic device 10 in actual application scenarios.

[0058] See also Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The foldable electronic device 10 of this application embodiment is an outward-folding mobile phone, which includes a main body 200 and a display screen 100. The display screen 100 is mounted on the main body 200 and is used to display text, images, and videos, etc. The display screen 100 can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen, a mini organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, a micro-organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) display screen, a liquid crystal display (LCD), etc.

[0059] Specifically, the display screen 100 includes a first display portion 110, a second display portion 120, and a third display portion 130. The third display portion 130 is located between the first display portion 110 and the second display portion 120. The third display portion 130 is made of a flexible material. The first display portion 110 and the second display portion 120 can be made of flexible materials, or they can be made of rigid materials, or they can be made of a combination of flexible and rigid materials. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0060] In this embodiment of the application, the main body 200 includes a first housing 210, a second housing 220 and a rotating mechanism 230 (not shown in the figure); the rotating mechanism 230 is installed between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, and the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 are rotatably connected through the rotating mechanism 230, so that the main body 200 can switch between a folded state and an unfolded state.

[0061] In detail, the side of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 facing away from the display screen 100 is the inner surface of the mobile phone 10, and the side that supports the display screen 100 is the outer side of the mobile phone 10. The first display portion 110 of the display screen 100 is attached to the first housing 210, the second display portion 120 of the display screen 100 is attached to the second housing 220, and the third display portion 130 of the display screen 100 is arranged opposite to the pivot mechanism to realize the bending of the display screen 100.

[0062] Please see Figure 1 When the phone 10 is folded, the third display portion 130 of the display screen 100 is bent, and the first display portion 110 and the second display portion 120 of the display screen 100 are set opposite to each other. The main body 200 is located between the first display portion 110 and the second display portion 120 of the display screen 100. At this time, the overall size of the phone 10 is reduced, making it easier to carry or hold. The phone 10 can display images using only the first display portion 110 or the second display portion 120. That is, the user can use the small screen for one-handed operation. For example, when the user is riding public transportation, since one hand needs to hold the handrail, the device can only be held with one hand. At this time, the phone 10 can be folded to reduce the width of the device, thereby enabling one-handed operation and improving the user experience.

[0063] Please see Figure 3 When the phone 10 is in the unfolded state, the display screen 100 is fully unfolded, and the first display portion 110, the second display portion 120, and the third display portion 130 of the display screen 100 are in the same plane and can ensure flatness. In this state, a large screen display can be realized, which can bring a better user experience. For example, when a user uses the phone 10 to watch a movie, the phone 10 can be unfolded to watch on a large screen, thereby obtaining a better viewing experience.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first housing 210 includes a first part 211 and a second part 212. The first part 211 and the second part 212 are distributed and fixedly connected along the X-axis. The side of the first part 211 and the second part 212 facing the display screen 100 is a first outer surface, which is a plane (tolerances are allowed). The thickness of the first part 211 along the Z-axis is greater than the thickness of the second part 212 along the Z-axis, which can be understood as the first part 211 protruding from the second part 212. When the mobile phone 10 is in a folded state, the second part 212 and the second housing 220 are stacked along the Z-axis. The first part 211 is not folded with the second housing 220. The thickness of the first part 211 is greater than the total thickness of the first part 211 and the second housing 220. The thickness of the first part 211 is the sum of the thickness of the second display portion 120 of the display screen 100, the second part 212, and the second housing 220.

[0065] More specifically, the first portion 211 and the second portion 212 are integrally formed into a first housing 210 along the X-axis direction, and the rotating mechanism 230 rotatably connects the second housing 220 to the side of the second portion 212 away from the first portion 211. In the Y-axis direction, the length of the first portion 211 and the length of the second portion 212 are the same. In the Z-axis direction, the height of the first portion 211 is greater than the height of the second portion 212; in one embodiment, the height of the first portion 211 is approximately twice the height of the second portion 212.

[0066] In this embodiment, the rotating mechanism 230 is a hinge, which connects the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to achieve relative rotation and relative folding of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. Of course, in other embodiments, the rotating mechanism 230 can also be other types of rotating structures, as long as it can achieve relative rotation and relative folding of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 without damaging the display screen 100.

[0067] It is understood that the structure illustrated in the embodiments of this application does not constitute a specific limitation on the mobile phone 10. In other embodiments of this application, the mobile phone 10 may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or combine some components, or split some components, or have different component arrangements. For example, the mobile phone 10 may also include devices such as a processor, memory, antenna, sensor, and battery.

