FOLDING ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND DEVICE FOR REDUCING UNDESIRED PLAY IN HINGE DEVICE

• US 20090310328A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Nagai, Seiji, KOBAYASHI, Chikara, Kawahigashi, Yutaka
• Application Number:
  US12/394,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20090310328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/809
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A folding electronic device includes a fixed casing, a movable casing, and a hinge device connecting the fixed casing and the movable casing to allow rotational movement of the movable casing. The movable casing is openable with respect to the fixed casing. The hinge device has an axis extending over a land portion of the fixed casing and a land portion of the movable casing. A projection is provided in any of the following: at least one of end faces of the land portion of the fixed casing and an end face, opposed to one of the end faces, of the land portion of the movable casing. As the movable casing changes from a closed state to an open state, a gap between the projection and an end face opposed to the projection is increased.

Claims

1. A folding electronic device comprising:

a fixed casing;

a movable casing; and

a hinge device connecting the fixed casing and the movable casing to allow rotational movement of the movable casing, the movable casing being openable with respect to the fixed casing,

wherein the hinge device has an axis extending over a land portion of the fixed casing and a land portion of the movable casing,

a projection is provided in any of the following;

at least one of end faces of the land portion of the fixed casing and an end face, opposed to one of the end faces, of the land portion of the movable casing, and

as the movable casing changes from a closed state to an open state, a gap between the projection and an end face opposed to the projection is increased.

2. The folding electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is so provided that, when the movable casing is closed, no gap is substantially present between the projection and the end face opposed to the projection.

3. The folding electronic device according to claim 2

wherein the end face of the land portion of the movable casing is perpendicular to the axis,

the projection is provided on the end face of the land portion of the movable casing, and

the end face of the land portion of the fixed casing is so formed that a gap between the end face of the land portion of the fixed casing and the end face of the land portion of the movable casing is increased as a distance between the end face of the land portion of the fixed casing and a surface of the fixed casing is increased.

4. The folding electronic device according to claim 2, wherein on the axis is provided an open drive mechanism that is started by an operation performed by a user and drives the movable casing to be opened.

5. The folding electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the projection is formed by molding a resin integral with the land portion of the movable casing.

6. A device for reducing undesired play in a hinge device of a folding electronic device, the folding electronic device including a fixed casing, a movable casing, and the hinge device having an axis extending over a land portion of the fixed casing and a land portion of the movable casing and connecting the fixed casing and the movable casing to allow rotational movement of the movable casing, the movable casing being openable with respect to the fixed casing, the device comprising:

a projection provided in any of the following;

at least one of end faces of the land portion of the fixed casing and an end face, opposed to one of the end faces, of the land portion of the movable casing,

wherein, as the movable casing changes from a closed state to an open state, a gap between the projection and an end face opposed to the projection is increased.