HINGE DEVICE OF PORTABLE TERMINAL WITH FOLDABLE STRUCTURE

A hinge device for a portable terminal having a foldable structure according to the present invention comprises: a housing positioned between one end of a first body and one end a second body; a first hinge blade and a second hinge blade which are fixed to the first body and the second body, respectively, and are rotatably supported by the housing, so as to rotate at a predetermined angle between an ‘unfolded position’ in which the first body and the second body are placed on the same horizontal line and a ‘folded position’ in which the first body and the second body face each other and come into contact with each other; and a slide member that interlocks the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade such that the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade move relative to each other, wherein the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade have first inclined guide groove and second inclined guide groove formed on the undersides thereof, and correspondingly thereto, the slide member has first inclined guide protrusion and second inclined guide protrusion formed on tops thereof, the slide member being disposed in the housing and reciprocating by a predetermined distance in a direction of a hinge axial line, and the first inclined guide groove and the second inclined guide groove being formed inclinedly in a direction crossing to each other with respect to the moving direction of the corresponding slide member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hinge device for a portable terminal with a foldable structure, and more specifically, to a hinge device for a portable terminal with a foldable structure that is configured to be disposed on the portable terminal to which a flexible display is applied, thereby having an improvement in the foldable structure in which the flexible display is stably folded and unfolded.

BACKGROUND ART

Portable terminals are devices that are carried with users, while each having a battery and a display part to thus output information to the display part using the power supplied from the battery.

The portable terminal includes a device for recording and playing videos and a device for displaying graphic user interface (GUI), and examples of the portable terminals include laptops, smartphones, glasses and watches with which screen information is displayed, game machines, and the like.

As the functions of the portable terminals become diverse, further, the portable terminals are functioned as multimedia players having multi-functions such as picture or video taking, music or video file reproducing, game playing, broadcasting receiving, and the like.

To support and increase the functions of the portable terminals, improvements in structures and/or software of the portable terminals may be required.

Further, the portable terminals are developed with various designs, and so as to satisfy the needs of users for newer and more different designs, endeavors for developing the portable terminals to new shapes have been made.

In this case, the new shapes include structural changes and improvements in the portable terminals so as to allow the portable terminals to be more conveniently used by the users.

As one of the structural changes and improvements, a portable terminal whose at least a portion of the display part is bendable or foldable is in the limelight.

However, a complicated configuration is needed in supplying power or external force required to allow the portable terminal to be bent or folded, thereby disadvantageously making an outer appearance of the portable terminal not simple and causing the thickness of the portable terminal to increase.

When a flexible display panel is folded, further, it is changed in length, and accordingly, a hinge device used for a conventional folder portable terminal cannot be used.

Besides, most of conventional hinge devices applied to the flexible display panel are configured to have an interlocking structure in which two bodies move relative to each other, using gears that simply interlock with each other in rotating directions of the bodies (See Korean Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-2019-0124110). However, the interlocking structure may be lowered in durability, generate vibrations or noise, have complicated manufacturing processes, and increase component costs.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing a hinge device for a portable terminal that has a new and efficient folding structure capable of equally folding both ends of a flexible display panel to the same angle to each other to thus handle changes in length of the flexible display panel.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge device for a portable terminal with a foldable structure that is capable of improving durability, reducing vibrations or noise, being simple in a manufacturing process, and lowering component costs.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to the present invention, a hinge device for a portable terminal with a foldable structure may include: housing positioned between one end of a first body and one end of a second body; first hinge blade and second hinge blade fixed to the first body and the second body, respectively and supported by the housing to rotate at a predetermined angle between an ‘unfolded position’ in which the first body and the second body are placed on the same horizontal line and a ‘folded position’ in which the first body and the second body face each other and come into contact with each other; and slide member for interlocking the first hinge blades and the second hinge blades with each other so that the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade move relative to each other, wherein the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade have first inclined guide groove and second inclined guide groove formed on the undersides thereof, and correspondingly thereto, the slide member has first inclined guide protrusion and second inclined guide protrusion formed on tops thereof, the slide member being disposed in the housing and reciprocating by a predetermined distance in a direction of a hinge axial line.

According to the present invention, further, each first inclined guide groove and each second inclined guide groove may be formed inclinedly in a direction crossing each other with respect to the moving direction of the corresponding slide member.

According to the present invention, moreover, portions on which the first inclined guide groove and the second inclined guide groove are formed may be curvedly formed toward rotation directions.

According to the present invention, further, each housing may have a rectangular slide slot formed thereon in the moving direction of the corresponding slide member, and the corresponding slide member may have a slide protrusion protruding from the underside thereof and thus fittedly guided along the slide slot.

According to the present invention, besides, the first inclined guide protrusions and the second inclined guide protrusions may become reduced in width toward tops thereof.

According to the present invention, additionally, the first inclined guide protrusions and the second inclined guide protrusions may be rectangular in lengthwise directions of the first inclined guide grooves and the second inclined guide grooves.

According to the present invention, further, the first inclined guide protrusions and the second inclined guide protrusions may be hemispherical.

According to the present invention, moreover, a pair of semi-circular protrusions may be formed on the inner wall surfaces of both sides of the housing, and semi-circular grooves may be formed on the first hinge blade and second hinge blade, respectively, to be rotated by fitting the semicircular protrusions thereto.

According to the present invention, further, each pair of semi-circular protrusions may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to allow a predetermined curvature radius formed on a folding portion of a flexible display panel to be accommodated in the predetermined distance at the ‘folding position’.

According to the present invention, the hinge device may further include tension mechanism comprising a tension fixing member having a first guide shaft and a second guide shaft disposed thereon in the direction of the hinge axial line, a first tension blade and a second tension blade fitted to the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft, rotating supportedly thereagainst, and movable to axial directions, tension operating members movably fitted to the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft in the axial directions, and springs for applying elastic forces to the tension operating members.

According to the present invention, further, a plurality of inclined protrusions may be formed on the tension operating members in circumferential direction around the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft, and another plurality of inclined protrusions that can be fitted corresponding to the inclined protrusions may be formed on the first tension blade and the second tension blade.

According to the present invention, further, the tension mechanism may have tension guide protrusions protruding from the first tension blade and the second tension blade, respectively, and the tension guide protrusions are inserted into and guided in tension guide holes formed on one side of the first hinge blade and second hinge blade.

According to the present invention, moreover, the tension guide holes may be rectangular.

According to the present invention, the hinge device may further include springs elastically installed at the interlocking portions between the first and the second hinge blade and the first and the second tension blade, and located furthest from the rotation axis of the first tension blade and the second tension blade.

According to the present invention, the hinge device may further include ascending and descending plate disposed in the housing and positioned in the folding space, so that ascending and descending plate operates interlockingly by means of pressurization upon the rotations of the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade and thus moves between an ascending position separated from the housing to connect the first body and the second body to each other on a horizontal line at the unfolding position and a descending position close to the housing to form the folding space between the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade.

According to the present invention, moreover, the ascending and descending plate may interlock through pressurizing means, and the pressurizing means may have first pressurizing protrusion and second pressurizing protrusion adapted to pressurize the ascending and descending plate thereagainst to allow the ascending and descending plate to move to the ascending position and the descending position.

According to the present invention, besides, the first pressurizing protrusion and the second pressurizing protrusion may be formed in circumferential directions on rotating portions around the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft.

According to the present invention, further, the pressurizing means may further include an elastic member adapted to apply an elastic force so that the ascending and descending plate is at the descending position.

According to the present invention, moreover, the elastic member may be a conical compression coil spring.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, the hinge structure for interlocking the bodies with each other has the slide member linearly moving in the directions of the hinge axial lines of the bodies upon the folding operation, thereby minimizing the load and gap occurring upon the folding operation to reduce vibrations and noise generated and being simplified in the interlocking structure to achieve the improvement of durability, the reduction of component costs, and the simplification of a manufacturing process.

According to the present invention, further, the ascending and descending plates move to the descending positions at the folding position of the bodies to form the folding space in which the predetermined curvature radius formed in the folding portion of the flexible display panel is accommodated, and the ascending and descending plates move to the ascending positions at the unfolding position of the bodies to allow the folding portion of the flexible display panel to be consistently kept to the horizontal state.

<Explanations of Reference Numerals>11, 12: First and second bodies13: Flexible display panel14: Hinge device21, 22: First and second hinge blades31: Housing41: Slide member43a, 43b: First and secondinclined guide grooves44a, 44b: First and secondinclined guide protrusions50: Tension mechanism55, 56: First and second tension blades70: Ascending and descending73, 74: First and second pressurizingplateprotrusions75: Elastic member

BEST MODE FOR INVENTION

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a state where a flexible display panel13is separated from first and second bodies11and12at a position where a portable terminal is unfolded according to an embodiment of the present invention, and in this case, a hinge device14is connected between one end of a folding portion of the first body11and one end of a folding portion of the second body12facing the folding portion of the first body11.

