Hinge assembly

• US 7,047,599 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Oshima, Kazuyoshi, Imai, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, ANDRE L
• Application Number:
  US09/997,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 163/42, 162/73, 162/74, 163/40, 163/76, 163/37, 163/74, 163/03, 361680-683
• US Class Current: 16/337
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/087 with substantially axial friction, e.g. friction disks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1223 with a compression or traction spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 abutment member 4 of a first hinge member A1 is pressed against a cam member 8 of a second hinge member A2 by a coiled spring 6. By this, an interval between an enlarged diameter portion 31 of an insertion member 3 of the first hinge member A1 and a connecting plate portion 72 of the second hinge member A2, is restricted to a predetermined interval. In other words, an interval between the end faces 31a, 72a of the enlarged diameter portion 31 and the connecting plate portion 72 is restricted to a predetermined interval. A friction member 10 composed of an elastic material such as a rubber is disposed between the end faces 31a, 72a. The thickness of the friction member 10 in the opposing direction of the end faces 31a, 72a is larger than the interval between the end faces 31a, 72a.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly comprising a first and a second hinge member relatively turnably connected together about an axis of rotation and a friction member composed of an elastic material and disposed between said first and second hinge members, relative turning motion between said first hinge member and said second hinge member being restricted by friction resistance generated between contact surfaces of said friction member and said first and second hinge members,

said first hinge member includes a main body and a movable portion disposed on said main body such that said movable portion is non-turnable but movable in a direction of the axis of rotation, said friction member is disposed between said movable portion and said second hinge member, interval restricting means disposed between said movable portion and said second hinge member and adapted to restrict intervals of the contact surfaces of said movable portion and said second hinge member with respect to said friction member, said interval restricting means includes a moving mechanism for moving said movable portion in the direction of the axis of rotation in response to the turning motion of said second hinge member within a predetermined turning range.

2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein said interval restricting means includes an abutment portion disposed at least at one of opposing surfaces of said movable portion and said second hinge member and for restricting the intervals of said contact surfaces of said movable portion and said second hinge member with respect to said friction member by being abutted with the other opposing surface.

3. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion includes an insertion member connected to said main body such that said insertion member is non-turnable but movable in the direction of the axis of rotation and axially pierced through said second hinge member such that said insertion member is turnable and movable in a direction of the axis of rotation, and a first and second opposing portions disposed at opposite end portions of said insertion member and opposing to opposite end faces of said second hinge member, said interval restricting means is disposed between said first opposing portion and said second hinge member, and said friction member is disposed between said second opposing portion and said second hinge member.

4. A hinge assembly according to claim 3, wherein said moving mechanism moves said insertion member in the direction of the axis of rotation in response to the turning motion of said second hinge member within the predetermined turning range.

5. A hinge assembly according to claim 4, wherein said moving mechanism includes biasing means for biasing said insertion member so that said first opposing portion is brought towards said second hinge member, and a cam mechanism disposed between said second opposing portion and said second hinge member and for moving said insertion member against biasing force of said biasing means so that when said hinge member is turned in one direction, said second opposing portion is brought away from said second hinge member, and for moving said insertion member by the biasing force of said biasing means so that when said second hinge member is turned in the other direction, said second opposing portion is brought towards said second hinge member.