Slider-Crank Hinge Structure for Laptop Air Intake Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in maintaining a suitable design in a closed state while ensuring efficient airflow through the intake hole, as the gap between the main body chassis and the placement surface is narrow, leading to high intake resistance.
Innovation Solution
A hinge device with a slider-crank mechanism that allows the first and second chassis to rotate, featuring a link that protrudes from the non-facing surface in the open state, creating an appropriate gap with the placement surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the height of the leg portion is increased to reduce intake resistance, then the airflow efficiency is improved, but the design appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device employs a dynamic link mechanism that changes its protrusion height based on the chassis opening angle. In the closed state, the link is retracted to maintain a sleek design appearance. When the chassis is opened, the link automatically protrudes to create the necessary gap for efficient airflow intake, thus resolving the contradiction between appearance and airflow efficiency through dynamic adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the vertical position parameter of the link relative to the chassis based on the opening angle state. By controlling the link's protrusion distance as a variable parameter that depends on the chassis angle, the system optimizes both the aesthetic appearance in closed state and the airflow performance in open state, effectively managing the trade-off between these two requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a large leg portion is provided to increase the gap with placement surface, then the intake resistance is reduced, but the design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a static large leg portion that would compromise design, the invention employs a dynamic link mechanism that only protrudes when needed (when the chassis is opened). This allows the device to maintain a clean, design-friendly appearance in the closed state while providing sufficient gap for airflow when in use, eliminating the need for a permanently large leg portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the gap-creating function from the leg portion and relocates it to the hinge device's link mechanism. This separation allows the leg portion to remain small and aesthetically pleasing, while the link mechanism independently provides the necessary gap for airflow intake when the chassis is opened, thus resolving the contradiction between design and intake performance.
3Ease of operation
If the link protrudes in the closed state, then the gap with placement surface is increased, but the design appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism is designed to dynamically adjust its position based on the chassis opening angle. It remains retracted (non-protruding) when the chassis is closed to preserve design appearance, and automatically extends (protrudes) when the chassis is opened to provide the necessary gap for airflow, thus resolving the contradiction through conditional, state-dependent behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge device, that rotatably connects a first chassis and a second chassis each having a flat shape, includes: a first shaft configured to extend in a first direction along a connection edge between the first chassis and the second chassis, and be pivotally supported to be rotatably to the first chassis in a vicinity of the connection edge to the second chassis; a second shaft configured to extend in the first direction and be fixed to the second chassis in the vicinity of the connection edge to the first chassis; a crank configured to connect the first shaft and the second shaft in a non-rotatable manner; a slider configured to be provided on the first chassis to be slidable in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a link configured to pivotally support the slider in the first direction and pivotally support the second shaft.