1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge device used for a portable intelligence terminal structured with a first member composed of a keyboard main body and a second member composed of a display device, in particular, suitable for use in connecting the second member, which is comparatively massive at a portion of the display device, to the first member in a openable and closable manner relatively.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Conventionally, as this kind of a hinge device, a technology disclosed in a Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-337008 is well-known.
A hinge device disclosed in this laid-open patent official gazette includes: a shaft having an arresting portion at an end portion; a case body having a rotation arresting means allowing the shaft to be inserted through axially at the central portion and to be arrested at an arresting portion; a slider cam slidably arrested in a key groove provided on an open end side of the case body in the axial direction and having a cam portion at one end, and at the same time, allowing the shaft to be inserted through axially at the central portion; a fixing cam having a cam portion at an end confronting to the cam portion of the slider cam and allowing the shaft to be inserted through axially at the central portion; and a compression spring rounded around the shaft, being accommodated in the case body, and installed resiliently between the case body and the slider cam.
Since a purpose of a hinge device shown in the laid-open patent official gazette is to control an opening-and-closing operation of the display device, being the second member, to the keyboard main body, being the first member, only with a cam mechanism, there arises a disadvantage that even for a compact type portable intelligence terminal having a comparatively massive display device, being the second member, it is difficult to realize both an automatic closed lock function from a predetermined closed angle, and a free-stop function at the time of opening and closing operation with regard to the keyboard main body, being the first member, of the display device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device for a portable intelligence terminal which can realize both an automatic closed lock function from a predetermined closed angle and a free-stop function at the time of opening and closing operation at the same time with a structure as simple as possible, when an opening and closing operation of a display device, which is comparatively massive second member, is conducted with regard to a keyboard main body, being the first member.
In order to achieve the object described above, the present invention discloses a hinge device connecting a first member and a second member being opened and closed relatively, provided with a cam mechanism and a friction mechanism disposed on a shaft coaxially, wherein the cam mechanism includes a fixing cam provided by allowing a shaft to insert through axially at each central portion into a cam case side having a rotation arresting means fixed on the shaft, a slider cam provided slidably in a manner to confront to the fixing cam, being restrained its rotation by the cam case, and an elastic means to press the slider cam toward the fixing cam side; wherein the friction mechanism includes: a friction case having a rotation arresting means attached to the shaft in a manner to be rotatable, and a friction ring attached to the shaft and fitted in the friction case with pressure.
The present invention further discloses a hinge device connecting a first member and a second member being opened and closed relatively, provided with a cam mechanism and a friction mechanism disposed on a shaft coaxially; wherein the cam mechanism includes a fixing cam provided by allowing a shaft to insert through axially at each central portion into a cam case side having a rotation
At that time, the clamping nut can be replaced by caulking an end portion of the shaft.
The present invention still further disclose a hinge device connecting a first member and a second member being opened and closed relatively, having a pair of cam mechanism disposed on a shaft coaxially on the shaft, wherein each cam mechanism includes a fixing cam provided by allowing a shaft to insert through axially at each central portion into a cam case side having a rotation arresting means fixed on the shaft, a slider cam provided slidably in a manner to confront to the fixing cam, being restrained its rotation by the cam case, and an elastic means to press the slider cam toward the fixing cam side.
In any case of the invention described above, at least one portion of each cam portion provided on the fixing cam and the slider cam of each cam mechanism is formed in a plane portion so that friction torque is generated.
Drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. In
The hinge devices A and A relating to the present invention are used for connecting the keyboard main body 2, being the first member, and the display device 3, being the second member, so that the key board main device and the display device can open and close relatively to each other, and installed between attachment portions 2a and 2a of the keyboard main body 2 and attachment portions 3a and 3a of the display device. Though the hinge devices A and A are provided in a pair in this drawing, they can be in one piece. Since the hinge devices A and A are bilaterally symmetrical, and they are structured in the same way, the explanation thereof will be made hereinafter for a left hinge device A in
The structure of a cam mechanism 4 affected by an elastic means is as follows. Firstly, in
On the open end side of the cam case 6, a slider cam 8 is slidably accommodated axially, being restrained its rotation by the cam case 8, while allowing the shaft 5 to insert through into a through hole 8a provided oxially at the central portion, and allowing a pair of key portions 8b and 8b provided on the outside thereof to engage with a key grooves 6d and 6d provided on the periphery of the cam case 6. An elastic means 9 composed of a compression spring wound around the shaft 5 is disposed between the slider cam 8 and the side wall 6b of the cam case 6.
A fixing cam 10 is disposed at a position confronting to the slider cam 8, allowing the shaft 5 to insert through into a through hole 10a provided axially at the central portion, the fixing cam 10 is locked at one side of a flange portion 11a of a friction ring attachment portion 11 in a friction mechanism, to be described later, which is provided on one side of the shaft 5, and is in a state that its rotation is restricted by a cam guide 12 having a rotation arresting means 12b which has a flat portion on the outside thereof. A method of arresting the rotation of the fixing cam 10 at the cam guide 12 is conducted by engaging a concave groove 10b of the fixing cam 10 inserted into a deformed attachment hole 12a with a convex portion 12c of the deformed attachment hole 12a provided on the cam guide 12, but it is not limited to this method.
On the confronting faces of the slider cam 8 and the fixing cam 10, cam portions 13 and 14 composed of convex portions 13a and 14a, and concave portions 13b and 14b whose respective upper surfaces are flat, are disposed.
A structure of a friction mechanism 15 is as follows. A reference number 16 denotes a friction case which has a side wall 16a, opens at one end, and is provided with a rotation arresting means 16b composed of a flat portion on the outer periphery. A shaft 5 is inserted axially at the central portion of the friction case 16, and rotatably supported in a through hole 16c provided on the side wall 16a. The friction case 16 is locked at the shaft 5 by the E ring 5c attached to on the other end portion of the shaft so as not to be got out. In the inside of the friction case 16, a friction torque generation hole 16d is provided concentrically with a through hole 16c, and in this friction torque generation hole 16d, three pieces of friction rings 17 made of, for instance, rubber, is press fitted to the friction ring attachment portion 11 between the flange portions 5b, 5b formed to the shaft 5. Incidentally, though not shown, between the friction ring 17 and the friction torque generation hole 16d, viscous lubricant oil, for instance, silicone oil, is applied.
Therefore, as shown in
As shown in
As for the case that an opened display device 3 is closed with regard to the keyboard main body 2, when the display device 3 is opened at an angle of 110° or more, the convex portion 13a of the cam portion 13 in the slider cam 8 meets with some resistance at the time of getting out from the concave portion 14b of the cam portion 14 in the fixing cam 10. However, from an angle of 110°, the display device 3 is closed with regard to the keyboard main body 2 in a free-stop state, due to a synergistic effect of friction torque generated from a state of pressure contact of respective convex portions 13a and 14a of respective cam portions 13 and 14 and friction torque of the friction mechanism 15 as shown in
From an angle of about 10° just before the display device 3 is closed, since the convex portion 13a of the cam portion 13 in the slider cam 8 slides down from the convex 14a of the cam portion 14 in the fixing cam 10 into the concave portion 14b, the display device 3 is automatically closed, and locked not to open naturally in a closed state by a suction force generated at that time.
Thus, the hinge device of this embodiment locks the display device 3 in a closed state with regard to the keyboard main body 2, can open to a usage angle in a free-stop state, and at the usage angle, while the display device is kept stably, it can be closed as if it were inhaled just before closing of the display device 3 by the cam mechanism 4. At the time of opening and closing operation of the display device 3, a soft opening and closing feeling is given to an operator by the friction mechanism, and a buffering effect at the time of closing can be realized.
Therefore, a portion of the friction mechanism 22 is allowed to insert into the deformed attachment hole 2b provided on the attachment portion 2a of the keyboard main body, being the first member, the cam guide 12 and the bracket 24 are engaged with the deformed attachment hole 2b, and then a portion of the cam case 6 is allowed to insert and lock at the deformed attachment hole 3b provided on the attachment portion 3a of the display device 3, being the second member, thereby assembling of the hinge device B is completed.
When the display device 3 opens with regard to the keyboard main body 2 from this closed state, since the cam case 6 rotates together with the shaft 20 and the slider cam 8 as shown in
Subsequently, when the display device 3 is closed, at about 10° which is a closed position, owing to the rotary torque generated when the convex portion 13a of the cam portion 13 in the slider cam 8 fits in the concave portion 14b of the cam portion 14 in the fixing cam 10, the display device 3 is closed as if being inhaled and locked in a closed state.
It should be noted that on which face of the first friction washer or the second friction washer should the friction torque of the friction mechanism 22 be generated can be freely selected other than that in the embodiment and the clamping nut 28 can be replaced by caulking of the end portion of the shaft 20.
On the one of both end portions of the shaft 30, a first cam case 38 with an open end and provided with a rotation arresting means 38a having a concave groove on the periphery is arranged allowing the shaft 30 to insert through inside in the axial direction, and a deformed portion 30a provided on an end of the shaft 30 is allowed to insert into a deformed through hole 38c provided on a side wall 38b of the first cam case 38 and fixed so that the shaft 30 is arrested with a attachment pin in order not to get out.
