Limiting movement

• US 9,158,332 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Vanska, Anssi Ilmari, Kosonen, Matti, Salo, Antti Oskari, Myyrylainen, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US13/657,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20140112704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 403/62, 403/112, 403/113, 403/117, 403/56, 89/360.5, 899/13, 899/17, 2/25, 361/679.03, 361/749, 345/156
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• 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: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32549 including limit means

Abstract

An apparatus including a first portion comprising a projection extending in a first direction; a second portion comprising an aperture extending in the first direction, where the first portion and the second portion are configured for relative movement in at least the first direction; and wherein the projection extends from the first portion in the first direction between the first portion and the second portion through the aperture and wherein the aperture surrounds the projection with clearances configured to enforce limits on relative movement of the first portion and the second portion while enabling reciprocating movement of the first portion and the second portion in the first direction towards each other and away from each other.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising multiple portions interconnected in series via interconnections between adjacent portions of the multiple portions, defining an aggregate length wherein each multiple portion comprises one each of a first portion and a second portion, wherein each interconnection comprises an axially extending and substantially linear projection extending through a corresponding aperture that surrounds the projection with clearances therebetween configured to enforce limits on relative rotational movement of the adjacent portions while enabling reciprocating movement axially between each substantially linear projection and the corresponding aperture of the adjacent portion while maintaining engagement there between, the limits of relative movement allowing the apparatus to bend over the aggregate length of the multiple portions due to the reciprocating relative movement between individual projections and their corresponding aperture.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clearances for each interconnection is the same.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clearances for at least some of the interconnections are different.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clearances for

interconnections that are positioned equal distances from a transverse center line are the same.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple portions comprise:

a first terminal portion comprising a projection extending in a first direction from a first end;

a second terminal portion comprising an aperture extending in a first direction at a second end;

one or more intermediate portions each of which comprises

a projection extending in a first direction from a first end and an aperture extending in the first direction at a second end,

where the multiple portions are configured for relative movement in at least the first direction;

and wherein each projection extends in the first direction through the aperture of an adjacent one of the multiple portions and wherein each aperture surrounds each projection with clearances configured to enforce limits on relative movement of the adjacent portions while enabling reciprocating movement of the adjacent portions in the first direction towards each other and away from each other.