The present invention relates to a hinge device that includes a rotation-side member that is supported rotatably on a stationary-side member, and that is such that the rotation-side member is held at a specified angle with respect to the stationary-side member, and relates in particular to a hinge device whose rotation-side member can be rotated by a small amount of force.
A terminal (such as a personal computer, a word processor, or a mobile phone), an LCD monitor, or the like can have a structure wherein its display can be opened up from, or closed on, its main body. Also, in the structure of a typical western-style toilet bowl, the seat and toilet seat cover can be opened or closed. In such opening and closing, it is preferable that the rotation-side member, such as the display or cover, be held at an appropriate angle against the stationary-side member, so that the display or comparable moving part can be easily viewable, and so that operability of the item can be improved.
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H09-196048 discloses a hinge device wherein a rotation-side member is rotatably supported on a stationary-side member, and wherein said rotation-side member is held at a specified angle. With this hinge device, a friction washer and a spring washer are overlaid on a rotary shaft that is located between the rotation-side member and the stationary-side member, and the rotation-side member is held at a specified angle by the friction force that is generated between the large-diameter portion of the rotary shaft and said washers. Also, in this structure, a torsion coil spring to energize the rotation-side member in the opening direction is wound around the rotary shaft, so as to reduce the force needed to rotate the rotation-side member in the opening direction.
This hinge device is designed to improve the procedure of rotating the rotation-side member in one direction only, namely in opening the rotation-side member. When the rotation-side member is completely open after having been rotated 180 degrees, a large force is then necessary to reversely rotate the rotation-side member of this hinge device—namely, to rotate the rotation-side member in the closing direction i.e., to close the rotation-side member. Because the torsion coil spring energizes the rotation-side member in the opening direction, it is necessary—when performing a reverse rotation to close the rotation-side member—to apply an operating force large enough to overcome not only the friction force of the washer but also the energizing force from the torsion coil spring. Thus, such a hinge device improves operability only in opening the rotation-side member, and has the disadvantage of deteriorated operability in closing it.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 3420991 discloses a hinge device that improves the operability of rotation of a rotation-side member in both the forward and reverse directions. With this hinge device, a rotation-side hinge member that is connected with a rotation-side member is formed so as to have a shaft-like shape, and this shaft-like rotation-side hinge member is rotatably inserted in a supporting hole of a stationary-side hinge member that is connected with a stationary-side member. Due to this insertion, frictional resistance is generated between the outer periphery of the rotation-side hinge member and the inner periphery of the supporting hole. This frictional resistance makes it possible for the rotation-side member to be held at a specified angle.
In addition, a coil spring is arranged between the shaft-like rotation-side hinge member and the supporting hole of the stationary-side hinge member. The coil spring is placed on the shaft-like rotation-side hinge member under the condition that the coil spring extends in the lengthwise direction of the rotation-side hinge member. When the rotation-side hinge member rotates from its neutral position in either the forward or reverse direction, the coil spring energizes the rotation-side hinge member in a manner so as to reversely rotate the rotation-side hinge member to return it to the neutral position. With this hinge device, the torque of the coil spring acts on the rotation-side member in both the opening operation and the closing operation, and therefore this hinge device is capable of improving operability in both the forward and reverse directions (both the opening and closing directions).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H09-196048
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 3420991
The hinge device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3420991 has the following problems.
(1) Because a coil spring is used to reduce the operating force in both the forward and reverse directions, a space for accommodating the diameter of the coil spring is necessary, and thus the entire hinge device becomes so large in its radial direction that the hinge device cannot be downsized.
(2) Because the torque of the coil spring varies depending on how many times the coil has been wound, the torque can vary greatly. Also, because the torque varies depending on the number of times the coil has been wound, it is difficult to adjust the torque of the coil spring to zero at its neutral position, and the entire hinge device easily moves when the coil is in the neutral position, resulting in noise.
(3) The rotation-side member is held at a desired angle by the frictional resistance between the outer periphery of the rotation-side hinge member and the inner periphery of the supporting hole. Therefore, in order to generate the desired frictional resistance, the axial length of the entire device inevitably becomes long, and it is difficult to shorten the length.
