U.S. patent application number 11/041196 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for coupling structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tatung Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chin-Ku Chuang, Chao-Ming Huang, Wen-Chieh Wang.
Application Number | 20060081738 11/041196 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34271530 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060081738 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Chao-Ming ; et
al. |
April 20, 2006 |
COUPLING STRUCTURE
Abstract
A coupling structure coupled between a base and a display panel
is disclosed to include a pivot structure fixedly fastened to the
base, a rotary platform pivotally coupled to the pivot structure
for allowing rotation of the rotary platform on the pivot
structure, a gear set, which includes a center gear fixedly
fastened to the pivot structure and a left-side gear and a
right-side gear pivotally mounted inside the rotary platform and
meshed with the center gear at two sides respectively, the
left-side and right-side gears each having the same number of teeth
and a raised portion, and a hinge member, which is received inside
the rotary platform and fixedly fastened to the display panel and
has two elongated blind holes respectively coupled to the raised
portions of the left-side gear and right-side gear.
Inventors: |
Huang; Chao-Ming; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Wang; Wen-Chieh; (Taipei City, TW)
; Chuang; Chin-Ku; (Taipei City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Tatung Co., Ltd.
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
34271530 |
Appl. No.: |
11/041196 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/125.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/5472 20150115;
Y10T 16/541 20150115; G06F 1/1683 20130101; G06F 1/162 20130101;
G06F 1/1681 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/125.7 |
International
Class: |
F16M 11/00 20060101
F16M011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 15, 2004 |
TW |
093131419 |
Claims
1. A coupling structure coupled between a base and a display panel
for enabling said display panel to be rotatable relative to said
base, the coupling structure comprising: a pivot structure, said
pivot structure fixedly fastened to a top side of said base; a
rotary platform, said rotary platform comprising a pivot member
pivotally coupled to said pivot structure for allowing rotation of
said rotary platform on said pivot structure, an open chamber, and
a guide structure; a gear set arranged inside the open chamber of
said rotary platform, said gear set comprising a center gear
coaxially fixedly fastened to said pivot structure, a left-side
gear pivotally mounted in said rotary platform and meshed with said
center gear at one side, and a right-side gear pivotally mounted in
said rotary platform and meshed with said center gear at one side
opposite to said left-side gear, said left-side gear and said
right-side gear having the same number of teeth, at least one of
said left-side gear and said right-side gear having a raised
portion; and a hinge member received inside the open chamber of
said rotary platform and fixedly fastened to said display panel,
said hinge member having at least one elongated blind hole disposed
in a bottom face thereof and coupled to the at least one raised
portion at said left-side gear and said right-side gear, and a
guide structure coupled to the guide structure of said rotary
platform; wherein when rotating said rotary platform on said pivot
structure, said center gear drives said left-side gear and said
right-side gear to rotate around said center gear, thereby causing
said at least one raised portion to drive the at least one
elongated blind hole of said hinge member to move along the
guidance of the guide structure of said hinge member and the guide
structure of said rotary platform.
2. The coupling structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot
structure is fixedly fastened to a rear side of the top side of
said base.
3. The coupling structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot
structure is a pivot shaft, and the pivot member of said rotary
platform is a barrel sleeved onto said pivot shaft.
4. The coupling structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide
structure of said rotary platform comprises two ribs arranged in
parallel inside said open chamber at two sides relative to said
gear set; the guide structure of said hinge member comprises two
sliding grooves respectively coupled to the ribs of the guide
structure of said rotary platform.
5. The coupling structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide
structure of said rotary platform comprises two guide rods arranged
in parallel inside said open chamber; the guide structure of said
hinge member comprises two axle holes respectively coupled to said
guide rods for guiding movement of said hinge member along said
guide rods.
6. The coupling structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a gear damper covered on said rotary platform over said gear set,
said gear damper comprising at least one arched sliding slot
respectively coupled to said at least one raised portion.
7. The coupling structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
at least one positioning wheel mounted in the top side of said
base, and two locating holes formed in said rotary platform in two
opposite sides optionally corresponding to said at least one
positioning wheel for positioning.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a coupling structure for
use in a dual-use portable computer and more particularly, to such
a coupling structure, which allows the display panel of the
dual-use portable computer to be moved relative to the base and
rotated on the base to set the portable computer between the
notebook form and the tablet PC form.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A regular dual-use portable computer generally comprises a
base carrying a keyboard, and a display panel pivotally coupled to
the base and rotatable relative to the base. When the display panel
is set in the position with the display screen facing to the base,
the portable computer is used as a notebook computer. On the
contrary, when the display panel is closed on the base with the
display screen set opposite to the base, the portable computer is
used as a tablet PC for data input through a touch pen.
