HINGE MECHANSIM WITH ADJUSTABLE TORQUE

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to hinge mechanisms, especially to a hinge mechanism with adjustable torque.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Generally, an electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, etc., has a main body and a display panel pivotally connected to the main body by a hinge with a constant torque. Though the hinge satisfies basic requirements, a hinge with an adjustable torque is still needed for improvement.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a hinge mechanism 100 according to an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. The hinge mechanism 100 includes a shaft 10 and two shaft sleeves 20 placed around the shaft 10. The shaft 10 and the two shaft sleeves 20 can be respectively connected to two parts (not shown), e.g. a main body and a cover of a notebook computer. Thus, the two parts can rotate relative to each other.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, the shaft 10 includes a flange portion 11 and two shaft portions 12. The two shaft portions 12 are respectively connected to the two opposite sides of the flange portion 11. Two threaded portions 13 are respectively formed circumferentially at a distal end of the two shaft portions 12.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 3, the shaft sleeve 20 is cylindrical and includes a first end 21 and an opposite second end 22. The shaft sleeve 20 defines a through hole 23 for the shaft portion 12 extending through, and forms a connecting bar 24 adjacent the first end 21. The diameter of the through hole 23 is slightly greater than that of the shaft portion 12. The shaft sleeve further defines a slot 25 and a number of L-shaped hooks 26 extending from two opposite sides of the slot 25. The slot 25 extends substantially parallel to the through hole 23.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 4, the hinge mechanism 100 further includes two connecting members 30, two first sliding members 40, two first torque springs 50, two second sliding members 60, two second torque springs 70, two fastening assemblies 80, and two resilient members 90.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 5, the connecting member 30 and the first sliding member 40 are both ring-shaped. The connecting member 30 defines an annular groove 31 on one side that forms an inner ring 32 and an outer ring 33. The inner ring 32 defines a first notch 34, and the outer ring 33 defines a second notch 35. The inner ring 32 goes over the shaft portion 12, and the connecting member 30 is fixed to the flange portion 11. The shaft sleeve 20 goes over the shaft portion 12 of the shaft 10 till the second end 22 is received in the annular groove 31.

[0017] The first sliding member 40 goes over the shaft sleeve 20 and adjacent to the first end 21. The first sliding member 40 defines a third notch 41 on one side, and forms four engaging portions 42 towards the connecting member 30.

[0018] The first torque spring 50 includes a first end 51 and a second end 52. The diameter of the first torque spring 50 is slightly greater than that of the shaft portion 12 of the shaft 10 and less than that of the through hole 23 of the shaft sleeve 20. The first torque spring 50 is coiled around the shaft portion 12. The first end 51 is fixed within the first notch 34 of the connecting member 30, and the second end 52 passes through the slot 25 and is fixed within the third notch 41 of the first sliding member 40. The hooks 26 are used to prevent the third sliding member 40 from moving along the slot 25.

[0019] The second sliding member 60 is also ring-shaped. The second sliding member 60 defines a fourth notch 61 (see FIG. 4) in an inner side and four engaging holes 62 therearound. The second sliding member 60 goes over the shaft sleeve 20 and can be moved between the first sliding member 40 and the connecting member 30. The second torque spring 70 is coiled around the shaft sleeve 20. Typically, one end of the second torque spring 70 is fixed within the second notch 35, and the other end of the second torque spring 70 is fixed within the fourth notch 61. In the embodiment, the resilient member 90 is a helical spring coiled around the shaft portion 12 and disposed between the first sliding member 40 and the second sliding member 60 on the shaft sleeve 70. The resilient member 90 is used to provide a force to prevent the first siding member 40 from moving to the second sliding member 60.

[0020] The fastening assembly 80 includes an inner washer 81, a fixed bracket 82, an outer washer 83, and a nut 84. The inner washer 81, the fixed bracket 82, the outer washer 83, and the nut 84 are orderly coiled around the threaded portion 13 of the rotary shaft 10, and work together to prevent the shaft sleeves 20, the connecting members 30, the first sliding members 40, and the second sliding members 60 from disengaging from the shaft 10.

[0021] Referring also to FIG. 6, while the shaft sleeves 20 rotate relative to the shaft 10, only the first torque spring 50 provides a torque F to prevent the shaft sleeves 20 from rotating. The first sliding member 40 is operable to be moved along the shaft sleeve 20 to compress the first torque spring 50 and the resilient member 90, and thus the torque F is adjusted. Until the four engaging portions 43 are fitted in the four engaging holes 62, the first connecting member 40 and the second connecting member 60 can be rotated simultaneously as driven by the shaft sleeve 20. While the shaft sleeve 20 rotates, the first torque springs 50 and the second torque springs 70 provide the torque F to the shaft sleeves 20. Thus, the torque F is further adjusted.

[0022] Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of certain embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the described embodiments. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.