Hinge module for mounting a flip onto a portable telephone set

• US 5,937,062 A
• Filed: 10/29/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Acer Peripherals Inc (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Sun, Hsueh-Wen, Cheng, Yin-Shiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): CROOKS, KEITHLEY M
• Application Number:
  US08/960,234
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/428, 455/90, 455/575, 16/330, 16/334, 16/329, 16/325
• US Class Current: 379/433.13
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1011 biased by free springs E05D7/1016 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A hinge module for mounting a flip onto a portable telephone set. The hinge module uses a retractable member so the flip can be easily mounted onto the handset. The retractable member includes a shaft movably received in a tube, which also functions as a rotating shaft so no additional rotating shaft is needed.

Claims

1. A hinge module for mounting a flip onto a device comprising:

a first cam member having a first curved portion;

a second cam member having a second curved portion corresponding to said first curved portion and cooperating with said first curved portion, wherein said first cam member is rotatable with respect to said second cam member in two opposing directions;

a guiding member;

an elastic member disposed between said second cam member and said guiding member to form a gap in between; and

a retractable member fitted in said guiding member, said elastic member, said second cam member and said first cam member, with a first end thereof protruding from said first cam member and a second end protruding from said guiding member.

2. The hinge module for mounting a flip onto a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second cam member further comprises at least one slot, and said guiding member further comprises at least one extended arm for being received in said at least one slot.

3. The hinge module for mounting a flip onto a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retractable member is a telescopic member comprising a shaft and a tube, said shaft being retractably received in said tube.

4. The hinge module for mounting a flip onto a device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tube has a contracted opening and said shaft has a head, a first section and a second section, said first section has a smaller diameter than said second section and said shaft is movably mounted through said contracted opening to a retracted position wherein substantially the entire first section is disposed externally of said tube, or to an extended position wherein said head abuts against said opening.

5. The hinge module for mounting a flip onto a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retractable member is a telescopic member comprising a shaft, a spring and a tube, wherein said shaft is retractably received in said tube and said spring is disposed between said shaft and said tube.

6. The hinge module for mounting a flip onto a device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said shaft comprises a first section and a second section, and said first section has a smaller diameter than said second section, one end of said tube is contracted to form an opening, and said shaft is movably mounted through said opening to an extended position wherein said first section is protruded from said opening, or to a retracted position wherein said first section is received in said tube.

7. The hinge module for mounting a flip onto an electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member is a spring.