Hinge device and mobile apparatus having the same

Abstract

A mobile device has a first object, a second object, and a hinge device to slide open and close the second object with respect to the first object. The hinge device has a sliding unit that is slidable with respect to a first object, and a rotary unit that is rotatable with respect to the sliding unit, and engaged with the second object. The hinge device requires a relatively smaller space to be installed in the mobile apparatus so that the mobile apparatus can be smaller. Furthermore, there is no installation line for the hinge device so that the aesthetic design of the mobile apparatus is more refined.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hinge device;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the hinge device of FIG. 1 when installed in a mobile apparatus;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an upright camcorder having the hinge device of FIG. 1 with the display part closed;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an upright camcorder having the hinge device of FIG. 1 with the display part opened;

FIG. 4A is a front view of a hinge device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the hinge device of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the hinge device of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exterior of an upright camcorder having the hinge device of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIGS. 7A through 7E are views illustrating the operation of an upright camcorder having a hinge device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views illustrating the operation of an upright camcorder having a hinge device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge device comprising: a sliding unit that is slidable with respect to a first object; anda rotary unit that is rotatable with respect to the sliding unit, and engaged with a second object.

2. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding unit comprises: a sliding body; anda first connection portion to engage the sliding body with the first object.

3. The hinge device according to claim 2, wherein the sliding body is curved.

4. The hinge device according to claim 2, wherein the first connection portion protrudes from the sliding body.

5. The hinge device according to claim 2, wherein the sliding body comprises: a first connection opening to receive the first connection portion; anda second connection opening to receive the rotary unit.

6. The hinge device according to claim 5, wherein the first connection portion comprises: a first elastic member inserted in the first connection opening; andguide protrusions elastically supported at opposite ends of the first elastic member to protrude outside the sliding body.

7. The hinge device according to claim 6, wherein the guide protrusions slide along a guide recess in the first object.

8. The hinge device according to claim 7, wherein the guide recess is provided with a locking part, and the sliding body comprises a locking protrusion corresponding to the locking part.

9. The hinge device according to claim 5, wherein the rotary unit comprises: a rotary body engaged with the second object;a first rotary shaft disposed on the rotary body, and engaged with the second connection opening;a cam formed on the first rotary shaft to control rotation of the rotary body; anda second elastic member formed on the first rotary shaft to press the cam.

10. The hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the rotary body comprises a fixing member to fix the second object.

11. The hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the rotary body comprises a second connection portion rotatably engaged with the second object.

12. The hinge device according to claim 11, wherein the second connection portion comprises: a third elastic member inserted in an axial opening formed in the rotary body; andsecond rotary shafts elastically supported at opposite ends of the third elastic member to protrude out of the rotary body.

13. The hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the cam comprises: a first cam having a protrusion; anda second cam having a hole corresponding to the protrusion.

14. The hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the rotary unit further comprises a detector to detect the angle of rotation of the first rotary shaft.

15. The hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the sliding body and the rotary body each comprises a cable passageway formed therein.

16. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the first object comprises a body of a mobile device and the second object comprises a display part.

17. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the first object comprises a display part of a mobile device, and the second object comprises a body of the mobile device.

18. A mobile device, comprising: a first object;a second object; anda hinge device to slide open and close the second object with respect to the first object.

19. The mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the hinge device allows the second object to slidably open the first object and rotate.

20. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the hinge device comprises: a sliding unit that is slidable with respect to the first object; anda rotary unit that is rotatable with respect to the sliding unit, and engaged with the second object.

21. The mobile device according to claim 20, wherein the sliding unit comprises: a sliding body; anda first connection portion to engage the sliding body with the first object.

22. The mobile device according to claim 21, wherein the sliding body is formed with a predetermined curvature.

23. The mobile device according to claim 21, wherein the first connection portion protrudes from the sliding body.

24. The mobile device according to claim 21, wherein the sliding body comprises a first connection opening to accommodate the first connection portion, and a second connection opening to accommodate the rotary unit.

25. The mobile device according to claim 24, wherein the first connection portion comprises: a first elastic member inserted in the first connection opening; anda guide protrusion elastically supported at opposite ends of the first elastic member to protrude outside the sliding body.

26. The mobile device according to claim 25, wherein the guide protrusion slides along a guide recess in the first object.

27. The mobile device according to claim 26, wherein the guide recess comprises a locking part and the sliding body comprises a locking protrusion corresponding to the locking part.

28. The mobile device according to claim 24, wherein the rotary unit comprises: a rotary body engaged with the second object;a first rotary shaft disposed on the rotary body, and inserted into the second connection opening;a cam formed on the first rotary shaft to control the rotation of the rotary body; anda second elastic member formed on the first rotary shaft to press the cam.

29. The mobile device according to claim 28, wherein the rotary body comprises a fixing member to fix the second object.

30. The mobile device according to claim 28, wherein the rotary body comprises a second connection portion rotatably engaged with the second object.

31. The mobile device according to claim 30, wherein the second connection portion comprises: a third elastic member inserted in an axial opening formed in the rotary body; andsecond rotary shafts elastically supported at opposite ends of the third elastic member to protrude out of the rotary body.

32. The mobile device according to claim 28, wherein the cam comprises: a first cam comprising a protrusion; anda second cam comprising a receiving hole corresponding to the protrusion.

33. The mobile device according to claim 28, wherein the rotary unit further comprises a detector to sense the angle of rotation of the first rotary shaft.

34. The mobile device according to claim 28, wherein each of the sliding body and the rotary body comprises a cable passageway formed therein.

35. The mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the hinge device is formed inside the second object.

36. The mobile device according to claim 35, wherein the hinge device is formed at a corner of the second object.

37. The mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the first object is a main body, and the second object is a display part.

38. The mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the first object is a display part, and the second object is a main body.

39. A mobile device, comprising: a main body;a display part; anda hinge device connecting the display part to the main body so that the display part can be opened with respect to the main body, the hinge device comprising: a sliding unit that is engaged with and slidable with respect to the main body, the sliding unit having a cable passageway extending through the sliding unit; anda rotary unit that is engaged with and rotatable with respect to the sliding unit, and engaged with the display part, the rotary unit having a cable passageway extending through the sliding unit.

40. The mobile device according to claim 39, wherein the sliding unit comprises: a sliding body; anda first connection portion to engage the sliding body with the first object.

41. The mobile device according to claim 40, wherein the sliding body is curved.

42. The mobile device according to claim 41, wherein the first connection portion comprises guide protrusions that protrude from the sliding body to a guide recess in the main body.

43. The mobile device according to claim 42, further comprising means for retaining the sliding body in the guide recess.

44. The mobile device according to claim 43, wherein retaining means comprising: a locking part disposed on one of the sliding body and the guide recess; anda locking protrusion corresponding to the locking part disposed on the other of the sliding body and the guide recess.

45. The mobile device according to claim 39, wherein the rotary unit comprises: a rotary body engaged with the second object;a first rotary shaft disposed on the rotary body, and inserted into a second connection opening on the sliding unit;a cam formed on the first rotary shaft to control the rotation of the rotary body; anda second elastic member formed on the first rotary shaft to press the cam.