Switching type hinge

Abstract

A switching type hinge comprises a base unit, two rotating units and two supporting plate units. The base unit comprises a fixed seat and two middle covers. And the middle covers are respectively pivoted on the fixed seats. The two rotating units are arranged on the base unit and can be switched among an unfolding state, a first folding state and a second folding state. Each supporting plate unit comprises a first supporting plate connected with the corresponding rotating unit and a second supporting plate connected with the corresponding rotating unit and spaced from the first supporting plate. In the unfolded state, the first supporting plates are flush with the second supporting plates, in the first folded state, the two first supporting plates and the two second supporting plates are parallel and opposite, and in the second folded state, the distance between the two first supporting plates is smaller than the distance between the two first supporting plates in the first folded state. The two second supporting plates are inclined relative to the two first supporting plates.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge, in particular to a switchable hinge. BACKGROUND

[0002] A conventional hinge is used to connect two housings so that the housings can be opened and closed relative to each other and to support a flexible screen. The hinge comprises a base, two rotating units connecting the two housings, and two support plates connecting the rotating units to support the flexible screen. In the closed state, the flexible screen can be bent into a water drop shape, thereby reducing the thickness of the overall device. However, such a hinge cannot accommodate a keyboard disposed on the flexible screen. If another conventional hinge is used, in the closed state, the flexible screen can be bent into a U shape, thereby accommodating the keyboard, but for the case without the keyboard, the thickness of the overall device is increased, and a gap is generated between the housings and the base. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in the conventional hinge. SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a switchable hinge that can solve at least one of the above problems.

[0004] The switchable hinge of the present invention is used to connect two housings so that the housings can be opened and closed relative to each other. The switchable hinge comprises a base unit including a fixed base defining a center line and having two long sides respectively located on both sides of the center line, and two middle covers respectively pivotally arranged on the long sides; two rotating units respectively arranged on the base unit and switchable between an unfolded state, a first closed state, and a second closed state; and two support plate units respectively arranged on the two rotating units, each of the support plate units including a first support plate connecting the corresponding rotating unit and the corresponding housing, and a second support plate connecting the corresponding rotating unit and spaced apart from the first support plate; in the unfolded state, the first support plates and the second support plates are flush, in the first closed state, the two first support plates and the two second support plates are parallel to each other, the housings and the long sides of the fixed base have a gap therebetween, the middle covers abut against the housings and cover the gaps, and in the second closed state, the distance between the two first support plates is less than the distance between the two first support plates in the first closed state.

[0005] The two second support plates are inclined relative to the two first support plates.

[0006] In some embodiments, the base unit further comprises a base block disposed on the fixing base, the base block having two arc-shaped grooves located at two sides of the center line, and the two rotating units are disposed on the base block corresponding to the two grooves, each rotating unit comprising a base rod, two first pivot rods and a connecting plate, the base rod having a body and an arc-shaped sliding rail connected to the body and slidably disposed in the corresponding groove, the first pivot rods are respectively pivoted on both sides of the base rod, and the connecting plate is pivoted between the first pivot rods, the first support plate of each support plate unit is connected to the connecting plate, and the second support plate is connected to the first pivot rods.

[0007] In some embodiments, each housing has two arc-shaped sliding grooves, and each middle cover forms two convex columns movably accommodated in the sliding grooves.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fixing base has two vertical plates located at opposite ends of the long side, each middle cover has a side cover plate extending along the long side and two engagement plates respectively disposed at opposite ends of the side cover plate, and the convex columns are formed on the engagement plates.

[0009] In some embodiments, the distance between the vertical plates is less than the distance between the engagement plates.

[0010] In some embodiments, the distance between the engagement plates is less than the distance between the vertical plates, and each vertical plate forms two accommodation holes, and in the second folded state, the convex columns enter the accommodation holes respectively.

[0011] In some embodiments, the base rod further has a pivot plate connected to the body, and the first pivot rods are respectively pivoted on both sides of the pivot plate.

[0012] In some embodiments, each first pivot rod has a first pivot rod pivoted on one side of the pivot plate and pivoted to the connecting plate, a through cylinder connected to one end of the first pivot rod, and an engagement plate connected to the through cylinder and the corresponding second support plate.

[0013] In some embodiments, each rotating unit further comprises two second pivot rods respectively pivoted on both sides of the pivot plate and the connecting plate and spaced from the first pivot rods.

[0014] In some embodiments, each rotating unit further comprises a synchronization gear rotatably disposed on the base block and a synchronization link pivoted on the base block, the two synchronization gears of the rotating unit are meshed with each other, the synchronization link has an inner pivot portion meshed with the synchronization gear and an outer pivot portion opposite to the inner pivot portion and pivoted to the base rod.

