GEAR CAM MOUNTING DEVICE IN DUAL-HINGE DEVICE FOR A PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20130014346A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: AHN, Sung-Ho, PARK, Ji-Hoon, BAEK, Kun-Woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,027,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/354
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/06 Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/122 Gear hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1223 with a compression or traction spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A gear cam mounting device in a dual-hinge device for a portable terminal is provided, in which first and second hinge shafts provide first and second parallel hinge axes, respectively, first and second gear cams are fixed around the first and second hinge shafts, in engagement with each other, and first and second locking units penetrate respectively through the first and second gear cams in a direction that is perpendicular to the first and second hinge axes, for locking the first and second gear cams to surround the first and second hinge shafts.

Claims

1. A gear cam mounting device in a hinge device for a portable terminal, comprising:

a hinge shaft for providing a hinge axis;

a gear cam fixedly attached so as to surround the hinge shaft; and

a locking unit for penetrating through the gear cam in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis, for locking the gear cam to the hinge shaft.

2. The gear cam mounting device of claim 1, for use in a portable terminal having a dual-hinge device, wherein:

said hinge shaft comprises;

a first hinge shaft for providing a first hinge axis; and

a second hinge shaft for providing a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis;

said gear cam comprises;

a first gear cam fixedly attached so as to surround the first hinge shaft; and

a second gear cam fixedly attached so as to surround the second hinge shaft and be in engagement with the first gear cam; and

said locking unit comprises;

a first locking unit penetrating through the first gear cam in a direction perpendicular to the first hinge axis, for locking the first gear cam around the first hinge shaft; and

a second locking unit penetrating through the second gear cam in a direction perpendicular to the second hinge axis, for locking the second gear cam around the second hinge shaft.

3. The gear cam mounting device of claim 2, wherein a first locking member is attached to the first hinge shaft, a second locking member is attached to the second hinge shaft, the first locking member is inserted into a recess in the first gear cam, and the second locking member is inserted into a recess in the second gear cam, so that a tight fit results upon such insertion, and thereafter the first and second gear cams rotate together with the first and second hinge shafts, respectively.

4. The gear cam mounting device of claim 3, wherein the first and second locking members are each attached to the respective one of said first and second hinge shafts by insert molding.

5. The gear cam mounting device of claim 2, wherein the first and second locking units have the same configuration and are arranged symmetrically, wherein the first locking unit comprises:

a first opening formed into the first hinge shaft, said first opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the first hinge axis;

a second opening formed into the first gear cam, said second opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the first hinge axis; and

a first locking pin inserted into the first and second openings, for fixing the first gear cam to the first hinge shaft, and wherein the second locking unit comprises;

a third opening formed into the second hinge shaft, said second opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the second hinge axis;

a fourth opening formed into the second gear cam, the fourth opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the second hinge axis; and

a second locking pin inserted into the third and fourth openings, for fixing the second gear cam to the second hinge shaft.

6. The gear cam mounting device of claim 3, wherein the first locking member comprises a first locking protrusion extending in a radial direction relative to the first hinge axis, the second locking member comprises a second locking protrusion extending in a radial direction relative to the second hinge axis, the first gear cam comprises a first locking groove for inserting the first locking protrusion into the first locking groove, the second gear cam comprises a second locking groove for inserting the second locking protrusion into the second locking groove, and the first and second locking protrusions and the first and second locking grooves each extend in a direction parallel to the first and second hinge axes, respectively.

7. The gear cam mounting device of claim 5, wherein the first locking pin is pressed into the first and second openings, fully penetrating through the first hinge shaft and the first gear cam, and the second locking pin is pressed into the third and fourth openings, fully penetrating through the second hinge shaft and the second gear cam.

8. A gear cam mounting device in a hinge device for a portable terminal, comprising:

a first hinge shaft for providing a first hinge axis;

a first opening formed into the first hinge shaft, said first opening extending perpendicular to the first hinge axis;

a first locking key positioned so as to have a first part thereof inserted into the first opening and a second part thereof protruding from the first opening in a direction perpendicular to the first hinge axis; and

a first gear cam inserted over the first locking key, for being fixed around the first hinge shaft.

9. The gear cam mounting device of claim 8, wherein the first gear cam includes a first locking groove formed therein which is dimensioned for having the protruding second part of the first locking key inserted therein.

10. The gear cam mounting device of claim 9, wherein the first locking key has a shape that extends along a direction of the first hinge axis, and the first locking groove is shaped in correspondence with the shape of protruding part of the first locking key and also extends along the direction of the first hinge axis.

11. The gear cam mounting device of claim 10, wherein the first part of the first locking key is fully pressed into the first opening and subsequently, the first gear cam is pressedly inserted over the second, protruding part, of the first locking key.

12. The gear cam mounting device of claim 11, wherein the gear cam mounting device is paired with another gear cam mounting device.

13. A gear cam mounting device in a dual-hinge device for a portable terminal, comprising:

a shaft guide bracket;

a first hinge shaft supported by the shaft guide bracket, for providing a first hinge axis;

a second hinge shaft supported by the shaft guide bracket, for providing a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis;

a first gear cam fixedly attached so as to centrally surround the first hinge shaft;

a second gear cam fixedly attached so as to centrally surround the second hinge shaft and be in a mesh engagement with the first gear cam;

a first stopper provided on the shaft guide bracket;

a second stopper provided on the first gear cam, for restricting rotation of the first gear cam in conjunction with the first stopper;

a third stopper provided on the second gear cam, for restricting rotation of the second gear cam in conjunction with the first stopper;

a first locking unit penetrating through the first gear cam in a direction that is perpendicular to the first hinge axis, for locking the first gear cam to a position that surrounds the first hinge shaft; and

a second locking unit penetrating through the second gear cam in a direction that is perpendicular to the second hinge axis, for locking the second gear cam to a position that surrounds the second hinge shaft.

14. The gear cam mounting device of claim 13, wherein the first stopper protrudes toward the first and second cams from one surface of the shaft guide bracket facing the first and second gear cams and is positioned between the first and second hinge shafts.

15. The gear cam mounting device of claim 14, wherein the second and third stoppers protrude a predetermined distance toward the shaft guide bracket from surfaces of the first and second gear cams facing the shaft guide bracket, so as to enable said second and third stoppers, upon rotation of said first and second hinge shafts over a predetermined range of angular motion, to contact said first stopper and thereby prevent further rotation of said first and second hinge shafts.

16. A method for mounting a gear cam to a hinge shaft in a hinge device for a portable terminal, comprising:

providing a hinge shaft having a hinge axis;

positioning a gear cam so as to surround the hinge shaft; and

providing a locking unit to penetrate through the gear cam in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis, for locking the gear cam to the hinge shaft.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing of a locking unit comprises:

forming a first opening in the hinge shaft, said first opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis;

forming a second opening in the gear cam, said second opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis; and

inserting a locking pin into the first and second openings, for fixing the first gear cam to the first hinge shaft.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of:

providing a first locking member which is attached to the first hinge shaft, the first locking member being inserted into a recess in the first gear cam that is shaped so as to correspond to the shape of said first locking member, so that a tight fit results upon such insertion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first locking member is provided with a shape that is substantially circular, but has a radial protrusion that extends from the outer periphery thereof

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first locking member is attached to the first hinge shaft by use of an insert molding technique.