SYNCHRONOUS FOLDING DEVICE

• US 20140174227A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Dome Corporation
• Original Assignee: First Dome Corporation
• Inventors: HSU, AN SZU, DAI, WAY HAN
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/98
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/14 with four parallel pins and two arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/62 Synchronisation of suspension or transmission members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1888 Geared connections

Abstract

A synchronous folding device includes two opposing folding members and a multi-joint rotary axle structure mounted between the two folding members. The multi-joint rotary axle structure has two ends which can be folded or unfolded synchronously. The multi-joint rotary axle structure includes a driving joint assembly and a driven joint assembly. The driving joint assembly includes two opposing joint plates and a middle link plate. Two ends of the driving joint assembly are respectively connected to the two opposing folding members. Each joint plate of the driving joint assembly can be turned free through plural turning centers so that both ends can be closed or opened synchronously for the folding device to be folded or unfolded accurately.

Claims

1. A synchronous folding device, comprising two opposing folding members and a multi-joint rotary axle structure mounted between the two folding members, the multi-joint rotary axle structure having two ends which are able to be folded or unfolded synchronously.

2. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises at least one driving joint assembly and at least one driven joint assembly which are connected through a pivot means;

the driving joint assembly comprising two opposing joint plates and a middle link plate assembly, the two opposing joint plates comprising a first joint plate and a second joint plate, the two opposing joint plates having synchronous actuating portion at respective inner ends thereof, the middle link plate assembly having connecting actuating portions at two ends thereof to mate with the synchronous actuating portions;

the driven joint assembly being pivotally connected between the inner ends of the two opposing joint plates, the driven joint assembly comprising at least two first and second driven plates which are driven synchronously and inward, the inner ends of the two opposing joint plates being pivotally connected with outer ends of the first and second driven plates, the two ends of the middle link plate assembly being pivotally connected with inner ends of the first and second driven plates.

3. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two opposing joint plates have outer axle holes and inner axle holes close to respective two ends thereof, the middle link plate assembly having axle holes close to the two ends thereof, the two driven plates having outer axle holes and inner axle holes, the inner axle holes of the two opposing joint plates being respectively linked with the outer axle holes of the two driven plates and connected by axle pins, the axle holes of the middle link plate assembly being respectively linked with the inner axle holes of the two driven plates and connected by another axle pins.

4. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two opposing joint plates have outer axle holes and inner axle holes close to respective two ends thereof, the middle link plate assembly having axle holes close to the two ends thereof, the two driven plates having outer axle holes and inner axle holes, the inner axle holes of the two opposing joint plates being respectively linked with the outer axle holes of the two driven plates and connected by axle pins, the axle holes of the middle link plate assembly being respectively linked with the inner axle holes of the two driven plates, at least one of the outer ends of the first and second joint plates being formed with an insertion head, a connection member being provided between one of the two folding members and the insertion head, the connection member having an insertion trough to receive the insertion head.

5. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connection member is separate from the corresponding folding member and connected by a lock member.

6. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, the connection member is integrally formed with the corresponding folding member.

7. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner axle holes of the two opposing joint plates, the axle holes of the middle link plate assembly and the inner axle holes of the two driven plates have flanges at respective inner peripheries thereof for the axle pins to be connected tightly.

8. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner axle holes of the two opposing joint plates, the axle holes of the middle link plate assembly and the inner axle holes of the two driven plates have flanges at respective inner peripheries thereof for the axle pins to be connected tightly.

9. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the middle link plate assembly comprises at least two connected middle link plates, the middle link plates each having synchronous actuating portions at opposing ends thereof to connect with each other, between the first driven plate and the second driven plate of the driven joint assembly being connected with at least one middle driven plate, opposing ends of the middle link plate being pivotally connected to two ends of the middle driven plate.

10. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the middle link plate assembly comprises at least two connected middle link plates, the middle link plates each having synchronous actuating portions at opposing ends thereof to connect with each other, between the first driven plate and the second driven plate of the driven joint assembly being connected with at least one middle driven plate, opposing ends of the middle link plate being pivotally connected to two ends of the middle driven plate.

11. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the middle link plate assembly comprises at least two connected middle link plates, the middle link plates each having synchronous actuating portions at opposing ends thereof to connect with each other, between the first driven plate and the second driven plate of the driven joint assembly being connected with at least one middle driven plate, opposing ends of the middle link plate being pivotally connected to two ends of the middle driven plate.

12. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the middle link plate assembly comprises at least two connected middle link plates, the middle link plates each having synchronous actuating portions at opposing ends thereof to connect with each other, between the first driven plate and the second driven plate of the driven joint assembly being connected with at least one middle driven plate, opposing ends of the middle link plate being pivotally connected to two ends of the middle driven plate.

13. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the middle link plate assembly comprises at least two connected middle link plates, the middle link plates each having synchronous actuating portions at opposing ends thereof to connect with each other, between the first driven plate and the second driven plate of the driven joint assembly being connected with at least one middle driven plate, opposing ends of the middle link plate being pivotally connected to two ends of the middle driven plate.

14. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pivot means are axle pins, the axle pins having respective extension portions, the folding members having corresponding recesses to accommodate the extension portions.

15. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivot means are axle pins, the axle pins having respective extension portions, the folding members having corresponding recesses to accommodate the extension portions.

16. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivot means are axle pins, the axle pins having respective extension portions, the folding members having corresponding recesses to accommodate the extension portions.

17. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pivot means are axle pins, the axle pins having respective extension portions, the folding members having corresponding recesses to accommodate the extension portions.

18. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are corresponding toothed portions.

19. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are corresponding toothed portions.

20. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are corresponding toothed portions.

21. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are corresponding toothed portions.

22. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are corresponding toothed portions.

23. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are opposing rubbing parts.

24. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are opposing rubbing parts.

25. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are opposing rubbing parts.

26. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are opposing rubbing parts.

27. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are opposing rubbing parts.

28. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are interconnected synchronous pulling parts.

29. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are interconnected synchronous pulling parts.

30. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are interconnected synchronous pulling parts.

31. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are interconnected synchronous puffing parts.

32. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synchronous actuating portions and the connecting actuating portions are interconnected synchronous pulling parts.

33. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

34. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

35. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

36. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

37. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

38. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

39. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.

40. The synchronous folding device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the multi-joint rotary axle structure comprises a plurality of driving joint assemblies and driven joint assemblies which are connected by a plurality axle pins.