Hinge apparatus and foldable electronic device

• Main Authors: OOBA NOBUYOSHI, KAWABATA TOMOAKI, FUKE MASATAKE, OOTA YUUICHI, TANAKA SATOSHI, IWAMA NORIYUKI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.01.2012
• Subjects: FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS; KEYS; LOCKS; SAFES; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

A hinge apparatus of the present invention comprises a first rotational shaft which rotates a first casing and a second casing relative to each other from a state where the first and second casings are folded down, and opens the first and second casings in a vertical direction, a second rotational shaft which rotates the first casing and the second casing relative to each other in a horizontal direction, a coupling member which couples the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft together, with an end portion of the first rotational shaft being overlapped with an end portion of the second rotational shaft, and an engagement member which allows either one rotational shaft of the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft to engage with the other rotational shaft, thereby restricting a rotation of the other rotational shaft when the one rotational shaft rotates.