Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
  • G06F1/1675—Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
  • G06F1/1681—Details related solely to hinges
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1615—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function
  • G06F1/1616—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function 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
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
  • G06F1/1637—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
  • E05D11/08—Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts
  • E05D11/087—Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts with substantially axial friction, e.g. friction disks
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2999/00—Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a hinge assembly, and more particularly to a hinge assembly having a flange-type disk spring with a flange portion adapted to improve the reliability of a product by using a stable level of torque resulted from surface contact.
• the portable computer consists of a body and a display coupled to the body by a hinge assembly and rotated around the hinge assembly from or to the body.
• the display is rotated and opened around the hinge assembly, and the display is maintained at a desired angle.
• a proper hinge assembly is employed so as to maintain the display, which is opened at the desired angle, in an immovable state.
• hinge assemblies are utilized depending upon the operating principle and structure, and the typical type of hinge assembly currently used comprises a wrap spring, an axial disc compression, a roll pin, and a clip spring.
• the axial disk compression type of hinge assembly is a structure using a plurality of disk springs, an example of which is shown in FIG. 1.
• a hinge assembly 10 according to the related art will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.
• the hinge assembly 10 includes a rotary bracket 11, a stationary bracket 12, a shaft receiving the rotary bracket 11 and the stationary bracket 12, a plurality of disk springs 15 for generating torque, a plurality of space washers 14 for smoothly operating a plurality of disk springs 15, and a guide washer 16 and a nut 17 for fastening the shaft.
• the space washers 14 are provided with a wavy oil groove for receiving a lubricant so as to carry out the smooth hinge operation of the hinge assembly.
• the hinge assembly 10 according to the related art has the following problems.
• an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly having a flange-type disk spring with a flange portion adapted to improve the reliability of a product by using a stable level of torque resulted from surface contact.
• a hinge assembly for adjusting and maintaining an angle of a display with respect to a body of a notebook computer or LCD monitor, the hinge assembly comprising: a stationary bracket fixed to the body, and having a shaft hole; a hinge shaft rotatably inserted into the shaft hole, and having a screw with a threaded portion formed on one end thereof, and a fitting portion formed at the other end; a rotary bracket fixed to the display, and having a fastening hole in which the fitting portion of the hinge shaft is interference fitted, so that the rotary bracket is rotated in company with the hinge shaft; a flange- type disk spring having a through-hole formed at a center portion thereof, and a flange portion formed on an outer periphery thereof, in which the flange-type disk spring is inserted to the hinge shaft from a front of the stationary bracket, and applies resilient force in an opposite direction from a compressed side, so that the stationary bracket and the rotary bracket are re
• the flange-type disk springs apply the resilient restoring force and thus torque, with the flange portion surface contacting the guide washer, there is no problem that the guide washer is not worn, different from the related art.
• the fitting portion of the hinge shaft is interference fitted into the fastening hole of the rotary bracket. Therefore, the stationary bracket is quickly fastened to the hinge shaft with one motion, without using separate fastening means such as a screw.
• the fitting portion with the serration is interference fitted into the fastening hole, the hinge shaft is rotated in company with the stationary bracket.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of a hinge assembly according to the related art
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly having a flange-type disk spring according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a hinge assembly having a flange-type disk spring according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the flange-type disk spring in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flange-type disk spring in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the guide washer in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 7 is a rear view illustrating the guide washer in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly having a flange-type disk spring according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly 100 having a flange-type disk spring according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the assembled state of the hinge assembly 100 in
• the hinge assembly 100 includes a stationary bracket
• the hinge assembly 100 is to adjust and maintain the angle of a display (not shown) with respect to a body (not shown) of, for example, a notebook computer or LCD monitor.
• the stationary bracket 110 is fixed to the body of, for example, the notebook computer by a fixing bar 112, and has a shaft hole 110a for receiving the hinge shaft
• the hinge shaft 120 penetrates the shaft hole 110a, and is rotated together with the rotary bracket 130.
• the hinge shaft 120 has a screw 120a with a threaded portion formed on one end thereof, and a fitting portion 120b formed at the other end.
• the screw 120a is threadedly engaged to the nut 170, and the fitting portion 120b is interference fitted into a fastening hole 130a.
• the fitting portion 120b is provided on the outer periphery thereof with serration. If the fitting portion 120b is machined to have the serration, the hinge shaft
• the hinge shaft 120 is rotated in company with the rotary bracket 130.
• the hinge shaft 120 is provided with a plain edge 120c so that the fitting portion has a D-shaped cross section.
