Claims
- 1. A hinge adapted to pivotably connect a hinged member to a device housing and being adapted to maintain the hinged member in one of an open position and a closed position relative to the device housing and dampen movement of the hinged member during movement between the closed and open positions, the hinge comprising:
a first hinge part having an axis and a first cam surface, the first hinge part being adapted to be connected to one of the hinged member and the device housing; a second hinge part aligned with and rotatable about the axis of the first hinge part, the second hinge part having a second cam surface in engagement with the first cam surface, the first and second cam surfaces being arranged to drive at least a portion of one of the first and second hinge parts along the axis of the first hinge part; a biasing member for biasing the first and second cam surfaces together; a connector extending through axial bores of the first and second hinge parts, the connector having first and second ends to secure the first and second hinge parts therebetween; at least one gap being formed between at least one of the hinge parts and the connector; and a damping fluid located within the at least one gap for controlling relative movement of the first and second hinge parts between the closed and open positions.
- 2. A hinge for controlling a pivotal rate of movement, the hinge comprising:
a first hinge part; a second hinge part pivotally mounted to the first hinge part for movement to and between open and closed positions; a connector extending along an axis, the first and second hinge parts being pivotally mounted around the connector on the axis; a gap defined between at least one of the first and second hinge parts and the connector; and a damping fluid located within the gap for controlling a relative rate of movement of the first and second hinge parts between the open and closed positions.
- 3. A hinge for controlling a pivotal rate of movement, the hinge comprising:
a first hinge part; a second hinge part pivotally mounted to the first hinge part for movement to and between open and closed positions; a connector extending along an axis, the first and second hinge parts being pivotally mounted around the connector on the axis, the connector, first hinge part and second hinge part being positioned in a bore; and a damping fluid being located within the bore such that the damping fluid is in contact with at least an outer surface of the second hinge part for controlling a relative rate of movement of the hinge between the open and closed positions.
- 4. The hinge of claim 3 wherein the bore is formed in a hinged member of a cellular telephone.
- 5. The hinge of claim 3 further comprising:
a first gap defined between the second hinge part and the connector; and a second gap defined between the second hinge part and a surface of the bore, the damping fluid being located within the first and second gaps.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/477,073, filed Jun. 9, 2003 and 60/496,827, filed Aug. 21, 2003, each entitled, “Bistable Hinge with Dampening Mechanism”.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60477073 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
|
60496827 |
Aug 2003 |
US |