Electronic apparatus having two housings coupled by hinge mechanism, one of which is reversible to the other

Claim 2

An electronic apparatus comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a hinge mechanism which couples the first and second housings so that the first and second housings are relatively rotated about first and second axes intersected with each other; and an interlocking mechanism which decreases a rotational resistance between the first and second housings about the first axis, while the first and second housings are relatively situated to each other at a position of the rotation about the second axis.

Claim 3

The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism which fixes the relative rotation between the first and second housings about the one of the two axes intersected each other.

Claim 4

The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the hinge mechanism includes a shaft support member which relatively positions the first and second axes intersecting each other; and the interlocking mechanism includes a first engagement member which rotates, together with the first housing, about the first axis relative to the shaft support member, a second engagement member which rotates, together with the second housing, about the second axis relative to the shaft support member, and an interlocking member engaged with one of engagement portions of the first engagement member when the first and second housings are situated at a rotational position about the first axis, the interlocking member being engaged with an engagement portion of the second engagement member when the first and second housings are situated at a rotational position about the second axis.

Claim 5

The electronic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the interlocking member is interposed between the first and second engagement members.

Claim 6

The electronic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the interlocking member is urged toward the first engagement member.

Claim 7

The electronic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the interlocking member is urged toward the second engagement member.

Claim 8

The electronic apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising an engagement adjusting member which changes a depth to which the interlocking member is engaged with the first engagement member, thereby suppressing rotation about the first axis.

Claim 9

An electronic apparatus comprising: a main body; a display panel; a hinge mechanism which couples the main body and the display panel, and has a rotation shaft which rotates the display panel about an axis extending along one side of the display panel from a state in which the display panel opposes the main body, to a state in which the display panel is raised from the main body, the hinge mechanism also having a swivel shaft which swivels the rotation shaft about an axis intersecting an axis of the rotation shaft; and an interlocking mechanism which reduces a rotational resistance about the rotation shaft when the main body and the display panel are positioned at an angle about the axis of the swivel shaft, the interlocking mechanism reducing a rotational resistance about the swivel shaft when the main body and the display panel are positioned at an angle about the axis of the rotation shaft.

Claim 10

An electronic apparatus comprising: a main body; a display panel; a hinge mechanism which couples the main body and the display panel, and has a rotation shaft which rotates the display panel about an axis extending along one side of the display panel from a state in which the display panel opposes the main body, to a state in which the display panel is raised from the main body, the hinge mechanism also having a swivel shaft which swivels the rotation shaft about an axis intersecting an axis of the rotation shaft; and an interlocking mechanism which reduces a rotational resistance about the rotation shaft when the main body and the display panel are positioned at an angle about the axis of the swivel shaft, the interlocking mechanism reducing a rotational resistance about the swivel shaft when the main body and the display panel are positioned at an angle about the axis of the rotation shaft.

Claim 11

The electronic apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the swivel shaft is provided at an angle at which the display panel does not collide with the main body when the display panel is swiveled about the axis of the swivel shaft.

Claim 12

The electronic apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a locking mechanism which locks swiveling about the axis of the swivel shaft.

Claim 13

The electronic apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the interlocking mechanism includes: a cam that rotates about the axis of the rotation shaft together with the display panel; an engagement member which rotates about the axis of the swivel shaft together with the main body; and an interlocking member located between the cam and the engagement member, and engaged with an engagement portion of the cam when the display panel is rotated about the axis of the rotation shaft and raised at a predetermined angle to the main body, the interlocking member being engaged with one of engagement portions of the engagement member when the rotation shaft is arranged extending along one side of the main body, the engagement portions of the engagement member being provided symmetrically with respect to the axis of the swivel shaft.

Claim 14

The electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising an engagement adjusting member which changes a depth to which the interlocking member is engaged with the one of the engagement portions of the engagement member.

Claim 15

The electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the interlocking member is urged toward the cam.