# Patent

## Title
Hinge with spacers

## Abstract

A hinge has a pintle, a spacer assembly, a stationary bracket and a rotating bracket. The pintle is mounted through the spacer assembly and is connected to the stationary and rotating brackets. The spacer assembly has multiple spacers stacked with each other. Each spacer has a ring segment and a bearing segment. The ring segment is mounted around the pintle. The bearing segment has an absorbing space to absorb the stress acting on the ring segment. Therefore, the spacer sustains less stress to prevent breakage easily and a lifespan of the spacer is extended. Therefore, the hinge has a longer lifespan.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge with spacers, especially to a hinge mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
A hinge with spacers is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device and comprises a pintle and multiple spacers. The pintle is mounted through the spacers. When the pintle is rotated relative to the spacers, the pintle rubs against the spacers to provide friction for holding the cover at desired visual angles. However, due to spacer design, different parts of the spacer bear different stress. If one part of the spacer sustains excessive stress, the spacer may break and require repair.
With reference to FIG. 12, a conventional spacer (60) for a conventional hinge has a central hole (61) and a topographical map in FIG. 11 shows stress in MPa across the spacer (60) when a pintle is rotated to 5 degrees. Two sidewalls (62) and a positioning segment (63) of the spacer (60) bear greatest stress, as high as 1866 MPa. Since the conventional hinge is required to pass a rotating test comprising at least twenty thousand rotations, such areas are prone to failure during such test. The sidewalls (62) continuously bear excessive stress so that the conventional spacer (60) is easily broken from the sidewalls (62). Furthermore, excessive stress acting on the positioning segment (63) results in wearing away of the positioning segment (63) leading to loss of positioning function of the positioning segment (63).
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a hinge with spacers to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the present invention is to reduce stress acting on spacers of a hinge. The hinge has a pintle, a spacer assembly, a stationary bracket and a rotating bracket. The pintle is mounted through the spacer assembly and is connected to the stationary and rotating brackets. The spacer assembly has multiple spacers stacked with each other. Each spacer has a ring segment and a bearing segment. The ring segment is mounted around the pintle. The bearing segment has an absorbing space to absorb stress acting on the ring segment. Therefore, the spacer sustains less stress to prevent breakage and lifespan of the spacer is extended. Therefore, the hinge also has a longer lifespan.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hinge with multiple spacers in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a spacer of the hinge in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the spacer in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a spacer of the hinge in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a front view of the spacer in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a spacer of the hinge in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a front view of the spacer in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a spacer of the hinge in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a front view of the spacer in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a stress distribution view of the spacer in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 12 is a stress distribution view of a conventional spacer for a conventional hinge in accordance with the prior art.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hinge with multiple spacers in accordance with the present invention comprises a pintle (10), a spacer assembly (20), a stationary bracket (30) and a rotating bracket (40).
The pintle (10) has a rod body (11), an enlarged head (12) and a fastening segment (13). The enlarged head (12) is formed transversely on a distal end of the rod body (11). The fastening segment (13) is formed on a proximal end of the rod body (11) and is non-circular in cross section.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the spacer assembly (20) is mounted rotatably around the pintle (10) and comprises multiple spacers (21) stacked with each other. Each spacer (21) has a ring segment (211) and a bearing segment (212). The ring segment (211) has a central hole (213) and a positioning segment (214). The central hole (213) of the ring segment (211) is mounted around the rod body (11). The positioning segment (214) is formed on an inside wall around the central hole (213) and abuts against the rod body (11) to provide a positioning function. The rod body (11) may have a flat surface to rub against the positioning segment (214) of the spacer (21). The bearing segment (212) protrudes from an outside wall of the ring segment (211) and has an absorbing space (215) formed in the bearing segment (212).
The stationary bracket (30) connected securely to the spacer assembly (20).
The rotating bracket (40) is mounted securely around the fastening segment (13) of the pintle (10) to hold the spacer assembly (20) between the rotating bracket (40) and the enlarged head (12) of the pintle (10). The rotating bracket (40) has a keyed hole (41) engaging with the fastening segment (13) of the pintle (10).
With reference to FIG. 2, when the rod body (11) of the pintle (10) is rotated relative to the ring segments (211) of the spacers, the absorbing spaces (215) provide a cushioning effect. The ring segments (211) press toward the bearing segments (212) and the bearing segments (212) deform via the absorbing spaces (215) to absorb the stress. As the stress distribution shown in FIG. 11, the maximum stress only reaches 938.55 MPa. The spacers (21) sustain much less stress to keep from breaking easily. Then, the lifespan of the spacer (21) is extended and the tolerant rotating times of the spacer (21) are increased. Therefore, the hinge as described has longer lifespan.
The hinge in accordance with the present invention has basic structure as mentioned above. The alternative structures are described below.
The absorbing space of the spacer may be altered in many forms as long as the bearing segment (212) can absorb the deformation of the ring segment (211) generated by the rotation of the rod body (11). In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the absorbing space (215A) of each spacer (21A) is a recess formed in a surface of the bearing segment (212A). In another preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 to 10, the absorbing space (215, 215B, 215C) has an elongated hole and two inclined holes extending along with the arc shape of ring segment (211) of the spacer so as to provide better cushion effect. Furthermore, the absorbing space may be a thinner part formed on the surface of the bearing segment.
In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, each spacer (21, 21A) has a gap (216, 216A) formed through a periphery of the ring segment (211, 211A). The gap (216, 216A) allows the ring segment (211A) to expand out. The gap (216, 216A) may be opposite at 180 degrees to the bearing segment (212A).
The stationary bracket may also have alternative configurations:
In preferred embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the stationary bracket (30) has a mounting channel (302) formed therein. The spacer assembly (20) is mounted securely in the mounting channel (302). A keyway (33) is formed in the stationary bracket (30) and communicates with the mounting channel (302). Each spacer (21) has a keyed protrusion (210). The keyed protrusion (210) is formed on and protrudes out from a periphery of the bearing segment (212) and engages with the keyway (33) of the stationary bracket (30) to hold the spacer assembly (20) to the stationary bracket (30). The shapes of the keyway and the keyed protrusion correspond to each other. In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the keyed protrusion (210) is T-shaped. In other preferred embodiments as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the keyed protrusion (210A, 210B) is elongated.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

## Claims

1. A hinge comprising:
a pintle;
a spacer assembly mounted rotatably around the pintle and comprising multiple spacers stacked with each other, each spacer having
a ring segment mounted rotatably around the pintle via a central hole; and
a bearing segment protruding from an outside wall of the ring segment and having a recess formed in a surface of the bearing segment;
a stationary bracket mounted securely around the spacer assembly; and
a rotating bracket mounted securely around the pintle.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring segment of each spacer has a positioning segment formed on an inside wall of the ring segment and abutting against the pintle.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring segment of each spacer has a gap formed through a periphery of the ring segment.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gap of each spacer is opposite at 180 degrees to the bearing segment of the spacer.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the stationary bracket has a mounting channel formed therein; and
the spacer assembly is mounted securely in the mounting channel.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the stationary bracket has a keyway formed therein and communicating with the mounting channel; and
each spacer has a keyed protrusion formed on and protruding out from a periphery of the bearing segment and engaging with the keyway of the stationary bracket.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the keyed protrusion of each spacer is T-shaped.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the keyed protrusion of each spacer is elongated.

9. A hinge comprising:
a pintle;
a spacer assembly mounted rotatably around the pintle and comprising multiple spacers stacked with each other, each spacer having
a ring segment mounted rotatably around the pintle via a central hole; and
a bearing segment protruding from an outside wall of the ring segment and having an elongated hole formed through the bearing segment;
a stationary bracket mounted securely around the spacer assembly; and
a rotating bracket mounted securely around the pintle.

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ring segment of each spacer has a positioning segment formed on an inside wall of the ring segment and abutting against the pintle.

11. The hinge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ring segment of each spacer has a gap formed through a periphery of the ring segment.

12. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gap of each spacer is opposite at 180 degrees to the bearing segment of the spacer.

13. The hinge as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the stationary bracket has a mounting channel formed therein; and
the spacer assembly is mounted securely in the mounting channel.

14. The hinge as claimed in claim 13, wherein
the stationary bracket has a keyway formed therein and communicating with the mounting channel; and
each spacer has a keyed protrusion formed on and protruding out from a periphery of the bearing segment and engaging with the keyway of the stationary bracket.

15. The hinge as claimed in claim 14, wherein the keyed protrusion of each spacer is T-shaped.

16. The hinge as claimed in claim 14, wherein the keyed protrusion of each spacer is elongated.