The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the swivel hinge assembly and an associated electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The present application provides a swivel hinge assembly used in foldable electronic devices that include two components rotably attached to each other such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and digital videos (DVs). Hereinafter, for convenience and brevity, the swivel hinge assembly as used in a mobile phone is described and illustrated.
Referring to the drawings in detail,
The main body 12 includes a swivel 122, with a first arm 126 and a second arm 124 extending from opposite ends of the swivel 122. The main body 12 is integrally formed. A swivel shaft hole 1222 is defined in a center of the swivel 122, with an axis of the swivel shaft hole 1222 aligned with the second rotational axis. The swivel 122 further defines two receiving grooves 1224. The receiving grooves 1224 are symmetrically defined adjacent two sides of the swivel shaft hole 1222. Each receiving groove 1224 is defined by three sidewalls, and has an open side facing the swivel shaft hole 1222. One sidewall adjacent to the open side for defining one of the receiving grooves 1224 forms a limiting protrusion 1226.
In a preferred embodiment, the first arm 126 defines a wiring channel 1262 that is used for wiring the two components of the mobile phone, and the second arm 124 defines a hinge shaft hole 1243 with an axis of rotation aligned with the first rotational axis. The hinge shaft hole 1243 has a hinge shaft hole wall 1242 having a radius equal to a radius of the hinge shaft hole 1243. The hinge shaft hole wall 1242 defines at least one inner slot 1245 thus forming a step 1244 in the hinge shaft hole 1243. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge shaft hole wall 1242 defines two inner slots 1245. Each inner slot 1245 is arc-shaped, with a radius greater than a radius of the hinge shaft hole 1243. The two inner slots 1245 are symmetrically opposite to each other on the curved hinge shaft hole wall 1242, and respectively communicate with the hinge shaft hole 1243. The second arm 124 further defines at least two hook slots 1246 on opposite sides of the second arm 124. The hook slots 1246 are through holes that communicate from the hinge shaft hole wall 1242 to an exterior surface of the second arm 124.
The rotatable plate 14 is an oblong sheet defines a first latch hole 142 and two mounting holes 144. As seen in
The pivot mechanism 16 includes a first pivot shaft 166, a grasping member 165, a tab washer 164, an elastic member 163, a cam follower 162, a cam 161, a pin 167, and a hinge cup 160.
The first pivot shaft 166 includes a cap 1662 and a shaft 1664. The cap 1662 is located at one end of the shaft 1664, and is larger than the shaft 1664. Another end of the shaft 1664 defines a first pinhole 1666. The first pinhole 1666 traverses the shaft 1664, i.e., the first pinhole 1666 has an axis perpendicular to an axis of the shaft 1664. The shaft 1664 is flattened, and has a cross-section having a shape of a circle with two flattened sides. Alternatively, the cross-section of the shaft portion 1664 of the first pivot shaft 166 may be other non-circular shape. For example, the cross-section can be triangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal.
The grasping member 165 defines a first keyed hole 1650 in a center. The first keyed hole 1650 has a shape of a circle with two flattened sides so as to form a cross-section approximately the same as the cross-section of the shaft 1664 of the first pivot shaft 166. The grasping member 165 includes a base 1652. The base 1652 forms two first projections 1653 at a periphery. The first projections 1653 are configured to be engaged in the inner slots 1245 of the main body 12. One end of the base 1652 forms at least two hooks 1654 extending perpendicularly from a periphery of the base 1652. In this embodiment, there are four hooks 1654. Each of the hooks 1654 has a latching surface 1656. Another end of the base 1652 forms two protruding rims 1658. Each of the protruding rims 1658 extends along an edge of the base 1652 in a direction parallel to an axis of the base 1652.
The tab washer 164 is a sheet defining a second keyed hole 1642, and forms a two second projections 1644 at a periphery thereof. The second keyed hole 1642 has a shape of a circle with two flattened sides so as to form a cross-section approximately the same as the cross-section of the shaft 1664 of the first pivot shaft 166. The second projections 1644 are configured to be engaged in the inner slots 1245 of the main body 12. The tab washer 164 is received between the protruding rims 1658 of the grasping member 165. The tab washer 164 is disposed between the elastic member 163 and the grasping member 165 for preventing friction therebetween. Instead, friction is generated between the elastic member 163 and the tab washer 164. Therefore, abrasion of the grasping member 165 is minimal.
In the preferred embodiment, a helical spring is adopted as the elastic member 163. The elastic member 163 is extendable and compressible. In other embodiments, a rubber bar another kind of elastic piece may also be adopted as the elastic member 163. The elastic member 163 is configured to provide an axial force.
The cam follower 162 has a cross-section having a shape of a circle with two flattened sides. The cam follower 162 defines a circular through hole 1622 in a center of the cam follower 162, and a cam surface 1624 at an end. The cam surface 1624 defines a pair of valleys (not labeled). The cam follower 162 has two symmetrical flat surfaces 1626.
