Asymmetric hinged housing configuration

• US 5,732,135 A
• Filed: 07/19/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Harms, Steven J., Weadon, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/685,797
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/434, 379/428, 379/429, 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 16/328, 16/329, 16/331
• US Class Current: 379/433.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A radiotelephone having an asymmetric hinge configuration includes a housing having a door member, a handset member, and an asymmetric hinge connected to the door and handset members for enabling rotation therebetween about an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to a plane bisecting the door member but preventing axial translation therebetween. The radiotelephone further includes a radiotelephone transceiver and a microphone positioned within the housing. The microphone is located on the pivot axis. The asymmetric hinge is configured so that the door and handset members are rotatable between a closed position, in which the door member overlies the handset member, and an operative open position, in which the handset member and the door member define an angle of between about 100 and 160 degrees.

Claims

1. An asymmetric hinge configuration comprising:

a first member having a first extension portion, a first axle receptacle and a first lug axle receptacle, each of said receptacles positioned in said first extension portion;

a second member having a second axle receptacle and a second lug axle receptacle having an abutment surface, said second axle and lug axle receptacle defining a first recessed portion therebetween, wherein said first recessed portion is configured to receive said first member extension portion therein; and

asymmetric pivotal interconnection means connected to said first and second members for enabling rotation therebetween about an axis of rotation and for preventing axial translation therebetween, said asymmetric pivotal interconnection means comprising;

a projection axle comprising a projection received in and matable with said second axle receptacle and a shaft received in said first axle receptacle, said projection axle being rotatable between first and second rotative positions about said axis of rotation and being translatable between first and second translatory positions along said axis of rotation;

a lug axle received in and matable with said second lug axle receptacle and including a shaft received in said first lug axle receptacle and a lug received in said second lug axle receptacle abutting said abutment surface thereof, said lug axle and said first and second lug axle receptacles configured to enable said first member to rotate between first and second rotative positions about said axis of rotation, with said abutment surface preventing outward axial movement of said lug axle relative to said axis of rotation;

interlocking means for connecting said projection axle with said first member so that said rotation of said first member relative to said second member about said axis of rotation causes corresponding rotation of said projection axle and so that said projection axle is free to translate along said axis of rotation relative to said first axle receptacle, and

biasing means operably coupled with said projection axle for biasing said projection axle toward said second axle receptacle;

said projection and said second axle receptacle being configured so that when said projection axle is in the first rotative position, said projection mates with and seats in said second receptacle and said biasing means biases said projection axle to take said first translatory position along said axis of rotation, and when said projection axle is in the second rotative position, said projection is not mated with said second axle receptacle, and interaction between said projection and said second axle receptacle forces said projection axle into the second translatory position along said axis of rotation.

2. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 1, wherein said projection comprises a pair of sloped faces symmetric about a plane of symmetry extending through said axis of rotation, and wherein said second axle receptacle comprises a mating pair of planarly symmetric sloped faces.

3. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 2, wherein said projection sloped faces are planar faces, and wherein said second axle receptacle faces are planar faces.

4. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 3, wherein each of said planar faces of said second axle receptacle comprises an edge adjacent said plane of symmetry, each of said edges being positioned in a lateralmost portion of said second axle receptacle.

5. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 1, wherein said interlocking means comprises a keying member extending radially from said axle and a mating recess in said first axle receptacle.

6. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring oriented along said axis of rotation that contacts said axle shaft, said spring being compressed when said axle is in the second translatory position.

7. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 1, wherein said projection and said second axle receptacle are configured so that said first member is rotatable to a third rotative position in which said first member and said second member form an angle of between about 170 degrees and 200 degrees therebetween.

8. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 1, wherein said second member further comprises a second lug axle receptacle, said first member further comprises a first lug axle receptacle, and said pivotal interconnection means further comprises a lug axle received in said first and second lug axle receptacles that prevents translation of said first member relative to said second member along said axis of rotation but permits rotation of said first and second members about said axis of rotation.

9. The asymmetric hinge configuration of claim 8, wherein said first lug axle receptacle is contiguous with said first axle receptacle.

10. A radiotelephone housing comprising:

a door member comprising an integral hinge arm configured to include a first axle receptacle and a first lug axle receptacle therein;

a handset member comprising a second axle receptacle and a second lug axle receptacle; and

asymmetric pivotal interconnection means connected to said door and handset members for enabling rotation therebetween about an axis of rotation and for preventing axial translation therebetween, said axis of rotation being substantially perpendicular to a plane bisecting said door member, said door and handset members being rotatable between a closed position, in which said door member overlies said handset member, and an operative open position, in which said handset member and said door member define an angle of between about 100 and 160 degrees therebetween, said pivotal interconnection means comprising;

a projection axle comprising a projection received in and matable with said second axle receptacle and a shaft received in said first axle receptacle, said projection axle being rotatable between first and second rotative positions about said axis of rotation and being translatable between first and second translatory positions along said axis of rotation, said projection comprising a pair of sloped faces symmetric about a plane of symmetry extending through said axis of rotation, and wherein said second axle receptacle comprises a mating pair of planarly symmetric sloped faces;

