Double-shaft multi-section switching hinge
Technical Field
The invention relates to a hinge, in particular to a double-shaft multi-section switching type hinge.
Background
Generally, a hinge is often applied to an electronic product such as a notebook computer, and the like, and the pivoting process of the two bodies of the electronic product often has different design requirements, for example, the two bodies can rotate in multiple stages to meet the operation hand feeling of a user or enhance other functionalities of the electronic product, so how to enable the hinge to rotate in multiple stages is a subject worthy of research.
Disclosure of Invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a dual-axis multi-section switching hinge capable of multi-section rotation.
In some embodiments, the dual-axis multi-section hinge of the present invention includes a base, a first shaft, a second shaft, and a slider assembly. The first rotating shaft is rotatably arranged on the base in a penetrating mode along a first direction, and a first gear part is formed on the first rotating shaft along a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second rotating shaft is rotatably arranged on the base in a penetrating mode along the first direction, the second rotating shaft and the first rotating shaft are mutually spaced along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second gear part corresponding to the first gear part is formed on the second rotating shaft along the direction perpendicular to the first direction. The sliding block set can be arranged on the base in a sliding manner along the second direction between the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft, and comprises a first sliding block and a second sliding block.
Wherein the first shaft is rotatable relative to the base between a first initial angular position and a first end angular position, the first initial angular position and the first end angular position have a first transition angular position therebetween, the second shaft is rotatable relative to the base between a second initial angular position and a second end angular position, the second initial angular position and the second end angular position have a second transition angular position therebetween, during rotation of the first shaft from the first initial angular position to the first end angular position in a first rotational direction and rotation of the second shaft from the second initial angular position to the second end angular position in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction;
when the first rotating shaft is at the first initial angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second initial angle position, the second rotating shaft is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, and the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked;
when the first rotating shaft is at other positions between the first initial angle position and the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second initial angle position, the second rotating shaft is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, and the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked;
When the first rotating shaft is at the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second initial angle position, the first rotating shaft is blocked by the first sliding block in the first rotating direction, and the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked;
When the first rotating shaft is at the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at other positions between the second initial angle position and the second transition angle position, the first rotating shaft is blocked by the first sliding block in the first rotating direction and blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, and no linkage exists between the first gear part and the second gear part;
When the first rotating shaft is at the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second transition angle position, the first rotating shaft is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, and the first gear part and the second gear part are interlocked with each other;
when the first rotating shaft is at other positions between the first transition angle position and the first end angle position and the second rotating shaft is at other positions between the second transition angle position and the second end angle position, the first gear part and the second gear part are interlocked with each other;
When the first rotating shaft is at the first end angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second end angle position, the first gear part and the second gear part are interlocked with each other.
In some embodiments, the first rotating shaft is further provided with a first groove and a second groove along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second rotating shaft is further provided with a third groove corresponding to the first groove and a fourth groove corresponding to the second groove along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, the third groove is provided with a third deep groove part and a third shallow groove part which are connected with each other, and the fourth groove is provided with a fourth shallow groove part and a fourth deep groove part which are connected with each other;
In the process that the first rotating shaft rotates from the first initial angle position to the first end angle position along the first rotating direction and the second rotating shaft rotates from the second initial angle position to the second end angle position along the second rotating direction,
When the first rotating shaft is at the first initial angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second initial angle position, the first sliding block can not slide and is partially accommodated in the first groove and the third shallow groove of the third groove, the second sliding block can not slide and is partially accommodated in the fourth deep groove of the fourth groove, the inner wall surface of the fourth deep groove of the fourth groove is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked,
When the first rotating shaft is at other positions between the first initial angle position and the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second initial angle position, the first sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the first groove and the third shallow groove of the third groove, the second sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the fourth deep groove of the fourth groove, the inner wall surface of the fourth deep groove of the fourth groove is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked,
