WO2009005185A1

WO2009005185A1 - Slide hinge

Info

Publication number: WO2009005185A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004841
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wu-Chun Kim
Original assignee: KBF Co Ltd
Current assignee: KBF Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-30
Filing date: 2007-10-04
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-30

Abstract

Disclosed is a slide hinge employed for opening/closing a slide type device. In particular, the present invention relates to a technical idea which enables both the simplification of construction of a slide hinge and the improvement of performance of the slide hinge through the improvement of a slide structure. Through the improvement of the structure, it is possible to miniaturize and slim the device, and to dramatically reduce the space occupied by the slide hinge so that other parts can be mounted more easily.

Description

Description SLIDE HINGE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a slide hinge employed for opening/closing a slide type device, and in particular to a technical idea which enables both the simplification of construction of a slide hinge and the improvement of performance of the slide hinge through the improvement of a slide structure. Background Art

[2] Various open/close means have been proposed for a hand-held device, such as a mobile communication terminal, a camera, or the like, which are provided in consideration of the functionality and design of the device. If such a device is adapted to be opened when a front member is slid on a main body of the device, a slide hinge, such as a push rod-type slide hinge, a spring-type slide hinge, or the like, is typically interposed between the front member and the main body of the device so as to exert actuating force.

[3] A push rod-type slide hinge includes a plurality of springs 2 engaged with the ends of a plurality of rods 1 within rod guides 4, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to produce tension or compressive force, and a pair of hinge end pieces 3 and 3a connected to the lower part of a front member A of a device and the upper part of a main body B of the device, as shown in FIG. 2, so that when the front member A is slid on the main body B (from step "a" to step "c" in FIG. 2), the rods 1 are extended or retracted within the rod guides 4, thereby allowing the front member A to be moved upward or downward.

[4] However, the outer diameter of each of the rods is 1.2 mm or more, and if related elements are applied to the rods, the thickness of the rods exceeds 1.5 mm, which makes it difficult to save costs and to slim a device equipped with such a slide hinge.

[5] In addition, a spring-type slide hinge is spirally wounded in the thickness direction thereof, which also provides a limitation in slimming a device equipped with such a slide hinge. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] The present invention has been made so as to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional slide hinges. The present invention provides a slide hinge which is simplified in construction through the selection of elastic members and the improvement of connection construction and rod construction, thereby contributing to the substantial miniaturization and slimming of a device equipped such a slide hinge, and which is further improved in functionality by implementing a longer slide stroke within a limited width (a limited space within the device). Technical Solution

[7] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide hinge including: a plate connection slide member having a pair of elastic member engagement parts at the opposite ends, to which one end of an elastic member can be affixed; and a pair of torsional elastic members, each of which is a spring formed in a concentric circular shape radially expanded from a center on the same plane, wherein one end of each of the torsional elastic members is mounted on one of the elastic member engagement parts at the opposite ends of the connection slide member, and the other end has an engagement end rotatably engaged with a device, the engagement ends of the torsional elastic members being mounted to be oppositely directed with each other.

Advantageous Effects

[8] According to the present invention, it is possible to maximize a slide stroke within a limited slide hinge mounting space. In addition, because the elastic member of a slide hinge is formed in a single tier, and the driving area of the slide hinge is dramatically reduced, other elements can be easily mounted. [9] Therefore, the number of necessary parts and material costs of the slide hinge itself can be reduced according to the present invention. As a result, a substantial cost reduction effect can be obtained, and the miniaturization and slimming of a device employing such a slide hinge can be economically realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings [10] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[11] FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional push rod- type slide hinge in detail;

[12] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the operation of the conventional push rod- type slide hinge;

[13] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a slide hinge according to the present invention;

[14] FIG. 4 is a view showing the inventive slide hinge in a completely assembled state;

[15] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating how to mount the inventive slide hinge; and

[16] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the operation of the inventive slide hinge.

Mode for the Invention [17] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [18] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a slide hinge according to the present invention, which includes a pair of torsional elastic members 12, which are engaged with a connection slide member 11 in the opposite directions.

[19] The connection slide member 11 is provided with a pair of elastic member engagement parts 13 at the opposite ends 11a and 1 Ib, so that one end of each of the torsional elastic members 12 is affixed to one of the elastic member engagement parts 13.

