Opening / closing device and terminal device using the opening / closing device

Abstract

To provide an opening / closing device which can be slowly closed when closing a first box body and a second box body while suppressing the unintentional opening of the first box body and the second box body, and a terminal apparatus using the opening / closing device.SOLUTION: An opening / closing device is constituted of: a hinge part for connecting an attachment member attached to either of a first box body and a second box body, and a support member attached to the other of the box bodies via a hinge shaft, and also connecting the first box body and the second box body so as to be relatively openable and closable by the co-rotation of the hinge shaft and the attachment member or the support member; a damper mechanism arranged at the hinge shaft in an axial direction; and a motion conversion mechanism constituting the damper mechanism, arranged between the damper mechanism and the hinge shaft, and converting a rotation motion of the hinge shaft to an advance / retreat motion of the hinge shaft in the axial direction. The opening / closing device is employed as a terminal apparatus, thus solving a problem.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing device for connecting a first housing and a second housing that are relatively openable and closable to each other in terminal devices such as notebook computers, laptop computers, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and a terminal device using this opening / closing device.

Background Art

[0002] As generally described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, the above-described terminal device includes a first housing constituting a device main body provided with a numeric keypad and a keyboard, and a second housing also serving as a lid provided with a display device. They are connected using an opening / closing device so as to be relatively openable and closable in the vertical direction from a state where they are overlapped with each other. When a mechanism for locking the terminal device in a closed state is not provided, many of such opening / closing devices are provided with a suction mechanism to prevent the terminal device from accidentally opening. When closing the terminal device provided with such an opening / closing device, the first housing and the second housing are rapidly closed by a drawing cam from a predetermined closing angle.

[0003] When the first housing and the second housing are rapidly closed, for example, a collision sound is generated due to the collision between the first housing and the second housing, etc., and there is a problem that the user receives an impression that the terminal device is of cheap quality.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention is made to solve the problems of the above-described prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an opening / closing device that can be slowly closed when closing the first housing and the second housing while suppressing unintentional opening of the first housing and the second housing, and a terminal device using this opening / closing device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an opening / closing device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a mounting member attached to either the first housing or the second housing, and a support member attached to the other, which are connected via a hinge shaft, and the hinge shaft rotates together with the mounting member or the support member, whereby a hinge portion that relatively opens and closes the first housing and the second housing is formed, a damper mechanism provided in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, a damper device constituting the damper mechanism, and an operation conversion mechanism provided between the damper device and the hinge shaft for converting the rotational operation of the hinge shaft into a forward and backward movement in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. By configuring the damper mechanism with a damper device attached to either the mounting member or the support member and a reciprocating pressing member in contact with the piston rod of the damper device, When the first housing and the second housing are relatively closed, the damper mechanism operates via the operation conversion mechanism from a predetermined closing angle to obtain a buffering effect.

[0007] Further, the opening / closing device according to claim 2 is characterized by further including a rotational biasing mechanism for the hinge shaft.

[0008] Furthermore, the opening / closing device according to claim 3 is characterized by including a friction torque generation mechanism for the hinge shaft.

[0009] Furthermore, Claim 4 the opening / closing device is characterized in that the operation conversion mechanism includes a spiral groove formed on the hinge shaft, a spiral guide pin having one end slidably engaged with the spiral groove of the hinge shaft, and a slide member provided slidably in the axial direction of the hinge shaft on either the mounting member or the support member and having the other end of the spiral guide pin attached thereto.

[0010] Furthermore, Claim 5 the opening / closing device is characterized in that the rotation biasing mechanism of the hinge shaft is fixed to a hinge shaft receiving portion provided on either the mounting member or the support member, and a first cam member having a first cam surface on one end side where the hinge shaft is rotatably inserted therethrough, a second cam member having a second cam surface on the side in contact with the first cam surface of the first cam member and being slidable with respect to the hinge shaft but restrained from rotating, and an elastic member provided on the hinge shaft for pressing the first cam member and the second cam member against each other.

