U.S. patent application number 17/130517 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-07 for portable information device and cover device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Tatsuya Hosokai, Hiroaki Kinoshita, Kazuya Tatsuno, Tatsuya Ushioda.
Application Number | 20220107671 17/130517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006223332 |
Filed Date | 2022-04-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220107671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hosokai; Tatsuya ; et
al. |
April 7, 2022 |
PORTABLE INFORMATION DEVICE AND COVER DEVICE
Abstract
A portable information device includes a chassis and a cover
device to cover the back surface of the chassis. The cover device
includes a hinge device that rotatably supports a stand cover
section between a stored position and a standing position. The
hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft; an
intermediate shaft having a first end coupled to one end of the
first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second
shaft; and a first base bracket, a first stand bracket, a second
base bracket, and a second stand bracket.
Inventors: |
Hosokai; Tatsuya; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Kinoshita; Hiroaki; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
Tatsuno; Kazuya; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Ushioda;
Tatsuya; (Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore |
|
SG |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte.
Ltd.
Singapore
SG
|
Family ID: |
1000006223332 |
Appl. No.: |
17/130517 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1698 20130101;
G06F 1/1681 20130101; G06F 1/1656 20130101; G06F 1/1616
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 6, 2020 |
JP |
2020-169053 |
Claims
1. A portable information device comprising: a chassis; and a cover
device that covers a back surface of the chassis, wherein the cover
device includes: a base cover section along the back surface of the
chassis; a stand cover section that rotates, relative to the base
cover section, between: a stored position where the stand cover
section is set along the back surface of the chassis, and a
standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the
back surface of the chassis; and a hinge device that supports the
stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and
the standing position, the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a
second shaft on an extension line of an axis of the first shaft; an
intermediate shaft on an extension line of an axis between the
first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the intermediate shaft
includes a first end coupled to one end of the first shaft and a
second end coupled to one end of the second shaft; a first base
bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed relative to the base
cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the first shaft
adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover
section; a second base bracket coupled to the second shaft and
fixed relative to the base cover section; and a second stand
bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the second base
bracket and fixed to the stand cover section, one of the first base
bracket or the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable
around the axis of the first shaft, and the other is fixed to the
first shaft, when the first base bracket is coupled to be rotatable
around the axis of the first shaft, the second base bracket is also
coupled to be rotatable around an axis of the second shaft, and
when the first base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second
base bracket is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first
stand bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket
is also fixed to the second shaft, and when the first stand bracket
is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the
second stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the
axis of the second shaft, the first end of the intermediate shaft
is fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and the second end of
the intermediate shaft is coupled to be rotatable relative to the
one end of the second shaft.
2. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein
the first end of the intermediate shaft and the one end of the
first shaft are fixed to each other with an adhesive in a state
where a first shaft pin provided on one side is inserted into a
first shaft hole provided on the other side, and the second end of
the intermediate shaft and the one end of the second shaft are
coupled to be rotatable relative to each other using a lubricant in
a state where a second shaft pin provided on one side is inserted
into a second shaft hole provided on the other side.
3. The portable information device according to claim 1, 1 wherein
the chassis has a rectangular external shape, and the stand cover
section has: a first edge and a second edge extending along a first
side and a second side of the chassis parallel with each other; a
third edge extending between a first end of the first edge and a
first end of the second edge, and extending along a third side
orthogonal to the first side and the second side of the chassis;
and a fourth edge extending between a second end of the first edge
and a second end of the second edge, wherein the hinge device is
connected to the fourth edge.
4. The portable information device according to claim 3, wherein a
length of the second edge is longer than a length of the first edge
to cause the fourth edge to extend in a posture to be inclined with
respect to the third edge, an axial direction of each of the first
shaft, the second shaft, and the intermediate shaft of the hinge
device is placed in a posture to be crossed over the first side and
the second side of the chassis, respectively, and the first end of
the intermediate shaft is closer to the first edge than the second
edge, and the second end of the intermediate shaft is closer to the
second edge than the first edge.
5. The portable information device according to claim 3, wherein
the stand cover section includes: a core material; a surface
material laminated on a surface of the core material to form a
surface of the stand cover section; and an end face treatment agent
provided on an end face of the fourth edge and obtained by curing a
liquid coating agent, the core material has: a first recess on a
back surface opposite to the surface, on which the surface material
is laminated, wherein the back surface is open to the fourth edge
and the first stand bracket is disposed in the first recess; and a
second recess on the back surface to be open to the fourth edge,
wherein the second stand bracket is disposed in the second recess,
and each of the first recess and the second recess has a
chamfer-shaped portion at a corner of an opening to the fourth
edge.
6. The portable information device according to claim 3, wherein a
first antenna device is disposed in the chassis along the first
side and a second antenna device is disposed in the chassis along
the second side, the hinge device further includes: a first end
shaft coupled to the other end of the first shaft and that overlaps
the first antenna device in a plate thickness direction of the
chassis; and a second end shaft coupled to the other end of the
second shaft and that overlaps the second antenna device in the
plate thickness direction of the chassis, and each of the first end
shaft and the second end shaft is formed of a radio wave
transmissive material that transmits radio waves.
7. A portable information device comprising: a chassis; and a cover
device that covers a back surface of the chassis, wherein the cover
device includes: a base cover section along the back surface of the
chassis; a stand cover section that rotates, relative to the base
cover section, between: a stored position where the stand cover
section is set along the back surface of the chassis, and a
standing position where the stand cover section protrudes from the
back surface of the chassis; and a hinge device that supports the
stand cover section to be rotatable between the stored position and
the standing position, the hinge device includes: a hinge shaft; a
first base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed to the base
cover section; a first stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft
adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover
section; a second base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed
relative to the chassis; and a second stand bracket coupled to the
hinge shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the
stand cover section, one of a set of the first base bracket and the
second base bracket or a set of the first stand bracket and the
second stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around an axis of
the hinge shaft and the other is fixed to the hinge shaft, the
stand cover section includes: a core material; a surface material
laminated on a surface of the core material to form a surface of
the stand cover section; and an end face treatment agent provided
on an end face of an edge, to which the hinge device is connected,
and obtained by curing a liquid coating agent, the core material
has: a first recess on a back surface opposite to the surface, on
which the surface material is laminated, wherein the back surface
is open to the edge and the first stand bracket is disposed in the
first recess; and a second recess on the back surface to be open to
the edge, wherein the second stand bracket is disposed in the
second recess, and each of the first recess and the second recess
has a chamfer-shaped portion at a corner of an opening to the
edge.
8. A cover device configured to cover a back surface of a chassis
of a portable information device, comprising: a base cover section;
a stand cover section that rotates relative to the base cover
section; and a hinge device that supports the stand cover section
to be rotatable relative to the base cover section, wherein the
hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft on an
extension line of an axis of the first shaft; an intermediate shaft
on an extension line of an axis between the first shaft and the
second shaft, and having a first end coupled to one end of the
first shaft and a second end coupled to one end of the second
shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the first shaft and fixed
relative to the base cover section; a first stand bracket coupled
to the first shaft adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed
to the stand cover section; a second base bracket coupled to the
second shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; and a
second stand bracket coupled to the second shaft adjacently to the
second base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section, one of
the first base bracket or the first stand bracket is coupled to be
rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, and the other is
fixed to the first shaft, when the first base bracket is coupled to
be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second base
bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around an axis of the
second shaft while when the first base bracket is fixed to the
first shaft, the second base bracket is also fixed to the second
shaft, or when the first stand bracket is fixed to the first shaft,
the second stand bracket is also fixed to the second shaft while
when the first stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the
axis of the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also coupled
to be rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, the first end
of the intermediate shaft is fixed to the one end of the first
shaft, and the second end of the intermediate shaft is coupled to
be rotatable relative to the one end of the second shaft.
9. The cover device according to claim 8, wherein the first end of
the intermediate shaft and the one end of the first shaft are fixed
with an adhesive each other in a state where a first shaft pin
provided on one side is inserted into a first shaft hole provided
on the other side, and the second end of the intermediate shaft and
the one end of the second shaft are coupled to be rotatable
relative to each other using a lubricant in a state where a second
shaft pin provided on one side is inserted into a second shaft hole
provided on the other side.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable information
device having a cover device and the cover device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A portable information device such as a laptop PC or a
tablet PC is required to avoid damage or breakdown when being
carried around. Further, it is desired that the appearance design
and the sense of touch of the portable information device should be
of high quality.
[0003] Therefore, a cover device may be mounted on the outer
surface of the chassis of the portable information device for the
purpose of protection or decoration. The applicant proposes a cover
device for a foldable tablet PC in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2018-105961.
[0004] As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2018-105961, the cover device is required not only
to simply cover the outer surface of the chassis, but also to be
rotated as necessary so as to function as a stand for the device.
The cover device of this type has a base cover section relatively
fixed to the outer surface of the chassis, and a stand cover
section to be rotated relative to this base cover section by using
a hinge device.
[0005] The hinge device of this type is required to be able to
operate stably without rattling while being miniaturized to fall
without a plate thickness range of a thin plate-shaped cover
device. Therefore, each of components of the hinge device is
required to be miniaturized, and further a hinge shaft is required
to have high straightness despite having a small diameter.
[0006] On the other hand, since a user holds and rotates the stand
cover section with his or her fingertips during rotational
operation, the stand cover section may be deformed such as some
distortion or curvature. In this case, the hinge device can cause a
rotational speed difference in the length direction thereof and
hence cause noise due to rubbing or the like, for example, between
brackets fixed to the chassis or the like and a hinge shaft.
SUMMARY
[0007] One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a
portable information device including a cover device and the cover
device capable of suppressing the occurrence of rattling or the
generation of noise in the hinge device rotatably supporting a
stand.
[0008] A portable information device according to the first aspect
of the present invention includes a chassis, and a cover device
provided to cover the back surface of the chassis, wherein the
cover device includes: a base cover section provided along the back
surface of the chassis; a stand cover section provided to be
rotatable relative to the base cover section so as to be movable
between a stored position where the stand cover section is set
along the back surface of the chassis and a standing position where
the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the
chassis; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section
to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing
position, the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft
placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft; an
intermediate shaft placed on the extension line of the axis between
the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end
coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to
one end of the second shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the
first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; a first
stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first
base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base
bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base
cover section; and a second stand bracket coupled to the second
shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand
cover section, one of the first base bracket and the first stand
bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first
shaft, and the other is fixed to the first shaft, when the first
base bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the
first shaft, the second base bracket is also coupled to be
rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, while when the first
base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second base bracket
is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first stand bracket
is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also fixed
to the second shaft, while when the first stand bracket is coupled
to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second
stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of
the second shaft, and the intermediate shaft is such that the first
end is mutually fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and the
second end is coupled to be rotatable relative to the one end of
the second shaft.
[0009] A portable information device according to the second aspect
of the present invention includes a chassis and a cover device
provided to cover the back surface of the chassis, wherein the
cover device includes: a base cover section provided along the back
surface of the chassis; a stand cover section provided to be
rotatable relative to the base cover section so as to be movable
between a stored position where the stand cover section is set
along the back surface of the chassis and a standing position where
the stand cover section protrudes from the back surface of the
chassis; and a hinge device which supports the stand cover section
to be rotatable between the stored position and the standing
position, the hinge device includes: a hinge shaft; a first base
bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed to the base cover
section; a first stand bracket coupled to the hinge shaft
adjacently to the first base bracket and fixed to the stand cover
section; a second base bracket coupled to the hinge shaft and fixed
relative to the chassis; and a second stand bracket coupled to the
hinge shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the
stand cover section, one of a set of the first base bracket and the
second base bracket, and a set of the first stand bracket and the
second stand bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of
the hinge shaft and the other is fixed to the hinge shaft, the
stand cover section includes: a core material; a surface material
laminated on the surface of the core material to form the surface
of the stand cover section; and an end face treatment agent
provided on an end face of an edge, to which the hinge device is
connected, and obtained by curing a liquid coating agent, the core
material has: a first recess provided on a back surface opposite to
the surface, on which the surface material is laminated, to be open
to the edge, and provided with the first stand bracket placed
therein; and a second recess provided on the back surface to be
open to the edge, and provided with the second stand bracket placed
therein, and each of the first recess and the second recess has a
chamfer-shaped portion at a corner of an opening to the edge.
[0010] A cover device according to the third aspect of the present
invention is a cover device configured to cover the back surface of
a chassis of a portable information device, including: a base cover
section; a stand cover section provided to be rotatable relative to
the base cover section; and a hinge device which supports the stand
cover section to be rotatable relative to the base cover section,
wherein the hinge device includes: a first shaft; a second shaft
placed on an extension line of the axis of the first shaft; an
intermediate shaft placed on the extension line of the axis between
the first shaft and the second shaft, and having a first end
coupled to one end of the first shaft and a second end coupled to
one end of the second shaft; a first base bracket coupled to the
first shaft and fixed relative to the base cover section; a first
stand bracket coupled to the first shaft adjacently to the first
base bracket and fixed to the stand cover section; a second base
bracket coupled to the second shaft and fixed relative to the base
cover section; and a second stand bracket coupled to the second
shaft adjacently to the second base bracket and fixed to the stand
cover section, one of the first base bracket and the first stand
bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the first
shaft, and the other is fixed to the first shaft, when the first
base bracket is coupled to be rotatable around the axis of the
first shaft, the second base bracket is also coupled to be
rotatable around the axis of the second shaft, while when the first
base bracket is fixed to the first shaft, the second base bracket
is also fixed to the second shaft, or when the first stand bracket
is fixed to the first shaft, the second stand bracket is also fixed
to the second shaft, while when the first stand bracket is coupled
to be rotatable around the axis of the first shaft, the second
stand bracket is also coupled to be rotatable around the axis of
the second shaft, and the intermediate shaft is such that the first
end is mutually fixed to the one end of the first shaft, and the
second end is coupled to be rotatable relative to the one end of
the second shaft.
[0011] The above-described aspects of the present invention can
suppress the occurrence of rattling or the generation of noise in a
hinge device rotatably supporting a stand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a
portable information device according to one embodiment is closed
and shaped into a folded form.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a side view schematically illustrating a state
where the portable information device illustrated in FIG. 1 is
opened and shaped into a flat plate form.
[0014] FIG. 2B is a side view in a state where the portable
information device illustrated in FIG. 2A is shaped into a laptop
form.
[0015] FIG. 2C is a side view in a state where the portable
information device illustrated in FIG. 2B is closed and shaped into
the folded form.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portable information device as
viewed from the side of a cover device.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in a state where a
stand cover section is set to a standing position to make the
portable information device stand up.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a hinge device.
[0019] FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a section of a
hinge shaft on an A1 side.
[0020] FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view of a section of the
hinge shaft on an A2 side.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the stand
cover section.
[0022] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of recesses of the
stand cover section and the vicinity thereof.
[0023] FIG. 9A is a schematic enlarged sectional view of a stand
bracket of the stand cover section and the vicinity thereof.
[0024] FIG. 9B is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand
bracket of a stand cover section according to a comparative example
and the vicinity thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] A portable information device and a cover device according
to the present invention will be described in detail below with
reference to the accompanying drawings by taking a preferred
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a
portable information device 10 according to one embodiment is
closed and shaped into a folded form. FIG. 2A is a side view
schematically illustrating a state where the portable information
device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened and shaped into a flat
plate form. FIG. 2B is a side view in a state where the portable
information device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2A is shaped into a
laptop form. FIG. 2C is a side view in a state where the portable
information device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2B is closed and shaped
into the folded form.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 2C, the portable information
device 10 includes a first chassis 12A, a second chassis 12B, and a
cover device 14. The portable information device 10 of the
embodiment is a foldable tablet PC or laptop PC. The cover device
14 has a protection function to cover the outer surfaces of the
chassis 12A and 12B in order to protect the chassis 12A and 12B,
and a decoration function to decorate the outer surfaces in order
to enhance the appearance design. The portable information device
on which the cover device 14 is mounted may also be a common
clamshell laptop PC, a single plate-shaped tablet PC, a smartphone,
a portable game machine, or the like, as well as the portable
information device 10.
[0028] First, the structure of the portable information device will
be described. The portable information device 10 includes the
chassis 12A, 12B and a display 16.
[0029] The chassis 12A and 12B are placed adjacent to each other.
Adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba of the chassis 12A and 12B are covered
internally with a spine member 18. Each of the chassis 12A and 12B
is formed into a rectangular, plate-shaped member with side walls
standing on three sides except the adjacent edge 12Aa, 12Ba,
respectively. The chassis 12A, 12B is formed from a metal plate
made of stainless steel, magnesium steel, aluminum steel, or the
like, or formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic plate containing
reinforced fiber such as carbon fiber.
[0030] The portable information device 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1
to FIG. 2C will be described below by expressing a line-up
direction of the chassis 12A, 12B as an X direction and a direction
orthogonal to the line-up direction along the adjacent edges 12Aa,
12Ba as a Y direction.
[0031] The adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba of the chassis 12A and 12B
are coupled to each other through a pair of hinges 19, 19. The
chassis 12A and 12B are coupled by the hinges 19 to be rotatable
relative to each other between the flat plate form illustrated in
FIG. 2A and the folded form illustrated in FIG. 2C. The hinges 19
can generate a predetermined rotation torque. Therefore, the
chassis 12A and 12B are stabilized even in the laptop form (see
FIG. 2B) in which the angle between the chassis 12A and 12B is
about 90.degree. to 140.degree.. For example, the hinges 19 are
disposed in both end portions of the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba
of the chassis 12A and 12B in the Y direction, and located outside
of an outer peripheral edge of the display 16, respectively. The
portable information device 10 of the embodiment is so set that the
rotation center between the chassis 12A and 12B by the hinges 19
matches the surface of the display 16.
[0032] Inside of the respective chassis 12A and 12B, various
electronic components and the like, such as a motherboard, various
semiconductor chips like a CPU mounted on the motherboard, a
communication module, a battery device, and a cooling device, are
mounted. Reference numeral 17 in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C denotes an
imaging camera to face from an opening formed in a bezel
surrounding the display 16 on the surface of the first chassis
12A.
[0033] The display 16 is, for example, a touch panel liquid crystal
display. A band-shaped range of the display 16 extending in the Y
direction across the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba is a folding
region. Thus, the display 16 is foldable together when the chassis
12A and 12B are folded, and opened and closed along with the
opening/closing operation of the chassis 12A and 12B. The display
16 is, for example, a flexible display such as organic EL (Electro
Luminescence) having a highly flexible paper structure or the
like.
[0034] The overall structure of the cover device 14 will next be
described. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portable information device
10 as viewed from the side of the cover device 14.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the cover device 14 is
provided to cover the back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb of the chassis
12A and 12B. In the flat plate form (see FIG. 2A), the cover device
14 covers the entire back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb. In the laptop
form and the folded form (see FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C), the cover
device 14 covers most of the back surface 12Ab and the entire back
surface 12Bb.
[0036] The cover device 14 includes a base cover section 20, a
stand cover section 22, and a hinge device 24. The cover sections
20 and 22 extend in the X direction across the hinge device 24. In
the external shape of the chassis 12A and 12B formed into
rectangles, the cover sections 20 and 22 extend along a first side
25a and a second side 25b parallel with each other in the X
direction. In the flat plate form, the cover sections 20 and 22
cover the entire back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb as a whole, that is,
cover the chassis 12A and 12B from an open edge (third side 25c) of
the second chassis 12B to an open edge (fourth side g) of the first
chassis 12A. The first side 25a and the second side 25b are outer
edges orthogonal with the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba. The third
side 25c is an outer edge parallel with the adjacent edge 12Ba. The
fourth side 25d is an outer edge parallel with the adjacent edge
12Aa.
[0037] The base cover section 20 has a slide cover section 26, a
folding cover section 27, and a fixed cover section 28 in this
order from the side of the first chassis 12A toward the side of the
second chassis 12B.
[0038] The slide cover section 26 is a thin plate-shaped member
provided to be slidable in the X direction relative to the back
surface 12Ab of the first chassis 12A. In the flat plate form
illustrated in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3, a distal edge 26a of the slide
cover section 26 matches the fourth side 25d of the first chassis
12A. The distal edge 26a is located on the other side of a border
line B1 with the folding cover section 27 in the X direction, which
is an edge extending in the Y direction. In the laptop form and the
folded form illustrated in FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, the slide cover
section 26 is slid to a position where the distal edge 26a is
retreated from the fourth side 25d to the side of the adjacent edge
12Aa, respectively. The slide structure of the slide cover section
26 with respect to the first chassis 12A is not particularly
limited. For example, a slide mechanism is so constructed that a
slide part fixed to the first chassis 12A is coupled to a rail
fixed to the slide cover section 26 to be slidable in the X
direction.
[0039] The folding cover section 27 is provided in a position
between the chassis 12A and 12B across the adjacent edges 12Aa and
12Ba, which is a band-shaped region narrow in the X direction and
extending in the Y direction. The folding cover section 27 is
connected to the slide cover section 26 to be foldable on the
border line B1 along the Y direction on the side of the first
chassis 12A. Then, the folding cover section 27 is connected to the
fixed cover section 28 to be foldable on a border line B2 along the
Y direction on the side of the second chassis 12B. The folding
cover section 27 has flexibility as a whole to connect between the
first cover section 26 and the fixed cover section 28 to be
rotatable relative to each other. The folding cover section 27 is a
flexible hinge to rotate the cover device 14 following the
rotational operation between the chassis 12A and 12B. The folding
cover section 27 is a folding region having a width dimension in
the X direction to be able to cover the adjacent edges 12Aa and
12Ba of the chassis 12A and 12B at least in the folded form
illustrated in FIG. 2C.
[0040] The fixed cover section 28 is a thin plate-shaped member to
cover the back surface 12Bb of the second chassis 12B together with
part of the folding cover section 27 and the stand cover section
22. The fixed cover section 28 is formed into a shape substantially
line-symmetric with respect to the stand cover section 22, which is
a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view in the embodiment.
The fixed cover section 28 is fixed relative to the back surface
12Bb of the second chassis 12B. The fixed cover section 28 of the
embodiment is fixed directly to the back surface 12Bb. An edge 28a
of the fixed cover section 28 on the other side of the border line
B2 in the X direction is adjacent to the stand cover section 22
through the hinge device 24. The edge 28a is inclined in the X
direction gradually toward the Y direction.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in a state where the
stand cover section 22 is set to a standing position to make the
portable information device 10 stand up. As illustrated in FIG. 4,
the stand cover section 22 is provided to be rotatable relative to
the fixed cover section 28 of the base cover section 20 and the
back surface 12Bb of the second chassis 12B. The stand cover
section 22 of the embodiment is coupled to the back surface 12Bb of
the second chassis 12B through the hinge device 24.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 2A to FIG. 4, the stand cover section
22 is formed into a shape substantially line-symmetric with respect
to the fixed cover section 28, which is a substantially trapezoidal
shape in plan view in the embodiment. The stand cover section 22 is
so provided along the X direction that a first edge 22a and a
second edge 22b as a trapezoidal top and a trapezoidal bottom match
the first side 25a and the second side 25b of the second chassis
12B, respectively. A third edge 22c provided along the Y direction
to connect between both ends of the edges 22a and 22b on the side
of the third side 25c matches the third side 25c. A fourth edge 22d
provided to connect between both ends of the edges 22a and 22b on
the sides of the first side 25a and the second side 25b is inclined
with respect to the X-Y directions. The fourth edge 22d is adjacent
to the edge 28a of the fixed cover section 28 across the hinge
device 24. The hinge device 24 is connected to this fourth edge
22d.
[0043] By rotational operation of the hinge device 24, the stand
cover section 22 can move from a stored position (0.degree.) where
the third edge 22c abuts against the back surface 12Bb in a
direction away gradually from the back surface 12Bb. The third edge
22c can move up to a position(180.degree.) at which the third edge
22c abuts against a surface 20a of the base cover section 20 and
further movement is restricted. Thus, the stand cover section 22
can move between the stored position (see FIG. 2A and FIG. 3) where
the stand cover section 22 is set along the back surface 12Bb, and
the standing position (for example, see FIG. 4) where the stand
cover section 22 protrudes from the back surface 12Bb.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the stand cover section 22 is set
to a proper angle (standing position) with respect to the fixed
cover section 28 to function as a stand so that the portable
information device 10 in the flat plate form can be kept in a
standing position. In the standing position, the second edge 22b of
the stand cover section 22 abuts on a desk surface or the like so
that the portable information device 10 can be kept in a
predetermined standing posture fallen a little on the side of the
back surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the hinge device 24. The
hinge device 24 couples the stand cover section 22 to be rotatable
relative to the base cover section 20 and the second chassis 12B.
As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the hinge device 24 has a
hinge shaft 30, base brackets 31A and 31B, and stand brackets 32A
and 32B. In the hinge device 24 of the embodiment, a pair of
brackets 31A and 32A and a pair of brackets 31B and 32B adjacent to
each other are paired to constitute one hinge, respectively. Each
pair of the base bracket and the stand bracket may also include
three or more brackets.
[0046] The hinge shaft 30 is a metal rod-shaped member that
intervenes between the fourth edge 22d of the stand cover section
22 and the edge 28a of the fixed cover section 28 to extend along
these edges 22d and 28a. The hinge shaft 30 is inclined in the X-Y
directions along the edges 22d and 28a.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of elements of the cover
device 14 including the hinge device 24 will be described below by
expressing an extension direction of the hinge shaft 30 as an A
direction, a direction to approach the first side 25a in the A
direction as an A1 direction, and a direction to approach the
second side 25b in the A direction as an A2 direction. In other
words, the edges 22d and 28a extend along the A direction.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the base brackets 31A
and 31B are mounting brackets for the second chassis 12B. Each of
the base brackets 31A and 31B has a mounting plate 31a and a
support cylinder 31b, respectively.
