JP2002039160A - Hinge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive hinge device which has a simple structure, a small number of parts, is easy to assemble, can be further reduced in weight and can be reduced in size, and is inexpensive. A hinge shaft 5 located on one of the fixed side and the movable side and a U-shaped leaf spring 6 located on the other side are installed so as to be relatively rotatable, and the hinge shaft 5 has a large diameter portion 5a and a small diameter portion 5b. The stepped portion 8 between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion is a fixed surface 13 that comes into contact with the U-shaped leaf spring, and the U-shaped leaf spring biases the small-diameter portion of the hinge shaft 5 in the axial direction thereof. Is provided so as to be in close contact with the fixed surface of the hinge shaft, and the surfaces of the hinge shaft fixed surface and the U-shaped leaf spring that are in contact with each other are formed on the cam surface. By rotating, the cam surface produces a rotating torque according to the strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring, and click Obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge device for opening and closing two members such as a cover and a main body of an OA product or the like, and more particularly to a portable device such as an electronic organizer, a mobile phone and a compact cosmetic. The present invention relates to an optimal hinge device applied to

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in mobile phones, electronic organizers and the like,
In order to prevent the key panel from being pressed by mistake or to damage the liquid crystal screen when carrying it, a two-fold structure that allows opening and closing of two members such as a main body and a lid body in order to reduce the size is provided. As the two-fold structure, a structure in which two members are connected to be openable and closable by a hinge device is employed. Conventionally, as this hinge device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 17932, a pair of cams are provided so as to be rotatable relative to each other so as to approach and separate from each other with their axes aligned, and the cam surfaces of these cams are brought into close contact with each other by a spring. In general, the two cams rotate relatively to each other along their axes, thereby changing the angular relationship between the two cams. is there.

[0003]

However, the conventional hinge device has a problem that the number of parts is large and the structure is complicated. For example, in a hinge device described in JP-A-8-317025, a tubular member, a spring, a cam,
Parts such as a cam follower and a cap are required, and the structure thereof is also complicated. Also, in the hinge device described in JP-A-2000-17932, parts such as a movable cam, a fixed cam, a spring, and a guide holder are used. It is necessary and its structure is complicated.

If the number of parts is large and the structure is complicated, the production is troublesome, the production cost is high, and the assembly of the parts is troublesome. It is. In particular, in the case of a small product, each component becomes smaller, so that it is more difficult to assemble with high accuracy. Also, if the number of parts is large, it will be even lighter,
There is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object the structure is simple, the number of parts is small, the assembly is easy, and the weight and size can be further reduced. Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive hinge device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge device comprising a hinge shaft located on one of a fixed side and a movable side and a U-shaped plate located on the other side. A spring and a spring are installed so as to be relatively rotatable, and a fixed surface that contacts the U-shaped leaf spring is formed on the hinge shaft. The U-shaped leaf spring exerts an urging force on the hinge shaft in the axial direction thereof. The fixed surface of the hinge shaft is provided in close contact with the fixed surface of the hinge shaft, and the surfaces of the fixed surface of the hinge shaft and the U-shaped leaf spring that are in contact with each other are formed on the cam surface. A hinge device characterized in that a rotational torque corresponding to the strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring is obtained by a surface and a click feeling is obtained.

[0007] The hinge device of claim 2 of the present invention,
The hinge shaft includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion, and a step between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion is a fixed surface that comes into contact with a U-shaped leaf spring.

The hinge device according to claim 3 of the present invention provides:
A hinge shaft located on one side of the fixed side and the movable side, and a U-shaped leaf spring located on the other side are installed so as to be relatively rotatable, and the hinge axis has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, and has a U-shape. The leaf spring is restricted to the small diameter portion of the hinge shaft, one side is restricted to the step portion of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, and the other side is regulated by the pin, and the urging force acts in the axial direction of the hinge shaft, and the step portion is formed. The contact surface of the U-shaped leaf spring with the pin is formed on a cam surface having a concave portion into which the pin can be fitted, and the cam surface is formed by the relative rotation between the hinge shaft and the leaf spring. The present invention is characterized in that a rotational torque according to the strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring is obtained, and a click feeling is obtained at a position where the pin fits into the concave portion of the cam surface.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable mobile phone showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. At the time of opening and closing.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a foldable portable telephone, which includes a main body (fixed side) 2 having keys for various functions and the like, and a lid (movable side) 3 provided with a liquid crystal display. Are connected by a hinge device 4 so as to be openable and closable. The hinge device 4 includes a hinge shaft 5, a U-shaped leaf spring 6, and a pin 7, as shown in FIGS.

