JP4090700B2

JP4090700B2 - Hinge device

Info

Publication number: JP4090700B2
Application number: JP2001103264A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 伸市郎越川
Original assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-02
Filing date: 2001-04-02
Publication date: 2008-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-02
Also published as: JP2002295447A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、折り畳み式携帯電話機等に用いるのに好適なヒンジ装置、特にワンタッチで携帯電話機の受話部等を開回動させることができるヒンジ装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、携帯電話機には、閉位置に位置する受話部をワンタッチで開位置まで回動させることができるように構成したものがある。通常、このような携帯電話機では、送話部と受話部との隣接する端部に互いの軸線を一致させた第１、第２収容筒部が左右に二組形成されている。一方の組の第１、第２収容筒部には、受話部を送話部に対して閉位置から開位置側へ回動付勢するヒンジ装置が組み込まれる。他方の組の第１、第２収容筒部には、受話部を送話部に係止して閉位置に維持する係止機構が組み込まれる。そして、この係止機構による係止状態を解除すると、受話部がヒンジ装置によって閉位置から開位置まで回動させられるようになっている（特開平８−２９８５３８号公報、特開平１１−４１３２８号公報参照）。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記携帯電話機においては、受話部を回動させるヒンジ装置と、受話部を閉位置に係止する係止機構とが別々に設けられているため、部品点数が増えるとともに、組立工数が増加し、ひいては製造費が嵩むという問題があった。
【０００４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この発明は、上記の問題を解決するために、二つの物品を回動軸線を中心として閉位置と開位置との間で回動可能に連結するヒンジ装置において、
一方の物品に回動不能に連結され、他方の物品に上記回動軸線を中心として回動可能に連結されるヒンジ本体と、このヒンジ本体に上記回動軸線を中心として回動可能に連結された回動部材と、この回動部材を閉位置側から開位置側へ回動付勢する回動付勢手段と、第１の位置と第２の位置との間を変位可能に設けられ、第１の位置では上記回動部材を上記ヒンジ本体に回動不能に係止し、第２の位置では係止状態を解除する係止手段と、この係止手段に連結され、外部から係止手段を第１の位置と第２の位置との間で変位操作可能である操作部材とを備え、上記回動部材には、上記回動付勢手段によって閉位置側から開位置側へ回動させられたときに、上記他方の物品に当接して他方の物品を回動部材と共に開位置側へ回動させる当接部が形成されていることを特徴としている。
【０００５】
この場合、上記ヒンジ本体が、一端部が開口するとともに、他端部に底部を有し、軸線を上記回動軸線と一致させた有底円筒体として形成され、上記回動部材が、一端部に上記ヒンジ本体の開口側端部の内周に回動可能に嵌合された大径部、及びこの大径部の中央部から上記ヒンジ本体の内部を通って延び、上記底部の中央部に形成された貫通孔に回動可能に嵌合した小径部を有し、上記ヒンジ本体の内周面と上記回動部材の小径部との間に上記付勢手段としてのコイルばねが配置されていることをが望ましい。特に、上記一方の物品と上記他方の物品とには、軸線を上記回動軸線と一致させた第１、第２収容筒部がそれぞれ形成されており、上記ヒンジ本体の上記底部側の一端部が、第１収容筒部の内周に回動不能に嵌合され、上記ヒンジ本体の上記開口部側の他端部が、上記第２収容筒部の内周に回動可能に嵌合されていることが望ましい。
また、上記当接部が上記大径部の上記小径部と逆側の端面に突出形成され、上記第２収容筒部の内周には、上記回動部材が閉位置側から開位置側へ回動するときに上記当接部に突き当たることにより、上記他方の物品を上記回動部材と共に開位置側へ回動させる受け部が形成されていることが望ましい。
さらに、上記係止手段が、上記ヒンジ本体の開口部側の端部に配置され、上記回動軸線に沿って上記第１の位置と上記第２の位置との間を直線変位可能とされていることが望ましい。この場合には、上記操作手段が、上記回動部材の中央部を回動可能に、かつ上記回動軸線方向へ移動可能に貫通して、一端部が上記第１収容筒部から外部に突出し、他端部が上記係止手段に連結されていることが望ましい。
【０００６】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、この発明の一実施の形態について図１〜図６を参照して説明する。
図６はこの発明に係るヒンジ装置１が用いられた折り畳み式携帯電話機Ａを示す。この携帯電話機Ａは、マイクロホン及び各種のキー（いずれも図示せず）が設けられた送話部Ｂ（一方の物品）と、液晶表示部Ｄ及びスピーカー（図示せず）が設けられた受話部（他方の物品）Ｃとを有している。受話部Ｃは、ヒンジ装置１により回動軸線Ｌを中心として受話部Ｂに回動可能に連結されている。受話部Ｃの回動範囲は、受話部Ｃの液晶表示部Ｄが形成された面が送話部Ｂのキーが設けられた面に突き当たった閉位置と、この閉位置から図６（Ｂ）の矢印方向へ１６０°程度回動した開位置との間に規制されている。
【０００７】
送話部Ｂの受話部Ｃ側端部には、軸線を回動軸線Ｌと一致させた第１収容筒部Ｂ１が二つ形成されている。第１収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｂ１は、送話部Ｂ左右方向の両端部に配置されている。一方、受話部Ｃの送話部Ｂ側端部には、軸線を回動軸線Ｌと一致させた第２収容筒部Ｃ１が二つ形成されている。第２収容筒部Ｃ１は、第１収容筒部Ｂ１と同一の外径及び内径を有している。各第２収容筒部Ｃは、それぞれの外側の端面が各第１収容筒部Ｂ１の内側の端面にほぼ接触するように配置されており、左右方向に隣接する第１，第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１が一組になっている。一方の組（この実施の形態の場合、図６（Ａ）において左側の組）の第１、第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１には、この発明に係るヒンジ装置１が装入されている。他方の組の第１、第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１には、他の周知のヒンジ装置、又は第１、第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１を単に回動可能に連結する軸が装入されている。勿論、他方の組の第１、第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１にも、この発明に係るヒンジ装置１を装入してもよい。
【０００８】
ヒンジ装置１は、図１〜図４に示すように、ヒンジ本体２、回動部材３、コイルばね（回動付勢手段）４、係止部材（係止手段）５、操作部材６及び復帰コイルばね（復帰付勢手段）７を主な構成要素としている。
【０００９】
ヒンジ本体２は、一端部に底部２１を有し、他端部が開口した有底円筒体として形成されており、その外周には一対のキー溝２２，２２が周方向に１８０°離れて配置形成されている。ヒンジ本体２の底部２１側の端部は、第１収容筒部Ｂ１に挿入されており、第１収容筒部Ｂ１の内周面に形成されたキー部Ｂ２，Ｂ２がキー溝２２，２２に嵌まり込んでいる。これにより、ヒンジ本体２が第１収容筒部Ｂ１に回動不能に嵌合されている。なお、図５に示すように、第１収容筒部Ｂ１には、その周壁部を貫通するねじ孔Ｂ３が形成されており、このねじ孔Ｂ３に螺合されたねじ（図示せず）を締め付けることにより、ヒンジ本体２が第１収容筒部Ｂ１にその軸線方向へ移動不能に固定されている。ヒンジ本体２の開口部側の端部は、第２収容筒部Ｃ１に回動可能に嵌合されている。この結果、第１，第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１がヒンジ本体２を介して回動可能に連結され、ひいては送話部Ｂと受話部Ｃとがヒンジ本体２により回動軸線Ｌを中心として回動可能に連結されている。
【００１０】
回動部材３は、その軸線を回動軸線Ｌと一致させて配置されており、断面円形の大径部３１と、この大径部３１の一端面中央部から大径部３１と同軸に延びる小径部３２とを備えている。大径部３１は、ヒンジ本体２の開口部側端部の内周面に回動可能に嵌合されている。小径部３２は、大径部３１より小径に形成されており、その先端面には断面円形の嵌合部３３及び加締め部３４が順次形成されている。嵌合部３３は、底部２１の中央部に形成された貫通孔２３に回動可能に嵌合されている。加締め部３４は、底部２１から突出しており、その外周にはワッシャ８が嵌合固定されている。そして、このワッシャ８と小径部３２の先端面とによって底部２１を挟持することにより、回動部材３がヒンジ本体２に回動軸線Ｌ方向へ移動不能に位置固定されている。
【００１１】
ヒンジ本体２の内周面と軸部３２の外周面との間には、底部２１と頭部３１とによって区画された環状の空間が形成されている。この環状の空間には、コイルばね４が配置されている。このコイルばね４の一端部４１は、ヒンジ本体２の底部２１に形成された受け孔２４に周方向へ移動不能に支持されている。コイルばね４の他端部４２は、回動部材３の頭部３１の外周面に形成された受け溝３５に周方向へ移動不能に支持されている。この結果、コイルばね４は、回動部材３を閉位置から開位置側へ向かう方向（図１（Ｃ）及び図２（Ｃ）において矢印Ｘ方向）へ回動付勢している。
【００１２】
回動部材３の頭部３１の端面には、小径部３２側と逆側へ向かって突出する当接部３６が形成されている。一方、第２収容筒部Ｃ１の内周面には、受け部Ｃ２が形成されている。この受け部Ｃ２は、回動部材３がコイルばね４の付勢力によって閉位置側から開位置側へ回動させられたとき、当接部３６に突き当たるように配置されており、当接部３６が受け部Ｃ２に突き当たると、第２収容部Ｃ１が回動部材３と一緒に開位置側へ回動し、ひいては受話部Ｃが開位置側へ回動するようになっている。
【００１３】
係止部材５は、断面円形の円板部５１と、この円板部５１の外周に設けられ、円板部５１から頭部３１側へ向かって延びるガイド部５２とを有している。円板部５１は、その軸線を回動軸線Ｌと一致させた状態で頭部３１と対向して配置されている。ガイド部５２は、その外周面及び内周面がヒンジ本体２の外周面及び内周面と同一の円弧面によって構成されており、ヒンジ本体２の開口側端部に形成されたガイド溝２５に回動軸線Ｌ方向へ移動可能に、かつ周方向へ移動不能に嵌合されている。これにより、係止部材５がヒンジ本体２に回動不能に、かつ回動軸線Ｌ方向へ移動可能に連結されている。
【００１４】
ガイド部５２の内面には、係合部５３が形成されている。この係合部５３は、回動部材３の頭部３１の外周に形成された係合溝３７に係脱可能であり、回動部材３が閉位置の直前まで回動すると、係合溝３７に入り込むように配置されている。係合部５３全体が係合溝３７に入り込んで円板部５１が回動部材３の大径部３１に突き当たったときの係止部材５の位置が第１の位置であり、係止部材５が回動軸線Ｌと平行に移動して係合部５３全体が係合溝３７から抜け出たときの係止部材５の位置が第２の位置である。係合部５３が係合溝３７に入り込んだ状態において、係合溝３７の開方向を向く側面３７ａと、この側面に突き当たる係合部５３の閉方向を向く側面５３ａとは、回動軸線Ｌに沿って大径部３１側から小径部３２側へ向かうにしたがって、開位置側へ向かうように傾斜した傾斜面になっている。したがって、係合部５３が係合溝３７内に嵌り込むと、側面５３ａが側面３７ａを閉位置側へ押す。これにより、回動部材３がコイルばね４の付勢力に抗して閉位置に回動させられるようになっている。
