Patent Publication Number: US-2018038141-A1

Title: Hinge Assembly for Electronic Device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hinge assembly for an electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hinge assembly for a flip-type or flexible electronic device, capable of changing axial distances between shafts. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional flip-type or flexible electronic device, for example disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. M519688, uses a hinge assembly capable of changing axial distances between shafts so that the electronic device does not buckle when flipping or bending. However, the structure of the conventional hinge assembly is very complicated, resulting in higher cost of manufacture, larger size, and higher weight. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a hinge assembly for an electronic device, capable of changing axial distances between shafts and not buckling when flipping or bending. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge assembly for an electronic device. The hinge assembly includes a joint assembly including joint components hinged one by one. Each joint component includes a first plate, a second plate, and a link component disposed between the first and second plates. Each of the first and second plates has two first slots diametrically extending in a first direction. The first plate has a second slot disposed between the two first slots and diametrically extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The second plate has a third slot disposed between the two first slots and diametrically extending in a third direction mirror-symmetrical to the second direction with respect to the first direction. The link component has an engaging hole and a guide portion. The engaging hole is corresponding to one of the first slots of each of the first and second plates, and the guide portion is formed on a surface of the link component and movable within the second or third slot. Movement of the guide portion causes the link component to move, and the engaging hole moves corresponding to the one of the first slots of each of the first and second plates along the first direction. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, each joint component further includes a support component disposed between the plates. The support component has a non-engaging hole corresponding to another of the first slots of each plate. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the joint assembly further includes shafts passing through the first slots, the link component, and the support component so that the joint components are hinged through the shafts. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, movement of the link component causes a corresponding shaft to move within the one of the first slots of each plate to change an axial distance between the shafts. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the engaging hole is a non-circular hole, and the shafts are non-circular shafts corresponding to the engaging hole. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the joint assembly further includes torque generation components disposed at ends of the shafts. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the fink component has a body portion and an arm portion extending from a side of the body portion. The engaging hole is formed in the body portion, and the guide portion is formed on a side of the arm portion. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the arm portion has a through hole, and the guide portion is a cylinder corresponding to the through hole. The guide portion is inserted into the through hole to combine with the arm portion. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the hinge assembly further includes a fixing bracket disposed at a side of the joint assembly for combining the hinge assembly with the electronic device. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the fixing bracket has a fixing structure for fixing the fixing bracket to the electronic device. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the electronic device includes a flip-type or flexible electronic device. 
     By the two first slots and the second slot extending in different directions, and the guide portion movable within the second slot, the shafts may change the axial distance therebetween while rotating, so that the electronic device using the hinge assembly does not buckle when flipping or bending. Moreover, the structure of the hinge assembly is simple, resulting in lower cost of manufacture, smaller size, and lower weight. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 2A  are an assembled view, a partially exploded view, and an exploded view of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are schematic views illustrating changes of an axial distance between shafts in a joint component according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. 
         FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are an assembled view and an exploded view of a hinge assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, respectively. 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7  through  FIG. 12  are schematic views illustrating changes of an angle of a is hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like components. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 2A , there are shown an assembled view, a partially exploded view, and an exploded view of a hinge assembly  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The hinge assembly  1  is used for an electronic device (not shown). The electronic device may include a flip-type or flexible electronic device such as a flip-type or flexible display. The hinge assembly  1  includes a joint assembly  12  and two fixing brackets  11 . In the embodiment, the joint assembly  12  includes a joint component  2 , two shafts  3  (including a first shaft  3   a  and a second shaft  3   b ), and two torque generation components  4  respectively disposed at ends of the shafts  3 . 
     The joint component  2  includes two component groups  20   a  and  20   b . The component group  20   a  includes two first plates  21   a , a first link component  22   a , and a support component  23 , wherein the first link component  22   a  and the support component  23  are disposed between the two first plates  21   a . The component group  20   b  includes two second plates  21   b , a second link component  22   b , and a support component  23 , wherein the second link component  22   b  and the support component  23  are disposed between the two second plates  21   b . It should be noted that each of the support components  23  is clamped between the two first plates  21   a  or between the two second plates  21   b  so as to stabilize the hinge assembly when the first shaft  3   a  and the second shaft  3   b  are rotated. Without the support component  23 , the two first plates  21   a  (or second plates  21   b ) only clamping the first link component  22   a  (or second link component  22   b ) and leaving a blank space above the first link component  22   a  (or leaving a blank space below the second link component  22   b ) will cause the hinge assembly to be unsteady when the hinge assembly works. However, the support components  23  can be integrally formed on one of the first plates  21   a  or the second plates  21   b.    
