The present invention relates generally to electronics devices and, more particularly to portable wireless handsets having multiple housing portions that are hinged together and rotate between open and closes positions.
Wireless cellular communications devices having hinged flip portions are known generally. For example, a compression spring biased cam that engages a cam follower to pivot a housing member, such as a cover or flip portion, about an axis of rotation that is the same the axis of the compression spring is known.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,690 entitled “Hinged Assembly Having Cam Follower” discloses, for example, a compression spring biased cam that engages a cam follower to pivotal a body member cover or flip portion.
Wireless or portable communication devices continue to add features while maintaining or even reducing the device size to promote portability. The existing hinges of folding devices take up space within the housing, which reduce the amount of already limited space that is available for the incorporation of other desirable features. Control over the motion of the relative housing portions is also limited. Additionally, the incorporation of an open assistance feature is limited, takes up valuable space within the device or is not possible with the existing hinge assemblies.
Some hinges force a spring urged follower into a detent cam, positioning the two elements at various angles relative to one another, based on the position of the detent. U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,023 entitled “Hinged Spring-Loaded Spectacle Hinge” discloses, for example, a spring biased cam means that forces a follower into a detent to hold the side arms in a respective service position. These hinges, however, do not provide motion of one element relative to the other element.
The various aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the following Detailed Description of the Invention with the accompanying drawings described below.
While the present disclosure is achievable by various forms of embodiment, there is shown in the drawings and described hereinafter present exemplary embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification and is not intended to limit the claims below to the specific embodiments contained herein.
The device 100 is shown having a first housing 110, for example a radiotelephone handset housing, pivotally coupled to a second housing 120 or cover, for example a radiotelephone phone flip. A spring biased hinge, couples the first housing 110 to the second housing 120, and affects the motion of the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120. However, the hinges and spring biasing mechanisms of the present invention may be used more generally in any application where it is desirable to provide a spring-biased hinge, in a collapsible device as will become more fully apparent from the discussion below.
The various elements of the exemplary radiotelephone 100, for example the processor, memory, inputs, outputs are disposed generally in a housing. The display is often mounted on the housing whether it is a part of a one piece assembly, or a multiple piece assembly where the housing elements move relative to one another. The housings may also include a keypad or keypads. The location and arrangement of these exemplary wireless handset elements is only an exemplary application and is immaterial to the structure of the hinges and spring biasing mechanisms, which are discussed more fully below.
In reference again to
The second housing 120 includes a retaining ring 106 carrying the cam 122, the cam 122 having a contoured surface portion 138 adapted to engage the follower 102. The first housing 110 rotates about rotation axis 128 relative to the second housing 120 such that the first face 104 and the second face maintain the same plane while rotating. A hinge pin 130 extends from the first housing 110 to the second housing 120 along the rotation axis 128.
In reference to
The cam 122 is carried on the retaining ring 106 extending from the ring inward to the center of the retaining ring 106. The retaining ring 106 rotatably couples the first housing 110 to the second housing 120 preventing the second housing 120 from separating from the first housing 110. A flange 308 on the retaining ring 106 supports the second housing 120 within the first housing 110 by mating with a support edge 310 of the first housing 110. The retaining ring 106 is rigidly fixed to the cam 122 such that when the cam 122 rotates, the retaining ring 106 rotates as does the second housing 120, which is attached thereto.
The hinge pin 130 is a shaft that extends through a portion of the first and second housings (110, 120) and substantially perpendicular to at least the first face 104 of the first housing 110. The hinge pin 130 also extends through the cam 122 and the hollow portion 132. The retainer ring 106 is coupled between the cam 122 and the second housing 120. In other embodiments, the cam 122 may be coupled to the second housing 120 and retained by the first housing portion 110 by alternative pivotal coupling mechanisms, for example by a ball bearing race or a Teflon surface. The hinge pin 130 aligns with the axis of rotation 128 of the cam 122 and hence the second housing 120 relative to the first housing 110.
In reference to
Also illustrated in
Referring to
The fork 302 is formed by the notch 500 and the two tines of the hollow portion cam end 503 of the hollow portion 132. The tines (506, 508) of the fork 302 are extensions of the hollow portion 138 such that an inner surface 510 of the hollow portion yielding member end 504 continues to the tines. The continuous shape of the inner surface 510 allows the follower 102 and the yielding element 134 to seamlessly reciprocate in both portions of the hollow portion 132.
The hollow portion 132 may be a chamber carried in the second housing 120 or may be a chamber integrally formed into the first housing 110. Whether the hollow portion 132 is carried as an independent component in the first housing 110 or an integral part thereof, the inner surface 510 has a dimension that accommodates the follower 102, sphere 502 in the exemplary embodiment, and the compression spring 501, allowing the sphere 502 and the compression spring 501 to reciprocate along the long dimension of the hollow portion 132 as the follower 102 interacts with the cam 122.