[0011] Furthermore, Claim 6 the opening / closing device is characterized in that the friction torque generating mechanism is composed of a friction washer that is slidable in the axial direction with respect to the hinge shaft but restrained from rotating and is attached thereto, and an elastic member composed of a plurality of disc springs attached to the hinge shaft for pressing the friction washer in the axial direction of the hinge shaft.

[0012] And, Claim 7 the terminal device is characterized in that the first housing and the second housing are connected so as to be openable and closable by the opening / closing device according to claims 1 to 6 as described.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the opening / closing device described in claim 1, the rotational movement of the hinge shaft accompanying the opening / closing operation of the first housing and the second housing is converted by the operation conversion mechanism into a sliding movement in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, and this sliding movement can operate the piston rod of the damper device of the damper mechanism. Therefore, since the damper device can be operated from a predetermined closing angle of the first housing and the second housing, it is possible to prevent the first housing and the second housing from being closed forcefully. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of impact noise when the first housing and the second housing are closed. together with making it possible to simplify the configuration of the damper mechanism, it is possible to prevent the synthetic resin material from wearing out due to long-term use when the member in contact with the metal piston rod is made of a material such as synthetic resin.

[0014] According to the opening and closing device described in claim 2, the rotational biasing mechanism can automatically close the first and second housings from a predetermined closing angle, and can also prevent the closed first and second housings from opening inadvertently.

[0015] According to the opening and closing device of claim 3, the first and second housings that are opened and closed can be stopped and held at any opening and closing angle by the friction torque generating mechanism.

[0016] Claim 4 According to the opening and closing device described in the above, the motion conversion mechanism can be configured with a simple structure, and costs can be reduced.

[0017] Claim 5 According to the opening and closing device described in the above, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the rotational biasing mechanism, and at the same time, it is possible to achieve the effect of generating friction torque.

[0018] Claim 6 According to the opening and closing device described in the above, it is possible to achieve the effect of simplifying the configuration of the friction torque generating mechanism and generating a stable friction torque.

[0019] Claim 7 According to the opening and closing device described in the above, it is possible to achieve the effect of further improving the utility of the terminal equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] The following describes the case where the present invention is implemented in a notebook personal computer as a terminal device. However, the terminal devices for implementing the present invention include laptop personal computers other than notebook personal computers, and terminal devices such as PDAs.

[0022] In FIGS. 1 and 2, what is indicated by reference numeral 1 is a notebook personal computer as an example of the terminal device 1 according to the present invention. This terminal device 1 includes a first housing 2 as a device body provided with input means such as a numeric keypad and a keyboard (not shown), and a second housing 3 having a function as a lid body provided with a display device (not shown). The terminal device 1 has the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 connected to be relatively openable and closable in the vertical direction between 0° and about 180° via a pair of opening / closing devices 4 and 4A. In the following description, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions shown in a rectangular coordinate system in FIGS. 1(a), 1(b), etc. are appropriately referred to.

[0023] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 18, the opening / closing device 4 according to the present invention is specifically shown. The opening / closing device 4A provided on the left side of the terminal device 1 has a configuration in which the operation conversion mechanism B and the damper mechanism D described later of the opening / closing device 4 are omitted. Therefore, the following describes the right-side opening / closing device 4 in FIG. 1(a), and the description of the opening / closing device 4A is omitted. Note that the opening / closing device 4A is not limited to this. Other configurations may be used.

[0024] The opening / closing device 4 according to the present invention includes, in particular, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 to 9, a hinge portion A, an operation conversion mechanism B, a rotational biasing mechanism C, a damper mechanism D, a friction torque generation mechanism E, and a rotation angle restricting portion F. In the opening / closing device 4, the operation conversion mechanism B converts the closing (rotation) operation of the hinge portion A into a linear operation in the axial direction of the hinge portion A (pushing the piston rod 20a of the damper device 20), and the damper mechanism D attenuates the rotational torque of the hinge shaft 7 by the rotational biasing mechanism C from a predetermined closing angle of the second housing 3 with respect to the first housing 2. Thereby, the opening / closing device 4 can be slowly closed immediately before the end of the closing operation when the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are closed.

