CN110630624B

CN110630624B - Pivoting mechanism

Info

Publication number: CN110630624B
Application number: CN201810641779.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄禹钦; 廖文能
Original assignee: Acer Inc
Current assignee: Acer Inc
Priority date: 2018-06-21
Filing date: 2018-06-21
Publication date: 2020-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 2038-06-21
Also published as: CN110630624A

Abstract

A pivot mechanism comprises a fixed part, a rotating part, a pivot part, an annular component and a hollow sliding part. The pivot member pivotally connects the fixing member and the rotating member and has a central axis. The annular member is sleeved on the pivot member and has a recess. The sliding part is sleeved on the pivoting part and is positioned between the annular component and the rotating part. The sliding part is provided with a convex block which is accommodated in the concave part, wherein when the rotating part rotates around the central shaft along an opening direction relative to the fixed part, the rotating part drives the sliding part to rotate relative to the annular component, so that the convex block slides out of the concave part, and the sliding part and the annular component generate a first gap in the direction of the central shaft.

Description

Pivoting mechanism

Technical Field

The invention relates to a pivoting mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hinge mechanism capable of providing torsional resistance.

Background

At present, the size of a conventional notebook Computer for electronic competition (Gaming Laptop Computer) is getting larger, and the Torque Resistance (Torque Resistance) required by a pivoting mechanism must be relatively increased to ensure the safety when the Laptop Computer is opened and closed, which conventionally causes the problem that a consumer cannot open the screen with one hand, thereby causing inconvenience in use.

Therefore, it is an important issue to design a hinge mechanism for a notebook computer that can achieve both comfort and safety.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a pivot mechanism, which includes a fixed member, a rotating member, a pivot member, an annular member and a hollow sliding member. The pivot member pivotally connects the fixing member and the rotating member and has a central axis. The annular member is sleeved on the pivot member and has a recess. The sliding part is sleeved on the pivoting part and is positioned between the annular component and the rotating part. The sliding part is provided with a convex block which is accommodated in the concave part, wherein when the rotating part rotates around the central shaft along an opening direction relative to the fixed part, the rotating part drives the sliding part to rotate relative to the annular component, so that the convex block slides out of the concave part, and the sliding part and the annular component generate a first gap in the direction of the central shaft.

In one embodiment, the recessed portion has an inclined surface, and when the rotating member drives the sliding member to rotate relative to the annular member, the protrusion slides out of the recessed portion along the inclined surface.

In one embodiment, the width of the recess is greater than the width of the bump.

In one embodiment, the annular member has a non-circular aperture, and the pivot passes through the aperture to restrict rotation of the annular member relative to the pivot.

In an embodiment, the pivot mechanism further includes a connecting member sleeved on the pivot member and connected to the rotating member, wherein the connecting member has a protruding portion, and the sliding member has a groove, and the protruding portion is accommodated in the groove.

In one embodiment, the groove has an inclined surface, and when the rotating member rotates around the central axis in the reverse direction of the opening direction relative to the fixed member, the rotating member drives the connecting member to rotate relative to the sliding member, and the protruding portion slides along the inclined surface of the groove, so that a second gap is formed between the connecting member and the sliding member in the direction of the central axis.

In an embodiment, the pivot mechanism further includes a torsion element and a locking member, the torsion element is disposed between the locking member and the annular member, and the locking member is fixed to the pivot member to limit the torsion element to a predetermined position on the central shaft.

In one embodiment, when the included angle between the rotating element and the fixing element is smaller than 90 degrees and the rotating element rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixing element, the torsion element generates a predetermined torsion resistance value, and when the rotating element rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixing element by more than 90 degrees and the rotating element rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixing element, the sliding element and the annular member form the first gap in the central axis direction, so that the torsion element generates a first torsion resistance value, wherein the first torsion resistance value is greater than the predetermined torsion resistance value.

In one embodiment, when the included angle between the rotating member and the fixing member exceeds 90 degrees and the rotating member rotates in the reverse direction of the opening direction relative to the fixing member, the connecting member drives the sliding member to rotate around the central axis, so that the protrusion slides along the inclined surface of the groove, and the connecting member and the sliding member form a second gap in the direction of the central axis, so that the torsion element generates a second torsion resistance value, wherein the second torsion resistance value is greater than the first torsion resistance value.

In one embodiment, when the rotating member rotates in the opposite direction of the opening direction relative to the fixed member until the included angle between the rotating member and the fixed member is equal to 90 degrees, the connecting member drives the sliding member to rotate around the central axis, so that the protrusion of the sliding member slides into the recess, and the torsion element generates a third torsion resistance value, wherein the third torsion resistance value is smaller than the second torsion resistance value.

Drawings

Fig. 1 and 2 are exploded views of a pivot mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a connector according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a slider according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view from another perspective of the slider shown in fig. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a ring member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows the rotating member 20 at 0 degrees relative to the stationary member 10.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of a portion a1 in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of the rotating member 20 at an angle of 0 degrees with respect to the stationary member 10.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of a portion a2 in fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic view of the rotating member 20 rotated to an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the stationary member 10.

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged view of a portion a3 in fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows another perspective view of the rotating member 20 rotated to an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the stationary member 10.

Fig. 14 shows an enlarged view of a portion a4 in fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows the rotating member 20 rotated to an angle of 140 degrees with respect to the stationary member 10.

Fig. 16 shows an enlarged view of a portion a5 in fig. 15.

Fig. 17 shows a schematic view of another perspective of the rotating member 20 rotated to an angle of 140 degrees with respect to the stationary member 10.

Fig. 18 shows an enlarged view of a portion a6 in fig. 17.

Fig. 19 shows the rotating member 20 rotated by a small angle in a closing direction from the state of fig. 15 and 17 with respect to the fixed member 10.

Fig. 20 shows an enlarged view of a portion a7 in fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a schematic view showing another angle of view when the rotating member 20 is rotated by a small angle in a closing direction from the state of fig. 15 and 17 with respect to the fixed member 10.

Fig. 22 shows an enlarged view of a portion A8 in fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a schematic view showing the rotating member 20 rotated in the closing direction by 90 degrees with respect to the fixed member 10 from the state shown in fig. 19 and 21.

Fig. 24 shows an enlarged view of a portion a9 in fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a schematic view showing another angle of view when the rotary member 20 is rotated in the closing direction to an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the stationary member 10 from the state shown in fig. 19 and 21.

Fig. 26 shows an enlarged view of a portion a10 in fig. 25.

Description of reference numerals:

fixing member 10

Rotating member 20

Card slot 201

Pivoting member 30

Connecting piece 40

Block 401

Projection 41

Side walls

411, 412, 511

Bevels

413, 513, 521, 522, 611, 612

Sliding member 50

Groove 51

Abutting surface 512

Bump 52

Ring-shaped member 60

Recess 61

Locking part B

Center shaft C

First gap D1

Second gap D2

Torsion element S

Detailed Description

The following describes the pivot mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated, however, that the present embodiments provide many suitable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments disclosed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The foregoing and other technical and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. Directional terms as referred to in the following examples, for example: up, down, left, right, front or rear, etc., are directions with reference to the attached drawings only. Accordingly, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting.

Referring to fig. 1 and fig. 2, fig. 1 and fig. 2 are exploded views of a hinge mechanism capable of providing multi-stage torsional impedance according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, the pivot mechanism can be applied to a notebook computer, and mainly includes a fixed member 10, a rotating member 20, a pivot member 30, a connecting member 40, a hollow sliding member 50, an annular member 60, at least one torsion element S, and a locking member B.

For example, the fixing member 10 may be fixed to an input unit of a notebook computer, and the rotating member 20 may be fixed to a display unit of the notebook computer, wherein the pivot member 30 penetrates through the fixing member 10 and the rotating member 20, so that the fixing member 10 and the rotating member 20 are pivoted with each other, and the display unit of the notebook computer may rotate relative to the input unit.

It should be noted that the pivot 30 sequentially passes through the fixing element 10, the rotating element 20, the connecting element 40, the sliding element 50, the annular member 60, the torsion element S and the locking element B, wherein the connecting element 40 is connected to the rotating element 20 and sleeved on the pivot 30. As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, the connecting element 40 of the present embodiment has a latch 401, the latch 401 can be combined in a latch slot 201 of the rotating element 20, and when the rotating element 20 rotates around a central axis C of the pivoting element 30 relative to the fixing element 10, the rotating element 20 can drive the connecting element 40 to rotate around the central axis C.

Next, referring to fig. 1 to 5, fig. 3 is a schematic view of the connecting element 40, and fig. 4 and 5 are schematic views of the sliding element 50 from different viewing angles. As shown in fig. 1-5, a protrusion 41 is formed on the bottom side of the connecting member 40, and a groove 51 is formed on the sliding member 50 for accommodating the protrusion 41, wherein when the rotating member 20 rotates around the central axis C in an opening direction relative to the fixed member 10, the sliding member 50 is driven by the connecting member 40 to rotate around the central axis C.

Referring to fig. 1, 2, 5 and 6, fig. 6 is a schematic view of the annular member 60. Since the annular member 60 in this embodiment is formed with a non-circular (noncircular) through hole, the pivot 30 is inserted into the through hole, but the annular member 60 cannot rotate with respect to the central axis C of the pivot 30; in addition, the slider 50 is formed with a protrusion 52, and the ring member 60 is formed with a recess 61 for receiving the protrusion 52. It should be understood that the two sides of the recess 61 are respectively formed with

inclined surfaces

611 and 612, and the width of the recess 61 is greater than the width of the protrusion 52, so that when the slider 50 rotates to a specific angle relative to the ring-shaped member 60 along the opening direction, the protrusion 52 slides out of the recess 61 along the inclined surfaces 611.

The torsion element S and the locking element B are disposed outside the annular member 60, wherein the torsion element S may be a metal spring sheet with elasticity or a friction element, so as to provide a proper torsion Resistance (Torque Resistance) when the rotating member 20 rotates relative to the fixing member 10, and the locking element B may be a nut fixed on the pivot member 30 for limiting a predetermined position of the torsion element S on the pivot member 30.

Referring to fig. 7-10, fig. 7 and 9 are schematic views of the rotating element 20 at 0 degree relative to the fixing element 10, and fig. 8 and 10 are enlarged views of parts a1 and a2 in fig. 7 and 9, respectively. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, when the angle of the rotating member 20 relative to the fixed member 10 is 0 degrees, the rotating member 20 and the fixed member 10 are both parallel to the XY plane, and the protrusion 41 of the connecting member 40 is located in the groove 51 of the sliding member 50 and contacts the bottom of the groove 51, and the sidewall 411 of the protrusion 41 abuts against the sidewall 511 of the groove 51.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, the other side wall 412 of the protrusion 41 is spaced from an abutting surface 512 of the slider 50, and an inclined surface 513 at the bottom side of the groove 51 abuts an inclined surface 413 of the protrusion 41, and an inclined surface 612 at the left side of the recess 61 abuts an inclined surface 522 of the protrusion 52.

Referring to fig. 11-14, fig. 11 and 13 are schematic views illustrating different viewing angles when the rotating element 20 rotates to an angle of 90 degrees relative to the fixing element 10, and fig. 12 and 14 are enlarged views of portions A3 and a4 in fig. 11 and 13, respectively. As shown in fig. 11-14, during the rotation of the rotating member 20 relative to the fixed member 10 by 90 degrees in an opening direction from the state shown in fig. 7 and 9, the torsion element S provides a predetermined torsion resistance value, and the rotating member 20 rotates to a state parallel to the YZ plane, at which time the protrusion 41 of the connecting member 40 is still located in the groove 51 of the sliding member 50, and the sliding member 50 can be pushed to rotate around the central axis C by the side wall 411 of the protrusion 41. Specifically, as can be seen from fig. 14, at this time, the protrusion 52 of the sliding member 50 slides along the bottom surface of the recess 61 of the annular member 60 to a critical position toward the right, so that an inclined surface 521 of the protrusion 52 abuts against an inclined surface 611 of the recess 61.

