Heat pipe hinge structure for electronic device

• US 6,377,452 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Sasaki, Chiyoshi, Sotani, Junji, Ohmi, Masaru, Arimoto, Toru, Tsukada, Isao, Maekawa, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US09/465,913
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 622/592, 162/23, 163/42, 174/15.2, 165/104.33, 165/104.26, 165/80.4, 361/687, 361/699, 361/700, 361/704, 361/707, 361/710, 361/715
• US Class Current: 361/679.47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/203 Heat conductive hinge

Abstract

A heat pipe hinge structure for an electronic device comprises a heat pipe hinge member and a hinge portion. The heat pipe hinge member is made of a high heat-conductive material disposed at a coupling portion in which a pair of housing portions to be opened and closed are coupled. The heat pipe hinge member comprises a heat pipe hinge main body to receive a heat from a heat generating component disposed in one of the pair of housing portions, and a heat pipe holding portion provided in a vicinity of the heat pipe hinge main body to pivotably hold by an elastic member at least a part of a first heat pipe disposed in other of the pair of housing portions. The hinge portion is made of a low heat-conductive material to fix the heat pipe hinge member on at least one housing portion of the pair of housing portions.

Claims

1. A heat pipe hinge structure for coupling a pair of housing portions of an electronic device to be opened and closed comprising:

a heat pipe hinge member made of a heat-conductive material, said heat pipe hinge member comprising a heat pipe hinge main body including a locating bore and a holding bore to securely hold one end portion of a second heat pipe to receive a heat through said second heat pipe from a heat generating component disposed in one of said pair of housing portions, and a heat pipe holding portion provided in said heat pipe hinge main body to pivotably hold at least a part of a first heat pipe disposed in other of said pair of housing portions, said heat pipe holding portion includes a heat pipe receptive groove for pivotably receiving said part of said first heat pipe, extended guiding portions, and a heat pipe fixing member having a pressing portion and latching portions made of elastic material to press said part of said first heat pipe received in said heat pipe receptive groove; and

a hinge portion comprising a fixed hinge portion and a movable hinge portion to fix said heat pipe hinge member on at least one housing portion of said pair of housing portions and guide opening and closing of said pair of housing portions, said fixed hinge portion having a supporting shaft member being fixed thereon, said supporting shaft member being fitted in said locating bore, and said movable hinge portion including a cylindrical bearing portion in which said supporting shaft member is inserted.

2. A heat pipe hinge structure for coupling a pair of housing portions of an electronic device to be opened and closed comprising:

a heat pipe hinge member made of a heat-conductive material, said heat pipe hinge member including;

a heat pipe hinge main body including a locating bore disposed adjacent a holding bore, said holding bore receives a first heat pipe;

a heat pipe receptive groove disposed at said locating bore, said heat pipe receptive groove receives a second heat pipe;

a heat pipe fixing member, said heat pipe fixing member disposed at said heat pipe receptive groove, said heat pipe fixing member covers a portion of said second heat pipe; and

a hinge portion in operable communication with said heat pipe hinge member, said hinge portion secures said heat pipe hinge member on at least one housing portion of said pair of housing portions, said hinge portion guides said pair of housing portions to be opened and closed.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said heat pipe fixing member is made of an elastic material.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein said heat pipe fixing member includes a latching end, said latching end disposed at said locating bore.

5. The structure of claim 2, wherein said hinge portion includes a movable hinge portion disposed adjacent said heat pipe hinge member, said movable hinge portion having a bearing portion.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said hinge portion includes a fixed hinge portion disposed adjacent said movable hinge portion, said fixed hinge portion having a support shaft member that is received by said bearing portion.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein said locating bore aligns with said bearing portion, said support shaft member extends through said movable hinge portion and is received by said locating bore.

8. A heat pipe hinge structure for coupling a pair of housing portions of an electronic device to be opened and closed comprising:

a heat pipe hinge member made of a heat-conductive material, said heat pipe hinge member comprising a heat pipe hinge main body including a locating bore disposed adjacent a holding bore, said holding bore to securely hold one end portion of a second heat pipe and a heat pipe holding portion provided in said heat pipe hinge main body to pivotably hold at least a part of a first heat pipe, said heat pipe holding portion includes a heat pipe receptive groove for pivotably receiving said part of said first heat pipe, and a heat pipe fixing member having a pressing portion and latching portions made of elastic material to press said part of said first heat pipe received in said heat pipe receptive groove; and

a hinge portion comprising a fixed hinge portion and a movable hinge portion to fix said heat pipe hinge member on at least one housing portion of said pair of housing portions and guide opening and closing of said pair of housing portions, said fixed hinge portion having a supporting shaft member being fixed thereon, said supporting shaft member being fitted in said locating bore, and said movable hinge portion including a cylindrical bearing portion in which said supporting shaft member is inserted.