Rotatable door structure and electronic device casing therewith

A rotatable door structure includes a fixed casing, a door cover, and a hinge. The fixed casing has an opening. The door cover is pivotally connected to the fixed casing through the hinge. The hinge includes a shaft and a connection part. The shaft has a cam surface. The connection part has another cam surface and is rotatably connected to the shaft relative to a rotation axis. When the door cover rotates relative to the fixed casing through the hinge so as to expose the opening, the two cam surfaces abut against each other to move the door cover away relative to the fixed casing along the rotation axis. An electronic device casing includes the above rotatable door structure. Therein, the fixed casing includes an accommodating recess, which forms the opening and has at least one peripheral interface window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device casing, and more particularly to an electronic device casing with an openable door cover.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Some electronic devices have several peripheral connection ports. For avoidance of messy connection cables or hooking connection cables, these connection cables are usually fixed by a cable tie or other cable-arrangement structures. Some electronic devices further use a door cover to cover the connection cables for the protection of the connection cables and for the beautification of the electronic devices. In the latter, the door cover is usually fixed onto the casing of the electronic device by screwing with screws or hooking the casing with hooks. When a cable is required to be inserted in or extracted out, a user needs to detach the door cover from the casing. The method of screwing with screws needs corresponding tools for operation. Besides, it is easy to lose the detached screws. The method of hooking the casing with hooks may not require tools, but it requires the user's operating skills to prevent the hooks from breaking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a rotatable door structure, which uses a hinge with cam surfaces so that a door cover of the rotatable door structure can rotate and move axially.

A rotatable door structure according to the invention includes a fixed casing, a door cover, and a hinge. The fixed casing has an opening. The door cover is pivotally to the fixed casing through the hinge. The hinge includes a shaft and a connection part. The shaft has a first cam surface. The connection part and the shaft are rotatably connected relative to a rotation axis. The connection part has a second cam surface opposite to the first cam surface. Therein, when the door cover rotates through the hinge relative to fixed casing to expose the opening, the first cam surface and the second cam surface abut against each other to make the door cover move away relative to the fixed casing along the rotation axis. Thereby, the opening can be exposed without removing the door cover from the fixed casing. Furthermore, when rotating, the door cover moving along the rotation axis is conducive to avoidance of structural interference with the fixed casing.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an electronic device casing, which includes the above rotatable door structure, of which the door cover can rotate and move axially.

An electronic device casing according to the invention includes a rotatable door structure. The rotatable door structure includes a fixed casing, a door cover, and a hinge. The fixed casing has an accommodating recess, which forms an opening and has at least one peripheral interface window. The door cover is pivotally connected to the fixed casing through the hinge. The hinge includes a shaft and a connection part. The shaft has a first cam surface. The connection part is rotatably connected to the shaft relative to a rotation axis. The connection part has a second cam surface opposite to the first cam surface. Therein, when the door cover rotates through the hinge relative to fixed casing to expose the opening, the first cam surface and the second cam surface abut against each other to make the door cover move away relative to the fixed casing along the rotation axis. Thereby, the opening can be exposed without removing the door cover from the fixed casing. A user can manipulate objects in the accommodating recess through the opening, e.g. inserting or extracting connection cables. Furthermore, when rotating, the door cover moving along the rotation axis is conducive to avoidance of structural interference with the fixed casing or the objects in the accommodating recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 3. An electronic device casing1according to an embodiment can be used in, but not limited to, all-in-one PCs, smart TVs, monitors, and so on. The electronic device casing1is supported by a mount2for convenience of disposing the electronic device casing1on a desk. The electronic device casing1includes a back casing assembly12, on which a rotatable door structure14is disposed. The rotatable door structure14includes a fixed casing142, a door cover144, and a hinge146. The fixed casing142has an accommodating recess142aforming an opening142b. The door cover144is pivotally connected to the fixed casing142through the hinge146, so that the door cover144can rotate relative to the fixed casing142to an open position for exposing the opening142b(as shown byFIG. 2, in which the rotatable door structure14is at an open status), or to a closed position for covering the opening142b(as shown byFIG. 1, in which the rotatable door structure14is at a closed status). Thereby, the opening142bcan be exposed without removing the door cover144from the fixed casing142. Besides, the door cover144can be rotated between the opening position and the closed position, which is easy for users to operate.

