Support structure, display assembly, and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12160965-B2
Application number	US-202217966290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2022
Priority date	Apr 23, 2020
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

A support structure is provided, which includes a first support having a first supporting surface, a second support having a second supporting surface, and a third support having a third supporting surface. The first support is provided with a first connecting portion. The second support rotatably fits with the first support about an axis of rotation. The second support is provided with a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are both spaced apart from the axis of rotation. The third support is rotatably connected to both the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. When the support structure is in a folded state, the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are spaced apart from the third supporting surface, and the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface each form a specific included angle with the third supporting surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support structure, comprising: a first support having a first supporting surface and provided with a first connecting portion; a second support rotatably fitting with the first support about an axis of rotation, wherein the second support has a second supporting surface and is provided with a second connecting portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are both spaced apart from the axis of rotation; and a third support having a third supporting surface and rotatably connected to both the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, a flexible display is mounted onto the support structure, and part of the flexible display is fixedly connected to the third support, wherein when the support structure is in a folded state, the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are spaced apart from the third supporting surface, and the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface each form a specific included angle with the third supporting surface, wherein the third support is provided with a first slot for moving and a second slot for moving; the first connecting portion is inserted into the first slot for moving, and the first connecting portion is movable relative to the first slot for moving; and the second connecting portion is inserted into the second slot for moving, and the second connecting portion is movable relative to the second slot for moving, wherein the first slot for moving is a waist-shaped hole, and the second slot for moving is a waist-shaped hole or a circular hole; and the support structure further comprises an end cover provided with a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft both extend along the axis of rotation, the first rotating shaft is hinged to the first support, and the second rotating shaft is hinged to the second support; and the support structure further comprises a base, there are two end covers disposed on two opposite sides of the first support respectively and connected by means of the base, and the base is disposed on a side of the first support away from the first supporting surface; and the base comprises a main body portion, a first limiting portion, and a second limiting portion, the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion are both connected to the main body portion and are located on two opposite sides of the main body portion respectively, the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion are both arc-shaped structural members, a side of the first support away from the first supporting surface is provided with a first limiting groove, a side of the second support away from the second supporting surface is provided with a second limiting groove, and when the support structure is in an unfolded state, the first limiting portion extends into the first limiting groove and fits with the first support at a limited position, and the second limiting portion extends into the second limiting groove and fits with the second support at a limited position; and the base comprises a third limiting portion, the third limiting portion is protruded from a side of the main body portion away from the first supporting surface, and when the support structure is in an unfolded state, the first support and the second support engage opposite sides of the third limiting portion.

2. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein an outer edge of the first support is provided with a plurality of first gear teeth, an outer edge of the second support is provided with a plurality of second gear teeth, and the first support rotatably fits with the second support via engagement of the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth.

3. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first support comprises a first supporting rod, a second supporting rod, and a first supporting plate, the first supporting rod is spaced apart from the second supporting rod, the first supporting rod and the second supporting rod are both provided with the first connecting portion, each of the first connecting portions rotatably connected to the third support, the first supporting rod and the second supporting rod are both connected to the first supporting plate, and the first supporting plate has the first supporting surface; and
the second support comprises a third supporting rod, a fourth supporting rod, and a second supporting plate, the third supporting rod is spaced apart from the fourth supporting rod, the third supporting rod and the fourth supporting rod are both provided with the second connecting portion, each of the second connecting portions rotatably connected to the third support, the third supporting rod and the fourth supporting rod are both connected to the second supporting plate, and the second supporting plate has the second supporting surface.

4. The support structure according to claim 3 , wherein a side wall of at least one of the first supporting rod or the second supporting rod is provided with a first supporting portion, and the first supporting plate is supported on the first supporting portion; and
a side wall of at least one of the third supporting rod or the fourth supporting rod is provided with a second supporting portion, and the second supporting plate is supported on the second supporting portion.

5. The support structure according to claim 3 , wherein the first connecting portion is located on a side of the first supporting rod facing the second supporting rod; and the second connecting portion is located on a side of the third supporting rod facing the fourth supporting rod.

6. The support structure according to claim 5 , wherein the first connecting portion is located at an end of the first supporting rod close to the second support, and the second connecting portion is located at an end of the third supporting rod close to the first support.

7. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure further comprises a first housing and a second housing, the first housing is mounted on a side of the first support away from the first supporting surface, and the second housing is mounted on a side of the second support away from the second supporting surface.

8. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein when the support structure is in an unfolded state, the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface are coplanar.

9. A display assembly, comprising a flexible display and the support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the flexible display is mounted onto the support structure, and part of the flexible display is fixedly connected to the third support.

10. A display assembly, comprising a flexible display and the support structure according to claim 3 , wherein the flexible display is mounted onto the support structure, and part of the flexible display is fixedly connected to the third support.

11. An electronic device, comprising the display assembly according to claim 1 .

12. An electronic device, comprising a flexible display and the support structure according to claim 5 , wherein the flexible display is mounted onto the support structure, and part of the flexible display is fixedly connected to the third support.

13. An electronic device, comprising a flexible display and the support structure according to claim 6 , wherein the flexible display is mounted onto the support structure, and part of the flexible display is fixedly connected to the third support.

14. An electronic device, comprising a flexible display and the support structure according to claim 1 ,

Assignees

• Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd

Inventors

• Feng Anming

Classifications

• E05Y2999/00

  Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

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

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• E05D3/122

  Gear hinges · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

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