1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a hinge assembly employed in an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable electronic device generally includes a cover, a main body, and a hinge assembly rotatably connecting the cover to the main body.
The hinge assembly includes a supporting member, a connecting member, a pivotal shaft, a stationary member, a rotating member, a plurality of elastic members, a frictional washer, and a screw nut.
To open or close the cover, an external force is applied on the cover to rotate the cover. The pivotal shaft and the connecting member rotate and drive the rotating member to rotate relative to the stationary member. The elastic members provide an axial force such that the rotating member abuts the stationary member. As a result, the cover remains in a desired position due to a friction force between the rotating member and the stationary member.
Generally, the elastic members are compression spring. Therefore, a protecting washer is needed to protect the elastic members. A protecting washer increases the number of the components in the hinge assembly, thereby increasing assembly cost.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.
Referring to
The supporting member 31 includes a base portion 311 and a supporting portion 312. The base portion 311 and the supporting portion 312 cooperatively form a substantially L-shaped structure. The base portion 311 defines a plurality of mounting holes 3111 such that the supporting member 31 is able to be fixed on a main body (not shown) of an electronic device (not shown). The supporting portion 312 defines a circular pivot hole 3121 to receive the pivotal shaft 36 and a position hole 3122 adjacent to the pivot hole 3121.
The connecting member 32 includes an assembly portion 321 and a connecting portion 322 extending from a periphery of the assembly portion 321. The assembly portion 321 defines a plurality of assembly holes 3211 such that the connecting member 32 is able to be fixed on a cover (not shown) of the electronic device. The connecting portion 322 defines a non-circular hole 3221 (
The frictional washer 33 defines a circular pivot hole 331 in a center and a plurality of oil holes 332 adjacent to the pivot hole 331. Lubricant stored in the oil holes 332 can enter a space defined by the connecting portion 322 and the supporting portion 312 to reduce abrasion.
The stationary member 34 includes an engaging surface 342 and a resisting surface 343 opposite to the engaging surface 342. The stationary member 34 defines a circular pivot hole 345 through the engaging surface 342 and the resisting surface 343. The stationary member 34 forms two position protrusions 3421 on the engaging surface 342 and a locking protrusion 3431 on the resisting surface 343. The locking protrusion 3431 may be received in the position hole 3122 such that the stationary member 34 is non-rotatable relative to the connecting member 32.
The rotating member 35 includes a receiving surface 351 and a position surface 353 opposite to the receiving surface 351. The rotating member 35 defines a non-circular hole 355 in a center of the rotating member 35 and two receiving depressions 357 adjacent to the non-circular hole 355. The position protrusions 3421 are receivable in the receiving depressions 357.
The pivotal shaft 36 can be made of amorphous alloy. The pivotal shaft 36 includes a shaft portion 361 and an elastic portion 362. The shaft portion 361 includes a first end 3611 and a second end 3613 opposite to the first end 3611. The elastic portion 362 is integrally formed with the shaft portion 361 on the second end 3613. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic portion 362 is hemispherical and surrounds the second end 3613 of the shaft portion 361. The elastic portion 362 includes a top 3623 and a bottom 3621 opposite to the top 3623 (see
Since the pivotal shaft 36 is made of amorphous alloy, the elastic portion 362 is elastic and has enough mechanical strength. Alternatively, the shaft portion 361 can be made of other elastic material such as spring steel.
Referring to
To assemble the hinge assembly 30 on the electronic device, the connecting member 32 is fixed on the cover, and the supporting member 31 is fixed on the main body. Thus, the cover and the rotating member 35 are non-rotatable relative to the pivotal shaft 36, and the main body and the stationary member 34 are rotatable relative to the pivotal shaft 36.
To open or close the cover, an external force is applied to rotate the cover, the cover drives the connecting member 32 to follow the rotation, then the connecting member 32 drives the pivotal shaft 36 to rotate, the pivotal shaft 36 drives the rotating member 35 to rotate. Simultaneously, the elastic portion 362 is deformed and provides an axial force to push the rotating member 35 to firmly engage with stationary member 34. Thus, the cover remains in a desired position due to a friction force between the rotating member and the stationary member.
It should be pointed out that, since the elastic portion 362 provides axial force, there is no need for an extra elastic member, and a length of the shaft portion 361 can be reduced. In addition, the elastic portion 362 also has a function to prevent the components such as rotating member 35 from detaching from each other. As a result, a number of the components is reduced, that facilitate to assemble.
It can be understood that, the position protrusions 3421 may be formed on the receiving surface 351, the receiving depressions 357 may be defined in the engaging surface 342. In addition, the supporting member 31 and the connecting member 32 may be omitted, the stationary member 34 may be directly fixed on the main body, and the rotating member 35 may be directly fixed on the cover.
Finally, while various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the embodiments are not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008 1 0304601 | Sep 2008 | CN | national |
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