JP2005023950A - Push-open hinge device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve accurate closing operation while allowing easy opening operation with a small button operating force for opening a foldable cell phone. <P>SOLUTION: The fixed end of a torsion spring 11 is fixed to a casing of an operation part. The operation end is locked to a grooved portion of a holder 6 fixed to a casing of a display part. At a position right before the casing of the operation part is closed, the operation end of the torsion spring 11 falls in a grooved portion of a spring supporting part 7 to give no torque to the holder 6. In this state, a protruded portion of a movable cam 5 is put in engagement with a cam groove of a fixed cam 2 to close the casing of the display part. In opening it, right before the movable cam 5 disengages therefrom, the operation end of the torsion spring 11 is returned from the grooved portion of the spring supporting part 7 to a grooved portion of the holder 6 to open the casing of the display part with torque given to the holder 6. No torque given to the movable cam 5 in the closed state requires weak force of the engagement of the fixed cam 2 with the movable cam 5 and smaller force of pushing a button 1 for release. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push-open hinge device, and more particularly to a push-open hinge device for a mobile phone that can open a folded housing with a single operation by a button operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 6, the foldable mobile phone includes a display unit casing 18 and an operation unit casing 19 that are connected to each other by a hinge mechanism 20 so as to be freely opened and closed. During a call or the like, it can be opened with one touch by pressing the open button of the hinge mechanism, and both cases are folded after use. When the display housing is folded against the torque in the opening direction, the projection of the fixed cam and the groove of the rotating cam engage with each other while being pressed by the elasticity of the compression spring. Is locked in the folded state.
[0003]
When the open button is pressed, the shaft moves inward in the hinge axial direction against the compression spring, so that the shaft presses the rotating cam, and the groove portion of the rotating cam is released from the protrusion of the fixed cam. The display housing is rotated and opened by the torque in the opening direction of the torsion spring. When the display housing is opened to a predetermined angle, the protrusion of the fixed cam and the groove of the rotating cam engage with each other while being pressed by the compression spring, so that the display housing is locked in the open state.
[0004]
In a push-open hinge device using a torsion spring, when the folding cam is folded from the fully open state to the fully closed state, the fixed cam and the rotating cam engage with a force that exceeds the torque in the opening direction, so the torque in the opening direction of the torsion spring is sealed. The display housing is locked in a closed state. When the open button is pressed, the engagement between the fixed cam and the rotating cam is released, and the display unit housing is opened to the fully open position or the intermediate stop position by the torque in the opening direction of the torsion spring. Several specific examples of the conventional push-open hinge device will be described below.
[0005]
The “pop-up hinge” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707 is a miniaturized device that combines the deployment locking means and the folding locking means with the same member to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembly steps. As shown to Fig.7 (a), the expansion | deployment latching means and folding latching means of a pop-up hinge are comprised from the cylinder and the cam accommodated in the cylinder. A cam groove is formed in the cylinder. The cam is always pushed toward the inner surface of the cylinder by the elastic force in the axial direction of the torsion spring that generates torque in the opening direction. Due to the torque of the torsion spring, a force always acts in the direction in which the display unit housing and the operation unit housing connected by the hinge are opened.
