Positioning hinge having a cam block

• US 6,108,868 A
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Davys Lin
• Original Assignee: Davys Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Davys
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/275,702
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 16/340, 16/335, 16/334, 16/341, 16/342, 16/325, 16/327, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 361/686, 248/183, 248/917, 248/923, 403/119, 403/120, 403/146, 403/121
• US Class Current: 16/340
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/105 the maintaining means acting perpendicularly to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1215 with a canted-coil torsion spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32622 Rocking or rolling contact

Abstract

Disclosed is a positioning hinge for use in a portable computer or an electronic dictionary having a main unit and an LCD display, the hinge comprising a pivotal member for mounting the hinge to the main unit; a substantially disk-shaped cam block non-rotatably provided around the pivotal member; a pivotal base rotatably for mounting the hinge to the LCD display. By biasing against the cam block, this invention allows the LCD display of a portable computer to pivot with respect to the main unit so as to adjust the orientation of the LCD display e. This invention can be simply assembled, includes a low number of components, and is of a relatively compact size.

Claims

1. A positioning hinge for pivoting between a main unit and an LCD display of a portable computer or an electronic dictionary, the hinge comprising:

a pivotal member having a mounting end for mounting the hinge to the main unit, and a rotary shaft having a pivotal axis;

a substantially disk-shaped cam block being eccentrically and non-rotatably provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member;

a pivotal base having a mounting end for mounting the hinge to the LCD display, and a support through which the rotary shaft passes;

the pivotal base being provided with a resilient friction member resiliently urging against the cam block, wherein the pivotal base is rotatable between a first position and a second position about the pivotal member; and

a torsion spring being biasedly provided around the rotary shaft in relation to the pivotal member, wherein the torsion spring is under torsion state when the pivotal base is at the first position, and under relaxed state when the pivotal base is at the second position.

2. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting end and the support of the pivotal base are bent to form an angle.

3. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting end and the support of the pivotal base are bent to form a right angle.

4. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 1, further comprising two lubricating washers being rotatably provided around the pivotal member on opposing sides of the pivotal base.

5. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 4, further comprising two locking washers being rotatably provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member on opposing sides of the pivotal base.

6. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 5, further comprising two tooth-shaped resilient tabs provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member between one of the lubricating washers and one of the locking washers.

7. A positioning hinge for pivoting between a main unit and an LCD display of a portable computer or an electronic dictionary, the hinge comprising:

a pivotal member having a mounting end for mounting the hinge to the main unit, and a rotary shaft formed with a pivotal axis;

a substantially disk-shaped cam block having a peripheral wall and, being eccentrically provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member;

a pivotal base having a mounting end for mounting the hinge to the LCD display;

a support being formed with a substantially circular opening for rotatably receiving the rotary shaft of the pivotal member; and

a medial portion being formed with an ear projecting towards the cam block, wherein the pivotal base is rotatable between a first position and a second position about the pivotal axis of the pivotal member;

a resilient friction member having a mounting end for mounting the resilient friction member on the ear, and a resilient end for resiliently urging against the peripheral wall of the cam block;

a non-rotatable washer being formed with an oblate opening having a top flatten edge and a bottom flatten edge for non-rotatably providing the non-rotatable washer on the rotary shaft of the pivotal member; and

a torsion spring being biasedly provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member in relation to the pivotal member, the torsion spring having a first end for mounting on the non-rotatable washer, and a second end for mounting on the pivotal base;

wherein the torsion spring is under torsion state when the pivotal base is at the first position, and under relaxed state when the pivotal base is at the second position.

8. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 7, wherein the mounting end and the support of the pivotal base are bent to form an angle.

9. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 7, wherein the mounting end and the support of the pivotal base are bent to form a right angle.

10. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 7, further comprising two lubricating washers being provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member on opposing sides of the pivotal base.

11. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 10, further comprising two lock washers being provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member on opposing sides of the pivotal base.

12. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 11, further comprising two tooth-shaped resilient tabs provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member between one of the lubricating washers and one of the locking washers.

13. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a compression spring provided around the rotary shaft of the pivotal member between one of the lubricating washers and one of the locking washers.