(4) It is necessary for this hinge device to have a switching member for switching the torque of the coil spring and applying the torque when rotating the rotation-side member in either the forward or reverse direction. Therefore, this hinge device requires a large number of parts, and thus its structure becomes complicated. Accordingly, assembly of this hinge device is troublesome, and it is impossible to reduce the weight of the hinge device and to produce a lightweight hinge device.
One object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device that solves the above-mentioned problems of the hinge device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3420991. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a hinge device that is easy to downsize, provides easy adjustment of torque at the neutral position, and whose structure is simplified so as to facilitate its assembly.
A hinge device of claim 1 comprises
a friction-force generating mechanism that has a shaft supporting—rotatably in both the forward and reverse directions—a rotation-side member on the stationary-side member, and that uses friction force to hold the angle of the rotated rotation-side member, and
a torsion bar that penetrates through said shaft in the axial direction, with one end of said torsion bar directly or indirectly fixed to said stationary-side member, and the other end of said torsion bar directly or indirectly fixed to the rotation-side member, and that—by being twisted by the rotation of the rotation-side member in either the forward or reverse direction—stores torque that energizes the rotation-side member in the direction opposite to said rotation of the rotation-side member.
The friction force of the friction-force generating mechanism of the invention of claim 1 holds the angle of the rotation-side member at a specified position. The torsion bar penetrates through a shaft of the friction-force generating mechanism. When the torsion bar is twisted as the rotation-side member rotates, torque is generated in the torsion bar in the direction opposite to the rotation of the rotation-side member, and this torque acts on the rotation-side member in such a way that the rotation-side member can be rotated—by little operating force—in both the forward and reverse directions.
In the invention of claim 1, the torsion bar is used as an energizing means that functions in such a way that the amount of force necessary to rotate the rotation-side member with less operating force in either the forward or reverse directions can be reduced, and because the torsion bar penetrates through the shaft of the friction-force generating mechanism, the friction-force generating mechanism and the torsion bar take up only a small space radially, and therefore downsizing is possible. Also, it is easy to adjust the torque of the torsion bar—when it is at its neutral position—to approximately zero, because variation in the torque, which depends on how many times the coil has been wound, is small.
Furthermore, the torsion bar—as it is—is able (1) to be twisted in both the forward and reverse directions, and (2) to store torque whose direction is opposite to either the forward or reverse direction of the rotation-side member. For this reason, a switching member is not necessary, and therefore the hinge device requires only a small number of members, making it easy to assemble and to downsize.
An invention of claim 2 is a hinge device as described in claim 1, and
wherein said torsion bar is arranged in such a way that the torque is approximately zero when the rotation-side member is approximately perpendicular to the stationary-side member, and that
said torque increases as the angle of the rotation-side member changes, from its approximately perpendicular position, due to the rotation of the rotation-side member in the forward or reverse direction.
In the invention described in claim 2, the torque of the torsion bar—when the rotation-side member is approximately perpendicular to the stationary-side member (the neutral position)—is approximately zero, and therefore it is possible for the rotation-side member to be stably held at said neutral position by the friction-force generating mechanism. Also, because the torque (which is in the opposite direction to the rotation of the rotation-side member) of the torsion bar increases along with the rotation of the rotation-side member—in either the forward or reverse direction—starting from the neutral position, the force to rotate the rotation-side member in said opposite direction can be reduced, thereby improving operability in both the forward and reverse directions.
An invention of claim 3 is a hinge device as described in claim 1 or 2, and wherein
hinge brackets—which are connected with the stationary-side member and the rotation-side member, respectively—are attached to said shaft, and
said torsion bar penetrates through these hinge brackets.
In the invention of claim 3, because the torsion bar penetrates through the hinge brackets connected with the stationary-side member and the rotation-side member, the hinge brackets do not need to have spaces where the torsion bar is to be arranged, and thereby downsizing is possible.
