US20220107671A1 - Portable information device and cover device - Google Patents
Portable information device and cover device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20220107671A1 US20220107671A1 US17/130,517 US202017130517A US2022107671A1 US 20220107671 A1 US20220107671 A1 US 20220107671A1 US 202017130517 A US202017130517 A US 202017130517A US 2022107671 A1 US2022107671 A1 US 2022107671A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shaft
- stand
- cover section
- bracket
- coupled
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1615—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function
- G06F1/1616—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1637—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
- G06F1/1647—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing including at least an additional display
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1656—Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1675—Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
- G06F1/1681—Details related solely to hinges
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1684—Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
- G06F1/1698—Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2200/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/04 - G06F1/32
- G06F2200/16—Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/16 - G06F1/18
- G06F2200/163—Indexing scheme relating to constructional details of the computer
- G06F2200/1633—Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a portable information device having a cover device and the cover device.
- a portable information device such as a laptop PC or a tablet PC is required to avoid damage or breakdown when being carried around. Further, it is desired that the appearance design and the sense of touch of the portable information device should be of high quality.
- a cover device may be mounted on the outer surface of the chassis of the portable information device for the purpose of protection or decoration.
- the applicant proposes a cover device for a foldable tablet PC in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-105961.
- the cover device is required not only to simply cover the outer surface of the chassis, but also to be rotated as necessary so as to function as a stand for the device.
- the cover device of this type has a base cover section relatively fixed to the outer surface of the chassis, and a stand cover section to be rotated relative to this base cover section by using a hinge device.
- the hinge device of this type is required to be able to operate stably without rattling while being miniaturized to fall without a plate thickness range of a thin plate-shaped cover device. Therefore, each of components of the hinge device is required to be miniaturized, and further a hinge shaft is required to have high straightness despite having a small diameter.
- the hinge device can cause a rotational speed difference in the length direction thereof and hence cause noise due to rubbing or the like, for example, between brackets fixed to the chassis or the like and a hinge shaft.
- One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a portable information device including a cover device and the cover device capable of suppressing the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in the hinge device rotatably supporting a stand.
- a portable information device includes a chassis, and a cover device provided to cover the back surface of the chassis, wherein the cover device includes: a base cover section provided along the back surface of the chassis; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to the base cover section so as to be movable between a stored position where the stand cover section is set along the back surface of the chassis and a standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the chassis; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing position, the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft; an intermediate shaft placed on the extension line of the axis between the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently
- a portable information device includes a chassis and a cover device provided to cover the back surface of the chassis, wherein the cover device includes: a base cover section provided along the back surface of the chassis; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to the base cover section so as to be movable between a stored position where the stand cover section is set along the back surface of the chassis and a standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the chassis; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing position, the hinge device includes: a hinge shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed relative to the chassis; and a second stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section, one of a set of the first base bracket and the second base bracket
- a cover device configured to cover the back surface of a chassis of a portable information device, including: a base cover section; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to the base cover section; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section to be rotatable relative to the base cover section, wherein the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft; an intermediate shaft placed on the extension line of the axis between the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; and a second stand bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section,
- the above-described aspects of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in a hinge device rotatably supporting a stand.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portable information device according to one embodiment is closed and shaped into a folded form.
- FIG. 2A is a side view schematically illustrating a state where the portable information device illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened and shaped into a flat plate form.
- FIG. 2B is a side view in a state where the portable information device illustrated in FIG. 2A is shaped into a laptop form.
- FIG. 2C is a side view in a state where the portable information device illustrated in FIG. 2B is closed and shaped into the folded form.
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portable information device as viewed from the side of a cover device.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in a state where a stand cover section is set to a standing position to make the portable information device stand up.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a hinge device.
- FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a section of a hinge shaft on an A1 side.
- FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view of a section of the hinge shaft on an A2 side.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the stand cover section.
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of recesses of the stand cover section and the vicinity thereof.
- FIG. 9A is a schematic enlarged sectional view of a stand bracket of the stand cover section and the vicinity thereof.
- FIG. 9B is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand bracket of a stand cover section according to a comparative example and the vicinity thereof.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portable information device 10 according to one embodiment is closed and shaped into a folded form.
- FIG. 2A is a side view schematically illustrating a state where the portable information device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened and shaped into a flat plate form.
- FIG. 2B is a side view in a state where the portable information device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2A is shaped into a laptop form.
- FIG. 2C is a side view in a state where the portable information device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2B is closed and shaped into the folded form.
- the portable information device 10 includes a first chassis 12 A, a second chassis 12 B, and a cover device 14 .
- the portable information device 10 of the embodiment is a foldable tablet PC or laptop PC.
- the cover device 14 has a protection function to cover the outer surfaces of the chassis 12 A and 12 B in order to protect the chassis 12 A and 12 B, and a decoration function to decorate the outer surfaces in order to enhance the appearance design.
- the portable information device on which the cover device 14 is mounted may also be a common clamshell laptop PC, a single plate-shaped tablet PC, a smartphone, a portable game machine, or the like, as well as the portable information device 10 .
- the portable information device 10 includes the chassis 12 A, 12 B and a display 16 .
- the chassis 12 A and 12 B are placed adjacent to each other. Adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba of the chassis 12 A and 12 B are covered internally with a spine member 18 .
- Each of the chassis 12 A and 12 B is formed into a rectangular, plate-shaped member with side walls standing on three sides except the adjacent edge 12 Aa, 12 Ba, respectively.
- the chassis 12 A, 12 B is formed from a metal plate made of stainless steel, magnesium steel, aluminum steel, or the like, or formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic plate containing reinforced fiber such as carbon fiber.
- the portable information device 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2C will be described below by expressing a line-up direction of the chassis 12 A, 12 B as an X direction and a direction orthogonal to the line-up direction along the adjacent edges 12 Aa, 12 Ba as a Y direction.
- the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba of the chassis 12 A and 12 B are coupled to each other through a pair of hinges 19 , 19 .
- the chassis 12 A and 12 B are coupled by the hinges 19 to be rotatable relative to each other between the flat plate form illustrated in FIG. 2A and the folded form illustrated in FIG. 2C .
- the hinges 19 can generate a predetermined rotation torque. Therefore, the chassis 12 A and 12 B are stabilized even in the laptop form (see FIG. 2B ) in which the angle between the chassis 12 A and 12 B is about 90° to 140°.
- the hinges 19 are disposed in both end portions of the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba of the chassis 12 A and 12 B in the Y direction, and located outside of an outer peripheral edge of the display 16 , respectively.
- the portable information device 10 of the embodiment is so set that the rotation center between the chassis 12 A and 12 B by the hinges 19 matches the surface of the display 16 .
- Reference numeral 17 in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C denotes an imaging camera to face from an opening formed in a bezel surrounding the display 16 on the surface of the first chassis 12 A.
- the display 16 is, for example, a touch panel liquid crystal display.
- a band-shaped range of the display 16 extending in the Y direction across the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba is a folding region.
- the display 16 is foldable together when the chassis 12 A and 12 B are folded, and opened and closed along with the opening/closing operation of the chassis 12 A and 12 B.
- the display 16 is, for example, a flexible display such as organic EL (Electro Luminescence) having a highly flexible paper structure or the like.
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portable information device 10 as viewed from the side of the cover device 14 .
- the cover device 14 is provided to cover the back surfaces 12 Ab and 12 Bb of the chassis 12 A and 12 B.
- the cover device 14 covers the entire back surfaces 12 Ab and 12 Bb.
- the cover device 14 covers most of the back surface 12 Ab and the entire back surface 12 Bb.
- the cover device 14 includes a base cover section 20 , a stand cover section 22 , and a hinge device 24 .
- the cover sections 20 and 22 extend in the X direction across the hinge device 24 .
- the cover sections 20 and 22 extend along a first side 25 a and a second side 25 b parallel with each other in the X direction.
- the cover sections 20 and 22 cover the entire back surfaces 12 Ab and 12 Bb as a whole, that is, cover the chassis 12 A and 12 B from an open edge (third side 25 c ) of the second chassis 12 B to an open edge (fourth side g) of the first chassis 12 A.
- the first side 25 a and the second side 25 b are outer edges orthogonal with the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba.
- the third side 25 c is an outer edge parallel with the adjacent edge 12 Ba.
- the fourth side 25 d is an outer edge parallel with the adjacent edge 12 Aa.
- the base cover section 20 has a slide cover section 26 , a folding cover section 27 , and a fixed cover section 28 in this order from the side of the first chassis 12 A toward the side of the second chassis 12 B.
- the slide cover section 26 is a thin plate-shaped member provided to be slidable in the X direction relative to the back surface 12 Ab of the first chassis 12 A.
- a distal edge 26 a of the slide cover section 26 matches the fourth side 25 d of the first chassis 12 A.
- the distal edge 26 a is located on the other side of a border line B 1 with the folding cover section 27 in the X direction, which is an edge extending in the Y direction.
- the slide cover section 26 is slid to a position where the distal edge 26 a is retreated from the fourth side 25 d to the side of the adjacent edge 12 Aa, respectively.
- the slide structure of the slide cover section 26 with respect to the first chassis 12 A is not particularly limited.
- a slide mechanism is so constructed that a slide part fixed to the first chassis 12 A is coupled to a rail fixed to the slide cover section 26 to be slidable in the X direction.
- the folding cover section 27 is provided in a position between the chassis 12 A and 12 B across the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba, which is a band-shaped region narrow in the X direction and extending in the Y direction.
- the folding cover section 27 is connected to the slide cover section 26 to be foldable on the border line B 1 along the Y direction on the side of the first chassis 12 A.
- the folding cover section 27 is connected to the fixed cover section 28 to be foldable on a border line B 2 along the Y direction on the side of the second chassis 12 B.
- the folding cover section 27 has flexibility as a whole to connect between the first cover section 26 and the fixed cover section 28 to be rotatable relative to each other.
- the folding cover section 27 is a flexible hinge to rotate the cover device 14 following the rotational operation between the chassis 12 A and 12 B.
- the folding cover section 27 is a folding region having a width dimension in the X direction to be able to cover the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba of the chassis 12 A and 12 B at least in the folded form illustrated in FIG. 2C .
- the fixed cover section 28 is a thin plate-shaped member to cover the back surface 12 Bb of the second chassis 12 B together with part of the folding cover section 27 and the stand cover section 22 .
- the fixed cover section 28 is formed into a shape substantially line-symmetric with respect to the stand cover section 22 , which is a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view in the embodiment.
- the fixed cover section 28 is fixed relative to the back surface 12 Bb of the second chassis 12 B.
- the fixed cover section 28 of the embodiment is fixed directly to the back surface 12 Bb.
- An edge 28 a of the fixed cover section 28 on the other side of the border line B 2 in the X direction is adjacent to the stand cover section 22 through the hinge device 24 .
- the edge 28 a is inclined in the X direction gradually toward the Y direction.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in a state where the stand cover section 22 is set to a standing position to make the portable information device 10 stand up.
- the stand cover section 22 is provided to be rotatable relative to the fixed cover section 28 of the base cover section 20 and the back surface 12 Bb of the second chassis 12 B.
- the stand cover section 22 of the embodiment is coupled to the back surface 12 Bb of the second chassis 12 B through the hinge device 24 .
- the stand cover section 22 is formed into a shape substantially line-symmetric with respect to the fixed cover section 28 , which is a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view in the embodiment.
- the stand cover section 22 is so provided along the X direction that a first edge 22 a and a second edge 22 b as a trapezoidal top and a trapezoidal bottom match the first side 25 a and the second side 25 b of the second chassis 12 B, respectively.
- a third edge 22 c provided along the Y direction to connect between both ends of the edges 22 a and 22 b on the side of the third side 25 c matches the third side 25 c .
- a fourth edge 22 d provided to connect between both ends of the edges 22 a and 22 b on the sides of the first side 25 a and the second side 25 b is inclined with respect to the X-Y directions.
- the fourth edge 22 d is adjacent to the edge 28 a of the fixed cover section 28 across the hinge device 24 .
- the hinge device 24 is connected to this fourth edge 22 d.
- the stand cover section 22 can move from a stored position (0°) where the third edge 22 c abuts against the back surface 12 Bb in a direction away gradually from the back surface 12 Bb.
- the third edge 22 c can move up to a position(180°) at which the third edge 22 c abuts against a surface 20 a of the base cover section 20 and further movement is restricted.
- the stand cover section 22 can move between the stored position (see FIG. 2A and FIG. 3 ) where the stand cover section 22 is set along the back surface 12 Bb, and the standing position (for example, see FIG. 4 ) where the stand cover section 22 protrudes from the back surface 12 Bb.
- the stand cover section 22 is set to a proper angle (standing position) with respect to the fixed cover section 28 to function as a stand so that the portable information device 10 in the flat plate form can be kept in a standing position.
- the second edge 22 b of the stand cover section 22 abuts on a desk surface or the like so that the portable information device 10 can be kept in a predetermined standing posture fallen a little on the side of the back surfaces 12 Ab and 12 Bb.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the hinge device 24 .
- the hinge device 24 couples the stand cover section 22 to be rotatable relative to the base cover section 20 and the second chassis 12 B.
- the hinge device 24 has a hinge shaft 30 , base brackets 31 A and 31 B, and stand brackets 32 A and 32 B.
- a pair of brackets 31 A and 32 A and a pair of brackets 31 B and 32 B adjacent to each other are paired to constitute one hinge, respectively.
- Each pair of the base bracket and the stand bracket may also include three or more brackets.
- the hinge shaft 30 is a metal rod-shaped member that intervenes between the fourth edge 22 d of the stand cover section 22 and the edge 28 a of the fixed cover section 28 to extend along these edges 22 d and 28 a .
- the hinge shaft 30 is inclined in the X-Y directions along the edges 22 d and 28 a.
- each of elements of the cover device 14 including the hinge device 24 will be described below by expressing an extension direction of the hinge shaft 30 as an A direction, a direction to approach the first side 25 a in the A direction as an A1 direction, and a direction to approach the second side 25 b in the A direction as an A2 direction.
- the edges 22 d and 28 a extend along the A direction.
- the base brackets 31 A and 31 B are mounting brackets for the second chassis 12 B.
- Each of the base brackets 31 A and 31 B has a mounting plate 31 a and a support cylinder 31 b , respectively.
- the mounting plate 31 a is a metal plate formed into a substantially rectangular shape.
- the mounting plate 31 a is fastened to the second chassis 12 B with screws through holes and a notch provided, for example, in four places.
- the mounting plate 31 a is coupled to the hinge shaft 30 through the support cylinder 31 b .
- the base brackets 31 A and 31 B may be fixed directly to the base cover section 20 and fixed indirectly to the second chassis 12 B.
- Reference numeral 31 c in FIG. 5 denotes a plate piece for positioning the hinge device 24 with respect to the base cover section 20 (fixed cover section 28 ).
- the support cylinder 31 b is a mounting part of the mounting plate 31 a to the hinge shaft 30 .
- Each of shafts 34 A and 34 B that constitute part of the hinge shaft 30 is inserted into the support cylinder 31 b in a state to be relatively rotatable.
- the mounting plate 31 a is provided to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the support cylinder 31 b.
- the stand brackets 32 A and 32 B are mounting brackets for the stand cover section 22 .
- Each of the stand brackets 32 A and 32 B has a mounting plate 32 a and a support cylinder 32 b , respectively.
- the mounting plate 32 a is a metal plate formed into a substantially rectangular shape.
- the mounting plate 32 a is fixed to the stand cover section 22 , for example, with adhesive. Holes and notches provided in the mounting plate 32 a are cutout holes for the weight saving of the mounting plate 32 a , which may be omitted.
- Reference numeral 32 c in FIG. 5 denotes a plate piece for positioning the hinge device 24 to the stand cover section 22 .
- the support cylinder 32 b is a mounting part of the mounting plate 32 a to the hinge shaft 30 .
- Each of the shafts 34 A and 34 B that constitute part of the hinge shaft 30 is inserted into the support cylinder 32 b in a fixed state to be relatively unrotatable.
- the mounting plate 32 a is provided to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the support cylinder 32 b.
- FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a section on the A1 side of the hinge shaft 30 .
- FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view of a section on the A2 side of the hinge shaft 30 .
- FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are schematic sectional views of the hinge shaft 30 cut along a plane passing through a shaft center.
- the hinge shaft 30 has a first shaft 34 A, a second shaft 34 B, an intermediate shaft 35 , a first end shaft 36 A, and a second end shaft 36 B.
- the hinge shaft 30 is formed into a small-diameter round rod shape as a whole.
- the hinge shaft 30 has such a structure that the first end shaft 36 A, the first shaft 34 A, the intermediate shaft 35 , the second shaft 34 B, and the second end shaft 36 B are lined up in this order from an A1-side end to an A2-side end.
- the shafts 34 A and 34 B are metal round rods smaller in diameter than the intermediate shaft 35 and the end shafts 36 A, 36 B.
- the first shaft 34 A extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end of the first end shaft 36 A and an A1-side end (first end 35 a ) of the intermediate shaft 35 .
- a central part of the first shaft 34 A is inserted into the support cylinders 32 b and 31 b of the brackets 32 A and 31 A to support these brackets 32 A and 31 A.
- the second shaft 34 B is placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft 34 A.
- the second shaft 34 B extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end (second end 35 b ) of the intermediate shaft 35 and an A1-side end of the second end shaft 36 B.
- a central part of the second shaft 34 B is inserted into the support cylinders 31 b and 32 b of the brackets 31 B and 32 B to support these brackets 31 B and 32 B.
- the intermediate shaft 35 is a metal round rod larger in diameter than the shafts 34 A and 34 B.
- the outer diameter of the intermediate shaft 35 is identical or almost identical to the outer diameter of the support cylinders 31 b and 32 b of the brackets 31 A, 31 B, and 32 A, 32 B.
- the intermediate shaft 35 is placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft 34 A.
- the intermediate shaft 35 extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end 34 Aa of the first shaft 34 A and an A1-side end 34 Ba of the second shaft 34 B.
- the intermediate shaft 35 is a part having the longest length in the axial direction (A direction) among the elements of the hinge shaft 30 .
- Each of the end shafts 36 A and 36 B is a round rod having an outer diameter identical or almost identical to that of the intermediate shaft 35 .
- the end shafts 36 A and 36 B are placed on extension lines of the axes of the shafts 34 A and 34 B, respectively.
- the end shafts 36 A and 36 B of the embodiment are formed of a material capable of transmitting radio waves such as resin.
- the hinge device 24 is installed in such a posture that the hinge shaft 30 is inclined with respect to the X-Y directions (see FIG. 3 ). Therefore, for example, the outermost stand brackets 32 A and 32 B on the A1 side and the A2 side cannot be arranged flush with the edges 22 a and 22 b . Therefore, gaps are formed at both ends in the A direction between the edges 22 d and 28 a , and the gaps are filled with the end shafts 36 A and 36 B to suppress the deterioration of the appearance of the cover device 14 .
- the end shafts 36 A and 36 B may be omitted.
- the hinge shaft 30 is such that the A2-side end 34 Aa of the first shaft 34 A is coupled to the A1-side end (first edge 35 a ) of the central intermediate shaft 35 , and the A1-side end 34 Ba of the second shaft 34 B is coupled to the A2-side edge (second edge 35 b ) of the intermediate shaft 35 .
- the intermediate shaft 35 has a shaft hole 35 c open to an end face of the first end 35 a , and a shaft hole 35 d open to an end face of the second end 35 b .
- the shaft holes 35 c and 35 d are formed coaxially with the shaft center of the intermediate shaft 35 and the shafts 34 A, 34 B.
