Hinge assembly for a foldable electronic device
AssigneesShenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
InventorsChao Duan, Chia-Hua Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hinge assembly includes a shaft (12), a follower (16), a cam (18), and an urging means. The shaft has a screw portion (122) defined thereon. The follower has a first cam surface (164) formed on one end surface thereof. The cam has a second cam surface (184) formed on one end surface opposite to the follower. The cam has a screw hole (182) defined therethrough. The screw hole engages with the screw portion of the shaft. The urging means is configured for providing an urging force which moves the follower along the shaft and makes the first cam surface rotatably engage with the second cam surface of the cam.
Claims17
A hinge assembly, comprising:
- a shaft having a threaded portion defined thereon;
- a follower rotatable about the shaft;
- a friction-reducing member;
- a driving member in the shape of a cylinder, the driving member having a threaded hole defined therethrough, the threaded hole engagingly receiving the threaded portion of the shaft;
- and
- an elastic member providing an urging force which makes the driving member integral with the follower rotate and simultaneously longitudinally movable along the shaft, and the friction-reducing member engage between the follower and the driving member.
A hinge assembly, comprising:
- a shaft having a threaded portion defined at one end thereof, and a securing portion at an opposite end thereof;
- a follower rotatable about and simultaneously longitudinally movable along the shaft and having a first cam surface formed on one end surface thereof;
- a cam rotatable about the shaft and having a second cam surface formed on one end surface facing the first cam surface and a fixation portion formed on outer periphery, the cam having a threaded hole defined therethrough, the threaded hole engaging with the threaded portion of the shaft;
- and
- an elastic member providing an urging force which makes the follower move along the shaft and keep the first cam surface rotatably engaged with the second cam surface of the cam.
A foldable electronic device comprising:
- a main body;
- a flip cover;
- and
- a hinge shaft comprising a securing portion fixed relative to one of the main body and the flip cover;
- a rotating member fixed relative to the other of the main body and the flip cover, the rotating member having a threaded hole defined therethrough, the hinge shaft comprising a threaded portion, the threaded hole engaging with the threaded portion, the rotating member rotatably engaged with the shaft in such a manner that rotation of the rotating member causes a relative helical movement between the rotating member and the hinge shaft;
- a follower rotatable relative to the rotating member and rotatable about and simultaneously longitudinally movable along the hinge shaft;
- an elastic member biasing the follower into engagement with the rotating member, the rotating member comprises a first cam surface, the follower comprises a second cam surface, and the first and second cam surfaces engage with each other, the engagement of the rotating member with the follower being configured such that a relative rotation therebetween causes a relative axial movement therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.