[20] One end of each of the torsional elastic members 12 is affixed to one of the elastic engagement parts 13, and the other end provides an engagement end 14 formed by bending or the like, wherein the engagement end 14 is rotatably engaged with a device employing such a slide hinge.

[21] Each of the torsional elastic members 12 is a spring formed in a concentric circular shape which is continuously expanded from a center in the radial direction on the same plane without a turn wounded in the thickness (height) direction, so that it forms a single tier elastic member when it is shown in a side view as shown in FIG. 4.

[22] Specifically, the wire of each of the torsion members 12 is formed in such a manner that it is expanded in the radial direction and then formed in a straight shape when it is extended to the outside of the slide member 11, wherein the straight part is formed with an engagement end 14 which can be engaged with the device.

[23] The connection slide member 11 has a cover 15 and/or side walls l la and 1 Ib at the outer peripheries of the opposite ends thereof so as to prevent the torsional elastic members from being detached, to maintain prestressed condition of the torsional elastic members 12, and to stably guide the sliding movement of the torsional elastic members.

[24] In connection with the construction and position, it is necessary to form the cover

15 and/or the side walls l la and 1 Ib so that they do not disturb the rotating movement of the torsional elastic member. In particular, the side portion of the cover should be properly opened so that the engagement ends 14 are exposed to the outside.

[25] The cover 15 is mounted on the connection slide member 11 via fastening portions

1 Ic and 15a through a proper conventional method, such as screwing or insertion.

[26] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the inventive slide hinge has a thickness which is equal to the sum of the thickness of the connection slide member 11, the diameter of the wire of the torsional elastic member 12, and the thickness of the cover 15. Consequently, it is possible to provide a slide hinge which is substantially slimmed as compared to a conventional rod structure.

[27] FIG. 5 shows a position where the slide hinge is mounted on a device employing the slide hinge, and FIG. 6 shows the sliding movement of the slide hinge mounted on the device (from step "a" to step "c"), wherein each of the engagement ends 14 of the torsion springs is mounted and moved on the lower part of the front member A or upper part of the main body B.

[28] According to the present invention, the engagement ends 14 of the torsional elastic members are engaged at the lower part of the front member and the upper part of the main body of the device, respectively, to be directed opposite to each other about the center of the connection slide member. As a result, the opening/closing movement of the device can be performed in such a manner that the connection slide member is deformed to be tilted about 20 degrees from a normally mounted position as shown in FIG. 6, whereby the driving area of the hinge slide can be dramatically reduced.

[29] Due to the oppositely directed engagement ends of the torsional elastic members being engaged at the lower part of the front member and the upper part of the main body of the device, respectively, actuating force will be provided when the front member A is slid on the main body B.

[30] In practice, a push rod conventional slide hinge module includes torsion springs, the wire of which has a diameter in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 mm, wherein the minimum thickness of the module is in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 mm. According to the present invention, when the same operation performance parameters, such as the same force, the same wire diameter, and the same number of turns, are applied, the thickness of the slide hinge may be in the range of 0.9 to 1.4 mm, thereby reducing the thickness by about 0.5 mm as compared to the conventional article.

[31] Like this, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the thickness and the driving area of the slide hinge. In addition, due to the reduced number of parts, it is also possible to reduce the weight and size of the slide hinge and to dramatically save costs.

Claims

[1] A slide hinge comprising: a plate connection slide member having a pair of elastic member engagement parts at the opposite ends, to which one end of an elastic member can be affixed; and a pair of torsional elastic members, each of which is a spring formed in a concentric circular shape radially expanded from a center on the same plane, whe rein one end of each of the torsional elastic members is mounted on one of the elastic member engagement parts at the opposite ends of the connection slide member, and the other end has an engagement end rotatably engaged with a device, the engagement ends of the torsional elastic members being mounted to be oppositely directed with each other.

[2] The slide hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection slide member has side walls at the outer peripheries of the opposite ends thereof so as to prevent the torsion elastic springs from escaping and to prestress the torsion springs, the side walls being formed not to disturb the movement of the engagement.

[3] The slide hinge as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cover having the same shape as the connection slide member, the cover having a construction capable of preventing the torsional elastic member from escaping and maintaining the prestressed condition of the torsional elastic member.