Please also refer toFIG. 4andFIG. 5. The hinge146includes a shaft1462and a connection part1464. The shaft1462includes a shaft portion1462aand a connection portion1462b. The shaft portion1462ahas a rotation axis1462c(indicated by a chain line in the figures). The connection portion1462band the shaft portion1462aare fixedly connected relative to the rotation axis1462c. The connection part1464and the shaft1462are rotatably connected relative to the rotation axis1462cby rotatably putting the connection part1464on the shaft portion1462a. The rotation axis1462cis parallel to the orientation of the opening142b. In the embodiment, the connection portion1462band the door cover144are fixedly connected. The connection part1464and the fixed casing142are fixedly connected so that the door cover144and the fixed casing142can relatively rotate through the hinge146. In practice, the connection portion1462bcan be fixedly connected to the fixed casing142instead of the door cover144, and the connection part1464is fixedly connected to the door cover144instead of the fixed casing142, so that the door cover144and the fixed casing142still can relatively rotate through the hinge146.

In the embodiment, the shaft1462further includes a ring part1462dsleeved on the shaft portion1462a. The ring part1462dand the shaft portion1462aare fixedly connected relative to the rotation axis1462c. The ring part1462dhas a first cam surface1462e; the connection part1464has a second cam surface1464acorrespondingly. The first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aare disposed opposite each other and extend around the rotation axis1462c. During the rotation of the door cover144relative to the fixed casing142, the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aabut against each other and relatively slide, so as to change the relative positions of the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aalong the rotation axis1462c.

As shownFIG. 1andFIG. 4, when the door cover144is located at the closed position and covers the opening142b, the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aapproach each other. When the door cover144rotates through the hinge146relative to the fixed casing142to expose the opening142b, the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aabut against each other to make the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464amove away relative to each other, so that the door cover144moves away relative to the fixed casing along the rotation axis1462c, as shown byFIG. 2andFIG. 6. The movement of the door cover144along the rotation axis1462chelps to avoid structural interference of the door cover144with the fixed casing142or objects in the accommodating recess142awhen the door cover144rotates. The displacement depends on the profiles of the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464a.

Please refer toFIG. 5andFIG. 7. In the embodiment, the first cam surface1462eincludes a first horizontal surface1462f, a second horizontal surface1462g, and a first slanting surface1462h. The first horizontal surface1462fand the second horizontal surface1462gextend perpendicular to and around the rotation axis1462c. The first horizontal surface1462fand the second horizontal surface1462gare staggered along the rotation axis1462c(i.e. disposed non-coplanar). The first slanting surface1462his located between the first horizontal surface1462fand the second horizontal surface1462g. Please refer toFIG. 5andFIG. 8. The second cam surface1464aincludes a third horizontal surface1464b, a fourth horizontal surface1464c, and a second slanting surface1464d. The third horizontal surface1464band the fourth horizontal surface1464cextend perpendicular to and around the rotation axis1462c. The third horizontal surface1464band the fourth horizontal surface1464care staggered along the rotation axis1462c(i.e. disposed non-coplanar). The second slanting surface1464dis located between the third horizontal surface1464band the fourth horizontal surface1464c. When the door cover144covers the opening142b(i.e. being at the closed position), the first horizontal surface1462ffaces the fourth horizontal surface1464c, as shown byFIG. 1andFIG. 4. When the door cover144rotates relative to the fixed casing142to expose the opening142b(i.e. being at the open position), the second horizontal surface1462gfaces the fourth horizontal surface1464c, as shown byFIG. 2andFIG. 6.

Furthermore, as shown byFIG. 7, the second horizontal surface1462gprotrudes relative to the first horizontal surface1462falong the rotation axis1462c. A protruding portion1462iis formed between the second horizontal surface1462gand the first slanting surface1462hand protrudes along the rotation axis1462c. During the rotation of the door cover144from the closed position to the open position, the second horizontal surface1462gwill not abut against the fourth horizontal surface1464cuntil the protruding portion1462islides over the second slanting surface1464dand the fourth horizontal surface1464c. Thereby, also referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 6toFIG. 8, when the protruding portion1462islides on the second slanting surface1464d, the relative distance between the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aalong the rotation axis1462cincreases. When the protruding portion1462islides on the fourth horizontal surface1464c, the relative distance between the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aalong the rotation axis1462cremains unchanged. After the protruding portion1462islides beyond the fourth horizontal surface1464c, the relative distance between the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aalong the rotation axis1462cdecreases a little. The changing of the relative distance can provide tactile feedback to users when rotating the door cover144and also is conducive to keeping the second horizontal surface1462gin abutting against the fourth horizontal surface1464c, i.e. locating the door cover144at the open position. Furthermore, in the embodiment, another protruding portion1462jis formed at another side of the first cam surface1462eopposite to the second horizontal surface1462g. The door cover144can be located at the open position more stably by the two protruding portions1462iand1462j.

