Hinge assembly including an elastomer member

A hinge assembly includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a first attachment member, a pin member and an elastomer member. The second bracket includes a second attachment member and a hollow cylinder member.

BACKGROUND

Hinge assemblies are used in computing devices such as notebook computers and laptop computers. Such hinge assemblies enable a display housing and a keyboard housing of the computing device to be rotated with respect to each other. Such a rotation may enable the computing device to be placed in 3 closed position, for example, to be carried, and an open position for example, to be used by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hinge assemblies are used in computing devices such as notebook computers and laptop computers. Such hinge assemblies enable a display housing and a keyboard housing of the respective computing device to be rotated with respect to each other. Rotation enables the computing device to be placed in a closed, for example, to be carried. That is, the hinge assembly allows the display housing and keyboard housing to rotate toward each other. The rotation also enables the computing device to be placed in an open position, for example, to be used by a user. That is, the hinge assembly also allows the display housing and keyboard housing to rotate away from each other. However, generally, the hinge assemblies are manufactured within stringent tolerances to reduce the tendency of the rotating parts from scratching each other. According the cost of manufacturing the hinge assemblies may be increased. Further, torque created by the hinge assemblies may be non-uniform.

In examples, a hinge assembly includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a first attachment member, a pin member and an elastomer member. The first attachment member attaches to a first portion of a computing device such as a display housing. The pin member is attached to the first attachment member. The elastomer member is attached to the pin member. The second bracket includes a second attachment member and a hollow cylinder member. The second attachment member attaches to a second portion of the computing device such as a keyboard housing. The hollow cylinder member receives the pin member to contact the elastomer member. The elastomer member is configured to provide uniform torque during a rotation of the first bracket with respect to the second bracket. Accordingly, the hinge assemblies may be manufactured with less stringent tolerances and torque created by the hinge assemblies may be uniform. Accordingly, the cost of manufacturing the hinge assemblies may be reduced.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a hinge assembly according to an example. The hinge assembly100may be usable with a computing device. Referring toFIG. 1, in some examples, the hinge assembly100includes a first bracket10and a second bracket14. The first bracket10includes a first attachment member11, a pin member12, and an elastomer member13. The first attachment member11attaches to a first portion of a computing device such as a display housing. The pin member12is attached to the first attachment member11. The elastomer member13is attached to the pin member12.

Referring toFIG. 1, in some examples, the second bracket14includes a second attachment member15and a hollow cylinder member18. The second attachment member IS attaches to a second portion of the computing device such as a keyboard housing. The hollow cylinder member18receives the pin member12to contact the elastomer member13. The elastomer member13is configured to provide uniform torque during a rotation of the first bracket10with respect to the second bracket14. For example, the uniform torque may be created through rotation of the respective hinge brackets10and14and uniform friction provided by a frictional surface13aof the elastomer member13.

FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly according to an example,FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a first bracket of the hinge assembly ofFIG. 2according to an example. The hinge assembly200may include the first bracket10and the second bracket14as previously discussed with respect to the hinge assembly100ofFIG. 1. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, in some examples, the hinge assembly100may also include an O ring21.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, in some examples, the first bracket10of the hinge assembly200includes a first attachment member11, a pin member12, and an elastomer member13. In some examples, the first attachment member11and the pin member12are integrally formed as a single member. Alternatively, in some examples, the first attachment member11and the pin member12may be formed as individual members that are removably attached to each other. The second bracket14of the hinge assembly200includes a second attachment member15and a hollow cylinder member18. In some examples, the second attachment member15and the hollow cylinder member18are integrally formed as a single member. Alternatively, in some examples, the second attachment member15and the hollow cylinder member16may be formed as individual members that are removably attached to each other. The first bracket10and the second bracket14may include metal such as carbon steel for example, having a steel grade of SK7, stainless steel, and the like.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the hollow cylinder member18receives the pin member12to contact the elastomer member13. The pin member12may receive the O ring21to be removably attached thereto. For example, the O ring21provides the motional function at the interface of the first bracket10and the second bracket14to eliminate direct contact thereat. In some examples, the elastomer member13provides uniform torque during a rotation of the first bracket10with respect to the second bracket14. For example, the elastomer member13includes a fractional surface13ato contact and provide uniform friction with a portion of the hollow cylinder member18. For example, the uniform torque may be created through rotation of the respective hinge brackets10and14and uniform friction provided by a frictional surface13aof the elastomer member13.

