Hinge device

Abstract

The oscillation torque remains constant even when the direction of oscillation changes, and once the required oscillation angle position is set, the orientation of the electronic device can be maintained at the set oscillation angle position. [Solution] The bearing member 4 is fixed to the first bracket 3 by an engaging projection 42 formed at a position 180 degrees opposite to the slit 41. When the electronic device is swung by hand and the shaft 2 rotates clockwise, a force acts on one of the arc-shaped portions 44 of the bearing member 4 in a direction that causes it to curl, with the engaging projection 42 as the pivot point. This narrows the width of the slit 41, and increases the force with which the one arc-shaped portion 44 of the bearing member 4 grips the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft 2. Also, with the engaging projection 42 as the pivot point, a force acts on the other arc-shaped portion 45 of the bearing member 4 in a direction that widens the width of the slit 41, and decreases the force with which the other arc-shaped portion 45 of the bearing member 4 grips the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge device used in electronic devices and the like. More specifically, for example, it relates to a hinge device used in a swing-type electronic device such as a projector.

Background Art

[0002] Hinge devices are used in various places as connecting members between housing members of portable electronic devices and between fixed members and swing members, and various mechanisms are known. Among these, conventional examples of a curl-wound hinge device that can obtain different torques in the opening direction and the closing direction are shown in FIGS. 11(a), 11(b), and 11(c). FIG. 11(a) is an overall perspective view, and FIGS. 11(b) and 11(c) are views taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 11(a). FIG. 11(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the force F1 acting on the bracket 102 when the shaft portion 101 rotates clockwise, and FIG. 11(c) is an explanatory diagram showing the force F2 acting on the bracket 102 when the shaft portion 101 rotates counterclockwise. As shown in FIG. 11(b), when the shaft portion 101 rotates clockwise, the force F1 acts in the direction in which the curl-wound portion is wound, the width of the cut of the curl-wound portion becomes narrow, and the force for tightening the shaft portion 101 increases, so the torque when the shaft portion 101 rotates clockwise increases. Also, as shown in FIG. 11(c), when the shaft portion 101 rotates counterclockwise, the force F2 acts in the direction in which the width of the cut of the curl-wound portion becomes wide, and the force for the curl-wound portion to tighten the shaft portion 101 decreases, so the torque when the shaft portion 101 rotates counterclockwise decreases.

[0003] In the curl-wound hinge device of Patent Document 1, by installing two curl-wound portions 2, 2 on the shaft connection member 1 in opposite directions, the torque when the shaft connection member 1 rotates clockwise and the torque when it rotates counterclockwise are made the same. In the curl-wound hinge device of Patent Document 2, two curl-wound portions 10, 20 are installed on the shaft portion 30 in the same direction, and convex portions 12, 22 are formed at different angular positions on the curl-wound portions 10, 20, respectively.

[0004] Furthermore, locking portions 33, 33 are formed on the shaft portion 30 at the same angular position, which can engage with the protrusions 12, 22, respectively. As a result, when the lid (notebook laptop cover) is opened at an angle of 90 degrees, the friction surface 23 of the curled portion 20 is a low-torque friction surface, allowing the lid to be opened easily. After the lid is opened beyond 90 degrees, the friction surface 13 formed by the curled portion 10 is a high-torque friction surface, providing sufficient support and holding the lid in place. When attempting to reduce the lid's opening angle after it has exceeded 90 degrees, the friction surface 13a formed by the curled portion 10 is a low-torque friction surface, allowing the lid to be easily returned to a 90-degree angle. When attempting to further reduce the lid's opening angle within 90 degrees, the friction surface 23a formed by the curled portion 20 is a high-torque friction surface, providing sufficient support, and preventing the lid from colliding with the notebook laptop's casing when closed due to the weight and moment of the lid. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Republic of China Publication No. M304197 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3147032 Gazette [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In oscillating electronic devices such as projectors, the desired oscillation angle is usually set by manually oscillating the device before use. Therefore, it is desirable that the oscillation torque remains constant even when the direction of oscillation changes. Furthermore, once the desired oscillation angle is set, the electronic device needs to be held in that set oscillation angle position. The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device in which the oscillation torque remains constant even when the oscillation direction changes, and which can hold electronic equipment at the set oscillation angle position after being set to the required oscillation angle position. Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device with a simple structure and a small number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention employs the following means. That is, the hinge device of the present invention 1, A second member (105) is pivotably supported with respect to the first member (104), The first bracket (3) is fixed to the first member (104), The second bracket (5) is fixed to the second member (105), A shaft portion (2) with a circular cross-section perpendicular to the axis is fixed to the second bracket (5), The shaft portion (2) is rotatably interfered with and fitted into a hollow cylindrical bearing member (4), A slit (41) formed along the entire length of the bearing member (4) in the axial direction, The bearing member (4) has an engaging projection (42) formed at a position 180 degrees opposite to the cut (41) that engages with the first bracket (3) and can fix the bearing member (4) to the first bracket (3), It is characterized by having the following features.

