Hinge with less abrasion

• US 7,555,817 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Lu, An-Di, Hsu, Jia-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson; Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELISLE, ROBERTA S
• Application Number:
  US11/598,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 162/73, 16337-340, 16365-367, 163/74
• US Class Current: 16/367
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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: 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

Abstract

A hinge with less abrasion has a central bracket, a first tilt hinge assembly, a second tilt hinge assembly and a rotating hinge assembly. The central bracket has a main arm, a first arm and a second arm. The main arm has annular recess formed on an inner surface of the main arm. The first arm has annular recess respectively formed on an inner surface and an outer surface of the first arm. The first and second tilt hinge assemblies connect respectively to the first and second arms. The rotating hinge assembly connects to the main arm. Because strength of a material is enhanced when the material is pressed, the annular recesses of the main and first arms enhance the strength of the main and first arms to reduce the abrasion between the central bracket and the hinge assemblies.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a central bracket having

a main arm having

a first end;

a second end;

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

a circular central hole; and

an annular recess formed in the inner surface of the main arm around the central hole to reduce abrasions;

a first arm formed perpendicularly on the first end of the main arm and having

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

a circular central hole;

an inner annular recess formed in the inner surface of the first arm around the central hole to reduce abrasions; and

an outer annular recess formed in the outer surface of the first arm around the central hole to reduce abrasions; and

a second arm formed perpendicularly on the second end of the main arm;

a first tilt hinge assembly connecting to the first arm of the central bracket and comprising

a tilt shaft connecting rotatably to the first arm and having

an inner end;

a positioning head formed radially on the inner end of the tilt shaft; and

a positioning protrusion formed axially on an inner surface of the positioning head; and

a first rotating bracket mounted securely on the tilt shaft;

a second tilt hinge assembly connecting to the second arm of the central bracket and comprising

a barrel connecting securely to the second arm of the central bracket; and

a second rotating bracket mounted rotatably on the barrel; and

a rotating hinge assembly connecting to the main arm of the central bracket and comprising

a central shaft connecting rotatably to main arm of the central bracket and having an inner end; and

a limiting head formed radially on the inner end of the central shaft, corresponding to the positioning head of the tilt shaft and having

two limiting sides being opposite to each other;

two flat sides being opposite to each other and formed between two limiting sides, wherein the limiting sides and the flat sides alternatively align with the positioning head of the tilt shaft; and

an annular slot formed radially in the limiting head of the central shaft and corresponding to and selectively engaging the positioning protrusion of the positioning head of the tilt shaft and disengaging from the positioning protrusion of the positioning head of the tilt shaft when one of the flat sides of the limiting head aligns with the positioning head of the tilt shaft; and

a fastening bracket mounted securely on the central shaft.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first arm of the central bracket has at least one positioning detent formed in the outer annular recess of the first arm;

and

the first tilt hinge assembly further comprises a stationary positioning spacer mounted securely on the tilt shaft adjacent to the outer surface of the first arm of the central bracket and having

an inner surface facing to the outer surface of the first arm; and

at least one positioning protrusion that is formed on the inner surface of the stationary positioning spacer and corresponds to and selectively engages the at least one positioning detent of the first arm.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first arm has at least one limiting protrusion formed on and extending from the inner surface of the first arm;

and

the tilt shaft has

an outer end; and

a limiting head formed radially on the outer end of the tilt shaft and having an outer surface abutting the inner surface of the first arm; and

a limiting protrusion formed transversely on an edge of the limiting head and selectively abutting the at least one limiting protrusion of the first arm.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the first arm has at least one limiting protrusion formed on and extending from the inner surface of the first arm;

and

the tilt shaft has

an outer end; and

limiting head formed radially on the outer end of the tilt shaft and having an outer surface abutting the inner surface of the first arm; and

a limiting protrusion formed transversely on an edge of the limiting head and selectively abutting the at least one limiting protrusion of the first arm.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main arm of the central bracket has at least one positioning detent formed in the annular recess of the main arm;

and

the rotating hinge assembly further comprises a rotating positioning spacer that is mounted securely on the central shaft adjacent to the inner surface of the main arm and has at least one positioning protrusion formed on the rotating positioning spacer and corresponding to and selectively engaging the positioning detent of the main arm.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the main arm of the central bracket has at least one positioning detent formed in the annular recess of the main arm;

and

the rotating hinge assembly further comprises a rotating positioning spacer that is mounted securely on the central shaft adjacent to the inner surface of the main arm and has at least one positioning protrusion formed on the rotating positioning spacer and corresponding to and selectively engaging the positioning detent of the main arm.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main arm of the central bracket has two ribs being perpendicularly formed on the two sides of the main arm respectively and extended from the inner surface;

the limiting sides and flat sides of the limiting head of the central shaft alternatively align with the ribs; and

the limiting sides of the limiting head of the central shaft engage the ribs when the limiting sides align with the ribs.