a lug axle received in and matable with said second lug axle receptacle having an abutment surface and including a shaft received in said first lug axle receptacle, said lug axle and said first and second lug axle receptacles configured to enable said first member to rotate between first and second rotative positions about said axis of rotation and to prevent outward axial movement of said lug axle relative to said axis of rotation,

interlocking means for connecting said projection axle with said door member so that said rotation of said door member relative to said handset member about said axis of rotation causes corresponding rotation of said projection axle and so that said projection axle is free to translate within said first axle receptacle along said axis of rotation, and

a spring positioned within said first axle receptacle for biasing said projection axle toward said second axle receptacle;

said projection and said second axle receptacle being configured so that when said projection axle is in the first rotative position, said projection mates with and seats in said second receptacle and said spring biases said projection axle to take said first translatory position along said axis of rotation, thereby placing said door member is in its operative position, and when said projection axle is in the second rotative position, said projection is not mated with said second axle receptacle, and interaction between said projection and said second axle receptacle forces said projection axle into the second translatory position along said axis of rotation, thereby placing said door member in the closed nonoperative position.

11. A radiotelephone housing comprising:

a door member comprising a first axle receptacle and a first lug axle receptacle disposed in an extension portion of said door member;

a handset member comprising a second axle receptacle and a second lug axle receptacle, said second lug axle receptacle having an abutment surface therein, said second axle and second lug axle receptacles defining a first recess portion therebetween, wherein said first recess portion is configured to receive said door member extension portion therein; and

asymmetric pivotal interconnection means connected to said door and handset members for enabling rotation therebetween about an axis of rotation and for preventing axial translation therebetween, said axis of rotation being substantially perpendicular to a plane bisecting said door member, said door and handset members being rotatable between a closed position, in which said door member overlies said handset member, and an operative open position, in which said handset member and said door member define an angle of between about 100 and 160 degrees therebetween, said pivotal interconnection means comprising;

a projection axle comprising a projection received in and matable with said second axle receptacle and a shaft received in said first axle receptacle, said projection axle being rotatable between first and second rotative positions about said axis of rotation and being translatable between first and second translatory positions along said axis of rotation,

a lug axle received in and matable with said second lug axle receptacle and including a shaft received in said first lug axle receptacle and a lug received in said second lug axle receptacle abutting said abutment surface thereof, said lug axle and said first and second lug axle receptacles configured to enable said first member to rotate between first and second rotative positions about said axis of rotation, with said abutment surface preventing outward axial movement of said lug axle relative to said axis of rotation;

interlocking means for connecting said projection axle with said door member so that said rotation of said door member relative to said handset member about said axis of rotation causes corresponding rotation of said projection axle and so that said projection axle is free to translate within said first axle receptacle along said axis of rotation, and

biasing means operably coupled with said projection axle for biasing said projection axle toward said second axle receptacle;

said projection and said second axle receptacle being configured so that when said projection axle is in the first rotative position, said projection mates with and seats in said second receptacle and said biasing means biases said projection axle to take said first translatory position along said axis of rotation, thereby placing said door member is in its operative position, and when said projection axle is in the second rotative position, said projection is not mated with said second axle receptacle, and interaction between said projection and said second axle receptacle forces said projection axle into the second translatory position along said axis of rotation, thereby placing said door member in the closed nonoperative position.

12. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said projection comprises a pair of sloped faces symmetric about a plane of symmetry extending through said axis of rotation, and wherein said second axle receptacle comprises a mating pair of planarly symmetric sloped faces.

13. The radiotelephone housing of claim 12, wherein said projection sloped faces are planar faces, and wherein said second axle receptacle faces are planar faces.

14. The radiotelephone housing of claim 13, wherein each of said planar faces of said second axle receptacle comprises an edge adjacent said plane of symmetry, each of said edges being positioned in a lateralmost portion of said second axle receptacle.

15. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said interlocking means comprises a keying member extending radially from said axle and a mating recess in said first axle receptacle.

16. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring oriented along said axis of rotation that contacts said axle shaft, said spring being compressed when said axle is in the second translatory position.

17. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said projection and said second axle receptacle are configured so that, when said door member is in the closed position, said door member is urged to remain in the closed position.

18. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said handset member further comprises a second lug axle receptacle, said door member further comprises a first lug axle receptacle, and said pivotal interconnection means further comprises a lug axle received in said first and second lug axle receptacles that prevents translation of said door member relative to said handset member along said axis of rotation but permits rotation of said door and handset members about said axis of rotation.

19. The radiotelephone housing of claim 18, wherein said first lug axle receptacle is contiguous with said first axle receptacle.

20. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said projection and said second axle receptacle are configured so that said door member is rotatable to a third rotative position in which said door member and said handset member form an angle of between about 170 degrees and 200 degrees about said axis of rotation.

21. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein said door member is a flip cover for a cellular telephone.

22. The radiotelephone housing of claim 11, wherein one of said door member and said handset member includes a cellular telephone microphone therein.

23. The radiotelephone housing of claim 22, wherein said cellular telephone housing includes a cellular telephone transceiver, an antenna electrically connected thereto and a cellular telephone controller electrically connected thereto.