Hinge connector having a shaft member of a simple structure and electronic apparatus including the hinge connector

• US 7,191,491 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Higuchi, Masao, Ibaraki, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/215,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 163/67, 163/30, 163/03, 16285-287, 162/80, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 379/433.13, 379/434, 361/683, 361/803, 439/165
• US Class Current: 16/367
• 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: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/77 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/025 having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence

Abstract

In a hinge connector including a shaft member and a flexible board coupled thereto, the shaft member has a first shaft extending in a first direction and a second shaft extending from the first shaft in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The flexible board has first and second winding portions which are wound around the first and the second shafts, respectively.

Claims

1. A hinge connector comprising:

a shaft member; and

a flexible board coupled to the shaft member,

the shaft member comprising;

a first shaft extending in a first direction; and

a second shaft extending from the first shaft in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

the flexible board having first and second winding portions which are wound around and fixed to the first and the second shafts, respectively,

the hinge connector further comprising;

a cover member attached to the shaft member, the cover member having a pair of cover components, the cover components being attached to the first and the second shafts from opposite sides and forming the cover member in cooperation,

first and second holding members rotatably coupled to the cover member, one of the first and the second holding members covering the first winding portion and having a slit allowing communication between the inside and the outside, the flexible board extending through the slit of the one, and

a third holding member rotatably coupled to the cover member, the third holding member covering the second winding portion and having a slit allowing communication between the inside and the outside, the flexible board extending through the slit of the third holding member.

2. The hinge connector according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft has opposite end portions spaced from each other in the first direction and an intermediate portion between the opposite end portions, the second shaft extending from the intermediate portion so that the shaft member has a T shape.

3. The hinge connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover member extends along the second shaft and fitted to the third holding member.

4. An electronic apparatus comprising the hinge connector according to claim 1, further comprising first and second housings hinge-coupled by the hinge connector, the first and the second holding members being engaged with the first and the second housings in a rotating direction thereof.