Multi-pivot hinge cover

• US 9,851,759 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Tazbaz, Errol Mark, Hecht, Avi, Ishihara, James Alec
• Primary Examiner(s): THAKER, NIDHI VIVEK
• Application Number:
  US14/588,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 36167904, 36167926, 36167927, 3616793, 36167955, 36167956, 16282, 16287, 16288, 16302, 16366-370
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include a flexible multi-pivot hinge cover assembly rotatably securing the first and second portions.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device;

a multi-pivot hinge rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion and that rotates around multiple hinge axes to provide rotation between the first and second portions;

a flexible multi-pivot hinge cover that covers the multi-pivot hinge between the first portion and the second portion and accommodates length changes of the multi-pivot hinge during the rotation; and

, opposing end securing elements extending along side edges of the multi-pivot hinge from the first portion to the second portion and securing the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover to the multi-pivot hinge between L-shaped surfaces of the opposing end securing elements and coordinating L-shaped surfaces of the side edges.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a flexible display screen that extends over the first portion, the multi-pivot hinge, and the second portion.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein edges of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover are compressed between the L-shaped surfaces of the opposing end securing elements and the coordinating L-shaped surfaces of the side edges.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover completely encloses the multi-pivot hinge or wherein the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover covers only an inside surface of the multi-pivot hinge or an outside surface of the multi-pivot hinge.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein a range of rotation of the multi-pivot hinge is less than 180 degrees or wherein the range of rotation is between 180 degrees and 360 degrees.

6. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

a multi-pivot hinge rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion and rotating around multiple hinge axes to provide rotation between the first and second portions;

a flexible multi-pivot hinge cover that covers the multi-pivot hinge between the first portion and the second portion; and

, opposing end securing elements extending along side edges of the multi-pivot hinge, the opposing end securing elements having a notched inner surface that accommodates the rotation of the multi-pivot hinge, edges of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover being secured between opposing surfaces of the computing device such that the edges are not exposed.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the multi-pivot hinge rotates the first and second portions from an open orientation where the first and second portions define an obtuse angle therebetween to a closed orientation where the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion and wherein the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover is stretched in the closed orientation.

8. The computing device of claim 6, wherein a first edge of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover is secured between first opposing surfaces of the first portion and the multi-pivot hinge, and a second edge of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover is secured between second opposing surfaces of the second portion and the multi-pivot hinge.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein a third edge of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover is secured between third opposing surfaces of the multi-pivot hinge and a first end securing element and a fourth edge of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover is secured between fourth opposing surfaces of the multi-pivot hinge and a second end securing element.

10. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover comprises a single piece of elastic fabric.

11. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the first portion, the multi-pivot hinge, and the second portion collectively define an inner surface and an opposite outer surface and wherein the multi-pivot hinge maintains a length of the inner surface during rotation of the first and second portions and wherein the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover accommodates changes in length of the outer surface during the rotation.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the multi-pivot hinge maintains a minimum bend radius throughout the rotation.

13. The computing device of claim 12, further comprising a flexible display secured to the inner surface.

14. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the multi-pivot hinge comprises multiple hinge axes interposed between multiple hinge unit bodies.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the hinge unit bodies are all a same shape or wherein the hinge unit bodies have different shapes.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the multiple hinge axes align with notches of the notched inner surface of the opposing end securing elements.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

a multi-pivot hinge rotatably securing the first and second portions;

a flexible multi-pivot hinge cover; and

, opposing end securing elements extending along side edges of the multi-pivot hinge, edges of the flexible multi-pivot hinge cover positioned between opposing L-shaped surfaces of the opposing end securing elements and the side edges of the multi-pivot hinge.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the first portion or the second portion includes a display screen.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the multi-pivot hinge allows the first portion to be rotated away from the second portion during use and closed upon the first portion when not in use.

20. The computing device of claim 17, further comprising a wearable smart device.