The first tine 506 has a first void and the second tine 508 has a second void for receiving the hinge pin 130. The hinge pin 130 extends through the first void, the cam 122 and through the second void. The cam 122, the hollow portion 132 and the follower 102 make up the cam-follower assembly coupled together by the hinge pin 130. The hollow portion 132 rotates about the hinge pin 130 that extends through the first and second voids.
The compression spring 501 yields to the follower 102 in a reciprocating motion in response to the rotation of the cam 122 as the first housing 110 pivots about the rotation axis 128. The compression spring 501 is compressible along a compression axis 503 of the compression spring 134 along a center axis 136 of the hollow portion 132. The compression axis 503 is substantially perpendicular to the first face 104 of the first housing 110. The compression spring 501 is disposed such that it applies a force to the follower 102 wherein the follower 102 remains coupled to the contoured surface 138 at all points along the contoured surface 138. The compression spring 501 has a magnitude of compression in response to changes in the contoured surface portion 138 as the second housing 120 pivots about the axis of rotation 128. In the embodiment shown in
The follower 502 has a curved surface, e.g., a spheroid, ellipsoid, or other friction reducing shape, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated
The fork 302 captures and guides the follower 102 such that it aligns with the cam 122 and the compression spring 501 and at the same time, allows the cam 122 to rotate between the first tine 506 and the second tine 508 of the fork 302 of the hollow portion 132.
The cam 122 is positioned inside of the first housing 110 by the retaining ring 106 and is coupled to the hollow portion by the hinge pin 130 and the follower 502. The cam 122 is centered about the rotation axis 128. In the exemplary embodiment, the rotation axis 128 of the cam is centered about the long axis 412 of the first housing 110 and the long axis 422 of the second housing 120. The cam 122, and hence the second housing 120, rotate about the rotation axis 128 relative to the first housing 110. In the exemplary embodiment, the contour surface portion 138 of the cam 122 is designed to achieve the motion of the second housing 120 relative to the first housing 110. The change in diameter of the cam, at positions along the contour surface portion 138 cause the cam 122 to rotate about the rotation axis 128 as a result of the force exerted on the cam by the follower 502 and the compression spring 501 as described below. In other embodiment, the the proportions may be changed and/or the biasing member located to provide a different leveraging action on the cam.
Depending on the relative location of the follower 102 on the contour surface portion 138 of the cam 122, the second housing 120 is either stationary or rotating relative to the housing portion 120. The location and motion of the second housing 120 is a consequence, of the follower 102 interaction with the contoured surface portion 138 as the cam 122 rotates about the axis of rotation 128. The cam follower assembly is one source of force acting on the second housing 120. The rotation of the second housing 120 is a result of the force of the follower 336 on the cam 122 as the follower 102 moves across the contoured surface portion 138. The motion of the follower 102 across the contoured surface portion 138 is at least a function of the yielding element force and the slope of the contoured surface portion 138 relative to the second housing 120. The force of the yielding element, or compression spring 501, and the angle of the slope of the contoured surface portion 138 relative to the direction of the yielding element force, determines the magnitude of the force acting on the second housing 120 by the yielding element via the follower 502.
As the yielding element force urges the follower 102 toward the contoured surface portion 138, the contact between the follower 102 and the contoured surface portion 138 creates two component forces. These two components are perpendicular to one another, and are reactive to the yielding element force. When the angle or slope of the contoured surface portion 138 is not perpendicular to the yielding element force, a first component of the reactive force is created and acts parallel to the contoured surface portion 138 thereby urging the follower 102 to traverse the contoured surface portion 138. Consequently the cam 122 and the retaining ring 106 in turn applies a force against the second housing 120. A second component force reacts in a direction which is 180 degrees, or substantially opposite to the yielding element force.
The opposing end of the compression spring 134, is held fixed at a position along the hollow portion 132 by an end of the hollow portion 132 or a fixturing element within the hollow portion 132 such as a wall or screw or bracket or combination thereof, within the hollow portion 132. The outside dimensions of the hollow portion 132 does not have to resemble a tube like structure, as long as the yielding member 134 in the hollow portion 132 is free to travel in a direction along the compression axis 302 and in response to the urging force of the cam follower action assembly. In the exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the hollow portion 132 is large enough to accept and allow the compression spring 501 to move freely therein. This cam follower assembly is completely internal to the first housing 110 leaving the outer surfaces of the first and second housing portions free of hinge components creating an esthetically pleasing look.
