Patent Description:
Since the release of folding screen mobile phones, global mobile phone manufacturers have successively launched their own folding screen mobile phone products. Whether it is inward folding, outward folding, horizontal folding or vertical folding, foldable screens have become the direction that many manufacturers are vying for layout. The mobile phone industry has ushered in a new track.

<CIT> discloses a display device. The display device comprises: a flexible display panel; a shell capable of being folded, wherein the shell comprises a plate surface for carrying the flexible display panel, a clamping portion including a first slot, and a locking portion including a second slot; and a telescopic member retractable along a longitudinal direction of the telescopic member. In a first state of the display device, the telescopic member is stretched, a first end of the telescopic member is inserted into the first slot and a second end of the telescopic member is located outside the display device as a supporting point to support the display device. In a second state of the display device, the telescopic member is contracted, the first end of the telescopic member is inserted into the first slot, and the second end of the telescopic member is inserted into the second slot.

<CIT> discloses a protective shell and electronic equipment. The protective shell comprises a first shell body, a second shell body and a bendable shell body.

It is also a trend of future development that flexible foldable screens can meet the needs of both internal and external bending. However, when the display device can be folded inwards or bent, there is a problem that the display device cannot keep a folding state and may be opened automatically after being folded.

Embodiments of the present application provide a foldable structural member and a display device, aiming at solving a problem that the display device cannot keep a folding state and may be opened automatically after being folded.

In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a foldable structural member for supporting a display panel. The foldable structural member includes: a structural main body including a first main body and a second main body distributed in a first direction, and a bending portion located between the first main body and the second main body, in which the foldable structural member is enabled to be switched between an unfolding state and a folding state by the bending portion, a buckle assembly including a first buckle piece and a second buckle piece engaged with the first buckle piece, in which the first buckle piece is arranged on the first main body, and the second buckle piece is arranged on the second main body, in an inward-folding state or an outward-folding state, the first buckle piece is buckled with the second buckle piece to connect the first main body with the second main body. The folding state comprises an inward-folding state and an outward-folding state. The second buckle piece is rotatably arranged between a first position and a second position relative to the second main body, in the inward-folding state, the first buckle piece is buckled with the second buckle piece located at the first position to connect the first main body with the second main body, and in the outward-folding state, the first buckle piece is buckled with the second buckle piece located at the second position to connect the first main body with the second main body.

In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a display device including the display panel and the foldable structural member according to any one of the above-mentioned embodiments in the first aspect.

In the foldable structural member in the embodiments of the present application, the foldable structural member includes the structural main body and the buckle assembly. The structural main body includes the first main body, the second main body and a bending portion. The structural main body can be switched among the unfolding state, inward-folding state and the outward-folding state by the bending portion. When a support structural member is used to support the display panel, the support structural member can drive the display panel to be switched between different states, so as to realize the multi-state display of the display panel.

The buckle assembly includes the first buckle piece and the second buckle piece engaged with the first buckle piece. One of the first buckle piece and the second buckle piece is arranged on the first main body, and the other one is arranged on the second main body, so that when the structural main body is in the inward-folding state or outward-folding state, the first main body and the second main body are enabled to be buckled and connected with each other by the first buckle piece and the second buckle piece. Therefore, in the embodiments of the present application, the first buckle piece and the second buckle piece can be provided, so that a problem that the display device cannot keep a folding state and may be opened automatically after being folded can be solved.

In order to better understand the present application, a foldable support member and a display device in embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> together, according to the display device provided by the embodiments of the present application, the display device includes a display panel <NUM> and a foldable structural member <NUM> for supporting the display panel <NUM>. The display device is capable of switching between an unfolding state and a folding state. The folding state includes an inward-folding state and an outward-folding state.

The display panel <NUM> can be arranged at one side of the foldable structural member <NUM> in a thickness direction (Z direction in <FIG>) of the display device. In the inward-folding state, the display panel <NUM> is located on an inner surface of the display device in the folding state and is wrapped by the foldable structural member <NUM>, so that the foldable structural member <NUM> can provide better protection for the display panel <NUM>. In the outward-folding state, the display panel <NUM> is located on an outer surface of the display device in the outward-folding state, and the foldable structural member <NUM> is folded inside the display panel <NUM>, so that the display panel <NUM> can display better.

In some other embodiments, the display panel <NUM> can also be arranged at both sides of the display device in the thickness direction; either in the outward-folding state or in the inward-folding state, there is the display panel to display. The display panel <NUM> can be, for example, ring-shaped, and the foldable structural member <NUM> is located inside the ring-shaped display panel <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the foldable structural member <NUM> may be the foldable structural member <NUM> in the display device provided by the embodiments in a first aspect.

<FIG> shows the foldable structural member <NUM> in the unfolding state; when the display device is in the unfolding state, the foldable structural member <NUM> is in the unfolding state. <FIG> shows the foldable structural member <NUM> in the inward-folding state; when the display device is in the inward-folding state, the foldable structural member <NUM> is in the inward-folding state. <FIG> shows the foldable structural member <NUM> in the outward-folding state; when the display device is in the outward-folding state, the foldable structural member <NUM> is in the outward-folding state.

In the foldable structural member <NUM> in the embodiments of the present application, the foldable structural member <NUM> includes a structural main body <NUM> and a buckle assembly <NUM>. The structural main body <NUM> includes a first main body <NUM>, a second main body <NUM> and a bending portion <NUM> distributed in a first direction (X direction in <FIG>). The structural main body <NUM> can be switched among the unfolding state, the inward-folding state and the outward-folding state by the bending portion <NUM>. When a support structural member is used to support the display panel <NUM>, the support structural member can drive the display panel <NUM> to switch among the different states, so as to realize the multi-state display of the display panel <NUM>. The buckle assembly <NUM> includes a first buckle piece <NUM> and a second buckle piece <NUM> buckled and engaged with the first buckle piece. One of the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> is arranged on the first main body <NUM>, and the other one is arranged on the second main body <NUM>, so that when the structural main body <NUM> is in the inward-folding state or outward-folding state, the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> are enabled to be buckled and connected with each other by the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM>. Therefore, in the embodiments of the present application, the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> can be provided, so that a problem that the display device cannot keep a folding state and may be opened automatically after being folded can be solved.

There are various positions of the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> arranged on the structural main body <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the structural main body <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> opposite to each other in a thickness direction (Z direction in <FIG>) of the foldable structural member <NUM>, and a side surface <NUM> connecting the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>. The first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> can be arranged at the side surface <NUM>, so that it can prevent the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> from interfering with the display panel <NUM>.

The side surface <NUM> includes a first side face <NUM> and a second side face <NUM> opposite to each other in a width direction (Y direction in <FIG>) of the foldable structural member <NUM>, the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> are arranged at the first side face <NUM> and/or the second side face <NUM>, and a bending line of the bending portion <NUM> extends in the width direction. Generally, the first side face <NUM> and the second side face <NUM> are the sides that users will not hold when using the display device. The first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> can be arranged on the first side face <NUM> and/or the second side face <NUM>. When the foldable structural member <NUM> is used in the display device, the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> will not affect grasping the display device by users, and can also prevent from affecting the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> buckled and engaged with each other due to grasping by the users.

The first buckle piece <NUM> can be arranged at a side of the first main body <NUM> away from the second main body <NUM>, and the second buckle piece <NUM> can be arranged at a side of the second main body <NUM> away from the first main body <NUM>. In other words, the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> can be arranged far from the bending portion <NUM>, so that the buckling engagement between the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> can be achieved by a small buckle force.

There are various ways for the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM> to buckle and engage with each other. The second buckle piece <NUM> is rotatably arranged between a first position and a second position relative to the second main body <NUM>, so that in the inward-folding state, the first buckle piece <NUM> can be buckled with the second buckle piece <NUM> located at the first position to connect the first main body <NUM> with the second main body <NUM>, and in the outward-folding state, the first buckle piece <NUM> can be buckled with the second buckle piece <NUM> located at the second position to connect the first main body <NUM> with the second main body <NUM>.

