Hinge apparatus for portable communication device

• US 8,522,401 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prexco Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Prexco Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jin, Jae-Chul, Choi, Se-Bum
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/465,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 163/54, 163/67, 361/679.05, 379/433.13, 455/575.1, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 16/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

A hinge apparatus for a portable communication device having a body, a folder, and a rotary hinge module mounted between the body and the folder. The hinge apparatus includes at least one gear hinge part for opening and closing the body and the folder on a first hinge axis. The hinge apparatus also includes a hinge connection part for coupling the at least one gear hinge part to the rotary hinge module. The rotary hinge module allows for rotation of the folder about a second hinge axis perpendicular to the first hinge axis.

Claims

1. A hinge apparatus for a portable communication device having a body, a folder, and a rotary hinge module mounted between the body and the folder, the hinge apparatus comprising:

a first gear hinge part on a first hinge axis linearly opposed to a second gear hinge part on the first hinge axis, the first gear hinge part and the second gear hinge part for opening and closing the folder by rotation, with respect to the body, on the first hinge axis; and

a hinge connection part for coupling the first gear hinge part and the second gear hinge part to the rotary hinge module,

wherein the rotary hinge module allows for rotation of the folder about a second hinge axis perpendicular to the first hinge axis, and

wherein the first and second gear hinge parts comprise;

a first gear shaft, having a first gear part and a hinge cam, coupled to the hinge connection part, which is screwed to a side of the body;

a second gear shaft, having a second gear part rotatably engaged with the first gear part and a hinge cam, coupled to the hinge connection part, which is screwed to a side of the folder;

a gear hinge shaft that is through-connected to the first and second gear shafts, and faces hinge cams of the first and second gear shafts;

an elastic member that is through-connected to the first and second gear shafts, and applies pressure to an end of the gear hinge shaft; and

a gear hinge housing that embeds therein the first and second gear shafts, the gear hinge shaft and the elastic member.

2. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein one end of the first gear shaft is coupled to the hinge connection part, which is screwed to a side of the body, and another end passes through the gear hinge housing, with an E-ring protrusively coupled thereto.

3. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein one end of the second gear shaft is coupled to the hinge connection part, which screwed to a side of the folder, and another end passes through the gear hinge housing, with an E-ring protrusively coupled thereto.

4. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge connection part comprises:

at least one first connection part that is screwed to the body, and coupled to one end of the first gear shaft;

at least one second connection part that is screwed to the folder, and coupled to one end of the second gear shaft; and

a third connection part that is coupled to the second connection part, and coupled to the rotary hinge module.

5. The hinge apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one screw coupling part coupled to the folder is formed in the first, second and third connection parts.

6. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein a protection cap for protecting the first and second gear hinge parts surrounds the first and second gear hinge parts.

7. A hinge apparatus for a portable communication device having a body, a folder, and a hinge module which is mounted between the body and the folder, the hinge apparatus comprising:

a first gear hinge part on a first hinge axis linearly opposed to a second gear hinge part on the first hinge axis, the first gear hinge part and the second gear hinge part for opening and closing the folder by rotation, with respect to the body, on the first hinge axis; and

a hinge connection part which couples the first and second gear hinge parts to the hinge module,

wherein the hinge module allows for rotation of the folder about a second hinge axis perpendicular to the first hinge axis, and

wherein the first and second gear hinge parts comprise;

a first gear shaft, having a first gear part and a hinge cam, coupled to the hinge connection part, which is screwed to a side of the body;

a second gear shaft, having a second gear part rotatably engaged with the first gear part and a hinge cam, coupled to the hinge connection part, which is screwed to a side of the folder;

a gear hinge shaft that is through-connected to the first and second gear shafts, and faces hinge cams of the first and second gear shafts;

an elastic member that is through-connected to the first and second gear shafts, and applies pressure to an end of the gear hinge shaft; and

a gear hinge housing that embeds therein the first and second gear shafts, the gear hinge shaft and the elastic member.