A center of the cam 161 defines a third keyed hole 1612. The third keyed hole 1612 has a shape of a circle with two flattened sides so as to form a cross-section approximately the same as the cross-section of the shaft 1664 of the first pivot shaft 166. Alternatively, the cross-section of the shaft 1664 of the first pivot shaft 166 and the first, second, third keyed holes 1650, 1642, 1612 may have other non-circular shapes such as triangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal, so long as the first pivot shaft 166 is non-rotatably extended through the grasping member 165, the tab washer 164, and the cam 161. The cam 161 includes a neck portion 1614, and a cam portion 1616 with a diameter larger than that of the neck portion 1614. The neck portion 1614 defines a transverse second pinhole 1618 therethrough. That is, the second pinhole 1618 has an axis perpendicular to an axis of the cam 161. The cam portion 1616 defines a cam surface 1619, for engaging with the cam surface 1624 of the cam follower 162. The cam portion 1616 forms a pair of peaks (not labeled) for engaging in the valleys of the cam follower 162.
The pin 167 is a cylinder configured to be inserted into the second pinhole 1618 of the cam 161 and the first pinhole 1666 of the first pivot shaft 166. The pin 167 is used for retaining the grasping member 165, the tab washer 164, the elastic member 163, the cam follower 162, and the cam 161 on the first pivot shaft 166.
The hinge cup 160 defines an open end, a polygonal hinge cup cavity, and a hinge cup hole 1602 at a base of the hinge cup 160 communicating with the hinge cup cavity. The hinge cup cavity has at least one flattened section so as to non-rotatably receive the cam follower 162. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge cup cavity has two symmetrical flattened sections that face each other.
Referring to
After the pivot mechanism 16 is assembled, the cam follower 162, a portion of the cam follower 161 and a portion of the elastic member 163 are received in the hinge cup cavity of the hinge cup 160, and the tab washer 164, the other portion of the elastic member 163 and a portion of the grasping member 165 are received in the hinge shaft hole 1243 of the second arm 124 of the main body 12. The cam surface 1619 of the cam 161 engages with the cam surface 1624 of the cam follower 162. The two peaks of the cam 161 resist the cam follower 162, with the elastic member 163 being compressed between the tab washer 164 and the cam follower 162. The cam 161 is rotatable relative to the cam follower 162. The cam follower 162 is non-rotatable relative to the hinge cup 160, and the cam 161, the tab washer 164, the grasping member 165 and the first pivot shaft 166 are non-rotatable relative to the main body 12.
In alternative embodiments, the first pinhole 1666 of the first pivot shaft 166, the second pinhole 1618 of the cam 161, the neck portion 1614 of the cam 161, and the pin 167 may be omitted. Instead, for example, the first pivot shaft 166 defines a screw thread and a nut is provided to engage with the screw thread. In another example, an end of the first pivot shaft 166 is riveted by a riveting machine.
The swivel mechanism includes a second pivot shaft 189, a limiting piece 182, a friction piece 184, a flat washer 186, and a pair of elastic pieces 188.
The second pivot shaft 189 includes a first shaft portion 1895, a first stopping portion 1893, a second shaft portion 1892, a second stopping portion 1894, and a third shaft portion 1896 arranged in that order. The third shaft portion 1896 has a cross-section approximately the same as a shape of the first latch hole 142 of the rotatable plate 14.
The limiting piece 182 is substantially a ring defining a second latch hole 1822 in a center thereof. The second latch hole 1822 has a shape of a circle with two flattened sides. The limiting piece 182 forms a block 1824 at a periphery thereof. The block 1824 has two limiting surfaces 1825, 1826. The block 1824 engages with the limiting protrusion 1226 of the main body 12 so as to restrict a rotational angle of the swivel hinge assembly 10 about the second rotational axis.
The friction piece 184 is substantially a ring defining a third latch hole 1842 in a center thereof. The third latch hole 1842 has a shape of a circle with two flattened sides. The friction piece 186 defines two symmetrical depressions 1844. The first shaft portion 1895 of the second pivot shaft 189 has a cross-section approximately the same as a shape of the second and third latch holes 1822, 1842 of the limiting piece 182 and the friction piece 184. Alternatively, the first, second, and third latch holes 142, 1822, and 1842, and the first, second, and third shaft portions 1895, 1892, and 1896 may also have other non-circular shapes such as triangular, pentagonal and hexagonal, so long as the second pivot shaft 189 is non-rotatable in the first, second and third latch holes 142,1822 and 1842.
The flat washer 186 defines a circular center hole 1862 and forms a rectangular portion 1864 at an edge thereof. The flat washer 186 is disposed between the friction piece 184 and the main body 12 for preventing direct friction between them. Instead, friction is generated between the friction piece 184 and the flat washer 186. Therefore, abrasion of the main body 12 is minimal.
