Hinge for fold phone

• US 7,155,266 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Stefansen, Mads Schenstrøm
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US10/829,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.3, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 361/673, 361/759, 163/68, 163/54
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

A mobile communications terminal including a first section having a keypad; a second section having a display; and a connection movably connecting the second section with the first section. The connection includes a first axis of rotation with the first section, an offset second axis of rotation with the second section, and synchronizing members which transfer rotational movement of the first section relative to the connection to rotational movement of the second section relative to the connection.

Claims

1. A hinge for a mobile communications terminal comprising a first and a second section, said hinge comprising:

a hinge frame;

a first hinge pin fixed to said first section and mounted for rotation on said hinge frame, said first hinge pin defining a first axis of rotation with the first section;

a second hinge pin fixed to said second section and mounted for rotation on said hinge frame, said second hinge pin defining a second axis of rotation with the second section, offset from said first axis of rotation, wherein each of the first and second hinge pins is constructed having one conical or truncated conical gear connected thereto; and

a third hinge pin mounted on said frame for rotation about a third axis of rotation transverse to said first and second axes of rotation, said third hinge pin having two conical or truncated conical gears connected thereto, said conical or truncated conical gears of said third hinge pin being coupled to the conical or truncated conical gears of the first and second hinge pins so that rotational movement of the first hinge pin is synchronized to the second hinge pin via the coupled conical or truncated conical gears of the third hinge pin.

2. A hinge frame as in claim 1, wherein the hinge frame comprises a recess for receiving the synchronizing members.

3. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein the hinge further comprises a hinge lock for locking the position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.

4. A hinge as in claim 3, wherein the hinge lock comprises planar cut-outs on a partially cylindrical surface arranged between the two conical or truncated conical gears on the third hinge pin, said partial cylindrical surface being arranged in contact with a spring-loaded lock control part.

5. A hinge comprising:

a hinge frame;

a first hinge pin mounted for rotation on said hinge frame, said first hinge pin defining a first axis of rotation, with a first element connected to the hinge;

a second hinge pin mounted for rotation on said hinge frame, said second hinge pin defining a second axis of rotation offset from said first axis of rotation, with a second element connected to the hinge; and

wherein each of the first and second hinge pins are constructed having one conical or truncated conical gear connected thereto;

a third, hinge pin mounted on said frame for rotation about a third axis of rotation transverse to said first and second axes of rotation, said third hinge pin having two conical or truncated conical gears connected thereto, said conical or truncated conical gears of said third hinge pin being coupled to the conical or truncated conical gears of the first and second hinge pins so that rotational movement of the first hinge pin is transferred to the second hinge pin via the coupled conical or truncated conical gears of said third hinge pin to synchronize the relative movement of the first and second elements.

6. A hinge as in claim 5, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge lock for locking position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.

7. A hinge as in claim 6, wherein the hinge lock comprises planar cut-outs on a partially cylindrical surface arranged between the two conical or truncated conical gears on the third hinge pin, said partial cylindrical surface being arranged in contact with a spring-loaded lock control part.

8. A mobile communications device comprising:

a housing;

a transceiver in the housing;

a keypad connected to the housing; and

a display connected to the housing;

wherein the housing comprises a first section movably connected to a second section of the housing by a multi-axis hinge, wherein the multi-axis hinge further comprises;

a hinge frame;

a first hinge pin mounted for rotation on said hinge frame, said first hinge pin defining a first axis of rotation, with a first element connected to the hinge;

a second hinge pin mounted for rotation on said hinge frame, said second hinge pin defining a second axis of rotation offset from said first axis of rotation, with a second element connected to the hinge, wherein each of the first and second hinge pins are constructed having one conical or truncated conical gear connected thereto;

a third, hinge pin mounted on said frame for rotation about a third axis of rotation transverse to said first and second axes of rotation, said third hinge pin having two conical or truncated conical gears connected thereto, said conical or truncated conical gears of said third hinge pin being coupled to the conical or truncated conical gears of the first and second hinge pins so that rotational movement of the first hinge pin is transferred to the second hinge pin via the coupled conical or truncated conical gears of the third hinge pin to synchronize the relative movement of the first and second elements.

9. A mobile communications device as in claim 8 wherein the first and second sections comprise a first position with the keypad and display being closed by the first and second sections, a second position with the second section rotated about 180 degrees relative to the first section such that the first section is substantially inline with the second section and a hinge frame of the hinge, and a third position with the second section rotated about 360 degrees relative to the first section and having the keypad and display located on opposite exterior facing sides of the mobile communications device.

10. A mobile communications device as in claim 8 further comprising a flex circuit extending across the hinge and electrically connecting electronic circuitry in the first section to electronic circuitry in the second section.

11. A mobile communications device as in claim 8 wherein the connection comprises a detent locating system for locking the position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.