Hinge Mechanism with Multiple Preset Positions

• US 20160090767A1
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Park, Daniel C., Huang, Yi-Min
• Granted Patent: US 9,447,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/04 with guide members shaped as circular arcs
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/10 Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1042 the maintaining means being a cam and a torsion bar, e.g. motor vehicle hinge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A hinge mechanism with multiple preset positions is described. According to various embodiments, the hinge mechanism enables a support component to be adjustably attached to an apparatus, such as a computing device. In at least some embodiments, the hinge mechanism utilizes preset hinge positions that enable the support component to be placed at different preset positions. For instance, the hinge mechanism is configured such that an attached support component tends to “snap” into various preset positions. In at least some embodiments, the hinge mechanism includes an emergency escape position that enables the support component to be rotated beyond normal operating positions without damaging the support component.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a support component movably attached to a rear portion of the mobile device; and

at least one hinge mechanism that attaches a portion of the support component to the mobile device, the hinge mechanism including;

multiple preset open positions that enable the support component to be positioned in multiple positions relative to the rear portion of the mobile device; and

an emergency escape position that enables the hinge to be positioned beyond the multiple preset open positions, the hinge mechanism being configured such that a torque applied to the support component to cause the hinge mechanism to be positioned in the emergency escape position is greater than a torque applied to the support component to position the hinge mechanism in the multiple preset open positions.

2. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a cam that attaches the support component to the hinge mechanism, the cam being movably engaged with a cam follower within the hinge mechanism to enable the hinge mechanism to assume at least some of the multiple preset open positions.

3. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that the hinge mechanism is positionable in the emergency escape position without detaching the support component from the mobile device.

4. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the emergency escape position includes a 180 degree rotation of the support component from a closed position on the rear portion of the mobile device.

5. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a hinge frame;

at least one support plate slidably engaged with the hinge frame;

a cam slidably engaged with the at least one support plate, the cam being attached to the support component to enable attachment of the support component to the hinge mechanism; and

a cam follower pivotably mounted within the hinge frame and positioned such that in at least some of the multiple preset open positions, the cam follower interfaces with the cam such that variable torque forces occur when transitioning between the at least some of the multiple preset open positions.

6. A mobile device as recited in claim 5, wherein in at least one of the multiple preset open positions, a first surface of the cam follower engages with a first surface of the cam, and wherein in at least one other of the multiple preset open positions, a second surface of the cam follower engages with a second surface of the cam.

7. A mobile device as recited in claim 6, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that during movement hinge mechanism from the at least one of the multiple preset open positions to the at least one other of the multiple preset open positions, contact between the cam and the cam follower transitions between contact between the first surface of the cam and the first surface of the cam follower, to contact between the second surface of the cam and the second surface of the cam follower.

8. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that in an event that a user manipulates the support component and releases the support component with the hinge mechanism not positioned in one of the multiple preset open positions, the hinge mechanism will snap into one of the multiple preset open positions independent of user interaction with the support component.

9. A hinge mechanism comprising:

a hinge frame with at least one support plate slidably mounted on a plate guide on an interior surface of the hinge frame;

a cam slidably mounted on a cam guide on an interior surface of the at least one support plate, the cam including an inner cam surface, at least one outer cam surface, and a mounting portion for mounting a moveable component to the cam;

a cam follower pivotably mounted within the hinge frame and including an inner follower surface positioned to be engageable with the inner cam surface, and at least one outer follower surface positioned to be engageable with the at least one outer cam surface; and

a hinge spring mounted within the hinge frame and that applies force to the cam follower such that the cam follower is held in contact with the cam in at least some positions of the hinge mechanism,

the hinge mechanism being configured such that during movement of the cam, contact between the cam and the cam follower transitions between contact between the inner cam surface and the inner follower surface, to contact between the at least one outer cam surface and the at least one outer follower surface, thus enabling the hinge mechanism to snap into different preset open positions.

10. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the moveable component comprises a support component for an apparatus, and wherein the hinge mechanism enables the support component to be positioned at multiple positions relative to the apparatus.

11. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the inner follower surface and the at least one outer follower surface have different surface profiles.

12. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one support plate includes a plate channel that is slidably engaged with the plate guide on the interior surface of the hinge frame.

13. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured with an emergency escape position that occurs in response to movement of the hinge mechanism beyond the different preset open positions.

14. A hinge mechanism as recited in claim 13, wherein a torque applied to the cam to cause the hinge mechanism to transition to the emergency escape position is greater than a torque applied to the cam to transition the hinge mechanism between the different preset open positions.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a chassis; and

at least one hinge mechanism that attaches a component to the chassis and that is positionable in multiple preset open positions, the hinge mechanism including;

a hinge frame with at least one support plate, a cam, and a cam follower mounted therein, a response profile of the hinge mechanism for at least some of the multiple preset open positions being based on interaction between the cam and the cam follower, and interaction between the at least one support plate and the hinge frame enabling the hinge mechanism to be positioned beyond the at least some of the multiple preset open positions independent of interaction between the cam and the cam follower.

16. An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that the component is positionable via the hinge mechanism at the multiple preset open positions, and such that if the component is released between a first preset open position and a second open preset position, the component snaps into one of the first present open position or the second preset open position independent of user interaction with the component.

17. An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that the at least one support plate engages with the hinge frame between the cam and the hinge frame, and the cam engages with the at least one support plate.

18. An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that positioning the hinge mechanism beyond the at least some of the multiple preset open positions causes the cam to disengage from the cam follower.

19. An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured such that positioning the hinge mechanism beyond the at least some of the multiple preset open positions causes the at least one support plate to compress the cam follower such that the cam follower does not engage the cam until the cam is reset to at least one of the multiple preset open positions.

20. An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein a torque applied to the cam to cause the hinge mechanism to transition beyond the at least some of the multiple preset open positions is greater than a torque applied to the cam to transition the hinge mechanism between the at least some of the multiple preset open positions.