BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an another exploded perspective view of the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an operational bottom view of the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an operational perspective view of the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an another operational perspective view of the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a plane electronic device mounted with the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 9 is an operational side view of the plane electronic device mounted with the flat hinge assembly in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a base (10) and a body (20).
The base (10) has a proximal end, a distal end and two sidewalls (11). Each sidewall (11) has a protrusion (111) and a through hole (110). The protrusion (111) is protruding from the sidewall (11) near the distal end of the base (10). The through hole (110) is defined through the sidewall (11) near the proximal end of the base (10). The through holes (110) in the sidewalls (11) align with each other.
The body (20) is mounted pivotally on the base (10) and has a pivoting leaf (21) and an extending leaf (23).
The pivoting leaf (21) is mounted pivotally on the base (10) and has a proximal end, a bottom surface, two mounting taps (210), two sliding grooves (22), two cutouts (212) and may have two bushing assemblies. The mounting taps (210) are oppositely formed perpendicularly on the bottom surface near the proximal end of the pivoting leaf (21), each mounting tap (210) has a mounting hole (211) formed through the mounting tap (210) and corresponding with one of the through holes (110) of the base (10). The sliding grooves (22) are defined longitudinally through the pivoting leaf (21) parallel to each other, and each sliding groove (22) has a determined length. The cutouts (212) are defined separately through the pivoting leaf (21). Each one of the bushing assemblies comprises a nut, a pintle (213), and multiple bushing elements (214). The pintles (213) of the bushing assemblies are mounted respectively through the mounting holes (211) of the mounting taps (210) and the through holes (110) of the base (10). The nuts respectively screw onto the pintles (213) to mount the pivoting leaf (21) pivotally on the base (10). The bushing elements (214) are mounted respectively around the pintles (213) and rub against the pivoting leaf (21) to hold the pivoting leaf (21) in position when the pivoting leaf (21) is pivoted.
The extending leaf (23) is mounted slidably on the pivoting leaf (21) and has an opening (236), two fastening holes (230), two fastening elements (231), two walls, two slots (232), multiple connecting holes (235) and may have a resilient element (30).
With further reference to FIG. 3, the opening (236) is defined longitudinally through the extending leaf (23). The fastening holes (230) are formed separately through the extending leaf (23) and correspond respectively to the sliding grooves (22) of the pivoting leaf (21). The fastening elements (231) are mounted respectively through the sliding grooves (22) and are respectively mounted securely in the fastening holes (230) and received slidably in the sliding grooves (22) so as to allow the extending leaf (23) slides relative to the pivoting leaf (21). The walls are formed oppositely on the extending leaf (23), correspond to and are wider than the sidewalls (11) of the base (10). The slots (232) are respectively formed longitudinally through the walls of the extending leaf (23) and selectively engage with the protrusions (111). Each slot (232) has a proximal end and a receiver (233). The receiver (233) is formed near the proximal end of the slot (232), protrudes from the wall of the extending leaf (23) and forms a gap (234). The gaps (234) of the receivers (233) communicate with the slots (232) and selectively engage the protrusions (111) of the base (10). The connecting holes (235) are formed through the extending leaf (23) and correspond respectively to the cutouts (212) of the pivoting leaf (21).
With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the resilient element (30) is mounted in the extending leaf (23) and has a first end (31) and a second end (32). The first end (31) is fastened on the bottom surface of the extending leaf (23) by a fastener (310). The second end (32) is fastened on the pivoting leaf (21) by a fastener (320) extending through the opening (236) of the extending leaf (23) and selectively pushes the extending leaf (23) to maintain an extending status.
With further reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, a plane electronic device (40) includes a monitor (42) and a keyboard (41), wherein the monitor (42) is attached to the extending leaf (23) and the keyboard (41) is mounted securely on the base (10). Such, by the extending leaf (23) slides relative to the pivoting leaf (21), the monitor (42) can move relative to the keyboard (41). When the monitor (42) covers the keyboard (41), the plane electronic device (40) has a smallest volume for carry. The user also can slide the monitor (42) to reveal the keyboard (41) to facilitate users to use.
When the monitor (42) moves to reveal the keyboard (41), the protrusions (111) of the base (10) will correspond to the gaps (234) and may disengage from the slots (232), such that the monitor (42) can be pivoted to an appropriate angle to avoid reflecting light and facilitate users to watch via the pivoting leaf (21) pivots relative to the base (10).
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.