[0068] To ensure that the mobile phone 10 can be locked in the folded state, a locking mechanism 300 is also installed on the first housing 210, and a locking groove 220a is also provided on the second housing 220 for the locking mechanism 300 to be inserted. When the mobile phone 10 is in the folded state, the locking mechanism 300 extends out of the first housing 210 and is inserted into the locking groove 220a. The locking mechanism 300 and the locking groove 220a cooperate to lock the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. The locking mechanism 300 includes a pressing member, an elastic reset member, and a locking member that are connected to each other. When the mobile phone 10 needs to be unfolded, the pressing member is pressed to drive the locking member to retract into the first housing 210, causing the locking mechanism 300 and the locking groove 220a to separate, thereby allowing the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to unfold relative to each other. When the pressing member is released, the elastic reset member drives the locking member to extend out of the first housing 210 and insert into the locking groove 220a, thereby locking the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. Typically, the elastic reset member is a spring, but it can also be any other structure with a spring-returning function.

[0069] In existing technology, the pressing direction of the pressing member is vertical, and the elastic reset member is a spring. The axial direction of the spring and the moving direction of the locking member are both horizontal. One end of the spring abuts against the inner wall of the first housing, and the other end is connected to the locking member. The lower end of the pressing member has an inclined surface, and a roller is provided between the locking member and the inclined surface. The locking member is connected to the pressing member through the roller. When the pressing member is pressed down, the roller rolls upward along the inclined surface. The wall of the inclined surface is laterally squeezed by the roller, causing the locking member to extend from the first housing and squeeze the spring, thus compressing the spring laterally. When the pressing member is released, the spring rebounds and resets, thereby driving the locking member to retract into the first housing laterally, and driving the roller to roll and the pressing member to move upward and reset. The locking mechanism in the existing technology has at least the following problems: the moving path of the pressing member is prone to deviating from the vertical direction during the pressing process, which can cause jamming; the pressing force is proportional to the compression of the elastic reset member, and the pressing force changes greatly throughout the pressing process.

[0070] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a locking mechanism 300.

[0071] The terms "up," "down," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" used in the description of the locking mechanism 300 in this application are referenced to the locking mechanism 300 in the attached document. Figure 1 The display orientation.

[0072] Please see Figures 4-9The locking mechanism 300 provided in this application embodiment includes a fixed base 310, a locking member 340, a pressing member 320, and a connecting rod 330. The fixed base 310 is provided with a mounting groove 310a and a mounting hole 313a communicating with the mounting groove 310a. An elastic reset member 350 is provided in the mounting hole 313a and extends along a first direction S1. The locking member 340 is movably disposed in the mounting groove 310a along a second direction S2, which is perpendicular to the first direction S1. The locking member 340 has a locking position extending out of the mounting groove 310a and an unlocking position retracting into the mounting groove 310a. The pressing member 320 is movably disposed in the mounting hole 313a along the first direction S1. The two axial ends of the elastic reset member 350 are respectively connected to the pressing member 320 and the fixed base 310. The two ends of the connecting rod 330 are rotatably connected to the pressing member 320 and the locking member 340, respectively. When the pressing member 320 moves along the first direction S1, the connecting rod 330 moves and drives the locking member 340 to move along the second direction S2, so that the locking member 340 can switch between the locked position and the unlocked position.

