Hinge mechanism

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to hinges, and more particularly to a hinge mechanism applied in an electronic device.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] There are many electronic devices that include hinged elements. To ensure that one part of the electronic device is capable of rotating relative to the other part thereof, a hinge mechanism applied in an electronic device often includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and two pivoting shafts. The first bracket and the second bracket are respectively sleeved on the pivoting shafts. The hinge mechanism further includes other elements, such as a plurality of friction members, resilient members, and fasteners sleeved on the pivoting shafts to provide axial force between the elements.

[0005] In use, the first bracket is rotated, and it drives one of the pivoting shafts to rotate relative to the other one of the pivoting shafts. Therefore, the two parts of the electronic device are capable of rotating relative to each other.

[0006] However, in order to open or close the electronic device, a user must exert continuous force on one part of the electronic device, and may take a relatively long time to open or close.

[0007] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

[0011] The hinge mechanism as described in the embodiment as presented herein may be applied in any electronic device having two or more hinged parts, such as notebook computers, LCD monitors, and DVD (digital video disc) players.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hinge mechanism 100 includes a first rotation assembly 10, a second rotation assembly 30 substantially parallel to the first rotation assembly 10, a transmission assembly 50, a first resisting member 70, and a second resisting member 90. The transmission assembly 50 is positioned between the first rotation assembly 10 and the second rotation assembly 30, and is held by the first resisting member 70 and the second resisting member 90.

[0013] The first rotation assembly 10 includes a pivoting shaft 11, and a main gear 12, a bracket 13, a friction member 14, a plurality of resilient members 15, a flat washer 16, and a fastener 17 sleeved on the pivoting shaft 11 in that order.

[0014] The pivoting shaft 11 includes a non-circular shaft portion 111, a circular shaft portion 113, a first flange 115 between the non-circular shaft portion 111 and the circular shaft portion 113, and a second flange 117 adjacent to one end of the circular shaft portion 113 and away from the non-circular shaft portion 111. The non-circular shaft portion 111 defines a threaded portion 1111 at a distal end thereof. The second flange 117 defines two locking portions 1171, which are separated by 180 degrees at a circumferential periphery of the second flange 117. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking portions 1171 are a plurality of grooves recessing from the circumferential periphery of the second flange 117. Alternatively, the second flange 117 may define one or more than two locking portions 1171 or form a plurality of hooks thereon.

[0015] The locking portions 1171 of the second flange 117 of the pivoting shaft 11 are shaped by a gear shaping machine (not shown), which reduces the production cost.

[0016] The main gear 12 defines a non-circular hole 121 therein.

[0017] The bracket 13 includes a pivotal portion 131, a connection portion 133, and at least one latching portion 135. The pivotal portion 131 is connected to the connection portion 133, and the at least one latching portion 135 is formed on the pivotal portion 131. The pivotal portion 131 defines a sleeve hole 1311 therein, the connection portion 133 defines two connection holes 1331 therein; and therefore, the bracket 13 is capable of being connected to one part of an electronic device (no shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket 13 includes two latching portions 135, and the latching portions 135 are a plurality of hooks substantially perpendicularly protruding from and 180 degrees apart at the circumferential periphery of the pivotal portion 131. Alternatively, the bracket 13 may include one or more than two latching portions 135, and the latching portions 135 may be grooves recessing from the circumferential periphery of the pivotal portion 131.

[0018] Both the friction member 14 and the flat washer 16 define a plurality of non-circular holes corresponding to a profile of the non-circular shaft portion 111 of each pivoting shaft 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the resilient members 15 are a plurality of disk-shaped elastic washers resisting one another, and the fastener 17 is a screw nut. Alternatively, the first rotation assembly 10 may include a helical spring, an elastic sleeve, or other elastic members instead, and the fastener 17 may be a rivet penetrating the distal end of the pivoting shaft 11, and the pivoting shaft 11 may define a through hole adjacent to the distal end thereof.

[0019] The second rotation assembly 30 is similar to the first rotation assembly 10 but without the friction member 14 and the resilient members 15. Alternatively, the second rotation assembly 30 may have a same structure as the first rotation assembly 10.

[0020] The transmission assembly 50 includes two rotation shafts 51 and two transmission gears 53, and the transmission gears 53 are respectively sleeved on the rotation shafts 51.

