Dual axis hinge apparatus with braking mechanism
First Claim
1. A hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first gear rotatable about a first axis;
a first deformable braking mechanism, the first deformable braking mechanism being coupled to the first gear, wherein the first deformable braking mechanism is substantially axially aligned with the first gear along said first axis;
a second gear rotatable about a second axis, the second gear being arranged to engage the first gear during rotation of one of the first gear and the second gear;
a second braking mechanism, the second braking mechanism being arranged to contact the first deformable braking mechanism to cause the first deformable braking mechanism to deform during the rotation, wherein the second braking mechanism is substantially axially aligned with the second gear along said second axis; and
a linking mechanism, the linking mechanism being arranged to maintain a constant distance between the first axis and the second axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved hinge mechanism for use with a portable computing device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a hinge mechanism includes a first gear and a first deformable braking mechanism that is coupled to the first gear. The first deformable braking mechanism is substantially axially aligned with the first gear along a first axis. The hinge mechanism also includes a second gear that engages the first gear during rotation of the first gear, as well as a second braking mechanism. The second braking mechanism is arranged to be substantially axially aligned with the second gear along a second axis. The second braking mechanism contacts the first deformable braking mechanism to cause the first deformable braking mechanism to deform during rotation of the first gear. Finally, the hinge mechanism includes a linking mechanism that allows a constant distance to be maintained between the first axis and the second axis.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A hinge mechanism comprising:
-
a first gear rotatable about a first axis; a first deformable braking mechanism, the first deformable braking mechanism being coupled to the first gear, wherein the first deformable braking mechanism is substantially axially aligned with the first gear along said first axis; a second gear rotatable about a second axis, the second gear being arranged to engage the first gear during rotation of one of the first gear and the second gear; a second braking mechanism, the second braking mechanism being arranged to contact the first deformable braking mechanism to cause the first deformable braking mechanism to deform during the rotation, wherein the second braking mechanism is substantially axially aligned with the second gear along said second axis; and a linking mechanism, the linking mechanism being arranged to maintain a constant distance between the first axis and the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A rotating hinge mechanism arranged to couple a first section of a device to a second section of said device, the rotating hinge mechanism being arranged to enable the first section to rotate with respect to the second section, the rotating hinge mechanism comprising:
-
a first wheel-gear pair coupled to the first section, the first wheel-gear pair including a first gear and a first wheel, the first wheel being substantially deformable; a second wheel-gear pair coupled to the second section, the second wheel-gear pair including a second gear and a second wheel; and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism being arranged to couple the first wheel-gear pair to the second wheel-gear pair and to maintain a substantially constant distance between a center point of the first gear and a center point of the second gear, wherein the first gear is arranged to rotate and to engage the second gear, and wherein the first wheel is arranged to contact the second wheel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprising:
-
a first housing; a processor contained substantially within the first housing; a display screen; and a hinge mechanism arranged to rotatably couple the display screen to the first housing, wherein the hinge mechanism includes a first wheel-gear pair and a second wheel-gear pair, the first wheel-gear pair having a first gear and a first wheel, the first wheel-gear pair being mechanically coupled to the display screen, the second wheel-gear pair having a second gear and a second wheel, the second wheel-gear pair being coupled to the first housing, the hinge mechanism further including a linkage mechanism arranged to couple the first wheel-gear pair to the second wheel-gear pair, wherein the first gear is arranged to rotate and to engage the second gear while the first wheel contacts the second wheel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification