Hinge and an electronic device with the hinge

• US 7,971,321 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Weiming, Chen, Wei-Chun, Chen, Chia-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morgan; Emily
• Application Number:
  US12/339,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20100154169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 162/96, 162/29, 162/33, 162/86, 163/10, 163/64, 163/62, 162/42, 162/43, 162/46, 162/91, 162/82, 162/87, 162/88, 162/94, 163/02, 16366-370, 162/66, 163/80, 163/03, 162/50, 163/04, 455/575.3, 379/433.13, 361/679.06, 361/679.07, 361/679.09, 361/679.27
• US Class Current: 16/367
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/087 with substantially axial friction, e.g. friction disks
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• 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 1/0212 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 is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device. A lid covers the hinge and is attached securely to the base. The hinge has an arced surface and a rotating shaft. When the cover is pivoted to a certain angle, the rotating shaft abuts the arced surface to lift up the cover so the cover is selectively distant away from the lid. Therefore, the shape of the electronic device does not need to be disfigured and the cover still does not bump against the lid.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a tilting assembly having

a central frame having

a first side;

a second side being opposite to the first side;

a first end;

a second end being opposite to the first end and adjacent to the first and second sides; and

a through hole being formed longitudinally through the first and second sides;

a first tilting shaft being formed on and protruding transversely from the first end of the central frame; and

a second tilting shaft being formed on and protruding transversely from the second end of the central frame;

a rotating assembly being connected to the tilting assembly and comprising

a sleeve being hollow, being mounted rotatably through the through hole of the central frame of the tilting assembly and having

a sidewall;

a connecting end; and

a holding end being opposite to the connecting end;

a rotating shaft being mounted slidably through the sleeve and having

an abutting end protruding out from the connecting end of the sleeve; and

a mounting end protruding out from the holding end of the sleeve; and

a resilient element being mounted in the sleeve and being mounted around the rotating shaft; and

a bracket assembly being connected to the tilting assembly and the rotating assembly and comprising

a first tilting bracket being mounted rotatably around the first tilting shaft and having

an edge; and

an extending wing being formed on and protruding out from the edge of the first tilting bracket, corresponding to the central frame and having an arced surface facing the rotating shaft and selectively abutting the abutting end of the rotating shaft; and

a second tilting bracket being mounted rotatably around the second tilting shaft,

wherein the arced surface slides the rotating shaft during the rotation of the tilting assembly.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the sleeve has two slots being formed through the sidewall of the sleeve and being opposite to each other;

the rotating shaft has a mounting hole being formed transversely through the rotating shaft and aligning with the slots of the sleeve; and

the rotating assembly has two pins being mounted respectively through the slots of the sleeve, being mounted securely in the mounting hole of the rotating shaft and pressing against the resilient element.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the rotating assembly has

a pushing washer being mounted slidably in the sleeve and being mounted around the rotating shaft;

and

a holding washer being mounted securely on the holding end of the sleeve and being mounted around the rotating shaft;

the resilient element is mounted between and abuts the pushing washer and the holding washer; and

the pins press against the pushing washer.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tilting assembly has

a spring being mounted around the second tilting shaft;

and

a positioning assembly being mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring of the tilting assembly to provide positioning function.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tilting assembly has

a spring being mounted around the second tilting shaft;

and

a positioning assembly being mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring of the tilting assembly to provide positioning function.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the tilting assembly has two limiting washers being respectively mounted securely on the first and second tilting shafts, and each limiting washer has

an outer edge;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding axially from the outer edge of the limiting washer;

the first tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the first tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer; and

the second tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the second tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the tilting assembly has two limiting washers being respectively mounted securely on the first and second tilting shafts, and each limiting washer has

an outer edge;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding axially from the outer edge of the limiting washer;

the first tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the first tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer; and

the second tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the second tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two positioning protrusions being formed on the second side and being adjacent to the through hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the second side;

the sleeve has a mounting rod being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the connecting end of the sleeve, being mounted rotatably through the central frame of the tilting assembly and having a non-circular shape in cross section; and

the rotating assembly has

a positioning washer being mounted around the mounting rod of the sleeve and having

a non-circular central hole configured to match the shape of the mounting rod of the sleeve;

an abutting surface facing the second side of the central frame; and

two positioning recesses being formed in the abutting surface of the positioning washer and selectively engaging the positioning protrusions of the central frame;

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the mounting rod of the sleeve and abutting the positioning washer;

a limiting ring being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve and having

a non-circular central hole engaging the mounting rod of the sleeve;

an annular edge; and

a limiting protrusion being formed transversely on the annular edge of the limiting ring and selectively abutting the limiting protrusion of the central frame; and

a fastening ring being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve to hold the limiting ring and the resilient washers and the positioning washer.

