HINGED DEVICE

• US 20200133349A1
• Filed: 10/30/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: AAGAARD, Karsten, TAZBAZ, Errol M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,754,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/04 Pivotal connections hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D
• 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

The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include first and second portions and a hinge assembly secured to the first and second portions. The hinge assembly can define first, second, and third hinge axes. The hinge assembly can include a first timing cord that synchronizes rotation around the first and second hinge axes and a second timing cord that synchronizes rotation around the second and third hinge axes.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a hinge assembly coupling a first portion and a second portion, the hinge assembly comprising a first sub-assembly and an overlapping second sub-assembly;

the first sub-assembly comprising a first timing cord that synchronizes rotation around first and second hinge axes, and,

the second sub-assembly comprising a second timing cord that synchronizes rotation around the second hinge axis and a third hinge axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first sub-assembly comprises a first timing lock that is co-extensive with the first hinge axis and a second timing lock that is co-extensive with the second hinge axis.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second sub-assembly comprises a third timing lock that is co-extensive with the second hinge axis and a fourth timing lock that is co-extensive with the third hinge axis.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly lie in a plane that is orthogonal to the first, second, and third hinge axes.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the first and second timing locks lie on a first side of a plane that is orthogonal to the first, second, and third hinge axes and the third and fourth timing locks lie on a second side of the plane.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a third timed sub-assembly that lies on the first side of the plane.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the first and second timing locks define grooves through which the first timing cord passes.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first timing cord is arranged between the first and second timing locks in a figure-eight configuration.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a first lock pin that retains the first timing cord in the grooves of the first timing lock and a second lock pin that retains the first timing cord in the grooves of the second timing lock.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first timing cord lies on a first side of a plane that orthogonally intersects the first, second, and third hinge axes and the second timing cord lies on a second side of the plane.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the first timing cord and the second timing cord comprise loops of cord.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first hinge axis relates to the first portion and a first link and the second hinge axis relates to the first link and a second link.

13. A device, comprising:

first and second portions; and

,

a hinge assembly secured to the first and second portions and defining first, second, and third hinge axes, the hinge assembly comprising a first timing cord that synchronizes rotation around the first and second hinge axes and a second timing cord that synchronizes rotation around the second and third hinge axes.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first timing cord and the second timing cord comprise the same timing cord.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first timing cord and the second timing cord comprise different timing cords.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the hinge assembly defines additional hinge axes and comprises additional timing cords and wherein two timing cords operate relative to each hinge axis.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein adjacent timing cords are discontinuous.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein adjacent timing cords are positioned on opposite sides of the hinge assembly.

19. A device, comprising:

first and second portions that rotate around a set of hinge axes; and

,

a first timing cord that synchronizes rotation around a first sub-set of the set of hinge axes and a second timing cord that synchronizes rotation around a second sub-set of the set of hinge axes, where the first sub-set and the second sub-set share a common hinge axis of the set of hinge axes.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein adjacent timing cords are positioned on opposite sides of a link through which two axes of the set of hinge axes passes.