In some examples, the elastomer member13may include a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset elastomer, and the like. The thermoplastic elastomer may include fluoropolymer having less than 0.6 parts by weight of the elastomer member13. The thermoplastic elastomer, for example, may include thermoplastic urethane elastomers, styrenic block copolymers, copolyether ester elastomers, polyester amide elastomers, and the like. The thermoset elastomer may include fluoropolymer having less than 0.6 parts by weight of the elastomer member13. The thermoset elastomer, for example, may include alkyl acrylate copolymer, butadiene, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, ethylene propylene (EPM/EPDM), epiohlorhydrin (CO/ECO), fluoropolymer, hydrogenated nitrile, isoprene, chloroprene, polysulphide, nitrile, polyurethane (HNBR), polydialkylsiloxane, silicone, styrene butadiene, tetrafluoroethylene propylene, and the like.

In some examples, the coefficient of friction of the elastomer member13with respect to the respective bracket14of the hinge assembly200may be in a range of 0.3 to 0.7 such as 0.45 to 0.55. For example, engagement between the elastomer member13in the form of a thermoplastic elastomer or thermoset elastomer and the second bracket14in the form of carbon steel or stainless steel may result in a coefficient of friction in a range of 0.3 to 0.7. In some example, the elastomer member13may include a soft polymer and be in a form of an elastomer layer. The elastic layer, for example, may be formed by insert molding, adhesion, paste, and the like. In some examples, the elastomer member13may include a thickness tein a radial direction drof the pin member12in a range of 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters as illustrated inFIG. 3.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating a computing device according to an example.FIG. 5Ais a perspective view illustrating the computing device ofFIG. 4according to an example.FIG. 5Bis a schematic view illustrating a hinge assembly of the computing device ofFIG. 5Aaccording to an example. Referring toFIGS. 4-5B, in some examples, the computing device400may include a keyboard housing41, a display housing43, and a hinge assembly100. In some examples, the computing device400includes a plurality of hinge assemblies100. The keyboard housing41includes a keyboard42. The display housing43includes a display44. The hinge assembly100rotates the keyboard housing41and the display housing43with respect to each other. The rotation enables the computing device400to be placed in a closed position, for example, to be carried. That is, the hinge assembly100allows the display housing43and keyboard housing41to rotate toward each other. The rotation also enables the computing device400to be placed in an open position, for example, to be used by a user. That is, the hinge assembly100also allows the display housing43and the keyboard housing41to rotate away from each other.

Referring toFIG. 5B, in some examples, the hinge assembly100may include the first bracket10and the second bracket14as previously discussed with respect toFIG. 1. That is, the hinge assembly100may include a first bracket10including a first attachment member11to attach to the display housing43, a pin member12attached to the first attachment member11, and an elastomer member13attached to the pin member12. The hinge assembly100may also include a second bracket14including a second attachment member15to attach to the keyboard housing41, and a hollow cylinder member18to receive the pin member12and to contact the elastomer member13. The elastomer member13includes a motional surface13ato provide uniform friction with the hollow cylinder member18, and to provide uniform torque during a rotation of the first bracket10with respect to the second bracket14.

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a hinge assembly according to an example, in some examples, the modules and/or assemblies implementing the method may be those described in relation to the hinge assemblies100and200ofFIGS. 1-5B. Referring toFIG. 6, in block S610, a first bracket including a first attachment member and a pin member is casted in some examples, the first attachment member and the pin member may be casted as an integrally-formed, single member. Alternatively, the first attachment member and the pin member may be casted as individual members that are removably attached to each other, in block S612, a second bracket including a second attachment member and a hollow cylinder member is casted. In some examples, the second attachment member and the hollow cylinder member may be casted as an integrally-formed, single member. Alternatively, the second attachment member and the hollow cylinder member may be casted as individual members that are removably attached to each other.

In block S614, an elastomer member having a thickness in a range of 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters and including a frictional surface is applied to the pin member to contact and provide uniform friction with the hollow cylinder member. In some examples, the elastomer member is applied to the pin member by insert molding. Alternatively, the elastomer member is applied to the pin member by adhesion and/or in a form of paste. For example, the elastomer member may be in the form of an adhesive tape and attach to the pin member by adhesion. In some examples, the elastomer member is configured to provide uniform torque during a rotation of the first bracket with respect to the second bracket. For example, the uniform torque may be created through rotation of the respective hinge brackets and uniform friction provided by a frictional surface of the elastomer member.

It is to be understood that the flowchart ofFIG. 6illustrates architecture, functionality, and/or operation of examples of the present disclosure, if embodied in software, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s). Although the flowchart, ofFIG. 6illustrates a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may be rearranged relative to the order illustrated. Also, two or more blocks illustrated in succession inFIG. 6may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of examples thereof and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that features and/or operations described with respect to one example may be used With other examples and that not all examples of the present disclosure have all of the features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examples described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the present disclosure and/or claims, “including but not necessarily limited to.”

It is noted that some of the above described examples may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the present disclosure and are intended to be exemplary. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims.