Abstract:
An exemplary electrical device includes a first main body, a second main body and a rotation mechanism interconnecting the first main body and the second main body. The first main body is rotatable relative to the second main body. The rotation mechanism includes a holding portion configured to have an external force applied thereon by a user so as to be driven to linearly move from a first position to a second position, and the rotation mechanism is structured and arranged to convert the linear movement to rotational movement of the first main body relative to the second main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure generally relates to electrical devices, and particularly to an electrical device having two hinged parts. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many electrical devices include two main bodies that are movably attached to each other, whereby the electrical device can be safely stored in a closed (or folded) state, and used in an open (or unfolded) state. Generally, in a foldable or slidable electrical device such as a mobile phone, a user must slide and/or rotate the two main bodies relative to each other to change the device from the closed/folded state to the open/unfolded state. This can be inconvenient because the amount of force that needs to be applied may be uncomfortable for the user. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an electrical device which can overcome the described limitations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and all the views are schematic. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an electrical device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the electrical device of  FIG. 1 , but omitting a first main body thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the electrical device of  FIG. 1 , wherein the electrical device is in a folded state. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the electrical device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 5-7  are similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the electrical device in various unfolded (open) states. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments in detail. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electrical device  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The electrical device  1  includes a first main body  2 , a second main body  3 , and a rotation mechanism  5  connecting the first main body  2  to the second main body  3 . The first main body  2  is thus rotatable relative to the second main body  3 . Thereby, in general terms, the electrical device  1  can be adjusted to be in a folded (closed) state or an unfolded (open) state. When the electrical device  1  is in the folded state, the first main body  2  fully covers the second main body  3 . When the electrical device  1  is in the unfolded state, the first main body  2  and the second main body  3  merely overlap, such that the second main body  3  is exposed from the first main body  2  and operable by a user. The electrical device  1  may for example be a mobile phone, in which case the first main body  2  and the second main body  3  may respectively be a display module and a base body of the mobile phone. 
     The second main body  3  includes a housing  30 . The rotation mechanism  5  includes a driving element  6 , a driven element  7 , a spindle  8 , and a limiting element  9 . The driving element  6 , the spindle  8 , and the limiting element  9  are disposed in the housing  30  of the second main body  3 , and the driving element  6  and the limiting element  9  are located at two opposite sides of the spindle  8  respectively. The driven element  7  is fixed to the first main body  2  and rotatable together with the first main body  2 . The driven element  7  is rotatably attached to the second main body  3  by the spindle  8  and the driving element  6 . 
     The driving element  6  includes an adjusting post  61 , a driving post  62 , a first elastic member  63 , a plurality of rails  64 , and a second elastic member  65 . The rails  64  may be fastened to an inner surface (not labeled) of the housing  30 . The rails  64  define two opposite moving directions of the adjusting post  61 . Each of the rails  64  defines a first groove therein. 
     The adjusting post  61  is configured to move back or forth along the rails  64 , according to operation of the electrical device  1  by a user. The adjusting post  61  forms a holding portion  612  at one end thereof, and the holding portion  612  extends out of the second main body  3  from a first slot  33  defined in a side wall (not labeled) of the housing  30 . The first slot  33  is configured to allow the holding portion  612  to move in the first slot  33  along opposite directions corresponding to the directions of movement of the adjusting post  61  along the rails  64 . The adjusting post  61  is hollow, and defines an axial first hole  613  at another end which is opposite to the end having the holding portion  612 . At least one protrusion  614  and a contacting member  615  are disposed on a surface of the adjusting post  61  which corresponds to the rails  64 . In this embodiment, there are two protrusions  614 , and the contacting member  615  is located between the two protrusions  614 . Correspondingly, there are three rails  64 . The protrusions  614  and the contacting member  615  are respectively inserted into the first grooves of the rails  64  and movable along the moving directions defined by the rails  64 . A second slot  616  is defined in another surface of the adjusting post  61  which is opposite to surface having the protrusions  614 . The second slot  616  communicates with the first hole  613 . 
     The driving post  62  includes a limiting protrusion  623 . The driving post  62  is received in the first hole  613  of the adjusting post  61 , with the limiting protrusion  623  being limited in the second slot  616 , and with an end of the driving post protruding out of the first hole  613 . 
     The first elastic member  63  is also received in the first hole  613  of the adjusting post  61 . One end of the first elastic member  63  abuts against an inmost end surface of the first hole  613  in the adjusting post  61 , and the other end of the first elastic member  63  abuts against an end of the driving post  62 , so that the first elastic member  63  is capable of exerting a resilient force on the driving post  62  when compressed or stretched. 
     The second elastic member  65  is configured to exert a resilient force on the adjusting post  61  when the adjusting post  61  moves away from an initial position of the adjusting post  61 , so as to return the adjusting post  61  to the initial position. One end of the second elastic member  65  is connected to the contacting member  615  of the adjusting post  61 , and the other end of the second elastic member  65  is connected to a fixing member  35  of the second main body  3 . Resilient force exerted by the second elastic member  65  is substantially perpendicular to resilient force exerted by the first elastic member  63 . 
     Also referring to  FIG. 4 , the driven element  7  defines a rotation axis. The driven element  7  may include a central body (not labeled), and two cam portions  72  disposed at two opposite sides of the central body, respectively. A through hole is axially defined in the central body, and is adapted to receive the spindle  8  therein. The two cam portions  72  are rotationally symmetric about an axis of the central body (which axis coincides with the rotation axis). Each cam portion  72  has a substantially curved profile. Each cam portion  72  includes a driving surface  74 , and a resistant surface  75 . The driving surface  74  is a convex surface, and the resistant surface  75  is a concave surface. A curvature of the driving surface  74  is greater than that of the resistant surface  75 . For each cam portion  72 , contact surfaces of the driving surface  74  and the resistant surface  75  are together defined as a dynamic area  73 . Intersections where the driving surface  74  of one cam portion  72  meets the resistant surface  75  of the other cam portion  72  are defined as static areas  71 . 
     The limiting element  9  includes a body  93 , a limiting post  91 , and a third elastic member  92 . The body  93  is fixed to the housing  30  and located at a side wall of the housing  30  opposite to the side wall having the first slot  33 . The body  93  is hollow, and defines an axial second hole (not labeled) at an end thereof facing the driven element  7 . The limiting post  91  is received in the second hole. The third elastic member  92  is also received in the second hole. One end of the third elastic member  92  abuts against an inmost end surface of the second hole inside the limiting element  9 , and the other end of the third elastic member  92  abuts against an end of the limiting post  91 , so that the third elastic member  92  is capable of exerting a resilient force on the limiting post  91  when compressed or stretched. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2  again, in assembly, first, the driving element  6  is assembled in the housing  30  of the second main body  3 . The first elastic member  63  and the driving post  62  are received in the first hole  613  of the adjusting post  61 . The two protrusions  614  and the contacting member  615  are respectively inserted into the first grooves of the rails  64 , and the holding portion  612  of the adjusting post  61  extends through the first slot  33 . The two ends of the second elastic member  65  are respectively connected to the contacting member  615  and the fixing member  35 . 
     Second, the limiting element  9  is assembled in the housing  30  of the second main body  3 . The third elastic member  92  and the limiting post  91  are received in the second hole of the body  93 . The limiting element  9  is fixed in the housing  30  at the side wall of the housing  30  opposite to the side wall having the first slot  33 . 
     Finally, the first main body  2  is assembled on the second main body  3 . In detail, the driven element  7  is fixed on the first main body  2 , and fitted around the spindle  8 . The driving post  62  and the limiting post  91  respectively abut against the driven element  7 . The limiting post  91  is aligned with the center of the driven element  7 . Thus the electrical device  1  is assembled, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     When the electrical device  1  is in an initial state (i.e. the folded or closed state), the limiting post  91  abuts against one of the static areas  71  of the driven element  7 , the adjusting post  61  is located at the initial position in which the second elastic member  65  has a smallest resilient force, the holding portion  612  is located at an end of the first slot  33  (in a “first position”), and the driving post  62  abuts against the driving surface  74  of one of the two cam portions  72 . 
     To switch the electrical device  1  from the folded state to the unfolded state, a user applies an external force to the holding portion  612  of the adjusting post  61  to drive the adjusting post  61  to move along a forward direction. Because the driving post  62  abuts against the driving surface  74  of one of the two cam portions  72 , when the driving post  62  follows the adjusting post  61  and moves forward, the driving post  62  drives the driven member  7  to rotate counterclockwise. The resistant surface  75  of the other one of the two cam portions  72  gradually rides along an end of the limiting post  91 , and the contact point between the resistant surface  75  of the other one of the two cam portions  72  and the limiting post  91  gradually moves from the static area  71  toward the dynamic area  73  of the other one of the two cam portions  72 . As a result, the other one of the two cam portions  72  exerts a force on the limiting post  91  to make the limiting post  91  retract into the second hole of the body  93  of the limiting element  9 . Referring also to  FIG. 5 , when the contact point between the resistant surface  75  of the other one of the two cam portions  72  and the limiting post  91  reaches the beginning of the dynamic area  73 , the third elastic member  92  is compressed to have a minimum length. A resilient force exerted by the third elastic member  92  is at a maximum, and the resilient force exerted by the third elastic member  92  is applied to the end of the limiting post  91 . At this position, the holding portion  612  of the adjusting post  61  is located at approximately a center of the first slot  33 . 
