KR20060124820A - Hinge device for mobile phone with stop position in the middle - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a hinge device for connecting a first unit and a second unit that can be folded or unfolded and rotated about a rotation axis relatively, the first connection being connected to the first unit and rotating about the rotation axis A second connecting member connected to the member, the second unit and relatively rotating with the first connecting member about a rotation axis, and rotating along any one of the first connecting member and the second connecting member and along the first path. A cam follower capable of linear movement, a first elastic member that pushes the cam follower along the first path, a locking projection that can be linearly moved along the second path while rotating together with one of the first and second connecting members; And a second elastic member that pushes the locking protrusion along the second path, and the other members of the first connecting member and the second connecting member are rotated along the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation except for the member rotating together with the cam follower. The cam surface interacting with the eastern part is provided, and the remaining hole except for the member that rotates together with the locking protrusion among the first connecting member and the second connecting member is provided with a locking hole into which the locking protrusion can be fitted according to the rotation position of the first connecting member. The hinge device is provided.

Description

Hinge device for mobile phone with stop position in the middle {HINGE DEVICE HAVING INTERMEDIATE STOP POSITION FOR USE IN RADIO TELEPHONE}

1 is a perspective view of a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention showing a rotating part connected to the hinge device together;

2A and 2B are exploded perspective views of the hinge device shown in FIG.

3 (a) to 3 (c) show the internal state of the hinge apparatus shown in FIG.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the folding cellular phone equipped with the hinge device of Fig. 1, showing the state of the hinge devices shown in Figs. 3A to 3C and the relative positions between the two case units respectively corresponding thereto. drawing

5 is a perspective view of a hinge device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of the hinge device shown in FIG.

7 (a) to 7 (c) show the internal state of the hinge device shown in FIG.

8A to 8C show the cam surface and the cam follower shown in FIG.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: hinge device 20: first connecting member

30: second connecting member 40: moving member

50: first elastic member 60: locking member

70: second elastic member

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hinge device, and more particularly, to a hinge device connecting two units in a device (eg, a mobile phone, a PDA, a portable computer, etc.) having two units coupled to each other so as to be folded or unfolded. .

Handheld devices, such as clamshell phones, have two units coupled to a hinge device. One of the two units is usually provided with a keypad, and the other is usually provided with a liquid crystal display device. When the phone is not in use, the keypad and the liquid crystal display are folded so that they are not exposed. When the phone is used, the keypad and the liquid crystal display are folded out to be exposed. The hinge unit combines the two units and at the same time allows the two members to fold and unfold smoothly.

The structure of a normal hinge apparatus is as follows. The hinge device includes a rotating member, a linear moving member, an elastic member, and a housing member. The housing member receives the rotating member, the linear moving member, and the elastic member. The rotating member may rotate about the rotating shaft in the housing member, and a portion including the rotating shaft protrudes out of the housing member to form a coupling portion. The linear moving member is in contact with the rotating member but does not rotate in the housing member and linearly moves along the rotation axis of the rotating member. The elastic member exerts a force such that the linearly movable member and the rotating member closely contact each other in the housing member. At this time, one of the linear moving member and the rotating member to form a cam surface and the other to form a cam driven projection interacting with the cam surface. One of the two units of the mobile phone to be connected to the hinge device configured as described above is fixed to the housing member and the other is fixed to the engaging portion of the rotating member. The two units connected in this way are fixed in the fully extended or closed state by the action of the hinge device, and the two units of the mobile phone are fixed without rotation with each other, and can be easily rotated by applying an external force in some sections or easily rotating themselves in the remaining sections. I can spread it. In addition, the intermediate stop position can be formed by forming a groove into which the cam follower can be inserted. However, there is a limit to shortening the distance between the fully open position and the intermediate stop position of the mobile phone in the manner of forming the groove on the cam surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge device having a stop position in the middle and connecting two units. Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device that can shorten the distance between the fully open position and the intermediate stop position of the two units.

According to one aspect of the invention,

In the hinge device that connects the first unit and the second unit that can be folded or unfolded relatively rotated around the axis of rotation,

A first connection member connected to the first unit and rotating about the rotation axis;

A second connection member connected to the second unit and relatively rotating with the first connection member about the rotation axis;

A cam follower which rotates together with any one of the first and second connecting members and is linearly movable along a first path;

A first elastic member for pushing the cam follower along the first path;

A locking projection which rotates together with one of the first connection member and the second connection member and is linearly movable along a second path;

It includes a second elastic member for pushing the locking projection along the second path,

The remaining member of the first connecting member and the second connecting member except for the member rotating together with the cam follower is provided with a cam surface that interacts with the cam follower along the circumferential direction of the rotation axis.

