Friction enhanced hinge to provide positioning force to hold a display at a position as required

• US 20070143962A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Chung-Yu, Hsu, Jia-Hao, Lu, Sheng-Nan
• Granted Patent: US 7,520,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/340
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/087 with substantially axial friction, e.g. friction disks
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A hinge includes a shank, a rotation bracket adapted to securely connect to a display of a laptop computer, a fixed bracket adapted to securely connect to a base of the laptop computer and at least one friction bracket securely connected to the fixed bracket and having friction pads provided on opposite sides of the at least one friction bracket. Each of the friction pads has an aperture so defined that after the threaded portion of the shank extends through the apertures of the friction pads, the friction pads pivot together with the shank to generate holding force with the fixed bracket for holding the display in position.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a shank including a threaded portion, a crown formed thereon and a head integrally formed with the threaded portion, wherein the crown is extending axially from the shank;

a rotation bracket adapted to securely connect to a display of a laptop computer and having a hole defined in such a way that after the head is extended into the hole, the rotation bracket is immovable relative to the shank;

a fixed bracket adapted to securely connect to a base of the laptop computer and having a through hole so allow the threaded portion of the shank to freely extend therethrough;

at least one friction bracket securely connected to the fixed bracket and having friction pads provided on opposite sides of the at least one friction bracket, wherein each of the friction pads has an aperture so defined that after the threaded portion of the shank extends through the apertures of the friction pads, the friction pads pivot together with the shank to generate holding force with the fixed bracket for holding the display in position;

resilient assembly mounted on the threaded portion to provide urging force to the friction pads to abut the friction bracket and the fixed bracket; and

a securing member threadingly connected to the threaded portion to secure the friction pads, the friction bracket and the resilient assembly on the shank.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction bracket has an extension extending from a peripheral edge thereof to extend into a securing hole defined in the fixed bracket so that the friction bracket is securely connected to the fixed bracket.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one friction bracket is composed of a first friction bracket and a second friction bracket, the first friction bracket has a boss extending from a peripheral edge thereof to correspond to and extend through a securing hole defined in the fixed bracket, the second friction bracket has two arms extending from a peripheral edge thereof to be adjacent to each other such that after the boss extends through the securing hole of the fixed bracket, the boss is clamped by the two arms of the second friction bracket and simultaneous pivotal movement of both the first friction bracket and the second friction bracket relative to the fixed bracket enhances the holding force to the display.

4. A hinge comprising:

a shank including a threaded portion, a crown formed thereon and a head integrally formed with the threaded portion, wherein the crown is extending axially from the shank;

a rotation bracket adapted to securely connect to a display of a laptop computer and having a hole defined in such a way that after the head is extended into the hole, the rotation bracket is immovable relative to the shank;

a fixed bracket adapted to securely connect to a base of the laptop computer and having a through hole so allow the threaded portion of the shank to freely extend therethrough;

at least one friction bracket securely connected to the fixed bracket and having friction pads provided on opposite sides of the at least one friction bracket, wherein each of the friction pads has an aperture so defined that after the threaded portion of the shank extends through the apertures of the friction pads, the friction pads pivot together with the shank to generate holding force with the fixed bracket for holding the display in position;

resilient assembly mounted on the threaded portion to provide urging force to the friction pads to abut the friction bracket and the fixed bracket; and

a securing member threadingly connected to the threaded portion to secure the friction pads, the friction bracket and the resilient assembly on the shank,

wherein the friction bracket has an extension extending from a peripheral edge thereof to extend into a securing hole defined in the fixed bracket so that the friction bracket is securely connected to the fixed bracket.