【００１５】
上記操作部材６は、回動部材３の中央部（回動軸線Ｌ上）を回動可能に、かつ軸線方向へ移動可能に貫通する操作軸部６１を有している。この操作軸部６１の一端部は、回動部材３の頭部３１から突出しており、そこには係止部材５の円板部５１が嵌合固定されている。操作軸部６１の他端部は、加締め部３４から外部に突出しており、そこには頭部６２が形成されている。この頭部６２とワッシャ８との間には、復帰コイルばね７が装着されている。この復帰コイルばね７は、頭部６２をヒンジ本体２から離間する方向（図１（Ａ）、（Ｂ）において左方）へ付勢している。この結果、係止部材５が操作部材６を介して同方向へ付勢されている。したがって、係合部５３が係合溝３７に入り込んでいるときには、係止部材５の円板部５２が回動部材３の大径部３１に突き当たり、係合部５３が係合溝３６から抜け出て回動部材３が回動した状態のときには、係合部５３の先端面５３ｂが大径部３１に突き当たっている。
なお、上記の内容から明らかなように、ヒンジ本体２からワッシャ８に至る全ての部品は、一体的に組み付けられてユニット化されており、各部品がばらばらになることはない。
【００１６】
係合部５３の先端面５３ｂが大径部３１に突き当たった状態において、回動部材３が開位置側から閉位置の直前まで回動すると、復帰コイルばね７の付勢力により、係合部５３が係合溝３７に入り込む。係合部５３が係合溝３７に入り込むと、復帰コイルばね７の付勢力により、係合部５３の側面５３ａが係合溝３７の側面３７ａを閉位置側へ押す。この押圧力は、コイルばね４の開位置側への付勢力より大きくなっている。したがって、係合部５３が係合溝３７に嵌り込むと、回動部材３がコイルばね４の付勢力に抗して閉位置に回動せられる。
【００１７】
上記構成のヒンジ装置１によって送話部Ｂと受話部Ｃと回動可能に連結する場合には、まず、図６に示すように、第１、第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１の軸線を回動軸線Ｌと一致させる。そして、受話部Ｃを送話部Ｂに対して閉位置に回動させておく。一方、ヒンジ装置１については、係合部５３を係合溝３７に係合させておく。その後、図５に示すように、ヒンジ本体２のキー溝２２，２２と第１収容筒部Ｂ１のキー部Ｂ２，Ｂ２との周方向の位置を一致させる。そして、係止部材５を先にしてヒンジ装置１を第１収容筒部Ｂ１から挿入する。ヒンジ装置１を第１、第２収容筒部Ｂ１，Ｃ１に対して適宜の位置（図１〜図３に示す位置）まで挿入すると、キー溝２２，２２にキー部Ｂ２，Ｂ２が嵌り込むとともに、当接部３６が受け部Ｃ２と周方向に対向する。その後、ねじ孔Ｂ３に止めねじ（図示せず）を螺合させて締め付け、ヒンジ装置１を第１収容筒部Ｂ１に固定する。この結果、受話部Ｃが閉位置に位置した状態で、送話部Ｂと受話部Ｃとが回動軸線Ｌを中心として回動可能に連結される。
【００１８】
上記のように構成された携帯電話機Ａにおいて、閉位置に位置している受話部Ｃを開位置まで回動させる場合には、操作部材６の頭部６２を復帰コイルばね７の付勢力に抗して移動させ、係止部材５を同方向へ第２の位置まで移動させる。係止部材５の移動により係合部５３が係合溝３７から抜け出すと、係止部材５による回動部材３のヒンジ本体２に対する係止状態が解除される。その結果、回動部材３がコイルばね４の付勢力によって閉位置から開位置側へ回動させられる。回動部材３が開位置側へ回動すると、当接部３６が受け部Ｃ２に突き当たる。それによって、回動部材３が第２収容筒部Ｃ１、ひいては受話部Ｃが開位置側へ回動させられる。受話部Ｃは、開位置まで回動すると、送話部Ｂと受話部Ｃとの間に設けられた停止機構（図示せず）によって停止させられる。
【００１９】
なお、当接部３６は、閉位置側から開位置側へ回動するときにのみ受け部Ｃ２に突き当り、逆方向へ移動するときには突き当たることがない。したがって、受話部Ｃは、コイルばね４の付勢力によることなく、手動でも閉位置から開位置まで回動させることができる。その場合、ヒンジ本体２と回動部材３との間に、それらの相対回動を適宜の大きさの摩擦抵抗で規制する摩擦抵抗手段を設けておけば、受話部Ｃを任意の回動位置で停止させることができる。勿論、受話部Ｃを閉位置と開位置との間の位置に回動させた状態において、操作部材６を復帰コイルばね７の付勢力に抗して第２の位置まで移動させて、回動部材３を開位置側へ回動させると、回動途中において当接部３６が受け部Ｃ２に突き当たる。したがって、その後は受話部Ｃが回動部材３と共に開位置まで回動させられる。
【００２０】
開位置に回動した受話部Ｃを閉位置に戻す場合には、受話部Ｃを手動によりコイルばね４の付勢力に抗して回動させる。受話部Ｃが閉位置直前に達して、係合部５３と係合溝５３とが対向すると、復帰コイルばね７の付勢力により係合部５３が係合溝３７に入り込む。すると、係合部５３の側面５３ａによって係合溝３７の側面３７ａが閉位置側へ押される。そして、係合部５３全体が係合溝３７に入りこんで係止部材５が第１の位置に達すると、受話部Ｃがコイルばね４の付勢力に抗して閉位置に回動されるとともに、その閉位置に維持される。
【００２１】
ここで、上記構成のヒンジ装置１においては、受話部Ｃを送話部Ｂに対して閉位置から開位置へ回動させる回動機構部と、受話部Ｃを閉位置において送話部Ｂに係止させる係止機構部とが一体に組み付けられているから、それらを別体にした従来のヒンジ装置に比して、部品点数を減らすことができるとともに、組立工数を減らすことができる。これによって、ヒンジ装置１の製造費を大幅に低減することができる。
【００２２】
なお、この発明は上記の実施の形態に限定されるものでなく、適宜変更可能である。
例えば、上記の実施の形態は、この発明に係るヒンジ装置１を携帯電話機Ａに採用したものであるが、この発明に係るヒンジ装置は携帯電話機以外の他の機器、例えば本体（物品）とこれを開閉するカバー（物品）との間を回動可能に連結するものとしても用いることができる。
また、上記の実施の形態においては、受話部Ｃ（第２収容筒部Ｃ１）はヒンジ装置１に対し閉位置側から開位置側へ向かう方向へは自由に回動することができるようになっている、同方向に対しても受話部Ｃをヒンジ装置１に回動不能に連結してもよい。つまり、受話部Ｃをヒンジ装置１に対し開閉いずれの方向に対しても回動不能に連結してもよい。
【００２３】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、この発明によれば、一つのヒンジ装置に、回動部材をヒンジ本体に対して開位置へ回動させる回動機構と、回動部材を閉位置においてヒンジ本体に係止する係止機構とを組み付けているので、部品点数を減らすことができるとともに、組立工数を減らすことができる。したがって、ヒンジ装置の製造費を大幅に低減することができるという効果が得られる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明に係るヒンジ装置とそれが組み込まれた携帯電話機の第１、第２収容筒部とを閉状態で示す図であって、図１（Ａ）は図６（Ａ）のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う拡大断面図、図１（Ｂ）は図１（Ａ）のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図、図１（Ｃ）は図１（Ａ）のＹ矢視図である。
【図２】同ヒンジ装置及び第１、第２収容筒部を開状態で示す図であって、図２（Ａ）、（Ｂ）、（Ｃ）はそれぞれ図１（Ａ）、（Ｂ）、（Ｃ）とそれぞれ同様の図である。
【図３】図３（Ａ）、（Ｂ）は、第１及び第２収容筒部だけを切り欠いて示す図１（Ａ）、図２（Ａ）と同様の図である。
【図４】この発明に係るヒンジ装置の分解斜視図である。
【図５】この発明に係るヒンジ装置を携帯電話機の第１、第２収容筒部に挿入する前の状態を示す図である。
【図６】この発明に係るヒンジ装置が用いられた携帯電話機を開状態にして示す図であって、図６（Ａ）はその平面図、図６（Ｂ）はその左側面図である。
【符号の説明】
Ｂ送話部（一方の物品）
Ｂ１第１収容筒部
Ｃ受話部（他方の物品）
Ｃ１第２収容筒部
Ｃ２受け部
Ｌ回動軸線
１ヒンジ装置
２ヒンジ本体
３回動部材
４コイルばね（回動付勢手段）
５係止部材（係止手段）
６操作部材
２１底部
２３貫通孔
３１大径部
３２小径部
３６当接部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hinge device suitable for use in a foldable mobile phone or the like, and more particularly to a hinge device that can open and rotate a receiving portion or the like of a mobile phone with one touch.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some mobile phones are configured so that a receiving unit located at a closed position can be rotated to an open position with a single touch. Usually, in such a cellular phone, two sets of first and second accommodating cylinders are formed on the left and right sides, with their axes aligned with the adjacent ends of the transmitter and receiver. One set of the first and second housing cylinders incorporates a hinge device that urges the receiver to rotate from the closed position to the open position with respect to the transmitter. The other set of first and second housing cylinders incorporate a locking mechanism that locks the receiver to the transmitter and maintains the closed position. Then, when the locked state by the locking mechanism is released, the receiver is rotated from the closed position to the open position by the hinge device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 8-298538 and 11-41328). See the official gazette).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above mobile phone, since the hinge device that rotates the receiving portion and the locking mechanism that locks the receiving portion in the closed position are provided separately, the number of parts increases and the number of assembly steps increases. As a result, there was a problem that the manufacturing cost increased.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a hinge device that connects two articles so as to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a rotation axis.
