Method and apparatus for a sliding hinge

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for a slide and tilt hinge mechanism. The slide and tilt mechanism comprises an upper element (102) having a top (140) and a bottom (132) and an angled (130) portion located at an end (144) of the upper element, the angled portion angled relative to the top and the bottom of the upper element. A lower element (104) having a first lower element portion (122) and a second lower element portion (124) coupled together by a joint (126), the joint allowing the first lower element portion to fold relative to the second lower element portion and the upper element. A slide enabling member (302/304), coupling the upper element to the lower element such that when the upper element and the lower element are in a closed configuration (100), the upper element prevents the lower element from folding. A biasing member (128), biasing the lower element to fold about the joint when the upper element is slid to an extended position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary cross sectional view of the slide and tilt hinge mechanism in a closed configuration.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary cross sectional view of the slide and tilt hinge mechanism in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary cross sectional view of the slide enabling mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary cross sectional view of the slide and tilt hinge mechanism in an open configuration.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view of a slide and tilt hinge mechanism in an open configuration.

Claims

1. A slide and tilt mechanism comprising: an upper element having a top and a bottom and an angled portion located at an end of the upper element, the angled portion angled relative to the top and the bottom;a lower element having a first lower element portion and a second lower element portion coupled together by a joint, the joint allowing the first lower element portion to fold relative to the second lower element portion and the upper element;a slide enabling member, coupling the upper element to the lower element such that when the upper element and the lower element are in a closed configuration, the upper element prevents the lower element from folding; anda biasing member, biasing the lower element to fold about the joint when the upper element is slid to an extended position.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion provides a mechanical stop, to configure the angle of the second lower element when the device is in the extended configuration.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an a first lower element overlapping portion and a second lower element overlapping portion that overlap in the closed position and the open position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the closed configuration comprises the first lower element portion and the second lower element portion configured longitudinally adjacent.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member that couples the upper element to the first lower element when the device is in the open configuration.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member that extends from the first lower element portion into a slot of the upper element, the latching member slides along the slot retaining the upper member adjacent to the first lower element portion as the upper element is slid from the close configuration to the open configuration.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cam surface coupled to the upper element and a follower surface coupled to the first lower element portion.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the follower surface is a portion of the tapered portion and a portion of the bottom of the upper element, and the cam surface is a portion of the top of the first lower element portion.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the distance between the cam and the top of the first lower element portion is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein in the open position the upper element is slid in a longitudinal direction and configured in an extended configuration and the first lower housing is tilted as a result of the biasing member in a direction toward the upper housing, the a portion of first lower element contacting the tapered portion of the upper element, and in a closed position the upper element is configured adjacent to both the first lower element and he second lower element, holding the first lower element and the second lower element in a substantially planar configuration.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an exposed keypad carried on the first lower element portion when the upper housing is in the extended configuration relative to the lower element.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device forms a substantially continuous surface by a upper surface of the first lower element portion and a upper surface of the upper element.

13. A sliding hinged housing comprising: a first housing portion;a second housing portion;a third housing portion having a first substantially flat portion and an angled portion, the third housing portion slideably engaged to the first housing portion by a rail;a hinge coupling the first housing portion to the second housing portion; anda biasing member coupled between the first housing and the second housing, biasing the first housing to rotate about the hinge relative to the second housing in a folded configuration when the third housing is in an extended configuration, and wherein the first housing and the second housing are held in an unfolded configuration when the third housing is in a closed configuration.

14. The housing of claim 13, wherein the angled portion further comprising a bearing surface that engages a bearing surface of the first housing.

15. The housing of claim 13, wherein the bearing is a roller coupled the third housing.

16. The housing of claim 13, further comprising latching member that retains the third housing to the first housing, preventing the first housing and the second housing from disengaging when the housing is in the open configuration.

17. The housing of claim 13, further comprising two rails carried on the second housing, slideably coupling the second housing to the third housing.

18. A method for opening a slide and tilt housing comprising; providing a sliding mechanism to allow an upper housing to slide relative to a lower housing, wherein the upper housing is stacked on top of the lower housing, and wherein the lower housing has first lower housing portion and a second lower housing portion, wherein the first lower housing portion and a second lower housing portion are coupled together by a hinge and wherein the upper housing prevents the first lower housing and the second lower housing form rotating about the hinge when the upper housing is in a closed position relative to the lower housing; andproviding a rotating mechanism to allow the first lower housing portion to rotate about the hinge to an angled position that is relative to the second lower housing portion and the upper housing when the upper housing is slid to an extended position exposing a keypad of the lower housing.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming a substantially continuous surface by a upper surface of the lower housing and a upper surface of the upper housing.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a clam like angled flip portion with the angled configuration of the first lower housing portion when the device is in the extended configuration.

21. The method for claims 20, further comprising snapping the first lower housing portion into an angled configuration relative to the upper housing with a spring coupled to the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing element portion.