초록 ▼

A sliding and rotating hinge module for supporting a display screen or the like, includes a bracket, a slider and a support member. The slider is capable of sliding movement relative to the bracket and the support member is capable of pivotal movement relative to the slider. A drum is rotationally s

A sliding and rotating hinge module for supporting a display screen or the like, includes a bracket, a slider and a support member. The slider is capable of sliding movement relative to the bracket and the support member is capable of pivotal movement relative to the slider. A drum is rotationally supported by the bracket. A constant force spring is attached to the drum at one end and to the slider at the other end. The constant force spring is biased to wrap around the drum, the constant force spring unwrapping from the drum as the slider moves toward the retracted position. The constant force spring biases the slider toward the extended position. A damping mechanism damps the rotational motion of the drum relative to the bracket for smooth, non-abrupt movement of the slider.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A sliding and rotating hinge module comprising: at least one bracket adapted for fastening to a vehicle;a slider mounted within said bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said bracket between a retracted position and an extended position;a drum rotationally supported by said brac

1. A sliding and rotating hinge module comprising: at least one bracket adapted for fastening to a vehicle;a slider mounted within said bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said bracket between a retracted position and an extended position;a drum rotationally supported by said bracket;a constant force spring attached to said drum at one end and said slider at another end, said constant force spring being biased to wrap around said drum, said constant force spring unwrapping from said drum as said slider moves toward said retracted position, and said constant force spring biasing said slider toward said extended position;a damping mechanism for damping rotational motion of said drum relative to said bracket;a support member pivotally attached to the slider, said support member being pivotally movable relative to said slider between a first position and a second position at least when said slider is in said extended position;a latch provided for selectively holding said slider in said retracted position; anda cover attached to said bracket and having an outer sleeve provided with an arc-shaped inside surface that at least in part surrounds an outermost coil of said constant force spring, such that when said slider is moving too fast for said drum to keep up with and results in the constant force spring expanding radially outward relative to the drum to engage said cover, said cover limits outward radial expansion of said constant force spring to slow down said sliding movement of said slider toward said extended position. 2. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 1, wherein said latch is capable of engaging said support member in order to hold said slider in said retracted position. 3. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 2, wherein said support member is spring biased toward said second position relative to said slider. 4. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to any one of claims 1 through 3, further comprising: damping means for damping pivotal movement of said support member relative to said slider. 5. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to any one of claims 1 and 3, wherein said latch engages said support member to maintain said slider in said retracted position and said support member in said first position. 6. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 2, wherein said latch also maintains said support member in said first position when said latch is engaging said support member. 7. A sliding and rotating hinge module comprising: at least one bracket adapted for fastening to a vehicle;a slider mounted within said bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said bracket between a retracted position and an extended position;a drum rotationally supported by said bracket;a constant force spring attached to said drum at one end and said slider at another end, said constant force spring being biased to wrap around said drum, said constant force spring unwrapping from said drum as said slider moves toward said retracted position, and said constant force spring biasing said slider toward said extended position;a damping mechanism for damping rotational motion of said drum relative to said bracket, said damping mechanism for damping rotational motion of said drum comprising a stator provided in a fixed position relative to said bracket, at least an inner stator sleeve and an outer stator sleeve provided as part of said stator, and at least an inner drum sleeve and an outer drum sleeve provided as part of said drum, wherein said inner sleeve of said stator is received in said inner sleeve of said drum, said outer sleeve of said stator is received between said inner sleeve of said drum and said outer sleeve of said drum to form opposing surfaces of said inner and outer sleeves of said drum and said inner and outer sleeves of said stator, and wherein said damping mechanism for damping rotational motion of said drum further comprises a damping grease disposed between said opposing surfaces of said inner and outer sleeves of said drum and said inner and outer sleeves of said stator to dampen rotational motion of said drum relative to said bracket;a support member pivotally attached to the slider, said support member being pivotally movable relative to said slider between a first position and a second position at least when said slider is in said extended position;a latch provided for selectively holding said slider in said retracted position; anda cover attached to said bracket and having an outer sleeve provided with an arc-shaped inside surface that at least in part surrounds an outermost coil of said constant force spring, such that when said slider is moving too fast for said drum to keep up with and results in the constant force spring expanding radially outward relative to the drum to engage said cover, said cover limits outward radial expansion of said constant force spring to slow down said sliding movement of said slider toward said extended position. 8. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 7, further comprising: damping means for damping pivotal movement of said support member relative to said slider. 9. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 8, wherein said support member is spring biased toward said second position relative to said slider. 10. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 9, wherein said latch engages said support member to maintain said slider in said retracted position and said support member in said first position. 11. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 10, wherein said slider has a front end and wherein said damping means for damping pivotal movement of said support member comprises: a cylindrical cavity having an inner sleeve and an outer wall provided at said front end of said slider;a cylindrical cavity having an inner post and an outer wall provided at one end of said support member, said inner post of said support member being received within said inner sleeve of said cavity of said slider, said outer wall of said cavity of said support member being received within said outer wall of said cavity of said slider; anddamping grease disposed between closely spaced surfaces of said outer wall of said cavity of said support member and said outer wall of said cavity of said slider, and between closely spaced surfaces of said inner post of said cavity of said support member and said inner sleeve of said cavity of said slider, to thereby damp pivotal movement of said support member relative to said slider. 12. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 4, wherein said slider has a front end and wherein said damping means for damping pivotal movement of said support member comprises: a cylindrical cavity having an inner sleeve and an outer wall provided at said front end of said slider;a cylindrical cavity having an inner post and an outer wall provided at one end of said support member, said inner post of said support member being received within said inner sleeve of said cavity of said slider, said outer wall of said cavity of said support member being received within said outer wall of said cavity of said slider; anddamping grease disposed between closely spaced surfaces of said outer wall of said cavity of said support member and said outer wall of said cavity of said slider, and between closely spaced surfaces of said inner post of said cavity of said support member and said inner sleeve of said cavity of said slider, to thereby damp pivotal movement of said support member relative to said slider. 13. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 1, wherein said damping mechanism for damping rotational motion of said drum comprises a stator provided in a fixed position relative to said bracket, at least one stator sleeve provided as part of said stator, and at least one drum sleeve provided as part of said drum, wherein said stator sleeve fits into said drum sleeve, and wherein said damping mechanism for damping rotational motion of said drum further comprises a damping grease disposed between said stator sleeve and said drum sleeve to dampen rotational motion of said drum relative to said bracket.