Hinge

Abstract

A hinge is suitable for being provided with two first supporting plates, two second supporting plates and two third supporting plates which jointly support a flexible screen, and the hinge comprises a fixed seat and two rotating units. The two rotating units are rotatably arranged on the two sides of the fixing base respectively and can be switched between an unfolding state, a transition folding state and a complete folding state relatively. Each rotating unit comprises a main rotating piece, a secondary rotating piece, a first rod piece, a second rod piece and a supporting piece. In the transition folding state, the first supporting plate, the second supporting plate and the third supporting plate jointly form two planes which support the flexible screen and are parallel and opposite to each other, and the containing groove allows the second rod piece to be close to the sliding locking part and allows the first rod piece and the second rod piece to pivot relative to the main rotating piece. When the rotating unit is converted from the transition folding state to the complete folding state, the third supporting plates are close to each other, and the distance between the third supporting plates is smaller than that between the first supporting plates. Therefore, when the flexible screen is folded, the accessory can be selectively clamped.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge, and in particular to a hinge suitable for arranging multiple support plates that jointly support a flexible screen. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, electronic devices such as foldable phones and tablets have become increasingly commonplace in everyday life. Generally speaking, the hinges used in these foldable electronic devices only need to enable the two housings and flexible screens of the foldable electronic devices to fold open and close. However, as the accessories of these foldable electronic devices become increasingly diverse, the need for designs that can selectively sandwich these accessories between the two housings and the flexible screen when folded is emerging. Summary of the Invention

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

[0004] The hinge described in the present invention is suitable for setting two first support plates, two second support plates and two third support plates that jointly support a flexible screen. The hinge includes a fixed seat and two rotating units. The two rotating units are rotatably arranged on both sides of the fixed seat, and can be relatively converted between an expanded state, a transitional folded state and a fully folded state. Each of the rotating units includes a main rotating member, a secondary rotating member, a first rod member, a second rod member, and a support member. The main rotating member of each rotating unit can be rotatably arranged on the fixed seat relative to the fixed seat, and has a body for arranging one of the first support plates, and a slide groove formed on the body in a direction extending away from the fixed seat, the slide groove having an outer end relatively away from the fixed seat and an inner end relatively adjacent to the fixed seat. The secondary rotating member can be rotatably arranged on the fixed seat relative to the fixed seat, the rotation axis of the secondary rotating member is parallel to but staggered with the rotation axis of the main rotating member, and the secondary rotating member has a sliding locking portion that can be slidably arranged on the slide groove. The first rod and the second rod are pivoted side by side on the main rotating member and extend in a direction away from the fixed seat, so that the sliding locking portion is located between the first rod and the second rod, wherein the first rod is used to set one of the second support plates, and the second rod has an accommodating groove adjacent to the inner end of the slide groove and used to partially accommodate the sliding locking portion. The support member is pivoted at the ends of the first rod and the second rod and extends in a direction away from the fixed seat, and the support member is used to set one of the third support plates. In the deployed state, the sliding locking portion is located at the outer end of the slide groove and is sandwiched between the first rod and the second rod to prevent the first rod and the second rod from pivoting relative to the main rotating member. The extension direction of the first rod and the second rod is parallel to the extension direction of the slide groove of the main rotating member. The two first support plates, the two second support plates and the two third support plates together constitute a plane supporting the flexible screen. In the transitional retracted state, the sliding locking portion is located at the inner end of the slide groove but has not yet entered the accommodating groove of the second rod member. The extension direction of the first rod member and the second rod member is parallel to the extension direction of the slide groove of the main rotating member. The two first support plates, the two second support plates and the two third support plates together constitute two planes that support the flexible screen and are parallel to each other. The accommodating groove allows the second rod member to approach the sliding locking portion and allows the first rod member and the second rod member to pivot relative to the main rotating member.When the two rotating units are converted from the transitional folded state to the fully folded state, the second rod approaches the sliding locking portion and the first rod and the second rod are inclined relative to the sliding groove of the main rotating member. The sliding locking portion is partially accommodated in the accommodating groove of the second rod, and the two third support plates approach each other, so that the distance between the two third support plates is smaller than the distance between the two first support plates.

[0005] In some implementations, the hinge further includes a synchronization unit connected between the two rotation units and driving the two rotation units to rotate synchronously relative to the fixing base.

[0006] In some implementations, the secondary rotating member has a tooth portion, and the synchronization unit includes two synchronization gears disposed on the fixed seat and sequentially engaged between the tooth portions of the secondary rotating members of the two rotation units.

