Hinge with multiple torsion springs

• US 7,513,011 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Lin, Shu-Mu, Chen, Wei-Chun, Lu, Sheng-Nan
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson; Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morgan; Emily M
• Application Number:
  US11/321,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20070151079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 163/37, 162/85, 162/99, 163/04, 163/05, 163/08, 163/38, 163/40, 163/07, 248/291.1, 248/292.11, 248/292.13, 248/917
• US Class Current: 16/337
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1028 for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1215 with a canted-coil torsion spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A hinge has a first bracket, a pivot pin, a second bracket and two torsion spring assemblies. The first bracket has a support and two holders. The pivot pin is mounted rotatably through the support and the holders on the base of the first bracket. The second bracket is mounted to the pivot pin. The torsion spring assemblies are mounted on the pivot pin and correspond respectively to the holders on the first bracket. Each torsion spring assembly has a disk and a torsion spring. The disk is mounted securely to the pivot pin and has a spring hook. The torsion spring is mounted around the pivot pin and has two ends. One end is mounted securely on the corresponding holder, and the other end is engaged detachably with the spring hook on the disk. The torsion springs provide a recovering force to keep the pivot pin from pivoting inadvertently.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a first bracket having

a base;

a support extending from the base and having a pivot hole defined through the support; and

two holders mounted on the base and each holder having a pivot hole defined through the holder and aligning with the pivot hole in the support;

a pivot pin rotatably mounted through the pivot holes in the support and the holders on the base of the first bracket and having

an enlarged head abutting with the support and having two ends;

a shaft protruding from one end of the enlarged head, rotatably extending through the pivot holes in the support and the holders and having a distal end, two outer threads and one outer thread formed on the shaft adjacent to the enlarged head and the other outer thread formed on the distal end of the shaft; and

two nuts respectively screwed on the threads, the nut adjacent to the enlarged head located aside the support opposite to the enlarged head and the other nut on the distal end of the shaft abutting with one of the holders;

a second bracket mounted to the pivot pin; and

two torsion spring assemblies mounted on the pivot pin, corresponding respectively to the holders on the first bracket, with each torsion spring assembly having

a disk mounted securely, to the pivot pin and having a mounting hole defined through the disk and through which the pivot pin extends and a spring hook formed on the disk; and

a torsion spring mounted around the pivot pin between the disk and a corresponding holder on the first bracket, having two ends with one end mounted to the corresponding holder and the other end hooked detachably onto the spring hook on the disk;

wherein the spring hooks on the disks of the torsion spring assemblies are formed in opposite directions perpendicular to the pivot pin.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft of the pivot pin further has a non-circular cross section and the mounting hole of each disk has a non-circular cross section corresponding to the non-circular cross section of the shaft.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2 further comprising at least one washer mounted around the pivot pin between the disks of the torsion spring assemblies.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein each torsion spring assembly further has a sleeve mounted around the pivot pin between the disk and the corresponding holder and around which the torsion spring is mounted.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein each holder of the first bracket further has a mounting slot defined through the holder and the base further has two mounting hooks formed on the base and respectively hooked into the mounting slots in the holders to securely mount the holders on the base.