Referring to fig. 15-18, fig. 15 and 17 are schematic views illustrating different viewing angles when the rotating element 20 rotates to an angle of 140 degrees relative to the fixing element 10, and fig. 16 and 18 are enlarged views of portions a5 and a6 in fig. 15 and 17, respectively. As can be seen from fig. 15-16, during the rotation of the rotating member 20 relative to the fixed member 10 from the state of fig. 11 and 13 to the opening direction of 140 degrees, the protrusion 41 of the connecting member 40 is still retained in the groove 51 of the sliding member 50, and the sliding member 50 can be continuously pushed by the side wall 411 of the protrusion 41, so that the sliding member 50 rotates around the central axis C.

However, as can be seen from fig. 17 and 18, when the rotating element 20 rotates more than 90 degrees relative to the fixed element 10, the sliding element 50 is driven by the connecting element 40 to slide relative to the annular member 60, and the protrusion 52 of the sliding element 50 slides out of the recess 61 along the inclined surface 611, and a first gap D1 is formed between the sliding element 50 and the annular member 60 in the direction of the central axis C. Therefore, the Torque Resistance of the Torque element S can be increased by compressing the Torque element S, so that the user can feel a first Torque Resistance value after the opening angle is greater than 90 degrees, wherein the first Torque Resistance value is greater than the predetermined Torque Resistance value.

Referring to fig. 19-22, fig. 19 and 21 are schematic views illustrating different viewing angles of the rotating element 20 when the rotating element 20 rotates at a small angle in the closing direction from the state of fig. 15 and 17 with respect to the fixed element 10, and fig. 20 and 22 are enlarged views of portions a7 and A8 in fig. 19 and 21, respectively. As shown in fig. 19-22, when the user finishes using and rotates the rotating element 20 relative to the fixed element 10 by a small angle in a closing direction (opposite to the opening direction), the rotating element 20 immediately drives the connecting element 40 to rotate around the central axis C, at this time, the protruding portion 41 of the connecting element 40 climbs along the inclined surface 513 on the left side of the groove 51 to be separated from the bottom of the groove 51, the sidewall 412 of the protruding portion 41 touches the abutting surface 512 of the sliding element 50 (as shown in fig. 20), since the included angle between the rotating element 20 and the fixed element 10 is greater than 90 degrees at this time, and the sliding element 50 is not yet driven by the connecting element 40 in the closing direction, the protrusion 52 of the sliding element 50 is still located outside the recessed portion 61 (as shown in fig. 22), and the first gap D1 still exists between the sliding element 50 and the ring-shaped member 60 in the central axis C direction.

At the same time, since the protrusion 41 ascends along the inclined plane 513 of the groove 51, a second gap D2 is additionally generated between the sliding member 50 and the connecting member 40 in the direction of the central axis C of the pivot member 30, such that a torsion element S is compressed by the influence of the first and second gaps D1 and D2, thereby further increasing the torsion Resistance (Torque Resistance) thereof, and allowing a user to feel a second torsion Resistance value with greater strength when the notebook computer is closed, wherein the second torsion Resistance value is greater than the first torsion Resistance value.