An invention of claim 4 is a hinge device as described in any of claims 1 to 3, and wherein
at least one end of said torsion bar is exposed outside the shaft, and
the exposed end is directly fixed to either the stationary-side member or the rotation side member.
In the invention of claim 4, because at least one end of the torsion bar is directly fixed to either the stationary-side member or the rotation-side member, no additional member is needed for fixing the torsion bar. Therefore, the number of parts of the hinge device is reduced, and the weight and cost thereof also can be reduced.
An invention of claim 5 is a hinge device as described in claim 3 or 4, and wherein
one end of said torsion bar is fixed to and engaged with either a hinge bracket of the corresponding stationary-side member or the corresponding rotation-side member.
Because the end of the torsion bar is engaged with the hinge bracket of the stationary-side member or the rotation-side member, twisting of the torsion bar is surely performed by rotation of the rotation-side member, thereby always storing torque.
An invention of claim 6 is a hinge device as described in any of claims 3 to 5, and wherein
there is formed in said hinge bracket a relief part that prevents twisting of the torsion bar when the angle of the rotation-side member against the stationary-side member is within a predetermined range.
In the invention of claim 6, because the relief part in the hinge bracket prevents twisting of the torsion bar, it is possible to set the amount of torque—generated by the torsion bar when the rotation-side member rotates—within a desired range, and therefore the hinge device can have more variety in its design.
An invention of claim 7 is a hinge device as described in claim 1, and wherein
said friction-force generating mechanism is equipped with a spring washer that (1) is formed so as to have a U-shaped cross-section, and (2) directly or indirectly overlaps and comes into contact with said shaft under a condition that the spring washer is bent.
In the invention of claim 7, because the spring washer for generating friction force is formed so as to have a U-shaped cross-section, the spring washer always is directly or indirectly in contact with the shaft. This makes it possible for the rotation-side member to be stably held at a desired angle by friction force.
In each below-described embodiment of the hinge device, the rotation-side member 3 is arranged on a bearing portion 4 that rotatably supports the rotation-side member 3, so that the rotation-side member 3, which can rotate if pushed, is held at whatever angle is desired. In this case, the rotation-side member 3 shown by solid lines is in the neutral position, where said rotation-side member 3 is approximately perpendicular to the stationary-side member 2. Also, the rotation-side member 3 can rotate within a range of about 180 degrees with respect to the stationary-side member 2.
The hinge device in the present invention will be explained in detail below, with reference to the illustrations of embodiments. Also, in the embodiments, the same number is given to each corresponding part for the sake of consistency.
FIGS. 2 to 8 show Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in
a mounting shaft part 13a, whose cross-section has an oval shape by being cut in such a way that the top side of its cross-section and the bottom side of its cross-section are parallel to each other,
a shaft part 13b that coaxially with the mounting shaft part 13a extends to the opposite side of the mounting shaft part 13a,
a large-diameter, flange part 13c that is formed integrally with said mounting shaft part 13a and said shaft part 13b in the boundary area between these latter two parts, and
a through-hole 13d, whose cross-section is circular and which penetrates through the shaft 13 in the axial direction. A torsion bar 14, which will be described later, is inserted into the through-hole 13d so as to penetrate the shaft 13 in the axial direction.
In addition to the shaft 13, the friction-force generating mechanism 12 is equipped with a friction plate 17 (see
As shown in
The outside diameter of the spring washer 18 also is approximately equal to the outside diameter of the flange part 13c of the shaft 13. As shown in
The spring washer 18 is bent so that its cross-section has a U-shape, and it is mounted to the shaft 13 under this bent condition. Because the spring washer 18 is formed so that its cross-section has a U-shape, the spring washer 18 can surely come into contact with the other part with which it is to be connected (i.e., the rotation-side hinge bracket 16 in this embodiment), so that stable friction force can be obtained.
