Hinge and an electronic device with the hinge

• US 8,011,065 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Hsiang-Chi, Chen, Weiming, Chen, Chia-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson; Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORGAN, EMILY M
• Application Number:
  US12/344,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20100154166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 632/96, 632/29, 632/33, 632/86, 633/10, 633/64, 633/62, 632/42, 632/43, 632/46, 632/91, 632/82, 632/87, 632/88, 632/94, 633/02, 63366-370, 632/66, 633/80, 455/575.3, 379/433.13, 361/679.06, 361/679.07, 361/679.09, 361/679.27, 163/57, 163/59, 163/03, 162/50, 163/04, 163/35, 163/42, 163/13, 163/38
• US Class Current: 16/367
• 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 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 comprising

a central frame having

a first wall;

a second wall being opposite to the first wall and having an inside surface;

a first end;

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

a mounting hole being formed longitudinally through the first and second walls of the central frame;

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 rotating shaft being mounted slidably through the mounting hole of the central frame and having

a body;

an enlarged head being formed around the body;

an abutting end protruding out from the second wall of the central frame; and

a mounting end protruding out from the first wall of the central frame;

a resilient element being mounted around the rotating shaft and abutting the second wall of the central frame; and

a fastening ring being mounted securely 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.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the rotating shaft has an annular recess being formed annularly in the body near the abutting end of the rotating shaft;

and

the fastening ring engages the annular recess of the rotating shaft.

3. 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 is mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring to provide positioning function.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tilting assembly has

a spring being mounted around the second tilting shaft;

and

a positioning assembly is mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring to provide positioning function.

5. 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 having

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.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein

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

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 1, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the mounting end of the rotating shaft.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the mounting end of the rotating shaft.

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two guiding recesses being formed longitudinally in the first wall and communicating with the mounting hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inside surface of the second wall of the central frame; and

the rotating assembly has

a sleeve being hollow, being mounted rotatably around the rotating shaft, being mounted in the mounting hole of the central frame and having

a sidewall;

a connecting end;

a holding wall being opposite to the connecting end, abutting the enlarged head of the rotating shaft and having an inside surface;

a cavity;

two guiding ears being formed transversely on the sidewall of the sleeve and respectively engaging the guiding recesses of the central frame; and

two positioning protrusions being formed on the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve and protruding into the cavity;

a positioning washer being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

an abutting surface facing the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve; and

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

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the rotating shaft and abutting the positioning washer; and

a limiting ring being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

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.

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two guiding recesses being formed longitudinally in the first wall and communicating with the mounting hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inside surface of the second wall of the central frame; and

the rotating assembly has

a sleeve being hollow, being mounted rotatably around the rotating shaft, being mounted in the mounting hole of the central frame and having

a sidewall;

a connecting end;

a holding wall being opposite to the connecting end, abutting the enlarged head of the rotating shaft and having an inside surface;

a cavity;

two guiding ears being formed transversely on the sidewall of the sleeve and respectively engaging the guiding recesses of the central frame; and

two positioning protrusions being formed on the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve and protruding into the cavity;

a positioning washer being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

an abutting surface facing the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve; and

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

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the rotating shaft and abutting the positioning washer; and

a limiting ring being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

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.

11. An 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 comprising

a central frame having

a first wall;

a second wall being opposite to the first wall and having an inside surface;

a first end;

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

a mounting hole being formed longitudinally through the first and second walls of the central frame;

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 rotating shaft being mounted slidably through the mounting hole of the central frame and having

a body;

an enlarged head being formed around the body;

an abutting end protruding out from the second wall of the central frame; and

a mounting end protruding out from the first wall of the central frame and being connected securely to the cover;

a resilient element being mounted around the rotating shaft and abutting the second wall of the central frame; and

a fastening ring being mounted securely 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; and

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

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the rotating shaft has an annular recess being formed annularly in the body near the abutting end of the rotating shaft;

and

the fastening ring engages the annular recess of the rotating shaft.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tilting assembly has

a spring being mounted around the second tilting shaft;

and

a positioning assembly is mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring to provide positioning function.

14. 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 is mounted around the second titling shaft against the spring to provide positioning function.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein

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

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.

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

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

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.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the mounting end of the rotating shaft and being attached securely to the cover.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the bracket assembly has a rotating bracket being attached securely to the mounting end of the rotating shaft and being attached securely to the cover.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two guiding recesses being formed longitudinally in the first wall and communicating with the mounting hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inside surface of the second wall of the central frame; and

the rotating assembly has

a sleeve being hollow, being mounted rotatably around the rotating shaft, being mounted in the mounting hole of the central frame and having

a sidewall;

a connecting end;

a holding wall being opposite to the connecting end, abutting the enlarged head of the rotating shaft and having an inside surface;

a cavity;

two guiding ears being formed transversely on the sidewall of the sleeve and respectively engaging the guiding recesses of the central frame; and

two positioning protrusions being formed on the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve and protruding into the cavity;

a positioning washer being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

an abutting surface facing the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve; and

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

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the rotating shaft and abutting the positioning washer; and

a limiting ring being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

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.

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

the central frame of the tilting assembly has

two guiding recesses being formed longitudinally in the first wall and communicating with the mounting hole of the central frame;

and

a limiting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inside surface of the second wall of the central frame; and

the rotating assembly has

a sleeve being hollow, being mounted rotatably around the rotating shaft, being mounted in the mounting hole of the central frame and having

a sidewall;

a connecting end;

a holding wall being opposite to the connecting end, abutting the enlarged head of the rotating shaft and having an inside surface;

a cavity;

two guiding ears being formed transversely on the sidewall of the sleeve and respectively engaging the guiding recesses of the central frame; and

two positioning protrusions being formed on the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve and protruding into the cavity;

a positioning washer being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

an abutting surface facing the inside surface of the holding wall of the sleeve; and

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

multiple resilient washers being mounted around the rotating shaft and abutting the positioning washer; and

a limiting ring being mounted around the rotating shaft and having

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.