Abstract:
Hinge assembly provided between a fixed body to be coupled to a fixed object and a rotating body to be coupled to a rotating object to be rotatably fitted to the fixed object, for providing a torque required with respect to the fixed object, including a shaft, a fixed bracket having one leaf fixed to an end of the shaft, and the other leaf fixed to the fixed body, a rotating bracket having one leaf rotatably coupled to the shaft from an outer side of the fixed bracket, and the other leaf coupled to the rotating body, and a frictional elastic member disposed between the fixed bracket and the rotating bracket such that one end thereof is fixed to an end of the shaft, and the other end thereof coupled to the rotating bracket to pass through the rotating bracket, for making friction as a part of the frictional elastic member in contact with the rotating bracket makes an elastic compression onto the rotating bracket, for applying a torque to the rotating bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a hinge assembly, and more particularly, to a hinge assembly, in which an elastic specific body is provided between a fixed body and a rotating body, for exerting a torque to the rotating body.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In general, the hinge assembly is used in many fields and different purposes, and, particularly, used widely in computers with monitors which present an image for visual understanding of a product, or in apparatuses which require testing devices and rotating bodies, for adjustment of tilting angles of the monitors or the rotating bodies to meet an angle a user desires.  
           [0005]    As an exemplary case, a related art hinge assembly provided to the monitor will be explained, briefly. There are the rotating body coupled with the monitor, the fixed body coupled to a support for supporting the monitor, and friction means provided between the rotating body and the fixed body having various washers and springs for applying a torque to the rotating body.  
           [0006]    That is, referring to FIG. 1, there is a fixed bracket  1  corresponding to the fixed body, and a rotating bracket  2  coupled with a shaft  3  for rotating on the shaft  3  coupled to the fixed bracket  1 . The rotating bracket  2  corresponds to the rotating body generally provided at a rear of the rotating body, such as the monitor.  
           [0007]    Each of the shafts  3  fixed to opposite sides of the fixed bracket  1  is provided with a spring  4  both ends of which are caught at terminals on a side each of the rotating bracket  2  and the fixed bracket  1 , for transmission of friction and torque to the rotating bracket  2 . There are a rotating angle limiting washer  5  and an oil washer  6  fitted to a round bar projected from the shaft  3 , with the rotating bracket  2  fitted thereto in contact with the oil washer  6 , and, in succession, another oil washer and a separate tension washer  7  fitted thereto, additionally. Then, a fixing ring  8  is inserted in an end of the shaft  3  projected out of the tension washer  7 , and pressed toward the rotating bracket  2  to cause a friction between components fitted between the rotating bracket  2  and the fixed bracket  1 , to apply a torque to the rotating bracket  2 .  
           [0008]    Referring to FIG. 2, in a state an adequate torque required for the hinge assembly structured thus is provided, an impact is given to an end of the shaft  3 , to deform a cylindrical edge of the end on a surface of the fixed ring  8  to press down the fixed ring  8 , which are finally subjected to caulking to assemble the hinge assembly, permanently.  
           [0009]    However, because the hinge assembly is assembled by deformation of the end of shaft caused by impact, the torque applied to the hinge assembly can not be re-set once the hinge assembly is completed. Moreover, the different surfaces of many components involved in providing the friction make adjustment of the friction to an appropriate level is difficult, to require provision of additional washers, that makes the structure substantially complicate. The many components make a productivity of the hinge assembly poor, and to cost high.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a hinge assembly that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0011]    An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly, in which a friction between a fixed body and a rotating body can be adjusted, a torque of the rotating body can be re-set, and a number of components can be reduced.  
           [0012]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
           [0013]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the hinge assembly provided between a fixed body to be coupled to a fixed object and a rotating body to be coupled to a rotating object to be rotatably fitted to the fixed object, for providing a torque required with respect to the fixed object, including a shaft, a fixed bracket having one leaf fixed to an end of the shaft, and the other leaf fixed to the fixed body, a rotating bracket having one leaf rotatably coupled to the shaft from an outer side of the fixed bracket, and the other leaf coupled to the rotating body, and a frictional elastic member disposed between the fixed bracket and the rotating bracket such that one end thereof is fixed to an end of the shaft, and the other end thereof coupled to the rotating bracket to pass through the rotating bracket, for making friction as a part of the frictional elastic member in contact with the rotating bracket makes an elastic compression onto the rotating bracket, for applying a torque to the rotating bracket.  
           [0014]    The fixed object is a monitor support and the rotating object is a flat monitor.  
           [0015]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:  
         [0017]    In the drawings:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art hinge assembly;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 illustrates a partial section of the related art hinge assembly in FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective partial assembly view of a hinge assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a section of key parts of the hinge assembly in FIG. 3;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective partial assembly view of a hinge assembly in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 illustrates a section of key parts of the hinge assembly in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective partial assembly view of a hinge assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 illustrates a section of key parts of the hinge assembly in FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the hinge assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes various components of the hinge assembly coupled through each of shafts  200  each having a two stepped cylindrical coupling part  204  with different diameters on one end thereof The two stepped cylindrical coupling part  204  has a lower step  203  with a sectional area smaller than a sectional area of the shaft  200 . The lower step  203  has a section having a form, not at least circular, but preferably vertically or horizontally elongated polygonal. Or alternatively, the lower step  203  of the two stepped cylindrical coupling part  204  may be oval.  
         [0026]    An upper step  202  next to the lower step  203  has a diameter smaller than the lower step  203 , and a thread around the circumference. A fixed bracket  205  having a coupling hole  206  of a form identical to a section of the lower step  203  of the coupling part  204  is coupled to the lower step  202 , such that the fixed bracket  205  is not rotatable on the lower step  202  as corners both of the lower step  203  and the coupling holes interfere rotation. The fixed bracket  205  has an ‘L’ form on the whole, with elongated holes  207  in a surface other than the surface with the coupling hole  206  for insertion of fastening means thereto, such as bolts, to fasten to a fixing body provided for fixing the fixing bracket  205 .  