The flexible display panel13has a given size so that it can cover the entire area of the first and second bodies11and12including the hinge device14, and further, the flexible display panel13is fixed to the entire inner surfaces of the first and second bodies11and12excepting the hinge device14through attaching means such as an adhesive and the like.

FIG.2is a perspective view showing a coupling relation of the hinge device14according to the present invention to the first and second bodies11and12, and in this case, the hinge device14includes first hinge blades21and second hinge blades22fixed to the first body11and the second body12by means of screws (not shown), so that the hinge device14is fixed to the first and second bodies11and12.

FIG.3is an exploded perspective view showing main components of the hinge device14according to the present invention. As shown, the hinge device14includes housing31adapted to supportingly rotate the first and second hinge blades21and22to a predetermined angle, that is, between an ‘unfolding position’ and a ‘folding position’ of the first and second bodies11and12and tension mechanism50adapted to perform free-stop functions between the ‘unfolding position’ and the ‘folding position’ while the first and second hinge blades21and22are rotating.

The first and second hinge blades21and22, the housing31, and the tension mechanism50are provided in pair so that the respective pairs have the same configuration as each other on both ends of the first and second bodies11and12connected to each other, thereby allowing the first and second bodies11and12to be stably folded and unfolded. In this case, the housing31and the tension mechanism50are fixed to a single hinge cover32by means of screws (not shown).

FIGS.4,5aand5bshow a rotation-supporting structure of the first and second hinge blades21and22of the hinge device14according to the present invention.FIGS.5aand5bare sectional views taken along the line D-D ofFIG.3, but so as to easily explain the rotation-supporting structure of the first and second hinge blades21and22as shown inFIG.4, the sections of some components are omitted. As shown, the rotation-supporting structure of the first and second hinge blades21and22includes a pair of semi-circular protrusions31aand a pair of semi-circular protrusions31bspaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on the inner wall surfaces of both sides of housing31and semi-circular grooves21aand22ato which the semi-circular protrusions31aand31bare fitted so that the first and second hinge blades21and22supportedly rotate.

The semi-circular grooves21aand22aof the first and second hinge blades21and22are formed on the opposite ends to fixing portions21band22bto which the first and second bodies11and12are fixed, so that the fixing portions21band22brotate to a predetermined angle around the semi-circular grooves21aand22ato allow the first and second bodies11and12to supportingly rotate between the ‘unfolding position’ and the ‘folding position’.

In this case, a distance between the semi-circular protrusions31aand31bis set to allow a folding space in which a predetermined curvature radius formed on a folding portion of the flexible display panel13at the ‘folding position’ is accommodated to be formed between the first and second hinge blades21and22.

According to the present invention, the semi-circular grooves21aand22aare formed on the first and second hinge blades21and22, and the semi-circular protrusions31aand31bare formed on the housing31. However, of course, the semi-circular protrusions31aand31bmay be formed on the first and second hinge blades21and22, and the semi-circular grooves21aand22amay be formed on the housing31.

An explanation of the rotation-supporting structure of the first and second hinge blades21and22have been given in the above, but any structure capable of supportingly rotating the bodies11and12may be coupled to interlocking means or ascending and descending plate as will be discussed later and thus applied to the present invention.

FIGS.6,7,8a,8b, and9show the first and second hinge blades21and22, the housing31, and the interlocking means, and in this case, a slide member41as the interlocking means for moving the first hinge blade21and the second hinge blade22relatively to each other is located on the housing31.

The slide member41is located on the housing31so that it reciprocates by a predetermined distance in a directions of a rotation axial line (hereinafter, referred to as ‘hinge axial line’) of the first hinge blade21and the second hinge blade22.

A moving structure for the slide member41includes a rectangular slide slot42aformed on the housing31in the direction of the hinge axial line and a slide protrusion42bprotruding from the underside of the slide member41and thus fittedly guided along the slide slot42a.

Further, the interlocking means includes first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43bformed on the undersides of the first and second hinge blades21and22and first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bprotruding from top of the slide member41. The portions of the undersides of the first and second hinge blades21and22, on which the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43bare formed, are curvedly formed toward the rotation directions of the first and second hinge blades21and22. Further, the portions of the slide member41, on which the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bare formed, are curvedly formed correspondingly to the portions on which the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43bare formed.

The first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43bare formed inclinedly along the curved surfaces of the undersides of the first and second hinge blades21and22in a direction crossing to each other with respect to the moving direction of the slide member41. In specific, the first inclined guide groove43aand the second inclined guide groove43bare formed inclinedly along the curved surfaces in diagonal directions with respect to the moving directions of the slide member41, and the respective inclined directions (diagonal directions) are not the same direction as each other, but the crossing directions to each other.

The first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bmoving interlockingly with the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43bare formed on top of the slide member41at the corresponding positions to the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43b. The first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bhave rectangular shapes as shown inFIG.6, and further, they may have hemispherical shapes as shown inFIG.9. As shown inFIG.6, the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bwith the rectangular shapes become reduced in width toward tops thereof, so that when they interlock with the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43b, friction forces are decreased to suppress the occurrence of vibrations and noise. Further, as shown inFIG.9, the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bwith the hemispherical shapes become reduced in width toward tops thereof, so that the same effectiveness as above may be obtained.

The interlocking structure of the first and second hinge blades21and22allows the slide member41, even if only one of the first and second hinge blades21and22rotates to the ‘folding position’ or the ‘unfolding position’, to linearly move by the predetermined length in the direction of the hinge axial line by means of the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43band the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44b, so that the other hinge blade moves relative to one hinge blade in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of one hinge blade and rotates to the ‘folding position’ or the ‘unfolding position’, together with one hinge blade.

FIG.10is a partially exploded perspective view showing the tension mechanism50separated from the hinge device14according to the present invention.

As shown, the tension mechanism50includes a tension fixing member51fixed to the hinge cover32(SeeFIG.3) and having first and second guide shafts52aand52bdisposed thereon in the direction of the hinge axial line. Further, the tension mechanism50includes tension operating members53and54movably fitted to the first and second guide shafts52aand52bin axial directions and having a plurality of inclined protrusions53aand54aprotruding in the direction of the hinge axial line therefrom in circumferential directions around the first and second guide shafts52aand52b.

Further, the tension mechanism50includes first and second tension blades55and56fitted to the first and second guide shafts52aand52b, rotating supportedly thereagainst, and movable to the axial directions. The first and second tension blades55and56have inclined protrusions55aand55bfitted to the spaces of the inclined protrusions53aand54aof the tension operating members53and54corresponding thereto.

Further, first springs57aare located at spaces between the tension operating member53and the first tension blade55and the tension operating member53and the second tension blade56, and second springs57bare located at spaces between the tension operating member54and the tension fixing member51. The first and second springs57aand57bserve to constantly apply elastic forces so that the inclined protrusions53aand54aof the tension operating members53and54are fitted to the inclined protrusions55aand55bof the first and second tension blades55and56.

FIG.11shows a connection structure between the tension mechanism50and the first and second hinge blades21and22, and the connection structure includes rectangular tension guide holes58aformed on one side of the first and second hinge blades21and22and tension guide protrusions58bprotruding from the first and second tension blades55and56of the tension mechanism50and thus guidedly fitted to the tension guide holes58a.

Accordingly, the first and second tension blades55and56of the tension mechanism50interlock with the first and second hinge blades21and22and thus rotate between the ‘unfolding position’ and the ‘folding position’, together with the first and second hinge blades21and22.

The tension mechanism50is configured to allow the inclined protrusions55aand55bof the first and second tension blades55and56to be fitted or escape to or from the inclined protrusions53aand54aof the tension operating members53and54according to the rotations of the first and second tension blades55and56(SeeFIGS.13aand13b), so that the elastic forces of the first and second springs57aand57bare increased or decreased to cause the rotations of the first and second bodies11and12to be easily performed with small forces at the ‘unfolding position’ or the ‘folding position’, while the free-stop function is being performed between the ‘unfolding position’ and the ‘folding position’.

If the rotating force is removed during the rotations of the first and second bodies11and12to the ‘unfolding position’ or the ‘folding position’ to thus stop the rotations, the free-stop function enables the first and second bodies11and12to be kept at the positions where the rotations are stopped.

