Opening and closing mechanism

Abstract

A sliding member held by a movable case is interposed between the movable case and a stopper plate. During opening and closing operations, the movable case does not wear because the stopper plate and the sliding member slidably contact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an opening and closing mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the opening and closing mechanism in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mobile phone employing the opening and closing mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another type of a sliding member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of still another type of a sliding member.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional opening and closing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional opening and closing mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mobile phone employing the conventional opening and closing mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The drawings are radially enlarged for easier understanding of the relation between a fixed cam and a movable cam.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of opening and closing mechanism 20 of the present invention. Fixed member 1 made of metal has fixed cam 2 with sloped portions 2B and 2C. Movable member 3 made of metal is disposed in a rotatable fashion and also in an axially-movable fashion relative to fixed member 1. Movable member 3 has a pair of movable cams 4 which engage with fixed cam 2.

Cylindrical movable case 5 made of a metal sheet houses fixed member 1, movable member 3, spring 6, and fixed shaft 7. Movable member 3 and movable case 5 are coupled via spring 6. A force of spring 6 makes each of tips of movable cams 4 resiliently contacts sloped portion 2B of fixed cam 2.

Fixed member 1 is secured to a left end of fixed shaft 7. Movable member 3 and movable case 5 are rotatably installed to fixed shaft 7. A right end of fixed shaft 7 protrudes outward from movable case 5. Ring-shaped stopper plate 8 made of metal, such as stainless steel, is secured to the right end of fixed shaft 7 so as to retain movable case 5.

Ring-shaped sliding member 9 is interposed between movable case 5 and stopper plate 8. Sliding member 9 is held by movable case 5 by fitting protrusion 5A of movable case 5 into hole 9A. This configures opening and closing mechanism 20.

This opening and closing mechanism 20 is, for example, employed in a hinge joint of a mobile phone shown in FIG. 3. Though not illustrated in FIG. 3, opening and closing mechanism 20 acts as a hinge between fixed housing 22 and movable housing 23 by coupling fixed member 1 to fixed housing 22, and movable case 5 to movable housing 23, respectively.

In the above structure, a force in a closing direction is applied to movable member 3 when each of the tips of movable cams 4 is resiliently contacting sloped portion 2B of fixed cam 2, as shown in FIG. 1, and thus the force in the closing direction relative to fixed housing 22 is applied to movable housing 23.

When movable housing 23 is opened by hand from this closed state, movable case 5 coupled to movable housing 23 rotates, and each of the tips of movable cams 4 rides over the tip of fixed cam 2, and resiliently contacts sloped portion 2C. Now, a force in an opening direction is applied to movable member 3, and thus the force in the opening direction relative to fixed housing 22 is applied to movable housing 23.

Movable case 5 is pressed against stopper plate 8 by a counteraction of the force of spring 6 toward movable member 3. Sliding member 9 is thus pressed against stopper plate 8.

Since sliding member 9 is held by movable case 5, sliding member 9 co-rotates with movable case 5. Accordingly, when movable housing 23 is opened and closed as described above, sliding member 9 and stopper plate 8 slidably contact.

Since sliding member 9 is made of metal with the same hardness as that of stopper plate 8, such as stainless steel, sliding member 9 and stopper plate 8 wear evenly. Accordingly, reliable opening and closing operations with a smooth operational feeling are achievable even after repeated opening and closing operations for a long period of time.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show sliding members different from sliding member 9. Sliding member 11 in FIG. 4 co-rotates with movable case 5 by making a tip of bent portion 11A bite into movable case 5.

Sliding member 12 in FIG. 5 co-rotates with movable case 5 by applying a lubricant in groove 12A so as to reduce friction between sliding member 12 and stopper plate 8.

Accordingly, the opening and closing mechanism of the present invention ensures reliable opening and closing operations with a smooth operational feeling for a long period of time, and thus is applicable to a range of electronic devices.

Claims

1. An opening and closing mechanism for a folding electronic device, comprising: a fixed member including a fixed cam;a movable member including a movable cam, the movable cam engaging with the fixed cam;a spring for pressing the movable member against the fixed member:a cylindrical movable case housing the fixed member, the movable member, and the spring;a fixed shaft to which the movable member and the movable case are rotatably installed, the fixed member being secured to a first end of the fixed shaft, a second end of the fixed shaft protruding outward from an end face of the movable case;a stopper plate secured to the second end of the fixed shaft, the stopper plate retaining the movable case; anda sliding member interposed between the end face of the movable case and the stopper plate, the sliding member being held by the movable case.