HINGE ASSEMBLY AND FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20100031471A1
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: TANG, ZI-MING
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/250
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/082 with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces
• 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 assembly includes a shaft, a tube, two friction members, and a resilient member. The tube is rotatably sleeved on the shaft. One of the shaft and the tube defines two receiving holes. The friction members are positioned in the receiving holes. The resilient member causes the friction member to resist the other one of the shaft and the tube which does not define the receiving holes. A foldable electronic device applying the hinge assembly is also provided.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly, comprising:

a shaft;

a tube rotatably sleeved on the shaft, wherein one of the shaft and the tube defines at least one receiving hole;

at least one friction member positioned in the at least one receiving hole; and

at least one resilient member forcing the at least one friction member to resist the other one of the shaft and the tube which does not define the at least one receiving hole.

2. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft defines at least one receiving hole in the sidewall;

the at least one friction member and the at least one resilient member is positioned in the at least one receiving hole;

the at least one friction member resists the resilient member and the tube.

3. The hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one friction member comprises two friction members;

the at least one resilient member comprises one resilient member positioned between the two friction members;

part of the friction members protrude out of the at least one receiving hole of the shaft.

4. The hinge assembly of claim 3, wherein each friction member comprises a shaft portion and a head portion formed at an end of the shaft portion, the head portion comprises a friction surface at an end opposite to the shaft portion;

the friction surfaces of the friction members resists the tube;

ends of the resilient member are sleeved on the shaft portions of the friction members.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the resilient member is a helical, compression spring.

6. The hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the shaft is a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface, the at least one receiving hole comprises two receiving holes defined in the sidewall of the shaft, the receiving holes are coaxial and opposite to each other.

7. The hinge assembly of claim 6, wherein the tube is a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface;

an inner diameter of the tube is substantially the same as or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the shaft.

8. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the tube defines at least one receiving hole in the sidewall;

the at least one friction member and the at least one resilient member are positioned in the at least one receiving hole;

opposite ends of the at least one friction member resist the resilient member and the shaft.

9. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

a main body;

a cover rotatably connected to the main body; and

a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly comprising;

a shaft fixed to one of the main body and the cover;

a tube rotatably sleeved on the shaft, and fixed to the other one of the main body and the cover, wherein one of the shaft and the tube defines at least one receiving hole;

at least one friction member positioned in the at least one receiving hole; and

at least one resilient member causing the at least one friction member to resist the other one of the shaft and the tube.

10. The foldable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the shaft defines at least one receiving hole in the sidewall;

the at least one friction member and the at least one resilient member is positioned in the at least one receiving hole;

the at least one friction member resists the resilient member and the tube.

11. The foldable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the at least one friction member comprises two friction members;

the at least one resilient member comprises one resilient member positioned between the two friction members;

part of the friction members protrude out of the at least one receiving hole of the shaft.

12. The foldable electronic device of claim 11, wherein each friction member comprises a shaft portion and a head portion formed at an end of the shaft portion, the head portion comprises a friction surface at an end opposite to the shaft portion;

the friction surfaces of the friction members resists the tube;

ends of the resilient member are sleeved on the shaft portions of the friction members.

13. The foldable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the resilient member is a helical, compression spring.

14. The foldable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the shaft is a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface, the at least one receiving hole comprises two receiving holes defined in the sidewall of the shaft, the receiving holes are coaxial and opposite to each other.

15. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the shaft forms a plurality of connecting ears connected to the cover, and each connecting ear defines a connecting hole therein.

16. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the tube is a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface;

an inner diameter of the tube is substantially the same as or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the shaft.

17. The foldable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the tube defines two angular slots in a sidewall;

a connecting ear is formed at each end of each angular slot, each connecting ear defines a connecting hole therein, the connecting ears are configured for connecting the tube to the main body.

18. The foldable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the tube defines at least one receiving hole in the sidewall;

the at least one friction member and the at least one resilient member are positioned in the at least one receiving hole, and opposite ends of the at least one friction member resist the resilient member and the shaft.