Angle adjusting device for a display device

• US 5,197,704 A
• Filed: 12/27/1990
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Kitamura, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US07/634,233
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 248/292.1, 248/923, 16/342, 16/337, 16/305, 16/306, 16/307, 403/146, 403/373, 188/67, 188/77 W, 192/8 C
• US Class Current: 248/292.11
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/084 the friction depending on direction of rotation or opening angle of the hinge
• 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 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• 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: Y10T 403/32827 Interposed spring means coaxial with pivot

Abstract

An angle adjusting device for a display device has a pair of fixed axes abutted on the both ends of a rotatable axis and a pair of coil spring wound over the abutted portions. The angle of inclination of the display device is arbitrarily controlled by a total frictional torque obtained between the inner walls of the coil springs and the rotatable and fixed axes.

Claims

1. An angle adjusting device for a display device comprising a pair of relatively movable bearings, a pair of bushings of like outer diameter fixed coaxially on the respective bearings, an axle rotatably received within said bushings, said axle having an enlarged central portion between the bushings of like outer diameter to that of the bushings, the axle further having one end extending outwardly beyond one of said bearings for application of torque to the axle, and a pair of coil springs frictionally fitted over the respective bushings and each extending over a part of said enlarged central portion of the axle.

2. An angle adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein said enlarged central portion of the axle is longer than the combined length of said bushings.

3. An angle adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein the springs each have fewer windings extending over the enlarged central portion of the axle than over the respective bushings.

4. An angle adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein the springs each have more windings extending over the enlarged central portion of the axle than over the respective bushings.

5. An angle adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein each of said bearings has a foot portion with a slot and each of said springs has an extended end received in a respective one of said slots.

6. An angle adjusting device according to claim 1 wherein said one end of said axle has a non-circular section.