Fig. 23-26 are views showing different viewing angles of the rotating element 20 when the rotating element is rotated to 90 degrees along the closing direction from the state of fig. 19 and 21 with respect to the fixed element 10, and fig. 24 and 26 are enlarged views of parts a9 and a10 in fig. 23 and 25, respectively. As shown in fig. 23-26, during the rotation of the rotating member 20 in the closing direction (opposite to the opening direction) from the state shown in fig. 19 and 21 to return to 90 degrees, the connecting member 40 pushes the sliding member 50 (shown in fig. 24) to rotate around the central axis C via the side wall 412 of the protruding portion 41, and the protruding portion 52 slides into the recessed portion 61 (shown in fig. 26) along the inclined surface 611.

It should be understood that the first gap D1 disappears and the second gap D2 still exists, so that the user can still feel a third torsional resistance value when the angle between the rotating element 20 and the stationary element 10 is smaller than 90 degrees and the closing operation is performed, and the third torsional resistance value is smaller than the second torsional resistance value, so as to take the comfort and safety of the user when the user closes the notebook computer into consideration.

Although embodiments of the present invention and their advantages have been disclosed above, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification, but it is to be understood that any process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, method and steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure, may be utilized according to the present invention, and that all the same functions or advantages of the disclosed embodiments may be accomplished by the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present application includes the processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, and steps described in the specification. In addition, each claim constitutes a separate embodiment, and the scope of protection of the present invention also includes combinations of the respective claims and embodiments.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is subject to the claims. Furthermore, each claim constitutes a separate embodiment, and combinations of various claims and embodiments are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An articulating mechanism comprising:

a fixed member;

a rotating member;

a pivoting member pivotally connecting the fixing member and the rotating member and having a central axis;

an annular member sleeved on the pivot member and having a recess; and

a hollow sliding part sleeved on the pivot part and positioned between the annular component and the rotating part, wherein the sliding part is provided with a convex block which is accommodated in the depressed part, when the rotating part rotates around the central shaft along an opening direction relative to the fixed part, the rotating part drives the sliding part to rotate relative to the annular component so as to enable the convex block to slide out of the depressed part, and further the sliding part and the annular component generate a first gap in the direction of the central shaft;

the pivoting mechanism also comprises a connecting piece which is sleeved on the pivoting piece and connected with the rotating piece, wherein the connecting piece is provided with a convex part, the sliding piece is provided with a groove, and the convex part is accommodated in the groove;

when the rotating piece rotates around the central shaft along the reverse direction of the opening direction relative to the fixed piece, the rotating piece drives the connecting piece to rotate relative to the sliding piece, and the protruding portion slides along the inclined surface of the groove, so that a second gap is formed between the connecting piece and the sliding piece in the direction of the central shaft.

2. The hinge mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a torsion element and a locking member, the torsion element is disposed between the locking member and the annular member, and the locking member is fixed to the hinge member to limit the torsion element to a predetermined position on the central shaft.

3. The pivot mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the torsion element generates a predetermined torsion resistance value when the included angle between the rotating member and the fixed member is smaller than 90 degrees and the rotating member rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixed member, and the sliding member and the annular member form the first gap in the central axis direction when the rotating member rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixed member by more than 90 degrees and the rotating member rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixed member, so that the torsion element generates a first torsion resistance value, wherein the first torsion resistance value is greater than the predetermined torsion resistance value.

4. The pivot mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the included angle between the rotating member and the fixing member exceeds 90 degrees and the rotating member rotates in the opening direction relative to the fixing member, the connecting member drives the sliding member to rotate around the central axis, so that the protrusion slides along the inclined surface of the groove, and a second gap is formed between the connecting member and the sliding member in the central axis direction, so that the torsion element generates a second torsion resistance value, wherein the second torsion resistance value is greater than the first torsion resistance value.

5. The hinge mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the rotating member rotates relative to the fixed member in the reverse direction of the opening direction until an included angle between the rotating member and the fixed member is equal to 90 degrees, the connecting member drives the sliding member to rotate around the central axis, so that the protrusion of the sliding member slides into the recess, and the torsion element generates a third torsion resistance value, wherein the third torsion resistance value is smaller than the second torsion resistance value.