A hinge device is provided in the remaining members of the first connection member and the second connection member except for the member that rotates together with the locking projection, and a locking hole into which the locking projection can be fitted according to the rotational position of the first connection member. .

The first path may be formed along a radial direction of the rotation axis, and the second path may be formed along a direction parallel to the rotation axis.

The second connection member may further include a housing in which the first connection member is accommodated.

The first connecting member may be provided with a guide hole for receiving the cam follower and the first elastic member, and the cam surface may be formed in the housing.

The housing may have a cylindrical side wall, and the cam surface may be formed on an inner wall surface of the side wall.

The first connection member may be provided with a receiving hole in which the locking protrusion and the second elastic member are accommodated, and the second connection member may have a side plate coupled to the housing and having the locking hole provided therein.

The second connecting member may include a connecting frame having the side plate and connected to the second unit.

The cam surface may include an arc portion having the same distance from the rotation axis, and the first and second inclined portions falling downward from both ends of the arc portion in the circumferential direction.

The first path and the second path may be formed along a direction parallel to the rotation axis.

The first connecting member may include a guide hole in which the cam follower and the first elastic member are accommodated, and a receiving hole in which the locking protrusion and the second elastic member are accommodated.

The first elastic member and the second elastic member may push the cam follower and the locking projection in the same direction, respectively, and the second connection member may include a cam forming plate having the cam surface and the locking hole formed at one end thereof.

The cam follower and the locking projection may be located at the same distance from the rotation axis, respectively, and the locking hole may be located on the circumference of which the cam surface is formed.

The cam surface may include a first inclined portion that rises along the circumferential direction, a horizontal portion, and a second inclined portion that descends, and the locking hole may be connected to a lower end of the first inclined portion.

The circumferential distance between the cam follower and the engaging projection is such that when the cam follower is located in the second inclined portion, the locking projection is located in the horizontal portion, and when the locking projection is fitted into the engaging hole, the cam follower is horizontally aligned. It can be determined to be located in wealth.

One end of the cam forming plate may be provided with two grooves provided to form the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 2B, the hinge device 10 includes a first connecting member 20, a second connecting member 30, a moving member 40, and two first elastic members 50. And two locking members 60 and two second elastic members 70. The hinge device 10 provides the rotation axis 100. The first connecting member 20 has a cylindrical body 22 extending about the rotation axis 100 and a coupling portion 24 protruding along the rotation axis 100 from one end of the body 22. . The side surface 23 of the body 22 is provided with a guide hole 25 which is dug inwardly and extends along the radial direction of the rotation axis 100. The guide hole 25 accommodates the movable member 40 and two first elastic members 50 that push the movable member 40 radially outward. The moving member 40 is linearly movable in the radial direction in the guide hole 25 of the body (22). The radial end of the moving member 40 is rounded. The rounded radial end of the moving member 40 forms a cam follower 42 which is in contact with and interacts with the cam face 35 formed in the housing 32 described later. At the opposite end of the coupling portion 24 in the body 22, a cylindrical insertion column 21 protruding along the rotation axis 100, and two receiving holes 26 symmetric about the insertion column 21. Is provided. The insertion column 21 is rotatably fitted into the through hole 381 formed in the first side plate 38 of the connecting frame 36 described later. The two receiving holes 26 are dug in and extend in parallel with the rotation axis 100. Each of the receiving holes 26 accommodates the second elastic member 70 that pushes the locking member 60 and the locking member 60 to the outside, respectively. The locking member 60 has a spherical shape and is movable in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 100 in the receiving hole 26. The locking member 60 may be fitted into the locking hole 382 formed in the first side plate 38 of the connection frame 36. The coupling part 24 is fitted into the coupling hole 151 of the rotation part 15 to rotate together with the rotation part 15. Although not shown, the rotating unit 15 is coupled to either one of the two case units of the cellular phone.