If the maximum curved portions of the inclined protrusions53aand54aof the tension operating members53and54are located in positions to face the maximum curved portions of the inclined protrusions55aand55bof the first and second tension blades55and56according to the rotations of the first and second tension blades55and56, the first and second springs57aand57bare compressed so that through the compressed elastic forces, the free-stop function is performed to allow the first and second bodies11and12to be kept at the positions where the rotations are stopped (SeeFIGS.13aand13b).

FIG.12is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the tension mechanism of the hinge device according to the present invention. Unlike the tension mechanism as shown inFIG.10, the tension mechanism as shown inFIG.12has only the springs57located between the tension operating member53and the tension fixing member51, thereby allowing a distance between both sides of the hinge device14to increase. Accordingly, it is easy to locate signal wires and the hinge device is simple in configuration to improve the assemblability and durability thereof. Further, springs59are additionally fitted to the tension guide protrusions58bof the first and second tension blades55and56to allow the first and second hinge blades21and22to elastically come into close contact with the first and second tension blades55and56. As a result, the springs59are located on the interlocking portions most distant from the rotary axial lines of the first and second tension blades55and56, thereby more increasing the elastic forces with respect to the rotary torques of the first and second tension blades55and56when compared with the elastic forces of springs59located sequentially to the springs57on the rotary axial lines. Further, the elastic forces collected to the rotary axial lines are distributed to improve the stability and durability of the tension mechanism50.

An explanation of the tension mechanism50has been given above, but only if any device easily rotates the bodies11and12with a small force and performs the free-stop function, it may be coupled to the interlocking means as mentioned above or the ascending and descending plate as will be discussed later and thus applied to the present invention.

Referring back toFIGS.2and3, the hinge device14of the present invention includes the ascending and descending plate70disposed elongatedly above the rotary axes of the bodies11and12in the rotary axis direction. According to the present invention, two ascending and descending plates70are provided, but both side ascending and descending plate70may be connected to each other as an integral body.

As shown inFIGS.14,15a, and15b, each ascending and descending plate70is located on the tension fixing member51of the tension mechanism50, and to do this, a screw72passes through the underside of the tension fixing member51and is thus fastened to the ascending and descending plate70.FIGS.15aand15bare sectional views taken along the line B-B ofFIG.2, but so as to easily explain the installation structure of the ascending and descending plate as shown inFIG.14and the operating state of an elastic member, the sections of some components are omitted.

The ascending and descending plate70interlocks with the first and second tension blades55and56through pressurizing means as will be discussed later upon the rotations of the first and second tension blades55and56and thus moves between an ascending position (SeeFIG.15a) at which a horizontal line is maintained at the unfolding position and a descending position (SeeFIG.15b) at which a folding space is formed between the first hinge blade21and the second hinge blade22.

The pressurizing means includes an elastic member75disposed between the tension fixing member51and the screw72to apply an elastic force so that the ascending and descending plate70is always at the descending position and first and second pressurizing protrusions73and74protruding from the first and second tension blades55and56of the tension mechanism50, as shown inFIGS.16aand16b.

As shown inFIG.15a, the elastic member75is compressed when the ascending and descending plate70is at the ascending position, and when the ascending and descending plate70is at the descending position, as shown inFIG.15b, the elastic member75is expanded to apply the elastic force so that the ascending and descending plate70always moves to the descending position.

As shown, desirably, the elastic member75is a conical compression coil spring. The same function may be performed even with a cylindrical compression coil spring, but when the cylindrical compression coil spring is compressed, a thickness made by adding a plurality of coil diameters corresponding to the number of turns of the coil spring is provided between the tension fixing member51and the screw72, so that the ascending and descending distances of the ascending and descending plate70are reduced, thereby failing to allow the ascending and descending plate70to move between the set ascending and descending positions.

Contrarily, the conical compression coil spring has a thickness corresponding to one coil diameter provided between the tension fixing member51and the screw72, so that the ascending and descending distances of the ascending and descending plate70are sufficiently ensured, thereby making it possible to allow the ascending and descending plate70to move between the set ascending and descending positions.

FIGS.16aand16bare sectional views taken along the line C-C ofFIG.2, but so as to easily explain the operating state of the ascending and descending plate70through the first and second pressurizing protrusions as the pressurizing means as shown inFIG.14, the sections of some components are omitted. Desirably, the first and second pressurizing protrusions73and74are formed in circumferential directions on the rotating portions around the first and second guide shafts52aand52b. As shown inFIGS.16aand16b, the first and second pressurizing protrusions73and74are formed on the first and second hinge blades55and56.

As shown inFIG.16a, the first pressurizing protrusions73serve to pressurize one side70aof the ascending and descending plate70, when the first and second tension blades55and56rotate to the unfolding position, to thus keep the ascending and descending plate70at the ascending position, and as shown inFIG.16b, the second pressurizing protrusions74serve to pressurize one side70aof the ascending and descending plate70, when the first and second tension blades55and56rotate to the folding position, to thus keep the ascending and descending plate70at the descending position. The pressurizing means of the ascending and descending plate70may include only the first and second pressurizing protrusions73and74, without having the elastic member75.

Now, an explanation of the operations of the hinge device according to the present invention will be given.

If the first and second bodies11and12move between the unfolding position and the folding position, as shown inFIGS.5aand5b, the semi-circular grooves21aand22aof the first and second hinge blades21and22fixed to the first and second bodies11and12are guided by the semi-circular protrusions31aand31bof the housing31and thus supportedly rotate, so that the operations for moving the first and second bodies11and12between the ‘unfolding position’ and the ‘folding position’ may be gently performed.

Further, even though only one of the first body11and the second body12rotates, the other body moves relatively to one body and thus rotates together with the rotating body through the interlocking means.

In specific, as shown inFIG.8a, if only the first hinge blade21rotates to the ‘folding position’ to allow the first inclined guide groove43aof the first hinge blade21to rotate around the hinge axial line of the first hinge blade21and thus move to a direction of an arrow ‘a1’ from an imaginary line, the slide member41linearly moves to a direction of an arrow ‘a2’ by means of the first inclined guide protrusion44aguided by the first inclined guide groove43a, so that as the second inclined guide groove43bof the second hinge blade22is guided by the second inclined guide protrusion44band moves to a direction of an arrow ‘a3’ from an imaginary line, the second hinge blade22moves to the ‘folding position’, together with the first hinge blade21.

Contrarily, even if the second inclined guide groove43bof the second hinge blade22moves to the direction of the arrow ‘a3’, the first inclined guide groove43aof the first hinge blade21moves to the direction of the arrow ‘a1’ by means of the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bof the slide member41, and accordingly, the first hinge blade21does not move, together with the second hinge blade22.

In the same manner as above, as shown inFIG.8b, if only the first hinge blade21rotates to the ‘unfolding position’ to allow the first inclined guide groove43aof the first hinge blade21to move to a direction of an arrow ‘b1’ from an imaginary line, the slide member41moves to a direction of an arrow ‘b2’ by means of the first inclined guide protrusion44aguided by the first inclined guide groove43a, so that as the second inclined guide groove43bof the second hinge blade22is guided by the second inclined guide protrusion44band moves to a direction of an arrow ‘b3’ from an imaginary line, the second hinge blade22moves to the ‘unfolding position’, together with the first hinge blade21.

Contrarily, even if the second inclined guide groove43bof the second hinge blade22moves to the direction of the arrow ‘b3’, the first inclined guide groove43aof the first hinge blade21moves to the direction of the arrow ‘b1’ by means of the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44bof the slide member41, and accordingly, the first hinge blade21does not move, together with the second hinge blade22.

InFIGS.8aand8b, the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43binterlock with the slide member41with the first and second inclined guide protrusions44aand44blinearly moving in the direction of the arrow a2 or b2 and thus linearly move in the directions of the arrow a1 or b1 and the arrow a3 or b3 on the plane, but the portions where the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43bare formed are curvedly formed in the rotating directions, so that the first and second hinge blades21and22having the first and second inclined guide grooves43aand43brotate to the ‘folding position’ or the ‘unfolding position’.

The hinge device14of the present invention is configured to allow the free-stop function to be performed by the tension mechanism50when the rotating positions of the first and second bodies11and12are between the ‘unfolding position’ and the ‘folding position’.

As shown inFIGS.10and11, each tension mechanism50is configured to allow the tension guide protrusions58bof the first and second tension blades55and56to be guided along the tension guide holes58aof the first and second hinge blades21and22, so that upon the rotations of the first and second hinge blades21and22, the first and second tension blades55and56rotate interlockingly with the first and second hinge blades21and22.