[0007] In some embodiments, the fixing seat has two arc-shaped grooves extending around two first rotation axes and corresponding to the two rotation units, and the body of the main rotating member has an arc-shaped slider slidably disposed in the corresponding arc-shaped grooves.

[0008] In some implementations, the secondary rotating member is pivotally mounted on the fixing seat so as to be rotatable around two second rotating axes.

[0009] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the two rotating units can be converted between the transitional folded state and the fully folded state; in the fully folded state, the distance between the two third support plates is smaller than the distance between the two first support plates, so that the flexible screen can form a complete teardrop shape between the two first support plates; in the transitional folded state, the two first support plates, the two second support plates, and the two third support plates together form two parallel and opposite planes supporting the flexible screen, so that the flexible screen is folded into a U-shape and forms a storage space allowing accessories to be sandwiched therein. In this way, accessories can be selectively sandwiched when the flexible screen is folded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other features and effects of the present invention will be more clearly seen in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of an embodiment of a hinge of the present invention applied to an electronic device;

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a three-dimensional exploded view of the electronic device;

[0013] Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment of the electronic device, a plurality of support plates and a decorative bottom shell;

[0014] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment;

[0015] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment;

[0016] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device to which the embodiment is applied, in which the two rotating units of the embodiment are in an unfolded state;

[0017] Figure 7 is similar Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein the two rotating units are in a transitional retracted state;

[0018] Figure 8 is similar Figure 6 FIG1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment in which the two rotating units are in a fully retracted state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] See Figures 1 to 4 , an embodiment of the hinge 100 of the present invention is suitable for setting two first support plates P1, two second support plates P2 and two third support plates P3 that jointly support a flexible screen 200. Among them, the two third support plates P3 can be respectively assembled and fixed with two shells 300 so that the two shells 300 can be opened and closed relative to each other. The above components together constitute an electronic device D, which can be, for example but not limited to, a foldable tablet, a foldable laptop computer or a foldable mobile phone. In this embodiment, the electronic device D has a total of three hinges 100, but the number of the hinges 100 can be adjusted according to demand. The hinge 100 includes a fixed seat 1, two rotating units 2, and a synchronization unit 3.

[0020] The hinges 100 are arranged along a front-to-back direction D1, and the mounting base 1 of each hinge 100 is disposed on a decorative bottom case 400 along a top-to-bottom direction D2. The mounting base 1 has two arcuate grooves 11 extending around two first rotation axes A1, respectively, and staggered in the front-to-back direction D1, as well as a gear groove 12. The two first rotation axes A1 extend along the front-to-back direction D1 and are aligned with each other along a left-to-right direction D3. Specifically, in this embodiment, the two first rotation axes A1 are located above the mounting base 1, but this is not limiting. The two arcuate grooves 11 correspond to the two rotating units 2.

[0021] See Figures 2 to 5The two rotating units 2 are rotatably arranged on both sides of the fixing base 1 and can be relatively in an expanded state and a transitional folded state (see Figure 7 ) and a fully folded state (see Figure 8 Each of the rotating units 2 includes a main rotating member 21 , a primary rotating member 22 , two first rods 23 , two second rods 24 , and a supporting member 25 .

[0022] The main rotating member 21 is rotatably mounted on the fixed base 1 relative to the fixed base 1 and includes a main body 211 for mounting one of the first support plates P1, and a slide groove 212 formed in the main body 211 and extending along the front-to-back direction D1 and away from the fixed base 1. The main body 211 includes an arcuate slider 211a slidably mounted on the corresponding arcuate channel 11. The slide groove 212 includes an outer end 212a relatively away from the fixed base 1 and an inner end 212b relatively adjacent to the fixed base 1.

[0023] The secondary rotating member 22 is rotatably mounted on the fixed base 1 relative to the fixed base 1. The rotation axis of the secondary rotating member 22 is parallel to, but offset from, the rotation axis of the primary rotating member 21. Specifically, the secondary rotating members 22 of the two rotating units 2 are pivotally mounted on the fixed base 1 so as to rotate about two second rotation axes A2. The two second rotation axes A2 extend along the front-to-back direction D1 and are aligned with each other along the left-to-right direction D3. The two second rotation axes A2 are located below the two first rotation axes A1 and offset outward from the two first rotation axes A1 in the left-to-right direction D3. The secondary rotating member 22 includes two rotating arms 221, respectively aligned along the front-to-back direction D1 and pivotally mounted on the fixed base 1. A sliding locking portion 222 is connected to the two rotating arms 221 and slidably mounted in the slide slot 212. One of the rotating arms 221 is partially positioned within the gear slot 12 and has a toothed portion 221a positioned therein.

[0024] The two first rods 23 and the two second rods 24 are pivotally mounted on the main rotating member 21. The two first rods 23 are respectively located on the front and rear sides of the main rotating member 21 along the front-to-rear direction D1. The two second rods 24 are respectively located on the front and rear sides of the main rotating member 21 along the front-to-rear direction D1, and are respectively grouped with the two adjacent first rods 23. It should be noted that, although in this embodiment, the number of first rods 23 and the number of second rods 24 of each rotating unit 2 are two, in other embodiments, the number of first rods 23 and the number of second rods 24 of each rotating unit 2 may also be only one, and the present embodiment is not limiting.

[0025] Each first lever 23 includes a first lever portion 231 pivotally mounted on the primary rotating member 21, and a mounting portion 232 connected to the first lever portion 231 and configured to mount one of the second support plates P2. The following description will focus on one set of the first lever 23 and second lever 24. The first lever portion 231 and the second lever portion 24 of the first lever 23 are arranged side by side and extend away from the fixed base 1, such that the sliding locking portion 222 of the secondary rotating member 22 is positioned between the first lever portion 231 of the first lever 23 and the second lever portion 24. The second lever 24 includes an accommodating recess 241 adjacent to the inner end portion 212b of the slide slot 212 for partially accommodating the sliding locking portion 222.

[0026] The support member 25 is pivotally mounted at the ends of the two first rods 23 and the two second rods 24 and extends in a direction away from the fixing base 1 . The support member 25 is used to mount one of the third support plates P3 .

[0027] The synchronization unit 3 includes two synchronization gears 31 provided in the gear groove 12 of the fixed base 1 and sequentially meshing with the teeth 221a of the secondary rotational members 22 of the two rotational units 2. The two synchronization gears 31 connected between the secondary rotational members 22 of the two rotational units 2 can drive the two rotational units 2 to rotate synchronously relative to the fixed base 1. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the synchronization unit 3 can be composed of other synchronous components, such as racks, connecting rods, or slider rail assemblies, and should not be limited to this embodiment. In addition, the two rotational units 2 can also provide positioning torque during rotation through other torque components, thereby achieving the required operating feel. In addition, although in this embodiment, the synchronization unit 3 is connected between the secondary rotational members 22 of the two rotational units 2, in other embodiments, the synchronization unit 3 is connected between the main rotational members 21 of the two rotational units 2 to drive the two rotational units 2 to rotate synchronously relative to the fixed base 1.

[0028] See Figure 5 and Figure 6When the two rotating units 2 are in the deployed state, the sliding locking portion 222 is located at the outer end portion 212a of the slide slot 212 and is sandwiched between the first rod portion 231 and the second rod portion 24 of each group of the first rod member 23, thereby preventing each group of the first rod member 23 and the second rod member 24 from pivoting relative to the main rotating member 21. The extension direction of the first rod portion 231 of the first rod member 23 and the second rod member 24 is parallel to the extension direction of the slide slot 212 of the main rotating member 21. The two first support plates P1, the two second support plates P2, and the two third support plates P3 collectively form a plane supporting the flexible screen 200.

[0029] See Figure 5 and Figure 7 In the transitional retracted state, the sliding locking portion 222 is located at the inner end 212b of the slide slot 212 but has not yet entered the receiving groove 241 of the second lever 24. The first lever portion 231 of each set of first levers 23 and the second lever 24 extend in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the slide slot 212 of the main rotating member 21. The two first support plates P1, the two second support plates P2, and the two third support plates P3 collectively form two parallel, opposing planes that support the flexible screen 200. The flexible screen 200 folds into a U-shape and defines a receiving space S for an accessory 500 (such as a keyboard or other accessory) to be sandwiched therein. In this state, the receiving groove 241 allows each second lever 24 to approach the sliding locking portion 222, thereby allowing each set of first levers 23 and second levers 24 to pivot relative to the main rotating member 21.

[0030] See Figure 5 and Figure 8When the two rotating units 2 transition from the transitional retracted state to the fully retracted state, each second rod 24 approaches the sliding locking portion 222, and each set of first and second rods 23 and 24 tilts relative to the slide slot 212 of the main rotating member 21. The sliding locking portion 222 is partially accommodated in the accommodating recess 241 of each second rod 24. The two third support plates P3 approach each other, with the distance between the two third support plates P3 being smaller than the distance between the two first support plates P1. In this state, the flexible screen 200 is completely folded into a teardrop shape. It should be noted that because only the two third support plates P3 approach each other when the two rotating units 2 transition from the transitional retracted state to the fully retracted state, while the two first support plates P1 do not, this provides a larger accommodation space at the bend of the flexible screen 200, preventing damage to the flexible screen 200 due to excessive bending or pinching. It should be noted that, since the two shells 300 are respectively assembled and fixed to the two third support plates P3, when the two rotating units 2 are converted from the transitional folded state to the fully folded state, the distance between the two shells 300 will also be reduced as the two third support plates P3 move closer to each other.