- Each of the shaft holes 35 c and 35 d is a hole having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the end 34 Aa, 34 Ba of the shaft 34 A, 34 B, respectively.
- the A2-side edge 34 Aa of the first shaft 34 A as a shaft pin is inserted into the shaft hole 35 c , and the gap therebetween is fixed with an adhesive 38 .
- the adhesive 38 is cured while managing the straightness of the shaft hole 35 c and the A2-side end 34 Aa by using a predetermined jig. This fixes the first shaft 34 A and the intermediate shaft 35 to be unrotatable relative to each other in such a state that each other's straightness is set with predetermined high accuracy, thus becoming one shaft.
- the A1-side edge 34 Ba of the second shaft 34 B as a shaft pin is inserted into the shaft hole 35 d , and the gap therebetween is filled with a lubricant (grease) 39 .
- the gap 6B each illustrate the gap, formed between the inner circumferential surface of the shaft hole 35 c , 35 d and the outer circumferential surface of the end 34 Aa, 34 Ba, and provided with the adhesive 38 or the lubricant 39 , to be exaggeratedly large, the gap is an imperceptible dimensional gap with a controlled dimensional tolerance in an actual product.
- the first shaft 34 A extends from the first end 35 a of the intermediate shaft 35 toward the A1 side.
- the first shaft 34 A supports the base bracket 31 A and the stand bracket 32 A in order from the A2-side end 34 Aa toward the A1-side end 34 Ab.
- the first shaft 34 A is inserted into the support cylinder 31 b of the base bracket 31 A in a state to be relatively rotatable with a predetermined rotational torque. Then, the first shaft 34 A is inserted into support cylinder 32 b of the stand bracket 32 A in a state to be relatively unrotatable.
- the second shaft 34 B extends from the second end 35 b of the intermediate shaft 35 toward the A2 side.
- the second shaft 34 B supports the base bracket 31 B and the stand bracket 32 B in order from the A1-side end 34 Ba toward the A2-side end 34 Bb.
- the second shaft 34 B is inserted into the support cylinder 31 b of the base bracket 31 B in a state to be relatively rotatable with a predetermined rotational torque.
- the second shaft 34 B is inserted into the support cylinder 32 b of the stand bracket 32 B in a state to be relatively unrotatable. Note that, although FIG. 6A and FIG.
- the base brackets 31 A and 31 B are coupled to be rotatable relative to the hinge shaft 30 with the predetermined rotational torque.
- the stand brackets 32 A and 32 B are fixed to the hinge shaft 30 to be rotated integrally with the hinge shaft 30 or the intermediate shaft 35 .
- the hinge device 24 supports the stand cover section 22 , to which the stand brackets 32 A and 32 B are fixed, to be rotatable with the predetermined rotational torque with respect to the second chassis 12 B (fixed cover section 28 ) to which the base brackets 31 A and 31 B are fixed.
- the stand cover section 22 can be kept in the standing position at a desired angle to function as a kickstand of the portable information device 10 (see FIG. 4 ).
- the first end shaft 36 A is coupled to the A1-side end 34 Ab of the first shaft 34 A.
- the A1-side end 34 Ab is press-fitted and fixed into a coupling hole 36 Aa open to the A2-side end face of the first end shaft 36 A.
- the first end shaft 36 A is formed of a radio wave transmissive material. As illustrated in FIG. 6A , although the metal first shaft 34 A is placed in the coupling hole 36 Aa of the A2-side end of the first end shaft 36 A, most of the first end shaft 36 A on the A1 side is maintained in a state of being able to transmit radio waves.
- the A2-side edge 34 Bb of the second shaft 34 B is press-fitted and fixed into a coupling hole 36 Ba open to an A1-side end face of the second end shaft 36 B. Therefore, most of the second end shaft 36 B on the A2 side of the coupling hole 36 Ba is also maintained in the state of being able to transmit radio waves.
- the hinge shaft 30 is formed into a rod shape long in the A direction and small in diameter as a whole.
- the hinge shaft 30 supports the brackets 31 A, 32 A and the brackets 31 B, 32 B on both end sides in the A direction across the central intermediate shaft 35 .
- the stand cover section 22 is formed into a trapezoidal shape with the second edge 22 b as the trapezoidal bottom longer than the first edge 22 a as the trapezoidal top.
- a user when moving the stand cover section 22 from the stored position to the standing position, a user is expected to operate the stand cover section 22 while holding a corner between the third edge 22 c and the second edge 22 b of the stand cover section 22 and in the neighborhood thereof (see a region R indicate by a long dashed dotted line in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 ).
- the region R is first lifted up and the stand cover section 22 is rotationally moved while being twisted and deformed as a whole. This is because the stand cover section 22 is a thin plate and hence cannot prevent the stand cover section 22 from being deformed such as distortion or curvature when twisted even if rigidity is sufficiently guaranteed.
- the brackets 31 B and 32 B of the hinge device 24 close to the region R first rotate relative to each other.
- the brackets 31 A and 32 A located away greatly from the brackets 31 B and 32 B in the A1 direction start rotating relative to each other a little late from the start of rotation of the brackets 31 B and 32 B.
- a difference in rotational speed between the brackets 31 B, 32 B and the brackets 31 A, 32 A is caused, and the intermediate shaft 35 extending therebetween receives a twisting force between the second end 35 b and the first end 35 a.
- both ends 35 a and 35 b of the intermediate shaft 35 are completely fixed to the shafts 34 A and 34 B with the adhesive 38 .
- the stand bracket 32 B first starts rotating integrally with the second shaft 34 B and the intermediate shaft 35 to rotate relative to the base bracket 31 B at the same time. Then, the stand bracket 32 A rotates relative to the base bracket 31 A later than the rotation of the stand bracket 32 B.
- the intermediate shaft 35 receives a rotational force from the stand bracket 32 B to start rotating before the relative rotation of the brackets 31 A and 32 A. Therefore, a difference in rotational speed is caused between the first end 35 a of the intermediate shaft 35 and the A2-side end 34 Aa of the first shaft 34 A.
- the adhesive 38 to fix the first end 35 a and the A2-side end 34 Aa is broken to cause rubbing sound (noise) due to a friction among the base bracket 31 A, the first shaft 34 A, and the intermediate shaft 35 , deteriorating the product quality.
- the first shaft 34 A and the intermediate shaft 35 are fixed with the adhesive 38 , and the intermediate shaft 35 and the second shaft 34 B are coupled through the lubricant 39 to be rotatable relative to each other. Therefore, in the embodiment, when the stand cover section 22 starts rotating, the stand bracket 32 B first starts rotating integrally with the second shaft 34 B to rotate relative to the base bracket 31 B at the same time. On this occasion, when the rotating action of the bracket 31 A, 32 A side is delayed due to the deformation of the stand cover section 22 , the second shaft 34 B rotates relative to the intermediate shaft 35 .
- the lubricant 39 may not be provided in a coupling part of the intermediate shaft 35 and the second shaft 34 B. However, it is preferred to provide the lubricant 39 in this coupling part considering further noise reduction effect and the like.
- the noise suppression effect can be obtained.
- the intermediate shaft 35 rotates integrally with the second shaft 34 B that is close to the region R and first starts rotating. Therefore, since there is a possibility to cause some rubbing between the first shaft 34 A and base bracket 31 A, which rotate later, and the intermediate shaft 35 in this structure, the above structure example is preferable.
- the stand cover section 22 has the trapezoidal shape as mentioned above, the user is expected to operate the stand cover section while holding the trapezoidal bottom (second edge 22 b ) longer than the trapezoidal top (first edge 22 a ). Therefore, it is preferred to couple between the second shaft 34 B located closer to this second edge 22 b (region R) and the second end 35 b of the intermediate shaft 35 to be rotatable relative to each other.
- wireless communication antenna devices 40 A and 40 B are installed inside the second chassis 12 B.
- Each of the antenna devices 40 A and 40 B extends in the X direction along the side 25 a , 25 b of the second chassis 12 B, respectively.
- the antenna device 40 A, 40 B extends in the X direction in a position facing the side 25 a , 25 b to ensure the installation space and good communication quality.
- the metal hinges 19 are arranged in a central section of respective sides 25 a and 25 b (in positions across the adjacent edges 12 Aa and 12 Ba) of the portable information device 10 of the embodiment.
- two pairs of metal magnets 42 , 43 are arranged at four corners of the overall chassis 12 A, 12 B, respectively.
- the magnets 42 , 42 ( 43 , 43 ) attract each other when the chassis 12 A and 12 B are shaped into the folded form in order to suppress rattling between the chassis 12 A and 12 B.
- the antenna devices 40 A and 40 B are installed near the center of the second chassis 12 B in the X direction in order to avoid metal parts (hinges 19 and magnets 42 , 43 ) located on both edges in the X direction.
- metal parts hinder 19 and magnets 42 , 43
- the end shafts 36 A and 36 B are made of resin, respectively, to suppress the influence of the end shafts 36 A and 36 B on the communication quality of the antenna devices 40 A and 40 B.
- the metal shafts 34 A and 34 B are located in positions that do not overlap the antenna devices 40 A and 40 B, and only the resin end shafts 36 A and 36 B are arranged in positions that overlap the antenna devices 40 A and 40 B, respectively.
- the end shafts 36 A and 36 B may be made of metal.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the stand cover section 22 .
- the stand cover section 22 has such a structure that a back material 46 , an auxiliary sheet 47 , a core material 48 , and a surface material 49 are laminated in order from the back surface 12 Bb of the second chassis 12 B.
- Reference numeral 50 in FIG. 7 denotes an adhesive member formed of an adhesive or double-sided tape.
- the back material 46 is an external covering material to enhance the appearance design and the sense of touch of the back of the stand cover section 22 that appears on the exterior in the standing position.
- the back material 46 is fixed with the adhesive member (fixing member) 50 and laminated on the back of the core material 48 .
