Biaxial hinge and terminal device using the same

• US 9,714,533 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Original Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Inventors: Kuramochi, Ryuta
• Primary Examiner(s): MAH, CHUCK Y
• Application Number:
  US14/878,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20160102487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/122 Gear hinges
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 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

In order to provide a biaxial hinge and terminal device which ensure that a first and a second casings can open and close 360 degrees relative to each other, as well as enable a keyboard portion and rubber feet to sink relative to the upper surface of the first casing, from a predetermined opening/closing angle, the biaxial hinge comprises a biaxial hinge portion and an actuating mechanism for actuating operating mechanism(s) working on keyboard and rubber feet. Further, the actuating mechanism comprises a cam part moving in association with the movement of the biaxial hinge portion and together with opening/closing operations of the first and the second casings, and a slide part of which an end contacts with the cam part. The slide part is further provided on the attaching plate attached to the first and the second hinge shafts so as to start moving from a predetermined opening/closing angle.

Claims

1. A biaxial hinge of a terminal device, consisting of tablet notebook PC, which couples a first casing on the keyboard side and a second casing on the display side, thereby these casings being openable and closable 360 degrees relative to each other via said biaxial hinge,

said biaxial hinge comprising a biaxial hinge portion and an actuating mechanism for actuating an operating mechanism working on a keyboard or rubber feet provided on said first casing;

said biaxial hinge portion comprising;

a first hinge shaft attached to a first actuating plate mounted on said first casing; and

a second hinge shaft attached to a second actuating plate mounted on said second casing,

said first hinge shaft being coupled in parallel to said second hinge shaft via a plurality of joint members, said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft being rotatable in a synchronous manner with each other but in different directions via a synchronous rotating mechanism;

said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft being rotatable in a synchronous manner with each other but in different directions via a synchronous rotation mechanism;

said synchronous rotation mechanism comprising;

a gear supporting member which passed through said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft in a rotatable manner, an intermediate gear provided between a lower projecting portion and an upper projecting portion of said supporting member in a rotatable manner;

a first gear attached to the first hinge shaft and meshed with a lower bevel tooth portion of said intermediate gear; and

a second gear attached to the second hinge shaft and meshed with an upper bevel tooth portion of the intermediate gear;

said actuating mechanism comprising;

a cam member attached to said first hinge shaft, said cam member being rotatable together with opening and closing operations of said first casing and said second casing;

an actuating member slidably mounted on said first actuating plate along with said cam member; and

elastic means interposed between said actuating member and said first actuating plate for urging a sliding movement of said actuating member in one direction,

said actuating member abutting against said cam member and actuating said operating mechanism.

2. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1,

said first hinge shaft of said biaxial hinge portion being attached to said first casing via a first attaching plate, and said second hinge shaft being attached to said second casing via a second attaching plate, and said first hinge shaft being coupled in parallel to said second hinge shaft of said biaxial hinge portion via a plurality of joint members which rotatable inserted said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft;

a rotation controlling mechanism of said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft being provided in association with said joint members;

said rotation controlling mechanism comprising;

a synchronous rotation mechanism comprising a gear supporting member which passed through said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft in a rotatable manner, an intermediate gear provided between a lower projecting portion and an upper projecting portion of said supporting member in a rotatable manner, a first gear attached to the first hinge shaft and meshed with a lower bevel tooth portion of said intermediate gear, and a second gear attached to the second hinge shaft and meshed with an upper bevel tooth portion of the intermediate gear;

a friction torque generating mechanism consisting of a first friction torque generating mechanism and a second friction torque generating mechanism each provided on said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft for each energize rotation in one direction;

a sucking mechanism provided both on said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft for each energize rotation in one direction.

3. The biaxial hinge according to claim 2, said synchronous rotation mechanism comprising:

a gear supporting member also functioning as first joint member for pivotally supporting said first hinge shaft and said second hinge shaft;

an intermediate gear having a lower bevel tooth portion on a lower part and an upper bevel tooth portion on an upper part, said intermediate gear being pivotally supported between a lower projecting portion and an upper projecting portion in a rotatable manner;

a first gear meshed with said lower bevel tooth portion, the rotation of said first gear being restricted by said first hinge shaft, thereby said first gear being attached to said first hinge shaft; and

a second gear meshed with said upper bevel tooth portion, the rotation of said second gear being restricted by said second hinge shaft, thereby said second gear being attached to said second hinge shaft.

4. The biaxial hinge according to claim 2, said friction torque generating mechanism consisting of a first friction torque generating mechanism and a second friction torque generating mechanism, said first friction torque generating mechanism comprising:

a lower portion of a friction plate also functioning as second joint member;

a first A friction washer and a first B friction washer provided on both sides of said lower portion of said friction plate, between a first gear of said synchronous rotation mechanism and said cam plate member of said sucking mechanism of said biaxial hinge portion, such that said first A friction washer and said first B friction washer are rotatable together with said first hinge shaft; and

a first elastic means provided on said first hinge shaft for bringing said first A friction washer and said first B friction washer into press contact with said friction plate and said lower portion of said cam plate member;

said second friction torque generating mechanism comprising;

an upper portion of said friction plate also;

a second A friction washer and a second B friction washer provided on both sides of said upper portion of said friction plate, between a second gear of said synchronous rotation mechanism and said cam plate member of said sucking mechanism of said biaxial hinge portion, such that said second A friction washer and said second B friction washer are rotatable together with said second hinge shaft; and

a second elastic means provided on said second hinge shaft for bringing said second A friction washer and said second B friction washer into press contact with said friction plate and said upper portion of cam plate member.

5. The biaxial hinge according to claim 2, said sucking mechanism consisting of a first sucking mechanism and a second sucking mechanism, said first sucking mechanism comprising:

a first A concave portion and a first B concave portion, each having substantially a circular arc shape and provided outside a lower bearing hole of a cam plate member for bearing said first hinge shaft in a rotatably manner;

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

a first elastic means for bringing said first A concave portion into press contact with said first A convex portion, as well as said first B concave portion with said first B convex portion;

said second sucking mechanism comprising;

a second A concave portion and a second B concave portion, each having substantially a circular arc shape and provided outside on one side of an upper bearing hole of said cam plate member being provided by bearing said second hinge shaft in a rotatable manner;

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

a second elastic means for bringing said second A concave portion into press contact with said second A convex portion, as well as said second B concave portion with said second B convex portion.

6. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, said operating mechanism being a sinking mechanism of a keyboard portion,

said sinking mechanism consisting of a cam mechanism comprising a slide member slidably provided on the base plate, a plurality of cam members provided for holding the keyboard portion holding plate on the slide member at a predetermined interval from the latter for moving upwards and downwards a keyboard portion holding plate,

a keyboard portion being provided on an upper part of said keyboard portion holding plate, said keyboard portion holding plate moving in upper direction and lower direction in association with said slide movement of said actuating member of said actuating mechanism.

7. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, said actuating mechanism comprising:

a cam member attached to said first hinge shaft, thereby said cam member being rotatable together with said first hinge shaft;

an actuating member being slidably mounted on said first actuating plate mounted on said first casing along with a rotary movement of said cam member;

elastic means interposed between said first actuating plate and said actuating plate for urging a sliding movement of said actuating member in one direction; and

a joint member for linking said actuating member with said operating mechanism.

8. A terminal device using the biaxial hinge according to claim 1.