Patent Application
20080216287
The present invention relates generally to hinge mechanisms, and more particularly to hinge mechanisms for clamshell-type electronics devices.
Manufacturers of clamshell-type electronics devices, such as flip phones, typically have two housings pivotably connected by a hinge. In general, the hinge pivotally connects a housing that includes a display to another housing that includes a keypad or other input interface. Other clamshell-type electronics devices, such as laptop and notebook computers, for example, also use these types of hinges.
Although there are many different types of hinges available, the current trend is for electronics manufacturers to use “cartridge hinges.” Cartridge hinges usually fit within one or both of the housings, and contain a cam mechanism and a spring. The spring biases the cam mechanism axially such that the cam mechanism yieldingly resists the user opening or closing the housings. Once the user overcomes this initial resistance, the spring may provide a force to urge the housings into the open or closed position.
Manufacturers are attracted to using cartridge hinges for their devices because they are small, self-contained, and inexpensive. Additionally, many different types and sizes of cartridge hinges are readily available “off-the-shelf.” This negates the need for manufacturers to customize or specially design hinges for a particular device. Despite these beneficial characteristics, however, cartridge hinges are not without their drawbacks.
Structurally, most conventional cartridge hinges for electronics devices are very small. This small size can be problematic during the manual labor phases of the assembly of the device. For example, it is difficult for humans to manipulate such small components efficiently. Further, conventional cartridge hinges require special tools to assemble the cartridge hinge, and to install the cartridge hinge during assembly of the electronic device to ensure a tight fit between the cartridge hinge and the housing of the device. Additionally, the repeated opening and closing of the device may cause wear between the exterior of the cartridge hinge and the interior of the electronic device housings that contain the cartridge hinge. This wear causes the original tight fit between the cartridge hinge and the device housing to loosen. Consequently, the resulting loose fit between the cartridge hinge and the device housing decreases the effectiveness of the cartridge hinge and degrades consumer confidence in the manufacturer's device. Parts can be replaced or repaired; however, the associated costs effectively prohibit such actions from being viable for manufacturers.
The present invention is directed to a hinge mechanism for pivotably connecting two housings of a clamshell-type electronic device. In one embodiment, a hinge mechanism comprises a hinge body that mates with an opening integrally formed in a first housing of an electronic device, and a hinge head that mates with a corresponding opening integrally formed in a second housing of the electronic device. The hinge body at least partially contains the components that function to yieldingly resist a user pivoting the first and second housings between open and closed positions. Elastic retaining boots formed as sleeves are disposed within the openings and around the exterior surfaces of the hinge body and the hinge head. The retaining boots are sized and shaped to maintain a tight fit between the hinge body and the hinge boot, and their respective openings.
The user may pivot the housings relative to one another to open and close the electronic device. Repeatedly opening and closing the device, however, may cause spatial gaps to form between the exterior surfaces of the hinge body and/or the hinge head and the interior surfaces of their respective openings. Additionally, dropping the device or temperature changes may also cause spatial gaps to form. These small spatial gaps may loosen the original tight fit between the hinge body and the hinge boot, and their respective openings. The retaining boots expand to fill in these spatial gaps, and thus, maintains a tight fit between the hinge body and the hinge head and the interior surfaces of the openings.
Turning now to the figures, the present invention comprises a hinge mechanism that pivotably connects the two housings of a clamshell-type electronic device. In one embodiment, a pair of retaining boots formed as sleeves substantially surrounds a cartridge hinge. Together, the cartridge hinge and the retaining boots are disposed within corresponding openings such that the retaining boots are between the cartridge hinge and the interior surfaces of their respective openings. The retaining boots function to fill in spatial gaps that might develop between the cartridge hinge and the interior surfaces of the openings to maintain a tight fit between the cartridge hinge and the openings.
Cellular telephone 10 comprises a first housing 12 pivotably connected to a second housing 14 by an internally disposed hinge mechanism, such as cartridge hinge 30. The cartridge hinge 30 allows the first and second housings 12, 14, to pivot between the “open” and “closed” positions relative to one another. Particularly, the cartridge hinge 30 initially yieldingly resists a user opening and closing the first and second housings 12, 14. Once the user overcomes this initial force, however, the cartridge hinge 30 functions to urge the first and/or second housings 12, 14 into the open or closed positions.