[0015] In some embodiments, the base unit further comprises two side blocks located at two sides of the base block and perpendicular to the long side, one side block clamping the synchronization gear and the synchronization link together with the base block, and the other side block abutting the base block and clamping the side link together with the base block.

[0016] In some embodiments, the base unit further comprises two side blocks located at two sides of the base block and perpendicular to the long side, one side block clamping the synchronization gear and the synchronization link together with the base block, and the other side block abutting the base block and clamping the side link together with the base block.

[0017] In some embodiments, the base unit further comprises two side blocks located at two sides of the base block and perpendicular to the long side, one side block clamping the synchronization gear and the synchronization link together with the base block, and the other side block abutting the base block and clamping the side link together with the base block.

[0018] In some embodiments, the base unit further comprises two side blocks located at two sides of the base block and perpendicular to the long side, one side block clamping the synchronization gear and the synchronization link together with the base block, and the other side block abutting the base block and clamping the side link together with the base block.

[0019] In some embodiments, each support plate unit further comprises a third support plate connected to the base rod, in the unfolded state, two first support plates, two second support plates and two third support plates are flush, in the first folding state, two first support plates, two second support plates and two third support plates are parallel to each other, in the second folding state, the distance between two first support plates is smaller than the distance between two first support plates in the first folding state, and two second support plates are inclined relative to two first support plates and two third support plates.

[0020] In some embodiments, the base unit further comprises two side blocks located at two sides of the base block and perpendicular to the long side, one side block clamping the synchronization gear and the synchronization link together with the base block, and the other side block abutting the base block and clamping the side link together with the base block. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present application will be apparent from the following embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the switching hinge of the present application arranged between two housings to jointly accommodate a screen and a keyboard;

[0023] Figure 2 is Figure 1a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment;

[0024] Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment, wherein a support plate unit is omitted;

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a base block, two side blocks and two rotation units of the first embodiment;

[0026] Figure 5 is Figure 4 a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment;

[0027] BCPI-240309 page 4 / 8

[0028] Figure 6 is a front view of the first embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in an unfolded state;

[0029] Figure 7 is a front view of the first embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in a first collapsed state;

[0030] Figure 8 is a front view of the first embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in a second collapsed state;

[0031] Figure 9 is a front view of a second embodiment of the switching hinge of the present invention arranged between two housings to jointly provide a screen and a keyboard, illustrating the rotation units in the unfolded state;

[0032] Figure 10 is a front view of the second embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in the first collapsed state;

[0033] Figure 11 is a front view of the second embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in the second collapsed state;

[0034] Figure 12 is an incomplete perspective exploded view of a third embodiment of the switching hinge of the present invention, wherein the support plate unit is omitted;

[0035] Figure 13 is a front view of the third embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in the unfolded state;

[0036] Figure 14 is a front view of the third embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in the first collapsed state;

[0037] Figure 15 is a front view of the third embodiment, illustrating the rotation units in the second collapsed state;

[0038] Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present application swivel hinge, wherein the support plate unit is omitted;

[0039] Figure 17 is a front view of the fourth embodiment, illustrating the swivel unit in the expanded state;

[0040] Figure 18 is a front view of the fourth embodiment, illustrating the swivel unit in the first collapsed state; and

[0041] Figure 19 is a front view of the fourth embodiment, illustrating the swivel unit in the second collapsed state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments thereof. The preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the accompanying drawings, which are used to provide a more detailed description of the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

[0043] In the drawings, the purpose of the drawings is to supplement the description of the text part of the description with graphics, so that each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present application can be understood intuitively and visually, but it cannot be understood as a limitation on the protection scope of the present application.

[0044] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation description, such as the orientation or position relationship indicated by up, down, front, back, left, right, etc. is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and therefore cannot be understood as indicating or implying that the device or component indicated must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0045] In the description of the present application, the meaning of several is one or more, the meaning of multiple is two or more, greater than, less than, more than, etc. are understood as not including the number, above, below, etc. are understood as including the number. If there is a description of first, second, it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the sequence of indicated technical features.

[0046] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise explicitly limited, the words such as setting, mounting, connecting, etc. should be understood broadly, and the person skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above words in the present application in combination with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0047] Before the present application is described in detail, it should be noted that in the following description, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0048] Reference is made to Figures 1 to 3The first embodiment of the present application is applied to a hinge 10 disposed between two housings 20 for a flexible screen 30 and a keyboard 40, thereby forming a folding electronic device 100. Each of the housings 20 has two arc-shaped sliding grooves 201 opposite to each other (see Figure 6 ). The hinge 10 includes a base unit 1, six rotating units 2 and two support plate units 3.