     Each of the two first plates  21   a  and the two second plates  21   b  has two first slots  211  penetrating therethrough and diametrically extending in a first direction D 1 . Each first plate  21   a  has a second slot  212  disposed between the two first slots  211  and diametrically extending in a second direction D 2 , wherein the second direction D 2  is different from the first direction D 1  and has a tilted angle θ 1  with respect to the first direction D 1 . Each second plate  21   b  has a third slot  213  disposed between the two first slots  211  and diametrically extending in a third direction D 3  different from the first direction D 1  and has a tilted angle θ 2  with respect to the first direction D 1 , wherein the third direction D 3  is mirror-symmetrical to the second direction D 2  with respect to the first direction D 1  so that the tilted angle θ 1  equals to the tilted angle θ 2 . 
     Each of the first link component  22   a  and the second link component  22   b  has an engaging hole  221  and a guide portion  222 . The engaging hole  221  of the first link component  22   a  is corresponding to one of the two first slots  211  of each of the first plates  21   a  and the second plates  21   b , and the guide portion  222  of the first link component  22   a  is formed on a surface of the first link component  22   a  and movable within the second slot  212 . The engaging hole  221  of the second link component  22   b  is corresponding to the other of the two first slots  211  of each of the first plates  21   a  and the second plates  21   b , and the guide portion  222  of the second link component  22   b  is formed on a surface of the second link component  22   b  and movable within the third slot  213 . 
     The first shaft  3   a  passes through one of the two first slots  211  of each of the first plates  21   a  and the second plates  21   b , and passes through the engaging hole  221  of the first link component  22   a  to engage with the first link component  22   a . In this configuration, the first shaft  3   a  can drive the first link component  22   a  to rotate. The second shaft  3   b  passes through the other of the two first slots  211  of each of the first plates  21   a  and the second plates  21   b , and passes through the engaging hole  221  of the second link component  22   b  to engage with the second link component  22   b  so that the second shaft  3   b  can drive the second link component  22   b  to rotate. 
     When the guide portion  222  of the first link component  22   a  moves within the second slot  212  along the second direction D 2 , the first link component  22   a  moves along the first direction D 1  and rotates so that the first shaft  3   a  engaged with the engaging hole  221  of the first link component  22   a  moves within the first slot  211  along the first direction D 1  and rotates and vice versa. When the guide portion  222  of the second link component  22   b  moves within the third slot  213  along the third direction D 3 , the second link component  22   b  moves along the first direction D 1  and rotates so that the second shaft  3   b  engaged with the engaging hole  221  of the second link component  22   b  moves within the first slot  211  along the first direction D 1  and rotates and vice versa. Because the third direction D 3  is mirror-symmetrical to the second direction D 2  with respect to the first direction D 1 , the first shaft  3   a  and the second shaft  3   b  respectively move along the first direction D 1  inwardly or outwardly. Moreover, when the first shaft  3   a  rotates in a clockwise direction, the second shaft  3   b  rotates in a counterclockwise direction; when the first shaft  3   a  rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the second shaft  3   b  rotates in a clockwise direction. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 2A , when the first shaft  3   a  rotates in a clockwise direction A, which makes the first link component  22   a  rotate accordingly, the guide portion  222  of the first link component  22   a  slides within the second slot  212  from one end  212   a  to the other end  212   b  of the second slot  212  so that the first shaft  3   a  slides within the corresponding first slot  211  outwardly or downwardly. Meanwhile, when the second shaft  3   b  rotates in a counterclockwise direction B, the guide portion  222  of the second link component  22   b  slides within the third slot  213  from one end  213   a  to the other end  213   b  of the third slot  213  so that the second shaft  3   b  slides within the corresponding first slot  211  outwardly or upwardly. In this configuration, when the two fixing brackets  11  are in the close state, (e.g. 0 degree), the two shafts  3   a  and  3   b  are in closer state and the two shafts  3   a  and  3   b  are with a shorter distance X 2  as shown in  FIG. 4 ; then, when a user exerts with one hand on one of the two fixing brackets  11  and the other hand on the other fixing brackets  11  to rotate and open the two fixing brackets  11 , the two shafts  3   a  and  3   b  respectively move outwardly so that the two shafts are with a longer distance X 1  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     It should be noted that how long the second slot  212  and the third slot  213  are and how tilted the angle θ 1  of the second slot  212  (or the angle θ 2  of the third slot  213 ) with respect to the first direction D 1  will decide how far the distance of the two shafts  3   a  and  3   b  will be. The variation of lengths of the second slot  212  and the third slot  213  and the changed tilting angle of the second slot  212  and the third slot  213  with respect to the first direction D 1  are obvious to those skilled in the art. 
     Because the hinge assembly is to be used in the flip-type or flexible electronic device having flexible display, the moving distance from X 2  to X 1  of only two shafts is very short and it does not fully meet the requirement when the hinge assembly with two shafts is applied on an electronic device. Therefore, more than two shafts with many joint components  2  including two component groups  20   a  and  20   b  will be discussed hereafter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , there are shown an assembled view and an exploded view of a hinge assembly  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The hinge assembly  1  is used for an electronic device (not shown). The electronic device may include a flip-type or flexible electronic device such as a flip-type or flexible display. The hinge assembly  1  includes a joint assembly  12  and two fixing brackets  11  disposed at two opposite sides of the joint assembly  12 . 
     The joint assembly  12  includes joint components  2  hinged one by one, shafts  3 , and torque generation components  4  disposed at ends of the shafts  3 . In the embodiment, the joint assembly  12  includes four joint components  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  and  2   d , and five shafts  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  and  3   e . The joint component  2   a  is hinged to the joint component  2   b  through the shaft  3   b , the joint component  2   b  is further hinged to the joint component  2   c  through the shaft  3   c , and the joint component  2   c  is further hinged to the joint component  2   d  through the shaft  3   d . In other words, the joint components  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  and  2   d  are hinged one by one through the shafts  3   b ,  3   c , and  3   d.    
     Each fixing bracket  11  has a fixing structure  111  for fixing the fixing bracket  11  to the electronic device and thus causing the hinge assembly  1  to combine with the electronic device. In the embodiment, one fixing bracket  11  is fixed to the shaft  3   a  to which the joint component  2   a  is further hinged, and the other fixing bracket  11  is fixed to the shaft  3   e  to which the joint component  2   d  is further hinged. 
     The joint component  2  includes two component groups  20 . Each component group  20  here is like what is mentioned in  FIG. 2A  and further includes two plates  21 , a link component  22 , and a support component  23 . The link component  22  and the support component  23  are disposed between the two plates  21 . 
     That is to say, please compare between  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 6 , the joint component  2   b  in  FIG. 6  is exactly the same one as the joint component  2  in  FIG. 2A . It should be noted from the  FIG. 6  that the joint component  2   b  and  2   d  have the same configuration, which means that the second slots  212  of the joint component  2   b  and  2   d  tilt along the second direction D 2 , and the first plates  21   a  having the second slots  212  are located in the front of the joint component while the second plates  21   b  having the third slots  213  are located in the rear of the joint component. 
     However, in order to achieve the function of making each of the shafts  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  and  3   e  move outwardly while the hinge assembly is bent, the joint components  2   a  and  2   c  have the same configuration different from the configuration of the joint components  2   b  and  2   d , which means that the first plates  21   a  of the joint components  2   a  and  2   c  are disposed in the rear of the joint component while the second plates  21   b  are disposed in the front of the joint component as shown in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6A  is a schematic view of the hinge assembly  1  of  FIG. 6 , but one of the first plates  21   a , one of the second plates  21   b , the first link component  22   a , the second link component  22   b , and the support components  23  of each joint component  2  are omitted for clarification of the moving of the shafts  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  and  3   e , and the moving of the shafts  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  and  3   e  will be discussed later. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , each plate  21  (e.g.  21   a  or  21   b ) has two first slots  211  and a second slot  212 . The two first slots  211  extend in a first direction D 1 , and the second slot  212  extends in a second direction D 2  different from the first direction D 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 6 , as it is mentioned that the joint component  2   b  in  FIG. 6  equals to the joint component  2  in  FIG. 2A , some numerals will be left out in  FIG. 6  for simplicity. The link component  22  has an engaging hole  221  and a guide portion  222 . The engaging hole  221  is corresponding to one of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21 . The guide portion  222  is formed on a side of the link component  22  and movable within the second slot  212 . In the embodiment, an extending size of the slot  211  is greater than that of the second slot  212 , and, therefore, the second slot  212  may limit a distance of movement of the link component  22 . In the embodiment, the link component  22  has a body portion  223  and an arm portion  224  extending from a side of the body portion  223 . The engaging hole  221  is formed in the body portion  223 , and the guide portion  222  is formed on a side of the arm portion  224 . Specifically, the arm portion  224  has a through hole  2241 , and the guide portion  222  is a cylinder corresponding to the through hole  2241 . The guide portion (cylinder)  222  is inserted into the through hole  2241  to combine with the arm portion  224  so that the guide portion (cylinder)  222  is substantially formed on two opposite sides of the arm portion  224  and movable within the second slots  212  of the two plates  21 . Moreover, in the embodiment, the engaging hole  221  is a non-circular hole, and the shafts  3  are non-circular shafts corresponding to the engaging hole  221 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 6 , the support component  23  has a non-engaging hole  231  corresponding to another of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21 . In the embodiment, the non-engaging hole  231  is a circular hole, and the support component  23  further has a cut-off portion  232  connected to the non-engaging hole (circular hole)  231  so that the support component  23  is C-shaped. As it is mentioned that each of the support components  23  clamped between the two first plates  21   a  or between the two second plates  21   b  is to stabilize the hinge assembly when the shafts  3   a  and  3   b  are rotated. 
     For each component group  20 , the link component  22  and the support component  23  are disposed between the two plates  21 , in which the engaging hole  221  of the link component  22  is corresponding to the one of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21 , and the non-engaging hole  231  of the support component  23  is corresponding to the another of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21 . One shaft  3  passes through the one of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21  and engages with the engaging hole  221  of the link component  22 , and another shaft  3  passes through the another of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21  and the non-engaging hole  231  of the support component  23 . 
     By the two first slots  211  and the second slot  212  extending in different directions D 1  and D 2 , and the one shaft  3  moving within the one of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21  and engaging with the engaging hole  221  of the link component  22 , movement of the guide portion  222  within the second slot  212  causes the link component  22  to move and rotate, and, moreover, the engaging hole  221  of the link component  22  moves corresponding to the one of the first slots  211  of each plate  21  along the first direction D 1  and rotates. Movement of the link component  22  causes the one shaft  3  to move within the one of the two first slots  211  of each plate  21  to change an axial distance between the one shaft  3  and the another shaft  3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , there are shown schematic views illustrating changes of an axial distance between the shafts  3  in the joint component  2  according to the embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The joint component  2  has two component groups (not labeled), each of which has a plate  21  having a second slot  212 , and a link component  22  having a guide portion  222 . In the drawings, because the two component groups symmetrically act, the guide portion  222  of the link component  22  in the right side is omitted for clarity, and the second slot  212  within which the omitted guide portion  222  moves is also omitted for clarity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the guide portion  222  moves to the leftmost, lowest position within the second slot  212 , thus causing the link component  22  in the left side to move to the leftmost position within the first slot  211  and rotate at an angle. The omitted guide portion (not labeled) moves to the rightmost, lowest position within the second slot (not labeled), thus causing the link component  22  in the right side to move to the rightmost position within the first slot  211  and rotate at another angle. Therefore, the two shafts  3  move away from each other and have the maximum axial distance X 1  between the shafts  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the guide portion  222  moves to the rightmost, highest position within the second slot  212 , thus causing the link component  22  in the left side to move to the rightmost position within the first slot  211  and rotate at an angle. The omitted guide portion (not labeled) moves to the leftmost, highest position within the second slot (not labeled), thus causing the link component  22  in the right side to move to the leftmost position within the first slot  211  and rotate at another angle. Therefore, the two shafts  3  move toward each other and have the minimum axial distance X 2  between the shafts  3 . 
     By the shafts  3  changing the axial distance therebetween while rotating, an electronic device using the hinge assembly  1  (including the joint assembly  12  including the joint components  2 ) does not buckle when flipping or bending. 
     For further explanation to the movement of the shafts  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d , and  3   e , please refer to  FIG. 6A , wherein some components shown in  FIG. 6  are omitted for simplicity, such as one of the first plates  21   a , one of the second plates  21   b , the first link component  22   a , the second link component  22   b , and the support components  23  of each joint component  2  and the torque generation components  4 . 
     As it is mentioned that the joint component  2   b  and  2   d  have the same configuration, therefore, when the fixing bracket  11  which is fixed on the shaft  3   e  is rotated in a clockwise direction A, the guide portion  222 D slides within the second slot  212  from one end  212   a  to the other end  212   b  so that the shaft  3   e  engaged with the first link component to slide within the first slot  211  from one end which is close to the second slot  212  to the other end. 
     Then, after the shaft  3   e  abuts the other end of the first slot  211  of the first plates  21   a , further exerting on the fixing bracket  11  makes the shaft  3   e  bring the whole joint component  2   d  to rotate in clockwise direction A. Then, the rotation of the whole joint component  2   d  makes shaft  3   d  slide within the other first slot  211  from one end which is close to the third slot  213  to the other end; meanwhile, the guide portion  222   d  of the second link component  22   b  slides within the third slot  213  from one end  213   a  to the other end  213   b.    
     At this time, the further rotation of the joint component  2   d  makes shaft  3   d  move within the corresponding first slot of the joint component  2   c  from one end to the other end and thus the shaft  3   d  drives the joint component  2   c  to rotate in clockwise direction A as well; meanwhile, the guide portion  222 C slides within the first slot from one end to the other end. 
     Then, the further rotation of the joint component  2   c  makes the shaft  3   c  and the guide portion  222   c  slide within the corresponding first slot and the corresponding third slot, respectively. Accordingly, the distance between the shaft  3   e  and shaft  3   d  and the distance between the shaft  3   d  and the shaft  3   c  are greater than the original ones. 
     Then, if the joint component  2   c  is rotated further in the clockwise direction A, then the shaft  3   c  slides within the corresponding first slot to the rightmost and the corresponding guide portion  2228  slides within the second slot from one end  212   a  to the other end  212   b , and at this situation, the distance between the shaft  3   b  and the shat  3   c  extends; then the shaft  3   c  starts to drive the joint component  2   b  to rotate. 
     Correspondingly, the rotation of the joint component  2   b  makes the shaft  3   b  and the guide portion  222   b  to slide, and thus the distance between the shaft  3   b  and the shaft  3   c  extends farther than what is described in the previous paragraph. 
     Furthermore, when the shaft  3   b  moves to the leftmost first slot of the joint component  2   b , the further rotation makes the shaft  3   b  and the guide portion  222 A slide within the corresponding first slot and the second slot respectively. At this situation, the distance between the shaft  3   b  and the shaft  3   a  becomes farther because this means that the shaft  3   b  moves to the rightmost first slot of the joint component  2   a , which increases the distance between the shaft  3   b  and the shaft  3   a.    
     Finally, the shaft  3   b  drives the joint component  2   a  to rotate in the clockwise direction A, and this makes the shaft  3   a  and the guide portion  222   a  slide within the corresponding first slot and the third slot, and thus further increase the distance between the shaft  3   b  and the shaft  3   a.    
     Referring to  FIG. 7  through  FIG. 12 , there are schematic views illustrating changes of an angle of the hinge assembly  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The hinge assembly  1  combines with a flexible display  13  by fixing the two fixing brackets  11  to two ends of the flexible display  13 , respectively. When the angle of the joint assembly  12  of the hinge assembly  1  changes from 0 degree (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) to 180 degrees (as shown in  FIG. 12 ), the flexible display  13  is forced to bend. By the shafts (not labeled) changing the axial distance therebetween while rotating, a surface of the hinge assembly  1 , to which the flexible display  13  is attached, is smooth or has a constant length so that the flexible display  13  does not buckle when bending. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.