When the first and second hinge blades21and22are at the ‘folding position’ or the ‘unfolding position’, accordingly, the inclined protrusions55aand55bof the first and second tension blades55and56are fitted between the inclined protrusions53aand54aof the tension operating members53and54(SeeFIG.13a), and the first and second springs57aand57bare expanded. As a result, the elastic forces of the first and second springs57aand57bfor pressurizing the first and second hinge blades21and22toward the direction of the hinge axial line are reduced to allow the first and second hinge blades21and22to easily rotate with a small force.

When the first and second hinge blades21and22are between the ‘folding position’ and the ‘unfolding position’, further, the inclined protrusions55aand55bof the first and second tension blades55and56escape from the inclined protrusions53aand54aof the tension operating members53and54by the rotations of the first and second tension blades55and56to allow the tension operating members53and54to pressurizedly move in the direction of the hinge axial line (SeeFIG.13b)

Accordingly, the tension operating members53and54move along the first and second guide shafts52aand52bto allow the first and second springs57aand57bto be compressed. As a result, the elastic forces of the first and second springs57aand57bfor pressurizing the tension operating members53and54toward the first and second tension blades55and56are increased, and through the compressed elastic forces, accordingly, the free-stop function is performed to allow the first and second bodies11and12to be kept at the positions where the rotations are stopped.

According to the present invention, further, the hinge device14is configured to allow the ascending and descending plate70, when the first and second hinge blades21and22are between the folding position and the unfolding position, to rotate interlockingly with the first and second hinge blades21and22, so that the folding portion of the flexible display panel13is kept to a horizontal level at the unfolding position of the first and second bodies11and12, and a folding space, in which a predetermined curvature radius formed on the folding portion of the display panel12is accommodated, is formed at the folding position of the first and second bodies11and12.

In specific, as shown inFIG.15b, the ascending and descending plate70is at the descending position by means of the elastic force of the elastic member75, and as shown inFIG.16b, the first pressurizing protrusions74of the first and second tension blades55and56of the tension mechanism50pressurize one side70aof the ascending and descending plate70to allow the ascending and descending plate70to be kept at the descending position.

If the first and second bodies11and12rotate to the unfolding position from the folding position, as shown inFIG.15a, the first and second hinge blades21and22fixed to the first and second bodies11and12rotate together with the first and second bodies11and12. In this case, as shown inFIG.16a, the second pressurizing protrusions74are separated from the ascending and descending plate70by means of the rotations of the first and second tension blades55and56, and the first pressurizing protrusions73pressurize one side70aof the ascending and descending plate70to allow the ascending and descending plate70to move from the descending position to the ascending position, so that as shown inFIG.15a, the elastic member75is compressed.

If the ascending and descending plate70moves to the ascending position, it is ascended to keep the folding portion of the flexible display panel13to the horizontal level.

Next, if the first and second bodies11and12rotate to the folding position from the unfolding position, as shown inFIG.15b, the first and second hinge blades21and22fixed to the first and second bodies11and12rotate together with the first and second bodies11and12. In this case, as shown inFIG.16b, the first pressurizing protrusions73are separated from the ascending and descending plate70, and the second pressurizing protrusions74pressurize one side70aof the ascending and descending plate70to allow the ascending and descending plate70to move from the ascending position to the descending position, so that as shown inFIG.15b, the elastic force of the elastic member75compressed helps the ascending and descending plate70descended.

If the ascending and descending plate70moves to the descending position, the space between the first and second hinge blades21and22is extendedly ensured, so that the folding space in which the predetermined curvature radius formed on the folding portion of the flexible display panel13is accommodated can be formed. According to the hinge device of the present invention, the display panel attached to the first and second bodies11and12has the predetermined curvature radius on the folding portion at the folding position, while the portions excepting the folding portion are being folded parallel to each other.

According to the hinge device14of the present invention, the folding portion of the flexible display panel13is kept to the horizontal level at the unfolding position of the first and second bodies11and12, and the folding space in which the predetermined curvature radius formed on the folding portion of the flexible display panel13is accommodated is formed at the folding position of the first and second bodies11and12.

The ascending and descending plate as mentioned above may be coupled to various rotation-supporting structures, interlocking means, or tension mechanism, excepting the rotation-supporting structure, the interlocking means, or the tension mechanism that have been suggested in the foregoing embodiment.

The hinge device of the present invention may be applied to all kinds of devices having hinge structures such as laptop computers, in addition to the portable terminals such as smartphones.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.