Hinge assembly and foldable electronic device using the same

• US 8,096,020 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• 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: Tang, Zi-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Delisle, Roberta
• Application Number:
  US12/268,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 162/21, 162/92, 162/97, 163/17, 163/19, 163/21, 163/42, 163/74, 162/81, 162/83, 162/86, 163/37, 163/48, 163/57, 248/478, 403/120
• US Class Current: 16/337
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/082 with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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 shaft, a tube, two friction members, and a resilient member. The tube is rotatably sleeved on the shaft. One of the shaft and the tube defines two receiving holes. The friction members are positioned in the receiving holes. The resilient member causes the friction member to resist the other one of the shaft and the tube which does not define the receiving holes. A foldable electronic device applying the hinge assembly is also provided.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

a main body;

a cover rotatably connected to the main body; and

a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly comprising;

a shaft fixed to one of the main body and the cover, wherein the shaft forms a plurality of connecting ears connected to the cover, and each of the connecting ears defines a connecting hole therein, the shaft is a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface, the shaft defines two receiving holes in the sidewall of the shaft, and the receiving holes are coaxial and opposite to each other;

a tube rotatably sleeved on the shaft, and fixed to the other one of the main body and the cover, wherein the tube is a hollow cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface, an inner diameter of the tube is substantially the same as or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the shaft, the tube defines two angular slots in a sidewall, a connecting ear is formed at each end of each angular slot, each connecting ear defines a connecting hole therein, and the connecting ears are configured for connecting the tube to the main body;

two friction members positioned in the two receiving holes, wherein each friction member comprises a shaft portion and a head portion formed at an end of the shaft portion, the head portion comprises a friction surface at an end opposite to the shaft portion, and part of the friction members protrude out of the receiving holes of the shaft; and

one resilient member positioned between the two friction members and causing the friction surfaces of the two friction members to resist the tube, wherein ends of the resilient member are sleeved on the shaft portions of the friction members.