Hinge mechanism for a wireless communication device

• US 8,132,292 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Patterson, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/352,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 163/30, 163/57, 163/60, 163/61, 361/679.56
• US Class Current: 16/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

The present application is directed to a hinge for a clamshell-type wireless communication device or other electronic device. In one embodiment, the communication device includes a base portion and a flip portion. A hinge mechanism movably couples the flip portion to the base portion so that the flip portion may pivot between a closed position and an open position. The hinge mechanism comprises first and second hinge parts, an indexing pin, and a spring. The indexing pin is rotatable relative to the first hinge part about a pivot axis. Additionally, the indexing pin is movable axially along the pivot axis. The second hinge part is non-rotatably engaged with the indexing pin and is rotatable about the pivot axis relative to the first hinge part between closed and open positions. The spring applies both an axial force and a rotational force to the indexing pin. The axial force biases the indexing pin into contact with the first hinge part, and the rotational force rotates the indexing pin to move the second hinge part from the closed to the open position.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism for a wireless communication device, comprising:

a first hinge part;

an indexing pin rotatable relative to the first hinge part about a pivot axis and movable axially along the pivot axis;

a second hinge part rotatable about the pivot axis relative to the first hinge part between closed and open positions and non-rotatably engaged with the indexing pin; and

a spring applying an axial force to the indexing pin to bias the indexing pin into contact with the first hinge part, and further applying a rotational force to the indexing pin to rotate the indexing pin about the pivot axis to move the second hinge part from the closed position to the open position.

2. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first hinge part and the indexing pin include mating indexing features to prevent rotation of the indexing pin and hold the second hinge part in the closed position when the indexing features are engaged.

3. The hinge mechanism of claim 2, wherein a magnetic force at least partially biases the indexing features into an engaged position.

4. The hinge mechanism of claim 2, wherein the indexing pin moves axially to disengage the indexing features to allow rotation of the indexing pin.

5. The hinge mechanism of claim 2, wherein the indexing feature on one of the first hinge part and the indexing pin includes a detent, and the indexing feature on the other of the first hinge part and the indexing pin includes a depression shaped to accept the detent.

6. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the spring functions as both a torsion spring and a compression spring.

7. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the spring includes a first arm engaged with the first hinge part and a second arm engaged with the indexing pin to apply rotational force to the indexing pin.

8. The hinge mechanism of claim 7, wherein the indexing pin includes a lever arm, the lever arm including a mounting post engaged by the second arm of the spring.

9. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the indexing pin is positioned within an opening in the first hinge part, the opening shaped to allow rotation of the indexing pin relative to the first hinge part.

10. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the indexing pin is positioned within an opening in the second hinge mechanism, the indexing pin having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and the opening having the same non-circular shape, thereby causing the second hinge mechanism to rotate with the indexing pin.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first housing section;

a second housing section;

a hinge mechanism pivotally connecting the first and second housing sections for relative movement between open and closed positions, the hinge mechanism including a first hinge part, an indexing pin rotatable relative to the first hinge part about a pivot axis and movable axially along the pivot axis, a second hinge part rotatable about the pivot axis relative to the first hinge part between closed and open positions and non-rotatably engaged with the indexing pin, and a spring applying an axial force to the indexing pin to bias the indexing pin into contact with the first hinge part, and further applying a rotational force to the indexing pin to rotate the indexing pin about the pivot axis to move the second hinge part from the closed position to the open position.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first hinge part and the indexing pin include mating indexing features to prevent rotation of the indexing pin and hold the second hinge part in the closed position when the indexing features are engaged.

13. The hinge mechanism of claim 12, wherein a magnetic force at least partially biases the indexing features into an engaged position.

14. The hinge mechanism of claim 12, wherein the indexing pin moves axially to disengage the indexing features to allow rotation of the indexing pin.

15. The hinge mechanism of claim 12, wherein the indexing feature on one of the first hinge part and the indexing pin includes a detent, and the indexing feature on the other of the first hinge part and the indexing pin includes a depression shaped to accept the detent.

16. The hinge mechanism of claim 11, wherein the spring functions as both a torsion spring and a compression spring.

17. The hinge mechanism of claim 11, wherein the spring includes a first arm engaged with the first hinge part and a second arm engaged with the indexing pin to apply rotational force to the indexing pin.

18. The hinge mechanism of claim 17, wherein the indexing pin includes a lever arm, the lever arm including a mounting post engaged by the second arm of the spring.

19. The hinge mechanism of claim 11, wherein the indexing pin is positioned within an opening in the first hinge part, the opening shaped to allow rotation of the indexing pin relative to the first hinge part.

20. The hinge mechanism of claim 11, wherein the indexing pin is positioned within an opening in the second hinge mechanism, the indexing pin having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and the opening having the same non-circular shape, thereby causing the second hinge mechanism to rotate with the indexing pin.

21. A hinge mechanism for a wireless communication device, comprising:

first and second hinge parts connected respectively to first and second housing sections;

an axially movable indexing pin rotatably connecting the first and second hinge parts, said indexing pin rotatably engaged with the first hinge part and non-rotatably engaged with the second hinge part; and

a spring applying an axial force to the indexing pin to bias the indexing pin into contact with the first hinge part, and further applying a rotational force to the indexing pin to rotate the indexing pin about the pivot axis to effect relative rotation between the first and second hinge parts.