In these optional embodiments, a position of the second buckle piece <NUM> can be rotatably arranged. In the inward-folding state or in the outward-folding state, the buckling connection between the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> can be realized by the engagement between the second buckle piece <NUM> and the first buckle piece <NUM>, so that it can simplify a structure of the buckle assembly <NUM>.

The first position means that when the second buckle piece <NUM> is at the position, the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> of the foldable structural member <NUM> in the inward-folding state can be buckled and connected with each other. As shown in <FIG>, the second buckle piece <NUM> in <FIG> can be located at the first position.

The second position means that when the second buckle piece <NUM> is at the position, the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> of the foldable structural member <NUM> in the outward-folding state can be buckled and connected with each other. As shown in <FIG>, the second buckle piece <NUM> in <FIG> can be located at the second position.

There are various ways for the second buckle piece <NUM> to be rotatably arranged between the first position and the second position relative to the second main body <NUM>. For example, the second buckle piece <NUM> can be reversibly arranged around a second axis extending in the first direction. When the structural main body <NUM> switches from the inward-folding state to the outward-folding state, the first buckle piece <NUM> can move from one side of the second buckle piece <NUM> in the thickness direction of the structural body <NUM> to the other side of the second buckle piece <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, when the structural main body <NUM> switches from the inward-folding state to the outward-folding state, the first buckle piece <NUM> can move from above the second buckle piece <NUM> to below the second buckle piece <NUM>. The second buckle piece <NUM> can be reversibly arranged. When the structural main body <NUM> switches from the inward-folding state to the outward-folding state, the second buckle piece <NUM> can be still buckled and engaged with the first buckle piece <NUM> by reversing the second buckle piece <NUM>.

There are various ways to arrange the first buckle piece <NUM> and the second buckle piece <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first buckle piece <NUM> includes a buckle column <NUM>, the second buckle piece <NUM> includes a buckle ring <NUM> enabled to be buckled and engaged with the buckle column <NUM>, and the buckle ring <NUM> is reversibly arranged around the second axis relative to the second main body <NUM>. The buckle ring <NUM> can be reversed, so that either in the inward-folding state and in the outward-folding state, the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> can be buckled and engaged with each other by the buckle column <NUM> and the buckle ring <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the buckle column <NUM> can be provided with at least one fixing portion <NUM> buckled and engaged with the buckle ring <NUM>, so that the buckle ring <NUM> can be stopped at a side of the fixing portion <NUM> facing the first main body <NUM>. When the buckle column <NUM> and the buckle ring <NUM> engages with each other, at least part of the buckle ring <NUM> can be located between the fixing portion <NUM> and the first main body <NUM>. The fixing portion <NUM> provides a limiting force to the buckle ring <NUM> to ensure the stability of relative positions of the buckle ring <NUM> and the buckle column <NUM>.

There are various ways to set the number and the shape of the fixing portion <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the fixing portion <NUM> can be configured as a concave structure located on a cylindrical face of the buckle column <NUM>, and the buckle ring <NUM> can buckle on the concave structure.

When the buckle ring <NUM> and the buckle column <NUM> engages with each other in the inward-folding state or the outward-folding state, the fixing portion <NUM> can provide the limiting force to the buckle ring <NUM>. Alternatively, the fixing portion <NUM> can be configured as two protruding structures respectively arranged at two sides of the buckle ring <NUM> in the thickness direction. In the inward-folding state and outward-folding state, when the buckle ring <NUM> and the buckle column <NUM> engages with each other, the fixing portion <NUM> can provide the limiting force to the buckle ring <NUM>.