[0006]
The “hinge unit” disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a hinge unit used for an opening / closing mechanism of a foldable device, which can be opened with one touch, has a reliable operation and has a long life. When the device equipped with the hinge unit is rotated in the closing direction from the open state, the coil spring is twisted and torque in the opening direction is generated as shown in FIG. 7B. At the position where the device is closed, the projection and groove of the lock mechanism are fitted into each other by the elastic force in the axial direction of the coil spring, and the closed state is stably maintained. When the button is pressed, the lock is released and the device opens by the torque in the opening direction by the coil spring. When the protrusions of the locking mechanism come into contact with each other, the open state is stably maintained.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-161336 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-223479
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional push-open hinge device, the torque of the torsion spring cannot be overcome unless the engaging force of the cam in the closed state is increased. In order to reliably close the cam, it is necessary to sufficiently increase the engagement force of the cam. As a result, a strong force is required to disengage the cam, and the force to push the button is increased, so that the ease of button operation is sacrificed. If the button operation force may be weak, there is a problem that it cannot be reliably closed.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to ensure that a foldable telephone can be closed even if the button operation force is weakened to facilitate the operation.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a movable cam that rotates in conjunction with the first housing, a fixed cam that is fixed to the second housing and engages with the movable cam, a fixed cam, and a movable cam A push-open hinge device having a means for releasing engagement; a torsion spring; means for fixing a fixed end of the torsion spring to the second housing; and a groove portion for engaging the working end of the torsion spring. A holder fixed to one housing and a spring receiving portion having a groove and inscribed in the holder and fixed to the second housing; from the fully opened state of the first housing and the second housing to just before fully closing In the state up to this point, the working end of the torsion spring engages with the groove portion of the holder. It was set as the structure engaged with the groove part of a part. With this configuration, the torque of the torsion spring can be sealed immediately before the fully closed position, and even if the engagement force between the fixed cam and the movable cam is reduced, reliable closing is possible.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the fixed end of the torsion spring is fixed to the operation unit casing, and the working end is locked to the groove of the holder fixed to the display unit casing. At the position just before closing, the working end of the torsion spring is dropped into the groove of the spring receiving portion so that the torque is not applied to the holder, the cam is engaged, the display housing is closed, and the cam is detached, This is a push-open hinge device for a mobile phone in which the working end of the torsion spring is returned from the groove portion of the spring receiving portion to the groove portion of the holder, and torque is applied to the holder to open the display unit housing.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a push-open hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is an exploded front perspective view of a push-open hinge device. FIG.1 (b) is a back surface exploded perspective view of a push open hinge apparatus. In FIG. 1, a button 1 is a push button for opening the housing. The fixed cam 2 is a cam fixed to the operation unit casing. It is almost cylindrical and is fixed to the device body by protrusions and grooves on the outer periphery. The opening side end surface (right side in FIG. 1A) has an opening, and the end surface around the opening has a cam surface. The cam surface has a cam groove for full opening and closing and a cam groove for an intermediate position. The surface other than the cam groove is a slope. On the bottom surface (left side in FIG. 1A), there is a hole that is fixed by the E-ring 9 through the shaft 3. The shaft 3 has flat portions at both ends, and is fixed to the fixed cam 2 so as not to rotate. The plunger 4 is attached to the button 1 through a hole in the bottom surface of the fixed cam 2. The movable cam 5 is attached so as to be rotatable through the shaft 3. It is pressed against the fixed cam 2 by the first compression spring 12 and engages with the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. When the button 1 is pressed, it is pushed by the plunger 4 and moves in the axial direction, and the engagement with the fixed cam 2 is released. A second compression spring 17 is provided between the plunger 4 and the movable cam 5 and presses the plunger 4 against the fixed cam 2.
[0014]
The holder 6 is a member fixed to the display unit casing. The shaft 3 penetrates, engages with the movable cam 5 and rotates together. It is restricted by the spring receiving portion, the stopper, and the E-ring 10 and does not move in the axial direction. The spring receiving portion 7 is a member that engages with the working end of the torsion spring 11 and seals the torque. The rotation is restricted by the shaft 3, and the movement in the axial direction is also restricted by the stopper 8 and the E ring 10. The stopper 8 is a member that fixes a member such as the spring receiving portion 7 so as not to move in the axial direction. The shaft 3 is attached with its rotation restricted. The E ring 9 is a member that fixes one end of the shaft 3 on the bottom surface of the fixed cam 2. The E-ring 10 is a member that fixes the other end of the shaft 3 on the bottom surface of the stopper 8.
[0015]
The first compression spring 12 provided between the movable cam 5 and the holder 6 presses the movable cam 5 against the fixed cam 2 and engages the protrusion of the movable cam 5 with the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. A torsion spring 11 is provided between the spring receiving portion 7 and the stopper 8. The fixed end of the torsion spring 11 is fixed to the stopper 8. The working end of the torsion spring 11 is locked to the holder 6. Torque is generated so that the display unit housing to which the holder 6 is fixed rotates in the opening direction. When the opening angle of the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is closed to about 20 °, the working end comes out of the holder 6 and falls into the groove of the spring receiving portion 7 to seal the torque.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the push-open hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a torsion spring 11 is a torsion spring that applies torque in the opening direction to the display unit housing via a movable cam. The first compression spring 12 is a spring for pressing the movable cam against the fixed cam. The second compression spring 17 is a spring for pressing the plunger against the fixed cam. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of the movable cam of the push-open hinge device. The circumferential direction is shown in a straight line. FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the torsion spring of the push-open hinge device. The circumferential direction is shown in a straight line. In FIG. 4, the working end 13 is a working end of the torsion spring 11. The groove 14 is a groove of the holder 6. The groove 15 is a groove of the spring receiving portion 7.
