US 12,088,751 B2
Hinge assembly and electronic device including the same
Jongkeun Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Yonghwa Han, Suwon-si (KR); Myungchul Ryu, Suwon-si (KR); Sukjin Yun, Suwon-si (KR); and Jaehoon Jang, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/897,329.
Application 17/897,329 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2022/008678, filed on Jun. 20, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0107984 (KR), filed on Aug. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0053373 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); F16C 11/04 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01); E05D 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC H04M 1/0268 (2013.01) [F16C 11/04 (2013.01); G06F 1/1641 (2013.01); H04M 1/0214 (2013.01); E05D 3/18 (2013.01); E05Y 2999/00 (2024.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device comprising:
a display which is foldable, the display comprising a first area, a second area, and a folding area between the first area and the second area;
a housing comprising a first housing corresponding to the first area, and a second housing corresponding to the second area; and
a hinge assembly which is foldable together with the display, corresponds to the folding area of the display, and connects the first housing to the second housing,
wherein the hinge assembly comprises:
a hinge bracket defining a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis which is spaced apart from the first hinge axis;
a first rotator and a second rotator both connected to the hinge bracket and respectively rotatable about the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis;
a first slider and a second slider both connected to the hinge bracket, slidable relative to the hinge bracket in a direction parallel with the first hinge axis or the second hinge axis, and spaced apart from each other in the direction parallel with the first hinge axis or the second hinge axis;
the first rotator which includes a first helical structure having a helical shape in a direction with the first hinge axis as a center, and is connected to both the first slider and the second slider through the first helical structure;
the second rotator which includes a second helical structure having a helical shape in a direction with the second hinge axis as a center, and is connected to both the first slider and the second slider through the second helical structure; and
an elastic member between the first slider and the second slider and configured to provide an elastic force in the direction parallel with the first hinge axis or the second hinge axis.