A hinge body that is non-rotatably connected to one article and is pivotally connected to the other article about the rotation axis, and is connected to the hinge body so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis. A rotation member, a rotation urging means for urging the rotation member from the closed position side to the open position side, and being displaceable between the first position and the second position, In the first position, the rotating member is non-rotatably locked to the hinge body, and in the second position, locking means for releasing the locked state and the locking means are connected to the locking body from the outside. An operating member capable of displacing the means between a first position and a second position, and the rotating member is rotated from the closed position side to the open position side by the rotating biasing means. A contact portion that contacts the other article and rotates the other article together with the rotating member to the open position side when being moved. It is characterized in that have been made.
[0005]
In this case, the hinge body is formed as a bottomed cylindrical body having an opening at one end and a bottom at the other end, and the axis is aligned with the rotation axis. A large-diameter portion rotatably fitted to the inner periphery of the opening-side end portion of the hinge body, and extending from the center portion of the large-diameter portion through the inside of the hinge body, and to the central portion of the bottom portion. A coil spring serving as the urging means is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the hinge body and the small diameter portion of the rotating member. It is desirable to be. In particular, the one article and the other article are respectively formed with first and second housing cylinders whose axes coincide with the rotation axis, and one end on the bottom side of the hinge body. Is fitted non-rotatably on the inner periphery of the first housing cylinder, and the other end of the hinge body on the opening side is pivotally fitted on the inner circumference of the second housing cylinder. It is desirable that
In addition, the contact portion is formed to protrude from the end surface of the large diameter portion on the opposite side to the small diameter portion, and the rotating member is moved from the closed position side to the open position side on the inner periphery of the second housing cylinder portion. It is desirable that a receiving portion for rotating the other article together with the rotating member to the open position side by abutting the contact portion when rotating is formed.
Further, the locking means is disposed at an end of the hinge body on the opening side, and is linearly displaceable between the first position and the second position along the rotation axis. It is desirable. In this case, the operating means penetrates the central portion of the rotating member so as to be rotatable and movable in the direction of the rotational axis, and one end portion projects outward from the first accommodating tube portion. The other end is preferably connected to the locking means.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 shows a foldable mobile phone A in which the hinge device 1 according to the present invention is used. The mobile phone A includes a transmitter B (one article) provided with a microphone and various keys (all not shown), and a receiver provided with a liquid crystal display D and a speaker (not shown). (The other article) C. The receiving part C is rotatably connected to the receiving part B around the rotation axis L by the hinge device 1. The rotation range of the receiver C is such that the surface of the receiver C on which the liquid crystal display D is formed abuts against the surface on which the key of the transmitter B is provided, and from this closed position to FIG. And an open position rotated about 160 ° in the direction of the arrow.
[0007]
Two first housing cylinders B1 with the axis aligned with the rotation axis L are formed at the end of the transmitter B on the receiver C side. The first accommodating cylinders B1 and B1 are arranged at both ends in the left-right direction of the transmitter B. On the other hand, at the end of the receiver C on the side of the transmitter B, two second accommodating cylinders C1 whose axes are aligned with the rotation axis L are formed. The second housing cylinder C1 has the same outer diameter and inner diameter as the first housing cylinder B1. Each of the second storage cylinders C is disposed such that the outer end face thereof is substantially in contact with the inner end face of each of the first storage cylinders B1, and the first and second storage cylinders adjacent in the left-right direction. B1 and C1 are a set. The hinge device 1 according to the present invention is inserted into the first and second housing cylinders B1 and C1 of one set (in this embodiment, the left set in FIG. 6A). The other pair of first and second housing cylinders B1 and C1 is loaded with another known hinge device or a shaft that simply pivotably connects the first and second housing cylinders B1 and C1. ing. Of course, you may insert the hinge apparatus 1 which concerns on this invention also into 1st, 2nd accommodation cylinder part B1, C1 of the other group.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the hinge device 1 includes a hinge body 2, a rotation member 3, a coil spring (rotation biasing means) 4, a locking member (locking means) 5, an operation member 6, and a return. A coil spring (return bias means) 7 is a main component.