When the first rotating shaft is at the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second initial angle position, the first sliding block can not slide and is partially accommodated in the first groove and the third shallow groove part of the third groove, the second sliding block can slide and is partially accommodated in the second groove or/and the fourth deep groove part of the fourth groove, the inner wall surface of the first groove is blocked by the first sliding block in the first rotating direction, the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked,
When the first rotating shaft is at the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at other positions between the second initial angle position and the second transition angle position, the first sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the first groove and the third shallow groove of the third groove, the second sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the second groove and the fourth shallow groove of the fourth groove, the inner wall surface of the first groove is blocked by the first sliding block in the first rotating direction, the inner wall surface of the second groove is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, and the first gear part and the second gear part are not linked,
When the first rotating shaft is at the first transition angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second transition angle position, the first sliding block can be slidably and partially accommodated in the first groove or/and the third deep groove part of the third groove, the second sliding block can not be slidably and partially accommodated in the second groove and the fourth shallow groove part of the fourth groove, the inner wall surface of the second groove is blocked by the second sliding block in the second rotating direction, the first gear part and the second gear part are interlocked with each other,
When the first rotating shaft is at other positions between the first transition angle position and the first end angle position and the second rotating shaft is at other positions between the second transition angle position and the second end angle position, the first sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the third deep groove part of the third groove, the second sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the fourth shallow groove parts of the second groove and the fourth groove, the first gear part and the second gear part are interlocked with each other,
When the first rotating shaft is at the first end angle position and the second rotating shaft is at the second end angle position, the first sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the third deep groove part of the third groove, the second sliding block cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the fourth shallow groove parts of the second groove and the fourth groove, and the first gear part and the second gear part are interlocked with each other.
In some aspects, the first transition angular position is intermediate between the first initial angular position and the first end angular position, and the second transition angular position is intermediate between the second initial angular position and the second end angular position.
In some aspects, the angular difference between the first initial angular position and the first ending angular position is 180 degrees, and the angular difference between the second initial angular position and the second ending angular position is 180 degrees.
In some embodiments, when the first shaft is at the first initial angular position and the second shaft is at the second initial angular position, the inner wall surface of the first groove is stopped by the first slider in the second rotational direction, and the inner wall surface of the fourth deep groove of the fourth groove is stopped by the second slider in the first rotational direction.
In some embodiments, when the first shaft is at the first end angular position and the second shaft is at the second end angular position, an inner wall surface of the second groove is stopped by the second slider in the first rotational direction, and an inner wall surface of the third deep groove of the third groove is stopped by the first slider in the second rotational direction.
In some embodiments, the first rotating shaft has a first body rotatably penetrating the base, a first switching member fixedly sleeved on the first body, and a second switching member fixedly sleeved on the first body, the first groove is formed in the first switching member, the second groove is formed in the second switching member, the second rotating shaft has a second body rotatably penetrating the base, and a third switching member fixedly sleeved on the second body, and a fourth switching member fixedly sleeved on the second body, the third groove is formed in the third switching member, and the fourth groove is formed in the fourth switching member.
In some embodiments, the first rotating shaft has a first body rotatably penetrating the base, and a first gear member fixedly sleeved on the first body, the first gear portion is formed on the first gear member, the second rotating shaft has a second body rotatably penetrating the base, and a second gear member fixedly sleeved on the second body, and the second gear portion is formed on the second gear member.
In some embodiments, the first idler gear and the second idler gear are rotatably disposed between the first gear and the second gear, the first idler gear has a first idler gear portion, the second idler gear has a second idler gear portion, and the first idler gear portion and the second idler gear portion are engaged between the first gear portion of the first gear and the second gear portion of the second gear and each other when the first shaft is between the first transition angular position and the first termination angular position, and the second shaft is between the second transition angular position and the second termination angular position.
In some embodiments, the first shaft further defines a first lobe, the first idler gear further defines a first recess corresponding to the first lobe, the second shaft further defines a second lobe, the second idler gear further defines a second recess corresponding to the second lobe, the first lobe is positioned within the first recess to limit rotation of the first idler gear when the first shaft is between the first initial angular position and the first transition angular position and not yet to the first transition angular position, the first lobe is gradually disengaged from the first recess to allow rotation of the first idler gear when the first shaft is rotated to the first transition angular position, and the second lobe is positioned within the second recess to limit rotation of the second idler gear when the second shaft is between the second initial angular position and the second transition angular position and not yet to the second transition angular position, the second lobe is gradually disengaged from the first recess to allow rotation of the second idler gear when the second shaft is rotated to the second transition angular position.
