Biaxial Hinge

• US 20130318746A1
• Filed: 05/29/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Original Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Inventors: KURAMOCHI, Ryuta
• Granted Patent: US 9,104,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/342
• 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

To provide a biaxial hinge which enables an opening/closing movement of terminal, such as notebook PC, from 0° up to 180° or more, which ensures the opening/closing movement starting from a stable stopping position available at any opening/closing angle, a second hinge shaft attached to a second casing and a second hinge shaft attached to a second casing are connected to each other via a joint member and provided so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a selective rotation restricting device is provided between the both hinge shafts. The selective rotation restricting device is so structured that it allows the both hinge shafts to rotate, when the first casing and the second casing are in a closed state, and it restricts one of the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft in rotation, when the other hinge shaft rotates relative to the one hinge shaft.

Claims

1. A biaxial hinge comprising a first hinge shaft attached to the side of a first casing and a second hinge shaft attached to the side of a second casing, said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft being connected to each other via a joint member and provided so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a selective rotation restricting means provided between said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft, wherein said selective rotation restricting means is so structured that it allows the both hinge shafts to rotate, when said first casing and said second casing are in a closed state, and it restricts one of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft in rotation, when the other hinge shaft rotates relative to the one hinge shaft.

2. A terminal device, wherein it uses a biaxial hinge according to claim 1.

3. A biaxial hinge comprising a first hinge shaft attached to the side of a first casing and a second hinge shaft attached to the side of a second casing, said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft being connected to each other via a joint member and provided so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a selective rotation restricting means provided between said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft, wherein said selective rotation restricting means allows said second hinge shaft to rotate so that said second casing can be opened and closed, when said first casing and said second casing are in a closed state, as well as allows said first hinge shaft to rotate so that said first casing is openable/closable, when said second casing is opened at a predetermined opening angle relative to either first casing.

4. The biaxial hinge according to claim 3, wherein said suction means comprises a first A curved cam convex portion and a first B curved cam convex portion so provided on a first cam follower that they are movable in an axial direction but restricted in rotation by said first hinge shaft, said first A curved cam convex portion and said first B curved cam convex portion respectively facing a first A curved cam concave portion and a first B curved cam concave portion;

a second A curved cam convex portion and a second B curved cam convex portion so provided on a second cam follower that they are movable in an axial direction but restricted in rotation by said second hinge shaft, said second A curved cam convex portion and said second B curved cam convex portion respectively facing a second A curved cam concave portion and a second B curved cam concave portion;

a first elastic means provided on said first hinge shaft and a second elastic means provided on said second hinge shaft.

5. A biaxial hinge comprising a first hinge shaft to the side of a first casing and a second hinge shaft attached to the side of a second casing;

a joint member rotatably connecting the hinge shafts to each other, said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft passing through said joint member respectively in an identical direction;

a slide guide member provided opposite to said joint member, said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft passing through said slide guide member;

a selective rotation restricting means provided between said slide guide member and said joint member, for selectively restricting rotation of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft;

friction torque generating means provided on either one side of said selective rotation restricting means; and

a suction means provided on either other side of said selective rotation restricting means; and

a stopper means restricting a rotation angle of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft.

6. The biaxial hinge according to claim 5, wherein said selective rotation restricting means comprises a locking member provided between said joint member and said slide guide member so as to be slidable between in an upward/downward direction between said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft and comprising a first cam convex portion and a second cam convex portion, a first locking cam member having a first cam concave portion and provided above said locking member, said first hinge shaft passing through and engaging with said first locking cam member, and a second locking cam member having a second cam concave portion and provided below said locking member, said second hinge shaft passing through and engaging with said second locking cam member.

7. The biaxial hinge according to claim 5, wherein said friction torque generating means comprises a friction plate provided, wherein said first hinge shaft rotatably passes through between a selective rotation restricting means and a flange portion of said first hinge shaft, and said second hinge shaft rotatably passes through between said selective rotation restricting means and a flange portion of said second hinge shaft;

an upper first A friction washer and an upper second A friction washer provided on both side portions of said friction plate such that they are restricted in rotation by said first hinge shaft;

a lower first B friction washer and a lower second B friction washer provided on both side portions of said friction plate such that they are restricted in rotation by said second hinge shaft.

8. The biaxial hinge according to claim 5, wherein said stopper means comprises a first stopper piece provided on an outer circumference of said first locking cam member;

a second stopper piece provided on an outer circumference of said second locking cam member;

a first stopper portion and a second stopper portion provided on said slide guide member.