[0049] The mounting plate 31a is a metal plate formed into a
substantially rectangular shape. The mounting plate 31a is fastened
to the second chassis 12B with screws through holes and a notch
provided, for example, in four places. The mounting plate 31a is
coupled to the hinge shaft 30 through the support cylinder 31b. The
base brackets 31A and 31B may be fixed directly to the base cover
section 20 and fixed indirectly to the second chassis 12B.
Reference numeral 31c in FIG. 5 denotes a plate piece for
positioning the hinge device 24 with respect to the base cover
section 20 (fixed cover section 28).
[0050] The support cylinder 31b is a mounting part of the mounting
plate 31a to the hinge shaft 30. Each of shafts 34A and 34B that
constitute part of the hinge shaft 30 is inserted into the support
cylinder 31b in a state to be relatively rotatable. The mounting
plate 31a is provided to protrude from the outer circumferential
surface of the support cylinder 31b.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the stand brackets 32A
and 32B are mounting brackets for the stand cover section 22. Each
of the stand brackets 32A and 32B has a mounting plate 32a and a
support cylinder 32b, respectively.
[0052] The mounting plate 32a is a metal plate formed into a
substantially rectangular shape. The mounting plate 32a is fixed to
the stand cover section 22, for example, with adhesive. Holes and
notches provided in the mounting plate 32a are cutout holes for the
weight saving of the mounting plate 32a, which may be omitted.
Reference numeral 32c in FIG. 5 denotes a plate piece for
positioning the hinge device 24 to the stand cover section 22.
[0053] The support cylinder 32b is a mounting part of the mounting
plate 32a to the hinge shaft 30. Each of the shafts 34A and 34B
that constitute part of the hinge shaft 30 is inserted into the
support cylinder 32b in a fixed state to be relatively unrotatable.
The mounting plate 32a is provided to protrude from the outer
circumferential surface of the support cylinder 32b.
[0054] FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a section on the A1
side of the hinge shaft 30. FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view
of a section on the A2 side of the hinge shaft 30. FIG. 6A and FIG.
6B are schematic sectional views of the hinge shaft 30 cut along a
plane passing through a shaft center.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 to FIG. 6B, the hinge
shaft 30 has a first shaft 34A, a second shaft 34B, an intermediate
shaft 35, a first end shaft 36A, and a second end shaft 36B. The
hinge shaft 30 is formed into a small-diameter round rod shape as a
whole. The hinge shaft 30 has such a structure that the first end
shaft 36A, the first shaft 34A, the intermediate shaft 35, the
second shaft 34B, and the second end shaft 36B are lined up in this
order from an A1-side end to an A2-side end.
[0056] The structure of each of the elements of the hinge shaft 30
will first be described.
[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 6B, the shafts 34A and 34B
are metal round rods smaller in diameter than the intermediate
shaft 35 and the end shafts 36A, 36B. The first shaft 34A extends
in the A direction to couple between an A2-side end of the first
end shaft 36A and an A1-side end (first end 35a) of the
intermediate shaft 35. A central part of the first shaft 34A is
inserted into the support cylinders 32b and 31b of the brackets 32A
and 31A to support these brackets 32A and 31A.
[0058] The second shaft 34B is placed on an extension line of the
axis of the first shaft 34A. The second shaft 34B extends in the A
direction to couple between an A2-side end (second end 35b) of the
intermediate shaft 35 and an A1-side end of the second end shaft
36B. A central part of the second shaft 34B is inserted into the
support cylinders 31b and 32b of the brackets 31B and 32B to
support these brackets 31B and 32B.
[0059] The intermediate shaft 35 is a metal round rod larger in
diameter than the shafts 34A and 34B. The outer diameter of the
intermediate shaft 35 is identical or almost identical to the outer
diameter of the support cylinders 31b and 32b of the brackets 31A,
31B, and 32A, 32B. The intermediate shaft 35 is placed on an
extension line of the axis of the first shaft 34A. The intermediate
shaft 35 extends in the A direction to couple between an A2-side
end 34Aa of the first shaft 34A and an A1-side end 34Ba of the
second shaft 34B. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the intermediate shaft
35 is a part having the longest length in the axial direction (A
direction) among the elements of the hinge shaft 30. Thus,
sufficient spacing between the pair of brackets 31A, 32A and the
pair of brackets 31B, 32B is secured by the intermediate shaft 35,
and hence rattling or the like during the rotation of the stand
cover section 22 is suppressed.
[0060] Each of the end shafts 36A and 36B is a round rod having an
outer diameter identical or almost identical to that of the
intermediate shaft 35. The end shafts 36A and 36B are placed on
extension lines of the axes of the shafts 34A and 34B,
respectively. The end shafts 36A and 36B of the embodiment are
formed of a material capable of transmitting radio waves such as
resin.
[0061] The hinge device 24 is installed in such a posture that the
hinge shaft 30 is inclined with respect to the X-Y directions (see
FIG. 3). Therefore, for example, the outermost stand brackets 32A
and 32B on the A1 side and the A2 side cannot be arranged flush
with the edges 22a and 22b. Therefore, gaps are formed at both ends
in the A direction between the edges 22d and 28a, and the gaps are
filled with the end shafts 36A and 36B to suppress the
deterioration of the appearance of the cover device 14. For
example, in such a structure that the hinge shaft 30 is placed
along the X direction or the Y direction, the end shafts 36A and
36B may be omitted.
[0062] Next, the coupling structure of respective constituent
elements of the hinge shaft 30 will be described.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 6B, the hinge shaft 30 is
such that the A2-side end 34Aa of the first shaft 34A is coupled to
the A1-side end (first edge 35a) of the central intermediate shaft
35, and the A1-side end 34Ba of the second shaft 34B is coupled to
the A2-side edge (second edge 35b) of the intermediate shaft
35.
[0064] The intermediate shaft 35 has a shaft hole 35c open to an
end face of the first end 35a, and a shaft hole 35d open to an end
face of the second end 35b. The shaft holes 35c and 35d are formed
coaxially with the shaft center of the intermediate shaft 35 and
the shafts 34A, 34B. Each of the shaft holes 35c and 35d is a hole
having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of
the end 34Aa, 34Ba of the shaft 34A, 34B, respectively.
[0065] The A2-side edge 34Aa of the first shaft 34A as a shaft pin
is inserted into the shaft hole 35c, and the gap therebetween is
fixed with an adhesive 38. On this occasion, the adhesive 38 is
cured while managing the straightness of the shaft hole 35c and the
A2-side end 34Aa by using a predetermined jig. This fixes the first
shaft 34A and the intermediate shaft 35 to be unrotatable relative
to each other in such a state that each other's straightness is set
with predetermined high accuracy, thus becoming one shaft.
