Mobile communications device with synchronising hinge

• US 7,414,834 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kauhaniemi, Ilpo, Maatta, Esa-Sakari, Myyrylainen, Sami, Ukonaho, Mikko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lea-Edmonds; Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US11/354,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751-5754, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 455/88, 455/553.1, 455/73, 455/89, 361/679, 361/681, 361/759, 361/756, 361/755, 361/747, 361/740, 361/732, 361/683, 163/30, 163/03, 163/54, 163/66, 163/68, 379/433.13, 248913-924
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/122 Gear hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile communications device comprising a housing, a transceiver in the housing, a keypad connected to the housing, and a display connected to the housing, wherein the housing comprises a first section movably connected to a second section of the housing by a multi-axis hinge, wherein a first axis of rotation of the hinge is provided at the first section of the housing and a second offset axis of rotation of the hinge is provided at the second section of the housing, and wherein the hinge comprises means for synchronizing rotation of the first and second sections relative to the hinge through a path of about 360 degrees. The invention further relates to a hinge for use therein.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a hinge frame,

a first hinge member defining a first axis of rotation with a first element connected to the hinge frame,

a second hinge member defining an offset second axis of rotation with a second element connected to the hinge frame, and

synchronizing members which transfer rotational movement of the first element relative to the hinge frame to rotational movement of the second element relative to the hinge frame through a path of about 360 degrees of rotational movement of the first element in relation to the second element,

wherein the hinge further comprises a locking mechanism for locking the position of the second element relative to the first element comprising

a first locking member being non-rotatably connected to the first hinge member and provided with one or more indentations or protuberances positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the first axis of rotation,

a second locking member being non-rotatably connected to the second hinge member and provided with one or more indentations or protuberances positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the second axis of rotation,

and a third locking member being non-rotatably connected to the hinge frame and on one hand provided with one or more protuberances or indentations positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the first axis of rotation and on the other hand provided with one or more protuberances or indentations positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the second axis of rotation,

wherein the third locking member is biased against the first and second locking members.

2. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the hinge is arranged in an mobile communications device comprising a first and a second section, wherein the first section of the mobile communications device comprises the first element of the hinge and the second section of the mobile communications device comprises the second element of the hinge.

3. A hinge as in claim 2, wherein the hinge has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first and second section.

4. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the first and second elements are frame members rigidly attached or attachable to a first and second section of a mobile communications device.

5. A hinge as in claim 4, wherein the hinge has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first and second section.

6. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the hinge frame has a generally oval side profile and two parallel pin receiving holes.

7. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the hinge frame is adapted to receive and substantially enclose the synchronizing and locking members.

8. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to lock the position of the second element relative to the first element at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.

9. A hinge as in claim 1, further comprising a flex circuit extending across the hinge being adapted to electrically connecting electronic circuitry in a first section attached to the first hinge member to electronic circuitry in a second section attached to the second hinge member.

10. A hinge as in claim 9, wherein flex circuit partly wound about the first axis of rotation in a first direction and about the second axis of rotation also in the first direction.

11. A hinge as in claim 10, wherein the flex circuit is wound about the first and second axis of rotation in a total winding angle of at least 180°

.

12. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the third locking member is movable along the first and second axis of rotation thereby allowing said indentations and protuberances of the third locking member to engage and disengage said indentations and protuberances of the first and second locking members.

13. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the third locking member comprises a body formed with two through-going holes and wherein two shafts, extending along the first and second axis of rotation, respectively, extends through said through-going holes.

14. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second locking members comprise a disc non-rotatably attached to the hinge member as a wheel about the respective axis of rotation and provided with indentation on a side surface.

15. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the synchronizing members comprises a first gear rotatable with first hinge member about an third axis of rotation offset the first axis of rotation, a second gear rotatable with the second hinge member about a fourth axis of rotation offset the second axis of rotation and in engagement with the first gear, and a first intermediate member connecting the first hinge member with the first gear and a second intermediate member connecting the second hinge member with the second gear.

16. A hinge as in claim 15, wherein the first and second hinge members are each provided with a first guide member extending transversely to the first and second axis of rotation, respectively,

the first and second intermediate members are on a first side each provided with a second guide member extending transversely to the first and second axis of rotation and on a second side each provided with a third guide member extending transversely to the first and second axis of rotation and transversely to the second guide member, and

the gears are each non-rotatably connected to a fourth guide member extending transversely to the third and fourth axis of rotation, respectively,

whereby the two first guide members each engage a second guide member and the two third guide members each engage a fourth guide member.

17. A mobile communications device comprising:

a housing;

a transceiver in the housing;

a keypad connected to the housing; and

a display connected to the housing;

wherein the housing comprises a first section movably connected to a second section of the housing by a multi-axis hinge comprising a hinge frame, wherein a first axis of rotation of the hinge is provided at the first section of the housing and a second offset axis of rotation of the hinge is provided at the second section of the housing, and wherein the hinge comprises means for synchronizing rotation of the first and second sections relative to the hinge through a path of about 360 degrees,

wherein the hinge further comprises a locking mechanism for locking the position of the second element relative to the first element comprising

a first locking member being non-rotatably connected to the first hinge member and provided with one or more indentations or protuberances positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the first axis of rotation,

a second locking member being non-rotatably connected to the second hinge member and provided with one or more indentations or protuberances positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the second axis of rotation,

and a third locking member being non-rotatably connected to the hinge frame and on one hand provided with one or more protuberances or indentations positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the first axis of rotation and on the other hand provided with one or more protuberances or indentations positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the second axis of rotation,

wherein the third locking member is biased against the first and second locking members.

18. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the hinge has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first and second section.

19. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the first and second sections are adapted to take a first position with the keypad and display being closed by the first and second sections, a second position with the second section rotated about 180 degrees, preferably 160 degrees, relative to the first section such that the first section is substantially inline, preferably slightly out of inline, with the second section and a hinge frame of the hinge, and a third position with the second section rotated about 360 degrees relative to the first section and having the keypad and display located on opposite exterior facing sides of the mobile communications device.

20. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the hinge frame has a generally oval side profile and two parallel pin receiving holes.

21. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to lock the position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.

22. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, further comprising a flex circuit extending across the hinge and electrically connecting electronic circuitry in the first section to electronic circuitry in the second section.

23. A mobile communications device as in claim 22, wherein flex circuit partly wound about the first axis of rotation in a first direction and about the second axis of rotation also in the first direction.

24. A mobile communications device as in claim 23, wherein the flex circuit is wound about the first and second axis of rotation in a total winding angle of at least 180°

.

25. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the third locking member is movable along the first and second axis of rotation thereby allowing said indentations and protuberances of the third locking member to engage and disengage said indentations and protuberances of the first and second locking members.

26. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the third locking member comprises a body formed with two through-going holes and wherein two shafts, extending along the first and second axis of rotation, respectively, extends through said through-going holes.

27. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein each of the first and the second locking members comprise a disc non-rotatably attached to the hinge member as a wheel about the respective axis of rotation and provided with indentation on a side surface.

28. A mobile communications device as in claim 17, wherein the synchronizing members comprises a first gear rotatable with first section about an third axis of rotation offset the first axis of rotation, a second gear rotatable with the second section about a fourth axis of rotation offset the second axis of rotation and in engagement with the first gear, and a first intermediate member connecting the first section with the first gear and a second intermediate member connecting the second section with the second gear.

29. A mobile communications device as in claim 28, wherein the first and second sections are each provided with a first guide member extending transversely to the first and second axis of rotation, respectively,

the first and second intermediate members are on a first side each provided with a second guide member extending transversely to the first and second axis of rotation and on a second side each provided with a third guide member extending transversely to the first and second axis of rotation and transversely to the second guide member, and

the gears are each non-rotatably connected to a fourth guide member extending transversely to the third and fourth axis of rotation, respectively,

whereby the two first guide members each engage a second guide member and the two third guide members each engage a fourth guide member.