Portable electronic device having triaxial hinge structure

Abstract

A portable electronic device having a triaxial hinge structure which includes a first body, a second body, to rotate about a first hinge axis relative to the first body, a third body to rotate relative to the second body not only about a second hinge axis but also a third hinge axis, a first hinge unit, to enable the second body to rotate about the first hinge axis, a second hinge unit, to enable the third body to rotate about the second hinge axis, and a third hinge unit, to enable the third body to rotate about the third hinge axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a conventional camcorder in which a display unit is rotatably installed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a position in which a second body of FIG. 2 is rotated 90° relative to a first body of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a position in which a third body of FIG. 2 is rotated 90° relative to the second body of FIG. 2 as compared to the position illustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 3C and 3D are perspective views illustrating positions in which the third body is inclined to the left and right, respectively, as compared to the position illustrated in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a position in which the second body of FIG. 2 is rotated 180° relative to the first body of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating a position in which the third body of FIG. 2 is rotated 90° relative to the second body of FIG. 2 as compared to the position illustrated in FIG. 4A;

FIGS. 4C and 4D are perspective views illustrating positions in which the third body is inclined to the left and right, respectively, as compared to the position illustrated in FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled second hinge unit and a third hinge unit according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, which are arranged corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a disassembled second hinge unit and third hinge unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a position in which the second body and third body are arranged as illustrated in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 8 is an overall exploded perspective view illustrating a disassembled second hinge unit and third hinge unit of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view to illustrate the structure to control a rotation angle of the third hinge unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device having a triaxial hinge structure, comprising: a first body;a second body to rotate about a first hinge axis relative to the first body;a third body to rotate relative to the second body not only about a second hinge axis but also a third hinge axis;a first hinge unit to enable the second body to rotate about the first hinge axis;a second hinge unit to enable the third body to rotate about the second hinge axis; anda third hinge unit to enable the third body to rotate about the third hinge axis.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second hinge unit comprises: a fixing member which is fixed to the second body;a first hinge housing, one end of which is rotatably fixed to the fixing member about the second hinge axis, and the other end of which is fixed to the third body; anda first shaft, one end of which is fixed to the fixing member, and the other end of which passes through the first hinge housing.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second hinge unit further comprises: a first spring which is installed in the first hinge housing; anda first ball guide, which is elastically pressurized by the first spring toward a surface of a first fixing part of the first shaft, wherein a first click ball is disposed between one side of the first ball guide and the first fixing part of the first shaft.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first stopper is installed on one side of the fixing member, and a first hook is provided on one side of the first hinge housing corresponding to the fixing member to engage with the first stopper to control a rotation angle of the first hinge housing about the second hinge axis.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third hinge unit comprises: a second hinge housing, one end of which is rotatably fixed to one side of the first hinge housing about the third hinge axis, and the other end of which is fixed to the third body; anda second shaft, one end of which is fixed to the first hinge housing, and the other end of which passes through the second hinge housing.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third hinge unit further comprises: a second spring, which is installed in the second hinge housing; anda second ball guide, which is elastically pressurized by the second spring toward a surface of a second fixing part of the second shaft, wherein a second click ball is disposed between one side of the second ball guide and the second fixing part of the second shaft.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one second stopper is installed on one side of the first hinge housing, and at least one second hook is provided on one side of the second hinge housing in a position spaced apart from the second stopper.

8. A portable electronic device having a triaxial hinge structure, comprising: a first body;a second body to rotate about a first hinge axis relative to the first body;a third body to rotate about a second hinge axis relative to the second body;a first hinge unit to connect the first body and the second body to enable the second body to rotate about the first hinge axis; anda second hinge unit to connect the second body and the third body to enable the third body to rotate about the second hinge axis.

9. A portable electronic device having a plurality of hinge structures, the device comprising: a first hinge unit to connect a first body to a second body and to rotate the second body about a first hinge axis relative to the first body; anda second hinge unit to connect the second body to a third body and to rotate the third body about a second hinge axis and a third hinge axis relative to the second body.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first hinge axis, the second hinge axis and the third hinge axis are perpendicular to one another.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the second hinge unit provides sufficient connectivity between the second body and the third body to rotate the second body together with the third body about the first hinge axis.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first hinge axis and the third hinge axis define a plane and wherein the second hinge unit permits sufficient movement of the third body to be tilted on either side of the plane about the third hinge axis.