HINGE STRUCTURE

• US 20160326786A1
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Po-Yi, Yeh, Yi-Chang, Chuang, Huei-Ting
• Granted Patent: US 9,534,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/106 with non-cylindrical portions
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/18 with sliding pins or guides
• 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

A hinge structure including a first shaft, a second shaft and a moving component is provided. The first shaft and the second shaft respectively have a guiding portion and a first screw thread and a second screw thread located at the guiding portion. Each of the first screw threads is connected to the corresponding second screw thread. The moving component is respectively coupled to the two guiding portions. When the first shaft and the second shaft rotate with each other through the moving component to switch between a first state and a second state, the moving component is guided by the first screw threads and the second screw threads to move along a direction parallel to the first shaft back and forth.

Claims

1. A hinge structure, comprising:

a first shaft;

a second shaft, parallel to the first shaft, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft respectively have a guiding portion and a first screw thread and a second screw thread which are located on the guiding portion, each of the first screw threads is connected with the corresponding second screw thread, an extending direction of each of the first screw threads is parallel to an axial direction of the corresponding first shaft or second shaft, and an extending direction of each of the second screw threads is inclined to the axial direction of the corresponding first shaft or second shaft; and

a moving component, coupled to the two guiding portions, wherein when the first shaft and the second shaft relatively rotate with each other through the moving component to switch between a first state and a second state, the moving component is adapted to be guided by the first screw threads and the second screw threads so as to move back and forth in a direction parallel to the first shaft;

in the first state, the moving component respectively coupled to the second screw thread of the first shaft and the first screw thread of the second shaft;

in the second state, the moving component respectively coupled to the first screw thread of the first shaft and the second screw thread of the second shaft.

2. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a helix angle of each of the first screw threads is smaller than a helix angle of the corresponding second screw thread.

3. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a helix angle of each of the first screw threads is equal to 0 degree.

4. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft respectively further have a third screw thread located on the guiding portion, each of the third screw threads is connected with the corresponding first screw thread and second screw thread, when the first shaft and the second shaft relatively rotate with each other through the moving component to switch between the first state and the second state, the moving component is adapted to be guided by the first screw threads, the second screw threads and the third screw threads so as to move back and forth in the direction parallel to the first shaft.

5. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein an extending direction of each of the third screw threads is inclined to the axial direction of the corresponding first shaft or second shaft.

6. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the helix angle of each of the second screw threads is greater than a helix angle of the corresponding third screw thread, and the helix angle of each of the third screw threads is greater than the helix angle of corresponding first screw thread.

7. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein between the first state and the second state, the moving component is sequentially respectively coupled to the second screw thread of the first shaft and the third screw thread of the second shaft, coupled to the second screw thread of the first shaft and the second screw thread of the second shaft, and coupled to the third screw thread of the first shaft and the second screw thread of the second shaft.

8. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the moving component is coupled to the second screw thread of the first shaft and before moves from the first screw thread to the third screw thread of the second shaft, the second shaft is unmoved and the first shaft rotates in a first rotation direction.

9. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the moving component is coupled to the second screw thread of the second shaft and before moves from the third screw thread to the first screw thread of the first shaft, the first shaft is unmoved and the second shaft rotates in a second rotation direction.

10. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a guide shaft, parallel to the first shaft and located between the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the moving component is movably disposed on the guide shaft.

11. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first frame body, connected to the first shaft; and

a second frame body, connected to the second shaft, wherein an opening angle of the first frame body with respect to the second frame body is adapted to change with a relative rotation between the first shaft and the second shaft through the moving component.

12. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hinge structure is suitable for an electronic device, the electronic device comprises a first body and a second body, the first body and the second body respectively have a work surface and a back surface opposite to the work surface, the first frame body is connected with the first body, and the second frame body is connected with the second body;

in the first state, the opening angle is equal to 0 degree, and the two work surfaces of the first body and the second body face each other;

in the second state, the opening angle is equal to 360 degrees, and the two back surfaces of the first body and the second body face each other.

13. The hinge structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein when the opening angle is equal to 180 degrees, the two back surfaces of the first body and the second body are coplanar.