The structure of the hinge shaft 5, the U-shaped leaf spring 6 and the pin 7 is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 4 and an exploded perspective view in FIG. The hinge shaft 5 includes a large diameter portion 5a and a small diameter portion 5b, and the large diameter portion 5a is formed in a non-circular shape having a flat surface 9 formed thereon, and the lid (movable side) 3 is provided on the large diameter portion 5a. It is fixed so that it cannot rotate. Therefore, the hinge shaft 5 is synchronously rotated by opening and closing the lid 3.

The U-shaped leaf spring 6 is restricted by a small diameter portion 5b of the hinge shaft 5, one side 6a is restricted by a step 8 of a large diameter portion 5a and a small diameter portion 5b, and the other end is fixed by a pin 7. The U-shaped leaf spring 6 is provided so as to be restricted, and an urging force acts in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 5 so that the U-shaped leaf spring 6 comes into close contact with the step portion 8 and the pin 7.
The pin 7 is provided by being inserted into a pin hole 10 formed in the small diameter portion 5 b of the hinge shaft 5. The U-shaped leaf spring 6 is fixed (non-rotatable) to the main body (fixed side) 2, but is rotatable relative to the hinge shaft 5. Therefore, the lid 3 can be opened and closed by holding the main body 2, and the main body 2 side can be opened and closed by holding the lid 3.

The contact surface of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 with the pin 7 is formed on a cam surface 11 having a concave portion 12 (see FIG. 5) into which the pin 7 can be fitted. Therefore, the U-shaped leaf spring 6
When the hinge shaft 5 is rotated, the pin 7 acts on the cam surface 11 and presses the U-shaped leaf spring 6 from the side surface 6b, so that the U-shaped leaf spring corresponds to the shape of the cam surface 11. 6
The rotation torque corresponding to the strength of the urging force of
Is fitted into the concave portion 12 of the cam surface 11, the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is instantaneously released, and a click feeling is obtained.

The strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is transmitted to the hinge shaft 5 as the strength of the friction between the step 8 and the pin 7. Therefore, since the lid 3 is fixed to the hinge shaft 5, when the lid 3 is opened and closed, the lid 3 is rotated by a rotational torque corresponding to the strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 and the pin 7 is cammed. A click feeling can be obtained when fitting into the concave portion 12 of the surface 11. In addition, by applying an initial load to the U-shaped leaf spring 6 between the fully opened and fully closed positions according to the cam shape, it is possible to automatically move the U-shaped leaf spring 6 to the fully opened or fully closed position. FIG. 2 shows a state where the lid 3 is fully opened and fully closed, and FIG. 3 shows a state where the lid 3 is being opened and closed. That is, the fully open and fully closed states in FIG. 2 are the states at the time of setting with the initial torque applied, and FIG.
It is compressed U-shaped plate spring 6, a state in which the spring load is acting, the width of an H ₁ of FIG. 2 is compressed into H ₂ of FIG.

6 to 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view, FIG. 7 is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view. The components will be described with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the hinge shaft 5 includes a large diameter portion 5a and a small diameter portion 5b, and the large diameter portion 5a
The stepped portion between the small-diameter portion 5b and the small-diameter portion 5b is a fixed surface 13 that comes into contact with the U-shaped leaf spring 6, and the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is acted on by the urging force acting on the hinge shaft 5 in the axial direction thereof. Fixing surface 13 of
The cam (concave portion) 14 and the convex portion 15 corresponding to each other are formed on one side and the other side of the fixed surface 13 of the hinge shaft 5 and the surface of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 which are in contact with each other. 5 and the U-shaped leaf spring 6 rotate the cam 14
And the convex portion 15 are displaced from each other, so that a rotational torque corresponding to the strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is obtained, and a click feeling is obtained at a position where the cam (recess) 14 and the convex portion 15 match. There is a feature in that it can be performed, and the other points are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