[0008] The hinge device of the present invention 2 is characterized in that, in the present invention 1, the first bracket has an engagement groove formed therein into which the engagement projection is press-fitted and fixed. The hinge device of the present invention 3 is characterized in that, in the present invention 1 or 2, the first bracket has a bearing hole into which the shaft portion is rotatably fitted.

[0009] The hinge device of the present invention 4 is characterized in that, in the present invention 3, stoppers are formed on the opposing surfaces of the first bracket and the second bracket, respectively, which limit the swing angle of the second member relative to the first member to a predetermined angle. The hinge device of the present invention 5 is characterized in that, in the present invention 3, the shaft portion is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The hinge device of the present invention 6 is characterized in that, in the present invention 3, a cable for supplying power from the first member to the second member is inserted into the through hole of the shaft portion. The hinge device of the present invention 7 is characterized in that, in the present invention 6, the second member is a projector, and the first member is a support plate that supports the projector so as to be able to swing in a vertical plane. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the hinge device of the present invention, a hollow cylindrical bearing member into which a rotating shaft is interference-fitted has a slit formed along its entire axial length, and an engaging projection formed 180 degrees opposite to the slit engages with the fixed side to fix the bearing member in place. Therefore, when the shaft rotates, one arc-shaped portion of the bearing member between the engaging projection and the slit elastically deforms with the engaging projection as a fulcrum, widening the slit and reducing the clamping force of the bearing member on the shaft. Conversely, the other arc-shaped portion of the bearing member between the engaging projection and the slit elastically deforms with the engaging projection as a fulcrum, narrowing the slit and increasing the clamping force of the bearing member on the shaft. In other words, when the shaft rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, only the magnitude of the clamping force between one arc-shaped portion and the other is reversed, thus maintaining a constant torque when the shaft rotates. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a projector device equipped with a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an overall perspective view showing a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a view from the perspective of arrow P in Figure 2. [Figure 5]FIG. 5(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a method of fixing a bearing member to a first bracket of a hinge device, and FIG. 5(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the bearing member is fixed to the first bracket of the hinge device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view from the Q direction of FIG. 5(b). FIG. 6(a) is an explanatory diagram showing forces F1 and F2 acting on the bearing member when the shaft portion rotates clockwise, and FIG. 6(b) is an explanatory diagram showing forces F1 and F2 acting on the bearing member when the shaft portion rotates counterclockwise. [Figure 7] FIG. 7(a) is a front view showing the hinge device when the projector of FIG. 1 is in a horizontal state with respect to the pedestal 104, FIG. 7(b) is a view from the R direction of FIG. 7(a), and FIG. 7(c) is a view from the S direction of FIG. 7(a). [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view from the T direction of FIG. 7(c). [Figure 9] FIG. 9(a) is a front view showing the hinge device when the projector of FIG. 1 swings to a vertical state with respect to the pedestal 104, FIG. 9(b) is a view from the U direction of FIG. 9(a), and FIG. 9(c) is a view from the V direction of FIG. 9(a). [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view from the W direction of FIG. 9(c). [Figure 11] FIG. 11(a) is an overall perspective view of a conventional curl hinge device. FIGS. 11(b) and 11(c) are views from the X direction of FIG. 11(a). FIG. 11(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a force F1 acting on the bracket when the shaft portion rotates clockwise, and FIG. 11(c) is an explanatory diagram showing a force F2 acting on the bracket when the shaft portion rotates counterclockwise.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a projector device 103 provided with a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the projector device 103 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a projector (second member) 105 is supported on a pedestal 104 so as to be swingable within a vertical plane. The projector 105 incorporates a power source, an optical system device, a control device, etc. for generating an image. The projector 105 can be swung manually from the horizontal state shown by the two-dot chain line, through the state of swinging 45 degrees clockwise shown by the solid line, to the upright state of swinging 90 degrees clockwise. By swinging the projector 105, an image can be projected onto a necessary place such as a wall or a ceiling. The pedestal 104 is installed on a horizontal upper surface such as a table, and two support plates (first members) 106A and 106B erected vertically from the pedestal 104 sandwich and install side surfaces 107A and 107B of the projector 105. Between the support plates 106A and 106B and the side surfaces 107A and 107B of the projector 105, hinge devices 1A and 1B according to the embodiment of the present invention are attached. The hinge devices 1A and 1B are devices having a symmetrical shape.

