ELECTRONIC APPARATUS HAVING HINGE ASSEMBLIES WITH COVER UNITS

• US 20150176317A1
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Myoung-ku
• Granted Patent: US 9,243,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/10 Pins, sockets or sleeves; Removable pins E05D15/522 takes precedence
• 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

An electronic apparatus includes first and second device units, at least one hinge assembly configured to pivotally connect the second device unit to the first device unit and including a plurality of shaft members, and a plurality of cover units mounted on the at least one hinge assembly to hide the at least one hinge assembly. Each of the cover units includes a first cover member to hide a first side of the at least one hinge assembly and a second cover member to hide a second side of the at least one hinge assembly, a second cover member of each of the cover units is partially overlapped with an adjacent second cover member while the first and second device unit are folded, and a relative position of second cover members is changed according to an angle at which the first and second device units are unfolded.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

first and second device units;

at least one hinge assembly configured to pivotally connect the second device unit to the first device unit and including a plurality of shaft members; and

a plurality of cover units mounted on the at least one hinge assembly to hide the at least one hinge assembly,

wherein each of the cover units includes a first cover member to hide a first side of the at least one hinge assembly and a second cover member to hide a second side of the at least one hinge assembly, and

a second cover member of each of the cover units is partially overlapped with an adjacent second cover member while the first and second device unit are folded, and a relative position of second cover members is changed according to an angle at which the first and second device units are unfolded.

2. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of shaft members are changed in their arrangements according to an angle of rotation between the first and second device units.

3. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second cover member comprises:

a main cover surface; and

a auxiliary cover surface formed extending from the main cover surface,

wherein the auxiliary cover surface has the hidden arrangement when the shaft members are arranged along a plane surface, and has the exposed arrangement when the shaft members are arranged along a curved surface.

4. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shaft members are arranged along the plane surface when the electronic apparatus is in a folded state, and are arranged along the curved surface when the electronic apparatus is an unfolded state.

5. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the auxiliary cover surface has the exposed arrangement, a gap between two of the cover units is hidden by the main cover surface.

6. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the auxiliary cover surface has the exposed arrangement, a gap space between two of the main cover surfaces is hidden by the auxiliary cover surface.

7. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cover units further comprises:

a shaft connection member connected to at least one corresponding shaft member of the plurality of shaft members,

wherein the first cover member coupled to the shaft connection member so as to be arranged on an upper side of the shaft connection member; and

wherein the second cover member coupled to the shaft connection member so as to be arranged on a lower side of the shaft connection member.

8. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second cover member comprises:

a main cover portion; and

an auxiliary cover portion formed extending from the main cover portion.

9. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the main cover portion and the auxiliary cover portion form a shape of a step.

10. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a distance between the shaft members and the main cover portion is longer than a distance between the shaft members and the auxiliary cover portion.

11. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a gear unit mounted on the shaft members to connect the plurality of shaft members through gear engagement.

12. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gear unit comprises a first gear train and a second gear train arranged in parallel with each other, and each of the first and second gear trains includes a plurality of gear members connected in series to each other.

13. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second gear trains comprises at least one coupling gear member configured to constantly maintain a gap between the plurality of shaft members.

14. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coupler members configured to constantly maintain a gap between the plurality of shaft members.

15. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge assembly comprises two hinge assemblies having the same structure.

16. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device unit is a main body portion of the electronic apparatus, and the second device unit is a display portion of the electronic apparatus, the display portion having a display screen.

17. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a first device unit and a second device unit;

a hinge assembly configured to rotatably connect the second device unit to the first device unit and including a plurality of shaft members; and

a plurality of cover units mounted on the hinge assembly to cover the hinge assembly,

wherein each of the cover units includes a cover surface to hide a side of the hinge assembly, and

the cover surface includes an auxiliary cover surface having one of a hidden arrangement and an exposed arrangement according to an angle of rotation between the first and second device units.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a hinge assembly including a plurality of shaft members; and

a plurality of cover units mounted on the hinge assembly to cover the hinge assembly,

wherein each of the cover units includes a cover surface to hide a side of the hinge assembly, and

the cover surface includes an auxiliary cover surface having one of a hidden arrangement and an exposed arrangement according to arrangement states of the shaft members.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cover includes a first cover member configured to hide a first side of the hinge and a second cover member configured to hide a second side of the hinge regardless of the angle formed between the first and second portions, and

wherein the second cover member includes a first cover surface configured to continuously hide the second side of the hinge and a second cover surface configured to hide the second side of the hinge when the hinge is arranged along a curve.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a hinge having a first shaft between first and second portions of the apparatus, a second shaft between the first shaft and the second portion, and configured to connect the first and second portions; and

a cover mounted on the hinge and configured to hide the hinge regardless of an angle formed between the first and second portions.