- the auxiliary sheet 47 is a sheet-shaped member laminated between the core material 48 and the back material 46 .
- the core material 48 is a hard member as the base of the stand cover section 22 , which is, for example, a resin plate. Cutout portions are formed for weight saving in various places of the core material 48 .
- the surface material 49 is an external covering material to enhance the appearance design and the sense of touch of the stand cover section 22 .
- the back material 46 and the surface material 49 are soft sheet-shaped members formed of artificial leather, natural leather, cloth, resin, or the like.
- the edges 22 a to 22 c other than the fourth edge 22 d , to which the hinge device 24 is connected, are covered by folding the edges of the surface material 49 to cover the end faces of the core material 48 in order to improve the design quality.
- the hinge device 24 since the hinge device 24 is connected to the fourth edge 22 d , the surface material 49 cannot be provided on the fourth edge 22 d . Therefore, an end face treatment agent 52 (see FIG. 9A ) is provided on the end faces 48 a and 49 a of the core material 48 and the surface material 49 to ensure the design quality.
- reference numerals 22 a to 22 d that denote the edges are given to the four peripheral end faces of the core material 48 in FIG. 7 for convenience.
- a pair of recesses 48 b , 48 b for positioning the stand brackets 32 A, 32 B is formed in the core material 48 .
- Each recess 48 b is a recessed hole formed by denting or cutting out the back of the core material 48 opposite to the surface of the core material 48 on the side of the surface material 49 , which has a shape capable of positioning the stand bracket 32 A, 32 B.
- Each recess 48 b has an opening 48 c open to the fourth edge 22 d .
- the stand bracket 32 A, 32 B protruding from the hinge shaft 30 is placed inside the recess 48 b in such a state that a narrow root portion on the side of the hinge shaft 30 passes through the opening 48 c.
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the recess 48 b of the stand cover section 22 and the vicinity thereof.
- the stand bracket 32 A ( 32 B), the back material 46 , the auxiliary sheet 47 , and the like are omitted from the illustration.
- FIG. 9A is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand bracket 32 A ( 32 B) of the stand cover section 22 and the vicinity thereof.
- FIG. 9B is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand bracket 32 A ( 32 B) of a stand cover section 54 according to a comparative example and the vicinity thereof.
- FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B omit the back material 46 , the auxiliary sheet 47 , the adhesive member 50 , and the like from the illustrations.
- the stand cover section 22 of the embodiment has a chamfer-shaped portion 48 d on an opening edge of the opening 48 c of each recess 48 b formed in the core material 48 .
- the chamfer-shaped portion 48 d is a tapered portion obtained by chamfering the corner of the opening edge of the opening 48 c formed in a waterway shape.
- the chamfer-shaped portion 48 d may also be formed in an R shape or the like.
- the end face treatment agent 52 provided on the fourth edge 22 d is a coating agent used for end face treatment (edge treatment) of general leather products, and called oil edge, edge oil, leather edge oil, leather edge paint oil, or the like.
- the end face treatment agent 52 is applied in liquid form to the end face 49 a of the surface material 49 (and the end face 48 a of the core material 48 ), and dried and cured to form leather-like coating.
- the part 52 a of the end face treatment agent 52 is cured inside the recess 48 b in this stand cover section 54 and hence gets in the way to disable the stand bracket 32 A ( 32 B) from being accommodated completely inside the recess 48 b , causing a concern about being installed in a tilted state. This causes the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in the hinge device 24 .
- the stand cover section 22 of the embodiment is provided with the chamfer-shaped portion 48 d in the opening 48 c of the recess 48 b . Therefore, when the end face treatment agent 52 is applied to the end face 49 a of the surface material 49 in the manufacturing process, even if there is the part 52 a somewhat overflown, this part 52 a will not infiltrate into the recess 48 b over the chamfer-shaped portion 48 d . In other words, the process of applying the end face treatment agent 52 to the stand cover section 22 is easy, and poor application can be suppressed. As a result, the stand cover section 22 can suppress the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in the hinge device 24 .
- the foldable portable information device is exemplified.
- the base cover section 20 of the cover device 14 may be formed by the fixed cover section 28 alone with the slide cover section 26 and the folding cover section 27 omitted.
- the hinge shaft 30 is arranged in a posture to be inclined with respect to the X-Y directions to cause the portable information device 10 to have a standing posture fallen a little backward in the standing position illustrated in FIG. 4 .
- the hinge shaft 30 may also be placed in parallel in the X direction or the Y direction depending on the placement position of the stand cover section 22 .
- the cover device 14 may also be a single part completely separated from the portable information device 10 .
- the cover device 14 may be removably mounted on the chassis 12 A and 12 B, for example, using a magnet or a hook.
- the base brackets 31 A and 31 B may be fixed to the core material 34 of the fixed cover section 28 .
- the hinge device 24 may also have such a structure that the base brackets 31 A and 31 B are fixed to the hinge shaft 30 and the stand brackets 32 A and 32 B rotate relative to the hinge shaft 30 .
- the hinge shaft may also have such a structure that a shaft hole(s) is formed in either one or both of the shafts 34 A and 34 B, and a shaft pin(s) is formed on either one or both of the ends 35 a and 35 b of the intermediate shaft 35 .
- the portable information device 10 foldable in half like a book is exemplified.
- various structures can be exemplified as foldable portable information devices, such as a double-door structure in which two small-sized chassis are coupled to the right and left edges of a large-sized chassis in a foldable manner, an S-shaped folding structure in which two chassis different in folding direction from each other are coupled to the right and left edges of one chassis, and a J-shaped folding structure in which two small-sized chassis are coupled to one of the right and left edges of a large-sized chassis in a foldable manner, and the number of coupled chassis may be four or more.
- the cover device 14 may have such a structure as to cover the whole or part of the back surface of each chassis, and two or more chassis may be used simultaneously.
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Abstract
A portable information device includes a chassis and a cover device to cover the back surface of the chassis. The cover device includes a hinge device that rotatably supports a stand cover section between a stored position and a standing position. The hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft; an intermediate shaft having a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft; and a first base bracket, a first stand bracket, a second base bracket, and a second stand bracket.
Description
- The present invention relates to a portable information device having a cover device and the cover device.
- A portable information device such as a laptop PC or a tablet PC is required to avoid damage or breakdown when being carried around. Further, it is desired that the appearance design and the sense of touch of the portable information device should be of high quality.
- Therefore, a cover device may be mounted on the outer surface of the chassis of the portable information device for the purpose of protection or decoration. The applicant proposes a cover device for a foldable tablet PC in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-105961.
- As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-105961, the cover device is required not only to simply cover the outer surface of the chassis, but also to be rotated as necessary so as to function as a stand for the device. The cover device of this type has a base cover section relatively fixed to the outer surface of the chassis, and a stand cover section to be rotated relative to this base cover section by using a hinge device.
- The hinge device of this type is required to be able to operate stably without rattling while being miniaturized to fall without a plate thickness range of a thin plate-shaped cover device. Therefore, each of components of the hinge device is required to be miniaturized, and further a hinge shaft is required to have high straightness despite having a small diameter.
- On the other hand, since a user holds and rotates the stand cover section with his or her fingertips during rotational operation, the stand cover section may be deformed such as some distortion or curvature. In this case, the hinge device can cause a rotational speed difference in the length direction thereof and hence cause noise due to rubbing or the like, for example, between brackets fixed to the chassis or the like and a hinge shaft.
- One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a portable information device including a cover device and the cover device capable of suppressing the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in the hinge device rotatably supporting a stand.
- A portable information device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a chassis, and a cover device provided to cover the back surface of the chassis, wherein the cover device includes: a base cover section provided along the back surface of the chassis; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to the base cover section so as to be movable between a stored position where the stand cover section is set along the back surface of the chassis and a standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the chassis; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing position, the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft; an intermediate shaft placed on the extension line of the axis between the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; and a second stand bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section, one of the first base bracket and the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, and the other is fixed to the first shaft, when the first base bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second base bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, while when the first base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second base bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first stand bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, while when the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, and the intermediate shaft is such that the first end is mutually fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and the second end is coupled to be rotatable relative to the one end of the second shaft.
- A portable information device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a chassis and a cover device provided to cover the back surface of the chassis, wherein the cover device includes: a base cover section provided along the back surface of the chassis; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to the base cover section so as to be movable between a stored position where the stand cover section is set along the back surface of the chassis and a standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the chassis; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing position, the hinge device includes: a hinge shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed relative to the chassis; and a second stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section, one of a set of the first base bracket and the second base bracket, and a set of the first stand bracket and the second stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the hinge shaft and the other is fixed to the hinge shaft, the stand cover section includes: a core material; a surface material laminated on the surface of the core material to form the surface of the stand cover section; and an end face treatment agent provided on an end face of an edge, to which the hinge device is connected, and obtained by curing a liquid coating agent, the core material has: a first recess provided on a back surface opposite to the surface, on which the surface material is laminated, to be open to the edge, and provided with the first stand bracket placed therein; and a second recess provided on the back surface to be open to the edge, and provided with the second stand bracket placed therein, and each of the first recess and the second recess has a chamfer-shaped portion at a corner of an opening to the edge.
- A cover device according to the third aspect of the present invention is a cover device configured to cover the back surface of a chassis of a portable information device, including: a base cover section; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to the base cover section; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section to be rotatable relative to the base cover section, wherein the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft; an intermediate shaft placed on the extension line of the axis between the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; and a second stand bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section, one of the first base bracket and the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, and the other is fixed to the first shaft, when the first base bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second base bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, while when the first base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second base bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first stand bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, while when the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, and the intermediate shaft is such that the first end is mutually fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and the second end is coupled to be rotatable relative to the one end of the second shaft.
- The above-described aspects of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in a hinge device rotatably supporting a stand.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portable information device according to one embodiment is closed and shaped into a folded form. -
FIG. 2A is a side view schematically illustrating a state where the portable information device illustrated inFIG. 1 is opened and shaped into a flat plate form. -
FIG. 2B is a side view in a state where the portable information device illustrated inFIG. 2A is shaped into a laptop form. -
FIG. 2C is a side view in a state where the portable information device illustrated inFIG. 2B is closed and shaped into the folded form. -
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portable information device as viewed from the side of a cover device. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in a state where a stand cover section is set to a standing position to make the portable information device stand up. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a hinge device. -
FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a section of a hinge shaft on an A1 side. -
FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view of a section of the hinge shaft on an A2 side. -
FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the stand cover section. -
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of recesses of the stand cover section and the vicinity thereof. -
FIG. 9A is a schematic enlarged sectional view of a stand bracket of the stand cover section and the vicinity thereof. -
FIG. 9B is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand bracket of a stand cover section according to a comparative example and the vicinity thereof. - A portable information device and a cover device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by taking a preferred embodiment.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where aportable information device 10 according to one embodiment is closed and shaped into a folded form.FIG. 2A is a side view schematically illustrating a state where theportable information device 10 illustrated inFIG. 1 is opened and shaped into a flat plate form.FIG. 2B is a side view in a state where theportable information device 10 illustrated inFIG. 2A is shaped into a laptop form.FIG. 2C is a side view in a state where theportable information device 10 illustrated inFIG. 2B is closed and shaped into the folded form. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 2C , theportable information device 10 includes afirst chassis 12A, asecond chassis 12B, and acover device 14. Theportable information device 10 of the embodiment is a foldable tablet PC or laptop PC. Thecover device 14 has a protection function to cover the outer surfaces of thechassis chassis cover device 14 is mounted may also be a common clamshell laptop PC, a single plate-shaped tablet PC, a smartphone, a portable game machine, or the like, as well as theportable information device 10. - First, the structure of the portable information device will be described. The
portable information device 10 includes thechassis display 16. - The
chassis chassis spine member 18. Each of thechassis chassis - The
portable information device 10 as illustrated inFIG. 1 toFIG. 2C will be described below by expressing a line-up direction of thechassis - The adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba of the
chassis hinges chassis hinges 19 to be rotatable relative to each other between the flat plate form illustrated inFIG. 2A and the folded form illustrated inFIG. 2C . The hinges 19 can generate a predetermined rotation torque. Therefore, thechassis FIG. 2B ) in which the angle between thechassis hinges 19 are disposed in both end portions of the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba of thechassis display 16, respectively. Theportable information device 10 of the embodiment is so set that the rotation center between thechassis hinges 19 matches the surface of thedisplay 16. - Inside of the
respective chassis Reference numeral 17 inFIG. 2A toFIG. 2C denotes an imaging camera to face from an opening formed in a bezel surrounding thedisplay 16 on the surface of thefirst chassis 12A. - The
display 16 is, for example, a touch panel liquid crystal display. A band-shaped range of thedisplay 16 extending in the Y direction across the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba is a folding region. Thus, thedisplay 16 is foldable together when thechassis chassis display 16 is, for example, a flexible display such as organic EL (Electro Luminescence) having a highly flexible paper structure or the like. - The overall structure of the
cover device 14 will next be described.FIG. 3 is a plan view of theportable information device 10 as viewed from the side of thecover device 14. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 , thecover device 14 is provided to cover the back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb of thechassis FIG. 2A ), thecover device 14 covers the entire back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb. In the laptop form and the folded form (seeFIG. 2B andFIG. 2C ), thecover device 14 covers most of the back surface 12Ab and the entire back surface 12Bb. - The
cover device 14 includes abase cover section 20, astand cover section 22, and ahinge device 24. Thecover sections hinge device 24. In the external shape of thechassis cover sections first side 25 a and asecond side 25 b parallel with each other in the X direction. In the flat plate form, thecover sections chassis third side 25 c) of thesecond chassis 12B to an open edge (fourth side g) of thefirst chassis 12A. Thefirst side 25 a and thesecond side 25 b are outer edges orthogonal with the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba. Thethird side 25 c is an outer edge parallel with the adjacent edge 12Ba. Thefourth side 25 d is an outer edge parallel with the adjacent edge 12Aa. - The
base cover section 20 has aslide cover section 26, afolding cover section 27, and a fixedcover section 28 in this order from the side of thefirst chassis 12A toward the side of thesecond chassis 12B. - The
slide cover section 26 is a thin plate-shaped member provided to be slidable in the X direction relative to the back surface 12Ab of thefirst chassis 12A. In the flat plate form illustrated inFIG. 2A andFIG. 3 , adistal edge 26 a of theslide cover section 26 matches thefourth side 25 d of thefirst chassis 12A. Thedistal edge 26 a is located on the other side of a border line B1 with thefolding cover section 27 in the X direction, which is an edge extending in the Y direction. In the laptop form and the folded form illustrated inFIG. 2B andFIG. 2C , theslide cover section 26 is slid to a position where thedistal edge 26 a is retreated from thefourth side 25 d to the side of the adjacent edge 12Aa, respectively. The slide structure of theslide cover section 26 with respect to thefirst chassis 12A is not particularly limited. For example, a slide mechanism is so constructed that a slide part fixed to thefirst chassis 12A is coupled to a rail fixed to theslide cover section 26 to be slidable in the X direction. - The
folding cover section 27 is provided in a position between thechassis folding cover section 27 is connected to theslide cover section 26 to be foldable on the border line B1 along the Y direction on the side of thefirst chassis 12A. Then, thefolding cover section 27 is connected to the fixedcover section 28 to be foldable on a border line B2 along the Y direction on the side of thesecond chassis 12B. Thefolding cover section 27 has flexibility as a whole to connect between thefirst cover section 26 and the fixedcover section 28 to be rotatable relative to each other. Thefolding cover section 27 is a flexible hinge to rotate thecover device 14 following the rotational operation between thechassis folding cover section 27 is a folding region having a width dimension in the X direction to be able to cover the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba of thechassis FIG. 2C . - The fixed
cover section 28 is a thin plate-shaped member to cover the back surface 12Bb of thesecond chassis 12B together with part of thefolding cover section 27 and thestand cover section 22. The fixedcover section 28 is formed into a shape substantially line-symmetric with respect to thestand cover section 22, which is a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view in the embodiment. The fixedcover section 28 is fixed relative to the back surface 12Bb of thesecond chassis 12B. The fixedcover section 28 of the embodiment is fixed directly to the back surface 12Bb. Anedge 28 a of the fixedcover section 28 on the other side of the border line B2 in the X direction is adjacent to thestand cover section 22 through thehinge device 24. Theedge 28 a is inclined in the X direction gradually toward the Y direction. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in a state where thestand cover section 22 is set to a standing position to make theportable information device 10 stand up. As illustrated inFIG. 4 , thestand cover section 22 is provided to be rotatable relative to the fixedcover section 28 of thebase cover section 20 and the back surface 12Bb of thesecond chassis 12B. Thestand cover section 22 of the embodiment is coupled to the back surface 12Bb of thesecond chassis 12B through thehinge device 24. - As illustrated in
FIG. 2A toFIG. 4 , thestand cover section 22 is formed into a shape substantially line-symmetric with respect to the fixedcover section 28, which is a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view in the embodiment. Thestand cover section 22 is so provided along the X direction that afirst edge 22 a and asecond edge 22 b as a trapezoidal top and a trapezoidal bottom match thefirst side 25 a and thesecond side 25 b of thesecond chassis 12B, respectively. Athird edge 22 c provided along the Y direction to connect between both ends of theedges third side 25 c matches thethird side 25 c. Afourth edge 22 d provided to connect between both ends of theedges first side 25 a and thesecond side 25 b is inclined with respect to the X-Y directions. Thefourth edge 22 d is adjacent to theedge 28 a of the fixedcover section 28 across thehinge device 24. Thehinge device 24 is connected to thisfourth edge 22 d. - By rotational operation of the
hinge device 24, thestand cover section 22 can move from a stored position (0°) where thethird edge 22 c abuts against the back surface 12Bb in a direction away gradually from the back surface 12Bb. Thethird edge 22 c can move up to a position(180°) at which thethird edge 22 c abuts against asurface 20 a of thebase cover section 20 and further movement is restricted. Thus, thestand cover section 22 can move between the stored position (seeFIG. 2A andFIG. 3 ) where thestand cover section 22 is set along the back surface 12Bb, and the standing position (for example, seeFIG. 4 ) where thestand cover section 22 protrudes from the back surface 12Bb. - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , thestand cover section 22 is set to a proper angle (standing position) with respect to the fixedcover section 28 to function as a stand so that theportable information device 10 in the flat plate form can be kept in a standing position. In the standing position, thesecond edge 22 b of thestand cover section 22 abuts on a desk surface or the like so that theportable information device 10 can be kept in a predetermined standing posture fallen a little on the side of the back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of thehinge device 24. Thehinge device 24 couples thestand cover section 22 to be rotatable relative to thebase cover section 20 and thesecond chassis 12B. As illustrated inFIG. 3 andFIG. 5 , thehinge device 24 has ahinge shaft 30,base brackets brackets hinge device 24 of the embodiment, a pair ofbrackets brackets - The
