Rotating mechanism and electronic device using the same

• US 8,032,988 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Hung, Hung-Chang, Lai, Chin-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US12/149,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 163/54, 163/66, 16/54, 493/82, 493/83, 160/229.1, 160/231.2, 160/232, 160/236, 4555751-5754, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 379/433.13, 379/433.12, 361/679.06, 361/679.12, 361/679.27
• US Class Current: 16/354
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/122 Gear hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• 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 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

A rotating mechanism and an electronic device using the same are provided. The rotating mechanism is disposed at the electronic device. The electronic device includes a first casing and a second casing. The rotating mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear. The first gear is coupled to the first casing. The second gear is coupled to the second casing. The second gear is engaged with the first gear, and then the first casing is capable of rotating relatively to the second casing.

Claims

1. A rotating mechanism to rotate a first casing relatively to a second casing, the rotating mechanism comprising:

a first gear coupled to the first casing;

a second gear coupled to the second casing and engaged with the first gear to rotate the first casing relatively to the second casing;

a securing cover for covering the first gear and the second gear, wherein the first gear and the second gear rotate in the securing cover; and

damping oil disposed at the tooth portions of the first bear and the second bear to provide friction to allow the first casing to maintain the angle by which the first casing rotates relatively to the second casing.

2. The rotating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first casing is capable of rotating by zero degree to 360 degrees relatively to the second casing.

3. The rotating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the tooth number of the first gear is the same with the tooth number of the second gear.

4. The rotating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the tooth portion of the first gear is protrudent from the first casing, and the tooth portion of the second gear is protrudent from the second casing.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing; and

a rotating mechanism comprising;

a first gear coupled to the first casing;

a second gear coupled to the second casing and engaged with the first gear to rotate the first casing relatively to the second casing;

a securing cover for covering the first gear and the second gear, wherein the first gear and the second gear rotate in the securing cover; and

damping oil disposed at the tooth portions of the first gear and the second gear to provide friction to allow the first casing to maintain the angle by which the first casing rotates relatively to the second casing.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first casing is capable of rotating by zero degrees to 360 degrees relatively to the second casing.

7. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the tooth number of the first gear is the same with the tooth number of the second gear.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first casing has a first protrudent post, the second casing has a second protrudent post, the first gear is coupled to the first protrudent post, and the second gear is coupled to the second protrudent post.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the first casing and the second casing have a first notch and a second notch, respectively, the first protrudent post is disposed at the first notch, and the second protrudent post is disposed at the second notch.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the first notch is disposed at the end corner of the first casing, and the second notch is disposed at the end corner of the second casing.

11. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the tooth portion of the first gear is protrudent from the first casing, and the tooth portion of the second gear is protrudent from the second casing.