[0073] Please refer to the above. Figures 1-3 More specifically, the locking groove 220a is recessed on the side of the second housing 220 away from the rotating mechanism 230 in the X direction. The first portion 211 of the first housing 210 is provided with a receiving cavity (not shown in the figure), which has a first opening 211a and a second opening 211b. The first opening 211a is located at the top of the first portion 211, and the second opening 211b is located on the right side of the first portion 211. The locking mechanism 300 is installed in the receiving cavity, with the second opening 211b facing the locking groove 220a, and the top of the pressing member 320 positioned in the first opening 211a. The first direction S1 is parallel to the Z-axis direction, and the second direction S2 is parallel to the X-axis direction. The fixing base 310 and the first housing 210 can be integrally formed or separately formed; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0074] When the phone 10 is in the folded state, the locking member 340 is in the locked position and inserted into the locking groove 220a. At this time, the locking member 340 locks the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 together, and the second housing 220 cannot rotate relative to the first housing 210. When the pressing member 320 is pressed down, the pressing member 320 will move down and drive the locking member 340 to move from the locked position to the left to the unlocked position through the connecting rod 330, so that the locking member 340 leaves the locking groove 220a and returns to the receiving groove. At this time, the second housing 220 can rotate relative to the first housing 210 around the Y-axis, and the phone 10 can switch to the unfolded state. When the pressing member 320 is released, the elastic reset member 350 automatically springs back to its original position and extends upward. The pressing member 320 is pushed upward by the elastic reset member 350. The pressing member 320 drives the locking member 340 from the unlocked position to the locked position through the connecting rod 330. The locking member 340 will extend out of the first housing 210 from the first cavity 211a. Therefore, when it is necessary to switch the mobile phone 10 from the unfolded state to the folded state, before rotating the second housing 220, the pressing member 320 must be pressed down first so that the locking member 340 moves to the unlocked position. When the second housing 220 is rotated to the position corresponding to the folded state, the pressing member 320 is released. Then, the locking member 340 will extend out of the first housing 210 and insert into the locking groove of the second housing 220 under the drive of the elastic reset member 350 to lock the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.

[0075] In the locking mechanism 300 of this application, by introducing a transmission link 330 to cooperate with the pressing member 320, the locking member 340 and the elastic reset member 350, the movement of the pressing member 320 in the first direction S1 is converted into the movement of the locking member 340 in the second direction S2, thereby realizing the switching of the locking member 340 between the locked position and the unlocked position. In the technical solution of this application, by setting the extension direction of the elastic reset member 350 to be parallel to the pressing direction of the pressing member 320, the pressing force direction of the pressing member 320 is parallel to the extension direction of the elastic reset member 350. This ensures that the force between the pressing member 320 and the elastic reset member 350 is transmitted in the same direction, which can effectively improve the problem of the pressing member 320 deflecting and jamming due to the deflection of the force direction of the elastic reset member 350 during the pressing process. Furthermore, since the two ends of the connecting rod 330 are rotatably connected to the pressing member 320 and the locking member 340 respectively, the force transmission angle of the connecting rod 330 is different under different pressing amounts of the pressing member 320. With the design of the elastic reset member 350, the pressing member 320 can achieve an approximately constant pressing force during the pressing process, which can improve the user experience.

[0076] Please see Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 7In this embodiment, the second direction S2 includes a second positive direction S21 and a second negative direction S22. The second positive direction S21 is opposite to the second negative direction S22. The locking member 340 extends out of the mounting groove 310a along the second positive direction S21 and is inserted into the locking groove 220a. The connecting rod 330 has a first end 331 and a second end 332 (in the figure, the first end 331 is the upper end of the connecting rod 330, and the second end 332 is the lower end of the connecting rod 330). The first end 331 is hinged to the pressing member 320, and the second end 332 is hinged to the locking member 340. The second end 332 points to the first end 331 along a third direction (not shown in the figure). That is, the connecting rod 330 is a rod-shaped structure extending from the first end 331 along a third direction. The angle between the third direction and the second positive direction S21 is an acute angle. The linkage 330 in this embodiment has a simple structure, and since the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction S21 is an acute angle, the downward pressure of the pressing member 320 can be converted into a force that pushes the locking member 340 back into the mounting groove 310a along the second negative direction S22 through the linkage 330.

[0077] Please continue reading Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, in the locked position, the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction S21 is α1; in the unlocked position, the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction S21 is α2, where α2 and α1 < 90°, and α2 < α1. When the pressing member 320 is pressed along the first direction S1, the pressing member 320 pushes the locking member 340 into the mounting groove 310a via the connecting rod 330. When the pressing member 320 is released, the elastic reset member 350 pushes the locking member 340 outward into the mounting groove 310a via the pressing member 320 and the connecting rod 330.

[0078] Figure 10 and Figure 11 This is a structural schematic diagram of a fixing base 310 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0079] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 The fixing base 310 includes a base 311 and a cover plate 313, which are detachably connected, specifically by snap-fit ​​or bolt connection. The mounting groove 310a is formed by the base 311 and the cover plate 313, and the opening of the mounting groove 310a is located on the right side of the cover plate 313. It can be understood that the opening of the mounting groove 310a corresponds to the second cavity opening 211b. When the fixing base 310 and the first housing 210 are integrally formed, the second cavity opening 211b can be considered as the opening of the mounting groove 310a. By making the base 311 and the cover plate 313 detachably connected, the assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism are facilitated, improving the ease of assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism 300.