As shown in
As shown in
To assemble the hinge device 11 of this embodiment, as shown in
Meanwhile, the main body 14a of the torsion bar 14 is inserted through the shaft part 13b of the shaft 13 from the direction of the stationary-side hinge bracket 15, and the lock part 14b is locked to the lock hole 16d of the rotation-side hinge bracket 16. Also, the tip of the shaft part 13b is clamped, so that the main body 14a of the torsion bar 14 is fixed onto the shaft 13—namely, onto the stationary-side hinge bracket 15 that is restrained from rotating against the shaft 13. Thereby, one end of the torsion bar 14 is fixed to the rotation-side hinge bracket 16 and the other end is fixed to the stationary-side hinge bracket 15. Also, via these hinge brackets 16 and 15, one end of the torsion bar 14 is indirectly fixed to the rotation-side member 3 and other end is fixed to the stationary-side member 2.
Then, the stationary-side hinge bracket 15 is fixed to the stationary-side member 2, and the rotation-side hinge bracket 16 is fixed to the rotation-side member 3, so as to incorporate the hinge device 11 into a personal computer 1 as shown in
When the rotation-side member 3 is rotated, the torsion bar 14 is twisted via the rotation-side hinge bracket 16, and therefore torque (return torque) in the direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of the rotation-side member 3 is stored in the torsion bar 14. Accordingly, the weight of the rotation-side member 3 is sustained by the resultant force of both the friction torque of the friction-force generating mechanism 12 and the return torque of the torsion bar 14. Therefore, the force needed to move the rotation-side member 3 in the direction that is opposite to the preceding direction—in
In this embodiment, the torsion bar 14 for reducing the operating force in both the forward and reverse directions penetrates through the shaft 13 of the friction-force generating mechanism 12, and therefore the friction-force generating mechanism 12 and the torsion bar 14 take up only a small space radially, and thus downsizing is possible. Also, the torsion bar 14, in contrast to a coil spring whose torque varies depending on the number of its coils, shows little variation in torque, which can arise from variation in the number of coils of coil spring. Therefore, the torque can be easily adjusted, and the friction-force generating mechanism 12 and the torsion bar 14 remain stable after torque adjustment, and therefore move almost not at all or make no noise. Furthermore, the torsion bar 14 is able, as it is, without any modification, to store torque in the direction opposite to both the forward and reverse rotation directions, and therefore a switching member for switching the direction of the torque is not necessary, reducing the number of parts needed for the hinge device. Therefore, assembly of the hinge device becomes easier, and its weight and cost can be reduced.
In this embodiment, under the condition that the rotation-side member 3 is stopped at a neutral position—which means that the rotation-side member 3 is approximately perpendicular to the stationary member 2—as shown in
After the torque at the neutral position has been adjusted to approximately zero, then when the rotation-side member 3 rotates from the neutral position in the direction shown by arrow A in
FIGS. 9 to 12 show Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
As shown in
The torsion bar 14 of Embodiment 2 is similar to that of Embodiment 1 (see
The fiction-force generating mechanism 22 comprises—in addition to the shaft 23—a friction plate 17 (shown in
The friction-force generating mechanism 22 also has a retainer plate 28. The retainer plate 28 is formed so as to have the same shape as that of the friction plate 17, and it has a non-circular axial hole (not shown), through which the shaft 23 penetrates under an engaged condition. Thereby, the retainer plate 28 is mounted to the shaft 23 under a rotation-restraining condition.
As shown in
As shown in
Of the mounting plate parts 25b that are on the two sides of the fixing plate part 25a, the mounting plate part 25b that is positioned on the shaft 23 side is to be mounted to the shaft 23, and therefore is formed so as to have a non-circular axial hole 25c, through which the shaft 23 penetrates. The other shaft part 23b of the shaft 23 penetrates through the axial hole 25c, so that the stationary-side hinge bracket 25 is mounted to the shaft 23 under the condition that the stationary-side hinge bracket 25 restrains the rotation of the shaft 23. Furthermore, rectangular supporting holes 25f, through which the torsion bar 14 penetrates, are formed in the mounting plate parts 25b on both sides of the fixing plate part 25a.
In the hinge device 21 of this embodiment, the friction plate 17, the mounting plate 26b of the rotation-side hinge bracket 26, the spring washer 18, and the retainer plate 28 are sequentially mounted to the shaft part 23a of the shaft 23. In this case, the spring washer 18 is arranged in such a way that the peak of its U-shape makes contact with the mounting plate part 26b of the rotation-side hinge bracket 26. Then, one end of the shaft part 23a of the shaft 23 is clamped under the condition that the mounting plate part 26b is pressurized and bent, so as to form the friction-force generating mechanism 22.
In addition, the torsion bar 14 penetrates through the through-hole 23d of the shaft 23, and then penetrates through the non-circular supporting holes 25f in the mounting plate parts 25b of the stationary-side hinge bracket 25. Then, the U-shaped lock part 14b is engaged with the lock hole 26d of the rotation-side hinge bracket 26, and the end of the torsion bar 14 that has penetrated through the non-circular supporting holes 25f of the stationary-side hinge bracket 25 is clamped and deformed, so that the torsion bar 14 is mounted under the condition that the torsion bar 14 is prevented from being detached. Thereby, both ends of the torsion bar 14 are indirectly fixed—via the stationary-side hinge bracket 25 and the rotation-side hinge bracket 26—to the rotation-side member 3 and the stationary-side member 2.
In this embodiment, the torsion bar 14 has a non-circular cross-section and penetrates through the supporting holes 25f—whose shapes are the same as the cross-section of the torsion bar 14—in the stationary-side hinge bracket 25, so that the torsion bar 14 is mounted in a manner so as to be restrained from rotating.
The hinge device 21 in Embodiment 2 has similar functions and effects to those of the hinge device 11 in Embodiment 1. In particular, because the shaft 23 is short, the hinge device 21 is advantageous in that its weight can be less than that of the hinge device of Embodiment 1.
FIGS. 13 to 15 show Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
The torsion bar 34 is formed so as to have a rectangular cross-section.
As shown in
The stationary-side hinge bracket 35 is formed into a shape that is approximately the same as that of the corresponding part of Embodiment 2. Therefore, the mounting plate parts 35b are formed on both sides of the stationary plate part 35a in such a way that the mounting plate parts 35b are perpendicular to the stationary plate part 35a, and fixing holes 35e are formed in the stationary plate part 35a. Also, non-circular (rectangular) supporting holes 35f, through which the torsion bar 34 penetrates, are formed on both sides of the mounting plate parts 35b, and on the shaft 23 side of the mounting plate part 35b there is formed a non-circular axial hole 35c, through which the shaft 23 penetrates under a rotation-restraining condition. The stationary-side hinge bracket 35 is mounted to the shaft 23 under a rotation-restraining condition.
In this embodiment a friction-force generating mechanism 32 can be assembled, as in Embodiment 2. The linear torsion bar 34 is mounted by penetrating through the supporting holes 36f of the mounting plate parts 36b on both sides of the rotation-side hinge bracket 36, the shaft 23, and then the supporting holes 35f of the mounting plate parts 35b on both sides of the stationary hinge bracket 35. Then, both ends of the torsion bar 34 are clamped and deformed so that the torsion bar 34 cannot be detached. Thereby, the two ends of the torsion bar 34 are indirectly fixed—via the stationary-side hinge bracket 35 and the rotation-side hinge bracket 36—to the rotation-side member 3 and the stationary-side member 2, respectively.
This embodiment has similar functions and effects to those of Embodiments 1 and 2.
Because of the aforementioned relief parts 35f, the torsion bar 34 is not twisted in the area of the relief parts F even when the rotation-side member 3 is rotated against the stationary-side member 2 so as to give torsion to the torsion bar 34. Accordingly, even when the rotation-side member 3 is rotated, return torque is not stored in the torsion bar 34 as long as the torsion bar 34 is in the area of the relief parts F. In such an embodiment, the range within which return torque is to be generated in the torsion bar 34 can be changed according to the desired rotation angle of the rotation-side member 3. Therefore, the present invention offers increased freedom of design, making possible a greater variety of such hinge devices.