In some other optional embodiments, the fixing portion <NUM> can be ring-shaped and arranged around a circumferential side of the buckle column <NUM>. When the buckle column <NUM> and the buckle ring <NUM> are buckled and engaged with each other, the fixing portion <NUM> can provide the limiting force to the buckle ring <NUM> in different directions.

There are various ways for the buckle column <NUM> to be arranged on the first main body <NUM>. For example, the buckle column <NUM> can be fixed at the side of the first main body <NUM>. In some other optional embodiments, in an extending direction of the buckle column, the buckle column <NUM> can be telescopically arranged at the first main body <NUM>. Optionally, the buckle column <NUM> can be movably arranged between a position inside the first main body <NUM> and a position protruding out of the first main body <NUM>. When the foldable structural member <NUM> is in the unfolded state, the buckle column <NUM> and the buckle ring <NUM> do not need to be engaged with each other, and the buckle column <NUM> can be located in the first main body <NUM> to ensure the integrity and aesthetics of the foldable structural member <NUM>. When the foldable structure <NUM> is in the inward-folding state or in the outward-folding state, and the buckle column <NUM> and the buckle ring <NUM> need to be engaged with each other, the buckle column <NUM> protrudes outside the first main body <NUM>, so that the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> can be buckled and engaged with each other by the buckle column <NUM> and the buckle ring <NUM>.

In some other optional embodiments, the second buckle piece <NUM> can be rotatably arranged around a first axis extending in a second direction relative to the second main body <NUM>, so that the second buckle piece <NUM> can rotate between the first position and the second position relative to the second main body <NUM>.

When the second buckle piece <NUM> is arranged at the first side face <NUM> and/or the second side face <NUM>, the second direction is the width direction, and the first axis extends in the width direction. When the second buckle piece <NUM> is arranged on a face at an opposite end in the first direction, the second direction is parallel to the first direction, and the first axis extends in the first direction. It should be ensured that the second buckle piece <NUM> can rotate between the first position and the second position when rotating around the first axis, so that the first buckle piece <NUM> can be buckled and connected with the second buckle piece <NUM> to connect the first main body <NUM> with the second main body <NUM> in both of the inward-folding state and the outward-folding state.

Optionally, when the second buckle piece <NUM> can be rotatably arranged around the first axis relative to the second main body <NUM>, the second buckle piece <NUM> can rotate to a predetermined position between the first position and the second position relative to the second main body <NUM>, so that when there is a predetermined angle between the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> and the foldable structural member <NUM> is V-shaped, the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM> are enabled to be buckled and connected with each other by the first buckle piece and the second buckle piece at the predetermined position. The predetermined position may be any position on a path from the first position to the second position. By arranging the second buckle piece <NUM> at the predetermined position, the predetermined angle can be formed between the first main body <NUM> and the second main body <NUM>, so that it can meet various needs of users.

There are various ways in which the second buckle piece <NUM> is rotatably arranged relative to the second main body <NUM>. Referring <FIG>, the second buckle piece <NUM> further includes a connecting pin <NUM>, the connecting pin <NUM> can be rotatably connected to the second main body <NUM>, the buckle ring <NUM> can be connected to the second main body <NUM> by the connecting pin <NUM>, and the buckle ring <NUM> is reversibly arranged around the second axis relative to the connecting pin <NUM>. The buckle ring <NUM> can be rotatably arranged relative to the second main body <NUM> by the connecting pin <NUM>, so that the buckle ring <NUM> can be arranged at a designated position by means of reversing and rotating.

Referring to <FIG> together, a mounting hole <NUM> can be formed on the second main body <NUM>. The connecting pin <NUM> includes a connecting end 222a and a mounting end 222b distributed in an extending direction of the connecting pin, the buckle ring <NUM> can be connected to the connecting end 222a, the mounting end 222b can be rotatably connected to the mounting hole <NUM>, and the connecting pin <NUM> can be rotatably arranged in the mounting hole <NUM> of the second main body <NUM>.

A radial dimension of the mounting end 222b can be smaller than a radial dimension of the connecting end 222a. The radial dimension of the mounting end 222b can be smaller, so that it can reduce a space occupied by the connecting pin <NUM> on the second main body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> together, the connecting end 222a includes two connecting holes 222c with openings arranged facing away from each other, the buckle ring <NUM> includes two free ends 221a arranged opposite to each other, and the free ends 221a are rotatably arranged in the connecting holes 222c respectively. The buckle ring <NUM> can be formed by bending a strip-shaped structural member, and two ends of the strip-shaped structural member can be butted to form the buckle ring <NUM>, so that the two free ends 221a which are arranged opposite to each other can be formed on the buckle ring <NUM>. The free ends 221a can be arranged in the connecting holes 222c respectively, so that the buckle ring <NUM> can be connected to the connecting ends 222a.

A shape of a cross section of each of the free ends 221a may be circular, and each of the connecting holes 222c has an inner wall face with a cylindrical shape, so that the free ends 221a can be rotatably arranged in the connecting holes 222c, and the buckle ring <NUM> can be reversibly arranged relative to the connecting ends 222a by the engagement of the two free ends 221a and the two connecting holes 222c.

Referring to <FIG>, the second main body <NUM> further includes a receiving space <NUM> communicated with the mounting hole <NUM>. The mounting end 222b can extend into the receiving space <NUM> through the mounting hole <NUM>, the second buckle piece <NUM> further includes a stopper <NUM>, the stopper <NUM> can be located in the receiving space <NUM> and connected to the mounting end 222b to prevent the connecting pin <NUM> from falling off from the mounting hole <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> together, the mounting end 222b may be provided with the stopper <NUM> which can stably fix the connecting pin <NUM> on the second main body <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> includes a body portion 223a in a shape of ring and a notch 223b located on the body portion 223a, such that the body portion 223a can sleeve the mounting end 222b through the notch 223b of the stopper <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> can be mounted on the mounting end 222b by means of arranging the notch 223b, so that it can improve the mounting efficiency of the foldable structural member <NUM>.

A mounting groove 222d can be arranged at the mounting end 222b, so that the stopper <NUM> can be buckled into the mounting groove 222d.

Referring to <FIG>, a receiving groove <NUM> can be formed on the second main body <NUM> to receive the buckle ring <NUM>. An extruding portion <NUM> can be arranged in the receiving groove <NUM>, such that when the buckle ring <NUM> is located in the receiving groove <NUM>, the extruding portion <NUM> can be in interference fit with the buckle ring <NUM>, so as to ensure the stability of relative positions of the buckle ring <NUM> and the receiving groove <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A foldable structural member for supporting a display panel, comprising:
a structural main body (<NUM>), comprising a first main body (<NUM>) and a second main body (<NUM>) distributed in a first direction, and a bending portion (<NUM>) located between the first main body (<NUM>) and the second main body (<NUM>), wherein the foldable structural member (<NUM>) is switched between an unfolding state and a folding state by the bending portion (<NUM>); and
a buckle assembly (<NUM>), comprising a first buckle piece (<NUM>) and a second buckle piece (<NUM>) engaged with the first buckle piece, wherein the first buckle piece (<NUM>) is arranged on the first main body (<NUM>), and the second buckle piece (<NUM>) is arranged on the second main body (<NUM>); and in the folding state, the first buckle piece (<NUM>) is buckled with the second buckle piece (<NUM>) to connect the first main body (<NUM>) with the second main body (<NUM>), wherein the folding state comprises an inward-folding state and an outward-folding state, characterized in that the second buckle piece (<NUM>) is rotatably arranged between a first position and a second position relative to the second main body (<NUM>), in the inward-folding state, the first buckle piece (<NUM>) is buckled with the second buckle piece (<NUM>) located at the first position to connect the first main body (<NUM>) with the second main body (<NUM>), and in the outward-folding state, the first buckle piece (<NUM>) is buckled with the second buckle piece (<NUM>) located at the second position to connect the first main body (<NUM>) with the second main body (<NUM>).