Patent Publication Number: US-2019171256-A1

Title: Hinge structure and electronic device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/573,675, filed on Oct. 17, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hinge structure and an electronic device. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Most of the existing electronic devices, such as notebook computers, can realize the purpose of changing two bodies between a closed mode (the two bodies are folded into one) and an open mode (the two bodies are unfold to be separated from each other) by a hinge structure disposed between the two bodies. The hinge structure is usually assembled by a torsion element, a bracket and a shaft disposed at a hinge cover. By making the bracket fixed at one of the two bodies rotate in relative to the hinge cover and the torsion element fixed at the hinge cover through the shaft as an axle center, the body fixed with the bracket can rotate in relative to the hinge cover and another body with the shaft as the axle center so as to achieve the purpose of changing between the modes. However, the above actions are often accompanied by wobble between the torsion element and the bracket, which affects an operating stability of the electronic device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a hinge structure with favorable operating stability. 
     The invention provides an electronic device with favorable operating stability. 
     The hinge structure of the invention includes a hinge cover, a torsion element, a bracket, a fixing element and a shaft. The torsion element is disposed at the hinge cover and has a first through portion. The bracket is disposed at a side of the torsion element and has a second through portion. The fixing element has a third through portion and a fixing portion. The fixing element is fixed at one of the torsion element and the bracket by a fixing portion. The shaft is disposed at the hinge cover and passed through the first through portion, the second through portion and the third through portion so that the first through portion, the second through portion and the third through portion are arranged adjacent to each other and said one of the torsion element and the bracket is adapted to rotate with the fixing element in relative to another one of the torsion element and the bracket through the shaft as an axle center. 
     The electronic device of the invention includes two bodies and a hinge structure. The hinge structure is disposed between the two bodies so that the two bodies are adapted to rotate in relative to each other by the hinge structure. The hinge structure includes a hinge cover, a torsion element, a bracket, a fixing element and a shaft. The hinge cover is disposed between the two bodies. The torsion element is disposed at the hinge cover and has a first through portion. The bracket is disposed at a side of the torsion element, fixed at one of the two bodies and has a second through portion. The fixing element has a third through portion and a fixing portion. The fixing element is fixed at one of the torsion element and the bracket by a fixing portion. The shaft is disposed at the hinge cover and passed through the first through portion, the second through portion and the third through portion so that the first through portion, the second through portion and the third through portion are arranged adjacent to each other and said one of the torsion element and the bracket is adapted to rotate with the fixing element in relative to another one of the torsion element and the bracket through the shaft as an axle center when said one of the two bodies that is fixed with the bracket rotates in relative to the hinge cover and another one of the two bodies. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, said one of the torsion element and the bracket has an engaging portion. The fixing element is fixed at said one of the torsion element and the bracket by the fixing portion being engaged with the engaging portion. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the first through portion is in form of a tube shape having a stripe opening and sleeved on the shaft. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the second through portion is in form of a tube shape having a stripe opening and sleeved on the shaft. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing element includes a fixing block. 
     The third through portion is in form of a tube shape and sleeved on the shaft, and the fixing portion is an engaging recess. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing element includes a fixing plate, the third through portion is in form of a ring shape and disposed around the shaft, the fixing portion is an engaging opening. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing element includes a plurality of the fixing plates, and the fixing plates are disposed overlapping each other and fixed at said one of the torsion element and the bracket. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing element includes a plurality of the fixing plates, and the fixing plates are connected and formed as one piece and fixed at said one of the torsion element and the bracket. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing element has a uniform thickness in an extending direction of the shaft. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing element is disposed between the torsion element and the bracket. 
     Based on the above, the hinge structure of the invention is disposed with the fixing element, and the fixing element is further fixed at one of the torsion element and the bracket. Accordingly, in the case where the hinge structure is used for connecting the two bodies in the electronic device, when one of the two bodies disposed with the bracket rotates in relative to another one of the two bodies, one of the torsion element and the bracket is adapted to rotate with the fixing element in relative to another one with the shaft as the axle center. Therefore, wobble generated when said one of the torsion element and the bracket rotates in relative to said another one of the torsion element and the bracket may be reduced. As a result, the hinge structure and the electronic device of the invention can provide favorable operating stability. 
     To make the above features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a hinge structure adopted by the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the hinge structure of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial exploded view of the hinge structure of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial exploded view of the hinge structure according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view of the hinge structure according to yet another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7C  are perspective side views of a hinge structure adopted by the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in different operating status. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a hinge structure adopted by the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, an electronic device  50  includes two bodies  52  and  54  and a hinge structure  100 . The electronic device  50  is, for example, a notebook computer, in which the body  52  is an upper body having modules like a monitor, etc.; the body  54  is a lower body having modules like a keyboard, a processing unit, etc.; the hinge structure  100  (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ) is disposed between the two bodies  52  and  54  (more preferably, hidden between the two bodies  52  and  54 ) so that the two bodies  52  and  54  are adapted to rotate in relative to each other by the hinge structure  100  for changing between a closed mode (the two bodies  52  and  54  are folded into one) and an open mode (the two bodies  52  and  54  are unfold to be separated from each other), but the invention is not limited thereto. 
     Specifically, the hinge structure  100  includes a hinge cover  110  and two hinge assemblies  120 . The hinge cover  110  is disposed between the two bodies  52  and  54 , and the two hinge assemblies  120  are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the hinge cover  110  so as to connect the two bodies  52  and  54  together from the two opposite sides of the hinge cover  110 . The two hinge assemblies  120  may adopt the same design, and may also adopt partially different or completely different designs. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one of the hinge assemblies  120  further includes three hinge portions  130 . Two of the three hinge portions  130  (e.g., the hinge portions  130  at the left and the right sides) correspond to the body  52  (the corresponding portions are shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ), and one of the three hinge portions  130  (e.g., the hinge portion  130  at the middle) corresponds to the body  54  (the corresponding portion is shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ). The three hinge portions  130  may adopt the same design, and may also adopt partially different or completely different designs. However, the number and the implementation of the hinge assemblies  120  and the hinge portions  130  adopted by the hinge structure  100  are not particularly limited in the invention (i.e., the hinge structure  100  may have only one hinge assembly  120  or one hinge portion  130 ) and may be adjusted as needed. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the hinge structure of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a partial exploded view of the hinge structure of  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the hinge portion  130  at the middle of the hinge structure  100 , and  FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the hinge portion  130  at the middle. In this embodiment, each of the hinge portions  130  of the hinge structure  100  includes a torsion element  140 , a bracket  150 , a fixing element  160  and a shaft  170 . The torsion element  140  is disposed at the hinge cover  110  (as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 ) and has a first through portion  142  and a connecting portion  144 . The bracket  150  is disposed at a side of the torsion element  140 , fixed at one of the two bodies  52  and  54  (as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ) and has a second through portion  152  and a connecting portion  154 . The fixing element  160  is disposed between the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  and has a third through portion  162  and a fixing portion  164 . The shaft  170  is disposed at the hinge cover  110  and passed through the first through portion  142 , the second through portion  152  and the third through portion  162  so that the first through portion  142 , the second through portion  152  and the third through portion  162  are arranged adjacent to each other. 
     Specifically, in this embodiment, the first through portion  142  of the torsion element  140  is in form of a tube shape having a stripe opening  146  and sleeved on the shaft  170 , and the connecting portion  144  of the torsion element  140  is in form of a plate shape and fixed at the hinge cover  110  (as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 ). In this way, the torsion element  140  can rotate in relative to the shaft  170  through the first through portion  142 . Similarly, the second through portion  152  of the bracket  150  is in form of a tube shape having an stripe opening  156  and sleeved on the shaft  170 , and the connecting portion  154  of the bracket  150  is in form of a plate shape and fixed at one of the two bodies  52  and  54  (as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ). In this way, the bracket  150  can rotate in relative to the shaft  170  through the second through portion  152 . 
     Further, in this embodiment, the fixing element  160  is fixed at one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  (e.g., fixed at the torsion element  140 ) by the fixing portion  164 . More specifically, said one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  (e.g., the torsion element  140 ) has an engaging portion  148 . The engaging portion  148  is disposed at the connecting portion  144  of the torsion element  140 , and the fixing element  160  is fixed at said one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  (e.g., fixed at the torsion element  140 ) by the fixing portion  164  being engaged with the engaging portion  148 . In this way, with the fixing relationship between the fixing element  164  and the torsion element  140 , when the torsion element  140  rotates in relative to the shaft  170 , the fixing element  160  driven by the torsion element  140  may also rotate in relative to the shaft  170  through the third through portion  162 . That is to say, when said one of the two bodies  52  and  54  that is fixed with the bracket  150  rotates in relative to the hinge cover  110  and another one of the two bodies  52  and  54 , said one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  (e.g., the torsion element  140 ) is adapted to rotate with the fixing element  160  in relative to another one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  (e.g., the bracket  150 ) through the shaft  170  as an axle center. In other words, when said one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  rotates in relative to said another one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  through the shaft  170  as the axle center, said one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  also drives the fixing element  160  to rotate in relative to said another one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  through the shaft  170  as the axle center. 
     More specifically, in this embodiment, the fixing element  160  includes a plurality of fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b . The fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  has substantially similar sizes and designs and are disposed overlapping each other. That is to say, each of the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  has the third through portion  162 , the fixing portion  164  and an extending portion  166 . The third through portion  162  corresponds to the first through portion  142 , and the extending portion  166  extends outwardly from the third through portion  162  and corresponds to the connecting portion  144 . Also, the fixing portion  164  is located on the extending portion  166  and corresponds to the engaging portion  148  so that aforementioned portions of the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  correspond to each other and overlap with each other. Accordingly, the third through portions  162  of the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  of the fixing element  160  are in from of a ring shape and disposed around the shaft  170 , and each of the fixing portions  164  of the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  of the fixing element  160  is an engaging opening and fixed at the torsion element  140 . Further, the fixing element  160  has a uniform thickness in an extending direction of the shaft  170  to stably abut between the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150 . 
     Nonetheless, although the fixing element  160  of this embodiment takes the two fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  fixed at the torsion element  140  as an example, the fixing element  160  may also be formed by one fixing plate or three fixing plates formed overlapping each other in other embodiments not shown. Alternatively, the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  may also be connected and formed as one piece and fixed at one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  (e.g., the torsion element  140 ). That is to say, the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  may be in form a spring surrounding the shaft  170 . In addition, although this embodiment takes the engaging portion  148  disposed at the connecting portion  144  of the torsion element  140  and the fixing portion  164  disposed at the extending portion  166  as an example, the engaging portion  148  may be disposed at the first through portion  142  of the torsion element  140  and the fixing portion  164  may be disposed at the third through portion  162  in other embodiments not shown so that the disposition of the extending portion  166  may be omitted in such case. Furthermore, although this embodiment takes the fixing element  160  fixed at the torsion element  140  as an example, the fixing element  160  may also be fixed at the bracket  150 . That is to say, the engaging portion  148  is disposed at the bracket  150  instead to be engaged with the fixing portion  164  of the fixing element  160 . The invention is not limited to aforesaid implementations. As can be seen, the number and the form of the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  used as the fixing member  160  are not particularly limited in the invention and may be adjusted as needed. 
       FIG. 5  is a partial exploded view of the hinge structure according to another embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG. 5 , a major difference between a hinge portion  130   c  and the hinge portion  130  described above is that the fixing element  160  adopted by the hinge portion  130  includes the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  whereas the fixing element  160  adopted by the hinge portion  130   c  includes a fixing block  160   c . More preferably, the fixing block  160   c  served as the fixing element  160  has a uniform thickness in an extending direction of the shaft  170  to stably abut between the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150 , but not limited thereto. In this case, the fixing block  160   c  has a third through portion  162   c , a fixing portion  164   c  and an extending portion  166   c . Here, the third through portion  162   c  is in form of a tube shape, sleeved on the shaft  170  and corresponds to the first through portion  142 , and the extending portion  166   c  extends outwardly from the third through portion  162   c  and corresponds to the connecting portion  144 . Also, the fixing portion  164   c  is located on the extending portion  166   c  and corresponds to the engaging portion  148 . In addition, the fixing portion  164   c  may be the engaging opening or an engaging opening. That is to say, because the fixing element  160  of this embodiment only adopts one fixing block  160   c , the fixing portion  164   c  to be engaged with the engaging portion  148  may be a penetrated-through opening or a non-penetrated-through recess as long as the engaging portion  148  may be engaged with the fixing portion  164   c . Nonetheless, in other embodiments not shown, the number of the fixed block  160   c  may also be plural, and the invention is not limited thereto. 
     As can be seen from the above description, the form of the fixing element  160  is not particularly limited in the invention so long as the fixing element  160  may abut between the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  and may be fixed at one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150 . However, the fixed block  160   c  adopted by the fixing element  160  may be manufactured by adopting a metal injection molding (MIM) process, and the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  adopted by the fixing element  160  may be manufactured by adopting a metal stamping treatment process. Accordingly, because the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  manufactured by adopting the metal stamping treatment process has a lower cost than the fixed block  160   c  manufactured by adopting the metal injection molding process, the fixing element  160  that adopts the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  can reduce overall cost for the hinge structure  100  and the electronic device  50 . However, the invention is not limited to the above, and the shape, the number, the assembly and the manufacturing method of the fixing element  160  may be adjusted as needed. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view of the hinge structure according to yet another embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG. 6 , a major difference between a hinge portion  130   d  and the hinge portion  130  described above is that the fixing element  160  adopted by the hinge portion  130  is disposed between the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  whereas the fixing element  160  adopted by the hinge portion  130   d  is disposed at another side of the torsion element  140  opposite to the bracket  150  (e.g., the left side of  FIG. 6 ). The specific structure of the fixing element  160  includes the fixing plates  160   a  and  160   b  described above, but may also be changed to the fixing element  160   c  (i.e., the fixing block) used in the embodiment of  FIG. 5  or other types of fixing elements (e.g., one single fixing plate or multiple fixing plates connected and formed as one piece). Here, the fixing element  160  is sleeved on the shaft  170  through the third through portion  162  and corresponds to the first through portion  142 , and the extending portion  166  extends outwardly from the third through portion  162  and corresponds to the connecting portion  144 . Also, the fixing portion  164  is located on the extending portion  166  and corresponds to the engaging portion  148  located another side of the connecting portion  144  to fix the fixing element  160  at the torsion element  140 . Similarly, in other embodiments not shown, the fixing element  160  may also be disposed at another side of the bracket  150  opposite to the torsion element  140  (e.g., the right side of  FIG. 6 ). In this case, the fixing element  160  is sleeved on the shaft  170  through the third through portion  162  and corresponds to the second through portion  152 , and the engaging portion is disposed at the bracket  150  so that the fixing portion  164  can be fixed at the bracket  150  accordingly. As can be seen, the position of the fixing element  160  is not particularly limited in the invention. The aforementioned effects may be achieved as long as the fixing element  160  may be fixed at one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  by the fixing portion  164 . 
     In addition, according to the embodiments of  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , the torsion element  140 , the bracket  150  and the fixing element  160  are arranged adjacent to each other, and the first through portion  142 , the second through portion  152  and the third through portion  162  are further disposed at the shaft  170  by abutting each other. However, in other embodiments not shown, other required members like elastic pieces or gaskets may also be disposed between the torsion element  140 , the bracket  150  and the fixing element  160 . The required members like elastic pieces or gaskets may be sleeved on the shaft  170 , and located between any two of the torsion element  140 , the bracket  150  and the fixing element  160  or located outside of any one of the torsion element  140 , the bracket  150  and the fixing element  160 . In those cases, the torsion element  140 , the bracket  150  and the fixing element  160  arranged adjacent to each other are not limited to be abutted together. As can be seen, the specific composition of the hinge portions  130 ,  130   c  and  130   d  of the hinge assembly  120  may be adjusted as needed, and the invention is not limited thereto. 
     With the above arrangement, in the case where the fixing element  160  is fixed at the torsion element  140 , when the torsion element  140  rotates in relative to the shaft  170 , the torsion element  140  drives the fixing element  160  to rotate together. Alternatively, in the case where the fixing element  160  is fixed at the bracket  150 , when the bracket  150  rotates in relative to the shaft  170 , the bracket  150  drives the fixing element  160  to rotate together. In this way, while one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  rotates in relative to another one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  through the shaft  170  as the axle center, one of the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  that is fixed with the fixing element  160  further drives the fixing element  160  to rotate together. Therefore, wobble generated when the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  are in relative rotation may be reduced. When aforementioned arrangement is adopted in the hinge structure  100  adopted by the electronic device  50 , since the wobble generated when the torsion element  140  and the bracket  150  are in relative rotation may be reduced, the operation of changing the two bodies  52  and  54  between the closed mode (the two bodies  52  and  54  are folded into one) and the open mode (the two bodies  52  and  54  are unfold to be separated from each other) may become more stable. 
       FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7C  are perspective side views of a hinge structure adopted by the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in different operating status. With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7C , since each of the hinge assemblies  120  of the embodiment further includes three hinge portions  130  in which two of the three hinge portions  130  (e.g., the hinge portions  130  at the left and the right sides in  FIG. 2 ) correspond to the body  52  (the corresponding portions are shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ) and one of the three hinge portions  130  (e.g., the hinge portion  130  at the middle in  FIG. 2 ) corresponds to the body  54  (the corresponding portion is shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ), an upper one of the hinge portion  130  in  FIG. 7A  is illustrated to represent the hinge portions  130  corresponding to the body  52  (e.g., the hinge portions  130  at the left and the right sides in  FIG. 2 ) and a lower one of the hinge portion  130  in  FIG. 7A  is illustrated to represent the hinge portion  130  corresponding to the body  54  (e.g., the hinge portion  130  at the middle in  FIG. 2 ), but the invention is not limited thereto. 
     In detail, the one of the upper hinge portion  130  and the lower one of the hinge portion  130  are connected with the same hinge cover  110  with their torsion element  140  respectively. When one of the two bodies  52  and  54  rotates in relative to another one of the two bodies  52  and  54 , such as the body  52  rotates in relative to the body  54 , the upper one of the hinge portion  130  is firstly rotated with the body  52  such that the bracket  150  of the upper one of the hinge portion  130  is rotated in relative to the hinge cover  110  and the lower one of the hinge portion  130 , as shown by  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , and until passing through a predetermined angle (such as 90 degree), the upper one of the hinge portion  130  further brings the hinge cover  110  to rotate together such that the bracket  150  of the upper one of the hinge portion  130  and the hinge cover  110  are rotated in relative to the lower one of the hinge portion  130  (which can be considered that the lower hinge portion  130  is rotated in relative to the hinge cover  110 ), as shown by  FIG. 7B  and  FIG. 7C , and vice versa. As such, during one of the two bodies  52  and  54  rotates in relative to another one of the two bodies  52  and  54 , only one side of the hinge portions  130  is/are rotated in relative to the hinge cover  110  while another side of the hinge portions  130  can be considered as being positioned at a fixed position with the hinge cover  110 . Thereby the hinge structure and the electronic device can provide favorable operating stability. 
     In summary, the hinge structure of the invention is disposed with the fixing element, wherein the fixing element is further fixed at one of the torsion element and the bracket (e.g., fixed by disposing the engaging portion for engaging the fixing portion of the fixing element at one of the torsion element and the bracket), and the fixing element may be in form of one or more fixing plates or the fixing block. Accordingly, in the case where the hinge structure is used for connecting the two bodies in the electronic device, when one of the two bodies disposed with the bracket rotates in relative to another one of the two bodies, one of the torsion element and the bracket is adapted to rotate with the fixing element in relative to another one the torsion element and the bracket with the shaft as the axle center. Therefore, wobble generated when said one of the torsion element and the bracket rotates in relative to another one may be reduced. As a result, the hinge structure and the electronic device of the invention can provide favorable operating stability. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims and not by the above detailed descriptions.