The second connection member 30 includes a housing 32 and a connection frame 36. The housing 32 is generally cylindrical and has a circular end wall 33 perpendicular to the axis of rotation 100 and a side wall 34 extending in parallel with the axis of rotation 100 from the end wall 33. . A through hole 331 is provided at the center of the end wall 33, and the coupling part 24 of the first connection member 20 protrudes out of the housing 32 through the through hole 331. The body 22 of the first connecting member 20 is accommodated in the housing 32. In the housing 32, the first connection member 20 rotates relative to the rotation axis 100. On the inner surface of the side wall 34 of the housing 32, first and second grooves 341 and 342 are disposed along the circumferential direction and have a size such that the round end of the moving member 40 can be inserted. do. A short circumferential wall surface 343 connecting the two grooves 341 and 342 and the two grooves 341 and 342 forms a cam surface 35 which interacts with the cam follower 42 of the moving member 40. Referring to FIG. 3, the cam surface 35 has a circular axis 343 in which the distance from the rotational axis 100 is kept constant along the circumferential direction, and the rotation axis toward the outer circumferential direction from both ends of the circular arc 343. A first inclined portion 351 and a second inclined portion 352 are inclined away from the line 100. The first inclined portion 351 is formed by the first groove 341, and the second inclined portion 352 is formed by the second groove 342.

2A and 2B, three insertion protrusions 345 protruding in parallel with the rotation axis 100 are provided at the end of the side wall 34 of the housing 32. The three coupling protrusions 345 are fitted into three corresponding coupling holes 383 formed in the first side plate 38 of the connection frame 36 so that the housing 32 and the connection frame 36 are coupled to the housing 32. Relative rotation does not occur between and the connection frame 36.

The connecting frame 36 includes first and second side plates 38 and 39 facing at right angles to the rotation axis 100 and a center plate 37 connecting the two side plates 38 and 39. Although not shown, the center plate 37 is connected to the remaining unit that is not coupled to the rotating unit 15 of the two units of the mobile phone. The first side plate 38 is provided with a circular through hole 381 located in the center, two symmetrical engaging holes 382 with three through holes 381 therebetween, and three engaging holes 383. . The first side plate 38 is coupled to the housing 32 by inserting the coupling protrusion 345 provided at the end of the side wall 34 of the housing 32 in the three coupling holes 383. The first side plate 38 closes the opening of the housing 32. The insertion column 21 of the first connection member 20 is rotatably fitted into the through hole 381. Two locking members 60 may be simultaneously fitted to the two locking holes 382. The locking hole 382 is smaller than the locking member 60 so that the locking member 60 does not escape outward. The second sidewall 39 is provided with a through hole 391. The through hole 391 may pass through a conductor that electrically connects two units of the cellular phone.

3 and 4, the operation of the above embodiment will be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 4, the first connecting member 20 of the hinge device 10 has a cam follower 42 with respect to the second connecting member 30 such that the first slope of the cam surface 35 is inclined. It is located in P1 located on the portion 351. At this time, the state of the cellular phone 12 is a fully expanded state as S1 in FIG. In this state, due to the interaction between the cam follower 42 and the first inclined portion 351 of the cam face 35, the first connecting member 20 is clockwise with respect to the second connecting member 30 (the direction opposite to the arrow). Is forced to rotate. Since the mobile phone 12 is limited to no longer be unfolded by a structure such as a stopper (not shown), this force acts to keep the mobile phone 12 unfolded stably. In this state, if the mobile phone 12 is slightly rotated to fold, the first connecting member 20 of the hinge device 10 rotates counterclockwise (arrow direction) with respect to the second connecting member 30, and FIG. As shown in (b), the cam follower 42 enters the arc 343 of the cam face 35, and at the same time, the locking member 60 is located at P2, which is fitted into the locking hole 382, and the mobile phone 12 ) Will stop in the state of S2 in FIG. Since the configuration of the locking member 60 and the locking hole 382 is provided independently of the configuration of the cam follower 42 and the cam surface 35, it is possible to minimize the distance between S1 and S2. The state in which the cellular phone 12 is continuously folded in the state of S2 and completely folded is S3, and the state of the hinge device 10 at this time is shown in Fig. 3C. Referring to Figure 3 (c), the first connecting member 20 of the hinge device 10 has a cam follower 42 with respect to the second connecting member 30, the second inclined portion 352 of the cam surface 35 Located at P3). In this state, due to the interaction between the cam follower 42 and the second inclined portion 352 of the cam face 35, the first connecting member 20 is counterclockwise (arrow direction) with respect to the second connecting member 30. Is forced to rotate. Since the mobile phone 12 is already fully folded, this force acts to keep the mobile phone 12 folded.