Each of the elastic pieces 188 is generally arc-shaped. In this embodiment, the elastic piece 188 is a half ring. A side of each of the elastic pieces 188 is abuts the depression 1844 of the friction pieces 184 correspondingly. In alternative embodiments, only a single elastic piece 188 may be provided, or three, four or more elastic pieces 188 may be provided. Correspondingly, one, three, four or more depressions 1844 are defined in the friction piece 184.
Referring to
In alternative embodiments, the first and second riveted portions 1897,1898 may be omitted. Instead, for example, the second pivot shaft 189 defines two screw threads at two ends thereof, and two nuts are provided to engage with the screw threads. In another example, two pins may be provided, and two pinholes are defined in the second pivot shaft 189. The pins are engaged in the pinholes in a way similar to the way the pin 167 engages in the first pinhole 1666 of the pivot shaft 166 and the second pinhole 1618 of the cam 161.
Referring to
In use, when the display holder 30 is manually rotated about the first rotational axis, the cam 161, the tab washer 164, the grasping member 165, the first pivot shaft 166, the main body 12, the rotatable plate 14, and the swivel mechanism rotate together with the display holder 30 relative to the base body 20 and the hinge cup 160, with the cam follower 162 being fixed relative to the base body 20. In a normal starting position of the display holder 30 in relation to the first rotational axis, the peaks of the cam 161 are received in the valleys of the cam follower 162. The normal starting position is typically when the mobile phone is folded up and not in use. In such position, the display holder 30 is referred to herein as being in a closed state relative to the base body 20. When the display holder 30 rotates about the first rotational axis, the peaks slide out of the valleys, and drive the elastic member 163 to be compressed further. After rotating through a predetermined angle, the peaks of the cam 161 return into the valleys of the cam follower 162, and thus the elastic member 163 is at rest again. At this position, the display holder 30 stops rotating further, and the display holder 30 is in an open state relative to the base body 20. The cam 161 can be retained at any position relative to the cam follower 162 during the rotating of the display holder 30, because the cam surface 1624 of the cam follower 162 is approximately flat. Therefore, the display holder 30 can be rotated about the first rotational axis and retained in any desired position relative to the base body 20 between the closed state and the open state.
When the display holder 30 is manually rotated about the second rotational axis, the rotatable plate 14, the limiting piece 182, the friction piece 184, and the second pivot shaft 189 rotate together with the display holder 30 relative to the combination of the base body 20 and the main body 12, with the flat washer 186 and the pivotal mechanism 16 being fixed relative to the base body 20. In a normal starting position of the display holder 30 in relation to the second rotational axis, the convex sides of the elastic pieces 188 abut the depressions 1844 of the friction piece 184. When the display holder 30 rotates and reaches a predetermined angle in a first rotating direction, the limiting surface 1825 of the block 1824 of the limiting piece 182 resists the limiting protrusion 1226 of the main body 12 to prevent the display holder 30 from rotating further. When the display holder 30 rotates and reaches a predetermined angle in a second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, the limiting surface 1826 of the block 1824 of the limiting piece 182 resists the limiting protrusion 1226 of the main body 12 to prevent the display holder 30 from rotating further. Thereby, a rotation angle of the display holder 30 relative to the base body 20 is restricted. When the display holder 30 rotates, the friction piece 184 rotates relative to the elastic pieces 188, such that the elastic pieces 188 move away from the depressions 1844 of the friction piece 184. The periphery of the friction piece 184 resists the elastic pieces 188, and thus pushes and deforms the elastic pieces 188. Therefore, friction is generated between the friction piece 184 and the elastic pieces 188 when the display holder 30 rotates. This results in a friction moment having a direction reverse to the rotating direction. The friction moment makes the rotation of the display holder 30 about the second rotational axis quite steady, so that the display holder 30 can be stably maintained at any desired position.
It is believed that in many if not most instances, a user desires that the display holder 30 only be rotated about the first rotational axis and not about the second rotational axis. Therefore in the normal starting position of the display holder 30 in relation to the first rotational axis, the convex sides of the elastic pieces 188 abut the depressions 1844 of the friction piece 184 as regards the second rotational axis. Thus, when the display holder 30 is manually rotated about the first rotational axis away from the starting position, for any movement of the display holder 30 about the second rotational axis to occur, friction forces as between the elastic pieces 188 and the friction piece 184 must be overcome. Thereby, when the display holder 30 is rotated up about the first rotational axis as desired, unintentional rotation of the display holder 30 about the second rotational axis is avoided.
In alternative embodiments, the hinge cup 160 may be non-rotatably connected to the display holder 30, and the rotatable plate 14 may be fixed to the base body 20 correspondingly. The rotatable plate 14 may be omitted, and the second pivot shaft 189 may be fixed to the display holder 30 directly. Alternatively, the second pivot shaft 189 may be fixed to the base body 20 directly.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200610200843.1 | Sep 2006 | CN | national |