Friction hinge including compressed friction washer
First Claim
1. A hinge for fastening a display screen to a keyboard base, said hinge using frictional force generated by one or more compressed friction washers to control angular motion of the display screen with respect to the keyboard base, said hinge comprising:
- two shoulders defining inwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a first distance, said two shoulders being disposed on the keyboard base;
a knuckle having a pair of outwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a second distance which is less than the first distance, said knuckle being disposed on the display screen;
at least one compressible friction washer, disposed between said knuckle and said two shoulders, and having a thickness which is greater than a difference between the first distance and the second distance, but which is compressible to less than the difference, each of said two shoulders, said knuckle, and said at least one compressible friction washer having alignable throughbores; and
a pin, which fits through the alignable throughbores of said two shoulders, said knuckle, and said at least one compressible friction washer.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge fastens a display screen to a keyboard base, and uses a frictional force generated by one or more compressed friction washers to control angular motion of the display screen with respect to the keyboard base. The hinge includes two shoulders defining inwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a first distance, the two shoulders being disposed on the keyboard base, and a knuckle having a pair of outwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a second distance which is less than the first distance, the knuckle being disposed on the display screen. Also included in the hinge is at least one compressible friction washer, disposed between the knuckle and the two shoulders, and having a thickness which is greater than a difference between the first distance and the second distance, but which is compressible to less than the difference. Each of the two shoulders, the knuckle, and the at least one compressible friction washer has an alignable throughbore. A pin fits through the alignable throughbores of the two shoulders, the knuckle, and the at least one compressible friction washer.
35 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hinge for fastening a display screen to a keyboard base, said hinge using frictional force generated by one or more compressed friction washers to control angular motion of the display screen with respect to the keyboard base, said hinge comprising:
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two shoulders defining inwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a first distance, said two shoulders being disposed on the keyboard base; a knuckle having a pair of outwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a second distance which is less than the first distance, said knuckle being disposed on the display screen; at least one compressible friction washer, disposed between said knuckle and said two shoulders, and having a thickness which is greater than a difference between the first distance and the second distance, but which is compressible to less than the difference, each of said two shoulders, said knuckle, and said at least one compressible friction washer having alignable throughbores; and a pin, which fits through the alignable throughbores of said two shoulders, said knuckle, and said at least one compressible friction washer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hinge for fastening a display screen to a keyboard base which uses a frictional force to permit controlled angular motion of the display screen with respect to the keyboard base, and to maintain the display screen at a set angle with respect to the keyboard base, said hinge comprising:
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two shoulders disposed on the keyboard base with a fixed distance therebetween; a knuckle, disposed on the display screen and protruding therefrom, having a width which is smaller than the fixed distance, and positioned between said two shoulders such that a gap exists on each side of said knuckle between said knuckle and each of said two shoulders; two friction washers made of a compressible elastic material, each of said two friction washers (1) having a thickness, in an uncompressed state, which is greater than that of the gaps between said knuckle and said two shoulders, and (2) being compressed to fit into one of the gaps between said knuckle and a shoulder, each of said two shoulders, said knuckle, and said two friction washers having throughbores which are alignable; and a pin which connects said two shoulders, said knuckle, and said two friction washers through their respective throughbores. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hinge for fastening a display screen to a keyboard base which uses a frictional force to permit controlled angular motion of the display screen with respect to the keyboard base, and to maintain the display screen at a set angle with respect to the keyboard base, said hinge comprising:
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two shoulders disposed on the keyboard base with a fixed distance therebetween; a knuckle, disposed on the display screen and protruding from the display screen, having a width smaller than the fixed distance, positioned between said two shoulders such that said knuckle faces a first of said two shoulders and such that a gap exists between said knuckle and a second of said two shoulders, said knuckle having a throughbore; a friction washer made of a compressible elastic material, which (1) has a thickness, in an uncompressed state, which is greater than that of the gap between the second shoulder and said knuckle, and (2) is compressed to fit into the gap between the second shoulder and said knuckle, said two shoulders, said knuckle and said friction washer having throughbores which are alignable; and a pin which connects said two shoulders, said knuckle and said friction washer through their respective throughbores; wherein the first shoulder includes a channel which runs through to the keyboard base, and said knuckle, on a surface which faces the first shoulder, includes a channel which runs through to the display screen and which aligns to the channel on the first shoulder such that a continuous channel runs from the keyboard base to the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification