Hinge device for a portable computer

• US 6,272,006 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jin Hyup
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D.
• Application Number:
  US09/073,059
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/682, 163/42, 162/23, 163/37
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A pivot device for portable computers is provided that may be constructed using a pivot bearing, located at the rear edge of a main body of the portable computer and a pivot member that is fastenably attached to a display housing. Thus, the display housing is rotatably connected to the main body. The pivot member may be constructed using both a lower support part, that is mounted to the lower portion of the display housing, and a side support part that extends radially away from the hinge axis to fastenably attach to the side portion of the display body. In the second embodiment of this invention, the side support part of the pivot member has a hook that engages the inner surface of the side wall in the display housing.

The pivot device uses a pivot member that effectively distributes the weight of the display body, that effectively prevents the pivot shaft of the pivot member from being overloaded by the weight of the display body even when the display body is equipped with a large-sized LCD panel, and that prevents the display housing from being unexpectedly distorted or deformed during an opening or closing action of the display body.

Claims

1. A pivot device for a portable computer, comprising:

a pivot bearing for pivotally mounting a display unit to a main body of a portable computer; and

a pivot member for rotatable mounting by a pivot shaft to said pivot bearing, said pivot member comprising;

a lower support part that extends for a predetermined length in parallel relation to said pivot shaft, said lower support part for mounting to a lower portion of said display unit; and

a side support part that extends a predetermined length from said lower support part in a direction from said pivot bearing so as to fastenably attach with a lateral side of said display unit at a location other than at said lower portion of said display unit, said lower support part and said side support part for being received in a corresponding groove in said display unit, said corresponding groove having a configuration corresponding to a configuration of said pivot member for receiving in said corresponding groove said pivot member.

2. The pivot device of claim 1, further comprised of said lower support part having a U-shape.

3. The pivot device of claim 2, further comprised of said side support part having an L-shape.

4. The pivot device of claim 1, further comprised of a pair of said pivot bearing for being positioned in opposing relation for pivotally mounting said display unit to said main body of said portable computer, and a pair of said pivot member, each said pivot member for being rotatably mounted by a corresponding said pivot shaft to a corresponding said pivot bearing of said pair of said pivot bearing, and a pair of said corresponding groove, each said corresponding groove for receiving a corresponding one of said pair of said pivot member.

5. The pivot device of claim 1, further comprised of said lower support part of said pivot member for mounting to said lower portion of said display unit by using a fastener.

6. A pivot device for a portable computer, comprising:

a pivot bearing for location at a rear edge of a main body of a portable computer; and

a pivot member for rotatable coupling by a pivot shaft to said pivot bearing for rotatably connecting a display body to said main body, said pivot member comprising;

a lower support part that extends for a predetermined length in parallel relation to said pivot shaft, said lower support part for mounting to a lower portion of said display body; and

a side support part that sends form said lower support part for a predetermined length so as to be caught and held by a side wall of said display body at a location other than at said lower portion of said display body, said display body having a corresponding groove having a configuration corresponding to said pivot member for receiving in said corresponding groove said pivot member.

7. The pivot device as claimed in claim 6, further comprised of said side support part having a hook for latchably engaging with a hook stopper located on said side wall of said display body.

8. A portable computer, comprising:

a main body housing a central processing unit;

a display body housing a liquid crystal display panel; and

a pivot device mounted on said main body at the junction between said main body and said display body to rotatably connect the display body to the main body, thus allowing the display body to be rotatably openable relative to the main body, said pivot device comprising;

a pivot bearing provided at a rear edge of said main body; and

a pivot member provided on said display body and rotatably coupled by a pivot shaft to said pivot bearing, said pivot member comprising;

a lower support part mounted to a lower portion of said display body, said lower support part extending for a predetermined length in parallel relation to said pivot shaft; and

a side support part extending from said lower support part for a predetermined length and mounted to a side portion of said display body at a location other than at said lower portion of said display body, said lower support part and said side support part for being received in a corresponding groove in said display body, said corresponding groove having a configuration corresponding to a configuration of said pivot member for receiving in said corresponding groove said pivot member.

9. The portable computer of claim 8, further comprised of said lower support part being wider than said side support part.

10. The portable computer of claim 8, further comprised of said lower support part of said pivot member being mounted to said lower portion of said display body using a fastener.

11. The portable computer of claim 8, further comprised of said lower support part having a U-shape.

12. The portable computer of claim 11, further comprised of said side support part having an L-shape.

13. A portable computer, comprising:

a main body carrying a central processing unit;

a display body carrying a liquid crystal display panel; and

a pivot device provided at a junction between said main body and said display body to rotatably connect said display body to said in body, said pivot device allowing said display body to be rotatably openable relative to said man body, said pivot device comprising;

a pivot bearing provided at a rear edge of said main body; and

a pivot member provided on said display body and rotatably coupled by a pivot shaft to said pivot bearing, said pivot member comprising a lower support part mounted to a lower portion of said display body, said lower support part extending for a predetermined length in parallel portion to said pivot shaft, and a side support part extending from said lower support part for a predetermined length and caught and held by a side wall of said display body at a location other than at said lower portion of said display body, said display body having a corresponding groove having a configuration corresponding to said pivot member for receiving in said corresponding groove said pivot member.

14. The portable computer of claim 13, further comprised of said side support part having a hook for latchably engaging said side wall of said display body.

15. The portable computer of claim 14, further comprised of said lower support part of said pivot member being mounted to said lower portion of said display body using a fastener.

16. The portable computer of claim 14, further comprising a hook stopper formed on said side wall of said display body at a position corresponding to said hook of said side support part, said hook stopper thus being engageable with said hook.

17. The portable computer of claim 16, further comprised of said display body having a shield plate, said side support part having a guide pin for insertion into an aperture in said shield plate and said side support part being brought into engagement with said side wall of said display body.

18. The portable computer of claim 13, further comprised of said lower support part of said pivot member being mounted to said lower portion of said display body using a fastener.