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two positioning protrusions being formed on the second side and being adjacent to the through hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the second side;

the sleeve has a mounting rod being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the connecting end of the sleeve, being mounted rotatably through the central frame of the tilting assembly and being non-circular in cross section; and

the rotating assembly has

a positioning washer being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve and having

a non-circular central hole engaging the mounting rod of the sleeve;

an abutting surface facing the second side of the central frame; and

two positioning recesses being formed in the abutting surface of the positioning washer and selectively engaging the positioning protrusions of the central frame;

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the mounting rod of the sleeve and abutting the positioning washer;

a limiting ring being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve and having

a non-circular central hole engaging the mounting rod of the sleeve;

an annular edge; and

a limiting protrusion being formed transversely on the annular edge of the limiting ring and selectively abutting the limiting protrusion of the central frame; and

a fastening ring being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve to hold the limiting ring and the resilient washers and the positioning washer.

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the rotating shaft.

11. The hinge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the rotating shaft.

12. All electronic device comprising:

a base;

a cover being connected pivotally to the base;

a hinge being connected between the base and the cover and comprising

a tilting assembly having

a central frame having

a first side;

a second side being opposite to the first side;

a first end;

a second end being opposite to the first end and adjacent to the first and second sides; and

a through hole being formed longitudinally through the first and second sides;

a first tilting shaft being formed on and protruding transversely from the first end of the central frame; and

a second tilting shaft being formed on and protruding transversely from the second end of the central frame;

a rotating assembly being connected to the tilting assembly and comprising

a sleeve being hollow, being mounted rotatably through the through hole of the central frame of the tilting assembly and having

a sidewall;

a connecting end; and

a holding end being opposite to the connecting end;

a rotating shaft being mounted slidably through the sleeve and having

an abutting end protruding out from the connecting end of the sleeve; and

a mounting end protruding out from the holding end of the sleeve and being connected securely to the cover; and

a resilient element being mounted in the sleeve and being mounted around the rotating shaft; and

a bracket assembly being connected to the tilting assembly and the rotating assembly and comprising

a first tilting bracket being formed on the base, being mounted rotatably around the first tilting shaft and having

an edge; and

an extending wing being formed on and protruding out from the edge of the first tilting bracket, corresponding to the central frame and having an arced surface facing the rotating shaft and selectively abutting the abutting end of the rotating shaft; and

a second tilting bracket being mounted rotatably around the second tilting shaft,

wherein the arced surface slides the rotating shaft during the rotation of the tilting assembly; and

a lid covering the hinge and being attached securely to the base.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the rotating shaft and being attached securely to the cover.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the sleeve has two slots being formed through the sidewall of the sleeve and being opposite to each other;

the rotating shaft has a mounting hole being formed transversely through the rotating shaft and aligning with the slots of the sleeve; and

the rotating assembly has two pins being mounted respectively through the slots of the sleeve, being mounted securely in the mounting hole of the rotating shaft and pressing against the resilient element.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the rotating assembly has

a pushing washer being mounted slidably in the sleeve and being mounted around the rotating shaft;

and

a holding washer being mounted securely on the holding end of the sleeve and being mounted around the rotating shaft;

the resilient element is mounted between and abuts the pushing washer and the holding washer; and

the pins press against the pushing washer.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tilting assembly has

a spring being mounted around the second tilting shaft;

and

a positioning assembly being mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring of the tilting assembly to provide positioning function.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tilting assembly has

a spring being mounted around the second tilting shaft;

and

a positioning assembly being mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring of the tilting assembly to provide positioning function.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the tilting assembly has two limiting washers being respectively mounted securely on the first and second tilting shafts, and each limiting washer has

an outer edge;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding axially from the outer edge of the limiting washer;

the first tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the first tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer; and

the second tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the second tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the tilting assembly has two limiting washers being respectively mounted securely on the first and second tilting shafts, and each limiting washer has

an outer edge;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding axially from the outer edge of the limiting washer;

the first tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the first tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer; and

the second tilting bracket has a limiting hole being formed through the second tilting bracket and selectively receiving the limiting protrusion of a corresponding limiting washer.

20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two positioning protrusions being formed on the second side and being adjacent to the through hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the second side;

the sleeve has a mounting rod being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the connecting end of the sleeve, being mounted rotatably through the central frame of the tilting assembly and having a non-circular shape in cross section; and

the rotating assembly has

a positioning washer being mounted around the mounting rod of the sleeve and having

a non-circular central hole configured to match the shape of the mounting rod of the sleeve;

an abutting surface facing the second side of the central frame; and

two positioning recesses being formed in the abutting surface of the positioning washer and selectively engaging the positioning protrusions of the central frame;

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the mounting rod of the sleeve and abutting the positioning washer;

a limiting ring being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve and having

a non-circular central hole engaging the mounting rod of the sleeve;

an annular edge; and

a limiting protrusion being formed transversely on the annular edge of the limiting ring and selectively abutting the limiting protrusion of the central frame; and

a fastening ring being mounted securely around the mounting rod of the sleeve to hold the limiting ring and the resilient washers and the positioning washer.