[0021] The first resisting member 70 is a plate, which includes a resisting portion 71 and a fixing portion 73 extending from one edge of the resisting portion 71. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing portion 73 is substantially perpendicular to the resisting portion 71.

[0022] The second resisting member 90 is a plate, which defines two pivot holes 91, and two shaft holes 93 positioned between the pivot holes 91.

[0023] During assembly of the hinge mechanism 100, the rotation shafts 51 of the transmission assembly 50 pass through the shaft holes 93 of the second resisting member 90, and the transmission gears 53 are respectively sleeved on the rotation shaft 51. The non-circular shaft portion 111 of the pivoting shaft 11 of the first rotation assembly 10 passes through the resisting portion 71 of the first resisting member 70, one main gear 12, one pivot hole 91 of the second resisting member 90, the friction member 14, the resilient members 15, the flat washer 16, and the fastener 17; the fastener 17 engages with the threaded portion 1111 of the pivoting shaft 11. Therefore, the first flange 115 resists the resisting portion 71 of the first resisting member 70. The other end of the pivoting shaft 11 adjacent to the second flange 117 passes through the sleeve hole 1311 of the pivotal portion 131 of the bracket 13, and the latching portions 135 engage with the locking portions 1171 of the second flange 117 of the pivoting shaft 11 by interference fit.

[0024] The second rotation assembly 30 is assembled to the transmission assembly 50, the first resisting member 70, and the second resisting member 90 in a same manner. The first resisting member 70 and the second resisting member 90 defines a receiving space (not shown) in which the transmission assembly 50, the main gear 12 of the first rotation assembly 10, and the main gear (not labeled) of the second rotation assembly 30 are received and held by the resisting portion 71 of the first resisting member 70 and the second resisting member 90.

[0025] When the hinge mechanism 100 is applied in an electronic device, an external force is exerted on one part of the electronic device to drive the first rotation assembly 10, for example, to rotate together with the side part of the electronic device. The transmission assembly 50 transmits the torque to the main gear of the second rotation assembly 30, thus that the main gear of the second rotation assembly 30 rotates in an opposite direction to the main gear 12 of the first rotation assembly 10. The second rotation assembly 30 transmits the torque to the bracket (not labeled) of the second rotation assembly 30 by the pivoting shaft (not labeled) of the second rotation assembly. Therefore, the two parts of the electronic device may be opened or closed at double-speed, and that it requires a user when using the electronic device to exert a force for a relatively shorter duration to open or close the electronic device.

[0026] In the hinge mechanism 100, the locking portions 1171 of the second flange 117 of the pivoting shaft 11 engage with the latching portions 135 of the bracket 13 with grooves and hooks, and therefore, the pivoting shaft 11 and the bracket 13 are non-rotatable relative to each other. Because the hooks are received in the grooves, which are capable of bearing a relative larger amount of torque than simply the engagement of the non-circular shaft and non-circular holes, as a result, the pivoting shaft 11 is more securely maintained to synchronously rotate with the bracket 13. Additionally, the pivoting shaft 11 and the bracket 13 are not easily damaged, and therefore the hinge mechanism 100 has a longer life-span.

[0027] The pivoting shaft 11 and the bracket 13 of the first rotation assembly 10 are engaged by interference fit, and the pivoting shaft and the bracket of the second rotation assembly 30 are engaged in a same manner, which further improves the engagement therebetween.

[0028] The locking portions 1171 of the second flange 117 of the pivoting shaft 11 are separated by 180 degrees at the circumferential periphery of the second flange 117, and the latching portions 135 are separated by 180 degrees at the circumferential periphery of the pivotal portion 131 of the bracket 13. Thereby, the torque is symmetrically divided to opposite sides of the pivoting shaft 11 and the bracket 13, and a stability of the first rotation assembly 10 is further improved. For the same reason, a stability of the second rotation assembly 30 is also further improved.

[0029] The transmission assembly 50, the main gear 12 of the first rotation assembly 10, and the main gear of the second rotation assembly 30 are received in the receiving space defined by the first resisting member 70 and the second resisting member 90. Thereby, the dust is prevented from entering the gaps between the gears, and the gears are capable of rotating more smoothly.

[0030] Finally, while various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.