Patent Application
20080148520
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge and, more particularly, to a hinge for use in a laptop computer.
2. Related Prior Art
Taiwanese Patent Publication M296583 discloses a conventional hinge for a laptop computer. The hinge includes a base 10, two bushes 20, a shaft 30 and a seal 40. The base 10 defines a tunnel 11 throughout the length and three cutouts 13 at an end. Each of the bushes 20 is an arched elastic strip. The bushes 20 are disposed in the tunnel 11. The seal 40 defines an aperture 42 and includes three blocks 41 on the periphery. The seal 40 is disposed in the tunnel 11, with the blocks 41 fit in the cutouts 13. The shaft 30 is inserted in the aperture 42 of the seal 40, the bushes 20 and the tunnel 11 of the base 10. This conventional hinge is however expensive for at least two reasons. Firstly, the seal 40 adds the cost. Secondly, two bushes 20 must be used and directed in opposite directions to damp the rotation of the shaft 30 in opposite directions.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
According to the present invention, a hinge is provided for a laptop computer. The hinge includes a first connector, a lining, a bush and a second connector. The first connector includes a root and a socket extended form the root. The lining is fit in the socket so that the lining cannot be rotated in the socket. The lining includes a positioning device disposed therein. The bush includes a positioning device engaged with the positioning device of the lining when the bush is inserted in the lining. Thus, the bush cannot be rotated in the lining. The second connector includes a shaft rotationally inserted in the bush and a plate extended from the shaft for connection to another portion of the laptop computer. Damping oil is provided between the bush and the shaft.
The primary advantage of the hinge according to the present invention is a low cost for using only one bush and omitting a seal.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.
The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.
Referring to
The first connector 10 includes a root 11 and a socket 13 transversely extended from the root 11. The root 11 defines two apertures 12 through which fasteners can be driven into the host 51 for connecting the root 11 to the host 51. The socket 13 defines a space 14 that includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the space 14 is of a circular form when it is viewed in the axial direction. The second portion of the space 14 is of a non-circular form when it is viewed in a longitudinal direction. The second portion of the space 14 is smaller than the first portion of the space 14.
The lining 20 includes a tube 21 and an insert 24 axially extended from the tube 21. The tube 21 defines a space 23 and two recesses 22 in a closed end of the space 23. The recesses 22 are located opposite to each other. The insert 24 is of a non-circular form complementary to that of the second portion of the space 14. Preferably, grooves 25 are defined in the periphery of the insert 24. The insert 24 is split so that it is flexible.
The bush 30 includes a tubular configuration. A metal strip is rolled into the bush 30. A groove 32 is defined between two edges of the metal strip. That is, the groove 32 extends throughout a length of the bush 30. Thus, the bush 30 is flexible. The bush 30 is of a polygonal form when it is viewed in the axial direction. Ridges 33 are formed on the internal side of the bush 30 so that a valley is defined between any adjacent two of the ridges 33. The valleys are filled with damping oil. The bush 30 includes two tabs 31 extended from an end.
The second connector 40 includes a plate 41 and a shaft 43 axially extended from the plate 41. The plate 41 defines three apertures 42 through which fasteners can be driven into the LCD 52 for connecting the plate 41 to the LCD 52. The shaft 43 defines two annular grooves 44 for receiving the damping oil.
Referring to
The bush 30 is inserted in the space 23, with the tabs 31 inserted in the recesses 22. Thus, the bush 30 is non-rotationally disposed in the lining 20. The split 32 allows the bush 30 to shrink during the insertion. The bush 30 holds onto the wall of the space 23 after the insertion.
The shaft 43 is inserted in the bush 30, with the periphery of the former contacting the internal side of the latter. The damping oil exists between the shaft 43 and the bush 30. Most of the damping oil exists in the valleys between the ridges 33 and the annular grooves 44.
Referring to
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The hinge of the present invention exhibits at least three advantages. Firstly, no seal is needed. Secondly, because of the polygonal form, the bush 30 firmly holds the shaft 43, i.e., there is proper friction between the bush 30 and the shaft 43. Thirdly, the bush 30 is non-rotationally disposed in the lining 20 since the tabs 31 are inserted in the recesses 22.
The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.
