Patent Application
20070234513
The present invention relates to hinging devices, and more particularly, to a hinging device for jointing a main body and a display unit of an electronic device together.
A hinging device hinges two objects together so that one can swing relative to the other while being coupled to each other by means of the hinging device. Hinging devices in wide use are, namely hinges for swing doors (also known as “top and bottom bolts”), hinges for swing lids, and hinges for the main bodies and display units of notebook computers.
Compact and versatile, notebook computers are the most popular portable computers nowadays.
In general, portable computers have been through three stages: portables, laptops, and notebooks—characterized by ever-increasing functions as well as ever-decreasing weight and thickness. At present, most 12-inch ultra-thin notebook computers available on the market are less than 2 cm thick, indicating that the current trend in computer technology is towards miniaturization.
In the eyes of notebook computer manufacturers, an important means to downsize a notebook computer lies in integrating all its components and parts a new and designing the compression of the space occupied by its parts. Inevitably, the aforesaid means has negative effects upon the internal structure of notebook computers, most notably in hinge size and mechanical strength.
Users typically switch on and turn off notebook computers and other types of portable computers very often, thus a high standard of hinge size and mechanical strength is essential to the normal functioning of notebook computers despite the frequent repetitious switching thereof. On the other hand, smaller hinges are conducive to miniaturization of notebook computers. Related hinge technologies are disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Nos. 242741 and 489263.
Taiwanese Patent No. 242741 discloses a hinge structure characterized by two rotating shafts as well as a notebook computer equipped with the hinge structure. The hinge structure, through which an internal cable is routed, is intended for an electronic device having a first assembly and a second assembly. The hinge structure comprises a base installed on the first assembly and provided with both a shaft and a positioning bore, a rotation member penetrated by the shaft and rotably installed on the base, a pivot connected to the rotation member and the second assembly respectively, and a positioning assembly installed in the rotation member by resting on the base. The second assembly vertically rotates relative to the first assembly by means of the pivot, whereas the second assembly horizontally rotates relative to the first assembly by means of the rotation member, so as to lock the positioning assembly in the positioning bore as soon as the rotation member rotates a default angle relative to the base.
Nonetheless, such conventional technology has its drawbacks. First, as a result of the rotation of the hinge structure, the internal cable is pulled and damaged, thus reducing product reliability. Second, too many constituent members are required, and individual members are so complicated that they are expensive and bulky. Thirdly, with so many elements used, an assembling process is intricate, lengthy and laborious, and in consequence not only is the assembling process inefficient, but both the assembly cost and the maintenance cost are increased, to the detriment of the industrial use of the hinge structure.
Taiwanese Patent No. 489263 discloses a hinge applicable to notebook computers. The hinge connects a main body and a display unit of a notebook computer with free rotation, and it comprises a body fixed to the main body and equipped with a horizontally extended cylindrical hollow member, a shaft with one end fixed to the display unit and the other end connected to the body with free rotation, and a friction ring interposed between the shaft and the cylindrical hollow member of the body.
The known technology reflects the importance attached to the enhancement of the mechanical strength and durability of a hinge, but it does not efficiently reduce the damage done to an internal cable by a rotating hinge in the face of the trend towards miniaturization, not to mention that the problems with prior art, namely complicated structure, high costs, bulkiness, and complicated assembling processes, remain unsolved, to the detriment of the industrial use of the hinge structure.
Accordingly, it is extremely important for the industry to develop a simple hinge structure that spares an internal cable the rotation-induced damage, facilitates miniaturization, allows for ample wiring space and enhances product reliability with a view to increasing its potential for industrial use and solving various problems exiting in prior art.
In view of the drawbacks of the aforementioned conventional technology, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hinging device that protects a cable against rotation-induced damage.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hinging device conducive to miniaturization.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a hinging device that enhances product reliability.
In order to achieve the above and other objectives, a hinging device applicable to the main body and the display unit of an electronic device is provided according to the present invention. The hinging device comprises a first coupling element coupled to the main body, a second coupling element coupled to the display unit, and a connecting element provided with a first pivot member, a second pivot member and a cable holding member. The first and second pivot members share a common axis and are pivotally connected to the first and second coupling elements respectively. The cable holding member, interposed between the first and second pivot members, holds at least one cable connecting the main body and the display unit. In so doing, the present invention protects the cable from damage arising out of the rotation of the hinging device.
The aforesaid connecting element comprises a first side and a second side that are parallel. The first and second pivot members are coaxially installed on the first and second sides respectively. The cable holding member is interposed between the first and second sides. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second pivot members are, for example, protruding portions coaxially installed on the first and second sides respectively. In another preferred embodiment, the first and second pivot members are, for example, through-hole portions coaxially installed on the first and second sides respectively.
The cross section of the connecting element is preferably, but not limited to, U-shaped. The first coupling element is equipped with a through-hole portion corresponding to the first pivot member, whereas the second coupling element is equipped with a through-hole portion corresponding to the second pivot member. The first coupling element is equipped with at least one coupling cavity for being coupled with a fastening element, so as to couple the first coupling element to the main body, whereas the second coupling element is equipped with at least one coupling cavity for being coupled with a fastening element, so as to couple the second coupling element to the display unit. The fastening element may be a bolt.
The present invention proposes a hinging device wherein a connecting element is provided with a cable holding member intended to make good use of available space and streamline the wiring such that an internal cable is free of any pull when the hinging device rotates, thus protecting the cable against any damage arising out of the rotation of the hinging device, and simplifying the structure for protecting the cable against damage. In the present invention, with the exception of the cable holding member, the connecting element is made as large as possible to meet the strength requirements without introducing any new element. Furthermore, compared to the conventional technology, the present invention employs far less elements to have a shorter assembly time and an easier assembly so as to reduce structure cost, assembly cost and maintenance cost. Last but not least, the hinging device of the present invention protects a cable against any damage arising out of the rotation of the hinging device so as to enhance product reliability and increase its industrial value.
The following specific embodiments are provided to illustrate the present invention. Others skilled in the art will readily understand other advantages and functions of the present invention in accordance with the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be performed or applied by other different embodiments. Various modifications and changes based on different viewpoints and applications can be made in the details of the specification without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It should be noted that all the diagrams are simple schematic diagrams intended to schematically describe the basic structure of the present invention. Hence, in the diagrams, only those components related to the present invention are numbered, and the shown components are not drawn according to their actual quantity, shape and dimensions when implemented; in practice, the specifications and dimensions of the components are selectively devised indeed, and the layout of the components may be far more intricate.
Referring to
Referring to
The second coupling element 13 is coupled to the display unit 33. In the present embodiment, the second coupling element 13 has at least one coupling cavity 131 for being coupled with a fastening element (not shown), so as to couple the second coupling element 13 to the display unit 33. Similarly, installation of the coupling cavity 131 is not to be limited by the descriptions of the present embodiment, as far as shape, quantity and location are concerned; allocation of the coupling cavity 131 will be warranted as long as the coupling cavity matches the fastening elements and enables the coupling element 13 to be coupled to the display unit 33. Furthermore, the fastening element is, for example, a bolt or any other equivalent element.
The connecting element 15 comprises a first pivot member 151, a second pivot member 153, and a cable holding member 155 interposed between the first pivot member 151 and the second pivot member 153. The first pivot member 151 and the second pivot member 153 are pivotally connected to the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 13 respectively. The cable holding member 155 holds a cable 35 connecting the main body 31 and the display unit 33 and aligned with an axis of the first pivot member 151. In so doing, the present invention protects the cable 35 from damage due to the rotation of the hinging device 1.
In the present embodiment, the connecting element 15 has a first side 157 and a second side 159 that are parallel, the first pivot member 151 and the second pivot member 153 that are coaxially installed on the first side 157 and the second side 159 respectively, and the cable holding member 155 that is interposed between the first side 157 and the second side 159. In the present embodiment, the first pivot member 151 and the second pivot member 153 are protruding portions coaxially installed on the first side 157 and the second side 159 respectively. Further, the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 13 have through-hole portions 133 (as shown in
The cross section of the cable holding member 155 may be, but not limited to, U-shaped, formed by stamping the connecting element 15. Also, the cross section of the cable holding member 155 may form with any kind of recess that allows the cable holding member 155 to hold at least one cable 35 aligned with the axis of the first pivot member 151. Besides, stamping techniques are considered prior art and thus are not further described hereinafter. Fabrication of the cable holding member 155 may also be carried out by means of sheet metal work or any other known technique that has an equivalent effect, rather than in a way limited to the present embodiment.
Moreover, it is also feasible to fabricate the cable holding member 155 by other processing techniques. In the present embodiment, the cable holding member 155 provides maximum room for wiring such that, once a assembling process is completed, the cable holding member 155 holds at least one cable 35 connecting the main body 31 and the display unit 33 and aligned with the axis of the first pivot member 151. The cross sectional shape of the cable holding member 155 is not limited to the one shown in the accompany drawings of the present embodiment; instead, it is subject to changes. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the cable holding member 155 may be selectively semicircular, V-shaped, W-shaped, or any shape that allows the cable holding member 155 to hold at least one cable 35 aligned with the axis of the first pivot member 151. As the foregoing modifications would be understood by those skilled in the art to make appropriate changes, it does not need to be further described hereinafter.
Referring to
Compared to the conventional technology, the hinging device of the present invention comprises the cable holding member that is installed in the connecting element pivotally connected to the first coupling element and the second coupling element, wherein the cable holding member provides room for wiring the cable and aligns the cable with the rotational axis of the hinging device; given the simple structural design, not only is the cable protected from rotation-induced damage, but it is feasible to streamline the hinging structure built by the conventional technology and thereby solve the drawbacks of the conventional technology. The application of the present invention only requires a simple change of the structure of the connecting element of the hinging device, and hence, compared to its conventional counterparts, the hinging device of the present invention the present invention employs far less elements to have a shorter assembly time and an easier assembly so as to reduce structure cost, assembly cost and maintenance cost, and increase its potential for industrial use. Accordingly, the present invention solves the problems exiting in the prior art.
The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangement. The scope of the claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
