# US 11,907,026 B2 · Rotatable connector assembly and foldable terminal device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,026 B2 - Document ID: US11907026B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/388,577 - Filed: 2021-07-29 - Published: 2021-11-18 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-29 - Assignees: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yongjin Deng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907026B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - G09F 9/301: {flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED} - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - H04M 1/022: {The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A rotatable connector assembly includes a base and two connector members respectively connected to two sides of the base, where each of the connector members includes a first hinge and a second hinge, and both sides of the base are provided with a first sliding slot; one end of the first hinge is slidably connected to the first sliding slot and rotates with respect to the base, and the other end of the first hinge is hinged to one end of the second hinge; the rotatable connector assembly has an unfolded state and a folded state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotatable connector assembly, comprising a base and two connector members respectively connected to two sides of the base, wherein each of the connector members comprises a first hinge and a second hinge, and both sides of the base are provided with a first sliding slot; one end of the first hinge is slidably connected to the first sliding slot and rotates with respect to the base, and the other end of the first hinge is hinged to one end of the second hinge; the rotatable connector assembly has an unfolded state and a folded state, wherein in the unfolded state, the two connector members connected to the two sides of the base extend in a direction away from each other; and in the folded state, the two connector members connected to the two sides of the base are stacked, the first hinge and the second hinge of each of the connector members are bent to form a recess at a hinged position, and the recesses formed in the two connector members are joined to form an accommodating space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotatable connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector members further comprise two third hinges respectively connected to the two sides of the base; both sides of the base are provided with a second sliding slot; one end of the third hinge is slidably connected to the second sliding slot and rotates with respect to the base; and the other end of the second hinge is slidably connected to the other end of the third hinge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rotatable connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein both the first hinge and the second hinge are plate-like structures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rotatable connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein in the unfolded state, the first hinge and the second hinge are joined to form a support plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The rotatable connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of the third hinges comprises two side plates and a middle plate, the middle plate is connected between one end of each of the two side plates, and the other end of each of the side plates is provided with a strip-shaped hole; the first hinge and the second hinge are arranged between two side plates that are on a same side of the base as the first hinge and the second hinge; the second hinge is provided with a connecting block, and the connecting block is slidably connected to the strip-shaped hole; the first hinge and the second hinge rotate with the third hinge; and the middle plate is slidably connected to the second sliding slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rotatable connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein end planes of the base are provided with threaded holes, and each of the side plates is disposed on an outer side of an end plane corresponding to the base, and the rotatable connector assembly further comprises screws, wherein the screw passes through a connecting hole of the side plate and is fastened to the base, and the side plate rotatably cooperates with a corresponding screw. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A foldable terminal device, comprising a flexible display, two housings, and the rotatable connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the two housings are respectively connected to the two connector members, the two housings and the rotatable connector assembly form a mounting plane, and the flexible display is mounted on the mounting plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The foldable terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a battery cover and a mainboard top cover connected to the battery cover, and the mainboard top cover, the first hinge, and the second hinge form the mounting plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The foldable terminal device according to claim 8, wherein an end part of the side plate is slidably connected to an in-housing space formed by the battery cover and the mainboard top cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The foldable terminal device according to claim 9, wherein an inner wall of the side plate is provided with a lapping step, the mainboard top cover is provided with a support block, and the support block supports the lapping step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The foldable terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the lapping step extends into the in-housing space, and an end part of the lapping step extending into the in-housing space is provided with a first limiting element; in an unfolded state, a first gap is reserved between the first limiting element and the support block; and in a folded state, the first limiting element is in position-limited contact with the support block. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The foldable terminal device according to claim 8, wherein a third hinge comprises a second limiting element; in the folded state, the battery cover is arranged on an outer side of a corresponding third hinge, and a second gap is formed between the battery cover and the second limiting element; and in the unfolded state, the battery cover is in butt contact with the second limiting element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The foldable terminal device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the two housings is provided with a secondary display on a side away from the mounting plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The foldable terminal device according to claim 7, wherein end planes of the base are provided with threaded holes, and each of the side plates is disposed on an outer side of an end plane corresponding to the base, and the rotatable connector assembly further comprises screws, wherein the screw passes through a connecting hole of the side plate and is fastened to the base, and the side plate rotatably cooperates with a corresponding screw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The foldable terminal device according to claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a battery cover and a mainboard top cover connected to the battery cover, and the mainboard top cover, the first hinge, and the second hinge form the mounting plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A foldable terminal device, comprising a flexible display, two housings, and the rotatable connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the two housings are respectively connected to the two connector members, the two housings and the rotatable connector assembly form a mounting plane, and the flexible display is mounted on the mounting plane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The foldable terminal device according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the two housings is provided with a secondary display on a side away from the mounting plane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The foldable terminal device according to claim 16, wherein the connector members further comprise two third hinges respectively connected to the two sides of the base; both sides of the base are provided with a second sliding slot; one end of the third hinge is slidably connected to the second sliding slot and rotates with respect to the base; and the other end of the second hinge is slidably connected to the other end of the third hinge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The foldable terminal device according to claim 18, wherein both the first hinge and the second hinge are plate-like structures. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The foldable terminal device according to claim 19, wherein in the unfolded state, the first hinge and the second hinge are joined to form a support plane.