In some embodiments, the first shaft is further formed with a first starting gear portion having a modulus greater than the first gear portion, the first idler gear portion is further formed with a first starting idler gear portion having a modulus greater than the first idler gear portion and corresponding to the first starting gear portion, the second shaft is further formed with a second starting gear portion having a modulus greater than the second idler gear portion and corresponding to the second starting gear portion, the first starting gear portion and the first starting idler gear portion are meshed with each other when the first shaft is in the first transition angular position, and the second starting gear portion and the second starting idler gear portion are meshed with each other when the second shaft is in the second transition angular position.
According to the invention, through the cooperation between the first rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft and the first sliding block and the second sliding block of the sliding block set, the cooperation between the first gear part of the first rotating shaft and the second gear part of the second rotating shaft is matched, so that more than three sections of multi-section switching can be realized in a mode that the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft rotate in turn and then synchronously rotate in the pivoting process.
Drawings
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dual-axis, multi-segment, switching hinge of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from a different perspective;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment with the first shaft of the embodiment in a first initial angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment in a second initial angular position;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 5, illustrating the mating between the first slider, the first groove, and the third groove of the embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5, illustrating the mating between the second slider, the second recess, and the fourth recess of the embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 5, illustrating the mating between the first gear portion, the second gear portion, the first idler gear portion, and the second idler gear portion of the embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 5, illustrating the mating between the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first recess, and the second recess of the embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 5, illustrating the mating of the first and second starter gear parts, the first and second starter idler gear parts of the embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in other positions between the first initial angular position and a first transition angular position, and with the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in other positions between the first initial angular position and the first transitional angular position, and with the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in other positions between the first initial angular position and the first transitional angular position, and with the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the second initial angular position;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in other positions between the second initial angular position and the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in other positions between the second initial angular position and the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, with the first pivot axis of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second pivot axis of the embodiment shown in other positions between the second initial angular position and the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, with the first axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, with the first axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, with the first axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, with the first axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10, with the first axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the first transitional angular position and the second axis of rotation of the embodiment shown in the second transitional angular position;
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, with the first shaft of the embodiment positioned at other locations between the first transition angular position and a first termination angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment positioned at other locations between the second transition angular position and a second termination angular position;
FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, with the first shaft of the embodiment positioned at other locations between the first transition angular position and the first termination angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment positioned at other locations between the second transition angular position and the second termination angular position;
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, with the first shaft of the embodiment positioned at other locations between the first transition angular position and the first termination angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment positioned at other locations between the second transition angular position and the second termination angular position;
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, with the first shaft of the embodiment shown in the first end angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment shown in the second end angular position;
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, with the first shaft of the embodiment shown in the first end angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment shown in the second end angular position;
FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, with the first shaft of the embodiment shown in the first end angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment shown in the second end angular position;
FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, with the first axis of rotation of the embodiment in the first end angular position and the second axis of rotation of the embodiment in the second end angular position, and
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10, with the first shaft of the embodiment shown in the first end angular position and the second shaft of the embodiment shown in the second end angular position.
Detailed Description
Referring to fig. 1 to 5, an embodiment of a dual-axis multi-section switching hinge 100 of the present invention is suitable for being disposed between two bodies (not shown) to jointly form an electronic device (not shown), which may be, for example, a folding device such as a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a handheld device. The dual-axis multi-section switching hinge 100 comprises a base 1, a first rotating shaft 2, a second rotating shaft 3, a sliding block set 4, a first idler tooth 5 and a second idler tooth 6.
The base 1 has a first base 11, a second base 12, a third base 13, and a fourth base 14, which are sequentially arranged side by side along a first direction D1 and extend along a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1, wherein the first base 11 and the second base 12 together define a first accommodating space 15, the second base 12 and the third base 13 together define a second accommodating space 16, and the third base 13 and the fourth base 14 together define a third accommodating space 17.