In addition, please refer toFIG. 4toFIG. 6. In the embodiment, the shaft1462includes a first limitation portion1462m, which is realized by the outer periphery structure of a washer sleeved on the shaft portion1462a. The washer is fixedly connected to the shaft portion1462arelative to the rotation axis1462c. The connection part1464includes a second limitation portion1464e, which is realized by the outer periphery structure of a washer that fits the main body of the connection part1464and is rotatably sleeved on the shaft portion1462a. When the door cover144rotates relative to the fixed casing142to the open position so as to expose the opening142b(as shown byFIG. 2), the first limitation portion1462mabuts against the second limitation portion1464e(as shown byFIG. 6). The structural configuration is conducive to locating the door cover144at the open position more stably.

As shownFIG. 4andFIG. 5, in the embodiment, the hinge146further includes an elastic structure1466. The elastic structure1466abuts against and between the shaft1462and the connection part1464so that the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aabut against each other. In the embodiment, the elastic structure1466is a spiral spring sleeved on the shaft portion1462a. Two ends of the spiral spring abut against the shaft portion1462aand the connection part1464for providing elastic force, so that the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464acan keep in abutting against each other. In practice, the elastic structure1466also can be realized by other springs, e.g. rubber spring (e.g. but not limited to showing a cylinder structure), spring washer set, and so on.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the shaft1462includes an adjusting part1462kadjustably connected to the shaft portion1462a. The elastic structure1466abuts against and between the adjusting part1462kand the connection part1464. The adjusting part1462kis operable to adjust the elastic force produced by the elastic structure1466. In the embodiment, the shaft portion1462ahas a screw portion1462n. The adjusting part1462kis a nut adjustably engaged with the screw portion1462n. In addition, in practice, that the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aabut against each other is not limited to be achieved by the elastic force produced by the elastic structure1466. For example, the connection part1464shows a C-shaped structure and is rotatably connected to the shaft1462. The two ends of the C-shaped structure respectively show a cantilever, which has structural elasticity and can produce elastic force to keep the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464ain abutting against each other. For another example, the disposition of the hinge146is restricted, e.g. disposed vertically (i.e. the rotation axis1462cis parallel to the gravity direction) so that the gravity force of the connection part1464or the shaft1462can keep the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464ain abutting against each other. The structural configuration also can achieve the above-mentioned interaction between the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464aand the effect thereof; that is, when rotating, the door cover144can move relative to the fixed casing142along the rotation axis1462cdue to the fact that the first cam surface1462eand the second cam surface1464ain abutting against each other.

Please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 3, andFIG. 9toFIG. 11. The rotatable door structure14further includes a latch structure148. When the door cover144covers the opening142b, the fixed casing142holds the door cover144through the latch structure148so that the door cover144can remain at the closed position. The latch structure148includes a sliding part1482, slidably disposed on the fixed casing142, and a spring1484. The sliding part1482has a holding portion1482aand a manipulation portion1482bexposed out of the fixed casing142. The spring1484is disposed between the sliding part1482and the fixed casing142to drive the holding portion1482ato hold the door cover144. The manipulation portion1482bis operable to disengage the holding portion1482afrom the door cover144(e.g. by a user pressing a manipulation portion1482b). In the embodiment, the spring1484is a spiral spring; however, in practice, the spring1484can be replaced with an elastic structure, e.g. a curved cantilever extending from the sliding part1482. The curved cantilever also can drive the holding portion1482ato hold the door cover144. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the holding portion1482afurther has a guiding surface1482c(e.g. but not limited to a slanting surface or curved surface). When the door cover144rotates from the open position and approaches the closed position (e.g. by the user rotating the door cover144by hand), an edge of the door cover144can abut against the guiding surface1482cto slide the sliding part1482. Until the door cover144reaches the closed position, the sliding part1482is driven by the spring1484to return the original position. Then the holding portion1482aholds the door cover144again.

Please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 3,FIG. 12andFIG. 13. The rotatable door structure14further includes a pushing structure150. When the door cover144covers the opening142b, the fixed casing142pushes the door cover144through the pushing structure150. When the holding portion1482ais disengaged from the door cover144(e.g. by the user pressing the manipulation portion1482b), the pushing structure150can push the door cover144to rotate relative to the fixed casing142. The pushing structure150includes a sliding part1502, slidably disposed on the fixed casing142, and a spring1504, disposed between the sliding part1502and the fixed casing142to drive the sliding part1502to push the door cover144. In the embodiment, the spring1504is a spiral spring; however, in practice, the spring1504can be replaced with an elastic structure, e.g. a curved cantilever extending from the sliding part1502. The curved cantilever also can drive the sliding part1502to push the door cover144.

