COVERED RADIUS HINGE

• US 20160132075A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: TAZBAZ, Errol Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,910,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• 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 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include a multi-pivot hinge unit rotatably securing the first and second portions. This example can further include a set of rigid hinge cover portions that are configured to be able to rotate relative to one another while collectively covering the multi-pivot hinge unit.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device;

a multi-pivot hinge unit rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion and configured to rotate around multiple hinge axes to provide rotation between the first and second portions; and

,

multiple hinge cover portions that collectively cover the multi-pivot hinge unit between the first portion and the second portion, an individual hinge cover portion rotating around an axis of rotation that is parallel to a corresponding individual hinge axis.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the individual hinge cover portion is co-extensive to the corresponding individual hinge axis.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the multi-pivot hinge unit further comprises a rotation limiter to limit a degree of rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the rotation limiter comprises multiple rotation limiters with individual rotation limiters associated with individual hinge axes.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the multiple rotation limiters are secured to the multi-pivot hinge unit.

6. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the multiple hinge cover portions function as the multiple rotation limiters.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the multi-pivot hinge unit comprises first and second multi-pivot hinge units and wherein the multiple hinge cover portions include first and second parallel slots through which the respective first and second multi-pivot hinge units extend.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the multiple hinge cover portions are fastened to one another, but are not fastened to the multi-pivot hinge units.

9. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the multiple hinge cover portions are pivotably fastened to one another.

10. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the multiple hinge cover portions are fastened to either of the first portion or the second portion or wherein the multiple hinge cover portions are fastened to both of the first portion and the second portion.

11. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the multiple hinge cover portions are articulated so that a first region of a first individual hinge cover portion can slide past a second region of a second adjacent individual hinge cover portion during rotation so that an underlying portion of the multi-pivot hinge unit is not exposed.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the first region comprises a convex region of the first individual hinge cover portion and the second region comprises a concave region of the second adjacent individual hinge cover portion.

13. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the multi-pivot hinge unit comprises a radius hinge unit.

14. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the individual hinge cover portion approximates a portion of a cylinder.

15. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

a multi-pivot hinge unit rotatably securing the first and second portions; and

,

a set of rigid hinge cover portions that are configured to be able to rotate relative to one another while collectively covering the multi-pivot hinge unit.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein a number of the rigid hinge cover portions in the set of rigid hinge cover portions equals a number of rotational axes in the multi-pivot hinge unit.

17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein a number of the rigid hinge cover portions in the set of rigid hinge cover portions is greater than a number of rotational axes in the multi-pivot hinge unit.

18. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

an armadillo hinge assembly rotatably securing the first and second portions.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the armadillo hinge assembly comprises a multi-pivot hinge unit covered with overlapping, articulating, rigid hinge covers.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein individual hinge covers extend along a long axis.