Hinges and associated devices

• US 7,328,481 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Barnett, Ricky
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/077,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 162/27, 162/26, 162/25, 162/34, 163/54, 163/65, 163/66, 163/68, 163/69, 160/135, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 361/680, 361681-683, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.8, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 348/373, 348/794, 348/333.06
• US Class Current: 16/227
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/08 for swing-doors, i.e. openable by pushing from either side
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

The present invention provides a hinge mechanism for allowing relative movement between a first and a second member of a device, the hinge mechanism arranged to connect the first device member about a first pivot axis and the second device member about a second pivot axis, and wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a synchronization mechanism having a strap arranged to provide connection of the first and second device members across an imaginary line between the first and second pivot axes to provide joint movement about both first and second pivot axes during operation of the hinge.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism for allowing relative movement between a first and a second member of a device, the hinge mechanism arranged to connect the first device member about a first pivot axis and the second device member about a second pivot axis, and wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a synchronization mechanism having a first strap and a second strap adapted to connect the first and second device members to each other said first and second straps cross imaginary line between the first and second pivot axes, and a substantially rigid link member located between the first and second straps and adapted to pivotally connect the first and second device members to each other, wherein the hinge mechanism is adapted to allow joint movement of the first and second device members about both the first and second pivot axes during operation of the hinge mechanism.

2. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization mechanism is adapted to allow equal movement about the first and second axes during operation of the hinge mechanism.

3. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization mechanism is adapted to allow simultaneous movement about the first and second axes during operation of the hinge mechanism.

4. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the first and second members provide one configuration in which the first and second members each have a surface which faces inwardly towards each other and opposing surfaces which face outwardly away from each other, and wherein one end of the first strap is connected to a inwardly facing surface on one of the members of the device, and the other end of the first strap is connected to a opposing outwardly facing surface on the other member of the device.

5. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second straps provide connection across the imaginary line in opposite directions from the imaginary line.

6. A hinge mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the relative movement between the first and second members provide one configuration in which the first and second members each have a surface which faces inwardly towards each other and opposing surfaces which face outwardly away from each other, and wherein one end of the first strap is connected to a inwardly facing surface on the first members of the device, and the other end of the first strap is connected to a opposing outwardly facing surface on the second member of the device, and wherein one end of the second strap is connected to an outwardly facing surface on the first member of the device and the other end of the second strap is connected to an inwardly facing surface on the second member of the device.

7. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the straps is made from a durable flat material.

8. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the straps is made from a material of sufficient stiffness to provide joint movement about the first and second axes.

9. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the first and second members provide a plurality of configurations, including an open and a closed configuration.

10. A hinge mechanism according to claim 9, wherein open configuration permits user access to a user interface on the device and the closed configuration prevents user access to the user interface.

11. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the first and second members provide folding of the first and second members onto each other about the pivot axes.

12. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the first and second members provide a plurality of configurations which fold the first and second members about the pivot axes to provide a first configuration in which a surface of each of the members faces towards each other and a second configuration in which the surfaces face away from each other.

13. A hinge mechanism according to claim 12, wherein, in the second configuration, the second pivot axes has moved 180°

to the first pivot axes as compared to the position in the first configuration.

14. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the first and second members provide a plurality of configurations, one or more of the positions being a locked position.

15. A hinge mechanism according to claim 14, wherein one locked position is provided when the second pivot axes has moved 90°

to the first pivot axes as compared to the position in a first configuration.

16. A hinge mechanism according to claim 14, wherein one locked position is provided when the second pivot axes has moved 180°

to the first pivot axes as compared to the position in a first configuration.

17. A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the link member shares common pivot axes with the first and second members.

18. A hinge mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the link member is provided at the centre of the hinge mechanism along the axes.

19. A hinge mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the first and second members have one or more recesses to accommodate a end portion of the link member.

20. A device comprising a hinge mechanism according to claim 1.

21. An electronic device comprising a hinge mechanism according to claim 1.

22. A mobile telephone comprising a hinge mechanism according to claim 1.

23. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing member;

a second housing member; and

a hinge mechanism movably connecting the first and second housing members to each other, wherein the hinge mechanism is connected to the first housing member about a first pivot axis, wherein the hinge mechanism is connected to the second housing member about a second different pivot axis, and wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a synchronization mechanism having a first strap and a second strap connected to the first and second housing members said first and second straps cross an imaginary line between the first and second pivot axes, and a substantially rigid link member pivotally the first and second housing members to each other and located between the first and second straps, wherein the hinge mechanism is adapted to allow joint movement of the first and second housing members about both the first and second pivot axes.

24. An electronic device as in claim 23 wherein the first and second straps are generally reversely orientated relative to each other.

25. An electronic device as in claim 23:

wherein a first end of the first strap is fixedly attached to a first side of the first housing member,

wherein a first end of the second strap is fixedly attached to a second opposite side of the first housing member,

wherein a second end of the first strap is fixedly attached to a second side of the second housing member, and

wherein a second end of the second strap is connected to first side of the second housing member.

26. An electronic device as in claim 23 wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.