Electronic apparatus with hinge mechanism

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a first case and a second case. The electronic apparatus includes a hinge support that is located in the vicinity of the first case and the second case, a first hinge portion that openably and closably couples the first case and the hinge support, and a second hinge portion that rotatably couples the second case and the hinge support. The position where the first hinge portion is joined to the hinge support is separated from the position where the second hinge portion is joined to the hinge support.

1 . An electronic apparatus with a first case and a second case, comprising:
 a hinge holding portion that is located in the vicinity of the first case and the second case and connected to the second case;   a first hinge portion that openably and closably couples the first case and the hinge holding portion; and   a second hinge portion that rotatably couples the second case and the hinge holding portion,   wherein the second hinge portion supports the second case so that the second case can be rotated around a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to a plane direction of a principal plane of the first case that faces the second case in a closed state in which the first case and the second case are closed, and   a position where the first hinge portion is joined to the hinge holding portion is separated from a position where the second hinge portion is joined to the hinge holding portion.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge portion is disposed so that an opening/closing axis around which the first case and the hinge holding portion are opened and closed is located at a position lower than the principal plane of the first case that faces the second case in the closed state. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge portion includes a pair of hinge portions, and
 the second hinge portion is disposed substantially in the middle between the pair of hinge portions.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first case includes a first protective member on the principal plane near the hinge holding portion,
 the first protective member protrudes from the principal plane, and   the first protective member is located at a position where the second case can slide over the first protective member when the second case is rotated around an axis of the second hinge portion.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second case includes a second protective member at a position that can face the first case when the second case is rotated around an axis of the second hinge portion. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second hinge portion is disposed between a pair of hinge portions constituting the first hinge portion,
 the hinge holding portion includes a projection,   the second case includes a recess in which the projection can be fitted and from which the projection can be separated,   the projection and the recess can be fitted together when the second case is in a position where the second case can be opened and closed by the first hinge portion, and   the projection and the recess are located between the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the projection includes a first projection and a second projection that have the same size,
 the recess includes a first recess and a second recess in which the first projection and the second projection can be fitted selectively,   a distance from the first projection to a rotation axis of the second hinge portion is the same as a distance from the second projection to the rotation axis of the second hinge portion, and   a distance from the first recess to the rotation axis of the second hinge portion is the same as a distance from the second recess to the rotation axis of the second hinge portion.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the projection includes a first projection and a second projection that have the same size,
 the recess includes a first recess and a second recess in which the first projection and the second projection can be fitted selectively,   when the second case is rotated around a rotation axis of the second hinge portion to a first predetermined position, the first projection is fitted in the first recess and the second projection is fitted in the second recess, and   when the second case is rotated around the rotation axis of the second hinge portion to a second predetermined position, the first projection is fitted in the second recess and the second projection is fitted in the first recess.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first projection is located in the middle between the rotation axis of the second hinge portion and one of the pair of hinge portions,
 the second projection is located in the middle between the rotation axis of the second hinge portion and the other of the pair of hinge portions.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second case includes a rotation restraining member that can be moved from a retracted position in the second case toward the hinge holding portion, and
 the hinge holding portion includes an engagement portion into which the rotation restraining member can be inserted and from which the rotation restraining member can be separated.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotation restraining member can be inserted into or separated from the engagement portion when the second case is in a position where the second case can be opened and closed by the first hinge portion. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second hinge portion is disposed between a pair of hinge portions constituting the first hinge portion,
 the hinge holding portion includes a projection,   the second case includes a recess in which the projection can be fitted and from which the projection can be separated,   the projection and the recess can be fitted together when the second case is in a position where the second case can be opened and closed by the first hinge portion, and   the projection and the recess are located between the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic apparatus with a first case and a second case, comprising:
 a first hinge portion that openably and closably couples the first case and the second case; and   a second hinge portion that rotatably couples the first case and the second case,   wherein the first hinge portion controls a position of the second case relative to the first case when an opening/closing angle between the first case and the second case is a predetermined opening/closing angle, and   the predetermined opening/closing angle is an opening/closing angle at which the second case is spaced from the first case or a surface on which the electronic apparatus is placed during rotation of the second case.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined opening/closing angle is 90 to 100 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the first hinge portion includes a shaft that is fixed to the second case, a support member that is fixed to the first case and allows the shaft to pass therethrough rotatably, and a washer that is in contact with the support member,
 the support member has a concave portion in a surface that comes into contact with the washer,   the washer has a convex portion in a surface that comes into contact with the support member, and   the concave portion and the convex portion are formed so as to be fitted together when the opening/closing angle between the first case and the second case is the predetermined opening/closing angle.