[0009]
The hinge body 2 is formed as a bottomed cylindrical body having a bottom portion 21 at one end and an opening at the other end, and a pair of key grooves 22 and 22 are disposed on the outer periphery thereof at a distance of 180 ° in the circumferential direction. Is formed. The end of the hinge body 2 on the bottom 21 side is inserted into the first housing cylinder B1, and the key parts B2 and B2 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first housing cylinder B1 are formed in the key grooves 22 and 22, respectively. It is inserted. Thereby, the hinge main body 2 is fitted to the first accommodating cylinder B1 so as not to be rotatable. As shown in FIG. 5, the first housing cylinder B1 is formed with a screw hole B3 penetrating the peripheral wall, and a screw (not shown) screwed into the screw hole B3 is tightened. Thus, the hinge body 2 is fixed to the first housing cylinder B1 so as not to move in the axial direction. The end of the hinge body 2 on the opening side is fitted to the second housing cylinder C1 so as to be rotatable. As a result, the first and second accommodating cylinders B1 and C1 are rotatably connected via the hinge body 2, and the transmitter B and the receiver C are thus centered on the rotation axis L by the hinge body 2. It is connected so that it can rotate.
[0010]
The rotation member 3 is arranged with its axis line coincident with the rotation axis line L, and extends from the large-diameter portion 31 having a circular cross section and the central portion of one end surface of the large-diameter portion 31 coaxially with the large-diameter portion 31. And a small-diameter portion 32. The large diameter portion 31 is rotatably fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the opening side end of the hinge body 2. The small-diameter portion 32 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion 31, and a fitting portion 33 and a caulking portion 34 having a circular cross section are sequentially formed on the distal end surface. The fitting part 33 is rotatably fitted in a through hole 23 formed in the center part of the bottom part 21. The caulking portion 34 protrudes from the bottom portion 21, and the washer 8 is fitted and fixed to the outer periphery thereof. The pivot member 3 is fixed to the hinge body 2 so as not to move in the pivot axis L direction by sandwiching the bottom 21 between the washer 8 and the distal end surface of the small diameter portion 32.
[0011]
An annular space defined by the bottom portion 21 and the head portion 31 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the hinge body 2 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 32. A coil spring 4 is disposed in the annular space. One end 41 of the coil spring 4 is supported by a receiving hole 24 formed in the bottom 21 of the hinge body 2 so as not to move in the circumferential direction. The other end 42 of the coil spring 4 is supported by a receiving groove 35 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head 31 of the rotating member 3 so as not to move in the circumferential direction. As a result, the coil spring 4 urges the rotation member 3 to rotate in the direction from the closed position toward the open position (the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIGS. 1C and 2C).
[0012]
A contact portion 36 is formed on the end surface of the head portion 31 of the rotating member 3 so as to protrude toward the opposite side to the small diameter portion 32 side. On the other hand, the receiving part C2 is formed in the internal peripheral surface of the 2nd accommodating cylinder part C1. The receiving portion C <b> 2 is disposed so as to abut against the contact portion 36 when the rotating member 3 is rotated from the closed position side to the open position side by the biasing force of the coil spring 4. When the second contact portion C2 hits the receiving portion C2, the second accommodating portion C1 rotates together with the rotating member 3 to the open position side, and as a result, the receiving portion C rotates to the open position side.
[0013]
The locking member 5 includes a disc portion 51 having a circular cross section and a guide portion 52 provided on the outer periphery of the disc portion 51 and extending from the disc portion 51 toward the head portion 31 side. The disc portion 51 is disposed so as to face the head portion 31 with its axis line coincident with the rotation axis L. The outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the guide portion 52 are configured by the same arc surface as the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the hinge body 2, and the guide groove 52 is formed in the guide groove 25 formed at the opening side end of the hinge body 2. It is fitted so as to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis L and immovable in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the locking member 5 is connected to the hinge body 2 so as not to be rotatable and movable in the direction of the rotation axis L.
[0014]
An engaging portion 53 is formed on the inner surface of the guide portion 52. The engaging portion 53 can be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging groove 37 formed on the outer periphery of the head portion 31 of the rotating member 3, and when the rotating member 3 rotates just before the closed position, the engaging groove 37. It is arranged to go in. The position of the locking member 5 when the entire engaging part 53 enters the engaging groove 37 and the disk part 51 hits the large diameter part 31 of the rotating member 3 is the first position, and the locking member 5 Is moved parallel to the rotation axis L, and the position of the locking member 5 when the entire engaging portion 53 comes out of the engaging groove 37 is the second position. In a state where the engaging portion 53 enters the engaging groove 37, the side surface 37 a facing the opening direction of the engaging groove 37 and the side surface 53 a facing the closing direction of the engaging portion 53 that abuts on the side surface are defined by the rotation axis L The inclined surface is inclined so as to go to the open position side from the large diameter portion 31 side toward the small diameter portion 32 side. Therefore, when the engaging portion 53 is fitted into the engaging groove 37, the side surface 53a pushes the side surface 37a toward the closed position. Thereby, the rotating member 3 is rotated to the closed position against the urging force of the coil spring 4.