The first rotating shaft 2 rotatably penetrates through the base 1 along the first direction D1. The first rotating shaft 2 has a first body 21 rotatably penetrating the base 1, a first switching member 22 and a second switching member 23 fixedly sleeved on the first body 21, and a first gear piece 24 fixedly sleeved on the first body 21. One end of the first body 21, which is far away from the base 1, is provided with a first setting part 211 for setting one of the machine bodies. The first switching member 22, the second switching member 23 and the first gear piece 24 are respectively located at one side of the first accommodating space 15, the second accommodating space 16 and the third accommodating space 17. The first switching member 22 is formed with a first groove 221 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, and the second switching member 23 is formed with a second groove 231 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. The first gear member 24 is formed with a first gear portion 241, a first protrusion 242, and a first start gear portion 243 having a larger module than the first gear portion 241 along a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, and the first gear portion 241, the first protrusion 242, and the first start gear portion 243 are arranged in sequence along the first direction D1, for example. In addition, in other variant embodiments, the first groove 221, the second groove 231, the first gear portion 241, the first protrusion 242, and the first starting gear portion 243 may be directly formed on the first body 21, and the arrangement of the first groove 221, the second groove 231, the first gear portion 241, the first protrusion 242, and the first starting gear portion 243 in the present embodiment are merely examples, and the present embodiment should not be limited thereto. The direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 includes the second direction D2.
The second rotating shaft 3 rotatably penetrates the base 1 along the first direction D1, the second rotating shaft 3 and the first rotating shaft 2 are spaced apart from each other along the second direction D2, and extend into the first accommodating space 15, the second accommodating space 16 and the third accommodating space 17 respectively at two sides of the second direction D2. The second rotating shaft 3 has a second body 31 rotatably penetrating the base 1, a third switching member 32 and a fourth switching member 33 fixedly sleeved on the second body 31, and a second gear member 34 fixedly sleeved on the second body 31. One end of the second body 31 far away from the base 1 is provided with a second setting part 311 for setting another body. The third switching member 32, the fourth switching member 33 and the second gear member 34 are respectively located at the other sides of the first accommodating space 15, the second accommodating space 16 and the third accommodating space 17. The third switching member 32 is formed with a third groove 321 along a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, and the fourth switching member 33 is formed with a fourth groove 331 along a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. The third groove 321 has a third deep groove 321a and a third shallow groove 321b, and the fourth groove 331 has a fourth shallow groove 331a and a fourth deep groove 331b. The second gear member 34 is formed with a second gear portion 341, a second protruding portion 342, and a second starting gear portion 343 having a larger module than the second gear portion 341 along the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, and the second gear portion 341, the second protruding portion 342, and the second starting gear portion 343 may be arranged in order along the first direction D1, for example, but the arrangement is not limited thereto. In addition, in other variant embodiments, the third groove 321, the fourth groove 331, the second gear portion 341, the second protrusion 342, and the second starting gear portion 343 may be directly formed on the second body 31, and the arrangement of the third groove 321, the fourth groove 331, the second gear portion 341, the second protrusion 342, and the second starting gear portion 343 in the present embodiment are merely examples, and the arrangement may be adjusted according to the first groove 221, the second groove 231, the first gear portion 241, the first protrusion 242, and the first starting gear portion 243, which should not be limited to the present embodiment.