[0080] Please see Figure 10 In this embodiment, the top of the cover plate 313 is penetrated by the mounting hole 313a, and the upper end of the pressing member 320 extends out of the cover plate 313 through the mounting hole 313a. A groove 313b is also provided on the outer side of the cover plate 313. The axial cross-sectional area of ​​the groove 313b is consistent with the axial cross-sectional area of ​​the upper end of the pressing member 320. When the locking member 340 is in the unlocked position, the upper end of the pressing member 320 is located in the groove 313b. By providing the groove 313b on the outer side of the cover plate 313, the structural stability of the locking mechanism 300 is further improved. It is understood that the upper end of the pressing member 320 can also be directly disposed in the mounting hole 313a, but this application will not elaborate on this.

[0081] In this embodiment, the fixing base 310 is further provided with a guide groove 3111 extending in the vertical direction (first direction S1). The pressing member 320 is disposed in the guide groove 3111 and moves along the extension direction of the guide groove 3111. By providing the guide groove 3111 to restrict the movement of the pressing member 320 in the vertical direction (first direction S1), the situation of jamming during the movement of the pressing member 320 due to the pressing force deviating from the vertical direction (first direction S1) is further avoided.

[0082] Please see Figure 11 In this embodiment, the guide groove 3111 protrudes from the base 311, and the top of the guide groove 3111 has an open slot (not shown in the figure). The lower end of the pressing member 320 extends into the guide groove 3111. During the assembly of the locking mechanism 300, the lower end of the pressing member 320 is first inserted into the guide groove 3111 through the slot at the top of the guide groove 3111 to assemble the pressing member 320 with the base 311, and then the cover plate 313 is assembled with the base 311. By setting the slot at the top of the guide groove 3111 to be open, it is easy to insert the lower end of the pressing member 320 into the guide groove 3111, which can improve the ease of assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism 300.

[0083] In this embodiment, the opening at the top of the guide groove 3111 can be at least partially covered by the cover plate 313, which can improve the tightness of the fit between the pressing member 320 and the base 311 and the cover plate 313.

[0084] In this embodiment, the height of the guide groove 3111 can be set to be consistent with the pressing depth of the pressing member 320. When the pressing member 320 is pressed to the bottom of the guide groove 3111, the locking member 340 just retracts completely from the outside into the mounting groove 310a. When the pressing member 320 is released, the elastic reset member 350 drives the pressing member 320 to move upward until the lower end of the pressing member 320 just contacts the cover plate 313 or leaves only a small gap between them. At this time, the locking member 340 extends out of the mounting groove 310a and moves to the locked position.

[0085] In this embodiment, there are two guide grooves 3111, which are spaced apart and open on opposite sides. The end of the locking member 340 away from the opening of the mounting groove 310a is located between the two guide grooves 3111, and both sides of this end are connected to the lower end of the pressing member 320 through connecting rods 330.

[0086] Please continue reading Figure 11 In this embodiment, a fixing hole 311a is provided at the position corresponding to the middle of the two guide grooves 3111 on the base 311. The fixing hole 311a is a blind hole. The upper end of the elastic reset member 350 is connected to the pressing member 320, and the lower end is inserted into the fixing hole 311a and abuts against the bottom wall of the fixing hole 311a. By providing a fixing hole 311a on the base 311, the elastic reset member 350 can be positioned.

[0087] Figure 12 and Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pressing member 320 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0088] Please see Figures 4-7 , Figure 12 and Figure 13The pressing member 320 includes a pressing part 321 and a connecting part 322, which are detachably connected to improve the ease of assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism 300. Specifically, the pressing part 321 is located on the outside of the cover plate 313. The axial cross-sectional area of ​​the pressing part 321 is larger than the axial cross-sectional area of ​​the mounting hole 313a, and the axial cross-section of the pressing part 321 is consistent with the axial cross-sectional area of ​​the groove 313b provided on the outside of the cover plate 313. When the locking member 340 is in the unlocked position, the pressing part 321 is located in the groove 313b. The connecting part 322 passes through the mounting hole 313a and enters the mounting groove 310a to rotatably connect with the connecting rod 330. Specifically, the connecting part 322 has a first connecting hole 3222a, and the upper end of the connecting rod 330 has a second connecting hole 331a (not shown in the figure). The shaft pin 360 passes through the first connecting hole 3222a and the second connecting hole 331a to rotatably connect the connecting rod 330 and the connecting part 322. The axial direction of the shaft pin 360, the first connecting hole 3222a, and the second connecting hole 331a is perpendicular to the second direction S2. During the assembly of the locking mechanism 300, the locking member 340, the connecting rod 330, and the connecting part 322 are first assembled and placed in the pre-installation position of the base 311. Then, the cover plate 313 is assembled with the base 311, and then the pressing part 321 is assembled with the connecting part 322. By providing the pressing part 321 on the outside of the cover plate 313, it is convenient to press the pressing member 320 from the outside of the locking mechanism 300. At the same time, the cover plate 313 also limits the pressing depth of the pressing member 320. Furthermore, by detachably connecting the pressing part 321 to the connecting part 322, the ease of disassembly and assembly of the locking mechanism 300 is improved.

[0089] Please see Figure 6 ,and Figure 13 In this embodiment, the connecting part 322 includes a connecting plate 3221 and a connecting foot 3222. The connecting foot 3222 is connected to the pressing part 321 through the connecting plate 3221. The connecting foot 3222 is rotatably connected to the connecting rod 330. The connecting foot 3222 is disposed in the guide groove 3111 and moves along the extension direction of the guide groove 3111. In detail, the first connecting hole 3222a is provided on the connecting foot 3222, specifically at the upper end, middle or other position of the connecting foot 3222, which can be adjusted as needed by those skilled in the art; the side wall of the connecting foot 3222 is fitted or nearly fitted with the side wall of the connecting rod 330, and the opening of the side wall of the guide groove 3111 avoids the connecting rod 330; the connecting foot 3222 and the connecting plate 3221 are integrally formed, of course, the connecting foot 3222 and the connecting plate 3221 can also be formed separately, and a receiving groove is provided below the pressing part 321 to receive the connecting plate 3221. The connecting plate 3221 and the pressing part 321 can be snapped, screwed or fixedly connected by glue.

[0090] Understandably, there are two connecting rods 330 and two connecting feet 3222, with each connecting rod 330, connecting foot 3222, and guide groove 3111 corresponding to the others. Specifically, the two connecting rods 330 are positioned between the two connecting feet 3222, and the end of the locking member 340 furthest from the mounting groove 310a is positioned between the two connecting rods 330. This arrangement improves the overall force balance of the pressing member 320 during pressing, which helps to solve the problem of the pressing member 320 getting stuck.

[0091] Preferably, the two connecting rods 330, the two connecting feet 3222, and the two guide grooves 3111 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the central axis of the pressing part 321. This arrangement can further improve the overall force balance of the pressing part 320 during the pressing process, which helps to avoid the pressing part 320 from deviating from its movement path due to uneven force on the pressing part 320, thereby preventing the pressing part 320 from jamming. Of course, the number of connecting rods 330 (connecting feet 3222 / guide grooves 3111) can be more than two, as long as these connecting rods 330 (connecting feet 3222 / guide grooves 3111) are symmetrically arranged around the central axis of the pressing part 321. This can also achieve the effect of improving the overall force balance of the pressing part 320 during the pressing process. Those skilled in the art can adjust it according to the actual situation.

[0092] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 12 In this embodiment, a slider 3223 adapted to the guide groove 3111 is provided at the end of the connecting foot 3222 away from the connecting plate 3221, that is, at the lower end of the connecting foot 3222. The slider 3223 is slidably disposed in the guide groove 3111. Specifically, the slider 3223 protrudes from the side of the lower end of the connecting foot 3222 facing away from the connecting rod 330, and the length and width of the slider 3223 are consistent with the length and width inside the guide groove 3111, respectively. By providing a slider 3223 adapted to the guide groove 3111 at the lower end of the connecting foot 3222, the guiding accuracy of the guide groove 3111 can be improved.

[0093] Please see Figure 7 and Figure 12 In this embodiment, a guide post 323 is further provided on the connecting portion 322. The guide post 323 extends in the vertical direction (first direction S1), and the elastic reset member 350 is sleeved on the guide post 323 and extends and retracts along the extension direction of the guide post 323. By providing the guide post 323 to guide the elastic reset member 350, it is possible to avoid the pressing member 320 from getting stuck due to the extension and retraction axis of the elastic reset member 350 deviating from the first direction S1.

