Rotational positioning apparatus

• US 7,189,023 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tseng, Jui-Chi, Kang, Chan-Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kennedy, Joshua T.
• Application Number:
  US10/930,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 403/112, 403/113, 403/117, 403/119, 361680-683, 248/917, 248919-921, 163/37, 163/40, 163/42, 163/67
• US Class Current: 403/119
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• 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: Y10T 403/32549 including limit means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted

Abstract

A rotational positioning apparatus includes a fixed member having a first wear portion and a stopper portion; at least a positioning washer disposed on the first wear portion, the positioning washer is formed with a positioning portion to abut against the stopper portion and at least a protruding portion radially extending outward; and a rotating member having a second wear portion engaged with the positioning washer, and a push portion for pushing the protruding portion of the positioning washer. With the relative locations for the stopper portion, positioning portion, protruding portion, and pushing portion, a relative rotation track between the fixed member and the positioning washer is summed with a relative rotation track between the rotating member and the positioning washer to flexibly design a rotational angle for the rotational positioning apparatus and ensure that the rotating member is firmly positioned at a desired location.

Claims

1. A rotational positioning apparatus, comprising:

a fixed member having a first wear portion and a stopper portion;

at least a positioning washer disposed on the first wear portion of the fixed member, wherein the positioning washer is formed with a positioning portion abutting against the stopper portion of the fixed member and at least a protruding portion extending radially outward; and

a rotating member having a second wear portion engaged with the positioning washer and a push portion for pushing the protruding portion of the positioning washer, so that the push portion drives rotation of the positioning washer and the positioning portion is stopped by the stopper portion to achieve positioning during the rotation,

wherein the second wear portion and the rotating member are individually formed and engaged with each other and the second wear portion is formed with a locking ear extending inward from an inner circumferential surface thereof, and the push portion is a second car protrusion extending outward from an outer circumferential surface of the second wear portion.

2. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of shoulder portions are formed to extend from opposite ends on an outer circumferential surface of the fixed member, with each of the shoulder portions being further defined with an ear concave portion, and the first wear portion comprises a pair of first ear protrusions extending outward to engage with the ear concave portions of the shoulder portions.

3. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wear portion is integrally formed with the fixed member.

4. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wear portion and the fixed member are individually formed and engaged with each other.

5. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first wear portion is a first washer.

6. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first wear portion comprises a pair of first ear protrusions extending outward to engage with the ear concave portions of the shoulder portions.

7. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the first wear portion abuts with an outer circumferential surface of the stopper portion.

8. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is an arc-shaped structure.

9. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is a protruding structure.

10. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is a concave structure.

11. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second wear portion is integrally formed with the rotating member.

12. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the first wear portion abuts with an outer circumferential surface of the stopper portion.

13. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second wear portion is a third washer.

14. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top end of the push portion is flush with a top end of the second wear portion, and a bottom end of the push potion is extended beyond a bottom end of the second wear portion.

15. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the push portion is a post extending downward from the second wear portion.

16. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the second wear portion abuts with the outer circumferential surface of the stopper portion.

17. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating member further comprises a base portion and a receiving portion downwardly extending from the base portion.

18. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the receiving portion is a hollow cylinder structure, and a locking slot is defined on an outer circumferential surface of a shaft portion.

19. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the push portion is a post downwardly extending from the base portion.

20. A rotational positioning apparatus, comprising:

a fixed member having a first wear portion and a stopper portion;

at least a positioning washer disposed on the first wear portion of the fixed member, wherein the positioning washer is formed with a positioning portion abutting against the stopper portion of the fixed member and at least a protruding portion extending radially outward; and

a rotating member having a second wear portion engaged with the positioning washer and a push portion for pushing the protruding portion of the positioning washer, so that the push portion drives rotation of the positioning washer and the positioning portion is stopped by the stopper portion to achieve positioning during the rotation,

wherein the inner circumferential surface of the second wear portion abuts with the outer circumferential surface of the stopper portion.

21. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein a pair of shoulder portions are formed to extend from opposite ends on an outer circumferential surface of the fixed member, with each of the shoulder portions being further defined with an ear concave portion, and the first wear portion comprises a pair of first ear protrusions extending outward to engage with the ear concave portions of the shoulder portions.

22. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first wear portion is integrally formed with the fixed member.

23. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first wear portion and the fixed member are individually formed and engaged with each other.

24. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first wear portion is a first washer.

25. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first wear portion comprises a pair of first ear protrusions extending outward to engage with the ear concave portions of the shoulder portions.

26. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stopper portion is an arc-shaped structure.

27. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stopper portion is a protruding structure.

28. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stopper portion is a concave structure.

29. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second wear portion is integrally formed with the rotating member.

30. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second wear portion and the rotating member are individually formed and engaged with each other.

31. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the second wear portion is a third washer.

32. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein a top end of the push portion is flush with a top end of the second wear portion, and a bottom end of the push potion is extending beyond a bottom end of the second wear portion.

33. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the second wear portion is formed with a locking ear extending inward from an inner circumferential surface thereof, and the push portion is a second ear protrusion extending outward from an outer circumferential surface of the second wear portion.

34. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the push portion is a post extending downward from the second wear portion.

35. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rotating member further comprises a base portion and a receiving portion downwardly extending from the base portion.

36. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the receiving portion is a hollow cylinder structure, and a locking slot is defined on an outer surface of a shaft portion.

37. The rotational positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the push portion is a post downwardly extending from the base portion.