Foldable Mechanism Locking Assembly for Reduced Hinge Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable mechanisms in electronic devices have a relatively large thickness due to the connection method of the base and shaft cover using screws, which results in increased overall thickness and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A foldable mechanism using locking members with threaded members and disassembly-assembly structures, where the locking members are threaded to the shaft cover through a through hole in the base, reducing the overall thickness by optimizing the screw-thread fit and incorporating disassembly-assembly portions to facilitate rotation and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the base is connected to the shaft cover by using a screw with a conventional connection method, then the base and shaft cover are securely connected, but the overall thickness of the foldable mechanism becomes relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed with a nested structure where the threaded hole runs through the head and rod portion, allowing the screw to pass through and engage with the shaft cover in a nested manner. This nesting arrangement enables the screw head to be positioned on the base while the threaded portion extends through the locking member to engage the shaft cover, reducing the overall thickness while maintaining connection strength
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded hole in the locking member is designed to run through both the head and rod portion in the axial direction, creating a three-dimensional path that allows the screw to engage the shaft cover from the base side. This dimensional arrangement reduces the thickness requirement by utilizing the axial space efficiently rather than requiring additional radial or lateral space
2Strength
If a conventional screw connection is used to connect the base and shaft cover, then the connection is secure, but the assembly and disassembly operations become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member incorporates a self-service design where the threaded hole running through the head and rod portion allows the screw to automatically engage with the shaft cover as it is inserted through the base. The structure guides the assembly process, reducing the complexity of manual alignment and installation operations
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is segmented into a head portion and a rod portion with the threaded hole running through both, allowing independent optimization of each section. The head can be designed for easy engagement with the base while the rod portion with the threaded hole facilitates simple connection to the shaft cover, making the overall assembly process more straightforward
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a foldable mechanism and an electronic device, The foldable mechanism includes a base (100), a shaft cover (200), and locking members (300). Threaded members (210) are disposed on the shaft cover (200), the threaded members (210) each have an external thread, the locking members (300) each have a head (310) and a rod portion (320), the head (310) is connected to the rod portion (320), the locking member (300) has a threaded hole (330) that successively runs through the head (310) and the rod portion (320), a through hole (110) is provided on the base (100), an outer diameter of the head (310) is greater than an aperture of the through hole (110), and the rod portion (320) is threaded to the threaded member (210) by passing through the through hole (110).