Multiaxial hinge assembly with rotational direction indicator

• US 7,133,280 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Love, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US10/805,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 345/169, 345/184, 345/905, 248/900, 248/917, 163/67, 379/433.13, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 361/679.07
• 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

Abstract

A multiaxial hinge assembly that enables rotation about a first axis between a clockwise limit and a counterclockwise limit and also enables rotation about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first includes a rotational direction indicator to provide an indication of a direction of rotation about the first axis to reduce the likelihood of rotation against the clockwise or counterclockwise limits and possible damage to the hinge assembly, or connected apparatus, or both. In one example, the multiaxial hinge assembly may be used for mounting the display of a hybrid notebook/tablet PC to provide an indication to a user of the direction in which the display may be counter-rotated when the hinge is positioned at either the clockwise or counterclockwise limits.

Claims

1. A multiaxial hinge assembly that enables rotation about a first axis between a clockwise limit and a counterclockwise limit and rotation about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first, comprising;

a surface rotatable about the first axis and comprising a display window; and

a display surface underlying the surface rotatable about the first axis, the display surface comprising;

a first directional indicator indicating a counterclockwise rotational direction and positioned to be revealed in the display window when the multiaxial hinge assembly is rotated substantially to the clockwise limit, and

a second directional indicator indicating a clockwise rotational direction and positioned to be revealed in the display window when the multiaxial hinge assembly is rotated substantially to the counterclockwise limit.

2. The multiaxial hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the directional indicators comprise arrows.

3. The multiaxial binge assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface rotatable about the first axis further comprises a second display window, and wherein the display surface underlying the surface rotatable about the first axis further comprises:

a third directional arrow, the third directional arrow pointing in a counterclockwise rotational direction and positioned to be revealed in the second display window when the multiaxial binge assembly is rotated substantially to the clockwise limit; and

a fourth directional arrow, the fourth directional arrow on the display surface pointing in a clockwise rotational direction and positioned to be revealed in the second display window when the multiaxial hinge assembly is rotated substantially to the counterclockwise limit.

4. A multiaxial hinge assembly, comprising:

a pivot platform rotatable about a first axis between a clockwise limit and a counterclockwise limit;

a pivot mounted to the pivot platform that defines a second axis of rotation orthogonal to the first axis;

a display surface substantially centered on and normal to the first axis, comprising a first rotational directional indicator positioned along a first radius of the first axis at a first radial distance, and a second rotational directional indicator positioned along a second radius of the first axis at substantially the same distance as the first radial distance; and

a first display window overlying the display surface dimensioned and adapted selectively display the first and second directional indicators therethrough;

wherein a rotation of the pivot platform to the clockwise limit enables the first directional indicator to be displayed in the first display window and a rotation of the pivot platform to the counterclockwise clockwise limit enables the second directional indicator to be displayed in the first display window.

5. The multiaxial hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the display surface is rotationally fixed in position with respect to the first axis and the first display window is rotatable about the first axis together with the pivot platform.

6. The multiaxial hinge assembly of claim 4 wherein the display surface further comprises a third directional indicator along a third radius of the first axis at a second radial distance and a fourth directional indicator of the first axis at substantially the same second radial distance, and wherein the multiaxial hinge assembly further comprises a second display window overlying the display surface dimensioned and adapted to display the third directional indicator at substantially the same time as the first directional indicator is displayed in the first display window and to display the fourth directional indicator at substantially the same line as the second directional indicator is displayed in the first display window.

7. The multiaxial hinge assembly of claim 6 wherein the first and second display windows are positioned on opposite sides the second axis.

8. The multiaxial hinge assembly of claim 4 wherein the clockwise and counterclockwise limits are adapted lo prevent rotation of the pivot platform about the first axis beyond approximately 180 degrees.

9. A multiaxial hinge assembly comprising:

a pivot platform rotatable about a first axis and comprising an center aperture that is substantially coaxial with the first axis;

a pivot mounted to the pivot platform which defines a second axis of rotation orthogonal to the first axis, the pivot comprising two opposing hinge pins extending radially outwardly from the center aperture;

a plurality of opposing hinge plates rotatably secured to the hinge pins,

a display window positioned in the pivot platform a predetermined radial distance from the first axis;

a stop post projecting downwardly from the pivot platform;

a surface underlying the pivot platform that is rotationally stationary with respect to the first axis and substantially centered thereon, comprising a clockwise directional arrow, a counterclockwise directional arrow and a center aperture that is substantially coaxial with the list axis; and

a stop assembly positioned beneath the pivot platform that is rotationally stationary with respect to the first axis and substantially centered thereon, the stop assembly comprising a counterclockwise stop pocket and a clockwise stop pocket adapted to engage the stop post when the pivot platform is rotated about the first axis to predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits and comprising a center that is substantially coaxial with the first axis;

wherein a rotation of the pivot platform to the clockwise limit causes the first directional indicator to be displayed in the first display window and a rotation of the pivot platform to the counterclockwise clockwise limit causes the second directional indicator to be to be displayed in the first display window to display a direction of rotation to a user in order to avoid an incorrect rotation of the multiaxial hinge assembly and over twisting of electrical cables passing through a channel in the multiaxial hinge assembly that is substantially coaxial with the first axis.

10. A method of providing an indication to a user of a direction of rotation about a first axis of a multiaxial hinge assembly that enables rotation about at least two orthogonal axes, wherein rotation about the first axis is constrained by counterclockwise and clockwise limits, the method comprising:

providing a display window in a rotating surface of the hinge assembly; and

providing a display surface underlying the rotating surface, the display surface comprising a first directional arrow pointing in a counterclockwise rotational direction and positioned to be revealed in the display window when the rotating surface is substantially rotated to the clockwise limit and a second directional arrow pointing in a clockwise rotational direction and positioned to be revealed in the display window when the rotating surface is rotated substantially to the counterclockwise limit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the display surface is stationary with respect to the first axis of rotation.

12. A personal computer comprising:

a display portion;

a main body portion; and

a multiaxial hinge assembly on which the display portion is mounted to the main body portion and which enables the display portion to it rotated relative to the main body portion about at least two orthogonal axes, the multiaxial hinge assembly comprising;

means to indicate a direction of rotation about a first axis when the display portion is rotated about the first axis substantially to at least one predetermined position;

wherein the at least one predetermined position comprises a rotational limit;

wherein the means to indicate a direction of rotation comprises an arrow that is oriented to indicate a direction of rotation away from the rotational limit when the display is rotated about the first axis substantially to the at least one predetermined position;

wherein the arrow is revealed in a window positioned on a surface of the multiaxial hinge assembly when the display is rotated about the first axis substantially to the at least one predetermined position.

13. The personal computer of claim 12 wherein the surface on which the arrow is positioned is stationary with respect to rotation about the first axis.