[0049] Referring to Figures 3 to 5 , the base unit 1 includes a fixed base 11, three base blocks 12 disposed on the fixed base 11, six side blocks 13 disposed on both sides of the base blocks 12, and two middle covers 14. The fixed base 11 defines a center line C and has two long sides 111 disposed on both sides of the center line C and two vertical plates 112 disposed on opposite ends of the long sides 111. Each of the base blocks 12 has two arc-shaped grooves 121 disposed on both sides of the center line C. Each of the side blocks 13 is perpendicular to the long sides 111. Each of the middle covers 14 has a side cover plate 141 extending along the long sides 111, two engaging plates 142 disposed on opposite ends of the side cover plate 141, two convex columns 143 movably accommodated in the sliding grooves 201, and two pivot blocks 144 formed on the side cover plate 141 and pivoted to the fixed base 11. The convex columns 143 are formed on the engaging plates 142, respectively. The distance between the vertical plates 112 is smaller than the distance between the engaging plates 142, so that the vertical plates 112 are located between the engaging plates 142.

[0050] For the convenience of understanding, the following describes a single base block 12 corresponding to two side blocks 13 and two rotating units 2. Referring to Figures 4 to 6 , the two rotating units 2 are disposed on the base block 12 corresponding to the two grooves 121 and can be switched between an unfolded state, a first folded state and a second folded state.

[0051] Each of the rotating units 2 includes a base rod member 21, two first pivot rod members 22, two second pivot rod members 23, a connecting plate 24, a synchronous gear 25 rotatably disposed on the base block 12, a synchronous connecting rod 26 pivoted to the base block 12, a side connecting rod 27 pivoted to the base block 12, and five pivot shafts 28. The base rod member 21 has a body 211, an arc-shaped sliding rail 212 connected to the body 211 and slidably disposed in the corresponding groove 121, and a pivot plate 213 connected to the body 211. The pivot plate 213 forms a movable groove 213a.

[0052] The two first pivot members 22 are respectively pivotally mounted on both sides of the pivot plate 213. Each first pivot member 22 has a first pivot rod 221 pivotally connected to one side of the pivot plate 213 and pivotally connected to the connecting plate 24, a through tube 222 connecting one end of the first pivot rod 221, and a connecting plate 223 connecting the through tube 222 and the corresponding second support plate 32 (described below). Each first pivot rod 221 has a first inner end 221a pivotally connected to the pivot plate 213 and a first outer end 221b opposite to the first inner end 221a and pivotally connected to the connecting plate 24. One of the pivots 28 passes through the first inner end 221a and the pivot plate 213, and the other passes through the first outer end 221b, the through tube 222, and the connecting plate 24.

[0053] Two second pivot members 23 are respectively pivotally connected to the two sides of the pivot plate 213 and the connecting plate 24 and are spaced apart from the first pivot member 22. Each second pivot member 23 has a second inner end 231 pivotally connected to the pivot plate 213 and a second outer end 232 opposite to the second inner end 231 and pivotally connected to the connecting plate 24. Of the remaining three pivots 28, one passes through the second inner end 231 and the pivot plate 213, and the other passes through the second outer end 232 and the connecting plate 24.

[0054] The two synchronous gears 25 of the rotating unit 2 mesh with each other. The synchronous connecting rod 26 has an inner pivot portion 261 that meshes with the synchronous gear 25 and an outer pivot portion 262 that is opposite to the inner pivot portion 261 and pivotally connected to the base rod 21. The side connecting rod 27 has a side inner end portion 271 pivotally connected to the base block 12 and the corresponding side connecting block 13 and an outer pivot portion 262 that is opposite to the side inner end portion. BCPI-240309 Page 7 / 8

[0055] The outer end 272 of 271. The last of the pivots 28 passes through the outer pivot portion 262 of the synchronizing link 26, the movable groove 213a, and the side link 27, and the pivot 28 is movably passed through the movable groove 213a. One side connecting block 13 and the base block 12 together clamp the synchronizing gear 25 and the synchronizing link 26, while the other side connecting block 13 abuts against the base block 12 and together with the base block 12 provides pivoting for the side link 27.