[0015]
The operation member 6 has an operation shaft portion 61 that penetrates the central portion (on the rotation axis L) of the rotation member 3 so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction. One end portion of the operation shaft portion 61 protrudes from the head portion 31 of the rotating member 3, and the disc portion 51 of the locking member 5 is fitted and fixed thereto. The other end portion of the operation shaft portion 61 protrudes from the caulking portion 34 to the outside, and a head portion 62 is formed there. A return coil spring 7 is mounted between the head 62 and the washer 8. The return coil spring 7 urges the head 62 in the direction away from the hinge body 2 (leftward in FIGS. 1A and 1B). As a result, the locking member 5 is urged in the same direction via the operation member 6. Therefore, when the engaging portion 53 enters the engaging groove 37, the disc portion 52 of the locking member 5 hits the large diameter portion 31 of the rotating member 3, and the engaging portion 53 comes out of the engaging groove 36. When the rotating member 3 is in the rotated state, the front end surface 53 b of the engaging portion 53 is in contact with the large diameter portion 31.
As is clear from the above contents, all the parts from the hinge main body 2 to the washer 8 are integrally assembled to form a unit, and each part does not fall apart.
[0016]
When the rotating member 3 is rotated from the open position side to immediately before the closed position in a state where the distal end surface 53b of the engaging portion 53 is in contact with the large diameter portion 31, the engaging portion 53 is urged by the urging force of the return coil spring 7. Enters the engaging groove 37. When the engaging portion 53 enters the engaging groove 37, the side surface 53 a of the engaging portion 53 pushes the side surface 37 a of the engaging groove 37 toward the closed position by the biasing force of the return coil spring 7. This pressing force is greater than the urging force of the coil spring 4 toward the open position. Therefore, when the engaging portion 53 is fitted in the engaging groove 37, the rotating member 3 is rotated to the closed position against the urging force of the coil spring 4.
[0017]
When the transmitting device B and the receiving unit C are pivotally connected by the hinge device 1 having the above-described configuration, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the axes of the first and second accommodating cylinders B1 and C1 are rotated. Match with the movement axis L. Then, the receiver C is rotated to the closed position with respect to the transmitter B. On the other hand, for the hinge device 1, the engaging portion 53 is engaged with the engaging groove 37. After that, as shown in FIG. 5, the circumferential positions of the key grooves 22 and 22 of the hinge body 2 and the key portions B2 and B2 of the first accommodating cylinder B1 are made to coincide. And the hinge apparatus 1 is inserted from 1st accommodating cylinder part B1 with the latching member 5 first. When the hinge device 1 is inserted to an appropriate position (position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) with respect to the first and second housing cylinders B1 and C1, the key parts B2 and B2 are fitted in the key grooves 22 and 22, respectively. The contact part 36 faces the receiving part C2 in the circumferential direction. Thereafter, a set screw (not shown) is screwed into the screw hole B3 and tightened to fix the hinge device 1 to the first housing cylinder B1. As a result, the transmitter B and the receiver C are connected so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis L in a state where the receiver C is located at the closed position.
[0018]
In the mobile phone A configured as described above, when the receiver C located in the closed position is rotated to the open position, the head 62 of the operation member 6 is resisted against the biasing force of the return coil spring 7. Then, the locking member 5 is moved to the second position in the same direction. When the engaging portion 53 comes out of the engaging groove 37 by the movement of the locking member 5, the locking state of the rotating member 3 with respect to the hinge body 2 by the locking member 5 is released. As a result, the rotating member 3 is rotated from the closed position to the open position side by the biasing force of the coil spring 4. When the rotating member 3 rotates to the open position side, the contact portion 36 abuts against the receiving portion C2. As a result, the rotating member 3 is rotated to the second receiving cylinder portion C1, and consequently the receiving portion C is turned to the open position side. When the receiving part C is rotated to the open position, it is stopped by a stop mechanism (not shown) provided between the transmitting part B and the receiving part C.
[0019]
Note that the abutting portion 36 strikes the receiving portion C2 only when rotating from the closed position side to the open position side, and does not strike when moving in the reverse direction. Therefore, the receiving part C can be manually rotated from the closed position to the open position without using the biasing force of the coil spring 4. In that case, if a friction resistance means is provided between the hinge body 2 and the rotation member 3 to restrict the relative rotation of the hinge body 2 and the rotation member 3 with a friction resistance of an appropriate size, the receiver C can be moved to an arbitrary rotation position. Can be stopped. Of course, in a state where the receiving part C is rotated to a position between the closed position and the open position, the operating member 6 is moved to the second position against the urging force of the return coil spring 7 and rotated. When the member 3 is rotated to the open position side, the abutting portion 36 abuts against the receiving portion C2 during the rotation. Therefore, thereafter, the receiver C is rotated together with the rotating member 3 to the open position.
