Electronic equipment

Abstract

An electronic device according to the present invention is provided with: a first housing with a display unit; a second housing with an operation unit; and a rotating unit that connects the first housing to the second housing and rotates the first housing relative to the second housing. The second housing includes a rotation regulating portion that protrudes from a bottom face of the second housing and regulates rotation of the first housing with respect to the second housing. The rotation regulating portion is composed of an elastic member that rotates back and forth between a first mode and a second mode with different states of protrusion from the bottom face of the second housing, and can be in contact with the first housing. The rotation regulating portion, in the first mode, regulates rotation of the first housing with respect to the second housing in a first rotation range, and, in the second mode, regulates rotation of the first housing with respect to the second housing in a second rotation range in which the first housing is rotated with respect to the second housing to a greater extent than the first rotation range.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device in which a housing for a display unit such as a display is opened and closed relative to a housing for an operation unit such as a keyboard. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices such as personal computers often employ a hinge stopper structure to restrict rotation when a housing for a display such as an LCD is opened relative to a housing for a keyboard (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-89023 Summary of the Invention

[0004] In recent years, so-called drop-in hinges have been adopted as hinge structures in order to make electronic devices thinner and to allow a larger view of the LCD when the LCD is opened. In some such structures, the LCD can be opened so far that part of the display side housing is recessed under the keyboard side housing. In such cases, if a hinge stopper structure is used to restrict the rotation of the LCD when it is opened, the structure becomes complicated and the cost increases.

[0005] On the other hand, if there is no stopper for restricting rotation, the display side housing and the keyboard side housing will come into direct contact with each other, which may result in damage to the display side housing and the keyboard side housing.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an electronic device in which the rotation of the housing can be regulated by parts other than the hinge, thereby simplifying the structure by eliminating the stopper structure at the hinge and reducing component costs.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, A first housing having a display unit; a second housing having an operation unit; a rotation unit that connects the first housing and the second housing and rotates the first housing relative to the second housing, the second housing includes a rotation restricting portion protruding from a bottom surface of the second housing and restricting rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing; the rotation restriction portion is configured as an elastic member that rotates forward and backward between a first form and a second form in which the protruding state from the bottom surface of the second housing is different from each other and that can come into contact with the first housing; In the first embodiment, the rotation restriction unit restricts rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing in a first rotation range, and in the second embodiment, restricts rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing in a second rotation range that is larger than the first rotation range. Provide electronic equipment.

[0008] According to the above aspect of the present disclosure, the rotation of the first housing can be restricted by a portion other than the hinge, i.e., an elastic member protruding from the bottom surface of the second housing, and the structure can be simplified and the cost of parts can be reduced by eliminating the stopper structure at the hinge. Also, the rotation of the first housing can be restricted by the elastic member coming into contact with the first housing, which can prevent damage caused by interference between parts and improve durability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal computer as an example of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of the vicinity of the foot members when the foot members are in a closed position and the rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing is restricted in a first rotation region. [Diagram 3]FIG. 11 is a side view of the vicinity of the foot member when the foot member is in the open position and the rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing is restricted in the second rotation region. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the foot member and its surroundings in the closed position [Diagram 5] Cross-sectional view of the foot member in the open position DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the rubber foot members arranged on the housing on the keyboard side are provided with a structure for restricting the rotation of the housing in addition to their original functions of preventing the housing from being scratched, anti-slip, and adjusting the angle when the housing is installed.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first housing 1, a second housing 2, a rotation section 3, and a foot member 4 as an example of a rotation restricting section.

[0013] The first housing 1 is a roughly rectangular box-shaped housing having a display unit 1a, such as an LCD.

[0014] The second housing 2 is a roughly rectangular box-shaped housing on the side having an operating section 2g such as a keyboard. Near both ends in the width direction of the bottom surface of the second housing 2 along the rotation axis direction of a hinge, which is a rotating section 3 described later, there are storage recesses 2a capable of partially storing the foot members 4. At the bottom of each storage recess 2a, a first protruding section 2c, a click feeling recess 2b, and a second protruding section 2d, which will be described later, are adjacently arranged in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hinge in order to position the foot members 4.

[0015] The rotation section 3 is a hinge that connects the first housing 1 and the second housing 2, and enables the first housing 1 to rotate relatively with respect to the second housing 2.