The force diagram, shown in
Also shown in
As illustrated in
When the angle of the cam surface 138, at the point of contact with the follower 501, is perpendicular to the compression spring axis 302, such as at position 804, a reactive force 822 of the cam surface 138 on the follower 502 is substantially opposite and parallel to the force of the compression spring 501. As the angle of the cam surface 138 changes relative to the compression spring axis 503, such as at position 802, a lateral component reactive force 824 results. This lateral component reactive force 824 is parallel to the contour surface portion 138 at the point of intersection of the cam 122 surface and the follower 502. The lateral component reactive force 824 urges the follower 502 to move along the contour surface portion 138 in the direction illustrated by the first arrow 826 of the lateral component reactive force 824. As the follower 502 is urged in the direction of the lateral component reactive force 824, the follower 502 exerts a follower force 828 on the hollow portion, causing second housing 120 to rotate about the axis of rotation 128.
As the second housing rotates about the axis of rotation 128, the compression spring 501 compresses or decompresses in response to the shape of the contoured surface portion 138 maintaining the force on the follower 502. As the cam 122 rotates from the first position 802 on the contoured surface 138 to second position 804 on the contoured surface portion 138, the distance between the contoured surface portion 138 and the axis of rotation 128 of rotation changes, resulting from a varying contour of the contoured surface portion 138. This change in distance, or contour, causes the compression spring 134 to compress and decompress a varying amount as the follower 592 moves along the cam surface 138 and moves longitudinally within the hollow portion 132 in the direction of the compression spring axis 503. The follower force 828, exerted by the follower 502 on the hollow portion 132, causes the second housing 120 to rotate about the axis 128. The follower force 828 is applied against the side of the hollow portion 132 a distance away from the first axis 128 resulting in a torque that rotationally biases the arms of the cover 110. The magnitude of the torque is a function of the lateral component reactive force 824, which is a function of the angle or slope of the cam surface 142 relative to the arm and the force due to the compression spring 134.
The contoured surface portion 138 dictates the amount of compression and correspondingly the force the compression spring 134 applies against the cam follower assembly at the various positions along the contoured surface portion 138. The variation in force creates the torque profile. The contoured surface portion 138 can be shaped to achieve a desired torque profile having specific desired values at particular points along the contoured surface portion 138 and hence at different points of rotation of the second housing 120 relative to the first housing 110. This allows the designer to vary the torque profile, via the contoured surface portion 138 that ultimately affects the force applied to the second housing 120 at the different points of rotation. For example in one exemplary embodiment, the contoured surface portion 138 is shaped similar to a triangle 508 having a rounded tip portion 810. The rounded tip portion 810 allows the follower to traverse more easily over the cam surface 142. At the first position 802 in
The resulting torque produced by the force applied to the second housing 120 by the cam follower assembly is such that just prior to the arm reaching the second position 804 (i.e. before the follower 502 meets the rounded tip 810 of the contoured surface portion 138 the force of the compression spring 501 urges the ball bearing 502 to travel along the contoured surface portion 138 in a direction away from the rounded tip 810 of the contoured surface portion 138, and back toward the first position 802. As a consequence, this force biases the cam 122 in a direction that will rotate the second housing 120 toward the first position 802. In one embodiment, a first physical stop 821 prevents the cam 122 from rotating beyond a third position 806. Similarly a second physical stop 820, holds the cam 122 in the fourth position (not Shown). Coincidentally, the contour of the contoured surface portion 138 at the first position 802 is such that the second housing 120 is biased towards the closed position with enough force to maintain contact or closure of the second housing 120 relative to the housing portion 120 until a force is exerted by the user. This can also be independent of or in conjunction with the first physical stop if present.
Similarly, once the second housing 120 is rotated past the second position 804 (i.e. the follower 502 moves beyond the rounded tip 810 of the contoured surface portion 138 at the second position 804, the force 813 produced by the spring 501 urges the follower 502 to move away from the second position 804 toward the third position 806 which coincides with the open position of the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120. This is but one example of topology of the cam surface 138 that creates one possible desired motion of the cover 110. Other exemplary contoured surfaces will be discussed below.
For example, referring back to
The cam follower assembly assists the user in opening and positioning the device for use. The contoured surface portion of the cam 122 causes the first housing 110 to rotate relative to the second housing 120 and position as the user desires. A detent in the cam 122 may keep the device in the closed position. When the user exerts a force great enough to displace the follower 102, 502 from the detent in the contoured surface portion 138 of the cam 122, the cam follower interaction automatically causes the second housing to rotate to the next desired position defined by a stop on the cam 122 or a detent in the contoured surface portion 138. The next detent at the 90 degree position (
While the present inventions and what is considered presently to be the best modes thereof have been described in a manner that establishes possession thereof by the inventors and that enables those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions, it will be understood and appreciated that there are many equivalents to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and that myriad modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions, which are to be limited not by the exemplary embodiments but by the appended claims.