[0020]
When returning the receiving part C rotated to the open position to the closed position, the receiving part C is manually rotated against the urging force of the coil spring 4. When the receiving part C reaches just before the closed position and the engaging part 53 and the engaging groove 53 face each other, the engaging part 53 enters the engaging groove 37 by the urging force of the return coil spring 7. Then, the side surface 37a of the engaging groove 37 is pushed toward the closed position by the side surface 53a of the engaging portion 53. When the entire engaging portion 53 enters the engaging groove 37 and the locking member 5 reaches the first position, the receiving portion C is rotated to the closed position against the biasing force of the coil spring 4. , Maintained in its closed position.
[0021]
Here, in the hinge device 1 having the above-described configuration, the rotation mechanism unit that rotates the reception unit C from the closed position to the open position with respect to the transmission unit B, and the transmission unit B at the closed position. Since the locking mechanism portion to be locked is integrally assembled, the number of parts can be reduced and the number of assembling steps can be reduced as compared with the conventional hinge device in which they are separated. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the hinge device 1 can be significantly reduced.
[0022]
In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, It can change suitably.
For example, in the above embodiment, the hinge device 1 according to the present invention is adopted in the mobile phone A, but the hinge device according to the present invention is a device other than the mobile phone, for example, a main body (article) and this. It can also be used as a pivotable connection with a cover (article) that opens and closes.
Moreover, in said embodiment, the receiving part C (2nd accommodating cylinder part C1) can be freely rotated now in the direction which goes to an open position side with respect to the hinge apparatus 1 from a closed position side. The receiving part C may be connected to the hinge device 1 so as not to rotate in the same direction. That is, the receiver C may be connected to the hinge device 1 so as not to rotate in any direction of opening and closing.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in one hinge device, the turning mechanism for turning the turning member to the open position with respect to the hinge body, and the turning member locked to the hinge body in the closed position. Since the locking mechanism is assembled, the number of parts can be reduced and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Therefore, the effect that the manufacturing cost of the hinge device can be greatly reduced is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a hinge device according to the present invention and first and second housing cylinders of a mobile phone in which the hinge device is incorporated, in a closed state, and FIG. 1 (A) is a view of FIG. 6 (A); 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a view taken in the direction of arrow Y in FIG.
2 is a view showing the hinge device and the first and second housing cylinders in an open state, and FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are respectively FIGS. 1A and 1B; FIG. , (C) is the same diagram.
3 (A) and 3 (B) are views similar to FIGS. 1 (A) and 2 (A), showing only the first and second housing cylinders.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state before the hinge device according to the present invention is inserted into the first and second housing cylinders of the mobile phone.
6A and 6B are views showing an open cellular phone using the hinge device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a left side view thereof.
[Explanation of symbols]
B Sending part (one article)
B1 1st accommodation cylinder part C Earpiece part (the other article)
C1 2nd accommodation cylinder part C2 receiving part L rotation axis 1 hinge apparatus 2 hinge main body 3 rotation member 4 coil spring (rotation biasing means)
5 Locking member (locking means)
6 Operation member 21 Bottom 23 Through-hole 31 Large diameter part 32 Small diameter part 36 Contact part

Claims

In a hinge device that connects two articles so as to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a rotation axis,
A hinge body that is non-rotatably connected to one article and is pivotally connected to the other article about the rotation axis, and is connected to the hinge body so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis. A rotation member, a rotation urging means for urging the rotation member from the closed position side to the open position side, and being displaceable between the first position and the second position, In the first position, the rotating member is non-rotatably locked to the hinge body, and in the second position, locking means for releasing the locked state and the locking means are connected to the locking body from the outside. An operating member capable of displacing the means between a first position and a second position, and the rotating member is rotated from the closed position side to the open position side by the rotating biasing means. A contact portion that contacts the other article and rotates the other article together with the rotating member to the open position side when being moved. Made, the hinge body, one end portion is open, has a bottom on the other end, is formed on the axis as a bottomed cylindrical body to match the said pivot axis, said pivot member, one end A large-diameter portion rotatably fitted to the inner periphery of the opening-side end portion of the hinge body, and extending from the center portion of the large-diameter portion through the inside of the hinge body, and to the central portion of the bottom portion. A coil spring serving as the urging means is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the hinge body and the small diameter portion of the rotating member. hinge apparatus characterized by there.

The one article and the other article are respectively formed with first and second housing cylinders whose axes coincide with the rotation axis, and one end on the bottom side of the hinge body is The inner end of the first housing cylinder is non-rotatably fitted, and the other end of the hinge body on the opening side is pivotably fitted to the inner circumference of the second housing cylinder. The hinge device according to claim 1.

The abutting portion is formed to protrude from the end surface of the large diameter portion on the opposite side to the small diameter portion, and the rotating member rotates from the closed position side to the open position side on the inner periphery of the second housing cylinder portion. 3. A hinge according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a receiving portion is formed which causes the other article to rotate together with the rotating member to the open position side by abutting against the abutting portion. apparatus.

The locking means is disposed at an end of the hinge body on the opening side, and is linearly displaceable between the first position and the second position along the rotation axis. The hinge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

The operating means penetrates the central portion of the rotating member so as to be rotatable and movable in the direction of the rotational axis, and has one end projecting outward from the first housing tube portion and the other end portion being The hinge device according to claim 4 , wherein the hinge device is connected to the locking means .