Connection device and electronic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11710936-B2
Application number	US-202016993618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2020
Priority date	Aug 14, 2019
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A connection device includes two adjacent connectors, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion. The two adjacent connectors are configured to support a flexible member. The first connecting portion of a first connector of the two adjacent connectors is rotatably connected to the second connecting portion of a second connector of the two adjacent connectors. The first connector rotates relative to the second connector based on relative rotation between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The two adjacent connectors rotate to a first limit position and a second limit position based the relative rotations between the first connector and the second connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection device, comprising:
two adjacent connectors configured to support a flexible member, each of the two adjacent connectors including a large end and a small end, and the large end being configured to support the flexible member;
a first connecting portion of a first connector of the two adjacent connectors being rotatably connected to a second connecting portion of a second connector of the two adjacent connectors, wherein:
the first connector rotates relative to the second connector based on relative rotations between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion;
the two adjacent connectors rotate to a first limit position and a second limit position based on the relative rotations between the first connector and the second connectors;
when the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, small ends of the two adjacent connectors have a first distance, and large ends of the two adjacent connectors have a second distance;
when the two adjacent connectors are at the second limit position, the small ends of the two adjacent connectors have a third distance, and the large ends of the two adjacent connectors have a fourth distance; and
the third distance is different from the first distance, and the fourth distance is different from the second distance.

2. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein:
when the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, the two adjacent connectors are configured to support the flexible member in a bent state, and the flexible member contacts two supporting ends of each of the two adjacent connectors; and
when the two adjacent connectors are at the second limit position, the two adjacent connectors are configured to support the flexible member in an unfolded state, and the flexible member contacts a supporting surface of each of the two adjacent connectors.

3. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein
the first connector rotates relative to the second connector about a rotation center based on the relative rotations between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion;
the rotation center is on a side of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion supporting the flexible member; and
the rotation center is outside the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

4. The connection device of claim 3 , wherein:
when the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, the two adjacent connectors support the flexible member having a first length;
when the two adjacent connectors are at the second limit position, the two adjacent connectors support the flexible member having a second length; and
the first length equals to the second length.

5. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first connecting portion includes a first arc surface;
the second connecting portion includes a second arc surface;
the second arch surface contacts the first arc surface and rotates relative to the first arc surface about a first rotation center; and
the first connector rotates relative to the second connector based on relative rotations between the first arc surface and the second arc surface.

6. The connection device of claim 5 , wherein:
the first connector rotates relative to the second connector based on the relative rotations between the first arc surface and the second arc surface when an external force is applied; and
the first connector maintains relative position with the second connector based on friction between the first arc surface and the second arc surface when the external force is removed.

7. The connection device of claim 5 , wherein:
the first connecting portion includes a circular sliding groove;
a sidewall of the sliding groove forms the first arc surface;
the second connecting portion includes a circular protrusion structure;
the circular protrusion structure is inserted in the sliding groove and rotates relative to the sliding groove about the first rotation center; and
a sidewall of the protrusion structure forms the second arc surface.

8. The connection device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a limiting groove provided on an inner wall of the sliding groove;
a limiting protrusion piece provided on the protrusion structure and corresponding to a position of the limiting groove, wherein:
when the protrusion structure slides in the sliding groove, the limiting protrusion piece slides in the limiting groove; and
when the limiting protrusion piece abuts a sidewall of the limiting groove, the two adjacent connectors are at the second limit position;

a position limiting structure provided on the first connector and corresponding to a position of the protrusion structure, wherein:
when the protrusion structure slides in the sliding groove until abutting the position limiting structure, the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position.

9. An electronic apparatus, comprising: the connection device of claim 1 ;
a first body connected to a connector of a first end of the two adjacent connectors;
a second body connected to a connector of a second end of the two adjacent connectors; and
a flexible member including:
a first flat portion fixed at the first body;
a second flat portion fixed at the second body; and
a bendable portion abutting the two adjacent connectors;

wherein:
when the first body rotates relative to the second body through the two adjacent connectors, the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, the bendable portion is in a bent state, and the first flat portion and the second flat portion are connected smoothly to the bendable portion in the bent state; and
when the two adjacent connectors are at the second limit position, the bendable portion is in a flattened state, and the first flat portion and the second flat portion are in a same plane with the bendable portion.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
when the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, the two connectors are configured to support the flexible member in a bent state, and the flexible member contacts two supporting ends of each of the two adjacent connectors; and
when the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, the two adjacent connectors are configured to support the flexible member in an unfolded state, and the flexible member contacts a supporting surface of each of the two adjacent connectors.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 9 , wherein
the first connector rotates relative to the second connector about a rotation center based on the relative rotation between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion;
the rotation center is on a side of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion supporting the flexible member; and
the rotation center is outside the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
when the two adjacent connectors are at the first limit position, the two adjacent connectors support the flexible member having a first length;
when the two adjacent connectors are at the second limit position, the two adjacent connectors support the flexible member having a second length; and
the first length is equal to the second length.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first connecting portion includes a first arc surface;
the second connecting portion includes a second arc surface;
the second arch surface contacts the first arc surface and rotates relative to the first arc surface about a first rotation center; and
the first co

Assignees

• Lenovo Beijing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tian Ping

Classifications

• H01R35/04 Primary

  Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle {with frictional contact members} · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1681 Primary

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• H01R39/00

  Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters · CPC title