[0056] See Figure 2 and Figure 6The support plate units 3 are respectively arranged on the rotating units 2. Each of the support plate units 3 comprises a first support plate 31 connecting the connecting plate 24 and the corresponding housing 20, a second support plate 32 connecting the first pivot rod 22 and spaced apart from the first support plate 31, and a third support plate 33 connecting the base rod 21. The first support plate 31 has a first connecting block 311 connected to the connecting plate 24. The second support plate 32 has a second connecting block 321 connected to the engaging plate 223 of the first pivot rod 22.

[0057] Referring to Figures 6 to 8 When the user folds the two housings 20, the housings 20 drive the support plate units 3 and the rotating units 2 to switch between the unfolded state, the first folding state, and the second folding state. In the unfolded state, the two first support plates 31, the two second support plates 32, and the two third support plates 33 are flush, as shown in FIG. 1A. In the first folding state, the two first support plates 31, the two second support plates 32, and the two third support plates 33 are parallel to each other, which can provide a space for accommodating the keyboard 40. The housings 20 and the long edges 111 of the fixed seat 11 respectively have a gap G. The middle covers 14 abut against the housings 20 to cover the gap G between the fixed seat 11 and the housings 20, as shown in FIG. 1B. If the user does not need to accommodate the keyboard 40, the user can further fold the housings 20 to switch to the second folding state. In the second folding state, the distance between the two first support plates 31 is smaller than that in the first folding state. The two second support plates 32 are inclined relative to the two first support plates 31 and the two third support plates 33. The middle covers 14 are further pivoted due to the convex columns 143 located in the sliding grooves 201 and the mutual pushing of the housings 20, so that the gap G between the housings 20 and the fixed seat 11 can be further reduced, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the electronic device 100, as shown in FIG. 1C. Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

[0058] Referring to Figures 9 to 11 The second embodiment of the switching hinge 10 is similar to the first embodiment, and the difference is only that the sliding groove 201' of the housing 20 applied in the second embodiment has a different curvature than that of the first embodiment. The length of the sliding groove 201' of the housing 20 applied in the second embodiment in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the sliding groove 201 of the housing 20 applied in the first embodiment, so that the distance between the middle covers 14 is lengthened in the unfolded state of the rotating units 2.

[0059] Referring to Figures 12 to 15 ​​​A third embodiment of the switchable hinge 10 is similar to the first embodiment, except that the spacing of the engaging plates 142' of the middle cover 14' is smaller than the spacing of the vertical plates 112' of the fixed base 11', each of the vertical plates 112' forms two receiving holes 113, the engaging plates 142' are smaller in area and elongated, and the protruding posts 143' are longer. Because the spacing of the engaging plates 142' is smaller than the spacing of the vertical plates 112', the distance between the engaging plates 142' and the corresponding sliding grooves 201 is slightly increased. In the second folded state, the protruding posts 143' enter the receiving holes 113, respectively. The third embodiment also has the same functions as the first embodiment.

[0060] Referring to Figures 16 to 19 A fourth embodiment of the switchable hinge 10 is similar to the first embodiment, except that the sliding grooves 201 of the housing 20 are omitted, the protruding posts 143 on the engaging plates 142" of the middle cover 14" are also omitted, and the base unit 1 further includes four elastic members 15, which are arranged in pairs on the long edges 111, that is, two elastic members 15 are arranged on each long edge 111. Each of the elastic members 15 is a torsion spring, one end of which abuts against the fixed base 11, and the other end of which abuts against the corresponding middle cover 14". By abutting against the corresponding middle cover 14" via the elastic members 15, it is ensured that in the first folded state, the middle cover 14" abuts against the housing 20 to cover the gap G between the fixed base 11 and the housing 20, as shown in Figure 18 In the second folded state, the spacing of the middle cover 14" is further reduced to compress the elastic members 15, and the elastic members 15 accumulate elastic restoring force, which helps the user to return to the first folded state or the unfolded state from the second folded state.

[0061] In summary, the switchable hinge 10 can be switched between the unfolded state, the first folded state, and the second folded state via the rotating unit 2. In the first folded state, the two first support plates 31 and the two second support plates 32 are parallel to each other, which can provide a receiving space. In the second folded state, the distance between the two first support plates 31 is smaller than that in the first folded state, and the two second support plates 32 are inclined relative to the two first support plates 31, so that the spacing of the housing 20 is reduced to reduce the thickness of the overall device. Therefore, the switchable hinge 10 can be applied to different devices as needed, and the purpose of the present application is achieved.