[0005] For allowing the display panel to be rotated relative to the
base, a swivel mechanism is provided and coupled between the
display panel and the base. This swivel mechanism is a round
structure and has a circular form which is coupled between the base
and the display panel and protruding over the top side of the base.
Further, a hinge is mounted to the swivel mechanism for allowing
the display panel to be turned relative to the base between the
close position and the open position. The position of the hinge
changes with rotary motion of the swivel mechanism. After a rotary
motion of the display panel relative to the base, the position of
the display panel is biased relative to the base, thereby causing
the display panel unable to cover the top side of the base
completely, and an space is left above the top side of the base at
one side of the display panel. Further, the hinge of this design is
not steady and will vibrate when the user turning the display panel
relative to the base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the
present invention to provide a space-saving and steady coupling
structure for use in a dual-use portable computer to allow a
display panel of the dual-use portable computer to be moved
relative to a base of the dual-use portable computer and rotated on
the base to set the portable computer between the notebook form and
the tablet PC form. The coupling structure is comprised of a pivot
structure, a rotary platform, a gear set, and a hinge member. The
pivot structure is fixedly fastened to a top side of the base. The
rotary platform comprises a pivot member pivotally coupled to the
pivot structure for allowing rotation of the rotary platform on the
pivot structure, an open chamber, and a guide structure. The gear
set is arranged inside the open chamber of the rotary platform,
comprising a center gear coaxially fixedly fastened to the pivot
structure, a left-side gear pivotally mounted in the rotary
platform and meshed with the center gear at one side, and a
right-side gear pivotally mounted in the rotary platform and meshed
with the center gear at one side opposite to the left-side gear.
The left-side gear and the right-side gear have the same number of
teeth. At least one of the left-side gear and the right-side gear
has a raised portion. The hinge member is received inside the open
chamber of the rotary platform and fixedly fastened to the display
panel, having at least one elongated blind hole disposed in a
bottom face thereof and coupled to the at least one raised portion
at the left-side gear and the right-side gear, and a guide
structure coupled to the guide structure of the rotary platform.
When rotating the rotary platform on the pivot structure, the
center gear drives the left-side gear and the right-side gear to
rotate around the center gear, thereby causing the at least one
raised portion to drive the at least one elongated blind hole of
the hinge member to move along the guidance of the guide structure
of the hinge member and the guide structure of the rotary
platform.
[0007] By means of the aforesaid structural design, rotating the
rotary platform relative to the pivot structure at the base causes
the hinge member to slide relative to the rotary platform. Unlike
the aforesaid conventional swivel mechanism, the present invention
fully utilizes limited installation space. After rotary motion, the
display panel moves linearly with the hinge member relative to the
rotary platform, and therefore the display panel will not bias and
can cover the top side of the base completely.
[0008] Further, in the aforesaid coupling structure, the pivot
structure can be a pivot shaft fixedly fastened to the rear side of
the top side of the base, and the pivot member of the rotary
platform can be a barrel sleeved onto the pivot shaft.
[0009] In the aforesaid coupling structure, the guide structure of
the rotary platform comprises two ribs arranged in parallel inside
the open chamber at two sides relative to the gear set, and the
guide structure of the hinge member comprises two sliding grooves
respectively coupled to the ribs of the guide structure of the
rotary platform.
[0010] The guide structure of the rotary platform also can comprise
two guide rods arranged in parallel inside the open chamber, and
the guide structure of the hinge member also can comprise two axle
holes respectively coupled to the guide rods for guiding movement
of the hinge member along the guide rods.
[0011] The coupling structure further comprises a gear damper
covered on the rotary platform over the gear set. The gear damper
comprises at least one arched sliding slot respectively coupled to
the at least one raised portion.
[0012] The coupling structure further comprises at least one
positioning wheel mounted in the top side of the base, and two
locating holes formed in the rotary platform in two opposite sides
optionally corresponding to the at least one positioning wheel for
positioning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an applied view showing a coupling structure
installed in a dual-use portable computer according to the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the coupling structure
according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the coupling structure in the
initial position before action.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view showing the coupling structure in
action.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of the coupling structure after
action.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a coupling structure 7 is
shown coupled between a base 11, which carries a keyboard 112, and
a display panel 12 of a dual-use portable computer, for enabling
the display panel 12 to be turnable about an axis relative to the
base 11 and rotatable on the base 11 to set the dual-use portable
computer between the form of a notebook and the form of a tablet
PC.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 again, the
coupling structure 7 comprises a pivot structure 2, a rotary
platform 3, a gear set 4, a hinge member 5, and a gear damper 6.
The pivot structure 2 is fixedly upwardly fastened to a top side of
a rear side 113 of the base 11, having an axially extending center
through hole 21. The rotary platform 3 has a pivot member 31
downwardly extending from the bottom face thereof at the center.