[0017]
The operation of the push-open hinge device for a cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, an outline of the function of the push-open hinge device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The movable cam 5 is always pressed against the fixed cam 2 by the elastic force of the first compression spring 12. In the fully opened position (the position where the opening angle of the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is approximately 165 °), the protrusion of the movable cam 5 fits into the cam groove of the fixed cam 2 as shown in FIG. ing. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), the protrusion of the movable cam 5 stops while pressing the slope of the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. Since the display unit case is opened to the limit when it hits the operation unit case, the resistance force of the operation unit case balances the resistance force of the slope of the cam groove, so that the display unit case can be stably kept fully open without any play. ing.
[0018]
When a force is applied in the direction in which the display unit housing and the operation unit housing are closed, the force by which the projection of the movable cam 5 pushes the inclined surface of the cam groove of the fixed cam 2 increases, and the elastic force of the first compression spring 12 is increased. By overcoming, the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is detached from the cam groove. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), when the projecting portion is detached from the cam groove for the fully opened position of the fixed cam 2, it begins to fit in the adjacent cam groove for the intermediate position, so that the display unit housing is closed without resistance. It will be. When the opening angle of the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is approximately 125 °, the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is completely fitted in the cam groove for the intermediate position of the fixed cam 2, and therefore, as shown in FIG. Thus, the opening angle of the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is stably stopped at approximately 125 °. However, since the display unit housing and the operation unit housing are not in contact, some backlash due to the spline coupling between the movable cam 5 and the holder 6 remains. This state is similar to that shown in FIG. 2A, and the difference cannot be shown in FIG. 2, so only this is shown in FIG.
[0019]
Furthermore, when a force is applied in a direction in which the display unit housing and the operation unit housing are closed, the elastic force of the first compression spring is overcome and the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is detached from the slope of the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the protrusion of the movable cam 5 moves while further climbing the slope of the fixed cam 2, so that the display unit housing is forced to return to the intermediate stop position of approximately 125 °. It will be closed against resistance. When the opening angle between the display unit casing and the operation unit casing is approximately 20 °, the protrusion of the movable cam 5 fits into the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. At this time, the working end of the torsion spring 11 comes out of the groove of the holder 6 and falls into the groove of the spring receiving portion 7, and the holder 6 does not receive the torque of the torsion spring 11. Therefore, the rotation moment in the opening direction by the torsion spring 11 is eliminated from the display unit casing. Details of this operation will be described later.
[0020]
When the projection of the movable cam 5 falls into the cam groove of the fixed cam 2 due to the elastic force of the first compression spring 12, the display unit housing is closed to the fully closed state by the force received from the slope of the cam groove. Also at this time, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is stopped while pressing the inclined surface of the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. Since the display unit housing is closed to the limit when it hits the operation unit housing, the resistance force of the operation unit housing and the resistance force of the slope of the cam groove are balanced, and the fully closed state is stably maintained without any play. is doing. When fully closed, the torque of the torsion spring 11 is sealed at a position of 20 ° immediately before full closing. Therefore, the pulling force in the closing direction when the first compression spring 12 and the movable cam 5 are fully closed is Even if the elastic force of the first compression spring 12 is weak without being canceled by the spring 11, the closed state can be stably maintained.
[0021]
When the button 1 is pressed when the display unit housing and the operation unit housing are fully closed, as shown in FIG. 2B, the slope of the projection of the plunger 4 presses the projection of the movable cam 5, The protrusion of the movable cam 5 is pushed out from the cam groove of the fixed cam 2 while rotating. This is because if the movable cam 5 is simply pushed in the axial direction, the torque of the torsion spring 11 is not applied to the holder 6 and cannot be opened. Since the elastic force of the first compression spring 12 is weak, the force for pressing the button 1 may be weak and the operability is good. The working end of the torsion spring 11 comes out of the cam groove of the spring receiving part 7 and falls into the cam groove of the holder 6 immediately before the protruding part comes out of the cam groove, so that the holder 6 receives the torque of the torsion spring 11 again. It becomes like this. Therefore, the display unit casing is opened by a rotational moment in the opening direction by the torsion spring 11.