The first and second housings 12, 14 include, inter alia, a display 16, a speaker 18, a user interface 20, and a microphone 22. Cellular telephone 10 also typically includes communications circuitry (not shown) within the first and/or second housings 12, 14 to allow users to communicate with remote parties via a wireless communications network (not shown). Generally, such circuitry includes one or more microprocessors, memory, and long-range and/or short-range transceivers that operate according to any known standard. Suitable standards include, but are not limited to, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), TIA/EIA-136, cdmaOne, cdma2000, UMTS, Wideband CDMA, and BLUETOOTH.
As seen in
In operation, based on cam profile, the spring 42 biases the cam follower 34 axially outward toward cam 36, but also compresses to allow the cam follower 34 to move axially inward. The axial movement of the cam follower 34 is dictated by the profile of the cam 36. Particularly, the hinge head 40 and the cam 36 rotate when the user pivots the housing 12 between the open and closes positions. As the cam follower 36 rotates, a raised detent or cam surface formed on cam 36 pushes a corresponding cam surface formed on cam follower 34. As the spring 42 gets compressed to allow the cam follower 34 to move axially inward, they resist the user's pivoting motion. However, once the user opens a phone housing to reach a predetermined open angle, the spring 42 biases the cam follower 34 axially outward according to the cam profile. This facilitates semi automatic opening and closing of the housings 12, 14.
Because the components that facilitate the opening and closing of the housings 12, 14 are largely contained within the hinge body 32, it is important for the hinge body 32 to fit tightly inside of post 26 of housing 14 and not move after installation. Likewise, it is important for the hinge head 40 to fit tightly inside of sleeve 24 of housing 12 and not move after installation. However, the torque placed on the hinge body 32 and the hinge head 40 from the repeated opening and closing motions could cause the hinge body 32 and/or the hinge head 40 to wear on the interior surface of post 26 and/or sleeve 24. This wear could also deform the interior of post 26 and/or sleeve 24, and create spatial gaps between the hinge body 32 and post 26, and hinge head 40 and sleeve 24. These spatial gaps would allow the hinge body 32 and the hinge head 40 to rotate or slip slightly within the post 26 and sleeve 24. The resultant “play” or looseness caused by such rotation decreases the effectiveness of the hinge, causes “clicking” sounds when opening and closing the housings 12, 14, and reduces consumer confidence in the device. To reduce or prevent this type of wear and tear on the interior surface of post 26 and sleeve 24, one embodiment of the present disposes first and second retaining boots 50, 52 on the hinge body 32 and the hinge head 40, respectively.
The first and second retaining boots 50, 52 may be formed as sleeves that fit tightly into the openings of post 26 and sleeve 24. The interior and exterior surfaces of the retaining boots 50, 52 may be relatively smooth, low friction surfaces to allow the retaining boots 50, 52 to slide axially over the hinge body 32 and hinge head 40, as well as into the interiors of post 26 and sleeve 24. In some embodiments, the material used to construct one or both of the retaining boots 50, 52 comprises a material that is shrink-fit around the hinge body 32 and hinge head 40. The material used to construct the retaining boots 50, 52 is preferably elastic such that the retaining boots 50, 52 expand after installation. Such expansion effectively allows the retaining boots 50, 52 to “fill-in” any spatial gaps that might develop from the repeated opening and closing of the housings 12, 14. Further, the elasticity of the material prevents cracks or breaks from forming in post 26 and sleeve 24. Some examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, DERLIN, NYLON, and other hard plastics or metals.
In some embodiments, each retaining boots 50, 52 is constructed of different materials. By way of example, the materials used to construct the hinge body 32, hinge head 40, and housings 12, 14 may be different. Therefore, each may have a different stiffness or elasticity. When choosing suitable materials for the retaining boots 50, 52, it is preferable to select materials having a stiffness that is less than that of the materials used to construct the hinge head 32, hinge body 40, and housings 12, 14. However, the stiffness of the material should be great enough so that the torque generated from opening and closing the housings 12, 14 does not deform the retaining boots 50, 52. This allows radial compression of the retaining boot material during the axial assembly. The compressed retaining boots 50, 52 will tend to expand to fill in any spatial gaps that might exist between the hinge body 32 and the post 26, and the hinge head 40 and the sleeve 40. Consequently, such pre-compression would also allow the retaining boots 50, 52 to expand during use of the device 10 to maintain the original tight fit between the hinge body 32 and hinge head 40 and the post 26 and sleeve 24.