[0094] In this embodiment, specifically, the guide post 323 is disposed between the two connecting feet 3222 and the two connecting rods 330. The upper end of the guide post 323 is connected to the bottom of the connecting plate 3221. When the locking member 340 is in the unlocked position, the lower end of the guide post 323 is in contact with the base 311, or the lower end of the guide post 323 is close to the base 311. At this time, the closer the lower end of the guide post 323 is to the base 311, the better the guiding effect of the guide post 323.

[0095] In this embodiment, the central axis of the guide post 323 coincides with the central axis of the pressing part 321, which also means that the extension and retraction axis of the elastic reset member 350 coincides with the central axis of the connecting plate 3221. This arrangement helps to balance the force on each section of the axial section of the elastic reset member 350, thereby facilitating the extension and retraction of the elastic reset member 350 in the vertical direction (first direction S1) and preventing the pressing member 320 from getting stuck.

[0096] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a locking member 340 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0097] Please see Figures 4-7 as well as Figure 14 The locking member 340 is located below the center of the pressing part 321. The locking member 340 has a clearance hole 341a facing the guide post 323 at one end near the pressing member 320 (i.e., the end furthest from the mounting groove 310a). The upper end of the elastic reset member 350 abuts against the connecting plate 3221, and the lower end of the elastic reset member 350 passes through the clearance hole 341a and abuts against the base 311. By providing the clearance hole 341a on the locking member 340, the guide post 323 can be positioned in the middle of the two connecting rods 330, thereby facilitating balanced force distribution across the axial section of the elastic reset member 350.

[0098] In this embodiment, the locking member 340 includes a connecting section 341, a limiting section 342, and a locking section 343 connected in sequence. The connecting section 341 (i.e., the end of the locking member 340 away from the opening of the mounting groove 310a mentioned above) is located at the end near the pressing member 320. The opposite sides of the connecting section 341 are rotatably connected to a connecting rod 330. The limiting section 342 is located between the guide groove 3111 and the opening of the mounting groove 310a. The locking section 343 is correspondingly provided with the opening of the mounting groove 310a. In the locked position, the locking section 343 extends out from the opening of the mounting groove 310a, and the limiting section 342 abuts against the groove wall of the mounting groove 310a that is close to the opening of the mounting groove 310a. In the unlocked position, the locking section 343 retracts into the mounting groove 310a, and the limiting section 342 abuts against the guide groove 3111.

[0099] Specifically, the connecting section 341, the limiting section 342, and the snap-fit ​​section 343 are integrally formed. A third connecting hole 341b is provided on each side of the connecting section 341. Correspondingly, a fourth connecting hole 332a (not shown in the figure) is provided at the lower end of each of the two connecting rods 330. The fourth connecting hole 332a and the third connecting hole 341b are arranged one-to-one. The shaft pin passes through the third connecting hole 341b and the fourth connecting hole 332a to rotatably connect the connecting rod 330 and the connecting section 341.

[0100] The width of the connecting section 341 is consistent with the distance between the two connecting rods 330, so as to prevent the locking member 340 from moving along its width direction in the unlocked position, which would result in the inability to return to the locked position.

[0101] The width of the limiting segment 342 is greater than the width between the two guide grooves 3111, so as to prevent the limiting segment 342 from passing through the two guide grooves 3111. This allows the guide grooves 3111 to position the locking member 340 in the unlocked position after the pressing member 320 is pressed to a preset depth, thus preventing the pressing member 320 from being pressed down excessively. Furthermore, the width of the limiting segment 342 is greater than the width of the mounting groove 310a, so that the locking member 340 can be accurately positioned in the locked position after the pressing member 320 is released.

[0102] The thickness of the limiting section 342 is consistent with the depth of the mounting groove 310a to prevent the locking member 340 from moving in the second direction S2, that is, to prevent the locking member 340 from moving in the vertical direction. This arrangement can maximize the conversion of the vertical movement of the pressing member 320 into the lateral movement of the locking member 340. The top wall and / or side wall of the limiting section 342 and the mounting groove 310a are in contact (i.e., there is no interaction force between the limiting section 342 and the groove wall of the mounting groove 310a) to minimize the friction between the locking member 340 and the base 311.

[0103] The width of the snap-fit ​​section 343 is slightly smaller than the width of the mounting groove 310a, and the thickness of the snap-fit ​​section 343 is slightly smaller than the height of the mounting groove 310a. When the locking member 340 is in the locked position, there is a small gap between the snap-fit ​​section 343 and the groove wall of the third groove to reduce the friction between the locking member 340 and the groove wall of the mounting groove 310a during the position switching process. On the one hand, this can increase the flexibility of the pressing member 320, and on the other hand, it can reduce the wear of the locking mechanism 300.

