Hinge Mechanism for Rotatable Component Attachment

• US 20140293534A1
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Siddiqui, Kabir
• Granted Patent: US 9,304,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for rotatable component attachment is described. In at least some implementations, the hinge mechanism enables a support component to be adjustably attached to an apparatus, such as a computing device. For example, the hinge mechanism can be employed to rotatably attach a kickstand to a mobile computing device. The kickstand can be rotated via the hinge mechanism to various positions to provide support for different orientations of the computing device. For example, the kickstand can be positioned to support the computing device in a typing orientation such that input can be provided via an associated input device. As another example, the kickstand can be positioned to enable viewing and/or interaction with the computing device, such as in a portrait viewing orientation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a kickstand configured to be rotatably attached to a rear portion of a computing device; and

at least one hinge mechanism that attaches a portion of the kickstand to the rear portion of the computing device, the hinge mechanism being configured with two or more preset open positions such that the kickstand is positionable relative to the computing device according to the two or more preset open positions.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a hinge ring that attaches the kickstand to the hinge mechanism, the hinge ring being rotatable within the hinge mechanism to assume at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a hinge ring follower that applies to pressure to the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a hinge frame;

a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame; and

a hinge ring that attaches the kickstand to the hinge mechanism and enables rotation of the kickstand relative to the hinge mechanism, the hinge ring being rotatably disposed relative to the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a hinge ring follower that applies to pressure to the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a ring support follower that applies to pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a hinge ring follower that applies to pressure to the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of the two or more preset open positions; and

a ring support follower that applies to pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in others of the two or more preset open positions.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the two or more preset open positions corresponds to a 180 degree rotation of the kickstand relative to the rear portion of the computing device.

10. A hinge mechanism comprising:

a hinge frame;

a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame; and

a hinge ring being attachable to a component to enable rotation of the component relative to the hinge mechanism, the hinge ring being rotatably disposed relative to the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame.

11. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 10, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support.

12. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 10, comprising:

a hinge ring follower that applies pressure to the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of two or more preset positions of the hinge mechanism; and

a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in others of the two or more preset positions.

13. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 12, comprising:

a hinge ring spring disposed within the hinge frame and that applies pressure to the hinge ring follower; and

a ring support spring disposed within the hinge frame and that applies pressure to the ring support follower.

14. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 10, wherein the hinge mechanism is attached to a computing device, and the component comprises a kickstand that is rotatable via the hinge mechanism to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface.

15. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 10, wherein at least some of the multiple orientations correspond to preset open positions of the hinge mechanism.

16. A computing device comprising:

a housing; and

at least one hinge mechanism attached to the housing and a kickstand such that the kickstand is positionable via the hinge mechanism at preset positions to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface, the hinge mechanism including;

a hinge frame;

a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame; and

a hinge ring attached to the kickstand such that the kickstand is rotatable relative to the housing, the hinge ring being rotatably disposed relative to the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame.

17. A computing device as described in claim 16, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support.

18. A computing device as described in claim 16, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a hinge ring follower that applies pressure to the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of two or more preset positions of the hinge mechanism; and

a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in others of the two or more preset positions.

19. A computing device as described in claim 18, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a hinge ring spring disposed within the hinge frame and that applies pressure to the hinge ring follower; and

a ring support spring disposed within the hinge frame and that applies pressure to the ring support follower.

20. A computing device as described in claim 18, wherein one of the two or more preset positions corresponds to a 180 degree rotation of the kickstand relative to the housing.