[0022]
When the display housing is opened to approximately 125 °, the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is blocked by the protrusion of the plunger 4 and stops rotating. When the button 1 is returned, the protrusion of the movable cam 5 fits into the cam groove for the intermediate position of the fixed cam 2, and the opening angle of the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is stably stopped at approximately 125 °. In this state, since the torque of the torsion spring 11 is small, the first compression spring 12 can be stably held even if the elastic force of the first compression spring 12 is weak. The same applies when button 1 is immediately returned. When the button 1 is pressed again in a state where the display housing is opened to approximately 125 °, the plunger 4 pushes the movable cam 5, and the protrusion is fixed by the torque of the torsion spring 11 and the weight of the display housing. 2 is pushed out from the cam groove for the intermediate position 2, and the display unit casing is fully opened.
[0023]
Next, the torque sealing operation of the torsion spring 11 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the opening angle of the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is larger than 20 °, the working end 13 of the torsion spring 11 is in the groove 14 of the holder 6. . The torque of the torsion spring 11 is applied in the right direction in FIG. When the holder 6 rotates and the opening angle of the display unit casing and the operation unit casing approaches 20 °, the state shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C is obtained. When the opening angle between the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is 20 °, the working end 13 comes in the middle of the groove 14 and the groove 15 and is in the state shown in FIG. When the opening angle between the display unit housing and the operation unit housing is smaller than 20 °, the working end 13 falls into the groove 15 of the spring receiving unit 7 and enters the state shown in FIGS. In this state, since the torque of the torsion spring 11 is received by the spring receiving portion 7, no torque is applied to the holder 6. In the fully closed state, the state shown in FIG.
[0024]
When the display unit housing and the operation unit housing are opened from the fully closed state, when the transition from the state shown in FIG. 4G to the state shown in FIG. Torque of the torsion spring 11 is applied to the holder 6, and the display unit casing and the operation unit casing are automatically opened.
[0025]
Although the example in which the holder is fixed to the display unit casing and the fixed cam is fixed to the operation unit casing has been described, the fixing cam may be fixed to the display unit casing and the holder may be fixed to the operation unit casing.
[0026]
As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the push-open hinge device of the mobile phone is fixed to the operation unit housing with the fixed end of the torsion spring, and the working end is fixed to the display unit housing. In the position immediately before closing the operation unit housing, the working end of the torsion spring is dropped into the groove of the spring receiving portion so that torque is not applied to the holder, and the cam is engaged, At the position where the display housing is closed and the cam is detached, the working end of the torsion spring is returned from the groove of the spring receiving portion to the groove of the holder, and torque is applied to the holder to open the display housing. Therefore, it is possible to weaken the cam engagement force to facilitate button operation and to securely close the folding telephone.
[0027]
(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention is a push-open hinge device for a cellular phone that opens to a fully opened state by moving a release cam in a spiral and pushing a movable cam.
[0028]
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a push-open hinge device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a front exploded perspective view of the push-open hinge device. FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the back surface of the push-open hinge device. The basic configuration of the push-open hinge device in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. The point provided with the release cam is different from the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, the fixed cam 2 has a spiral groove on the inner periphery of the opening. The release cam 16 is a member that pushes the movable cam 5 by being pushed by the plunger and releases the engagement of the cam. A second compression spring 17 is provided between the release cam and the movable cam. The second compression spring 17 presses the release cam and the plunger against the fixed cam.
