Hinge structure

• US 10,309,137 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Chun-Hsien, Kuo, Yan-Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Brien, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US15/832,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20180335809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/10 Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1028 for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/18 with sliding pins or guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/224 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/414 for the initial closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/48 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/492 Spring tensioners, tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/04 Pivotal connections hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A hinge structure is adapted to connect two objects for the two objects rotating with respect to each other. The hinge structure includes a first member, a second member, a third member, and an elastic assembly. The first and the third members are respectively assembled to the two objects. The second member pivoted to the first member rotates about an axis relative to the first member. The third member pivoted to the second member rotates about the axis relative to the second member. In a first state, the second member is accommodated in a recess of the first member. In a second state, the second member moves with the third member and at least a portion of the second member is moved out of the recess. The elastic assembly connected between the first and the third members constantly moves the second member into the recess to maintain the first state.

Claims

1. A hinge structure, adapted to connect two objects for the two objects to rotate relatively via the hinge structure, the hinge structure comprising:

a first member, assembled to one of the two objects;

a second member, pivoted to the first member, wherein the second member rotates about an axis relative to the first member;

a third member, assembled to the other of the two objects, wherein the third member is pivoted to the second member, the third member rotates about the axis relative to the second member, and in a first state, the second member is accommodated in a recess of the first member, whereas in a second state, the second member rotates about the axis with the third member, and at least a portion of the second member is moved out of the recess; and

an elastic assembly, connected between the first member and the third member and constantly driving the third member to move the second member into the recess to maintain the first state, wherein the elastic assembly comprises;

a connection member, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly connected to the third member; and

an elastic member, having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end abuts against the first member, the second end synchronously moves with the fourth end based on whether the elastic member is deformed or not, and the third end is located between the first end and the second and fourth ends, such that the first end moves away from the third end when the third member moves away from a location in the first state to synchronously move the second end and the fourth end toward the third end, thereby deforming the elastic member.

2. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic assembly comprises:

the elastic member, disposed through an extension part of the first member;

an abutting member, disposed through the extension part, such that the elastic member abuts between the first member and the abutting member; and

the connection member, connected between the third member and the abutting member, such that the third member drives the abutting member through the connection member when it is not in the first state, thereby defoii ling the elastic member.

3. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastic assembly further comprises:

an adjustment member, adjustably disposed through the extension part, such that the abutting member is structurally in contact between the adjustment member and the elastic member, wherein the adjustment member adjusts a position along the extension part to adjust a position of the abutting member on the extension part and a degree of deformation of the elastic member.

4. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member has a first rail, the second member has a first guiding column movably inserted to the first rail to move along the first rail, and the first rail is an arc-shaped structure whose center is the axis.

5. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second member has a second rail, the third member has a second guiding column movably inserted to the second rail to move along the second rail, and the second rail is an arc-shaped structure whose center is the axis.

6. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second member is a couples structure, the first guiding column is disposed on an outer side surface of the couples structure, the second rail is disposed on an inner side surface of the couples structure, and a portion of the third member includes the second guiding column to be inserted to the second rail, such that the portion is located between the couples structure.

7. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member has a first rail, the second member has a first guiding column movably inserted to the first rail to move along the first rail, the second member has a second rail, the third member has a second guiding column movably inserted to the second rail to move along the second rail, and the first rail and the second rail are partially overlapped with each other.

8. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a stopping member, disposed on the first member and located in a movement path of the second member, wherein when the second member is converted from the second state to the first state, the stopping member blocks the second member from being restored to the first state.

9. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second member comprises a protruding part disposed on a side of the second member away from the third member, the stopping member is an elastic structure having a free end extending toward the second member and located on a movement path of the protruding part, such that during conversion of the second member from the second state to the first state, the protruding part abuts against the free end to maintain the second member at a damping position.

10. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the free end is in a bent shape, the protruding part abuts against a top part of the bent shape when the second member is located at the damping position, and when the third member receives a force to convert the second member to the first state, the protruding part passes through the bent shape such that a bottom part of the bent shape abuts against the second member.

11. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two objects respectively are a device body and a support frame of a portable electronic device, the first member is assembled to the device body, and the third member is assembled to the support frame.