Magnetic hinge assembly

• US 7,945,997 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Jin-Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US12/354,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 163/20, 163/85, 163/86, 163/42, 163/37, 163/38, 163/40, 16D/IG.14, 292/251.5, 292/288, 292/338, 292/339, 292/342, 292/343, 292/DIG.17, 455/550.1, 455/557.1, 455/575.3, 379/433.13
• US Class Current: 16/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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

Abstract

A hinge assembly includes a pivot shaft, a rotatable leaf rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft, a fixing leaf non-rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft, a first magnet fixed to the rotatable leaf, a second magnet fixed to the fixing leaf, and a fixing member. A polarity of the second magnet faces an opposite polarity of the first magnet in a predetermined position such that the first and second magnets experience attraction. The attraction is changeable when the rotatable leaf is rotated relative to the fixing leaf. The fixing member is fixed at an end of pivot shaft to prevent the rotatable leaf and the fixing leaf from detaching from the pivot shaft.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly, comprising:

a pivot shaft;

a rotatable leaf rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft;

a fixing leaf non-rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft;

a first magnet fixed to the rotatable leaf;

a second magnet fixed to the fixing leaf, wherein a polarity of the second magnet faces an opposite polarity of the first magnet in a predetermined position such that the first and second magnets creating attraction, and the attracting force is changeable when the rotatable leaf is rotated relative to the fixing leaf; and

a fixing member fixed at an end of pivot shaft to prevent the rotatable leaf and the fixing leaf from detaching from the pivot shaft.

2. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first magnet comprises a base portion and a fixing portion extending from an end thereof;

and the rotatable leaf defines a fixing hole therein, in which the fixing portion is tightly engaged.

3. The hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the base portion and the fixing portion are both substantially cylindrical, and a diameter of the fixing portion is less than a diameter of the base portion.

4. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the second magnet comprises a base portion and a fixing portion extending from an end thereof;

and the fixing leaf defines a fixing hole therein, in which the fixing portion is tightly engaged.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the base portion and the fixing portion are both substantially cylindrical, and a diameter of the fixing portion is less than a diameter of the base portion.

6. The hinge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of resilient members rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft adjacent to the fixing leaf;

the resilient members providing an axial force between the fixing leaf and the rotatable leaf.

7. The hinge assembly of claim 6, wherein the resilient members are substantially annular, and a middle portion of each resilient member protrudes toward one side thereof.

8. The hinge assembly of claim 7, further comprising two friction members sleeved on the pivot shaft, and positioned between the rotatable leaf and the fixing leaf.

9. The hinge assembly of claim 8, further comprising a washer sleeved on the pivot shaft, abutted by the fastening member.

10. The hinge assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastening member comprises a friction portion abutting and preventing the washer from loosening on the pivot shaft.

11. The hinge assembly of claim 8, wherein the pivot shaft comprises a substantially cylindrical shaft portion, a limiting portion extending from a first end of the shaft portion, and a flange portion extending from a second end of the shaft portion;

wherein the rotatable leaf defines a pivot hole to engage the shaft portion;

the fixing leaf defines a deformed hole to engage the limiting portion;

the flange portion abuts the rotatable leaf; and

the fixing member is fixed at a distal end of the limiting portion away from the flange portion.

12. The hinge assembly of claim 11, wherein the rotatable leaf comprises a mounting portion and a supporting portion extending substantially perpendicularly from a side of the mounting portion;

wherein the pivot hole is defined in a middle portion of an end of the supporting portion away from the mounting portion; and

the shaft portion extends through the pivot hole and the flange portion abuts the mounting portion.

13. The hinge assembly of claim 11, wherein the fixing leaf comprises a mounting portion and a connecting plate extending substantially perpendicularly from a side thereof;

the deformed hole is defined in a middle portion of an end of the connecting plate away from the mounting portion; and

the limiting portion is non-rotatably engaged in the deformed hole.

14. The hinge assembly of claim 11, wherein the pivot shaft further comprises a threaded portion formed on the distal end of the limiting portion;

and the fastening member is a nut defining a threaded hole to engage the threaded portion.

15. A hinge assembly, comprising:

a pivot shaft;

a rotatable leaf comprising a mounting portion and a supporting portion extending substantially perpendicularly from a side thereof, the supporting portion defining a pivot hole such that the rotatable leaf is rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft via the pivot hole;

a fixing leaf comprising a mounting portion and a connecting plate extending substantially perpendicularly from a side thereof, the connecting plate defining a deformed hole such that the fixing leaf the pivot hole is non-rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft;

a pair of first magnets fixed to the supporting portion adjacent opposite sides of the pivot hole of the rotatable leaf; and

a second magnet fixed to the fixing leaf, wherein a polarity of the second magnet faces an opposite polarity of one of the first magnets in a first position, the polarity of the second magnet faces an opposite polarity of the other one of the first magnets in a second position, and attraction between the first and second magnets is changeable when the rotatable leaf is rotated relative to the fixing leaf.

16. The hinge assembly of claim 15, wherein each first magnet comprises a base portion and a fixing portion extending from an end thereof;

the supporting portion of the rotatable leaf defines two fixing holes on opposite sides of the pivot hole; and

the fixing portion of each first magnet is tightly engaged in each fixing hole.

17. The hinge assembly of claim 15, wherein the second magnet comprises a base portion and a fixing portion extending from an end thereof;

and the connecting plate of the fixing leaf defines a fixing hole therein, in which the fixing portion is tightly engaged.

18. The hinge assembly of claim 15, further comprising a pair of resilient members rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft adjacent to the fixing leaf;

the resilient members providing an axial force between the fixing leaf and the rotatable leaf.

19. The hinge assembly of claim 15, further comprising two friction members sleeved on the pivot shaft and positioned between the supporting portion of the rotatable leaf and the connecting plate of the fixing leaf.

20. The hinge assembly of claim 15, further comprising a washer sleeved on the pivot shaft, and the fastening member abuts the washer;

wherein the fastening member comprises a friction portion abutting the washer to prevent loosening thereof on the pivot shaft.