The hinge body 32 and the hinge head 40 fit tightly within their respective retaining boots 50, 52, which in turn, fits tightly within the post 26 and sleeve 24. This tightness prevents the retaining boots 50, 52, the hinge body 32, and the hinge head 40 from rotating within post 26 and sleeve 24 due to the torque generated by the repeated opening and closing the housings 12, 14. During use, the retaining boots 50, 52 expand within post 26 and sleeve 24 to fill-in any spatial gaps between hinge body 32 and the interior of post 26 and the hinge head 40 and the interior of sleeve 24. Because the spatial gaps remain filled, the retaining boots 50, 52 retain the hinge body 32 and the hinge head 40 tightly within the post 26 and sleeve 24. This prevents the hinge body 32 and hinge head 40 from becoming loose within the openings of post 26 and sleeve 24, as well as the “clicking” sounds that are associated with the hinge body 32 and hinge head 40 being loose.
One or both of the retaining boots 50, 52 may also be interchangeable. Particularly, some consumers maintain possession of their electronic devices for extended periods. During this time, the component parts of the cartridge hinge 30 may become worn or broken and need replacement. With conventional devices, replacing a hinge might have required special stations and/or tools to disassemble/re-assemble the device 10. The costs of repair are therefore high relative to the cost of the hinge. The present invention, however, allows the manufacturers to remove a failed cartridge hinge 30 by sliding the hinge body 32 and/or the hinge head 40 from within their respective retaining boots 50, 52. The manufacturer then needs only to replace the hinge within the retaining boot 50. Similarly, manufacturers may replace one or both of the retaining boots 50, 52 and keep the same cartridge hinge 30, or replace both the cartridge hinge 30 and the retaining boots 50, 52 as a unit. In any of these cases, the cost and time required for repair is greatly reduced.
For the cartridge hinge 30 to slide relatively easily through the opening of post 26 and into sleeve 24, the housings 12, 14 should be opened at a “torque-free” angle α (see
It should be noted that the installation method 70 may save manufacturers time and cost in assembling cellular telephone 10. Particularly, conventional installation methods require an installer to use a special “jig” tool to compress the hinge head 40 within the hinge body 32 prior to aligning the sleeve 24 with the posts 26. This compresses the spring 42 within the hinge body 32 so that the installer can place the hinge body 32 within the post 26 and align the hinge head 40 with the sleeve 24 opening. When the installer releases the compressive force, the spring 42 decompresses to push the hinge head 40 outwardly into sleeve 24 through the opening.
With the present invention, however, installation is accomplished from the side opening of post 26. That is, the cartridge hinge 30 is pushed axially into the outside opening of post 26 and into sleeve 24. Because the sleeve and the post are already aligned, there is no need for special tools to compress the spring 42. Further, there is no need to compress the hinge head 40 into the hinge body 32 during assembly. Additionally, the cartridge hinge 30 and the retaining boots 50, 52 are pushed into the openings of the sleeve 24 and post 26 with a predetermined axial force, which radially compresses the elastic retaining boots 50, 52. As previously stated, the tendency of the compressed retaining boots 50, 52 to expand creates a tight fit between the cartridge hinge 30 and the interior surfaces of the openings of sleeve 24 and post 26. Further, the retaining boots 50, 52 would expand over time to fill in any unwanted spatial gaps that might develop between the cartridge hinge 30 and the interior surfaces of the openings as the device 10 moves between the open and closed positions. This maintains the tight fit between the cartridge hinge 30 and the interior surfaces of the openings.
Inserting the hinge body 32 through the retaining boot 50 radially compresses the retaining boot 50. Similarly, inserting the hinge head 40 into the retaining boot 52 radially compresses the retaining boot 52. As previously described, the compressed retaining boots 50, 52 tend to expand to fill in any spatial gaps between the cartridge hinge 30 and the interior surfaces of the openings in sleeve 24 and post 26. This creates and maintains a tight fit between the cartridge hinge 30 and the interior surfaces of the sleeve 24 and post 26.
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention.