In this embodiment, the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is restricted on one side by a fixed surface 13 of the hinge shaft 5, on the other side by an E-ring 16, and has a cam (recess) 14.
Is provided on the fixed surface 13 of the hinge shaft 5, and the projection 15 is provided on the U-shaped leaf spring 6.
Is rotated, the positions of the cam (recess) 14 and the protrusion 15 are shifted, and the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is pressed by the protrusion 15 to increase the urging force. When the positions match, the projection 15 fits into the cam (recess) 14,
The urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 is instantaneously released to generate a click feeling. Since the lid is fixed to the hinge shaft 5, a change in the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 6 and a click feeling are transmitted through the hinge shaft 5 when the lid is opened and closed. Reference numeral 17 denotes a groove for mounting the E-ring 16.

The cam (recess) 14 and the projection 15 may be provided in reverse. That is, the cam 14 may be a convex portion, and the U-shaped leaf spring 6 may be a concave portion. Further, in the present invention, the load characteristics can be adjusted by providing the notch 18 in the U-shaped leaf spring 6. The size and shape of the notch 18 are selected according to the load characteristics.

[0018]

As described above in detail, according to the hinge device of the present invention, only the hinge shaft and the U-shaped leaf spring, or a component obtained by adding a pin to the hinge shaft, can control the strength and click feeling of the spring urging force. It has the following effects. (1) Since the structure is simple and the number of parts is small, the assembling is easy and easy, and the assembling can be performed with high accuracy, and the quality is improved. (2) Since the structure is simple, the manufacture is easy, and the number of parts is small, so that the whole is inexpensive. (3) Since the structure is simple and the number of parts is small, it is possible to reduce the weight and size. (4) Since the load characteristics can be easily adjusted, the load of the opening / closing member in a wide range can be handled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, showing a state where the lid is being opened and closed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hinge device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view showing a hinge device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a hinge device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Foldable mobile phone 2 Main body 3 Lid 4 Hinge device 5 Hinge shaft 5a Large diameter part 5b Small diameter part 6 U-shaped leaf spring 7 Pin 8 Step 11 Cam surface 12 Concave 13 Fixed surface 14 Concave 15 Convex 16 E Ring 18 Notch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Morimoto 4056 Sakuradai, Nakatsu-sha, Aikawa-cho, Aiko-gun, Kanagawa Japan (in Japanese) (72) Inventor Hisao Nakamura 2-13-1 Egawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nikka Sales Co., Ltd. (reference) 3J105 AA04 AB13 AB23 AC07 BA06 BB07 BB54 DA04 DA12 DA23

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hinge shaft located on one side of a fixed side and a movable side, and a U-shaped leaf spring located on the other side are installed so as to be relatively rotatable. A fixing surface for contacting is formed, and the U-shaped leaf spring is provided on the hinge shaft so that an urging force acts on the hinge shaft in close contact with the fixing surface of the hinge shaft. The surfaces of the leaf springs that are in contact with each other are formed on the cam surface, and the relative rotation of the hinge shaft and the U-shaped leaf spring causes
A hinge device, which obtains a rotational torque according to the magnitude of the urging force of a U-shaped leaf spring and obtains a click feeling. 2. The hinge shaft according to claim 1, wherein the hinge shaft includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion, and a step between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion is a fixed surface that comes into contact with a U-shaped leaf spring. Item 2. The hinge device according to Item 1. 3. A hinge shaft located on one of the fixed side and the movable side, and a U-shaped leaf spring located on the other side are installed so as to be relatively rotatable, and the hinge shaft is made up of a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion. The U-shaped leaf spring is regulated by a small-diameter portion of the hinge shaft, one side is regulated by a step portion of the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion, and the other side is regulated by a pin. The contact surface of the U-shaped leaf spring with the pin is formed on a cam surface having a concave portion into which the pin can be fitted, and is formed by relative rotation between the hinge shaft and the leaf spring. A hinge device, wherein the cam surface obtains a rotational torque according to the strength of the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring, and a click feeling is obtained at a position where the pin fits into the concave portion of the cam surface.