[0025] In addition, since the opening / closing device 4 is provided with a friction torque generating mechanism E, the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 can be stably stopped at an arbitrary opening angle. Furthermore, although a mechanism for locking the terminal device 1 in the closed state is not provided, since the rotation biasing mechanism C biases the second housing 3 to rotate toward the first housing 2, it prevents the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 from accidentally opening.

[0026] First, the structure will be described starting from the hinge portion A. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 to 9, the hinge portion A extends from the rear end portion side of the first housing 2 toward both end portions in the left-right direction, and includes a mounting member 5 attached thereto, a support member 6 attached to the second housing 3 side, a hinge shaft 7 that rotatably connects the support member 6 to the mounting member 5, a hinge shaft holder 8 of the hinge shaft 7, and a slide member 9 of the operation conversion mechanism B.

[0027] Specifically, the mounting member 5 is a molded product made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 in particular, it has a main body portion 5a attached to the first housing 2, a hinge shaft receiving portion 5b having a bearing hole 5c and a locking hole 5m of the hinge shaft 7 provided rearward from one end side (right end side) of the main body portion 5a, a hinge shaft holder mounting portion 5d provided on the left side of the main body portion 5a, a slide member arrangement portion 5e formed rearward from the hinge shaft holder mounting portion 5d, and a damper mounting portion 5f provided further on the left side from the slide member arrangement portion 5e. A guide long hole 5h is provided in the slide member arrangement portion 5e. The hinge shaft holder mounting portion 5d is provided with mounting screw holes 5p, 5p and a mounting convex portion 5r.

[0028] Furthermore, the main body portion 5a is formed with mounting holes 5g, 5g, 5g for mounting the mounting member 5 to the first housing 2. Also, on the left side surface of the hinge shaft receiving portion 5b, as particularly shown in FIG. 19, a stopper convex portion 5i is formed around the shaft support hole 5c, and when the hinge shaft 7 rotates, it abuts against a stopper step portion 7b having a substantially fan-shaped side surface of the flange portion 7a of the hinge shaft 7, thereby restricting the maximum rotation angle of the hinge shaft 7. The hinge shaft holder mounting portion 5d is formed with mounting screw holes 5p, 5p and a mounting convex portion 5r for mounting a hinge shaft holder 8 to be described later. The slide member arrangement portion 5e is provided with a guide long hole 5h in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 7 so that a slide member 9 to be described later can be mounted movably in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 7. The damper mounting portion 5f is formed with mounting holes 5j, 5j for mounting a damper holding member 12 to be described later and a fitting concave portion 5k for fitting the left end of the damper device 20.

[0029] As particularly shown in FIG. 11, the support member 6 includes a flat plate-shaped support plate portion 6a having mounting holes 6d, 6d, 6d and 6d, 6d, and an arm portion 6b that is vertically provided by being bent substantially in a V-shape from the support plate portion 6a and is attached to the hinge shaft 7. The support plate portion 6a is formed with a convex portion 6c so that the support member 6 can be mounted at a predetermined position of the second housing 3. The arm portion 6b is provided with mounting holes 6f, 6f and reinforcing ribs 6g, 6g for attaching the support member 6 to the hinge shaft 7.