The slider set 4 is slidably disposed in the first accommodating space 15 and the second accommodating space 16 of the base 1 along the second direction D2 between the first rotating shaft 2 and the second rotating shaft 3. The slider set 4 includes a first slider 41 disposed in the first accommodating space 15 and correspondingly partially accommodated in the first groove 221 or/and the third groove 321, and a second slider 42 disposed in the second accommodating space 16 and correspondingly partially accommodated in the second groove 231 or/and the fourth groove 331. In detail, since the distances between the first switching member 22 and the third switching member 32 and between the second switching member 23 and the fourth switching member 33 are relatively close, at least one of the two ends of the first slider 41 in the second direction D2 must be accommodated in the corresponding groove (the first groove 221, the third groove 321), the second slider 42 in the second direction D2 must be accommodated in the corresponding groove (the second groove 231, the fourth groove 331), in detail, if the two ends of the first slider 41 are accommodated in the third shallow groove 321b of the first groove 221 and the third groove 321 respectively, no space is left between the two ends of the first slider 41 in the second direction D2, and only when one end of the first slider 41 is accommodated in the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321, no space is left between the two ends of the first slider 41 in the second direction D2, and only when the two ends of the first slider 42 in the first groove 321a and the third groove 321b are accommodated in the second groove 321b of the third groove 321, no space is left between the two ends of the first slider 41 in the second groove 331a, and no space is left between the two ends of the second slider 41 in the second groove 331b of the second groove 331, and only when the two ends of the first slider 41 in the second groove 331a is slid in the second direction D2, and only between the two ends of the second slider 331b in the fourth groove 331a groove, and no space is left between the two ends of the first slider 41 b and the first slider 41 b in the fourth groove 331. When the first slider 41 and the second slider 42 do not slide spatially, they will abut against the inner wall surface of the corresponding groove to limit the rotation of the first rotating shaft 2 or the second rotating shaft 3, so as to achieve multi-stage switching, and details and steps of the multi-stage switching will be described later.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the second seat 12 of the base 1 has a plurality of limiting plates 121 protruding toward the first seat 11 and the third seat 13, respectively, and extending along the second direction D2, and the limiting plates 121 limit the first slider 41 and the second slider 42 to slide only in the second direction D2. In addition, the second base 12 of the base 1 further has a sliding slot 122 formed penetrating along the first direction D1 and extending along the second direction D2, the first slider 41 has a first protruding portion 411, the second slider 42 has a second protruding portion 421, and the first protruding portion 411 of the first slider 41 and the second protruding portion 421 of the second slider 42 are slidably inserted into the sliding slot 122 along the second direction D2 from two openings of the sliding slot 122 in the first direction D1, respectively, so as to further limit the first slider 41 and the second slider 42 to slide only in the second direction D2. In addition, in the present embodiment, both ends of the first slider 41 and the second slider 42 in the second direction D2 are arc-shaped, and the first groove 221, the second groove 231, the third groove 321 and the fourth groove 331 are arc-shaped concave corresponding to both ends of the first slider 41 and the second slider 42.
The first idler gear 5 and the second idler gear 6 are rotatably disposed in the third accommodating space 17 of the base 1 through a first rotating shaft 7 and a second rotating shaft 8 respectively inserted in the third base 13 and the fourth base 14, and the first idler gear 5 and the second idler gear 6 are located between the first gear member 24 and the second gear member 34. The first idler tooth 5 has a first idler tooth portion 51 corresponding to the first gear portion 241, a first recess 52 corresponding to the first protrusion 242, and a first start idler tooth portion 53 having a larger modulus than the first idler tooth portion 51 and corresponding to the first start gear portion 243. The second idler gear 6 has a second idler gear portion 61 corresponding to the second gear portion 341, a second recess 62 corresponding to the second protrusion 342, and a second start idler gear portion 63 having a larger modulus than the second idler gear portion 61 and corresponding to the second start gear portion 343. The first idler gear portion 51 and the second idler gear portion 61 are engaged with each other and are configured to be engaged together between the first gear portion 241 of the first gear member 24 and the second gear portion 341 of the second gear member 34, so that the first gear portion 241 of the first gear member 24 and the second gear portion 341 of the second gear member 34 are interlocked with each other.
The first rotating shaft 2 can rotate between a first initial angle position and a first end angle position relative to the base 1, a first transition angle position exists between the first initial angle position and the first end angle position, the second rotating shaft 3 can rotate between a second initial angle position and a second end angle position relative to the base 1, and a second transition angle position exists between the second initial angle position and the second end angle position. In this embodiment, the first transition angular position is at an intermediate position between the first initial angular position and the first end angular position, the second transition angular position is at an intermediate position between the second initial angular position and the second end angular position, and an angular difference between the first initial angular position and the first end angular position is 180 degrees, and an angular difference between the second initial angular position and the second end angular position is 180 degrees. Therefore, the angle difference between the first transition angle position and the first initial angle position and the angle difference between the first transition angle position and the first end angle position are both 90 degrees, and the angle difference between the second transition angle position and the second initial angle position and the angle difference between the second transition angle position and the second end angle position are both 90 degrees.