[0016] The rotation restricting portion is, for example, composed of an elastic member, such as a rubber foot member 4 for preventing slipping, and is disposed in the storage recess 2a near both ends in the width direction of the bottom surface of the second housing 2 along the rotation axis direction of the hinge of the rotation portion 3. Each foot member 4 is composed of a claw member having an uneven shape on the outer periphery of a roughly triangular plate, and a portion protruding from the storage recess 2a contacts the end of the first housing 1 on the side of the rotation portion to restrict the rotation of the first housing 1. The apex of the triangle of each foot member 4 is a contact portion 4a that contacts the surface of a desk when the electronic device is placed on a desk or the like, and has the functions of preventing the first housing 1 from being rubbed, preventing slipping, and adjusting the angle when the first housing 1 is installed. Each foot member 4 has a rotation shaft portion 4b at one corner of the base of the triangle, and is supported so that the foot member 4 can rotate forward and backward around the rotation shaft 6 between the closed position A and the open position B relative to the storage recess 2a of the second housing 2. The pivot shaft 6 is supported by the second housing 2. The other corner of each foot member 4 has a first protrusion 4c for restricting pivot movement, which prevents the first housing 1 from rubbing against the first housing 1, prevents slipping, and allows for angle adjustment when the first housing 1 is installed. One corner of each foot member 4 functions as a second protrusion 4e, and the outer surface of the intermediate portion of the oblique side of the second protrusion 4e has a curved recess 4d for restricting pivot movement. In this way, the foot member 4 is configured so that the pivot shaft 4b and the first protrusion 4c protrude outward from the respective corners relative to the second protrusion 4e, and appear roughly T-shaped.

[0017] Each foot member 4 can rotate forward and backward with respect to the storage recess 2a of the second housing 2 between a first configuration, for example, a closed position A, and a second configuration, for example, an open position B. The protruding state of the foot member 4 from the storage recess 2a on the bottom surface of the second housing 2 differs between the closed position A and the open position B. For example, when the foot member 4 is in the open position B, the protruding dimension of the second protrusion 4e from the storage recess 2a is configured to be larger than the protruding dimension of the first protrusion 4c. With this configuration, the first housing 1 can be opened nearly 180 degrees with respect to the second housing 2, and rotation can be restricted.

[0018] 2 and 4, the closed position A is a position where most of the housing 1 (e.g., the second protrusion 4e) is inserted into the storage recess 2a of the second housing 2 and only a portion of the housing 1 (e.g., the first protrusion 4c) protrudes. Therefore, when the first housing 1 opens to a first rotation range of less than 180 degrees relative to the second housing 2, the end of the first housing 1 on the rotation shaft side comes into contact with the first protrusion 4c, restricting the rotation of the first housing 1. In the closed position A, a buffer gap 5a is provided between the inner surface of the storage recess 2a and the opposing surface of the foot member 4.

[0019] 3 and 5, the open position B is a position where a part (e.g., the first protrusion 4c) is inserted into the storage recess 2a of the second housing 2 and a majority (e.g., the second protrusion 4e) protrudes. Therefore, when the first housing 1 opens to the second rotation region beyond 180 degrees larger than the first rotation region relative to the second housing 2, the end of the first housing 1 on the rotation shaft side comes into contact with the rotation restriction recess 4d of the second protrusion 4e, and the rotation of the first housing 1 is restricted. In this open position B, there is a buffer gap 5b between the inner surface of the storage recess 2a and the opposing surface of the foot member 4.

[0020] The foot member 4 is positioned in the storage recess 2a at the closed position A or the open position B while giving a clicking sensation. The outer periphery of the pivot shaft portion 4b of each foot member 4 has a third protrusion 4g that can be engaged with any one of the first raised portion 2c, the click sensation recess 2b, and the second raised portion 2d of the storage recess 2a and protrudes in the radial direction of the pivot shaft 6. When the third protrusion 4g rides up and engages with the first raised portion 2c, as shown in FIG. 4, the foot member 4 is positioned at the closed position A. When the third protrusion 4g is engaged in the click sensation recess 2b, the foot member 4 can freely move between the closed position A and the open position B. When the third protrusion 4g rides up and engages with the second raised portion 2d, the foot member 4 is positioned at the open position B, as shown in FIG. 5. When the third protrusion 4g rides up and engages with the first raised portion 2c or the second raised portion 2d from within the click feeling recess 2b, a click feeling is obtained, so that the user can reliably know that the foot member 4 is positioned in the closed position A or the open position B.

[0021] 1 is a known thin, disc-shaped rubber foot pad, which functions as a separate contact part that comes into contact with the surface of a desk together with contact part 4a of foot member 4 when the electronic device is placed on a desk or the like, and has the functions of preventing abrasion and slipping of first housing 1, and adjusting the angle when first housing 1 is installed.

[0022] 2 and 4, when the first housing 1 opens to a first rotation range of less than 180 degrees relative to the second housing 2, the end of the first housing 1 on the rotation shaft side comes into contact with the first protrusion 4c protruding from the storage recess 2a of the second housing 2, restricting the rotation of the first housing 1. On the other hand, when the first housing 1 opens to a second rotation range of 180 degrees or more relative to the second housing 2, the end of the first housing 1 on the rotation shaft side comes into contact with the rotation restricting recess 4d of the second protrusion 4e protruding from the storage recess 2a of the second housing 2, restricting the rotation of the first housing 1.

[0023] According to the first embodiment, rotational control relative to the first housing 1 can be performed by a part other than the hinge, i.e., the foot member 4 protruding from the bottom surface of the second housing 2, and the structure can be simplified by eliminating the stopper structure at the hinge, and parts costs can be reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, the rotation of the first housing 1 can be restricted by contacting the foot members 4 made of an elastic member, such as rubber, with the first housing 1, preventing damage caused by interference between components and improving durability. In other words, by making the collision target of the first housing 1 out of an elastic rubber material, it is possible to prevent the first housing 1 from being damaged by collisions when restricting rotation.

[0025] Furthermore, each foot member 4 can contact the first housing 1 and regulate the rotation of the first housing 1 whether in the closed position A or the open position B, so that regulation of the rotation of the first housing 1 can be reliably performed regardless of the position of the foot member 4.

[0026] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the first embodiment, and can be embodied in various other forms.

[0027] For example, the leg members 4 are not limited to being disposed near both ends of the second housing in the width direction, but may be disposed at one location in the center in the width direction.

[0028] In addition, there are buffer gaps 5a, 5b between the inner surface of the storage recess 2a and the opposing surface of the foot member 4, and cushioning material may be placed in these gaps 5a, 5b so that when the first housing 1 comes into contact with the foot member 4 and its rotation is restricted, the impact at the time of contact is absorbed by the cushioning material.

[0029] Conversely, this gap may be eliminated and the inner surface of the storage recess 2a may be configured to come into contact with the opposing surface of the foot member 4, so that the force acting on the foot member 4 when it comes into contact with the first housing 1 is received by the second housing 2, thereby increasing the rotation restriction force.

[0030] In addition, by appropriately combining any of the various embodiments or modifications described above, it is possible to achieve the effects of each of them. In addition, combinations of embodiments, combinations of examples, or combinations of embodiments and examples are possible, and combinations of features of different embodiments or examples are also possible. [Industrial Applicability]

[0031] The electronic device according to the above aspect of the present disclosure is useful for electronic devices such as personal computers, because when opening and closing the housing on the display unit side, such as a display, the rotation of the housing on the display unit side can be regulated by the elastic member on the bottom surface of the housing on the operation unit side relative to the housing on the operation unit side, such as a keyboard. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 First case 1a Display section 2 Second housing 2a Storage recess 2b Click sensation recess 2c 1st protuberance 2d 2nd protuberance 2g Control unit 3 Rotating part 4 Leg members 4a Contact part 4b Rotating shaft 4c 1st protrusion 4d Rotation restriction recess 4e 2nd protrusion 4g 3rd protrusion 5a, 5b gap 6 Rotating Axis 9 Foot Pads A Closed position B Open position

Claims

1. A first housing having a display unit; a second housing having an operation unit; a rotation unit that connects the first housing and the second housing and rotates the first housing relative to the second housing, the second housing includes at least one rotation restricting portion protruding from a bottom surface of the second housing and restricting rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing; the at least one rotation restriction portion is configured as an elastic member that is capable of rotating forward and backward between a first form and a second form in which a protruding state from a bottom surface of the second housing is different from each other and that is capable of contacting the first housing, the at least one rotation restricting portion restricts rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing in a first rotation range in the first configuration, and restricts rotation of the first housing relative to the second housing in a second rotation range that is larger than the first rotation range in the second configuration; electronic equipment.

2. the at least one rotation restricting portion is capable of being partially housed in a housing recess in the bottom surface of the second housing, and has a first protrusion portion that protrudes from the housing recess in the first configuration; 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in the first form, the at least one rotation restricting portion restricts rotation relative to the first housing by contacting the first protrusion portion protruding from the storage recess of the second housing.

3. the at least one rotation restricting portion is capable of being partially housed within the housing recess in the bottom surface of the second housing, and has a second protrusion protruding from the housing recess in the second housing in the second form and a recess formed on an outer surface of the second protrusion, 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in the second form, the at least one rotation restricting portion restricts rotation relative to the first housing by contacting the recess of the second protrusion portion protruding from the storage recess of the second housing with the recess of the second protrusion portion contacting the first housing.

4. the at least one rotation restricting portion is capable of being partially housed within the housing recess in the bottom surface of the second housing, and has a first protrusion protruding from the housing recess in the second housing in the first configuration, a second protrusion protruding from the housing recess in the second housing in the second configuration, and a recess formed on an outer surface of the second protrusion, The at least one rotation restricting portion is In the first embodiment, the first protrusion protruding from the storage recess of the second housing contacts the first housing to restrict rotation with respect to the first housing; In the second embodiment, the recess of the second protrusion protruding from the storage recess of the second housing contacts the first housing to restrict rotation with respect to the first housing; The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a protruding dimension of the second protrusion from the storage recess of the second housing is larger than a protruding dimension of the first protrusion.

5. The electronic device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one rotation control part is capable of being partially stored within a storage recess in the bottom surface of the second housing, and a buffer gap is provided between the inner surface of the storage recess and an opposing surface of the at least one rotation control part.

6. The electronic device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one rotation control part is two rotation control parts, each of which is arranged near both ends of the width direction of the second housing along the rotation axis direction of the rotation part for rotating the first housing or the second housing.

7. 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rotation restricting portion is a foot member for preventing slipping on a bottom surface of the second housing.

Images