[0030] As particularly shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 12(a) to (c), the hinge shaft 7 includes a flange portion 7a provided with a stopper step portion 7b, a deformed shaft portion 7d provided with a short circular shaft portion 7c on one side of the flange portion 7a, a male screw portion 7f provided at the tip of the deformed shaft portion 7d, a circular shaft portion 7g provided on the other side sandwiching the flange portion 7a, and a bracket mounting portion 7i formed of a deformed shaft portion 7i having mounting holes 7h, 7h provided following the circular shaft portion 7g, a circular shaft portion 7j provided following the bracket mounting portion 7i, and a spiral groove 7k provided from the middle of the circular shaft portion 7j to its open end.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 to 9, the hinge shaft holder 8 has a base portion 8a fixed to the attachment member 5, and a support portion 8b that extends rearward from the base portion 8a and rotatably supports the lower side of the left end portion side of the hinge shaft 7. The base portion 8a is provided with attachment holes 8c, 8c, and although not shown adjacent to one of the attachment holes 8c, 8c, a recess for receiving the attachment convex portion 5r provided in the hinge shaft holder attachment portion 5d of the attachment member 5 is provided. The hinge shaft holder 8 is screwed to the attachment screw holes 5p, 5p provided in the hinge shaft holder attachment portion 5d using attachment screws 8e, 8e passed through the attachment holes 8c, 8c. Further, the support portion 8b of the hinge shaft holder 8 is provided with a curved portion 8d that rotatably holds approximately half of the radius direction of the circular shaft portion 7j provided with the spiral groove 7k of the hinge shaft 7.

[0032] Therefore, as particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 to 9, one end portion of the hinge shaft 7 is rotatably supported by a bearing hole 5c provided in the hinge shaft receiving portion 5b of the attachment member 5 that attaches the hinge shaft 7 to the first housing 2, and the other end portion side is rotatably held by the curved portion 8d of the hinge shaft holder 8 attached to the attachment member 5 and the curved recess 9b of the slide member 9 described later. Further, by attaching the support member 6 to the bracket attachment portion 7i thereof, along with the support member 6, it rotates with the opening and closing operation of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3, thereby allowing the opening and closing operation.

[0033] Next, the operation conversion mechanism B will be described. This operation conversion mechanism B includes a spiral groove 7k provided on the other side of the hinge shaft 7, a pair of slide guide pins 10b, 10b inserted through a guide elongated hole 5h provided in the axial direction of the hinge shaft in the slide member arrangement portion 5e of the attachment member 5, a slide guide member 9 attached to the slide guide pins 10b, 10b and slidably provided in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 7, and a spiral guide pin 10a having one end attached to the slide member 9 and the other end inserted and engaged in the spiral groove 7k of the hinge shaft 7. As a result, with the movement of the hinge shaft 7 that rotates with the opening and closing operation of the second housing 3 with respect to the first housing 2, the slide member 9 converts the rotational movement into the movement in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 7.

[0034] Next, the rotational biasing mechanism C of the hinge shaft 7 has a first cam surface 18d composed of a pair of cam recesses 18c, 18c on one side surface, and engages a locking pin portion 18b protruding from its outer periphery with a locking hole 5m provided in the hinge shaft receiving portion 5b of the mounting member 5, and rotatably inserts the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 into a circular insertion hole 18a provided in the axial direction of its axial center portion. The first cam member 18, and a second cam surface 19c composed of cam protrusions 19b, 19b provided on the side facing the first cam surface 18d provided on the first cam member 18. The deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 is inserted and engaged into a deformed insertion hole 19a provided in the axial direction of its axial center portion so as to rotate together with the hinge shaft 7. The second cam member 19, a flat washer 14 having a deformed insertion hole 13a and rotatably attached by inserting and engaging the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 into a deformed insertion hole 14a provided in the axial direction adjacent to the second cam member 19 to restrict rotation, and adjacent to this flat washer 14, a plurality of disc springs 16a, 16a ··· attached so as to rotate together with the hinge shaft 7 by inserting and engaging the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 into deformed insertion holes 16b, 16b provided in the axial direction thereof. An elastic member 16, and adjacent to this elastic member 16, a pressing flat washer 15 attached so as to rotate together with the hinge shaft 7 by inserting and engaging the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 into a deformed insertion hole 15a provided in the axial direction thereof, and adjacent to this pressing flat washer 15, a tightening nut 17 screwed onto a male screw portion 7f formed at the end of the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7. Therefore, when the elastic member 16 tightens the tightening nut 17, the second cam member 19 is pressed toward the first cam member 18 side, so that at a predetermined rotation angle of the hinge shaft 7, that is, at a predetermined closing angle of the second housing 3 with respect to the first housing 2, the cam protrusions 18c, 18c of the second cam surface 19c provided on the second cam member 19 fall into the cam recesses 18c, 18c of the first cam surface 18d provided on the first cam member 18, and the hinge shaft 7 is rotationally biased in the closing direction of the second housing 3. Incidentally, both the first cam surface provided on the first cam member 18 and the second cam surface provided on the second cam member 19 can be cam protrusions.

