Foldable Mechanism With Spring-Free Flexible Support Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable mechanisms in terminals require a large number of components, leading to complex structures that hinder lightweight design and compromise assembly precision and display support.
Innovation Solution
A foldable mechanism with a simplified structure that omits springs, utilizing a flexible support plate mounted on pressing plate swing arms with rotatable and slidable connections, ensuring flatness and preventing wrinkles, and incorporating a damping assembly for a good user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional foldable mechanism with springs is used to mount the flexible support plate, then the support plate can be securely mounted, but the quantity of components increases and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component from the mounting system. The flexible support plate is directly mounted on the pressing plate swing arm without requiring a spring, thereby extracting the unnecessary component and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining functional reliability through the direct mounting connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the mounting function directly into the pressing plate swing arm structure. The flexible support plate is integrated with the swing arm through direct mounting, combining what were previously separate components (spring + mounting structure) into a unified, simplified assembly.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are used in the foldable mechanism, then the folding function can be implemented, but the assembly process becomes complex and assembly precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the spring and reducing the number of intermediate components, the patent simplifies the assembly process. Fewer components mean fewer assembly steps and fewer potential sources of assembly error, thereby improving assembly precision and making the manufacturing process easier.
3Strength
If a thick flexible support plate is used, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the foldable terminal cannot achieve a light and thin design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin flexible support plate that can be made extremely thin while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the optimized mounting mechanism on the pressing plate swing arm. This allows the foldable terminal to achieve a light and thin design without compromising the structural integrity of the support plate.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable mechanism and a foldable terminal are provided. The foldable mechanism includes a base, a pressing plate assembly, and a flexible support plate, where the pressing plate assembly is mounted on the base, and the flexible support plate is mounted on the pressing plate assembly. The pressing plate assembly includes a first pressing plate swing arm, and a rotating portion of the first pressing plate swing arm is rotatably connected to the base, to implement a rotatable connection between the first pressing plate swing arm and the base. The flexible support plate is mounted on the first pressing plate swing arm and may bend under driving of the first pressing plate swing arm, and a bending direction of the flexible support plate is parallel to a rotation center of the first pressing plate swing arm relative to the base.