AUTOMATIC RELEASING HINGE

• US 20040034967A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Silitek Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Hsiu, Lee Jung
• Granted Patent: US 6,711,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/342
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1011 biased by free springs E05D7/1016 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1016 requiring a specific angular position
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

An automatic releasing hinge enables a device to be turned under an external force, and to be automatically released when the turning angle exceeding a selected limit so that the device may be prevented from damaging when being turned by force beyond the normal range.

Claims

1. An automatic releasing hinge, comprising:

a pintle hub having a plurality of anchor ridges;

an elastic element having a first end connecting to a second end of the pintle hub;

a first bushing having a plurality of turning troughs, a plurality of anchor troughs and a plurality of release troughs formed therein; and

a barrel housing the elastic element and the pintle hub, and being engaged with the first bushing.

2. The automatic releasing hinge of claim1, wherein the anchor ridges are jutting outwards from the periphery of the pintle hub.

3. The automatic releasing hinge of claim1, wherein the turning troughs, the anchor troughs and the release troughs are formed respectively by pairing a first hump, a second hump, a third hump, a fourth hump, a fifth hump and a six hump that being adjacent to one another.

4. The automatic releasing hinge of claim1, wherein the first bushing and the barrel are coupled through the pintle hub.

5. The automatic releasing hinge of claim1, wherein the pintle hub has a center spindle coupled with an axle of the first bushing.

6. The automatic releasing hinge of claim1, wherein the first bushing further includes a turning ridge and a release trough.