Hinge mechanism for rotatable component attachment

• US 9,304,549 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Siddiqui, Kabir
• Primary Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US13/852,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20140293534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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: H05K 5/0226 Hinges

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for rotatable component attachment is described. In at least some implementations, the hinge mechanism enables a support component to be adjustably attached to an apparatus, such as a computing device. For example, the hinge mechanism can be employed to rotatably attach a kickstand to a mobile computing device. The kickstand can be rotated via the hinge mechanism to various positions to provide support for different orientations of the computing device. For example, the kickstand can be positioned to support the computing device in a typing orientation such that input can be provided via an associated input device. As another example, the kickstand can be positioned to enable viewing and/or interaction with the computing device, such as in a portrait viewing orientation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a kickstand configured to be rotatably attached to a rear portion of a computing device; and

at least one hinge that attaches a portion of the kickstand to the rear portion of the computing device, the hinge being configured to be held in two or more preset open positions such that the kickstand is positionable relative to the computing device according to the two or more preset open positions, the hinge including;

a hinge ring attached to the kickstand and that is rotatable in conjunction with the kickstand;

a hinge ring follower that applies pressure against the hinge ring to cause the hinge ring follower to engage in one or more notches on a surface of the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in a preset open position of the two or more preset open positions; and

a spring positioned against the hinge ring follower and that applies pressure against the hinge ring follower to cause the hinge ring follower to apply pressure against the hinge ring.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge further comprises:

a hinge frame;

a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, the hinge ring being rotatably disposed relative to the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the hinge ring follower applies pressure into notches in a surface of the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the hinge comprises a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the hinge comprises:

a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in others of the two or more preset open positions.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the two or more preset open positions corresponds to a 180 degree rotation of the kickstand relative to the rear portion of the computing device.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge ring includes a hinge mount portion that is attached directly to the kickstand.

9. A hinge comprising:

a hinge frame;

a hinge ring rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, the hinge ring including one or more notches and being attachable to a component to enable rotation of the component relative to the hinge frame; and

a hinge ring follower and a hinge ring spring disposed within the hinge frame, the hinge ring spring applying pressure to the hinge ring follower such that the hinge ring follower presses against the hinge ring and when the hinge ring is rotated to an open position relative to the hinge frame, the hinge ring follower applies pressure into the one or more notches of the hinge ring to cause the hinge ring to assume one or more preset open positions for the hinge.

10. A hinge as recited in claim 9, further comprising a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring in an opening direction beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge.

11. A hinge as recited in claim 9, wherein the hinge is attached to a computing device, and the component comprises a kickstand that is rotatable via the hinge to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface.

12. A hinge as recited in claim 9, wherein the hinge is attached to a computing device, and the component comprises a kickstand that is rotatable via the hinge to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface, wherein at least some of the multiple orientations correspond to the one or more preset open positions of the hinge.

13. A hinge as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge; and

a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in the one or more other preset open positions.

14. A hinge as recited in claim 13, further comprising a ring support spring that applies pressure to the ring support follower to enable the ring support follower to apply pressure to the ring support.

15. A computing device comprising:

a housing; and

at least one hinge attached to the housing and a kickstand such that the kickstand is positionable via the hinge at preset positions to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface, the hinge including;

a hinge frame;

a hinge ring rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, the hinge ring including one or more notches and being attached to the kickstand such that the kickstand is rotatable relative to the housing; and

a hinge ring follower and a hinge ring spring disposed within the hinge frame, the hinge ring spring applying pressure against the hinge ring follower such that the hinge ring follower presses against the hinge ring and when the hinge ring is rotated to an open position relative to the hinge frame, the hinge ring follower engages against the one or more notches of the hinge ring to cause the hinge ring to assume one or more preset open positions for the hinge.

16. A computing device as described in claim 15, further comprising a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular positions causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge.

17. A computing device as described in claim 15, wherein the one or more preset positions comprise a 180 degree rotation of the kickstand relative to the housing.

18. A computing device as described in claim 15, wherein the hinge further includes:

a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge; and

a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in the one or more other preset open positions.

19. A computing device as described in claim 18, wherein the hinge further includes a ring support spring that applies pressure to the ring support follower to enable the ring support follower to apply pressure to the ring support.

20. A computing device as described in claim 15, wherein the hinge ring includes a hinge mount portion that is attached directly to a body of the kickstand.