In the process that the first rotating shaft 2 rotates from the first initial angle position to the first end angle position along a first rotating direction R1, and the second rotating shaft 3 rotates from the second initial angle position to the second end angle position along a second rotating direction R2 opposite to the first rotating direction R1, the two bodies can rotate 180 degrees respectively by the two-shaft multistage switching hinge 100 so as to rotate 360 degrees respectively, and further the two bodies of the electronic device are converted from a folded state to a folded state facing to another, in detail, when a user applies force to the two bodies, the first rotating shaft 2 and the second rotating shaft 3 can rotate relative to the base 1 so as to pivot the two bodies between the folded states facing to each other. In other embodiments, the first transition angular position is not necessarily located at the middle between the first initial angular position and the first end angular position, the second transition angular position is not necessarily located at the middle between the second initial angular position and the second end angular position, and the angular difference between the first initial angular position and the first end angular position and the angular difference between the second initial angular position and the second end angular position may be other than 180 degrees, which is not limited to the present embodiment. In addition, the operation modes of the two bodies are only examples, that is, the two bodies are not necessarily switched between two folding states, and the present embodiment should not be limited thereto.
Referring to fig. 6 to 10, when the first rotating shaft 2 is at the first initial angular position and the second rotating shaft 3 is at the second initial angular position, the first groove 221 faces the first slider 41 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the first groove 221 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321, and the second groove 231 faces away from the second slider 42 and the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, so that the second slider 42 cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331. Further, the inner wall surface of the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331 of the second shaft 3 is stopped by the second slider 42 in the second rotation direction R2, so that the second shaft 3 is prevented from rotating in the second rotation direction R2. Further, since the first gear portion 241 faces away from the first idler gear portion 51 and the second gear portion 341 faces away from the second idler gear portion 61, the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 do not interlock with the second idler gear portion 61 through the first idler gear portion 51, and in this state, the first protrusion 242 is positioned in the first recess 52 to restrict rotation of the first idler gear 5, the second protrusion 342 is positioned in the second recess 62 to restrict rotation of the second idler gear 6, the first start gear portion 243 is not engaged with the first start idler gear portion 53, and the second start gear portion 343 is not engaged with the second start idler gear portion 63.
In this case, in the present embodiment, the inner wall surface of the first groove 221 of the first shaft 2 is stopped by the first slider 41 in the second rotation direction R2, thereby preventing the first shaft 2 from rotating in the second rotation direction R2, and the inner wall surface of the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331 of the second shaft 3 is stopped by the second slider 42 in the first rotation direction R1, thereby preventing the second shaft 3 from rotating in the first rotation direction R1. However, in other embodiments, other stoppers may be provided to prevent the first shaft 2 from rotating in the second rotation direction R2 and prevent the second shaft 3 from rotating in the first rotation direction R1, which is not limited to the present embodiment.
Referring to fig. 11 to 13, when the first rotating shaft 2 is at other positions between the first initial angular position and the first transition angular position and the second rotating shaft 3 is at the second initial angular position, the first groove 221 faces the first slider 41 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the first groove 221 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321, and the second groove 231 faces away from the second slider 42 and the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, so that the second slider 42 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331. Further, the inner wall surface of the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331 of the second shaft 3 is stopped by the second slider 42 in the second rotation direction R2, so that the second shaft 3 is prevented from rotating in the second rotation direction R2. Further, since the first gear portion 241 faces away from the first idler gear portion 51 and the second gear portion 341 faces away from the second idler gear portion 61, the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 are not interlocked with the second idler gear portion 61 by the first idler gear portion 51.
Referring to fig. 14 to 18, when the first shaft 2 is at the first transition angle position and the second shaft 3 is at the second initial angle position, the first groove 221 faces the first slider 41 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 cannot slide and is partially accommodated in the first groove 221 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321, and the second groove 231 faces the second slider 42 and the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, so that the second slider 42 can slide and is partially accommodated in the second groove 231 or/and the fourth deep groove 331b of the fourth groove 331, and in this embodiment, the second slider 42 can slide and is still partially accommodated in the fourth groove 331b of the fourth groove 331, but it is necessary to describe that if the second shaft 3 is forced to slide in the second shaft 3 in the second rotation direction R2 toward the second shaft 231. Further, the inner wall surface of the first groove 221 of the first shaft 2 is stopped by the first slider 41 in the first rotation direction R1 to prevent the first shaft 2 from rotating in the first rotation direction R1. Further, the first gear portion 241 is engaged with the first idle gear portion 51, but the second gear portion 341 faces away from the second idle gear portion 61, so that the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 are not interlocked with the second idle gear portion 61 by the first idle gear portion 51, and in this state, the first protrusion 242 is to be disengaged from the first recess 52 to allow the first idle gear 5 to rotate, the second protrusion 342 is positioned in the second recess 62 to restrict the rotation of the second idle gear 6, and the first start gear portion 243 is engaged with the first start idle gear portion 53, and the second start gear portion 343 is not engaged with the second start idle gear portion 63.
