Hinge apparatus for electronic device

• US 8,615,848 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Mitsui, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): San, Jason W
• Application Number:
  US13/809,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 163/54, 163/66, 163/03, 163/30, 163/40, 163/65, 163/68, 163/69, 163/70, 361/679.27, 361/679.28, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 16/366
• 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 hinge apparatus for an electronic device includes a cam unit and a gear unit provided at a connecting position of an upper plate and a lower plate. The cam unit includes a first cam mechanism for causing a first cam shaft connected to an upper plate to generate a torque and a second cam mechanism for causing a second cam shaft connected to a lower plate to generate a torque. Further, the gear unit includes a first gear shaft connected to the upper plate and a second gear shaft connected to the lower plate, a first gear provided in the first gear shaft, a first gear provided in the second gear shaft, and a gear mechanism that synchronizes and rotates the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft.

Claims

1. A hinge apparatus for an electronic device comprising:

a first plate;

a second plate;

a cam unit; and

a gear unit;

wherein the cam unit includes

a first cam shaft configured to rotate with and be connected to a first cam bracket fixed to the first plate,

a first cam mechanism, including a first spring, that causes the first cam shaft to generate a first torque upon rotation of said first cam shaft,

a second cam shaft configured to be independently rotatable relative to the first cam shaft and connected to a second cam bracket fixed to the second plate,

a second cam mechanism, including a second spring, that causes the second cam shaft to generate a second torque upon rotation of said second cam shaft, and

a cam cover configured to contain an arrangement of the first cam shaft, the second cam shaft, the first cam mechanism and the second cam mechanism,

wherein the gear unit includes

a first gear shaft configured to rotate with and be connected to a first gear bracket fixed to the first plate,

a first gear part arranged on the first gear shaft,

a second gear shaft configured to rotate with and be connected to a second gear bracket fixed to the second plate,

a second gear part arranged on the second gear shaft,

the first gear part, the second gear part and a pair of gears meshed with the first and second gear parts, are configured to synchronize and rotate the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft via the pair of gears, and

a gear cover configured to contain an arrangement of the first gear shaft, the second gear shaft, the first gear part, the second gear part and the pair of gears,

wherein the cam unit is positioned adjacent to one edge of the first and second plate and the gear unit is positioned adjacent to an opposite edge of the first and second plate, the first and second plates being rotatable relative to each other,

wherein the cam unit and the gear unit are independent units that are independently connected to the first and second plates.

2. The hinge apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft are configured to rotate in different directions relative to each other.

3. The hinge apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second cam mechanisms are configured to generate the first torque and second torque one time when the second plate is rotated 360 degrees relative to the first plate.