14. A positioning hinge for pivoting between a main unit and an LCD display of a portable computer or an electronic dictionary, the hinge comprising:

a pivotal member having a pivotal axis, a mounting end for mounting the hinge to the main unit;

a non-threaded portion; and

a threaded portion, wherein the non-threaded portion is located between the mounting end and the threaded portion;

a substantially disk-shaped cam block having a center and a peripheral wall;

the cam block being formed with an eccentric semi-circular opening having a center for non-rotatably mounting the cam block on the non-threaded portion of the pivotal member;

a pivotal base having a mounting end for mounting the hinge to the LCD display;

a support being formed with a substantially circular opening for rotably receiving the non-threaded portion of the pivotal member; and

a medial portion being formed with an ear projecting towards the cam block, wherein the pivotal base is rotatable between a first position and a second position about the pivotal axis of the pivotal member;

a resilient friction member having a mounting end for mounting the resilient friction member on the ear, and a resilient end for resiliently urging against the peripheral wall of the cam block;

a non-rotatable washer being formed with an oblate opening having a top flatten edge and a bottom flatten edge for non-rotatably receiving the threaded portion of the pivotal member; and

a torsion spring being biasedly provided around the threaded-portion of the pivotal member and between the pivotal base and the non-rotatable washer, the torsion spring having a first end for mounting on the non-rotatable washer, and a second end for mounting on the pivotal base;

wherein the torsion spring is under torsion state when the pivotal base is at the first position, and under relaxed state when the pivotal base is at the second position.

15. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 14, wherein the mounting end and the support of the pivotal base are bent to form an angle.

16. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 14, wherein the mounting end and the support of the pivotal base are bent to form a right angle.

17. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 14, further comprising two lubricating washers being provided around the non-threaded and threaded portions of the pivotal member on opposing sides of the pivotal base.

18. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 17, further comprising two lock washers being provided around the non-threaded and threaded portions of the pivotal member on opposing sides of the pivotal base.

19. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 18, further comprising two tooth-shaped resilient tabs provided around the threaded portions of the pivotal member between one of the lubricating washers and one of the locking washers.

20. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a compression spring provided around the threaded portion of the pivotal member between one of the lubricating washers and one of the locking washers.

21. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 14, wherein a lateral distance is formed between the center of the semi-circular opening and the peripheral wall of the cam block and a vertical distance between the center of the semi-circular opening and the peripheral wall of the cam block, wherein the lateral distance is smaller than the vertical distance.

22. A positioning hinge for pivoting between a main unit and an LCD display of a portable computer or an electronic dictionary, the hinge comprising:

a pivotal member having a mounting end for mounting the pivotal member to the main unit, and a rotary shaft having a pivotal axis;

a pivotal base having a mounting end for mounting the pivotal base to the LCD display, and a first support that is substantially perpendicular to the rotary shaft of the pivotal member and is formed with a pivotal opening through which the rotary shaft passes;

a torsion spring provided around the rotary shaft and having a first end and a second end that respectively urge against and connect to the pivotal member and pivotal base to provide torsion force for relative rotation between the pivotal member and the pivotal base;

a cam block substantially in a disk shape and having a cam-configured surface and is formed with a through hole, through which the rotary shaft of the pivotal member non-rotatably passes;

resilient friction member including a mounting end that is secured to the pivotal base and a friction end that biases against the cam-configured surface so as to maintain frictional, sliding movement with the cam block;

wherein the pivotal member, pivotal base, torsion spring, cam block, and resilient friction member are secured to the rotary shaft from a free end of the rotary shaft.

23. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 22, wherein the cam block is substantially configured in a smooth heart shape forming a positioning recess at a top of the cam block to allow the friction end of the resilient friction member to maintain frictional, sliding movement with the cam-configured surface of the cam block and then to stop within the positioning recess.

24. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 23, wherein the pivotal base further includes a second support that is substantially identical to the first support and that is spaced from the first support in parallel.

25. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 22, wherein the pivotal member is formed with a notch for receiving the first end of the torsion spring.

26. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 25, wherein the pivotal base further includes a second support that is substantially identical to the first support and that is spaced from the first support in parallel.

27. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 22, wherein the pivotal member further includes a detachable stop plate that is non-rotationally provided around the rotary shaft and includes a stop portion that is connected to the second end of the torsion spring.

28. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 27, wherein the pivotal base further includes a second support that is substantially identical to the first support and that is spaced from the first support in parallel.

29. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 22, wherein the free end of the rotary shaft is provided with a gasket and/or a nut for securing the pivotal member, pivotal base, torsion spring, cam block, and resilient friction member to the rotary shaft.

30. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 29, wherein the pivotal base further includes a second support that is substantially identical to the first support and that is spaced from the first support in parallel.

31. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 22, wherein the rotary shaft is extended in a columnar configuration.

32. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 31, wherein the pivotal base further includes a second support that is substantially identical to the first support and that is spaced from the first support in parallel.

33. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 22, wherein the pivotal base further includes a second support that is substantially identical to the first support and that is spaced from the first support in parallel.

34. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 33, wherein the cam block is non-rotationally provided around the rotary shaft and is provided between the first support and the second support.

35. The positioning hinge as set forth in claim 33, wherein the torsion spring is provided around the rotary shaft and is provided between the first support and the second support.