[0035] That is, the first cam surface 18d provided on the first cam member 18 is composed of a pair of cam recesses 18c, 18c provided at 180° intervals and a pair of flat portions 18e, 18e connecting therebetween. The second cam surface 19c of the second cam member 19 is composed of a pair of cam protrusions 19b, 19b provided at 180° intervals on the surface facing the cam recesses 18c, 18c and a pair of flat portions 19d, 19d connecting therebetween. Since the second cam member 19 is always pushed toward the first cam member 18 by the elastic member 16, when the second housing 3 is about to be closed with respect to the first housing 2, when the cam protrusions 19b, 19b of the second cam member 19 fall into the cam recesses 18c, 18c of the first cam member 18, a rotational biasing force is generated, and the second housing 3 is automatically rotated and closed with respect to the first housing 2.

[0036] Next, the operation conversion mechanism B is a mechanism that converts the rotational operation of the hinge shaft 7 into the axial advance and retreat operation of the hinge shaft 7. As particularly shown in FIGS. 3, 8, and 9, this operation conversion mechanism B has a spiral groove portion 7k of the hinge shaft 7 and a slide member 9 slidably attached in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 7 on a slide member arrangement portion 5e of the attachment member 5. This slide member 9 has a base portion 9a, a curved recess 9b with one end released provided in the axial direction of the base portion 9a, a male screw portion 9c provided at the other end, a mounting hole 9d for a spiral guide pin 10a provided in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction in the curved recess 9b, and mounting holes 9e, 9e for slide guide pins 10b, 10b. The operation conversion mechanism B further has a spiral guide pin 10a with one end inserted into the spiral groove portion 7k and the other end attached to the slide member 9, and slide guide pins 10b, 10b with one end side inserted into a guide elongated hole 5h provided in the slide member arrangement portion 5e and the other end attached to the slide member 9. Washers 10c, 10c are attached to the end sides of the slide guide pins 10b, 10b.

[0037] Next, the damper mechanism D has one end thereof fitted into a fitting recess 5k provided in a side wall portion 5n of the damper mounting portion 5f of the mounting member 5, and the tip end side thereof is held by a damper holding member 12 installed in the damper mounting portion 5f. Further, a piston rod 20a is inserted through an insertion hole 12a provided therein, and the damper device 20 is composed of a connecting member 11 having one end abutted against the tip end of the piston rod 20a and a female screw hole 11a provided on the other end side screwed onto a male screw portion 9c provided at an end of the slide member 9. The damper holding member 12 is provided with mounting holes 12b, 12b as particularly shown in FIG. 14, and is mounted in the damper mounting portion 5f using mounting screws 12c, 12c as shown in FIG. 9. Incidentally, the damper device 20 is a known fluid damper.

