Method for pivotably adjusting a first portion of a device in two directions relative to a second portion of the device

• US 8,331,554 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oliver, Mark W
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US12/341,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.13, 455/90.3, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 162/21, 162/23, 16229-232, 16242-243, 163/03, 163/19, 163/30, 16366-367
• US Class Current: 379/433.13
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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 1/0222 Foldable in two directions, i.e. using a two degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A method for pivotably adjusting a first portion of a device in two directions relative to a second portion of the device includes: rotating the first portion relative to the second portion, about a first pivoting axis of a biaxially pivotable hinge and a uniaxially pivotable hinge, to be in a closed position (or a first open position) whereby the uniaxially pivotable hinge automatically deepens engagement when opened about the first pivoting axis; and rotating the first portion relative to the second portion about a second pivoting axis of the biaxially pivotable hinge to be in the closed position (or a second open position) whereby urging of the first portion relative to the second portion causes automatic disengagement of the uniaxially pivotable hinge.

Claims

1. A method for making a pivotably adjustable device comprising:

connecting a first portion of the device to a second portion of the device with a first hinge operable in a plurality of axes;

connecting the first portion of the device to the second portion of the device with a second hinge pivotably operable in one of the plurality of axes of the first hinge and automatically disengagably operable in another of the plurality of axes of the first hinge;

resiliently disposing a first portion of the second hinge relative to a second portion of the second hinge; and

profiling an engagement interface with an actuator ramp surface between the first portion of the second hinge and the second portion of the second hinge to facilitate automatic disengageability upon application of an opening force by a user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the profiling includes creating a depth of engagement limiting feature that operates when the device is closed and is defeated as the device is opened about the pivotably operable axis of the second hinge.