5 to 7 is a view of the hinge device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 6B, the hinge device 10a includes a first connecting member 20a, a second connecting member 30a, first and second moving members 40a and 45a, and two elastic members. 50a and a coupling pin 90a are provided. The first connection member 30a has a cylindrical shape extending along the rotation axis 100a and has a through hole 28a formed at the center thereof so that the coupling pin 90a passes. One end of the first connection member 20a is provided with first and second receiving holes 26a extending in parallel with the rotation axis 100a. The two receiving holes 26a are located at the same distance from the rotation axis 100a and are arranged along the circumferential direction. Two elastic members 50a and first and second moving members 40a and 45a are respectively accommodated in the two receiving holes 26a. In the receiving hole 26a, the moving members 40a and 45a are movable in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 100a. A coupling hole 29a is provided at the opposite end of the first connecting member 20a to be coupled to one of the two case units of the cellular phone (not shown) by means of a coupling screw.

The first and second moving members 40a and 45a have heads 42a and 47a and extensions 44a and 49a extending from the heads 42a and 47a. The ends of the heads 42a and 47a are hemispherical to form cam followers 421a and 471a. The extensions 44a and 49a enter into the elastic member 50a which is a compression coil spring. The elastic member 50a pushes the movable members 40a and 45a toward the cam forming plate 32a described later.

The second connection member 30a includes a connection frame 36a and a cam forming plate 32a. A through hole 381a and a coupling hole 383a are provided in the first side plate 38a of the connecting frame 36a. A projection 31a, which will be described later, of the cam forming plate 32a is fitted into the through hole 381a. A coupling protrusion 345a, which will be described later, of the cam forming plate 32a is fitted into the coupling hole 383a, so that the connecting frame 36a and the cam forming plate 32a are coupled to each other. Since the rest of the configuration in the connection frame 36a is the same as the connection frame 36 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

6A to 7, the cam forming plate 32a has a disc shape, and a through hole 321a penetrates the center thereof. The coupling pin 90a passes through the through hole 321a. Circular first and second grooves 31a and 34a are provided at the first end 33a of the cam forming plate 32a, and protrusions 31a and engaging projections 345a are provided at the second end 50a. do. The first groove 31a and the second groove 34a are located at the same distance from the rotation axis 100a, and the circumferential distance between the two grooves 31a and 34a is the two cam followers of the two moving members 40a and 45a. Slightly further than the circumferential distance between 421a and 471a. The moving members 40a and 45a may be fitted into the two grooves 31a and 34a. Insertion holes 311a and 341a which are dug inward are respectively provided in the centers of the two grooves 31a and 34a. A cam surface 35a is formed at the first end 33a. The cam face 35a is formed along the circumferential direction passing through the two grooves 31a and 34a. Referring to FIG. 8A together, the cam surface 35a includes a first insertion hole 311a, an ascending first inclined portion 352a, and a first along the direction in which the cellular phone is opened (arrow direction). The horizontal portion 353a, the second inclined portion 354a descending, the second insertion hole 341a, the third inclined portion 356a rising, the second horizontal portion 357a, and the fourth inclined portion descending 358a. Ends of the two cam followers 421a and 471a may be fitted into the two insertion holes 311a and 341a.

5-6B, the coupling pin 90 has a head 92a and an extension 94a extending from the head 92a. The head 92a is caught by the first connecting member 20a, and the extension portion 94a sequentially passes through the through hole 28a of the first connecting member 20a and the through hole 321a of the cam forming plate 32a. Passing through the end is coupled to the first connecting member 20a and the cam forming plate 32a by processing such as caulking. The first connecting member 20a rotates about the cam forming plate 32a about the rotation axis 100a.

