Hinge assembly and foldable electronic device using the same

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to hinge assemblies and, particularly, to a hinge assembly for foldable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers, etc.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0004] At present, perhaps the most popular foldable device in the marketplace is the foldable mobile phone, which generally includes a cover section and a body section. The cover section and the body section are rotatably interconnected through a hinge assembly, for switching the mobile phone between an in-use and closed positions.

[0005] A typical foldable phone includes a top cover body, a bottom cover body, and a hinge assembly pivotably coupling the top cover body and the bottom cover body. The hinge assembly includes a left fixing sleeve portion, a right fixing sleeve portion, a middle fixing sleeve portion, a hinge part, and a bushing. During use, the hinge assembly, the middle sleeve portion is rotated around the bushing, thereby cause abrasion of the bushing. However, the busing is typically made of plastic or metal, which may reduce the life time of the bushing.

[0006] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foldable electronic device 20 of the present embodiment includes a first housing body 22, a second housing body 24, and a hinge assembly 26. The first housing body 22 rotatably couples with the second housing body 24 by the hinge assembly 26.

[0013] The first housing body 22 includes a first fixing end 222. The second housing body 24 includes a second fixing end 244. The first fixing end 222 pivotably interconnects with the second fixing end 244 by the hinge assembly 26.

[0014] The hinge assembly 26 includes a first hinge shoulder 262, a second hinge shoulder 264, and a hinge sleeve 266 positioned between the first hinge shoulder 262 and the second hinge shoulder 264, a hinge 268, and a bushing 269.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, the first hinge shoulder 262 has a first receiving groove 2624 configured for receiving one end of the hinge 268. The second hinge shoulder 264 has a second receiving groove 2644 configured for receiving one end of the bushing 269. The second hinge shoulder 264 has a projection 2646 formed in the second receiving groove 264, which is shown in FIG. 4. The first hinge shoulder 262 and the second hinge shoulder 264 are fixed to the second fixing end 244 of the second housing body 24 and spaced from each other.

[0016] The hinge sleeve 266 is substantially a hollow cylinder. The hinge sleeve 266 has a receiving trough 2662 configured for receiving the hinge 268 and the bushing 269. The hinge sleeve 266 is fixed to one end of the first housing body 22 and positioned between the first hinge shoulder 262 and the second hinge shoulder 264 when the first housing body 22 couples with the second housing body 24.

[0017] The hinge 268 may be a conventional cam hinge. The hinge 268 interconnects the first hinge shoulder 262 and the hinge sleeve 266 such that one end of the hinge 268 is fitted in the first hinge shoulder 262 and that the other end of the hinge 268 is fitted in the second hinge shoulder 264, which enables the hinge sleeve 266 to rotate relative to the first hinge shoulder 262.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, the bushing 269 may be substantially a hollow cylinder. The bushing 269 defines a gap 2696 in a peripheral wall thereof. The gap 2696 extends along a direction parallel to a center axis of the bushing 269. The bushing 269 is made of a ceramic material selected a group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, beryllium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon nitride, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, boron carbide, zirconium boride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride. One end of the bushing 269 is received in the second hinge shoulder 264, with the projection 2646 of the second hinge shoulder 264 being locked in the gap 2696 of the bushing 269. The other end of the bushing 269 is received in the hinge sleeve 266, enabling the hinge sleeve 266 to rotate relative to the bushing 269. An advantage of the hinge assembly 26 is that the bushing 269 has good anti-abrasion properties, which may prolong its life time.

[0019] It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.