According to this embodiment, the pivot structure 2 is a pivot
shaft, the pivot member 31 is a barrel sleeved onto the pivot shaft
of the pivot structure 2 for allowing rotation of the rotary
platform 3 on the pivot structure 2. The rotary platform 3 has a
center through hole 311 extending through the barrel of the pivot
member 31 corresponding to the center through hole 21 of the pivot
shaft of the pivot structure 2.
[0021] The rotary platform 3 further comprises an open chamber 32
and a guide structure 33 extended inside the open chamber 32.
According to this embodiment, the guide structure 33 comprises two
ribs 331 arranged in parallel at two sides relative to the center
through hole 311, and two guide rods 332 arranged in parallel at
two sides relative to the ribs 331.
[0022] The gear set 4 is arranged inside the open chamber 32 of the
rotary platform 3 between the ribs 331 and the guide rods 332,
comprising a center gear 41, a left-side gear 42, and a right-side
gear 43. The center gear 41 is coaxially fixedly fastened to the
pivot structure 2. The left-side gear 42 and the right-side gear 43
are pivotally mounted in the open chamber 32 and meshed with the
center gear 41 at two sides. The left-side gear 42 and the
right-side gear 43 have the same number of teeth for synchronous
rotation at the same speed. Further, the left-side gear 42 and the
right-side gear 43 each have a raised portion 421 and 431.
[0023] The gear damper 6 is fastened to the rotary platform 3 and
covered over the gear set 4, having two arched sliding slots 61
respectively coupled to the raised portions 421, 431 of the
left-side gear 42 and the right-side gear 43.
[0024] Further, the hinge member 5 is a narrow elongated member
received inside the open chamber 32 of the rotary platform 3 and
fixedly fastened to the bottom side of the display panel 12, having
two elongated blind holes 511, 512 in the bottom face 51
corresponding to the raised portions 421, 431 of the left-side gear
42 and the right-side gear 43, and a guide structure 52. The guide
structure 52 of the hinge member 5 comprises sliding grooves 521
corresponding to the ribs 331 of the guide structure 33 of the
rotary platform 3 respectively, and two axle holes 522, which
receives the guide rods 332 of the guide structure 33 of the rotary
platform 3 respectively.
[0025] The electric wiring (not shown) of the display panel 12
extends through the center through hole 311 of the barrel of the
pivot member 31 of the rotary platform 3 and the center through
hole 21 of the pivot shaft of the pivot structure 2 to the inside
of the base 11.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 again,
when wishing to change the dual-use portable computer from the
notebook form to the tablet PC form or from the tablet PC form to
the notebook form, the display panel 12 and the coupling structure
7 are in the initial position as shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the
display panel 12 must be rotated relative to the base 11. By means
of the coupling structure 7, the rotary platform 3 can be rotated
with the barrel of the pivot member 31 on the pivot shaft of the
pivot structure 2. At this time, the center gear 41 drives the
left-side gear 42 and the right-side gear 43 to rotate around the
center gear 41. Because the left-side gear 42 and the right-side
gear 43 have the same number of teeth, they rotate around the
center gear 41 at the same speed. During rotated of the left-side
gear 42 and the right-side gear 43 around the center gear 41, the
raised portions 421, 431 of the left-side gear 42 and the
right-side gear 43 drive the elongated blind holes 511, 512 of the
hinge member 5 to let the hinge member 5 move along the guidance of
the ribs 331 and guide rods 332 of the guide structure 33 of the
rotary platform 3, thereby causing the hinge member 5 to be rotated
with the rotary platform 3, and therefore the display panel 12 is
rotated with the hinge member 5 and the rotary platform 3 to the
position shown in FIG. 6.
[0027] By means of the aforesaid structural design, rotating the
rotary platform 3 relative to the pivot structure 2 at the base 11
causes the hinge member 5 to slide relative to the rotary platform
3. Unlike conventional swivel mechanism, the invention fully
utilizes limited installation space. After rotary motion, the hinge
member 5 does not change its position (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 6),
i.e., the display panel 12 moves linearly with the hinge member 5
after rotation, and therefore the display panel 12 will not bias
and can cover the top side of the base 11 completely.
[0028] Further, in order to smoothen rotation and ensure positive
positioning, two positioning wheels 111 are mounted in the top side
of the base 11, and two locating holes 34 are formed in the rotary
platform 3 corresponding to the positioning wheels 111.
[0029] Further, because the raised portions 421, 431 of the
left-side gear 42 and the right-side gear 43 are respectively
engaged into the elongated blind holes 511, 512 in the bottom face
51 of the hinge member 5, the display panel 12 which is fixedly
fastened to the hinge member 5 is stably supported on the gear set
4.
[0030] Although the present invention has been explained in
relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *