Magnetic hinge apparatus

• US 6,832,100 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chien Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Yung-Tsun
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US10/112,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/90.3, 455/347, 455/348, 455/351, 379/433.01, 379/433.11, 379/433.13, 379/440, 335/285, 335/288, 335/302, 335/306
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A magnetic hinge apparatus is applicable to a foldable product (such as folding cellular phone) for connecting the cover and the base. A practical application is provided by aligning two magnetic cams on a shaft. One magnetic cam is connected to the base, and the other is connected to the cover. Also, an attractive force is formed between the opposite surfaces of the two opposite magnetic cams. Before applying any external force on the foldable product, the convex portion of one magnetic cam completely engages the concave portion of the other magnetic cam. When the cover is opened, both magnetic cams are rotated relatively and then separated from the engaged position. When the cover keeps in opening, the convex portions of both magnetic cams are going to touch and then across each other; meanwhile, the magnetic force can attract two magnetic cams back to the engaged position. Accordingly, the foldable product secured by the magnetic hinge apparatus possesses the snap characteristic.

Claims

1. A magnetic hinge apparatus, comprising:

a shaft;

a first magnetic cam located on one end of the shaft, the first magnetic cam having a first profile an a second profile, the second profile comprising a convex portion and a concave portion;

a second magnetic cam located on the shaft, the second magnetic cam having a third profile and a fourth profile, the third profile comprising a concave portion and a convex portion to engage the convex portion and the concave portion of the first magnetic cam, wherein the third profile and the second profile have opposite polarities; and

a third magnetic cam located on the other end of the shaft, the third magnetic cam having a fifth profile, wherein the fifth profile and the fourth profile are set opposite and have the same polarity.

2. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the second profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the third profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the fourth profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, and the fifth profile is a south (S) magnetic pole.

3. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the second profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the third profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the fourth profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, and the fifth profile is a north (N) magnetic pole.

4. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one end of the shaft is embossed.

5. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 1 is applied to a foldable product.

6. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the foldable product is a cellular phone.

9. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the second profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the third profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, and the fourth profile is a north (N) magnetic pole.

7. A magnetic hinge apparatus, comprising:

a shaft;

a first magnetic cam located on one end of the shaft, the first magnetic cam having a first profile an a second profile, the second profile comprising a convex portion and a concave portion; and

a second magnetic cam located on the shaft, the second magnetic cam having a third profile and a fourth profile, the third profile comprising a concave portion and a convex portion to engage the convex portion and the concave portion of the first magnetic cam;

wherein the third profile and the second profile have opposite polarities, when the first magnetic cam and the second magnetic cam are separated by an external force, an attractive force due to unlike magnetic poles is formed between the two cams, the attractive force engages both cams while the external force is disappeared.

8. The magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the second profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the third profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, and the fourth profile is a south (S) magnetic pole.

10. A magnetic hinge apparatus, comprising:

a shaft;

a first cam located on one end of the shaft, the first cam having a first profile an a second profile, the second profile comprising a convex portion and a concave portion;

a second magnetic cam located on the shaft, the second magnetic cam having a third profile and a fourth profile, the third profile comprising a concave portion and a convex portion to engage the convex portion and the concave portion of the first magnetic cam; and

a third magnetic cam located on the other end of the shaft, the third magnetic cam having a fifth profile;

wherein the fifth profile and the fourth profile are set opposite and have the same polarity, when the second magnetic cam moves toward the third magnetic cam, the magnetic repulsion force between the two like poles drives the second magnetic cam back to the original position.

11. A cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus, comprising a cover, a base, and a magnetic hinge apparatus for allowing the pivoting of the cover on the base, the magnetic hinge apparatus comprising:

a shaft;

a first magnetic cam located on one end of the shaft, having a first profile an a second profile, the second profile comprising a convex portion and a concave portion;

a second magnetic cam located on the shaft, having a third profile and a fourth profile, the third profile comprising a concave portion and a convex portion to engage the convex portion and the concave portion of the first magnetic cam, wherein the third profile and the second profile have opposite polarities; and

a third magnetic cam located on the other end of the shaft,having a fifth profile, wherein the fifth profile and the fourth profile are set opposite and have the same polarity,

wherein the first magnetic cam is connected to the base, the second magnetic cam and the third magnetic cam are connected to the cover.

12. The cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the second profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the third profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the fourth profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, and the fifth profile is a south (S) magnetic pole.

13. The cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the second profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the third profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the fourth profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, and the fifth profile is a north (N) magnetic pole.

14. A cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus, comprising a cover, a base, and a magnetic hinge apparatus for allowing the pivoting of the cover on the base, the magnetic hinge apparatus comprising:

a shaft;

a first magnetic cam located on one end of the shaft, having a first profile an a second profile, the second profile comprising a convex portion and a concave portion; and

a second magnetic cam located on the shaft, having a third profile opposite to the second profile, the third profile comprising a concave portion and a convex portion to engage the convex portion and the concave portion of the first magnetic cam, wherein the third profile and the second profile have relative polarities;

wherein the first magnetic cam is connected to the base, the second magnetic cam and the third magnetic cam are connected to the cover.

15. The cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, the second profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, and the third profile is a north (N) magnetic pole.

16. The cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first profile is a south (S) magnetic pole, the second profile is a north (N) magnetic pole, and the third profile is a south (S) magnetic pole.

17. A cellular phone secured by a magnetic hinge apparatus, comprising a cover, a base, and a magnetic hinge apparatus for allowing the pivoting of the cover on the base, the magnetic hinge apparatus comprising:

a shaft;

a first cam located on one end of the shaft and connected to the base, the first cam having a first profile an a second profile, the second profile comprising a convex portion and a concave portion;

a second magnetic cam located on the shaft and connected to the cover, the second magnetic cam having a third profile and a fourth profile, the third profile opposite to the second profile and having the opposite polarity thereof, also the third profile comprising a concave portion and a convex portion to engage the convex portion and the concave portion of the first magnetic cam; and

a third magnetic cam located on the other end of the shaft and having a fifth profile;

wherein the fifth profile and the fourth profile are set opposite and have the same polarity, when the second magnetic cam moves toward the third magnetic cam, the magnetic repulsion force between the two like poles drives the second magnetic cam back to the original position.