HINGE MODULE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20160153222A1
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Hu, Li-Hau
• Granted Patent: US 9,665,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/022 allowing an additional lateral movement, e.g. for sealing
• 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

Abstract

A hinge module including a first part, a pushing element, a second part and an elastic element is provided. The first part has a containing slot, and the pushing part is located in the containing slot and being able to move along a direction. The second part has a hinge shaft, which rotatably passes through the containing slot along an axis, so as to make the first part and the second part rotate about the axis. The elastic element is disposed in the containing slot and pushes the pushing element, and the elastic element always drives the pushing part to move along the direction, so as to make the hinge shaft to rotatably abut between the pushing part and the first part. The direction is perpendicular to the axis. An electronic device is also provided.

Claims

1. A hinge module, comprising:

a first part, having a containing slot;

a pushing element, movably disposed along a direction in the containing slot;

a second part, having a hinge shaft rotatably passing through the containing slot along an axis, so as to make the first part and the second part to rotate relatively about the axis; and

an elastic element, disposed in the containing slot and pushing the pushing element, wherein the elastic element constantly drives the pushing element to move along the direction, so as to make the hinge shaft to rotatably abut between with the pushing element and the first part, wherein the direction is perpendicular to the axis.

2. The hinge module according to claim 1, wherein the first part has a first cambered surface located on an inner wall of the containing slot, the first cambered surface movably contacts with the hinge shaft and has a rough structure to increase friction with the hinge shaft.

3. The hinge module according to claim 2, wherein the first cambered surface is divided into a first section and a second section, a distance of the first section relative to the axis is smaller than a distance of the second section relative to the axis, and the rough structure is located in the first section.

4. The hinge module according to claim 3, wherein the second part has a second cambered surface contacting with the first cambered surface, the second cambered surface is divided into a third section and a fourth section, and a distance of the third section relative to the axis is smaller than a distance of the fourth section relative to the axis.

5. The hinge module according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adjustment member, movably assembled to the second part along the direction and the elastic element abutting between the adjustment member and the pushing element.

6. The hinge module according to claim 1, wherein the first part has a first protrusion, the second part has a second protrusion, and when the first part and the second part are rotated relatively, the first protrusion and the second protrusion move on a moving path around the axis, such that when the first part and the second part are rotated relatively around the axis to an angle, the first protrusion is stopped by the second protrusion.

7. The hinge module according to claim 1, wherein the pushing element further comprises a slot for containing part of the elastic element.

8. The hinge module according to claim 1, wherein the containing slot has a guide groove on at least one side wall parallel to the direction, an extension direction of the guide groove is parallel to the direction, and the pushing element further comprises a guide protrusion used to slide in the guide groove.

9. The hinge module according to claim 1, wherein the first part, the second part and the pushing element are made of plastic.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a first body;

a second body; and

a hinge module, comprising;

a first part, connected to the first body and having a containing slot;

a pushing element, movably disposed along a direction in the containing slot;

a second part, connected to the second body and having a hinge shaft rotatably passing through the containing slot along an axis, so as to make the first part and the second part to rotate relatively about the axis; and

an elastic element, disposed in the containing slot and pushing the pushing element, wherein the elastic element constantly drives the pushing element to move along the direction, so as to make the hinge shaft to rotatably abut between the pushing element and the first part, wherein the direction is perpendicular to the axis.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the first part has a first cambered surface located on an inner wall of the containing slot, the first cambered surface movably contacts with the hinge shaft and has a rough structure to increase friction with the hinge shaft.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the first cambered surface is divided into a first section and a second section, a distance of the first section relative to the axis is smaller than a distance of the second section relative to the axis, and the rough structure is located in the first section.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the second part has a second cambered surface contacting with the first cambered surface, the second cambered surface is divided into a third section and a fourth section, and a distance of the third section relative to the axis is smaller than a distance of the fourth section relative to the axis.

14. The electronic device according to claim 10, further comprising:

an adjustment member, movably assembled to the second part along the direction and the elastic element abutting between the adjustment member and the pushing element.

15. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the first part has a first protrusion, the second part has a second protrusion, and when the first part and the second part are rotated relatively, such that when the first part and the second part are rotated relatively around the axis to an angle, the first protrusion is stopped by the second protrusion.

16. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the pushing element further comprises a slot for containing part of the elastic element.

17. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the containing slot has a guide groove on at least one side wall parallel to the direction, an extension direction of the guide groove is parallel to the direction, and the pushing element further comprises a guide protrusion used to slide in the guide groove.

18. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the first part, the second part and the pushing element are made of plastic.