Referring to fig. 19 to 21, when the first rotating shaft 2 is at the first transition angular position and the second rotating shaft 3 is at other positions between the second initial angular position and the second transition angular position, the first groove 221 faces the first slider 41 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the first groove 221 and the third shallow groove 321b of the third groove 321, and the second groove 231 faces the second slider 42 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, so that the second slider 42 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the second groove 231 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331. The inner wall surface of the first groove 221 of the first shaft 2 is stopped by the first slider 41 in the first rotation direction R1 to prevent the first shaft 2 from rotating in the first rotation direction R1, and the inner wall surface of the second groove 231 of the first shaft 2 is stopped by the second slider 42 in the second rotation direction R2 to prevent the first shaft 2 from rotating in the second rotation direction R2. Further, the first gear portion 241 is engaged with the first idle gear portion 51, but the second gear portion 341 faces away from the second idle gear portion 61, so that the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 are not interlocked with the second idle gear portion 61 by the first idle gear portion 51.
Referring to fig. 22 to 26, when the first shaft 2 is at the first transition angle position and the second shaft 3 is at the second transition angle position, the first groove 221 faces the first slider 41 and the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 is slidably and partially accommodated in the first groove 221 or/and the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321, in this embodiment, the first slider 41 is still accommodated in the first groove 221, but it is required to be stated that, when the first shaft 2 rotates in the first rotation direction R1, the first shaft 2 forces the first slider 41 to slide towards the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321, and the second groove 231 faces the second slider 42 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, so that the second slider 42 is partially accommodated in the fourth groove 331a and cannot be slid in the fourth groove 331a. Further, the inner wall surface of the second groove 231 of the first shaft 2 is stopped by the second slider 42 in the second rotation direction R2 to prevent the first shaft 2 from rotating in the second rotation direction R2. Further, since the first gear portion 241 is engaged with the first idler gear portion 51 and the second gear portion 341 is engaged with the second idler gear portion 61, the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 are interlocked with each other by the first idler gear portion 51 and the second idler gear portion 61, and in this state, the first protrusion 242 is about to be disengaged from the first recess 52 to allow the first idler gear 5 to rotate, the second protrusion 342 is about to be disengaged from the second recess 62 to allow the second idler gear 6 to rotate, and the first start gear portion 243 is engaged with the first start idler gear portion 53 and the second start gear portion 343 is engaged with the second start idler gear portion 63.
Referring to fig. 27 to 29, when the first shaft 2 is at other positions between the first transition angular position and the first end angular position and the second shaft 3 is at other positions between the second transition angular position and the second end angular position, the first groove 221 faces away from the first slider 41 and the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321, the second groove 231 faces the second slider 42 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, and therefore, the second slider 42 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the second groove 231 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331. Further, since the first gear portion 241 is engaged with the first idler gear portion 51 and the second gear portion 341 is engaged with the second idler gear portion 61, the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 are interlocked with each other by the first idler gear portion 51 and the second idler gear portion 61.