FIGS. 17 to 22 show Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the hinge device 41 of this embodiment, the friction-force generating mechanism 42 comprises
a shaft 23,
a friction plate 17 that is overlaid on the flange part 23c of the shaft 23 in such a way that the surface of friction plate 17 makes contact with the surface of the flange part 23c of the shaft 23,
a spring washer 18 that nips the mounting plate part 45b of the stationary-side hinge bracket 45 that is placed between the spring washer 18 and the friction plate 17, and
a retainer plate 28 that is overlaid on the spring washer 18.
The rotation-side hinge bracket 45 comprises
fixing plate part 45a, which is formed so as to have holes 45e for fixing it to the stationary-side member 2, and
a mounting plate part 45b, which is formed integrally with and perpendicular to the stationary plate part 45a, and which has a axial hole 45c, whose shape is similar to that of the cross-section of the shaft 23, and a lock hole 45d for locking one end of the torsion bar 44. The stationary-side hinge bracket 45 is mounted to the shaft 23 under a rotation-restraining condition.
The rotation-side hinge bracket 46 comprises
a fixing plate part 46a, which is formed so as to have holes 46e for fixing it to the rotation-side member 3, and
a mounting plate part 46b, which is formed integrally with and perpendicular to the stationary plate part 46a, and which has a circular axial hole 46c, through which the shaft 23 penetrates. The rotation-side hinge bracket 46 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 23.
In this embodiment, the above-mentioned friction-force generating mechanism 42 is assembled in the hinge device 41, as shown in
After the friction-force generating mechanism 42 is mounted, the torsion bar 44 penetrates through it, starting with linear end of the torsion bar 44. The torsion bar 44 first penetrates the retainer plate 28 and then penetrates the friction-force generating mechanism 42. After the penetration is complete, the penetrated linear end of the torsion bar 44 is folded into the aforementioned U-shape, forming the lock part 44b. The lock part 44b is then inserted into the lock hole 45d of the stationary-side hinge bracket 45 and locked therein, and the tip of the lock part 44b is clamped and smashed, so as to prevent the torsion bar 44 from being detached. In this way, assembly of this embodiment of the hinge device 41 is completed.
In this hinge device 41, as shown in
Under such a structure, as is similar to that of Embodiment 1, the friction-force generating mechanism 42 holds the rotation-side member 3 at a specified angle. Also, as the rotation-side member 3 rotates in the forward or reverse direction, the torsion bar 44 is twisted, and therefore return torque in the opposite direction is stored in the torsion bar 44. Accordingly, the rotation-side member 3 can be rotated in the opposite direction with less force, which improves operability.
In this embodiment, the torsion bar 44 is directly fixed to the rotation-side member 3, and therefore no other members than the screws 49, 50 are necessary for fixing the torsion bar 44. Therefore, the total number of parts needed to make the hinge device is reduced, its structure is simple, its weight is reduced, its assembly is easier, and it can be produced less expensively.
In this embodiment, the mounting parts 44c at the two ends of the torsion bar 44 can be directly fixed—with screws and the like—to both the stationary-side member 2 and the rotation-side member 3, respectively. Therefore, no other members than screws or the like are necessary for fixing the torsion bar 44 to both the stationary-side member 2 and the rotation-side member 3, so that the number of parts for the hinge device can be reduced even further, and thus the weight and cost of the hinge device also can be reduced further.
The hinge device of the present invention has the following advantages: Because of the torsion bar, the force necessary to rotate the rotation-side member in the forward or reverse direction is reduced. And because the torsion bar penetrates through the shaft of the friction-force generating mechanism, the entire hinge device takes up only a small space radially, and therefore downsizing of the hinge device is possible. Further, the torsion bar shows less variation in its torque than a conventional hinge device does, and thus the torque at the neutral position can be easily adjusted. In addition, because the torsion bar can store torque whose direction is opposite to the forward or reverse direction of the rotation-side member, a switching member is not necessary, and so the number of parts for the entire hinge device can be reduced. Also, the structure of the hinge device is simple, its assembly is easy, and its weight is low.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-285465 | Aug 2003 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP04/11064 | 8/2/2004 | WO | 2/1/2006 |