Furthermore, as shown byFIG. 1andFIG. 4, in the embodiment, when the door cover144is located at the closed position and covers the opening142b, the first slanting surface1462hand the second slanting surface1464dare separate, so that when the holding portion1482ais disengaged from the door cover144(e.g. by the user pressing the manipulation portion1482b), the door cover144is pushed by the sliding part1502of the pushing structure150so as to easily rotate an angle relative to the fixed casing142from the closed position toward the open position (as shown byFIG. 2), for example but not limited to, until the first slanting surface1462hbegins to abut against the second slanting surface1464d; thereby, the opening142bis partially exposed. In practice, the angle can be set to but not limited to 10 degrees. Afterwards, the user can rotate the door cover144by hand until the door cover144reaches the open position. Therein, in practice, it is practicable to design the door cover144to be rotated an angle (e.g. but not limited to 30 degrees) from the closed position; at the moment, the protruding portion1462ireaches the fourth horizontal surface1464c. Furthermore, in practice, it is practicable to design the door cover144to be rotated from the closed position to the open position by an angle, for example but not limited to 90 degrees.

In addition, as shown byFIG. 1andFIG. 4, in the embodiment, the hinge146further includes a torsion spring1468, of which two ends are connected to the connection portion1462band connection part1464of the shaft1462respectively. The torsion spring1468drives the door cover144to rotate relative to fixed casing142toward the open position (as shown byFIG. 2). When the holding portion1482ais disengaged from the door cover144(e.g. by the user pressing the manipulation portion1482b), the torsion spring1468can drive the door cover144to rotate relative to the fixed casing142until the first slanting surface1462habuts against the second slanting surface1464d, which can expose the opening142bpartially. From another aspect, the torsion spring1468can perform the function of the pushing structure150, so it is practicable to dispose any of the torsion spring1468and the pushing structure150for the beginning of the rotation of the door cover144(from the closed position). In practice, it is also practicable to equip the rotatable door structure14with the both. In addition, in practice, it is practicable to design the elasticity of the torsion spring1468so that the elastic force produced by the torsion spring1468can drive the door cover144to rotate from the closed position toward the open position to make the protruding portion1462ireach the fourth horizontal surface1464c, even to make the door cover144reach the open position. For this instance, the pushing structure150is unnecessary.

As discussed above, the user can manipulate the rotatable door structure14by single hand, which is very convenient. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the door cover144is pivotally connected to the fixed casing142through the hinge146. Therein, the shaft1462and the door cover144are fixedly connected, and the connection part1464and the fixed casing142are fixedly connected; however, it is not limited thereto in practice. For example, the shaft1462is fixedly connected to the fixed casing142instead while the connection part1464is fixedly connected to the door cover144instead, which also can achieve the pivotal connection of the door cover144and the fixed casing142through hinge146. In addition, as shown byFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in the embodiment, the accommodating recess142ahas at least one peripheral interface window142c(indicated by a dashed frame inFIG. 2) for dispose connectors (not shown in the figures) of, for example but not limited to, network connection interface, connection interface of universal serial bus, video and audio connection interface, power connection interface, and so on. The accommodating recess142acan accommodate connection cables (not shown in the figures). When the door cover144is located at the closed position, the connectors and connection cables in the accommodating recess142aare under protection, and the back casing assembly12can have a beautiful appearance. When the door cover144is located at the open position, the opening142bis exposed. The user can manipulate objects in the accommodating recess142athrough the opening142b, e.g. inserting or extracting the connection cables. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the fixed casing142includes at least one cable-arrangement slot142d(indicated by a dashed frame inFIG. 2) for communicating the accommodating recess142aand an external space out of the electronic device casing1. When the door cover144covers the opening142b, the door cover144also covers the at least one cable-arrangement slot142d. Furthermore, in the embodiment, an elastic clip142eis disposed across the at least one cable-arrangement slot142dfor fixing the cables passing through the cable-arrangement slot142d.

In addition, in the embodiment, the rotatable door structure14is used for covering and protecting the peripheral interface connection ports; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, the rotatable door structure14also can be applied to other portions of the electronic device casing1, e.g. a portion of the back casing assembly12corresponding to the mainboard in the electronic device casing1. In this instance, when the door cover144is opened, components inside the electronic device casing1, e.g. connection cables (e.g. flat cables), electronic components (e.g. memory modules) and so on, can be exposed through the opening142b. Then the user can manipulate these components. Furthermore, for example, the rotatable door structure14also can be applied to other devices or structures having inner space; then the user can manipulate objects in the inner space through the rotatable door structure14.