Referring to fig. 30 to 34, when the first shaft 2 is at the first end angular position and the second shaft 3 is at the second end angular position, the first groove 221 faces away from the first slider 41 and the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321 faces the first slider 41, so that the first slider 41 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321, and the second groove 231 faces the second slider 42 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331 faces the second slider 42, so that the second slider 42 cannot be slidably and partially accommodated in the second groove 231 and the fourth shallow groove 331a of the fourth groove 331. Further, the first gear portion 241 is engaged with the first idle gear portion 51, the second gear portion 341 is engaged with the second idle gear portion 61, and therefore, the first gear portion 241 and the second gear portion 341 are interlocked with each other by the first idle gear portion 51 and the second idle gear portion 61, and in this state, the first protrusion 242 is out of the first concave portion 52, and therefore, the first idle gear 5 is rotatable, the second protrusion 342 is out of the second concave portion 62, and therefore, the second idle gear 6 is rotatable, and the first start gear portion 243 and the first start idle gear portion 53 are not engaged with each other, and the second start gear portion 343 and the second start idle gear portion 63 are not engaged with each other.
In this case, in the present embodiment, the inner wall surface of the second groove 231 of the first shaft 2 is stopped by the second slider 42 in the first rotation direction R1, thereby preventing the first shaft 2 from rotating in the first rotation direction R1, and the inner wall surface of the third deep groove 321a of the third groove 321 of the second shaft 3 is stopped by the first slider 41 in the second rotation direction R2, thereby preventing the second shaft 3 from rotating in the second rotation direction R2. However, in other embodiments, other stoppers may be provided to prevent the first shaft 2 from rotating in the first rotation direction R1 and to prevent the second shaft 3 from rotating in the second rotation direction R2, which is not limited to the present embodiment.
In addition, for the summary of the actions between the structures on the first gear member 24, the second gear member 34, the first idler gear 5 and the second idler gear 6, the first idler gear portion 51 and the second idler gear portion 61 are engaged between the first gear portion 241 of the first gear member 24 and the second gear portion 341 of the second gear member 34 when the first shaft 2 is between the first transition angular position and the first end angular position, and the second shaft 3 is between the second transition angular position and the second end angular position, thereby moving the first shaft 2 and the second shaft 3 in synchronization. When the first shaft 2 is between the first initial angular position and the first transition angular position and has not reached the first transition angular position, the first protrusion 242 is located in the first recess 52 to restrict the rotation of the first idler tooth 5, when the first shaft 2 is rotated to the first transition angular position, the first protrusion 242 is gradually removed from the first recess 52 to allow the rotation of the first idler tooth 5, and when the second shaft 3 is between the second initial angular position and the second transition angular position and has not reached the second transition angular position, the second protrusion 342 is located in the second recess 62 to restrict the rotation of the second idler tooth 6, and when the second shaft 3 is rotated to the second transition angular position, the second protrusion 342 is gradually removed from the second recess 62 to allow the rotation of the second idler tooth 6. Thereby, the first idler gear 5 and the second idler gear 6 can be prevented from idling when the first gear portion 241 of the first rotating shaft 2 and the second gear portion 341 of the second rotating shaft 3 are not interlocked. In addition, when the first shaft 2 is at the first transition angle position, the first start gear portion 243 and the first start idler gear portion 53 are engaged with each other, and when the second shaft 3 is at the second transition angle position, the second start gear portion 343 and the second start idler gear portion 63 are engaged with each other, whereby the interlocking performance and the engagement strength between the first shaft 2 and the first idler gear 5 and between the second shaft 3 and the second idler gear 6 can be ensured at the moment when the first shaft 2 and the second shaft 3 start to interlock with each other through the first idler gear 5 and the second idler gear 6.
However, in a variant embodiment, the first idler gear 5 and the second idler gear 6 may be omitted, and the first protrusion 242 of the first gear member 24 and the second protrusion 342 of the second gear member 34 may be omitted, and in this case, the first gear portion 241 of the first gear member 24 and the second gear portion 341 of the second gear member 34 may be directly meshed with each other to be interlocked, and the first start gear portion 243 of the first gear member 24 and the second start gear portion 343 of the second gear member 34 may also be directly meshed with each other to be interlocked.
In summary, according to the present invention, by the cooperation between the first rotating shaft 2, the second rotating shaft 3, and the first slider 41 and the second slider 42 of the slider set 4, and the cooperation between the first gear portion 241 of the first rotating shaft 2 and the second gear portion 341 of the second rotating shaft 3, the first rotating shaft 2 and the second rotating shaft 3 can rotate in turn and then synchronously rotate during the pivoting process, so as to achieve multi-stage switching with three or more stages.
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.