On the other end of both end portions of the shaft 30, a second cam case 40 with an open end is arranged allowing the shaft 30 to insert through inside in the axial direction similarly, and the shaft 30 is allowed to insert into a through hole 40b provided on a side wall 40a, so that the shaft 30 is arrested with a deformed flange portion 30b in order not to get out while the deformed flange portion 30b is engaged into a deformed hole.
On an aperture sides in the first and second cam cases 38 and 40, a pair of first slider cam 41 and second slider cam 42 are provided confronting to the first and second fixing cam 33 and 34, allowing the shaft 30 to insert through into through holes 41a and 42a provided axially at the central portion, a first and second elastic means 43 and 44 allowing to wind around the shaft 30, composed of a compression spring are disposed between respective first and second slider cams 41 and 42, and respective side walls 38b and 40a of the first and second cam cases 38 and 40, so that the first and second slider cams are always forced slidably toward respective first and second fixing cam sides.
Respective first and second slider cams 41 and 42 are provided with a pair of first and second key portions 41b and 42b on the outer periphery, the shaft 30 can be slide in the axial direction by engaging respective first and second key portions 41b and 42b with a first and second key grooves 38d and 40c provided in the cam cases 38 and 40.
On confronting surfaces of respective first and second fixing cams 33, 34 and respective first and second slider cams 41 and 42, first and second cam portions 45 and 46 composed of convex portions 45a, 45a and 46a, 46a and concave portions 45b, 45b and 46b, 46b similarly to the above-described respective embodiment are provided.
Accordingly, as shown in
When the display device 3 is opened and closed with the regard to the keyboard main body, the first cam case 38 rotates together with the shaft 30 and the first slider cam 41, and the second cam case 40 rotates together with the shaft 30 and the second slider cam 42. Then, since respective first and second convex portions 45a and 46a of respective first and second cam portions 45 and 46 in the closed state of the display device 3 are separated from first and second concave portions 45b and 46b of respective first and second fixing cam 34 and rotate in a pressure contact state with respective flat first and second convex portions 45a and 46a of respective first and second cam portions 45 and 46 in respective first and second fixing cam 33 and 34, friction torque is generated, respective first and second slider cam 41 and 42 can stably suspend the display device 3 especially at an open angle about 100° which is its usage angle. It is of course possible here to open the display device to 180° with regard to the keyboard main body 2. It is possible to select the friction torque at that time at will by arbitrary selecting the shapes of respective first and second cam portions 45 and 46.
When the display device 3 is closed with regard to the keyboard main body 2, at just before its closed position (for instance about 10°), since respective first and second convex portions 45a and 46 of respective first and second cam portions 45 and 46 in the first and second slider cams 41 and 42 are forced to rotate in the closed direction when they slide down into respective first and second concave portions 45b and 46b of respective first and second cam portions 45 and 46 in respective first and second fixing cam 33 and 34, the display device 3 is closed as if being inhaled naturally even taking the hand off. And in this closed state, the display device 3 is locked to prevent itself from opening naturally after closed.
It should be noted that, as another embodiment, the cam case 6 and the cam case 38 can be attached to the attachment portion 2a on the keyboard main body 2 side, being the first member, and each of the rotation arresting means provided on the outside and inside of the cam cases 6, 38, on the outside of the friction case 16, and respective outsides of the fixing cam 10, the slider cams 8, 13, and the cam guides 12, 36 and 37 is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is also acceptable to be structured that the flange portion of the shaft is provided in the opposite direction from that in the above-described embodiments so that the cam cases 6 and 38 are locked with E rings. Further, the shapes of deformed portions, deformed attachment portions, and deformed through holes of respective shafts of the fixing cams and the fixing members are not limited to those in the embodiments, they can be formed in various well-known shapes. As for materials used in the shaft, respective cases, the fixing cams, the fixing members and slider cams are not limited to that in the embodiment, material such as SUS, POM, and the like can be used as necessary, though for materials for the shafts, the fixing cams, and the slider cams, it is desirable to use hard material made of metal because strength and abrasion resistance are required.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2002-375954 | Dec 2002 | JP | national |
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/746,580 filed Dec. 24, 2003 which is incorporated here by reference, and which claimed priority on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-375954 filed Dec. 26, 2002, which claim is repeated here.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10746580 | Dec 2003 | US |
Child | 11211903 | Aug 2005 | US |