hinge shaft 30 is a metal rod-shaped member that intervenes between thefourth edge 22 d of thestand cover section 22 and theedge 28 a of the fixedcover section 28 to extend along theseedges hinge shaft 30 is inclined in the X-Y directions along theedges - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , each of elements of thecover device 14 including thehinge device 24 will be described below by expressing an extension direction of thehinge shaft 30 as an A direction, a direction to approach thefirst side 25 a in the A direction as an A1 direction, and a direction to approach thesecond side 25 b in the A direction as an A2 direction. In other words, theedges - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 andFIG. 5 , thebase brackets second chassis 12B. Each of thebase brackets plate 31 a and asupport cylinder 31 b, respectively. - The mounting
plate 31 a is a metal plate formed into a substantially rectangular shape. The mountingplate 31 a is fastened to thesecond chassis 12B with screws through holes and a notch provided, for example, in four places. The mountingplate 31 a is coupled to thehinge shaft 30 through thesupport cylinder 31 b. Thebase brackets base cover section 20 and fixed indirectly to thesecond chassis 12B.Reference numeral 31 c inFIG. 5 denotes a plate piece for positioning thehinge device 24 with respect to the base cover section 20 (fixed cover section 28). - The
support cylinder 31 b is a mounting part of the mountingplate 31 a to thehinge shaft 30. Each ofshafts hinge shaft 30 is inserted into thesupport cylinder 31 b in a state to be relatively rotatable. The mountingplate 31 a is provided to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of thesupport cylinder 31 b. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 andFIG. 5 , thestand brackets stand cover section 22. Each of thestand brackets plate 32 a and asupport cylinder 32 b, respectively. - The mounting
plate 32 a is a metal plate formed into a substantially rectangular shape. The mountingplate 32 a is fixed to thestand cover section 22, for example, with adhesive. Holes and notches provided in the mountingplate 32 a are cutout holes for the weight saving of the mountingplate 32 a, which may be omitted.Reference numeral 32 c inFIG. 5 denotes a plate piece for positioning thehinge device 24 to thestand cover section 22. - The
support cylinder 32 b is a mounting part of the mountingplate 32 a to thehinge shaft 30. Each of theshafts hinge shaft 30 is inserted into thesupport cylinder 32 b in a fixed state to be relatively unrotatable. The mountingplate 32 a is provided to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of thesupport cylinder 32 b. -
FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a section on the A1 side of thehinge shaft 30.FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view of a section on the A2 side of thehinge shaft 30.FIG. 6A andFIG. 6B are schematic sectional views of thehinge shaft 30 cut along a plane passing through a shaft center. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , andFIG. 5 toFIG. 6B , thehinge shaft 30 has afirst shaft 34A, asecond shaft 34B, anintermediate shaft 35, afirst end shaft 36A, and asecond end shaft 36B. Thehinge shaft 30 is formed into a small-diameter round rod shape as a whole. Thehinge shaft 30 has such a structure that thefirst end shaft 36A, thefirst shaft 34A, theintermediate shaft 35, thesecond shaft 34B, and thesecond end shaft 36B are lined up in this order from an A1-side end to an A2-side end. - The structure of each of the elements of the
hinge shaft 30 will first be described. - As illustrated in
FIG. 5 toFIG. 6B , theshafts intermediate shaft 35 and theend shafts first shaft 34A extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end of thefirst end shaft 36A and an A1-side end (first end 35 a) of theintermediate shaft 35. A central part of thefirst shaft 34A is inserted into thesupport cylinders brackets brackets - The
second shaft 34B is placed on an extension line of the axis of thefirst shaft 34A. Thesecond shaft 34B extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end (second end 35 b) of theintermediate shaft 35 and an A1-side end of thesecond end shaft 36B. A central part of thesecond shaft 34B is inserted into thesupport cylinders brackets brackets - The
intermediate shaft 35 is a metal round rod larger in diameter than theshafts intermediate shaft 35 is identical or almost identical to the outer diameter of thesupport cylinders brackets intermediate shaft 35 is placed on an extension line of the axis of thefirst shaft 34A. Theintermediate shaft 35 extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end 34Aa of thefirst shaft 34A and an A1-side end 34Ba of thesecond shaft 34B. As illustrated inFIG. 3 , theintermediate shaft 35 is a part having the longest length in the axial direction (A direction) among the elements of thehinge shaft 30. Thus, sufficient spacing between the pair ofbrackets brackets intermediate shaft 35, and hence rattling or the like during the rotation of thestand cover section 22 is suppressed. - Each of the
end shafts intermediate shaft 35. Theend shafts shafts end shafts - The
hinge device 24 is installed in such a posture that thehinge shaft 30 is inclined with respect to the X-Y directions (seeFIG. 3 ). Therefore, for example, theoutermost stand brackets edges edges end shafts cover device 14. For example, in such a structure that thehinge shaft 30 is placed along the X direction or the Y direction, theend shafts - Next, the coupling structure of respective constituent elements of the
hinge shaft 30 will be described. - As illustrated in
FIG. 5 toFIG. 6B , thehinge shaft 30 is such that the A2-side end 34Aa of thefirst shaft 34A is coupled to the A1-side end (first edge 35 a) of the centralintermediate shaft 35, and the A1-side end 34Ba of thesecond shaft 34B is coupled to the A2-side edge (second edge 35 b) of theintermediate shaft 35. - The
intermediate shaft 35 has ashaft hole 35 c open to an end face of thefirst end 35 a, and ashaft hole 35 d open to an end face of thesecond end 35 b. The shaft holes 35 c and 35 d are formed coaxially with the shaft center of theintermediate shaft 35 and theshafts shaft - The A2-side edge 34Aa of the
first shaft 34A as a shaft pin is inserted into theshaft hole 35 c, and the gap therebetween is fixed with an adhesive 38. On this occasion, the adhesive 38 is cured while managing the straightness of theshaft hole 35 c and the A2-side end 34Aa by using a predetermined jig. This fixes thefirst shaft 34A and theintermediate shaft 35 to be unrotatable relative to each other in such a state that each other's straightness is set with predetermined high accuracy, thus becoming one shaft. - The A1-side edge 34Ba of the
second shaft 34B as a shaft pin is inserted into theshaft hole 35 d, and the gap therebetween is filled with a lubricant (grease) 39. This couples thesecond shaft 34B and theintermediate shaft 35 to be rotatable relative to each other in such a state that each other's straightness is set to a sufficient straightness though inferior to the case of thefirst shaft 34A, thus becoming one shaft. Note that, althoughFIG. 6A andFIG. 6B each illustrate the gap, formed between the inner circumferential surface of theshaft hole lubricant 39, to be exaggeratedly large, the gap is an imperceptible dimensional gap with a controlled dimensional tolerance in an actual product. - The
first shaft 34A extends from thefirst end 35 a of theintermediate shaft 35 toward the A1 side. Thefirst shaft 34A supports thebase bracket 31A and thestand bracket 32A in order from the A2-side end 34Aa toward the A1-side end 34Ab. Thefirst shaft 34A is inserted into thesupport cylinder 31 b of thebase bracket 31A in a state to be relatively rotatable with a predetermined rotational torque. Then, thefirst shaft 34A is inserted intosupport cylinder 32 b of thestand bracket 32A in a state to be relatively unrotatable. - The
second shaft 34B extends from thesecond end 35 b of theintermediate shaft 35 toward the A2 side. Thesecond shaft 34B supports thebase bracket 31B and thestand bracket 32B in order from the A1-side end 34Ba toward the A2-side end 34Bb. Thesecond shaft 34B is inserted into thesupport cylinder 31 b of thebase bracket 31B in a state to be relatively rotatable with a predetermined rotational torque. Then, thesecond shaft 34B is inserted into thesupport cylinder 32 b of thestand bracket 32B in a state to be relatively unrotatable. Note that, althoughFIG. 6A andFIG. 6B each illustrate an exaggerated gap between the inner circumferential surface of thesupport cylinder 31 b and the outer circumferential surface of theshaft shaft support cylinder 31 b to generate a sufficient rotational torque therebetween and hence no gap is formed in an actual product. - Thus, the
base brackets hinge shaft 30 with the predetermined rotational torque. Thestand brackets hinge shaft 30 to be rotated integrally with thehinge shaft 30 or theintermediate shaft 35. Thus, thehinge device 24 supports thestand cover section 22, to which thestand brackets second chassis 12B (fixed cover section 28) to which thebase brackets stand cover section 22 can be kept in the standing position at a desired angle to function as a kickstand of the portable information device 10 (seeFIG. 4 ). - The
first end shaft 36A is coupled to the A1-side end 34Ab of thefirst shaft 34A. The A1-side end 34Ab is press-fitted and fixed into a coupling hole 36Aa open to the A2-side end face of thefirst end shaft 36A. As described above, thefirst end shaft 36A is formed of a radio wave transmissive material. As illustrated inFIG. 6A , although the metalfirst shaft 34A is placed in the coupling hole 36Aa of the A2-side end of thefirst end shaft 36A, most of thefirst end shaft 36A on the A1 side is maintained in a state of being able to transmit radio waves. - Similarly, the A2-side edge 34Bb of the
second shaft 34B is press-fitted and fixed into a coupling hole 36Ba open to an A1-side end face of thesecond end shaft 36B. Therefore, most of thesecond end shaft 36B on the A2 side of the coupling hole 36Ba is also maintained in the state of being able to transmit radio waves. - Next, the action of the
hinge device 24 will be described. - As described above, the
hinge shaft 30 is formed into a rod shape long in the A direction and small in diameter as a whole. Thehinge shaft 30 supports thebrackets brackets intermediate shaft 35. As illustrated inFIG. 3 andFIG. 4 , thestand cover section 22 is formed into a trapezoidal shape with thesecond edge 22 b as the trapezoidal bottom longer than thefirst edge 22 a as the trapezoidal top. - Therefore, when moving the