• the rotary bracket 130 is fixed to the display (not shown) of, for example, the notebook computer, and is rotated in company with the hinge shaft 120 since the fitting portion 120b of the hinge shaft 120 is fitted into the fastening hole 130a.
• FlG. 4 is a front view illustrating the flange-type disk spring in FlG. 2
• FlG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flange-type disk spring in FlG. 2.
• the flange-type disk springs 160 have a through-hole formed at the center portion thereof, and a flange portion 160b formed on the outer periphery thereof.
• the flange-type disk springs 160 are fitted to the hinge shaft 120 from the front of the stationary bracket 110, and apply resilient force in an opposite direction from the compressed side, so that the stationary bracket 110 and the rotary bracket 130 are resiliently supported.
• the through-hole formed in the flange-type disk spring 160 is provided with a plain edge 160a to have a D-shaped cross section corresponding to that of the hinge shaft 120.
• the through-hole formed in the flange-type disk spring 160 is provided with the plain edge 160a to have a D-shaped cross section, the flange-type disk spring 160 is rotated in company with the hinge shaft 120 when the rotary bracket 130 is rotated.
• the space washers 140 have a through-hole, and the space washers 140 are fitted to the hinge shaft 120, with the stationary bracket 110 being interposed between the space washers 140.
• the space washers 140 are provided with a plurality of oil passing holes 140b. With the oil passing holes 140b, oil is easily injected into the space washers 140, and thus the hinge operation is smoothly carried out.
• FlG. 6 is a front view illustrating the guide washer in FlG. 2
• FlG. 7 is a rear view illustrating the guide washer in FlG. 2.
• the guide washers 150 have a through-hole, and the guide washers 150 are fitted to the hinge shaft 120, with the flange-type disk springs 160 being interposed between the guide washers 150.
• the guide washers 150 are provided with a plurality of oil passing holes 150b on a front surface, and a circular oil groove 150c on a rear surface.
• the through-holes formed in the space washers 140 and the guide washers 150 are provided with plain edges 140a and 150a to have a D-shaped cross section corresponding to that of the hinge shaft 120.
• the space washers 140 and the guide washers 150 are provided with the plain edges 140a and 150a to have a D-shaped cross section corresponding to that of the hinge shaft 120, the space washers 140 and the guide washers 150 are rotated in company with the hinge shaft 120 which is rotated together with the rotary bracket 130, when the rotary bracket 130 is rotated. Thus, the space washers 140 and the guide washers 150 are not freely moved or rotated.
• the nut 170 is threadedly engaged to the screw 120a of the hinge shaft 120 to adjust the torque of the flange-type disk spring 160.
• FlG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly having a flange-type disk spring according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• a flange-type disk spring 160' of the hinge assembly has a circular through-hole 160a'.
• the rotary bracket 130 is made of, for example, zinc (Zn)
• the rotary bracket 130 is relatively soft as compared with the hinge shaft 120 (that is, hardness of the rotary bracket 130 is lower than that of the hinge shaft).
• the fitting portion 120b with the serration is interference fitted into the fastening hole 130a, when the hinge shaft 120 is rotated, the fitting portion 120b is rotated, with it matting with the fastening hole 130a.
• the rotary bracket 130 is rotated with the hinge shaft 120 in unison.
• the flange-type disk springs 160 since the flange-type disk springs 160 according to the present invention apply the resilient restoring force and thus torque, in the state in which the flange portion 160b surface contacts the guide washer 150, a stable level of torque is applied from the flange-type disk spring 160. As a result, the hinge assembly 100 is reliably stopped at the angle wanted by the user.
• each of the flange portions 160b of a pair of flange-type disk springs 160 contacts the guide washers 150, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
• the construction in which the flange portions 160b of a pair of flang e-type disk springs 160 contact each other is under the scope of the present invention.
• a pair of flange-type disk springs 160 is provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
• the number of the flange-type disk springs (for example, two pairs or four pairs) may be increased depending upon the required level of torque, which is of course under the scope of the present invention.
• a pair of space washers 140 and a pair of guide washers 150 are provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
• the number of the space washers and guide washers may be increased, which is of course under the scope of the present invention.
• the fitting portion 120b of the hinge shaft 120 is interference fitted into the fastening hole 130a of the rotary bracket 130. Therefore, the stationary bracket 130 is quickly fastened to the hinge shaft 120 with one motion, without using separate fastening means such as a screw.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38309389

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2006
  • 2006-01-26 KR KR1020060008061A patent/KR100769518B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-04-20 WO PCT/KR2006/001476 patent/WO2007086627A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-04-20 CN CNB2006800255038A patent/CN100557253C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (4)

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