[0038] Next, as particularly shown in FIGS. 3, 8, and 9, the friction torque generating mechanism E includes a first friction washer 13 formed by inserting and engaging a deformation insertion hole 13a provided in the axial direction of the central portion on the base side of the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7, and a circular insertion hole 18a provided in the axial direction of the central portion thereof. The deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 is rotatably inserted, and a locking pin portion 18b provided on the outer periphery thereof is locked to a locking hole 5m provided in the hinge shaft receiving portion 5b. A first cam member 18 having a first cam surface 18d formed by a pair of cam recesses 18c, 18c provided at 180° intervals on one end side thereof, and between the side of the first cam member 18 that does not have the first cam surface 18d and the flange portion 7a of the hinge shaft 7, a first friction washer 13 in which a deformation insertion hole 13a provided in the axial direction of the central portion of the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 is inserted and engaged, and a second cam surface 19c formed by cam protrusions 19b, 19b are overlapped on the side provided with the first cam surface 18d formed by the cam recesses 18c, 18c of the first cam member 18, and a second cam member 19 provided by engaging and inserting a deformation insertion hole 19a provided in the axial direction of the central portion thereof into the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7. A flat washer 14 formed by inserting and engaging the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 into a deformation insertion hole 14a provided in the axial direction of the central portion at the portion where the second cam member 19 is overlapped on the other side surface thereof, and a plurality of disc springs 16a, 16a... formed by inserting and engaging the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 into deformation insertion holes 16b, 16b... provided in the axial direction of the axial center thereof and overlapped on the flat washer 14, an elastic member 16, and a presser flat washer 15 formed by inserting and engaging a deformation insertion hole 15a provided in the axial direction of the central portion thereof into the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 and overlapped on the elastic member 16, and a tightening nut 17 screwed onto a male screw portion 7f provided on the deformed shaft portion 7d of the hinge shaft 7 and overlapped on the presser flat washer 15. In the embodiment, when the hinge shaft 7 rotates, a friction torque is generated between both sides of the first friction washer 13, that is, between the hinge shaft receiving portion 5b and the first cam member 18. Note that the friction torque generating mechanism E is not limited to the embodiment. Various configurations including known ones can be considered.

[0039] And as shown in Fig. 18, the rotation angle restricting portion F that restricts the opening angle of the second housing 3 with respect to the first housing 2 is composed of a stopper convex portion 5i provided on the outer periphery of the hinge shaft receiving portion 5b of the mounting member 5 and a stopper step portion 7b provided on the outer periphery of the flange portion 7a of the hinge shaft 7. When the stopper step portion 7b and the stopper convex portion 5i come into contact at a predetermined rotation angle of the hinge shaft 7, the rotation angle of the hinge shaft 7 is restricted to 180 degrees in the embodiment.

[0040] Next, the operation of the opening / closing device 4 according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, only the opening / closing device 4 will be described. However, since the opening / closing device 4A does not include the operation conversion mechanism B and the damper mechanism D as described above, the operations of the operation conversion mechanism B and the damper mechanism D are not performed when the opening / closing device 4A is opened / closed. As shown in Figs. 1(a) and 2(a), when the second housing 3 is opened / closed with respect to the first housing 2 from the state before use of the terminal device 1 in which the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2, the hinge shaft 7 attached to the support member 6 rotates with respect to the attachment member 5. Therefore, the support member 6 attached to the second housing 3 rotates with respect to the attachment member � attached to the first housing 2, and thus the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are relatively opened / closed. The maximum opening angle between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 is restricted to 180° by the operation of the rotation angle restricting portion F.

[0041] During the opening / closing operation of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3, except immediately before the second housing 3 is closed to 0° with respect to the first housing 2, the second housing 3 can be stopped and held in a free stop with respect to the first housing 2 by the friction torque created by the friction torque generating mechanism E. However, immediately before closing, the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are automatically closed by the rotation biasing mechanism C, and then stably maintained so as not to naturally open from the closed state.

[0042] However, when the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are automatically closed by the rotational biasing mechanism C, the operation conversion mechanism B operates to provide a damping action by the damper mechanism D, preventing the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 from closing suddenly, so that they can be closed quietly without generating an impact sound. That is, when the second housing 3 is closed with respect to the first housing 2 from a predetermined opening angle between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3, the spiral guide pin 10a fitted in the spiral groove 7k of the hinge shaft 7 causes the slide member 9 to slide in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 7. Since the male screw portion 9c presses the piston rod 20a of the damper device 20 via the connecting member 11, the damper starts to take effect, and the hinge shaft 7 rotates quietly without rotating suddenly, preventing the generation of an impact sound when closing between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3.

