Rotatable bushing for reducing bending stress in electrical cable
First Claim
1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
- a first portion including at least one electronic component;
a second portion including at least one electronic component;
hinge means pivotally connecting said first and second portions;
a movable member movably positioned on at least one of said first and second portions and adapted for independent movement with respect to said first and second portions and said hinge means during pivotal movement of at least one of said portions, said movable member being a separate member from said hinge means; and
a flexible cable for electrically interconnecting said electronic component of said first portion with said electronic component of said second portion, said flexible cable passing through said movable member and engaging said movable member during said pivotal movement to effect movement of said movable member.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotatable bushing for reducing bending fatigue on a flat cable between a display screen cover and a base of a portable computer comprises an elongate cylindrical body having a diametric slot therethrough. The bushing is positioned along the hinge axis between the cover and the base of the portable computer. The cable extends from the cover display screen, through the slot, and to circuitry within the base of the computer. MYLAR Plastic shields also extend through the slot on either side of the cable. When the cover is closed and opened over 180°, the cable applies force to the bushing, which is free to rotate as dictated by the force applied by the cable. The rotation of the bushing effectively provides two bending regions on the top and bottom of the bushing slot so that the cable does not bend through the entire range of motion of the cover at a single point. Since the bending of the cable is distributed, fatigue due to bending stress is significantly decreased. The mylar shields and the cable are fixed to the cover, close to the hinge, so there is very little sliding friction between the shields and the cable, and the shields engage and easily accommodate the limited sliding within the bushing.
61 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
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a first portion including at least one electronic component; a second portion including at least one electronic component; hinge means pivotally connecting said first and second portions; a movable member movably positioned on at least one of said first and second portions and adapted for independent movement with respect to said first and second portions and said hinge means during pivotal movement of at least one of said portions, said movable member being a separate member from said hinge means; and a flexible cable for electrically interconnecting said electronic component of said first portion with said electronic component of said second portion, said flexible cable passing through said movable member and engaging said movable member during said pivotal movement to effect movement of said movable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic apparatus comprising:
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a first portion including a first electronic component; a second portion including a second electronic component; a hinge pivotally connecting the first and second portions; a member movably positioned on at least one of said portions and adapted for independent movement with respect to said portions and said hinge during pivotal movement of one of said portions, said member being separate from said hinge; and a flexible cable electrically connecting said components, said cable passing through and engaging said member during said pivotal movement to cause movement of said member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification