Gear Hinge Assembly for 180-Degree Opening and Gap-Free Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in opening completely to 180 degrees due to mechanism design restrictions and maintaining appearance integrity when closed, as the gap between casings is difficult to minimize.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with coaxially staggered gear brackets, shaft holders, gear shafts, torque elements, and gears that allow the first casing to open 180 degrees relative to the second casing, ensuring minimal gap closure, featuring a novel architecture with plate and arc portions, outer and inner gears, and torque elements for synchronized rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional hinge mechanism is used, then the device structure is simple, but the opening angle is limited and cannot reach 180 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into multiple independent components including first and second gear brackets, shaft holders, gear shafts, torque elements, and multiple gears. This segmentation allows each component to perform specific functions while collectively achieving the 180-degree opening capability without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism employs a nested structure where gears are mounted on gear shafts that rotate within shaft holders, which are positioned between gear brackets. The torque elements are sleeved on the gear shafts, creating a compact nested arrangement that enables 180-degree rotation while maintaining structural integrity and minimizing space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge mechanism allows 180 degree opening, then the opening capability is improved, but the gap between casings increases when closed
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism transitions from a conventional single-axis rotation to a dual-gear-bracket staggered arrangement where the first and second gear brackets are positioned at different axial locations. This dimensional change allows the mechanism to achieve 180-degree opening while maintaining coaxial alignment during closure, minimizing the gap between casings.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft holder acts as an intermediary component positioned between the arc portions of the gear brackets. It provides a stable mounting structure for the gear shafts and facilitates the coordinated rotation of both gear brackets, ensuring they remain coaxial during closure to minimize the gap between casings while enabling 180-degree opening.
3Stability of the object's composition
If gear brackets are coaxially staggered with inner and outer gears, then synchronized rotation is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism merges multiple functional elements into integrated components. The gear brackets combine plate portions for structural support with arc portions containing inner gears for rotation. The shaft holders integrate multiple first fixing holes to accommodate multiple gear shafts simultaneously. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts and simplifies assembly while maintaining synchronized rotation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear brackets serve multiple functions: they provide structural connection between casings, contain inner gears for rotation, and maintain coaxial alignment through their staggered arrangement. The shaft holders simultaneously support multiple gear shafts and position them correctly for engagement with both inner and outer gears. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, easing manufacturing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the first casing to open fully to 180 degrees while ensuring a seamless closure with no visible gap, maintaining appearance integrity and allowing simultaneous rotation of both casings.
Implementation Method 1
the outer gear and the inner gear of the arc portion are engaged with each other
Implementation Method 2
a pair of torque elements, which are respectively sleeved on opposite ends of the gear shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly and an electronic device using the hinge assembly are provided. The hinge assembly includes a pair of gear brackets coaxially staggered in an axial direction, wherein each gear bracket has a plate portion and an arc portion, and the arc portion has an inner gear; a shaft holder, which is provided between the arc portion of the gear bracket, wherein the shaft holder has a pair of first fixing holes; a pair of gear shafts, which passes through the first fixing hole and is fixed to the shaft holder in parallel to the axial direction, each of the gear shafts has an outer gear portion, the outer gear portion has an outer gear, and the outer gear and the inner gear of the arc portion are engaged with each other; and a pair of torque elements, which are respectively sleeved on opposite ends of the gear shaft; a plurality of gears, which are sleeved on the ends of the gear shaft in a one-to-one manner, and the gears disposed on the same side of the gear shaft are engaged with each other.