Hinge for a notebook computer

• US 6,742,221 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tseng, Hua-Chung, Chian, Chu-Hsian, Ho, Chao-Teh, Shen, Chun-Hsi, Chen, Chia-Hui, Lu, Sheng-Nan, Tai, Jih-Nan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 163/66, 163/67, 163/42, 248/917, 248/919, 248/922, 248/923, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683
• US Class Current: 16/367
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• 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

Abstract

A hinge for a notebook computer is composed of an upper seat, a lower seat, and two arms. The upper seat is rotatably mounted in the lower seat, and the arms are mounted on the upper seat. A monitor of the computer is installed on the arms, and the lower seat is secured on a body of the computer. Therefore, the monitor can be turned about the arms to raise from the body, and turned along with the upper seat about a vertical axis of the lower seat to adjust a visible scope.

Claims

1. A hinge for a notebook computer comprising:

an upper seat (10) having an opening (104) defined therethrough, two wings (101) respectively formed at diametrically opposite sides of the opening (104), a flange (105) formed at a bottom of the upper seat (10), and a pin (102) mounted in one of the wings (101) from a bottom surface of this wing (101);

a lower seat (20) under the upper seat (10), the lower seat (20) having a central hole (203) in which the flange (105) of the upper seat (10) is rotatably received, two ears (201) respectively formed at diametrically opposite sides of the central hole (203) and corresponding to the wings (101), the ears (201) each having a channel (2021) with an open side at the same side of the lower seat (20) in which the pin (102) can be located, and a gasket (24) movably provided beneath the lower seat (20) and fastened on the bottom of the upper seat (10) to rotatably install the upper seat (10) in the lower seat (20); and

two arms (30) respectively mounted on the wings (101) of the upper seat (10), each arm (30) having a first part secured on the respective wing (101), and a second part rotatable about the first part.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a first ring (11) provided between the upper seat (10) and the lower seat (20), and outside the flange (103).

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flange (103) has two first notches (105) defined at diametrically opposite sides thereof, and the first ring (11) has two first lugs (111) formed at an inner circumferential side thereof and respectively received in the first notches (105).

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a second ring (12) provided between the first ring (11) and the lower seat (20), and outside the flange (103).

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lower seat (20) has a recess (204) defined at a top thereof, and the second ring (12) is received in the recess (204).

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower seat (20) has two second notches (205) defined at diametrically opposite sides of the recess (204), and the second ring (12) has two second lugs (121) formed at an outer circumferential side thereof and respectively received in the second notches (205).

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower seat (20) has two-like collars (21) respectively mounted in the channels (202).

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the channels (202) has two grooves (2021) respectively formed at two opposite inner wall thereof, and the collar (21) has two feet (211) respectively positioned in the grooves (2021).

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a washer (23) provided between the lower seat (20) and the gasket (24).