[0043] At this time, the friction torque generating mechanism E is operating and will control the rotation of the hinge shaft 7, so that it is possible to reduce the operating force when opening the second housing 3 and buffer the sudden drop when closing it.

Industrial Applicability

[0044] Since the opening / closing device according to the present invention is configured as described above, when used as an opening / closing device that connectably opens and closes the first housing and the second housing of a terminal device, when closing the first housing and the second housing, while the rotational biasing mechanism tends to accelerate the closing operation, the damper mechanism can suppress the acceleration of the closing operation. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the impact sound when closing the first housing and the second housing, and after the first housing and the second housing are closed, it can be preferably used as an opening / closing device that can stably maintain the closed state by the rotational biasing mechanism, and further preferably used as a terminal device using this opening / closing device.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] A Hinge portion B Operation conversion mechanism C Rotational biasing mechanism D Damper mechanism E Friction Torque Generator Structure 1 Terminal device (notebook computer) 2 First housing 3 Second housing 4 Opening / closing device 5 Mounting member 6 Support member 7 Hinge shaft 8 Hinge shaft holder 9 Slide member 10a Spiral guide pin 10b Slide guide pin 11 Connecting member 11a Female screw hole 12 Damper holding member 12a Insertion hole 12b Mounting hole 12c Mounting screw 13 Friction washer 13a Deformed insertion hole 14 Flat washer 15 Pressing flat washer 16 Elastic member 16a Dish spring 17 Tightening nut 18 First cam member 19 Second cam member 20 Damper device 20a Piston rod

Claims

1. A mounting member attached to either the first housing or the second housing, and a support member attached to the other one are connected via a hinge shaft. By the hinge shaft rotating together with the mounting member or the support member, a hinge portion that relatively connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be openable and closable, a damper mechanism provided in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, a damper device constituting the damper mechanism and an operation conversion mechanism that converts the rotational operation of the hinge shaft provided between the damper device and the hinge shaft into a forward and backward movement in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, the damper mechanism is composed of a damper device attached to either the mounting member or the support member and a reciprocable pressing member that contacts the piston rod of the damper device, When the first housing and the second housing are relatively closed, the damper mechanism operates via the operation conversion mechanism from a predetermined closing angle so as to obtain a buffering effect. An opening and closing device characterized by this.

2. The opening and closing device further includes a rotational biasing mechanism for the hinge shaft. The opening and closing device according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The opening and closing device further includes a friction torque generation mechanism for the hinge shaft. The opening and closing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized by this.

4. The operation conversion mechanism includes a spiral groove formed on the hinge shaft, a spiral guide pin whose one end is slidably engaged with the spiral groove of the hinge shaft, and a slide member provided slidably in the axial direction of the hinge shaft on either the mounting member or the support member and to which the other end of the spiral guide pin is attached. The opening and closing device according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

5. The rotational biasing mechanism of the hinge shaft is fixed to a hinge shaft receiving portion provided on either the mounting member or the support member, and has a first cam surface on one end side formed by rotatably inserting the hinge shaft therethrough. A first cam member, a second cam member having a second cam surface on a side in contact with the first cam surface of the first cam member and being slidable with respect to the hinge shaft but restrained from rotating, and the first cam member and the second cam member are provided on the hinge shaft so as to press against each other. The opening / closing device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is composed of an elastic member.

6. The friction torque generating mechanism includes a friction washer attached to the hinge shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the hinge shaft but restrained from rotating, and an elastic member composed of a plurality of disc springs attached to the hinge shaft for pressing the friction washer in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The opening / closing device according to claim 3, characterized in that it is configured.

7. A terminal device, characterized in that a first housing and a second housing are connected so as to be openable and closable by the opening / closing device according to claims 1 to 6.

Images