stand cover section 22 from the stored position to the standing position, a user is expected to operate thestand cover section 22 while holding a corner between thethird edge 22 c and thesecond edge 22 b of thestand cover section 22 and in the neighborhood thereof (see a region R indicate by a long dashed dotted line inFIG. 3 andFIG. 4 ). In other words, during the rotational movement from the stored position to the standing position, the region R is first lifted up and thestand cover section 22 is rotationally moved while being twisted and deformed as a whole. This is because thestand cover section 22 is a thin plate and hence cannot prevent thestand cover section 22 from being deformed such as distortion or curvature when twisted even if rigidity is sufficiently guaranteed. - Therefore, during the rotational movement of the
stand cover section 22, thebrackets hinge device 24 close to the region R first rotate relative to each other. On the other hand, thebrackets brackets brackets brackets brackets intermediate shaft 35 extending therebetween receives a twisting force between thesecond end 35 b and thefirst end 35 a. - Suppose here that both ends 35 a and 35 b of the
intermediate shaft 35 are completely fixed to theshafts stand bracket 32B first starts rotating integrally with thesecond shaft 34B and theintermediate shaft 35 to rotate relative to thebase bracket 31B at the same time. Then, thestand bracket 32A rotates relative to thebase bracket 31A later than the rotation of thestand bracket 32B. On this occasion, theintermediate shaft 35 receives a rotational force from thestand bracket 32B to start rotating before the relative rotation of thebrackets first end 35 a of theintermediate shaft 35 and the A2-side end 34Aa of thefirst shaft 34A. As a result, the adhesive 38 to fix thefirst end 35 a and the A2-side end 34Aa is broken to cause rubbing sound (noise) due to a friction among thebase bracket 31A, thefirst shaft 34A, and theintermediate shaft 35, deteriorating the product quality. - In this regard, in the
hinge device 24 of the embodiment, thefirst shaft 34A and theintermediate shaft 35 are fixed with the adhesive 38, and theintermediate shaft 35 and thesecond shaft 34B are coupled through thelubricant 39 to be rotatable relative to each other. Therefore, in the embodiment, when thestand cover section 22 starts rotating, thestand bracket 32B first starts rotating integrally with thesecond shaft 34B to rotate relative to thebase bracket 31B at the same time. On this occasion, when the rotating action of thebracket stand cover section 22, thesecond shaft 34B rotates relative to theintermediate shaft 35. As a result, even when the A1-side brackets side brackets hinge device 24, the speed difference is absorbed by the relative rotation between thesecond shaft 34B and theintermediate shaft 35. Thus, thehinge device 24 suppresses the generation of noise mentioned above. Thelubricant 39 may not be provided in a coupling part of theintermediate shaft 35 and thesecond shaft 34B. However, it is preferred to provide thelubricant 39 in this coupling part considering further noise reduction effect and the like. - On the contrary to the above structure example, even if the
first shaft 34A and theintermediate shaft 35 are coupled with thelubricant 39 to be rotatable relative to each other, and theintermediate shaft 35 and thesecond shaft 34B are fixed with the adhesive 38, the noise suppression effect can be obtained. However, in this structure, theintermediate shaft 35 rotates integrally with thesecond shaft 34B that is close to the region R and first starts rotating. Therefore, since there is a possibility to cause some rubbing between thefirst shaft 34A andbase bracket 31A, which rotate later, and theintermediate shaft 35 in this structure, the above structure example is preferable. In other words, when thestand cover section 22 has the trapezoidal shape as mentioned above, the user is expected to operate the stand cover section while holding the trapezoidal bottom (second edge 22 b) longer than the trapezoidal top (first edge 22 a). Therefore, it is preferred to couple between thesecond shaft 34B located closer to thissecond edge 22 b (region R) and thesecond end 35 b of theintermediate shaft 35 to be rotatable relative to each other. - Next, the action of the structure in which the
end shafts - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , wirelesscommunication antenna devices second chassis 12B. Each of theantenna devices side second chassis 12B, respectively. Theantenna device side - In the meantime, the metal hinges 19 are arranged in a central section of
respective sides portable information device 10 of the embodiment. Further, two pairs ofmetal magnets overall chassis magnets 42, 42 (43, 43) attract each other when thechassis chassis - Therefore, the
antenna devices second chassis 12B in the X direction in order to avoid metal parts (hinges 19 andmagnets 42, 43) located on both edges in the X direction. As a result, it is difficult for theend shafts hinge shaft 30 to avoid being placed in positions that overlap theantenna devices second chassis 12B. - Therefore, in the
hinge device 24 of the embodiment, theend shafts end shafts antenna devices FIG. 5 , in the embodiment, themetal shafts antenna devices resin end shafts antenna devices hinge shaft 30 does not overlap theantenna devices antenna devices end shafts - Next, a specific structure of the
stand cover section 22 will be described. -
FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of thestand cover section 22. As illustrated inFIG. 7 , thestand cover section 22 has such a structure that aback material 46, an auxiliary sheet 47, acore material 48, and asurface material 49 are laminated in order from the back surface 12Bb of thesecond chassis 12B.Reference numeral 50 inFIG. 7 denotes an adhesive member formed of an adhesive or double-sided tape. - The
back material 46 is an external covering material to enhance the appearance design and the sense of touch of the back of thestand cover section 22 that appears on the exterior in the standing position. Theback material 46 is fixed with the adhesive member (fixing member) 50 and laminated on the back of thecore material 48. The auxiliary sheet 47 is a sheet-shaped member laminated between thecore material 48 and theback material 46. Thecore material 48 is a hard member as the base of thestand cover section 22, which is, for example, a resin plate. Cutout portions are formed for weight saving in various places of thecore material 48. Thesurface material 49 is an external covering material to enhance the appearance design and the sense of touch of thestand cover section 22. Theback material 46 and thesurface material 49 are soft sheet-shaped members formed of artificial leather, natural leather, cloth, resin, or the like. - In the
stand cover section 22, theedges 22 a to 22 c other than thefourth edge 22 d, to which thehinge device 24 is connected, are covered by folding the edges of thesurface material 49 to cover the end faces of thecore material 48 in order to improve the design quality. On the other hand, since thehinge device 24 is connected to thefourth edge 22 d, thesurface material 49 cannot be provided on thefourth edge 22 d. Therefore, an end face treatment agent 52 (seeFIG. 9A ) is provided on the end faces 48 a and 49 a of thecore material 48 and thesurface material 49 to ensure the design quality. Note thatreference numerals 22 a to 22 d that denote the edges are given to the four peripheral end faces of thecore material 48 inFIG. 7 for convenience. - As illustrated in
FIG. 7 , a pair ofrecesses stand brackets core material 48. Eachrecess 48 b is a recessed hole formed by denting or cutting out the back of thecore material 48 opposite to the surface of thecore material 48 on the side of thesurface material 49, which has a shape capable of positioning thestand bracket recess 48 b has anopening 48 c open to thefourth edge 22 d. Thestand bracket hinge shaft 30 is placed inside therecess 48 b in such a state that a narrow root portion on the side of thehinge shaft 30 passes through theopening 48 c. -
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of therecess 48 b of thestand cover section 22 and the vicinity thereof. InFIG. 8 , thestand bracket 32A (32B), theback material 46, the auxiliary sheet 47, and the like are omitted from the illustration.FIG. 9A is a schematic enlarged sectional view of thestand bracket 32A (32B) of thestand cover section 22 and the vicinity thereof.FIG. 9B is a schematic enlarged sectional view of thestand bracket 32A (32B) of astand cover section 54 according to a comparative example and the vicinity thereof.FIG. 9A andFIG. 9B omit theback material 46, the auxiliary sheet 47, theadhesive member 50, and the like from the illustrations. - As illustrated in
FIG. 8 andFIG. 9A , thestand cover section 22 of the embodiment has a chamfer-shapedportion 48 d on an opening edge of theopening 48 c of eachrecess 48 b formed in thecore material 48. The chamfer-shapedportion 48 d is a tapered portion obtained by chamfering the corner of the opening edge of theopening 48 c formed in a waterway shape. The chamfer-shapedportion 48 d may also be formed in an R shape or the like. - As illustrated in
FIG. 9A , the end facetreatment agent 52 provided on thefourth edge 22 d is a coating agent used for end face treatment (edge treatment) of general leather products, and called oil edge, edge oil, leather edge oil, leather edge paint oil, or the like. The end facetreatment agent 52 is applied in liquid form to the end face 49 a of the surface material 49 (and the end face 48 a of the core material 48), and dried and cured to form leather-like coating. - In the meantime, suppose that the chamfer-shaped
portion 48 d is not provided in theopening 48 c of therecess 48 b like in the structure of thestand cover section 54 of the comparative example illustrated inFIG. 9B . In this case, there is a concern that the end facetreatment agent 52 might be cured in a state of being overflown from the end face 48 a up to the bottom of therecess 48 b (opening 48 c) (seepart 52 a). This is because it is difficult in the manufacturing process to apply the liquid end facetreatment agent 52 accurately to the end faces 48 a and 49 a of thestand cover section 22 extremely thin at a few millimeters. As a result, thepart 52 a of the end facetreatment agent 52 is cured inside therecess 48 b in thisstand cover section 54 and hence gets in the way to disable thestand bracket 32A (32B) from being accommodated completely inside therecess 48 b, causing a concern about being installed in a tilted state. This causes the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in thehinge device 24. - In this regard, the
stand cover section 22 of the embodiment is provided with the chamfer-shapedportion 48 d in theopening 48 c of therecess 48 b. Therefore, when the end facetreatment agent 52 is applied to the end face 49 a of thesurface material 49 in the manufacturing process, even if there is thepart 52 a somewhat overflown, thispart 52 a will not infiltrate into therecess 48 b over the chamfer-shapedportion 48 d. In other words, the process of applying the end facetreatment agent 52 to thestand cover section 22 is easy, and poor application can be suppressed. As a result, thestand cover section 22 can suppress the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in thehinge device 24. - Note that the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and changes can be made freely without departing from the scope of the present invention.
- In the above, the foldable portable information device is exemplified. However, when the portable information device is a tablet PC of a flat-plate type rather than of the folded type, the
base cover section 20 of thecover device 14 may be formed by the fixedcover section 28 alone with theslide cover section 26 and thefolding cover section 27 omitted. - In the above, since the
second edge 22 b of thestand cover section 22 matches the lower end face of thesecond chassis 12B that extends in the X direction, thehinge shaft 30 is arranged in a posture to be inclined with respect to the X-Y directions to cause theportable information device 10 to have a standing posture fallen a little backward in the standing position illustrated inFIG. 4 . However, thehinge shaft 30 may also be placed in parallel in the X direction or the Y direction depending on the placement position of thestand cover section 22. - In the above, the structure in which the
cover device 14 is fixed integrally to thechassis cover device 14 may also be a single part completely separated from theportable information device 10. In this case, thecover device 14 may be removably mounted on thechassis cover device 14, thebase brackets cover section 28. - In the above, the structure in which the
base brackets base cover section 20 rotate relative to thehinge shaft 30, and thestand brackets stand cover section 22 are fixed to thehinge shaft 30 is exemplified, but this mounting relationship may be reversed. In other words, thehinge device 24 may also have such a structure that thebase brackets hinge shaft 30 and thestand brackets hinge shaft 30. - In the above, the structure in which the ends of the
shafts intermediate shaft 35 is exemplified, but this relationship may also be changed. In other words, the hinge shaft may also have such a structure that a shaft hole(s) is formed in either one or both of theshafts ends intermediate shaft 35. - In the above, the
portable information device 10 foldable in half like a book is exemplified. However, in addition to the structure in which the same shaped chassis are folded in half, various structures can be exemplified as foldable portable information devices, such as a double-door structure in which two small-sized chassis are coupled to the right and left edges of a large-sized chassis in a foldable manner, an S-shaped folding structure in which two chassis different in folding direction from each other are coupled to the right and left edges of one chassis, and a J-shaped folding structure in which two small-sized chassis are coupled to one of the right and left edges of a large-sized chassis in a foldable manner, and the number of coupled chassis may be four or more. In this case, thecover device 14 may have such a structure as to cover the whole or part of the back surface of each chassis, and two or more chassis may be used simultaneously. - Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
-
-
- 10 portable information device
- 12A first chassis
- 12B second chassis
- 14 cover device
- 16 display
- 20 base cover section
- 22 stand cover section
- 24 hinge device
- 26 slide cover section
- 27 folding cover section
- 28 fixed cover section
- 30 hinge shaft
- 31A, 31B base bracket
- 32A, 32B stand bracket
- 34A first shaft
- 34B second shaft
- 35 intermediate shaft
- 36A first end shaft
- 36B second end shaft
- 38 adhesive
- 39 lubricant
- 40A, 40B antenna device
- 48 core material
- 48 d chamfer-shaped portion
- 52 end face treatment agent
Claims (9)
1. A portable information device comprising:
a chassis; and
a cover device that covers a back surface of the chassis, wherein
the cover device includes:
a base cover section along the back surface of the chassis;
a stand cover section that rotates, relative to the base cover section, between:
a stored position where the stand cover section is set along the back surface of the chassis, and
a standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the chassis; and
a hinge device that supports the stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing position,
the hinge device includes:
a first shaft;
a second shaft on an extension line of an axis of the first shaft;
an intermediate shaft on an extension line of an axis between the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the intermediate shaft includes a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft;
a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section;
a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section;
a second base bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; and
a second stand bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section,
one of the first base bracket or the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, and the other is fixed to the first shaft,
when the first base bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second base bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around an axis of the second shaft, and when the first base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second base bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first stand bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, and when the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft,
the first end of the intermediate shaft is fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and
the second end of the intermediate shaft is coupled to be rotatable relative to the one end of the second shaft.
2. The portable information device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first end of the intermediate shaft and the one end of the first shaft are fixed to each other with an adhesive in a state where a first shaft pin provided on one side is inserted into a first shaft hole provided on the other side, and
the second end of the intermediate shaft and the one end of the second shaft are coupled to be rotatable relative to each other using a lubricant in a state where a second shaft pin provided on one side is inserted into a second shaft hole provided on the other side.
3. The portable information device according to claim 1 , 1 wherein
the chassis has a rectangular external shape, and
the stand cover section has:
a first edge and a second edge extending along a first side and a second side of the chassis parallel with each other;
a third edge extending between a first end of the first edge and a first end of the second edge, and extending along a third side orthogonal to the first side and the second side of the chassis; and
a fourth edge extending between a second end of the first edge and a second end of the second edge, wherein
the hinge device is connected to the fourth edge.
4. The portable information device according to claim 3 , wherein
a length of the second edge is longer than a length of the first edge to cause the fourth edge to extend in a posture to be inclined with respect to the third edge,
an axial direction of each of the first shaft, the second shaft, and the intermediate shaft of the hinge device is placed in a posture to be crossed over the first side and the second side of the chassis, respectively, and
the first end of the intermediate shaft is closer to the first edge than the second edge, and
the second end of the intermediate shaft is closer to the second edge than the first edge.
5. The portable information device according to claim 3 , wherein
the stand cover section includes:
a core material;
a surface material laminated on a surface of the core material to form a surface of the stand cover section; and
an end face treatment agent provided on an end face of the fourth edge and obtained by curing a liquid coating agent,
the core material has:
a first recess on a back surface opposite to the surface, on which the surface material is laminated, wherein the back surface is open to the fourth edge and the first stand bracket is disposed in the first recess; and
a second recess on the back surface to be open to the fourth edge, wherein the second stand bracket is disposed in the second recess, and
each of the first recess and the second recess has a chamfer-shaped portion at a corner of an opening to the fourth edge.
6. The portable information device according to claim 3 , wherein
a first antenna device is disposed in the chassis along the first side and a second antenna device is disposed in the chassis along the second side,
the hinge device further includes:
a first end shaft coupled to the other end of the first shaft and that overlaps the first antenna device in a plate thickness direction of the chassis; and
a second end shaft coupled to the other end of the second shaft and that overlaps the second antenna device in the plate thickness direction of the chassis, and
each of the first end shaft and the second end shaft is formed of a radio wave transmissive material that transmits radio waves.
7. A portable information device comprising:
a chassis; and
a cover device that covers a back surface of the chassis, wherein
the cover device includes:
a base cover section along the back surface of the chassis;
a stand cover section that rotates, relative to the base cover section, between:
a stored position where the stand cover section is set along the back surface of the chassis, and
a standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the chassis; and
a hinge device that supports the stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing position,
the hinge device includes:
a hinge shaft;
a first base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed to the base cover section;
a first stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section;
a second base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed relative to the chassis; and
a second stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section,
one of a set of the first base bracket and the second base bracket or a set of the first stand bracket and the second stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around an axis of the hinge shaft and the other is fixed to the hinge shaft,
the stand cover section includes:
a core material;
a surface material laminated on a surface of the core material to form a surface of the stand cover section; and
an end face treatment agent provided on an end face of an edge, to which the hinge device is connected, and obtained by curing a liquid coating agent,
the core material has:
a first recess on a back surface opposite to the surface, on which the surface material is laminated, wherein the back surface is open to the edge and the first stand bracket is disposed in the first recess; and
a second recess on the back surface to be open to the edge, wherein the second stand bracket is disposed in the second recess, and
each of the first recess and the second recess has a chamfer-shaped portion at a corner of an opening to the edge.
8. A cover device configured to cover a back surface of a chassis of a portable information device, comprising:
a base cover section;
a stand cover section that rotates relative to the base cover section; and
a hinge device that supports the stand cover section to be rotatable relative to the base cover section, wherein
the hinge device includes:
a first shaft;
a second shaft on an extension line of an axis of the first shaft;
an intermediate shaft on an extension line of an axis between the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second shaft;
a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section;
a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section;
a second base bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; and
a second stand bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section,
one of the first base bracket or the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, and the other is fixed to the first shaft,
when the first base bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second base bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around an axis of the second shaft while when the first base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second base bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first stand bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also fixed to the second shaft while when the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft,
the first end of the intermediate shaft is fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and
the second end of the intermediate shaft is coupled to be rotatable relative to the one end of the second shaft.
9. The cover device according to claim 8 , wherein
the first end of the intermediate shaft and the one end of the first shaft are fixed with an adhesive each other in a state where a first shaft pin provided on one side is inserted into a first shaft hole provided on the other side, and
the second end of the intermediate shaft and the one end of the second shaft are coupled to be rotatable relative to each other using a lubricant in a state where a second shaft pin provided on one side is inserted into a second shaft hole provided on the other side.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2020169053A JP2022061205A (en) | 2020-10-06 | 2020-10-06 | Mobile information apparatus and cover device |
JP2020-169053 | 2020-10-06 | ||
JPJP2020-169053 | 2020-10-06 |
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US11275410B1 US11275410B1 (en) | 2022-03-15 |
US20220107671A1 true US20220107671A1 (en) | 2022-04-07 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US17/130,517 Active US11275410B1 (en) | 2020-10-06 | 2020-12-22 | Portable information device and cover device |
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JP (1) | JP2022061205A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR102601591B1 (en) * | 2023-08-30 | 2023-11-14 | 프레임바이 주식회사 | Samartphone stand |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11277929B2 (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2022-03-15 | Intel Corporation | Personal computing device covers having stands |
USD987622S1 (en) | 2020-03-25 | 2023-05-30 | Intel Corporation | Portable computer |
JP6945696B1 (en) * | 2020-07-21 | 2021-10-06 | レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド | Portable information devices and cover devices |
US11689239B2 (en) * | 2020-11-23 | 2023-06-27 | Speculative Product Design, Llc | Outer case for a foldable mobile device |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2018105961A (en) | 2016-12-26 | 2018-07-05 | レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド | Cover stand, and portable information device with cover stand |
CN207586525U (en) * | 2017-10-05 | 2018-07-06 | 怡利电子工业股份有限公司 | Virtual display device |
JP2021015492A (en) * | 2019-07-12 | 2021-02-12 | レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド | Portable information device |
-
2020
- 2020-10-06 JP JP2020169053A patent/JP2022061205A/en active Pending
- 2020-12-22 US US17/130,517 patent/US11275410B1/en active Active
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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KR102601591B1 (en) * | 2023-08-30 | 2023-11-14 | 프레임바이 주식회사 | Samartphone stand |
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JP2022061205A (en) | 2022-04-18 |
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