[0066] The A1-side edge 34Ba of the second shaft 34B as a shaft pin
is inserted into the shaft hole 35d, and the gap therebetween is
filled with a lubricant (grease) 39. This couples the second shaft
34B and the intermediate shaft 35 to be rotatable relative to each
other in such a state that each other's straightness is set to a
sufficient straightness though inferior to the case of the first
shaft 34A, thus becoming one shaft. Note that, although FIG. 6A and
FIG. 6B each illustrate the gap, formed between the inner
circumferential surface of the shaft hole 35c, 35d and the outer
circumferential surface of the end 34Aa, 34Ba, and provided with
the adhesive 38 or the lubricant 39, to be exaggeratedly large, the
gap is an imperceptible dimensional gap with a controlled
dimensional tolerance in an actual product.
[0067] The first shaft 34A extends from the first end 35a of the
intermediate shaft 35 toward the A1 side. The first shaft 34A
supports the base bracket 31A and the stand bracket 32A in order
from the A2-side end 34Aa toward the A1-side end 34Ab. The first
shaft 34A is inserted into the support cylinder 31b of the base
bracket 31A in a state to be relatively rotatable with a
predetermined rotational torque. Then, the first shaft 34A is
inserted into support cylinder 32b of the stand bracket 32A in a
state to be relatively unrotatable.
[0068] The second shaft 34B extends from the second end 35b of the
intermediate shaft 35 toward the A2 side. The second shaft 34B
supports the base bracket 31B and the stand bracket 32B in order
from the A1-side end 34Ba toward the A2-side end 34Bb. The second
shaft 34B is inserted into the support cylinder 31b of the base
bracket 31B in a state to be relatively rotatable with a
predetermined rotational torque. Then, the second shaft 34B is
inserted into the support cylinder 32b of the stand bracket 32B in
a state to be relatively unrotatable. Note that, although FIG. 6A
and FIG. 6B each illustrate an exaggerated gap between the inner
circumferential surface of the support cylinder 31b and the outer
circumferential surface of the shaft 34A, 34B, the shaft 34A, 34B
is press-fitted into the support cylinder 31b to generate a
sufficient rotational torque therebetween and hence no gap is
formed in an actual product.
[0069] Thus, the base brackets 31A and 31B are coupled to be
rotatable relative to the hinge shaft 30 with the predetermined
rotational torque. The stand brackets 32A and 32B are fixed to the
hinge shaft 30 to be rotated integrally with the hinge shaft 30 or
the intermediate shaft 35. Thus, the hinge device 24 supports the
stand cover section 22, to which the stand brackets 32A and 32B are
fixed, to be rotatable with the predetermined rotational torque
with respect to the second chassis 12B (fixed cover section 28) to
which the base brackets 31A and 31B are fixed. As a result, the
stand cover section 22 can be kept in the standing position at a
desired angle to function as a kickstand of the portable
information device 10 (see FIG. 4).
[0070] The first end shaft 36A is coupled to the A1-side end 34Ab
of the first shaft 34A. The A1-side end 34Ab is press-fitted and
fixed into a coupling hole 36Aa open to the A2-side end face of the
first end shaft 36A. As described above, the first end shaft 36A is
formed of a radio wave transmissive material. As illustrated in
FIG. 6A, although the metal first shaft 34A is placed in the
coupling hole 36Aa of the A2-side end of the first end shaft 36A,
most of the first end shaft 36A on the A1 side is maintained in a
state of being able to transmit radio waves.
[0071] Similarly, the A2-side edge 34Bb of the second shaft 34B is
press-fitted and fixed into a coupling hole 36Ba open to an A1-side
end face of the second end shaft 36B. Therefore, most of the second
end shaft 36B on the A2 side of the coupling hole 36Ba is also
maintained in the state of being able to transmit radio waves.
[0072] Next, the action of the hinge device 24 will be
described.
[0073] As described above, the hinge shaft 30 is formed into a rod
shape long in the A direction and small in diameter as a whole. The
hinge shaft 30 supports the brackets 31A, 32A and the brackets 31B,
32B on both end sides in the A direction across the central
intermediate shaft 35. As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the
stand cover section 22 is formed into a trapezoidal shape with the
second edge 22b as the trapezoidal bottom longer than the first
edge 22a as the trapezoidal top.
[0074] Therefore, when moving the stand cover section 22 from the
stored position to the standing position, a user is expected to
operate the stand cover section 22 while holding a corner between
the third edge 22c and the second edge 22b of the stand cover
section 22 and in the neighborhood thereof (see a region R indicate
by a long dashed dotted line in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). In other words,
during the rotational movement from the stored position to the
standing position, the region R is first lifted up and the stand
cover section 22 is rotationally moved while being twisted and
deformed as a whole. This is because the stand cover section 22 is
a thin plate and hence cannot prevent the stand cover section 22
from being deformed such as distortion or curvature when twisted
even if rigidity is sufficiently guaranteed.
[0075] Therefore, during the rotational movement of the stand cover
section 22, the brackets 31B and 32B of the hinge device 24 close
to the region R first rotate relative to each other. On the other
hand, the brackets 31A and 32A located away greatly from the
brackets 31B and 32B in the A1 direction start rotating relative to
each other a little late from the start of rotation of the brackets
31B and 32B. In other words, a difference in rotational speed
between the brackets 31B, 32B and the brackets 31A, 32A is caused,
and the intermediate shaft 35 extending therebetween receives a
twisting force between the second end 35b and the first end
35a.
[0076] Suppose here that both ends 35a and 35b of the intermediate
shaft 35 are completely fixed to the shafts 34A and 34B with the
adhesive 38. In this structure, the stand bracket 32B first starts
rotating integrally with the second shaft 34B and the intermediate
shaft 35 to rotate relative to the base bracket 31B at the same
time. Then, the stand bracket 32A rotates relative to the base
bracket 31A later than the rotation of the stand bracket 32B. On
this occasion, the intermediate shaft 35 receives a rotational
force from the stand bracket 32B to start rotating before the
relative rotation of the brackets 31A and 32A. Therefore, a
difference in rotational speed is caused between the first end 35a
of the intermediate shaft 35 and the A2-side end 34Aa of the first
shaft 34A. As a result, the adhesive 38 to fix the first end 35a
and the A2-side end 34Aa is broken to cause rubbing sound (noise)
due to a friction among the base bracket 31A, the first shaft 34A,
and the intermediate shaft 35, deteriorating the product
quality.
[0077] In this regard, in the hinge device 24 of the embodiment,
the first shaft 34A and the intermediate shaft 35 are fixed with
the adhesive 38, and the intermediate shaft 35 and the second shaft
34B are coupled through the lubricant 39 to be rotatable relative
to each other. Therefore, in the embodiment, when the stand cover
section 22 starts rotating, the stand bracket 32B first starts
rotating integrally with the second shaft 34B to rotate relative to
the base bracket 31B at the same time. On this occasion, when the
rotating action of the bracket 31A, 32A side is delayed due to the
deformation of the stand cover section 22, the second shaft 34B
rotates relative to the intermediate shaft 35. As a result, even
when the A1-side brackets 31A and 31B are slower in rotational
speed than the A2-side brackets 31B and 32B in the hinge device 24,
the speed difference is absorbed by the relative rotation between
the second shaft 34B and the intermediate shaft 35. Thus, the hinge
device 24 suppresses the generation of noise mentioned above. The
lubricant 39 may not be provided in a coupling part of the
intermediate shaft 35 and the second shaft 34B. However, it is
preferred to provide the lubricant 39 in this coupling part
considering further noise reduction effect and the like.
[0078] On the contrary to the above structure example, even if the
first shaft 34A and the intermediate shaft 35 are coupled with the
lubricant 39 to be rotatable relative to each other, and the
intermediate shaft 35 and the second shaft 34B are fixed with the
adhesive 38, the noise suppression effect can be obtained. However,
in this structure, the intermediate shaft 35 rotates integrally
with the second shaft 34B that is close to the region R and first
starts rotating. Therefore, since there is a possibility to cause
some rubbing between the first shaft 34A and base bracket 31A,
which rotate later, and the intermediate shaft 35 in this
structure, the above structure example is preferable. In other
words, when the stand cover section 22 has the trapezoidal shape as
mentioned above, the user is expected to operate the stand cover
section while holding the trapezoidal bottom (second edge 22b)
longer than the trapezoidal top (first edge 22a). Therefore, it is
preferred to couple between the second shaft 34B located closer to
this second edge 22b (region R) and the second end 35b of the
intermediate shaft 35 to be rotatable relative to each other.
[0079] Next, the action of the structure in which the end shafts
36A and 36B are formed of the radio wave transmissive material will
be described.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 3, wireless communication antenna
devices 40A and 40B are installed inside the second chassis 12B.
Each of the antenna devices 40A and 40B extends in the X direction
along the side 25a, 25b of the second chassis 12B, respectively.
The antenna device 40A, 40B extends in the X direction in a
position facing the side 25a, 25b to ensure the installation space
and good communication quality.
[0081] In the meantime, the metal hinges 19 are arranged in a
central section of respective sides 25a and 25b (in positions
across the adjacent edges 12Aa and 12Ba) of the portable
information device 10 of the embodiment. Further, two pairs of
metal magnets 42, 43 are arranged at four corners of the overall
chassis 12A, 12B, respectively. The magnets 42, 42 (43, 43) attract
each other when the chassis 12A and 12B are shaped into the folded
form in order to suppress rattling between the chassis 12A and
12B.
[0082] Therefore, the antenna devices 40A and 40B are installed
near the center of the second chassis 12B in the X direction in
order to avoid metal parts (hinges 19 and magnets 42, 43) located
on both edges in the X direction. As a result, it is difficult for
the end shafts 36A and 36B of the hinge shaft 30 to avoid being
placed in positions that overlap the antenna devices 40A and 40B in
the plate thickness direction of the second chassis 12B.
[0083] Therefore, in the hinge device 24 of the embodiment, the end
shafts 36A and 36B are made of resin, respectively, to suppress the
influence of the end shafts 36A and 36B on the communication
quality of the antenna devices 40A and 40B. As illustrated in FIG.
5, in the embodiment, the metal shafts 34A and 34B are located in
positions that do not overlap the antenna devices 40A and 40B, and
only the resin end shafts 36A and 36B are arranged in positions
that overlap the antenna devices 40A and 40B, respectively.
However, in such a structure that the hinge shaft 30 does not
overlap the antenna devices 40A and 40B depending on the
arrangement of the antenna devices 40A, 40B or the like, the end
shafts 36A and 36B may be made of metal.
[0084] Next, a specific structure of the stand cover section 22
will be described.
[0085] FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the stand
cover section 22. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the stand cover section
22 has such a structure that a back material 46, an auxiliary sheet
47, a core material 48, and a surface material 49 are laminated in
order from the back surface 12Bb of the second chassis 12B.
Reference numeral 50 in FIG. 7 denotes an adhesive member formed of
an adhesive or double-sided tape.
[0086] The back material 46 is an external covering material to
enhance the appearance design and the sense of touch of the back of
the stand cover section 22 that appears on the exterior in the
standing position. The back material 46 is fixed with the adhesive
member (fixing member) 50 and laminated on the back of the core
material 48. The auxiliary sheet 47 is a sheet-shaped member
laminated between the core material 48 and the back material 46.
The core material 48 is a hard member as the base of the stand
cover section 22, which is, for example, a resin plate. Cutout
portions are formed for weight saving in various places of the core
material 48. The surface material 49 is an external covering
material to enhance the appearance design and the sense of touch of
the stand cover section 22. The back material 46 and the surface
material 49 are soft sheet-shaped members formed of artificial
leather, natural leather, cloth, resin, or the like.
[0087] In the stand cover section 22, the edges 22a to 22c other
than the fourth edge 22d, to which the hinge device 24 is
connected, are covered by folding the edges of the surface material
49 to cover the end faces of the core material 48 in order to
improve the design quality. On the other hand, since the hinge
device 24 is connected to the fourth edge 22d, the surface material
49 cannot be provided on the fourth edge 22d. Therefore, an end
face treatment agent 52 (see FIG. 9A) is provided on the end faces
48a and 49a of the core material 48 and the surface material 49 to
ensure the design quality. Note that reference numerals 22a to 22d
that denote the edges are given to the four peripheral end faces of
the core material 48 in FIG. 7 for convenience.
[0088] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a pair of recesses 48b, 48b for
positioning the stand brackets 32A, 32B is formed in the core
material 48. Each recess 48b is a recessed hole formed by denting
or cutting out the back of the core material 48 opposite to the
surface of the core material 48 on the side of the surface material
49, which has a shape capable of positioning the stand bracket 32A,
32B. Each recess 48b has an opening 48c open to the fourth edge
22d. The stand bracket 32A, 32B protruding from the hinge shaft 30
is placed inside the recess 48b in such a state that a narrow root
portion on the side of the hinge shaft 30 passes through the
opening 48c.
[0089] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the recess 48b of
the stand cover section 22 and the vicinity thereof. In FIG. 8, the
stand bracket 32A (32B), the back material 46, the auxiliary sheet
47, and the like are omitted from the illustration. FIG. 9A is a
schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand bracket 32A (32B) of
the stand cover section 22 and the vicinity thereof. FIG. 9B is a
schematic enlarged sectional view of the stand bracket 32A (32B) of
a stand cover section 54 according to a comparative example and the
vicinity thereof. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B omit the back material 46,
the auxiliary sheet 47, the adhesive member 50, and the like from
the illustrations.
[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9A, the stand cover
section 22 of the embodiment has a chamfer-shaped portion 48d on an
opening edge of the opening 48c of each recess 48b formed in the
core material 48. The chamfer-shaped portion 48d is a tapered
portion obtained by chamfering the corner of the opening edge of
the opening 48c formed in a waterway shape. The chamfer-shaped
portion 48d may also be formed in an R shape or the like.
[0091] As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the end face treatment agent 52
provided on the fourth edge 22d is a coating agent used for end
face treatment (edge treatment) of general leather products, and
called oil edge, edge oil, leather edge oil, leather edge paint
oil, or the like. The end face treatment agent 52 is applied in
liquid form to the end face 49a of the surface material 49 (and the
end face 48a of the core material 48), and dried and cured to form
leather-like coating.
[0092] In the meantime, suppose that the chamfer-shaped portion 48d
is not provided in the opening 48c of the recess 48b like in the
structure of the stand cover section 54 of the comparative example
illustrated in FIG. 9B. In this case, there is a concern that the
end face treatment agent 52 might be cured in a state of being
overflown from the end face 48a up to the bottom of the recess 48b
(opening 48c) (see part 52a). This is because it is difficult in
the manufacturing process to apply the liquid end face treatment
agent 52 accurately to the end faces 48a and 49a of the stand cover
section 22 extremely thin at a few millimeters. As a result, the
part 52a of the end face treatment agent 52 is cured inside the
recess 48b in this stand cover section 54 and hence gets in the way
to disable the stand bracket 32A (32B) from being accommodated
completely inside the recess 48b, causing a concern about being
installed in a tilted state. This causes the occurrence of rattling
or the generation of noise in the hinge device 24.
[0093] In this regard, the stand cover section 22 of the embodiment
is provided with the chamfer-shaped portion 48d in the opening 48c
of the recess 48b. Therefore, when the end face treatment agent 52
is applied to the end face 49a of the surface material 49 in the
manufacturing process, even if there is the part 52a somewhat
overflown, this part 52a will not infiltrate into the recess 48b
over the chamfer-shaped portion 48d. In other words, the process of
applying the end face treatment agent 52 to the stand cover section
22 is easy, and poor application can be suppressed. As a result,
the stand cover section 22 can suppress the occurrence of rattling
or the generation of noise in the hinge device 24.
[0094] Note that the present invention is not limited to the
aforementioned embodiment, and changes can be made freely without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0095] In the above, the foldable portable information device is
exemplified. However, when the portable information device is a
tablet PC of a flat-plate type rather than of the folded type, the
base cover section 20 of the cover device 14 may be formed by the
fixed cover section 28 alone with the slide cover section 26 and
the folding cover section 27 omitted.
[0096] In the above, since the second edge 22b of the stand cover
section 22 matches the lower end face of the second chassis 12B
that extends in the X direction, the hinge shaft 30 is arranged in
a posture to be inclined with respect to the X-Y directions to
cause the portable information device 10 to have a standing posture
fallen a little backward in the standing position illustrated in
FIG. 4. However, the hinge shaft 30 may also be placed in parallel
in the X direction or the Y direction depending on the placement
position of the stand cover section 22.
[0097] In the above, the structure in which the cover device 14 is
fixed integrally to the chassis 12A and 12B is exemplified.
However, the cover device 14 may also be a single part completely
separated from the portable information device 10. In this case,
the cover device 14 may be removably mounted on the chassis 12A and
12B, for example, using a magnet or a hook. In such a cover device
14, the base brackets 31A and 31B may be fixed to the core material
34 of the fixed cover section 28.
[0098] In the above, the structure in which the base brackets 31A
and 31B on the side of the base cover section 20 rotate relative to
the hinge shaft 30, and the stand brackets 32A and 32B on the side
of the stand cover section 22 are fixed to the hinge shaft 30 is
exemplified, but this mounting relationship may be reversed. In
other words, the hinge device 24 may also have such a structure
that the base brackets 31A and 31B are fixed to the hinge shaft 30
and the stand brackets 32A and 32B rotate relative to the hinge
shaft 30.
[0099] In the above, the structure in which the ends of the shafts
34A and 34B are inserted as shaft pins into the shaft holes 35c and
35d of the intermediate shaft 35 is exemplified, but this
relationship may also be changed. In other words, the hinge shaft
may also have such a structure that a shaft hole(s) is formed in
either one or both of the shafts 34A and 34B, and a shaft pin(s) is
formed on either one or both of the ends 35a and 35b of the
intermediate shaft 35.
[0100] In the above, the portable information device 10 foldable in
half like a book is exemplified. However, in addition to the
structure in which the same shaped chassis are folded in half,
various structures can be exemplified as foldable portable
information devices, such as a double-door structure in which two
small-sized chassis are coupled to the right and left edges of a
large-sized chassis in a foldable manner, an S-shaped folding
structure in which two chassis different in folding direction from
each other are coupled to the right and left edges of one chassis,
and a J-shaped folding structure in which two small-sized chassis
are coupled to one of the right and left edges of a large-sized
chassis in a foldable manner, and the number of coupled chassis may
be four or more. In this case, the cover device 14 may have such a
structure as to cover the whole or part of the back surface of each
chassis, and two or more chassis may be used simultaneously.
[0101] Although the disclosure has been described with respect to
only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art,
having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various
other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope
of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention
should be limited only by the attached claims.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
[0102] 10 portable information device [0103] 12A first chassis
[0104] 12B second chassis [0105] 14 cover device [0106] 16 display
[0107] 20 base cover section [0108] 22 stand cover section [0109]
24 hinge device [0110] 26 slide cover section [0111] 27 folding
cover section [0112] 28 fixed cover section [0113] 30 hinge shaft
[0114] 31A, 31B base bracket [0115] 32A, 32B stand bracket [0116]
34A first shaft [0117] 34B second shaft [0118] 35 intermediate
shaft [0119] 36A first end shaft [0120] 36B second end shaft [0121]
38 adhesive [0122] 39 lubricant [0123] 40A, 40B antenna device
[0124] 48 core material [0125] 48d chamfer-shaped portion [0126] 52
end face treatment agent
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