[0031] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the second rod 24 is provided with a chamfer around the accommodating groove 241 , so that the sliding locking portion 222 can enter or escape from the accommodating groove 241 more smoothly.

[0032] To sum up, the two rotating units 2 of the present invention can be converted between the transitional folded state and the fully folded state. In the fully folded state, the distance between the two third support plates P3 is smaller than the distance between the two first support plates P1, so that the flexible screen 200 can form a complete teardrop shape between the two first support plates P1; in the transitional folded state, the two first support plates P1, the two second support plates P2 and the two third support plates P3 together constitute two planes that support the flexible screen 200 and are parallel to each other, so that the flexible screen 200 is folded into a U-shape and forms an accommodating space S that allows the accessory 500 to be sandwiched therein.

[0033] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. In other words, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge, suitable for setting two first support plates, two second support plates and two third support plates that jointly support a flexible screen, characterized in that: The hinge comprises: Fixed seat; Two rotating units are rotatably disposed on both sides of the fixing base and can be relatively switched between an expanded state, a transitionally folded state, and a fully folded state. Each of the rotating units includes: The main rotating member is rotatably disposed on the fixed seat relative to the fixed seat and has a body for arranging one of the first support plates, and a slide groove formed on the body and extending in a direction away from the fixed seat, wherein the slide groove has an outer end relatively away from the fixed seat and an inner end relatively adjacent to the fixed seat. The secondary rotating member is rotatably mounted on the fixed seat relative to the fixed seat. The rotation axis of the secondary rotating member is parallel to but staggered with the rotation axis of the main rotating member. The secondary rotating member has a sliding locking portion slidably mounted on the sliding groove. The first rod and the second rod are pivotally mounted side by side on the main rotating member and extend in a direction away from the fixed seat, so that the sliding locking portion is located between the first rod and the second rod, wherein the first rod is used to set one of the second support plates, and the second rod has an accommodating groove adjacent to the inner end of the slide groove and used to partially accommodate the sliding locking portion. a support member pivotally mounted at ends of the first rod and the second rod and extending in a direction away from the fixing seat, the support member being used to mount one of the third support plates; In the expanded state, the sliding locking portion is located at an outer end of the slide groove and is sandwiched between the first rod and the second rod to prevent the first rod and the second rod from pivoting relative to the main rotating member. The extension direction of the first rod and the second rod is parallel to the extension direction of the slide groove of the main rotating member. The two first support plates, the two second support plates, and the two third support plates together constitute a plane supporting the flexible screen. In the transitional retracted state, the sliding locking portion is located at the inner end of the sliding groove but has not yet entered the accommodating groove of the second rod member, the extension directions of the first rod member and the second rod member are parallel to the extension direction of the sliding groove of the main rotating member, the two first support plates, the two second support plates and the two third support plates together constitute two planes that support the flexible screen and are parallel to each other and opposite to each other, and the accommodating groove allows the second rod member to approach the sliding locking portion and allows the first rod member and the second rod member to pivot relative to the main rotating member; When the two rotating units are converted from the transitional folded state to the fully folded state, the second rod approaches the sliding locking portion and the first rod and the second rod are inclined relative to the sliding groove of the main rotating member. The sliding locking portion is partially accommodated in the accommodating groove of the second rod, and the two third support plates approach each other, so that the distance between the two third support plates is smaller than the distance between the two first support plates.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein: The hinge further includes a synchronization unit connected between the two rotation units and driving the two rotation units to rotate synchronously relative to the fixing seat.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein: The secondary rotating member has a tooth portion, and the synchronization unit includes two synchronization gears disposed on the fixing seat and sequentially meshed between the tooth portions of the secondary rotating members of the two rotation units.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein: The fixing seat has two arc-shaped grooves respectively extending around two first rotation axes and corresponding to the two rotation units, and the main body of the main rotating member has an arc-shaped sliding block slidably arranged in the corresponding arc-shaped grooves.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein: The secondary rotating member is pivotally mounted on the fixing seat so as to be rotatable around two second rotating axes.

Images