[0029]
The operation of the push-open hinge device for a cellular phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. The outline of the function of the push-open hinge device is the same as that of the first embodiment. Only the operation of the release cam 16 will be described. The second compression spring presses the release cam 16 and the plunger 4 against the fixed cam 2. The movable cam 5 is pressed against the fixed cam 2 by the first compression spring 12, and the protrusion of the movable cam 5 abuts on the flat portion of the fixed cam 5 or engages with the cam groove. When the button 1 is pressed, the movable cam 5 is pushed by the plunger 4 and the release cam 16, moves in the axial direction, and leaves the fixed cam 2. The release cam 16 moves spirally in the axial direction while rotating along the inner periphery of the opening of the fixed cam 2. If button 1 is fully pressed, it opens without stopping from the fully closed position to the fully open position. This is called a button push-off operation. When the button 1 is pushed and the button 1 is released immediately, the movable cam 5 is pushed by the plunger 4 and the release cam 16 and moves in the axial direction, so that the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is the cam groove of the fixed cam 2. And fit into the cam groove for the intermediate position. Therefore, it opens to the intermediate stop position and stops, and that state is maintained. This is called a one-push operation.
[0030]
By causing the release cam 16 to spirally move inside the fixed cam 2, the projection of the movable cam 5 collides with the back of the projection of the release cam 16 in a state where the opening angle is about 165 °. The phenomenon that the opening of the housing is interrupted can be prevented. By making the angle of the spiral acute with respect to the axial direction, the force required to press the button 1 can be weakened. That is, when the protrusion of the movable cam 5 is separated from the cam groove of the fixed cam 2, the operating force for pressing the button 1 can be weakened by separating the protrusion in the direction of a small angle close to the axial direction.
[0031]
When the button 1 is pressed, the movable cam 5 is forcibly pushed back from the fully closed position to the torque sealing position of the torsion spring 11 immediately before the fully closed position by the release cam 16 that moves at a small angle close to the axial direction. When the torque sealing position of the torsion spring 11 is exceeded, the torque of the torsion spring 11 is applied to the holder 6 and the display housing is automatically opened.
[0032]
As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the push-open hinge device of the mobile phone is configured so that the release cam moves spirally and pushes the movable cam to open to the fully open state. It can be fully opened with a single press.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, a movable cam that rotates in conjunction with the first housing, a fixed cam that is fixed to the second housing and engages with the movable cam, a fixed cam, and a movable cam A push-open hinge device having means for releasing engagement, and a torsion spring, means for fixing a fixed end of the torsion spring to the second housing, and a groove for engaging the working end of the torsion spring; A holder fixed to one housing and a spring receiving portion having a groove and inscribed in the holder and fixed to the second housing; from the fully opened state of the first housing and the second housing to just before fully closing In the state up to this point, the working end of the torsion spring engages with the groove of the holder, and in the fully closed state from the state immediately before the first housing and the second housing are fully closed, the working end of the torsion spring is the spring support. It is configured to engage with the groove of the part In, can seal the torque of the torsion spring immediately before the fully closed position, it is possible to also secure closure to reduce the cam engagement force, it is possible to reduce the button operation force.
[0034]
In addition, a spiral groove is provided inside the fixed cam, and a means to push the movable cam by a release cam that moves along the spiral groove is provided, so that the button can be fully opened by pressing the button once. The force can be further reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a push-open hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the push-open hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the movable cam of the push-open hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of a torsion spring of the push-open hinge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a push-open hinge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mobile phone provided with a conventional push-open hinge device;
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional push-open hinge device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Button 2 Fixed cam 3 Shaft 4 Plunger 5 Movable cam 6 Holder 7 Spring receiving portion 8 Stopper 9 E ring 10 E ring 11 Torsion spring 12 First compression spring 13 Working end 14 Groove 15 Groove 16 Release cam 17 Second compression spring 18 Display unit casing 19 Operation unit casing 20 Hinge mechanism

Claims (2)

A movable cam that rotates in conjunction with the first housing; a fixed cam that is fixed to the second housing and engages the movable cam; and a means for releasing the engagement between the fixed cam and the movable cam. In the push-open hinge device, the torsion spring, means for fixing the fixed end of the torsion spring to the second casing, and a groove for engaging the working end of the torsion spring are fixed to the first casing. And a spring receiving portion that has a groove and is inscribed in the holder and is fixed to the second housing, from the fully opened state of the first housing and the second housing to just before the fully closed In the state, the working end of the torsion spring is engaged with the groove portion of the holder, and the working end of the torsion spring is in the fully closed state from the state immediately before the first housing and the second housing are fully closed. Is Push open hinge apparatus characterized by engaging a groove of the receiving portion. The push-open hinge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spiral groove provided inside the fixed cam, and means for pushing the movable cam by a release cam that moves along the spiral groove.

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