Hinge device

A hinge device for connecting a first object and a second object to allow relative folding and unfolding movements with respect to each other, comprising:

• a base seat including a first object connecting section which is adapted to be connected to the first object, and a mounting section which extends from said first object connecting section in a first direction, said mounting section having two base lateral walls which are opposite to each other in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, at least one first arcuate slot which is formed in one of said base lateral walls, and at least one first stop which is disposed adjacent to said first arcuate slot, said first arcuate slot extending along a curve of which a centre of curvature is located above a top of said base seat, and having an end which is adjacent to said object connecting section and which has a first access port at said top of said base seat;
• a coupling member slidably connected to said mounting section, and having two coupling lateral walls which are spaced apart from each other in the second direction to respectively have coupling inner lateral surfaces that face each other and that are disposed outwardly of said base lateral walls, respectively, and coupling outer lateral surfaces that are opposite to each other, a crosspiece portion which interconnects said coupling lateral walls, at least one first arcuate protrusion which is formed on one of said coupling inner lateral surfaces and which is slidably engaged in said first arcuate slot, at least one second arcuate slot which is formed in one of said coupling outer lateral surfaces, and at least one second stop which is disposed adjacent to said second arcuate slot, said second arcuate slot extending along a curve of which a centre of curvature is located above a top of said coupling member, and having an end which is adjacent to said first access port and which has a second access port at said top of said coupling member, the centers of curvature of said first and second arcuate slots cooperatively defining a rotating axis that extends parallel to said top of said base seat and in the second direction;
• and
• a sliding member slidably connected to said coupling member, and having two sliding lateral walls which are spaced apart from each other in the second direction to respectively have sliding inner lateral surfaces that face each other and that are disposed outwardly of said coupling outer lateral surfaces, respectively, and sliding outer lateral surfaces that are opposite to each other, a second object connecting section which is connected to and extends from said sliding lateral walls in the first direction and which is adapted to be connected to the second object, and at least one second arcuate protrusion which is formed on one of said sliding inner lateral surfaces and which is slidably engaged in said second arcuate slot,
• said sliding member being operatively turned about the rotating axis relative to said base seat with movement of said second arcuate protrusion along said second arcuate slot to bring said second arcuate protrusion into abutment against said second stop, and to further drive turning of said coupling member about the rotating axis relative to said base seat with movement of said first arcuate protrusion along said first arcuate slot until abutment of said first arcuate protrusion against said first stop, so as to shift said hinge device from a folded state, where said first object connecting section and said second object connecting section are disposed at two opposite sides of said mounting section in the first direction to allow folding of the first and second objects to each other, to an unfolded state, where said second object connecting section is placed above said first object connecting section to allow the second object to be unfolded and inclined to the first object by an angle.