1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to mechanical structures, and particularly to a hinge.
2. Description of Related Art
A collapsible device, such as a notebook computer or a clamshell mobile phone, generally includes two parts pivotally connected via a hinge. The hinge generally includes a bracket mounted to one part of the collapsible device and a shaft with one end mounted to the other part of the collapsible device.
An interfering member of the hinge usually defines a noncircular through hole for the shaft extending therethrough. However, the through hole of the first interfering member is usually not exact and greater than the ideal size to make the first interfering member be loosely fitting about the shaft, which makes the shaft hit the sidewall bounding the through hole of the first interfering member while rotating the shaft, resulting in noises.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides a hinge to obviate the described limitations.
Referring to
The shaft 10 includes a generally cylindrical pole 11, with a post 12 and an engaging portion 13 protruding from opposite ends of the pole 11. The post 12 has a noncircular, such as double-D shaped, cross section. A distal end away from the pole 11 of the post 12 forms a threaded portion. A cross section of the engaging portion 13 is noncircular to fix the shaft 10 to the rack 20. In other embodiments, the cross section of the engaging portion 13 may be any other shape that also enables the shaft 10 to be fixed to the rack 20.
The rack 20 includes a main body and a flange perpendicularly connected to an end of the main body. The flange defines a noncircular-shaped engaging hole 21 corresponding to the engaging portion 13. A plurality of securing holes are defined in the main body, for mounting the rack 20 to one part of the collapsible device.
The bracket 30 includes a main body 31 and a flange 32 perpendicularly extending from an end of the main body 31. The main body 31 defines a plurality of securing holes therein, for mounting the bracket 30 to the other part of the collapsible device. The flange 32 defines a round pivoting hole 321, for rotatably receiving the post 12 of the shaft 10. The flange 32 also defines a positioning hole 324 adjacent to the pivoting hole 321.
Referring to
The second interfering member 50 defines a round through hole 51, for rotatably receiving the post 12. A side of the second interfering member 50 facing the first interfering member 40 forms a plurality of protruded portions or a plurality of depressed portions, to engage with the depressed portions or protruded portions of the first interfering member 40. An inserting portion 52 is formed on a circumference of the second interfering member 50, for being inserted into the positioning hole 324 to fix the second interfering member 50 to the bracket 30.
Each washer 70 defines a double-D shaped through hole 71, to snugly fit about the post 12. Opposite sides of the washer 70 define a plurality of receiving holes 78, for retaining lubricant.
In one embodiment, the resilient assembly 80 includes a plurality of resilient frictional washers. These washers are stacked together, and rotationally retained around the post 12. In alternative embodiments, the resilient assembly 80 can be a spring or other resilient component. In one embodiment, the fastener 90 is a hexagonal nut, and can be screwed to the threaded portion of the post 12.
Referring to
The post 12 of the shaft 10 rotates in the pivoting hole 321 of the bracket 30. The wedges 414 are used for engaging with the post 12 of the shaft 10 to firmly mount the first interfering member 40 to the post 12 of the shaft 10. The wedges 414 decreases clearance between the through hole 41 and the post 12 of the shaft 10, to avoid the post 12 hitting the planar sidewall 411 of the first interfering member 40 for preventing noise during rotation.
While several embodiments have been disclosed, it is understood that any element disclosed in any one embodiment is easily adapted to other embodiments. It is also to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in 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.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200820301784.1 | Aug 2008 | CN | national |
Relevant subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent applications (Application No. 12/205931, Attorney Docket No. US20946, filed on Sep. 8, 2008 and entitled “HINGE AND INTERFERENCE APPARATUS FOR THE SAME;” application Ser. No. 12/202331, Attorney Docket No. US20987, filed on Sep. 1, 2008 and entitled “HINGE AND INTERFERENCE APPARATUS FOR THE SAME;” Attorney Docket No. US22915, entitled “HINGE”), which are assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. The disclosure of the co-pending applications is incorporated herein by reference.