[0062] The above description is only an embodiment of the present application, and cannot limit the scope of the present application. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present application are still within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A switch hinge adapted to connect two housings so that the housings can be opened and closed relative to each other, characterized in that: The switchable hinge comprises: a base unit including a fixed base defining a center line and having two long sides respectively located at two sides of the center line, and two middle covers respectively pivotally arranged on the long sides; two rotating units respectively arranged on the base unit and switchable between an unfolded state, a first folded state and a second folded state; and two support plate units respectively arranged on the two rotating units, each of the support plate units including a first support plate connecting the corresponding rotating unit and the corresponding shell, and a second support plate connecting the corresponding rotating unit and spaced apart from the first support plate; in the unfolded state, the first support plates and the second support plates are flush, in the first folded state, the two first support plates and the two second support plates are parallel to each other, the shell and the long sides of the fixed base have gaps therebetween, the middle covers abut against the shell and cover the gaps, and in the second folded state, the distance between the two first support plates is smaller than that in the first folded state, and the two second support plates are inclined relative to the two first support plates.

2. The switch hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base unit further includes a base block arranged on the fixed base, the base block has two arc-shaped grooves located at two sides of the center line, the two rotating units are arranged on the base block corresponding to the two grooves, each of the rotating units includes a base rod member, two first pivot connecting rod members and a connecting plate, the base rod member has a body and an arc-shaped sliding rail connected to the body and slidably arranged in the corresponding groove, the first pivot connecting rod members are pivotally arranged at two sides of the base rod member, and the connecting plate is pivotally arranged between the first pivot connecting rod members, the first support plate of each of the support plate units is connected to the connecting plate, and the second support plate is connected to the first pivot connecting rod members.

3. The switch hinge of claim 1, wherein: Each of the shells has two arc-shaped sliding grooves, and each of the middle covers forms two convex columns movably accommodated in the sliding grooves.

4. The switch hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fixed base has two vertical plates located at opposite ends of the long sides, each of the middle covers has a side cover plate extending along the long side and two engagement plates arranged at opposite ends of the side cover plate, and the convex columns are formed in the engagement plates.

5. The switch hinge according to claim 4, characterized in that: The distance between the vertical plates is smaller than that between the engagement plates.

6. The switch hinge of claim 4, wherein: The distance between the engagement plates is smaller than that between the vertical plates, each of the vertical plates forms two accommodation holes, and in the second folded state, the convex columns enter the accommodation holes.

7. The switch hinge of claim 2, wherein: The base rod member further has a pivot connecting plate connected to the body, and the first pivot connecting rod members are pivotally arranged at two sides of the pivot connecting plate.

8. The switch hinge of claim 7, wherein: Each of the first pivot connecting rod members has a first pivot connecting rod pivotally connected to one side of the pivot connecting plate and pivotally connected to the connecting plate, a penetrating cylinder connected to one end of the first pivot connecting rod, and an engagement plate connected to the penetrating cylinder and the corresponding second support plate.

9. The switch hinge of claim 7, wherein: Each of the rotating units further includes two second pivot connecting rod members pivotally arranged at two sides of the pivot connecting plate and the connecting plate and spaced apart from the first pivot connecting rod members.

10. The switch hinge of claim 2, wherein: Each of the rotating units further comprises a synchronizing gear rotatably disposed on the base block and a synchronizing link pivotally disposed on the base block, the two synchronizing gears of the rotating units are engaged with each other, and the synchronizing link has an inner pivot joint engaged with the synchronizing gear and an outer pivot joint opposite to the inner pivot joint and pivotally connected to the base bar.

11. The switch hinge according to claim 10, characterized in that: The base bar further has a pivot plate connected to the body, the pivot plate forms a movable slot, each of the rotating units further comprises a side link pivotally disposed on the base block and at least one pivot shaft passing through the outer pivot joint of the synchronizing link, the movable slot and the side link, and the pivot shaft is movably arranged in the movable slot.

12. The switch hinge of claim 11, wherein: The base unit further comprises two side blocks located on both sides of the base block and perpendicular to the long edges, one of the side blocks is clamped with the base block to abut against the synchronizing gear and the synchronizing link, and the other side block abuts against the base block and is used with the base block to pivotally dispose the side link.

13. The switch hinge of claim 1, wherein: The base unit further comprises a plurality of elastic members respectively pivotally disposed on the long edges, one end of each of the elastic members abuts against the fixed seat, and the other end abuts against the corresponding middle cover.

14. The switch hinge of claim 2, wherein: Each of the support plate units further comprises a third support plate connected to the base bar, in the unfolded state, the two first support plates, the two second support plates and the two third support plates are flush, in the first folding state, the two first support plates, the two second support plates and the two third support plates are parallel to each other, in the second folding state, the distance between the two first support plates is smaller than the distance between the two first support plates in the first folding state, and the two second support plates are inclined relative to the two first support plates and the two third support plates.

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