Automatic releasing hinge

• US 6,711,781 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Hsiu, Lee Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/224,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 163/42, 163/34, 163/30, 163/03, 163/32, 162/66, 162/67, 163/86, 162/69, 162/60, 379/433.01, 379/433.05, 379/433.13, 361/680-683, 403/84, 403/383, 403/361, 403/375
• US Class Current: 16/342
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1011 biased by free springs E05D7/1016 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1016 requiring a specific angular position
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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

Abstract

An automatic releasing hinge. The hinge enables a device to be turned under an external force, and to be automatically released when a turning angle exceeds a selected limit so that the device may be prevented from becoming damaged when being turned by a force beyond a normal range.

Claims

1. An automatic releasing hinge, comprising:

a pintle hub having a pair of anchor ridges;

an elastic element having one end abutting against one end of the pintle hub;

a first bushing having a pair of turning troughs, a pair of anchor troughs and a pair of release troughs formed therein;

wherein another end of the pintle hub abuts against a first inner wall of the first bushing when one of the anchor ridges of the pintle is positioned in one of the turning troughs and the anchor troughs;

wherein said another end of the pintle hub abuts against a second inner wall of the first bushing when one of the anchor ridges of the pintle hub is positioned in the release trough;

a barrel housing the elastic element and the pintle hub, and the barrel being releasably engaged with the first bushing; and

the inner wall of the bushing comprising three pairs of opposing humps, and the turning troughs, the anchor troughs and the release troughs are opposingly formed between the humps.

2. The automatic releasing hinge of claim 1, wherein the anchor ridges are jutting outwards from the periphery of the pintle hub.

3. The automatic releasing hinge of claim 1, wherein the first bushing and the barrel are coupled through the pintle hub.

4. The automatic releasing hinge of claim 1, wherein the pintle hub has a center spindle coupled with an axle of the first bushing.