[0013] Next, the hinge device 1A according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, and the description of the hinge device 1B having a symmetrical shape with the hinge device 1A will be omitted. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing the hinge device 1A according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device 1A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view seen from the P arrow direction in FIG. 2. FIG. 5(a) is an explanatory view showing a method of fixing a bearing member to the first bracket of the hinge device 1A, and FIG. 5(b) is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing member is fixed to the first bracket of the hinge device 1A. FIG. 6 is a view seen from the Q arrow direction in FIG. 5(b), FIG. 6(a) is an explanatory view showing forces F1 and F2 acting on the bearing member when the shaft portion rotates clockwise, and FIG. 6(b) is an explanatory view showing forces F1 and F2 acting on the bearing member when the shaft portion rotates counterclockwise. FIG. 7(a) is a front view showing the hinge device 1A when the projector 105 in FIG. 1 is in a horizontal state with respect to the pedestal 104, FIG. 7(b) is a view seen from the R arrow direction in FIG. 7(a), FIG. 7(c) is a view seen from the S arrow direction in FIG. 7(a), and FIG. 8 is a view seen from the T arrow direction in FIG. 7(c).

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the hinge device 1A of the embodiment of the present invention is composed of a shaft portion 2, a first bracket 3, a bearing member 4, and a second bracket 5, in order from top to bottom in Figure 3. The shaft portion 2 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, with a large diameter flange portion 21 at the top, a medium diameter shaft portion 22 in the middle, and a small diameter shaft portion 23 at the bottom, and a through hole 24 is formed along the entire axial length of the shaft portion 2. The medium diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2 is inserted into a bearing hole 31 formed through the center of the first bracket 3. Then, the small diameter shaft portion 23 of the shaft portion 2 is inserted into a small diameter hole 51 formed through the center of the second bracket 5, and the small diameter shaft portion 23 is crimped and fixed to the second bracket 5. The bearing member 4 is sandwiched between the lower surface 32 of the first bracket 3 and the upper surface 52 of the second bracket 5. The bearing member 4 is a hollow cylindrical member with a C-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the axis. A slit 41 is formed in the bearing member 4 along its entire length H1 in the axial direction. An engagement projection 42 with a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to the axis is formed on the upper surface of the bearing member 4 at a position 180 degrees opposite to the slit 41. An engagement groove 33 with a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to the axis is formed in the first bracket 3 at one location on the circumference of the bearing hole 31. Since the engagement projection 42 of the bearing member 4 is tightly fitted into the engagement groove 33, the bearing member 4 is fixed to the first bracket 3 in a way that prevents rotation. In addition, the lower surface 25 of the large-diameter flange portion 21 on the upper part of the shaft portion 2 abuts against the upper surface 34 of the first bracket 3, and the distance between the lower surface 32 of the first bracket 3 and the upper surface 52 of the second bracket 5 is set to be slightly larger than the entire length H1 in the axial direction of the bearing member 4. A cable (not shown) for supplying power etc. from the support plate 106A to the projector 105 is inserted into the through hole 24 of the shaft portion 2.

[0015] The inner diameter D2 of the bearing hole 43 of the bearing member 4 is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter d2 of the medium diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2, so the medium diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2 is tightly fitted into the bearing hole 43. The inner diameter D1 of the bearing hole 31 of the first bracket 3 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter d2 of the medium diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2, so the medium diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2 is rotatably fitted into the bearing hole 31 with a small torque. Three screw holes 35 are formed through the first bracket 3. Also, three bolt holes 53 are formed through the second bracket 5. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 7(c), the first bracket 3 is fixed to the support plate 106A by three bolts 36 that are screwed into the three screw holes 35 of the first bracket 3. Furthermore, the second bracket 5 is fixed to the side 107A of the projector 105 by inserting three bolts 54 into the three bolt holes 53 of the second bracket 5 and screwing the three bolts 54 into the side 107A of the projector 105. In this way, the hinge device 1A is attached between the support plate 106A and the side 107A of the projector 105.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a rectangular stopper 37 is formed on the first bracket 3 and protrudes toward the upper surface 52 of the second bracket 5, with a small gap between the lower surface 371 of the stopper 37 and the upper surface 52 of the second bracket 5. In addition, a rectangular horizontal stopper 55 and an upright stopper 56 are formed on the upper surface 52 of the second bracket 5 and protrude toward the lower surface 32 of the first bracket 3. The upper surface 551 of the horizontal stopper 55 and the upper surface 561 of the upright stopper 56 have a small gap between them and the lower surface 32 of the first bracket 3. As shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8, when the projector 105 is in a horizontal position, the horizontal stopper 55 of the second bracket 5 abuts against the stopper 37 of the first bracket 3, positioning the projector 105 in a horizontal position. When the projector 105 is manually swung 90 degrees clockwise from the horizontal position shown by the dashed line to an upright position, the upright stopper 56 of the second bracket 5 comes into contact with the stopper 37 of the first bracket 3, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, and the projector 105 is positioned in an upright position.

[0017] When the projector 105 is swung by hand, the second bracket 5 and the shaft portion 2 rotate relative to the first bracket 3 and the bearing member 4. As described above, the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2 is interference-fitted into the bearing hole 43. Therefore, when the projector 105 is swung by hand to the required swing angle, the projector 105 is held in the required swing angle position by frictional torque. As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the bearing member 4 is fixed to the first bracket 3 by an engaging projection 42 formed at a position 180 degrees opposite to the notch 41. Therefore, when the projector 105 is swung by hand and the shaft portion 2 rotates clockwise as shown in Figure 6(a), a force F1 acts on one of the arc-shaped portions 44 of the bearing member 4, with the engaging projection 42 as the pivot point, causing it to curl inwards. This narrows the width of the gap 41, and thus increases the force with which the one arc-shaped portion 44 of the bearing member 4 grips the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2. Also, with the engaging projection 42 as the pivot point, a force F2 acts on the other arc-shaped portion 45 of the bearing member 4, causing the gap 41 to widen. This reduces the force with which the other arc-shaped portion 45 of the bearing member 4 grips the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft portion 2.

[0018] Similarly, as shown in Figure 6(b), when the shaft 2 rotates counterclockwise, a force F2 acts on one arc-shaped portion 44 of the bearing member 4 in a direction that widens the gap 41, and the force with which the one arc-shaped portion 44 of the bearing member 4 grips the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft 2 decreases. A force F1 acts on the other arc-shaped portion 45 of the bearing member 4 in a direction that causes it to curl, and the width of the gap 41 narrows, so the force with which the other arc-shaped portion 45 of the bearing member 4 grips the medium-diameter shaft portion 22 of the shaft 2 increases. Therefore, the torque when the shaft 2 is rotated counterclockwise is the same as the torque when the shaft 2 is rotated clockwise. Also, since the shaft 2 is fitted to the bearing member 4 with a tension spring, the friction torque is large. Therefore, after setting the projector 105 to the required oscillation angle position, the projector 105 is held at the set oscillation angle position. Furthermore, the hinge devices 1A and 1B of the embodiment of the present invention have a simple structure and a small number of parts, making them easy to manufacture and reducing manufacturing costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 101... Shaft 102...Bracket 103...Projector device 104... Pedestal 105…Projector 106A, 106B…Support plate 107A, 107B…side 1A, 1B...Hinge device 2... Shaft 21...Large diameter flange section 22…Middle axis part 23... Small diameter shaft section 24…Through hole 25…Bottom surface 3…First bracket 31...Bearing hole 32…Bottom surface 33…Engagement groove 34…Top surface 35... screw hole 36... Volts 37... Stopper 371…Bottom surface 4... Bearing member 41... Gap 42…Engagement protrusion 43...Bearing hole 44...One of the arc-shaped parts 45...the other arc-shaped part 5…Second bracket 51…Small diameter hole 52…Top surface 53…Bolt holes 54... Volts 55... Horizontal stopper 551...Top surface 56… Upright stopper 561...Top surface

Claims

1. A second member is pivotably supported with respect to the first member, A first bracket fixed to the first member, A second bracket fixed to the second member, A shaft portion with a circular cross-section perpendicular to the axis is fixed to the second bracket, The aforementioned shaft portion is fitted into a hollow cylindrical bearing member that is rotatably interlocked, A cut formed along the entire length of the bearing member in the axial direction, The bearing member is provided with an engaging projection formed at a position 180 degrees opposite to the cut, which engages with the first bracket and can fix the bearing member to the first bracket. A hinge device characterized by the following:

2. In the hinge device according to claim 1, The first bracket has an engagement groove into which the engagement projection is press-fitted and fixed. A hinge device characterized by the following:

3. In the hinge device according to claim 1 or 2, The first bracket has a bearing hole into which the shaft portion is rotatably fitted. A hinge device characterized by the following:

4. In the hinge device according to claim 3, A stopper is formed on the opposing surfaces of the first bracket and the second bracket, which limits the swing angle of the second member relative to the first member to a predetermined angle. A hinge device characterized by the following:

5. In the hinge device according to claim 3, The aforementioned shaft portion is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. A hinge device characterized by the following:

6. In the hinge device according to claim 3, A cable for supplying power from the first member to the second member is inserted into the through hole of the shaft. A hinge device characterized by the following:

7. In the hinge device according to claim 6, The second component is a projector, The first member is a support plate that supports the projector so that it can swing in a vertical plane. A hinge device characterized by the following:

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