Hinge for component attachment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a kickstand rotatably attached to a portion of the housing and configured to support the housing in one or more positions relative to an adjacent surface; and
a hinge attached to the housing and that attaches a portion of the kickstand to the housing, the hinge including;
a hinge body including an upper portion;
a hinge sled positioned at least partially within the hinge body such that a channel is formed between the upper portion and the hinge sled;
a spring positioned within the hinge body to exert pressure against the hinge sled; and
a pivot portion attached to the kickstand and slidably engaged in the channel such that the hinge sled exerts pressure from the spring against the pivot portion, the pivot portion being slidable within the channel to enable opening of the kickstand to one or more open positions relative to the housing, the hinge sled including a first notch and a second notch positioned on different respective portions of the hinge sled, and a first contact portion and a second contact portion between the first notch and the second notch,and the pivot portion including a protrusion positioned such that when the pivot portion slides within the channel, the protrusion contacts one or more of the first contact portion or the second contact portion and catches within one or more of the first notch or the second notch to cause the kickstand to assume one or more of a first preset position or a second preset position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge for component attachment is described. In at least some implementations, a kickstand is rotatably attached to a mobile computing device. The kickstand can be rotated to various positions to provide support for different orientations of the computing device. In at least some implementations, hinges are employed to attach a kickstand to a mobile computing device. One example hinge utilizes preset hinge stops that enable the kickstand to be placed at different preset positions. Another example hinge exerts pressure on an edge of the kickstand, providing stability and vibration dampening to the kickstand.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a housing; a kickstand rotatably attached to a portion of the housing and configured to support the housing in one or more positions relative to an adjacent surface; and a hinge attached to the housing and that attaches a portion of the kickstand to the housing, the hinge including; a hinge body including an upper portion; a hinge sled positioned at least partially within the hinge body such that a channel is formed between the upper portion and the hinge sled; a spring positioned within the hinge body to exert pressure against the hinge sled; and a pivot portion attached to the kickstand and slidably engaged in the channel such that the hinge sled exerts pressure from the spring against the pivot portion, the pivot portion being slidable within the channel to enable opening of the kickstand to one or more open positions relative to the housing, the hinge sled including a first notch and a second notch positioned on different respective portions of the hinge sled, and a first contact portion and a second contact portion between the first notch and the second notch, and the pivot portion including a protrusion positioned such that when the pivot portion slides within the channel, the protrusion contacts one or more of the first contact portion or the second contact portion and catches within one or more of the first notch or the second notch to cause the kickstand to assume one or more of a first preset position or a second preset position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19)
-
-
9. A hinge comprising:
-
a hinge body including an upper portion; a hinge sled positioned at least partially within the hinge body such that a channel is formed between the upper portion and the hinge sled; a spring positioned within the hinge body to exert pressure against the hinge sled; and a pivot portion slidably engaged in the channel such that the hinge sled exerts pressure from the spring against the pivot portion, the pivot portion being attachable to a component and slidable within the channel to enable movement of the component relative to the hinge body, the hinge sled including a first notch and a second notch positioned on different respective portions of the hinge sled, and a first contact portion and a second contact portion between the first notch and the second notch, and the pivot portion including a protrusion positioned such that when the pivot portion slides within the channel, the protrusion contacts one or more of the first contact portion or the second contact portion and catches within one or more of the first notch or the second notch to cause the kickstand to assume one or more of a first preset position or a second preset position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 20)
-
-
14. A computing device comprising:
-
a housing with a display; a kickstand rotatably attached to a rear portion of the housing opposite the display and configured to support the housing in one or more positions relative to an adjacent surface; and a hinge attached to the housing and that attaches a portion of the kickstand to the rear portion of the housing, the hinge including; a hinge body including an upper portion; a hinge sled positioned at least partially within the hinge body such that a channel is formed between the upper portion and the hinge sled; a spring positioned within the hinge body to exert pressure against the hinge sled; and a pivot portion attached to the kickstand and slidably engaged in the channel such that the hinge sled exerts pressure from the spring against the pivot portion, the pivot portion being slidable within the channel to enable opening of the kickstand to one or more open positions relative to the rear portion of the housing, the hinge sled including a first notch and a second notch positioned on different respective portions of the hinge sled, and a first contact portion and a second contact portion between the first notch and the second notch, and the pivot portion including a protrusion positioned such that when the pivot portion slides within the channel, the protrusion contacts one or more of the first contact portion or the second contact portion and catches within one or more of the first notch or the second notch to cause the kickstand to assume one or more of a first preset position or a second preset position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification