Foldable electronic apparatus with an enhanced pivotal mechanism

• US 8,014,147 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Kuan-Ting, Clark, Peter Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/327,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090147469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 200/293, 200/61.62, 200/303, 200/61.7, 200/61.76, 200/61.82, 200/61.81, 36167901-6793, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 455/351, 379/433, 379/434, 400/691, 400680-682, 248/616, 248/188.8, 248/188.2, 248/677, 248/354.7
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, and an enhanced pivotal mechanism for folding/unfolding the second casing with respect to the first casing. The pivotal mechanism further includes a main pivot to pivot the first casing and the second casing; a combination constructed on the first casing and further including a first driving element driven by the main pivot, a first cam driven by the first driving element, and a first cover pivotally rotated by the first cam; and, another combination constructed on the second casing and further including a second driving element driven by the main pivot, a second cam driven by the second driving element, and a second cover pivotally rotated by the second cam.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic apparatus, comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing;

a main pivot, pivotally connected to the first casing and the second casing;

a first cover, pivotally connected to the first casing;

a first cam, pivotally connected to the first casing in a place between the first casing and the first cover; and

a first driving element, connected to the main pivot and the first cam;

wherein, when the first casing is unfolded from the second casing through the main pivot, the main pivot rotates to drive the first driving element to rotate the first cam, and then the first cover is unfolded from the first casing.

2. The foldable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including a folded state of the second casing folding upon the first casing, in which the first cover is nested in the first casing by corresponding rotation from the main pivot though the first driving element and the first cam.

3. The foldable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a second cover, pivotally connected to the second casing;

a second cam, pivotally connected to the second casing in a place between the second casing and the second cover; and

a second driving element, connected to the main pivot and the second cam;

wherein, when the first casing is unfolded from the second casing through the main pivot, the main pivot rotates to drive the second driving element to rotate the second cam, and then the second cover is unfolded from the second casing.

4. The foldable electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further including a folded state of the second casing folding upon the first casing, in which the second cover is retrieved into the second casing by corresponding rotation from the main pivot though the second driving element and the second cam.

5. The foldable electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further including a light source between the second casing and the second cover, and when the second cover is unfolded from the second casing, a light switch is driven to turn on the light source.

6. The foldable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including a surface for resting the first casing and the first cover, the first casing being posed in an oblique state on the surface while the first cover is pivoted away from the first casing.

7. The foldable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first driving element further has a first end to connect pivotally to a first peripheral point on the main pivot and so as to be driven thereby in an offset manner, and a second end to connect pivotally with the first cam as a driving element to rotate the first cam in another offset manner.

8. An enhanced pivotal mechanism to pivot a first casing with respect to a second casing of a foldable electronic apparatus, comprising:

a main pivot, pivotally connected to the first casing and the second casing;

a first cover, pivotally connected to the first casing;

a first cam, pivotally connected to the first casing in a place between the first casing and the first cover; and

a first driving element, connected to the main pivot and the first cam;

wherein, when the first casing is unfolded from the second casing through the main pivot, the main pivot rotates to drive the first driving element to rotate the first cam, and then the first cover is unfolded from the first casing.

9. The enhanced pivotal mechanism according to claim 8, further including a folded state of the second casing folding upon the first casing, in which the first cover is nested in the first casing by corresponding rotation from the main pivot though the first driving element and the first cam.

10. The enhanced pivotal mechanism according to claim 8, further including:

a second cover, pivotally connected to the second casing;

a second cam, pivotally connected to the second casing in a place between the second casing and the second cover; and

a second driving element, connected to the main pivot and the first cam;

wherein, when the first casing is unfolded from the second casing through the main pivot, the main pivot rotates to drive the second driving element to rotate the second cam, and then the second cover is unfolded from the second casing.

11. The enhanced pivotal mechanism according to claim 10, further including a folded state of the second casing folding upon the first casing, in which the second cover is retrieved into the second casing by corresponding rotation from the main pivot though the second driving element and the second cam.

12. The enhanced pivotal mechanism according to claim 10, further including a light source between the second casing and the second cover, and when the second cover is unfolded from the second casing, a light switch is driven to turn on the light source.

13. The enhanced pivotal mechanism according to claim 10, further including a surface for resting the first casing and the first cover, the first casing being posed in an oblique state on the surface while the first cover is pivoted away from the first casing.

14. The enhanced pivotal mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the first driving element further has a first end to connect pivotally to a first peripheral point on the main pivot and so as to be driven thereby in an offset manner, and a second end to connect pivotally with the first cam as a driving element to rotate the first cam in another offset manner.