Biaxial Hinge and Terminal Device Using the Same

• US 20150362958A1
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Original Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Inventors: SHANG, Qilong
• Granted Patent: US 10,401,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/082 with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/122 Gear hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/04 Flat flaps
• 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 biaxial hinge in which a first casing and a second casing of a terminal device can open and close 360 degrees relative to each other, with a simplified structure, enhanced opening and closing speed and an improved operability. A first hinge shaft attached to the second casing via a first attaching plate is rotatable in parallel to a second hinge shaft attached to the first casing via a second attaching plate with help of several joint members. A module for restricting rotation of the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft is provided in association with the joint members. The module for restricting rotation includes modules for generating friction torque, modules for sucking, stopper modules for restricting a rotation angle of the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft, and a module for synchronously rotating hinge shafts.

Claims

1. A biaxial hinge which couples a first casing with a second casing, said first casing being thereby capable of opening and closing relative to said second casing,

said biaxial hinge comprising:

a first hinge shaft attached to said second casing via a first attaching plate; and

a second hinge shaft attached to said first casing via a second attaching plate, said first hinge shaft being rotatable in parallel to said second hinge shaft with help of a plurality of joint members;

a means for restricting rotation of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft being provided in association with said joint members;

said means for restricting rotation comprising;

means for generating friction torque, one provided on said first hinge shaft and other on said second hinge shaft;

means for sucking, one provided on said first hinge shaft and other on said second hinge shaft;

stopper means, one provided on said first hinge shaft and other on said second hinge shaft, for restricting a rotation angle of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft; and

a means for synchronously rotating hinge shafts which allows one of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft to synchronously rotate with a rotation of other hinge shaft, thereby one hinge shaft rotating in a direction opposite to other hinge shaft.

2. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, wherein said means for synchronously rotating hinge shafts comprises a first gear attached to said first hinge shaft, a rotation of said first gear being restrained, and a second gear meshed with said first hinge shaft and attached to said second hinge shaft, a rotation of said second gear being restrained.

3. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, wherein said means for synchronously rotating hinge shafts comprises a first gear attached to said first hinge shaft, a rotation of said first gear being restrained, a second gear meshed with said first hinge shaft and attached to said second hinge shaft, a rotation of said second gear being restrained, and an intermediate gear provided between said first gear and said second gear, conveying a rotation of one of said first gear and said second gear to other gear, in order to rotate said first gear and said second gear in different direction.

4. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, the stopper means consisting of a first stopper means and a second stopper means;

said first stopper means comprising;

a first A bearing hole provided in an upper part of a stopper plate member also functioning as a first joint member, said first hinge shaft passing through said first A bearing hole, said first hinge shaft being thereby rotatable;

a first stopper projection provided on the outside of said first A bearing hole; and

a first projection provided on said first hinge shaft side, said first projection abutting against said first stopper projection or not, depending on a rotation angle of said first hinge shaft;

said second stopper means comprising;

a first B bearing hole provided in a lower position of said stopper plate also functioning as said first joint member, said second hinge shaft passing through said first B bearing hole, said second hinge shaft being thereby rotatable;

a second stopper projection provided on the outside of said first B bearing hole; and

a second projection provided on said second hinge shaft, said second projection abutting against said second stopper projection or not, depending on a rotation angle of said second hinge shaft.

5. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, said means for generating friction torque consisting of a first means for generating friction torque and a second means for generating friction torque;

said first means for generating friction torque comprising;

a first friction washer attached to said first hinge shaft, a rotation of said first friction washer being restrained, said first friction washer being provided between a gear supporting member also functioning as second joint member and a cam plate member also functioning as third joint member; and

a first elastic means provided on said first hinge shaft for bringing said gear supporting member and said cam plate member into pressurized contact with said first friction washer;

said second means for generating friction torque comprising;

a second friction washer attached to said second hinge shaft, a rotation of said second friction washer being restrained, said second friction washer being provided between a gear supporting member and said cam plate member; and

a second elastic means provided on said second hinge shaft for bringing said gear supporting member and said cam plate member into pressurized contact with second first friction washer.

6. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, the means for sucking consisting of a first means for sucking and a second means for sucking;

said first means for sucking comprising;

a first A cam concave portion and a first B cam concave portion, each of said first A cam concave portion and said first B cam concave portion having a substantially circular arc shape, provided outside on one side of said third A bearing hole of a cam plate member also functioning as third joint member, said first hinge shaft rotatably passing through said third A bearing hole;

a first cam follower comprising a first A cam convex portion and a first B cam convex portion on a side facing said first A cam concave portion and said first B cam concave portion, a rotation of said first cam follower being restrained by said first hinge shaft and said first cam follower being thereby attached to said first hinge shaft; and

a first elastic means for bringing said first A cam concave portion into a pressurized contact with said first A cam convex portion on one hand, and said first B cam concave portion into a pressurized contact with said first B cam convex portion on the other;

said second means for sucking comprising;

a second A cam concave portion and a second B cam concave portion, each of said second A cam concave portion and said second B cam concave portion having a substantially circular arc shape, provided outside on one side of said third B bearing hole of a cam plate member also functioning as third joint member, said second hinge shaft rotatably passing through said third B bearing hole;

a second cam follower comprising a second A cam convex portion and a second B cam convex portion on a side facing said second A cam concave portion and said second B cam concave portion, a rotation of said second cam follower being restrained by said second hinge shaft and said second cam follower being thereby attached to said second hinge shaft; and

a second elastic means for bringing said second A cam concave portion into a pressurized contact with said second A cam convex portion on one hand, and said second B cam concave portion into a pressurized contact with said second B cam convex portion on the other.

7. A terminal device, comprising the biaxial hinge according to claim 1.