4, 7 and 8, the operation of the above embodiment will be described in detail. 7 (a) and 8 (a) show the state of the hinge device when the cellular phone 12 is fully deployed in the state of S1 (in the present embodiment, 155 degrees unfolded). Referring to FIGS. 7A and 8A, the first cam follower 421a is positioned at the second inclined portion 354a of the cam face 35a, and the second cam follower 471a is formed of the first cam follower 471a. 1 is positioned near the first inclined portion 352a in the horizontal plane 353a. At this time, the two cam followers 421a and 451a are moved in the direction of the arrow by the interaction between the first cam followers 421a and the second inclined portion 354a. This direction is a direction in which the mobile phone 12 is to be unfolded, and since the mobile phone 12 is already fully unfolded, this force acts to keep the mobile phone 12 unfolded stably. 7B and 8B show the state of the hinge device when the cellular phone 12 is unfolded in the state of S2 (135 degrees unfolded in this embodiment). Referring to FIGS. 7B and 8B, the first cam follower 421a is positioned near the second inclined portion 354a in the first horizontal portion 353a and the second cam follower portion. 471a is fitted into the first insertion hole 311a. Since the second cam follower 471a is fitted into the first insertion hole 311a, the mobile telephone 12 maintains the state of S2 stably. 7C and 8C show the state of the hinge device when the cellular phone 12 is completely folded in the state of S3. Referring to FIGS. 7C and 8C, the first cam follower 421a is positioned at the first inclined portion 352a, and the second cam follower 471a is located at the second horizontal portion 357a. ) At this time, the two cam followers 421a and 471a are moved in the direction of the arrow by the interaction between the first cam followers 421a and the first inclined portion 352a. This direction is a direction in which the cellular phone 12 is folded, and since the cellular phone 12 is already fully folded, this force acts to keep the cellular phone 12 in a folded state stably.

In the above embodiment, the hinge device is described as being mounted on the mobile phone, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that they can be mounted and used in all other devices (eg, cellular phones, PDAs, portable computers, etc.) having two units that are folded or unfolded to one another.

According to the configuration of the present invention can achieve all the objects of the present invention described above. Specifically, a hinge device having a stop position in the middle and connecting two units is provided. Further, the distance between the fully open position and the intermediate stop position of the two units can be shortened.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and that such modifications and variations also fall within the present invention.

Claims (15)

In the hinge device that connects the first unit and the second unit that can be folded or unfolded relatively rotated around the axis of rotation, A first connection member connected to the first unit and rotating about the rotation axis; A second connection member connected to the second unit and relatively rotating with the first connection member about the rotation axis; A cam follower which rotates together with any one of the first and second connecting members and is linearly movable along a first path; A first elastic member for pushing the cam follower along the first path; A locking projection which rotates together with one of the first connection member and the second connection member and is linearly movable along a second path; It includes a second elastic member for pushing the locking projection along the second path, The remaining member of the first connecting member and the second connecting member except for the member rotating together with the cam follower is provided with a cam surface that interacts with the cam follower along the circumferential direction of the rotation axis. The hinge device of the first connection member and the second connection member other than the member that rotates with the locking projection is provided with a locking hole that the locking projection can be fitted according to the rotation position of the first connection member. The hinge device of claim 1, wherein the first path is formed along a radial direction of the rotation axis, and the second path is formed along a direction parallel to the rotation axis. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein the second connection member further comprises a housing in which the first connection member is received. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein the first connecting member is provided with a guide hole for receiving the cam follower and the first elastic member, and the cam surface is formed in the housing. The hinge device according to claim 4, wherein the housing has a cylindrical side wall, and the cam surface is formed on an inner wall surface of the side wall. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein the first connection member is provided with a receiving hole in which the locking projection and the second elastic member are accommodated, and the second connection member is coupled to the housing and has a side plate provided with the locking hole. Hinge device. The hinge device of claim 6, wherein the second connection member includes a side frame and a connection frame connected to the second unit. The hinge device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the cam surface has a circular arc portion having the same distance from the rotation axis, and the first and second descending toward the circumferential outward from both ends of the circular arc portion. Hinge device provided with an inclination part. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein the first path and the second path are formed along a direction parallel to the rotation axis. The hinge device of claim 9, wherein the first connection member includes a guide hole in which the cam follower and the first elastic member are accommodated, and a receiving hole in which the locking projection and the second elastic member are accommodated. 11. The hinge device of claim 10, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member push the cam follower and the engaging projection in the same direction, respectively, and the second connecting member has a cam surface and a locking hole formed at one end thereof. Hinge device provided with a plate. 12. The hinge device of claim 11, wherein the cam follower and the locking projection are located at the same distance from the rotation axis, and the locking hole is located on a circumference of which the cam surface is formed. The hinge device of claim 11, wherein the cam surface includes a first inclined portion that rises along the circumferential direction, a horizontal portion, and a second inclined portion that descends, and the locking hole is connected to a lower end of the first inclined portion. The hinge device according to claim 13, wherein the circumferential distance between the cam follower and the locking projection is such that the locking projection is located in the horizontal portion when the cam follower is located in the second inclined portion, and the locking projection is inserted into the locking hole. And the cam follower is determined to be positioned at the horizontal part when being lifted. The hinge device of claim 14, wherein one end of the cam forming plate is provided with two grooves formed to form the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion.

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