Hinge

• US 20120060324A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leohab Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Leohab Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Chao-Chi
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/303
• 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 fixing frame, a rotating frame, a support, and a connecting member. The rotating frame is pivotally joined to the fixing frame. The support includes a first connecting portion for joining to the base and a second connecting portion. The connecting member is mounted between the rotating frame and the support. Furthermore, the connecting member is operably moved between an extended position and a retracted position in response to two opposite pivoting directions of the rotating frame with respect to the fixing frame, and in addition, the support moves away from the rotating frame in response to the connection member moving from the retracted position to the extended position thereof.

Claims

1. A hinge is useable in an electronic device which includes a base and a cover, with the cover pivotal with respect to the base through the hinge, comprising:

a fixing frame;

a rotating frame pivotally joined to the fixing frame and including a joint rotated concurrently with the rotating frame relative to the fixing frame;

a support including a first connecting portion for joining to the base and a second connecting portion; and

a connecting member mounted between the rotating frame and the support and including a first distal end joined to the joint, and a second distal end joined to the second connecting portion, and the connecting member operably moved between an extended position and a retracted position in response to two opposite pivoting directions of the rotating frame with respect to the fixing frame, with the support moving away from the rotating frame in response to the connection member moving from the retracted position to the extended position thereof; and

wherein the electronic device that employs the hinge is adapted to be gradually elevated from the support by the connecting member as the rotating frame is pivoted away from the fixing frame, with the base and a surface that bears the electronic device by supporting the support including a gradually increased gap therebetween as the cover is pivoted away from the base.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint is inserted through by the fixing frame.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing frame and the rotating frame include a stop mounted therebetween and non-rotatably positioned with respect to the fixing frame to limit a pivot angle that the rotating frame is adapted to rotate with respect to the fixing frame.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stop includes a circumferential edge defining two terminal ends separated from each other in a radial distance, which determines a range of the pivot angle of the rotating frame, to selectively abutting against a projection extended from the rotating frame.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion of the support includes a first joining member, a second joining member pivotally mounted on the first joining member for joining to the base of the electronic device.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first connecting portion of the support includes a pivot inserted through a slot defined in the second joining member and an aperture defined in the first joining member to pivotally connect the first joining member with the second joining member.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes a middle section looped around the joint.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a metal wire.

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a resilient member including one of two opposite distal ends for engaging with the base of the electronic device, and the other distal end disposed on the support for facilitating the elevation of the electronic device.

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a torque assembly to generate torque that is different for specific relative positions of the rotating frame with respect to the fixing frame.

11. The hinge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the torque assembly includes a first cam non-rotatably positioned with respect to the fixing frame, and a second cam engaging with the first cam and rotatable with the rotating frame relative to the fixing frame.

12. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first cam is inserted through by the fixing frame.

13. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second cam is inserted through by the fixing frame.

14. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the torque assembly includes an urging member resiliently retaining the first and second cams engaged together.

15. The hinge as claimed in claim 12, wherein the urging member is inserted through by the fixing frame.

16. The hinge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting member is of a flexible structure that is adapted to be circumferentially surrounded on the joint.