[0104] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0105] This application's embodiments involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), which are only used to interpret a specific posture (as shown in the attached figure). Figure 1 The relative positions and movements of the components shown below are considered. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0106] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, the descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features.

[0107] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although the embodiments of this application have been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, characterized by, The system includes a first housing, a second housing, and a locking mechanism. The second housing is rotatably connected to the first housing. The locking mechanism is disposed within the first housing, and the second housing has a locking groove. The locking mechanism includes: The fixed base is provided with a mounting groove and a mounting hole communicating with the mounting groove. An elastic reset member is provided in the mounting hole and the elastic reset member extends along a first direction. The fixed base is provided with a guide groove extending along the first direction. A locking member is movably disposed in the mounting groove along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The locking member has a locking position extending out of the mounting groove and an unlocking position retracting into the mounting groove. A pressing member is movably disposed in the mounting hole along the first direction. The pressing member includes a pressing part, a connecting part, and a guide post. The connecting part includes a connecting plate and two connecting feet. The two connecting feet and the guide post are all connected to the pressing part through the connecting plate. The pressing part is located outside the fixed seat. The two connecting feet and the guide post are all disposed in the mounting hole. The guide post extends along the first direction. An elastic reset member is sleeved on the guide post. The two axial ends of the elastic reset member are respectively connected to the pressing member and the fixed seat. The two connecting feet are symmetrically disposed on both sides of the guide post. One end of the two connecting feet is connected to the pressing part through the connecting plate, and the other end is disposed in the guide groove and moves along the extension direction of the guide groove. A first connecting hole is opened at the end of the connecting foot away from the guide groove. A clearance hole facing the guide post is opened at the end of the locking member near the pressing member. One end of the elastic reset member abuts against the connecting plate, and the other end passes through the clearance hole and abuts against the fixed seat. Two connecting rods are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the guide post. One end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the connecting foot through the first connecting hole, and the other end is rotatably connected to the locking member. The connecting rod, the connecting foot, and the guide groove are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. When the pressing member moves along the first direction, the connecting rod moves and drives the locking member to move along the second direction, so that the locking member can switch between the locked position and the unlocked position. The foldable electronic device has a folded state and an unfolded state; In the folded state, the locking member is located in the locked position and inserted into the locking groove, locking the second housing to the first housing; When the locking member is in the unlocked position, the locking member retracts into the first housing, and the second housing can rotate relative to the first housing to enable the foldable electronic device to switch between the folded state and the unfolded state.

2. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, wherein, The second direction includes a second positive direction, the locking member extends out of the mounting groove along the second positive direction, the connecting rod has a first end and a second end, the first end is hinged to the pressing member, the second end is hinged to the locking member, the second end points to the first end along a third direction, and the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is an acute angle.

3. The foldable electronic device of claim 2, wherein, In the locked position, the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is α1; in the unlocked position, the angle between the third direction and the second positive direction is α2, where α2 < α1.

4. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, wherein, The mounting base includes a detachably connected base and a cover plate, the mounting groove is formed by the base and the cover plate, and the mounting hole penetrates the cover plate.

5. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, The pressing part and the connecting part are detachably connected, and the pressing part is located on the outside of the cover plate.

6. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The axial direction of the guide post coincides with the central axial direction of the pressing member.

7. The foldable electronic device as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The mounting groove has an opening, and the locking member includes a connecting section, a limiting section, and a snap-fit ​​section connected in sequence. The connecting section is located near the pressing member and is rotatably connected to the connecting rod. The limiting section is located between the guide groove and the opening. The snap-fit ​​section is correspondingly arranged to the opening. In the locked position, the snap-fit ​​section extends from the slot, and the limiting section abuts against the wall of the mounting slot where the slot is located; In the unlocked position, the snap-fit ​​segment retracts into the mounting slot, and the limiting segment abuts against the guide slot.

8. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The connecting section is located between the two guide grooves, and each side of the connecting section is rotatably connected to a connecting foot via a connecting rod. An opening is provided on the opposite side of the two guide grooves to allow the connecting rods on both sides of the connecting section to pass.

9. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The thickness of the limiting segment is consistent with the depth of the mounting groove to prevent the locking member from moving in the second direction.

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