Patent Application
20080078058
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present hinge assembly and foldable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to the drawings in detail,
Referring to
Referring also to
The friction member 20 defines a centre hole 21 running through a middle portion thereof. The friction member 20 is located around the shaft portion 13 of the first body 10, and abuts against the connecting portion. The friction member 20 is non-rotatable relative to the shaft portion 13. In an alternative embodiment, the friction member 20 may be integrally formed with the shaft portion 13 at the connecting portion. The friction member 20 includes a friction surface 23 formed at one end thereof, and a plane 25 formed at an opposite end thereof. The friction surface 23 is substantially a spherical surface. The friction member 20 further defines a transverse notch 251 at the plane 25. The projections 131 of the first body 10 are engaged in the notch 251 of the friction member 20, to prevent the friction member 20 from rotating relative to the first body 10.
The follower 30 is substantially a hollow cylindrical body, and defines a central hole 31 running through a middle portion thereof. The follower 30 is located around the shaft portion 13, and is rotatable relative to the shaft portion 13. The follower 30 has a follower surface 311 formed inside. The follower surface 311 is substantially a spherical surface, spans about half an axial length of the follower 30, and is exposed at an end of the follower 30 adjacent the friction member 20. A shape and a size of the follower surface 311 correspond to those of the friction surface 23 of the friction member 20. The follower surface 311 is configured for slidably engaging with the friction surface 23. In alternative embodiments, the follower surface 311 and the friction surface 23 may have other suitable complementary shapes, whereby the follower 30 is rotatable relative to the friction member 20. For example, the follower surface 311 and the friction surface 23 can be paraboloid surfaces or conical surfaces. The follower 30 includes a locking portion 33 extending from an outer wall thereof. The locking portion 33 is substantially a block-shaped protrusion having a rectangular profile.
The combination of washers 40 includes at least two washers, which are located around the shaft portion 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the combination of washers 40 includes a first washer 41 and a second washer 42. The first washer 41 is located between the follower 30 and the elastic piece group 50. The second washer 42 is located between the elastic piece group 50 and the second body 60. In an alternative embodiment, the combination of washers 40 can be omitted. In such case, the elastic piece group 50 directly abuts against the follower 30 and the second body 60.
The elastic piece group 50 includes at least two elastic pieces 51. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic piece group 50 includes five elastic pieces 51. Each elastic piece 51 is made of an elastic material such as metal or plastic. In alternative embodiments, the elastic piece group 50 may instead be another kind of suitable elastic element, such as a compression spring. The elastic piece group 50 is located around the shaft portion 13, and functions to urge/push the follower surface 311 of the follower 30 to constantly abut against the friction surface 23 of the friction member 20.
Referring also to
The clip 70 is substantially a C-shaped gapped ring, and is made of an elastic material such as metal or plastic. The clip 70 is engagably received in the clip groove 133 of the first body 10, to prevent the first body 10 from disengaging from the second body 60. In alternative embodiments, the clip 70 may be another kind of suitable fastener, for example a screw or a pin. If a screw is employed, a plurality of threads is defined on the shaft portion 13, and the screw is engaged with the threads to prevent the first body 10 from disengaging from the second body 60.
In assembly of the hinge assembly 100, the shaft portion 13 of the first body 10 is passed through the friction member 20, the follower 30, the first washer 41, the elastic piece group 50, the second washer 42, and the second body 60 in that order. The clip 70 is engaged in the clip groove 133 of the first body 10. The connecting portion of the first body 10 abuts against the first end surface 611 of the second body 60 and the plane 25 of the friction member 20. The projections 131 of the first body 10 are engaged in the notch 251 of the friction member 20. The locking portion 33 of the follower 30 is engaged in the locking portion 616 of the second body 60. The follower surface 311 of the follower 30 abuts against the friction surface 23 of the friction member 20, and an end of the follower 30 distal from the follower surface 311 abuts against a first end surface of the first washer 41. The five elastic pieces 51 are located around the shaft portion 13 to form the elastic piece group 50, with one elastic piece 51 abutting against another one or two corresponding elastic pieces 51. The elastic piece group 50 is elastically compressed, with one end of the elastic piece group 50 biasing a second end surface of the first washer 41, and an opposite end of the elastic piece group 50 biasing a first end surface of the second washer 42. A second end surface of the second washer 42 abuts against the resisting surface 617 of the second body 60. The hinge assembly 100 is thus completely assembled.
In use of the hinge assembly 100, the first mounting plate 11 of the first body 10 is engaged with the cover 204, and the second mounting plate 63 of the second body 60 is engaged with the main body 202. The biasing force provided by the elastic piece group 50 is constant. The cover 204 is opened from or closed upon the main body 202 by external force applied by a user. When the external force is withdrawn, the cover 204 rests at a steady position relative to the main body 202 by reason of frictional engagement between the friction surface 23 of the friction member 20 and the follower surface 311 of the follower 30.
In the notebook computer 200, the hinge assembly 100 controls an angle of opening of the cover 204 relative to the main body 202 by reason of the frictional engagement between the friction member 20 and the follower 30. This frictional engagement is in turn controlled by the elastic biasing force provided by the elastic piece group 50. A contact area between the friction surface 23 of the friction member 20 and the follower surface 311 of the follower 30 is large relative to the overall sizes of each of the friction member 20 and the follower 30. This means the friction member 20 and the follower 30 need not be unduly large. Because the contact area between the friction surface 23 of the friction member 20 and the follower surface 311 of the follower 30 is relatively large, the biasing force provided by the elastic piece group 50 need not be excessively great. This means the elastic piece group 50 need not be unduly large, and the elastic piece group 50 is less prone to fatigue. Furthermore, because the friction member 20, the follower 30, and means the elastic piece group 50 need not be unduly large, the hinge assembly 100 correspondingly need not be unduly large. Nevertheless, the hinge assembly 100 can still provide convenient and reliable positioning of the cover 204 relative to the main body 202.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200610062511.1 | Sep 2006 | CN | national |
