Patent Application
20090007384
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge, especially to a hinge with an overridable limiting function when excessive force is applied to the hinge.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Electronic devices such as notebook computers, cell phones, etc. have a cover, a base and a conventional hinge. The conventional hinge connects the cover to the base along a transverse axis to allow the cover to pivot relative to the base. The conventional hinge usually has a limiting function to stop the conventional hinge from pivoting when the cover is fully opened and closed.
With reference to
However, if a person exerts more force to pivot the hinge when the positive stop (710) has already abutted the limit 61), the cover is easily broken by the excessive force.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a hinge with an overridable limiting function to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge with an overridable limiting function when an excessive force is applied to the limiting hinge.
A hinge with an overridable limiting function in accordance with the present invention is mounted in an electronic device with a cover and a base and has a pintle, a stationary leaf and a rotating assembly. The pintle has a limit with an outside edge. The stationary leaf is mounted securely on the pintle and is mounted securely in the base. The rotating assembly is mounted around the pintle, is mounted securely in the cover and has at least one positive stop. The positive stop has an inside surface and an inner part selectively abutting the limit of the pintle to provide a limiting function. When a person applies an excessive force to the cover to excessively pivot the cover, the positive stop is bent out and the inside surface of the positive stop slides along the outside edge of the limit. The outward bending of the positive stop absorbs the excessive force to keep the cover from being damaged.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
With further reference to
The stationary leaf (30) is mounted securely on the mounting end (100, 400) of the pintle (10, 40) and is mounted securely in the base of the electronic device.
The rotating assembly (20, 50) connects to the pivot end of the pintle (10, 40) and has a pivoting leaf (23, 53) and a barrel (21, 51). The pivoting leaf (23, 53) is mounted securely in the cover of the electronic device and has a proximal edge. The barrel (21, 51) is formed longitudinally on the proximal edge of the pivoting leaf (23, 53), is slightly resilient, is mounted around the pivoting end of the pintle (10, 40) and has a pivot hole (22, 52), at least one longitudinal slot (211, 511), an inside surface, an outside surface, an optional abutting end, an optional transverse slot (24) and at least one positive stop (210, 510). The pivot hole (22, 52) is formed coaxially through the barrel (21, 51) and is mounted around the pivoting end of the pintle (10, 40). The at least one longitudinal slot (211, 511) is formed through the barrel (21, 51). The inside surface of the barrel (21, 51) abuts the outside surface of the pivoting end of the pintle (20, 50). The abutting end corresponds to the limit (11, 41) of the pintle (10, 40). The transverse slot (24) is formed transversely in the barrel (21), communicates with the pivot hole (22, 52), is mounted around the pin limit (11) and has two sidewalls. The at least one positive stop (210, 510) is formed on the barrel (21, 51) and has an outside surface, an inside surface, an outer part, an inner part and a thickness. The outside surface of the at least one positive stop (210, 510) aligns with the outside surface of the barrel (21, 51). The inside surface of the at least one positive stop (210) may align with the inside surface of the barrel (21). The inner part selectively abuts the limit (11, 41) of the pintle (10, 40). The thickness is a perpendicular distance between the outside and inside surfaces of the at least one positive stop (210, 510) and may be larger or smaller than the protruding distance of the limit (11, 41). The barrel (21, 51) may have two positive stops (210) opposite to each other or a single positive stop (510). The two opposite positive stops (210) are formed longitudinally respectively on the sidewalls of the slot (24). The single positive stop (510) is formed longitudinally on the abutting end of the barrel (51).
When a person applies a normal force to the cover of the electronic device to pivot the cover, the cover stops rotating when the inner part of the positive stop (210, 510) abuts the limit (11, 41).
With further reference to
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 features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, 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.
