Patent ID: 6694570
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: E05D,E05Y,G06F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A hinge device for a foldable electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus including a main body and a cover member having a front portion, a back portion, and an end wall part that is connected to the front and back portions and that cooperates with the front and back portions to confine an inner receiving space, said hinge device comprising:an elongated main frame extending along a first axis, and having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to said first end portion along said first axis; a hinge unit including a stationary fixing block adapted to be mounted on the main body, and an elongated pivot rod that extends along said first axis and that has a pivot end portion coupled pivotally to said stationary fixing block such that said pivot rod is rotatable axially about said first axis, and a connecting end portion connected to said first end portion of said elongated main frame such that said elongated main frame is co-rotatable with said pivot rod relative to said stationary fixing block and the main body; a pivot unit including an elongated pivot shaft that extends along a second axis transverse to said first axis, said pivot shaft having a lower end portion coupled to said elongated main frame, and an upper end portion opposite to said lower end portion and projecting from said elongated main frame along said second axis, said pivot unit further having a pivot member coupled pivotally to said upper end portion of said pivot shaft such that said pivot member is capable of rotating axially relative to said elongated main frame about said second axis, said pivot member being adapted to be mounted on the cover member; a positioning unit adapted to be mounted on the cover member and operable so as to engage said elongated main frame for preventing axial rotation of the cover member about said second axis; said elongated main frame confines an inner frame passage that extends along said first axis; and the end wall part being formed with a ball groove; and wherein said elongated main frame is formed with a ball hole to be registered with the ball groove, said hinge device further comprising: a resilient plate mounted in said inner frame passage and registered with said ball hole, and a ball biased by said resilient plate to protrude outwardly of said inner frame passage via said ball hole so as to be adapted to engage the ball groove.