Structure for connecting a rotatable body to a stationary body

• US 5,001,659 A
• Filed: 12/11/1989
• Issued: 03/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Watabe, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US07/448,687
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 439/164, 439/165, 340/711
• US Class Current: 361/679.28
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling

Abstract

A structure for connecting a cover of a portable lap-top personal computer, word processor or similar equipment having a display rotatably to a case which accommodates a body of the computer or word processor. The case and cover are electrically interconnected at coactive hinge portions thereof by a pair of deformed O-rings and a pair of flat O-rings which are implemented by conductive resilient members and are held in slidable contact with each other.

Claims

1. A structure for connecting a rotatable body rotatably to a stationary body while maintaining an electrical connection between said rotatable body and said stationary body, said structure comprising:

a pair of coupling members constituting a hinge portion of said rotatable body and each having an engaging end, a through hole formed at the center of said engaging end, and a plurality of lugs provided in a peripheral portion of said engaging end;

a pair of deformed O-rings each having a through hole aligning with said through hole of an associated one of said coupling members at the center of said deformed O-rings, and each having a bent portion and apertures in a peripheral portion, each of said apertures mating with a respective one of said lugs;

a pair of support members constituting a hinge portion of said stationary body, each of said pair of support members having an engaging end, a through hole formed through the center of said engaging end, and a plurality of channels formed in a peripheral portion of said engaging end;

a pair of flat O-rings, a through hole at the center of each of said flat O-rings, said flat O-ring being aligning with said through hole of an associated one of said support members, and a plurality of lugs each mating with respective one of said channels of said associated support member; and

a pair of shaft members each being passed through said through hole of an associated one of said coupling members, said through hole of said associated one of said deformed O-rings, said through hole of said associated one of said flat O-rings, and said through hole of said associated one of said support members, whereby each of said bent portions of said deformed O-rings mounted on said engaging ends of said support members is held in slidable contact with said peripheral portion of respective ones of said flat O-rings.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging ends of said coupling members and said support members are plated.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformed O-rings and said flat O-rings each comprises a conductive resilient member.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stationary body and said rotatable body each comprises a molding of resin.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said molding of resin is plated over entire surface thereof.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said molding of resin is painted with a conductive material to have a conductive film thereon.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stationary body comprises a case of a portable computer which accommodates a body of said computer while said rotatable body comprises a cover having a display.