     When the adjusting post  61  continues to be driven along the forward direction, the driving post  62  still abuts against the driving surface  74  of the one of the two cam portions  72 , and the contact point between the driving surface  74  and the driving post  62  gradually moves along the driving surface  74 . Thus the driven member  7  continues to rotate counterclockwise. Simultaneously, the contact point between the other one of the two cam portions  72  and the limiting post  91  moves to the driving surface  74  of the other one of the two cam portions  72 . The third elastic member  92  decompresses during such movement, urging the limiting post  91  against the driving surface  74  of the other one of the two cam portions  72  and thus facilitating the counterclockwise rotation of the driven member  7 . In this way, the holding portion  612  of the adjusting post  61  reaches another end of the first slot  33  (a “second position”) and stops moving forward, and the driven member  7  reaches the position shown in  FIG. 6 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the adjusting post  61  is located farthest away from the fixing member  35 , and the second elastic member  65  is extended to have a maximum length. 
     In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , the limiting post  91  still abuts against the driving surface  74  of the other one of the two cam portions  72 . The third elastic member  92  continues to decompress and urge the limiting post  91 , such that the limiting post  91  continues to drive the driven element  7  to rotate counterclockwise until the limiting post  91  and the driving post  62  respectively reach the two static areas  71  of the driven element  7 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the driving post  62  and the limiting post  91  are almost aligned with each other, and the electrical device  1  is completely unfolded. 
     During the above-described processes, the first main body  2  rotates counterclockwise in unison with the driven element  7 . Thus when the holding portion  612  is slid along the first slot  33 , the first main body  2  is rotated counterclockwise and exposes the second main body  3 , and the unfolded electrical device  1  is ready for use. 
     When the external force on the holding portion  612  of the adjusting post  61  is released, the stretched second elastic member  65  exerts resilient force on the adjusting post  61  to make the adjusting post  61  move backward along the rails  64  and return to the initial position shown in  FIG. 4 . Simultaneously, the holding portion  612  moves backward together with the adjusting post  61  and returns to the first position. 
     During the process of the adjusting post  61  returning to the initial position, the driving post  62  rides along the resistant surface  71  of the other one of the two cam portions  72 , and the limiting post  91  rides along the driving surface  74  of the other one of the two cam portions  72 . That is, both the driving post  62  and the limiting post  91  ride along the same cam portion  72  of the driven element  7 . Therefore during the process of the driving post  62  returning to its initial position, the driving post  62  urges the driven element  7  to rotate clockwise, and simultaneously the limiting post  91  exerts resilient force on the driven element  7  and resists clockwise rotation of the driven element  7 . Because the curvature of the resistant surface  71  is less than that of the driving surface  74 , the driven element  7  rotates clockwise slightly and then counterclockwise slightly to allow the driving post  62  to return to its initial position. Accordingly, during the process of the adjusting post  61  returning to the initial position, the electrical device  1  remains unfolded. The limiting element  9  is used to allow the rotation mechanism  5  to rotate along a consistent direction, and prevent the rotation mechanism  5  from rotating along a reverse direction. 
     When the user wants to fold the electrical device  1 , the user can repeat the above-described operation of pushing the holding portion  612  of the adjusting post  61  forward and thus driving the adjusting post  61  to move along the forward direction. Similar to the processes described above, the first main body  2  rotates counterclockwise in unison with the driven element  7 , such that the electrical device  1  returns to the folded state. The user releases the force applied on the holding portion  612 , and the holding portion  612  returns to the first position and the adjusting post  61  returns to the initial position. 
     The electrical device  1  may be a cellular telephone, a notebook, an electronic book, a digital picture display device, and so on. 
     The electrical device  1  herein is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in alternative embodiments, there can be two rails  64 , or four or more rails  64 . In another example, the main rotating direction can be clockwise, with the limiting element  9  preventing the driven element  7  from rotating counterclockwise. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.