         [0027]    After the fixed bracket  205  is coupled to the lower step  203 , a frictional elastic member  208 , opened in front and rear direction, is fitted to the lower step  203  to surround the lower step  203 , such that the frictional elastic member  208  is fixed to the lower step  203  without rotation like the fixed bracket  205  as a bottom part  209  of the frictional elastic coupling  208  is formed to fit to the lower step  203  of the coupling part  204 . An overall form of the frictional elastic member  208  has a sloped surface part  210  extended from the bottom part  209  having a diameter decreases continuously as it goes upward, and a cylindrical top part  211  extended from an end of the sloped surface part  210 , to form a conical formed in overall.  
         [0028]    There is an ‘L’ rotating bracket  213  in contact with an outside surface of the frictional elastic member  208  fixed to the two stepped coupling part  204  for coupling with a rotating body, having a coupling hole  220  for inserting an upper part  211  of the frictional elastic member  208 , and elongated holes  215  for inserting fastening means, such as bolts, therein on the other leaf of the ‘L’ rotating bracket  213  without the coupling hole  220 . The coupling hole  220  in the rotating bracket  213  has a taper part  214  around the coupling hole  220  having a diameter formed gradually smaller, for making a close contact with the sloped surface part  210  of the frictional elastic member  208 .  
         [0029]    When the rotating bracket  213  is coupled, and compressed on an outside of the frictional elastic member  208 , the frictional elastic member  208  is compressed for some extent, such that the frictional elastic member  208  presses a back surface of the taper part  214  around the coupling hole  220  of the rotating bracket  213  by its own elastic force, and causes friction when the rotating bracket  213  is rotated that provides a torque to the rotating bracket  213 .  
         [0030]    Therefore, grooves or openings  212  are formed in a surface of the frictional elastic member  208  longitudinally for adjusting an elastic deformation, i.e., shrinkage, of the frictional elastic member  208  required for the frictional elastic member  208  according to a shape and weight of the rotating body rotated together with the rotating bracket  213  coupled to the frictional elastic member  208 . That is, the grooves or openings  212  are provided for prevention of breakage of the frictional elastic member  208  by excessive compression.  
         [0031]    In the meantime, grooves (not shown) with oil stored therein may be formed in a part of the sloped surface part  210  of the frictional elastic member  208  for preventing damage to the surface of the frictional elastic member  208  and making the rotation of the rotating bracket  213  smooth during rotation of the rotating bracket  213  as the rotating bracket  213  makes friction with the surface of the frictional elastic member  208 .  
         [0032]    When weight on the rotating bracket  213  is substantially great, a torsion spring is provided outside of the frictional elastic member  208  between the rotating bracket  213  and the fixed bracket  205  as means for supplementing the frictional elastic member  208  by increasing the torque provided to the rotating bracket  213 . The rotating bracket  215  and the fixed bracket  205  have slots at opposite corners thereof for catching both ends of the torsion spring, so that the torsion spring  216  can provide an elastic force without rotating together with the rotating bracket  215 .  
         [0033]    In the meantime, referring to FIG. 4, when the rotating bracket  215  and the frictional elastic member  208  are compressed, the cylindrical top part  211  of the frictional elastic member  208  is projected from the coupling hole  220  in the rotating bracket  213 . In this instance, since top of the elastic member  208  can be damaged by an anti-loose nut  219  coupled to an outside of the rotating bracket  213 , a separate washer is provided between the anti-loose nut  219  and the rotating bracket  213 , additionally. At first, a thick washer  217  having a height as high as the cylindrical top part  211  of the frictional elastic member  208  projected from the coupling hole  220  of the rotating bracket  213  is coupled to the coupling part  204  next to the rotating bracket  213 . Then, a washer  218  having a hole enough to be inserted in the top end  202  of the coupling part  204  is provided between the thick washer  217  and the anti-loose nut  219 . The anti-loose nut  219  presses the hinge assembly from outside, to prevent different components of the hinge assembly from being fell off the shaft  200 , and an elastic ring of, such as rubber, is inserted at a back surface of the nut  219 , for preventing automatic loosening.  
         [0034]    In the meantime, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings, in which a shape of the frictional elastic member in the first embodiment is modified to be more simpler, and an adjusting washer is provided additionally between the rotating bracket and the frictional elastic member, for serving as a buffer in a case the frictional elastic member is compressed excessively, and adjusting the torque between the rotating bracket and the frictional elastic member. FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective partial assembly view of a hinge assembly in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 illustrates a section of key parts of the hinge assembly in FIG. 5.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the hinge assembly in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention has components identical to the first embodiment except the frictional elastic member  30  and the adjusting washer  33 . The second embodiment may also have a supplementary torsion spring  216 , additionally.  
         [0036]    Alike the first embodiment, the second embodiment hinge assembly includes a fixed bracket  205  coupled to a two stepped cylindrical coupling part  204  of different diameters on each shaft  200 , and a frictional elastic member  208  coupled next to the fixed bracket  205 . Alike the first embodiment, a frictional elastic member  208 , opened in front and rear direction, is made to be inserted into a coupling part  204 , and a bottom part of the frictional elastic coupling  204  is formed to fit to the lower step  203  of the coupling part  204 . The frictional elastic member  208  has a sloped surface part  31  extended from the bottom part having a diameter decreases continuously as it goes upward, and longitudinal grooves  32  formed from an end of the sloped surface part  31  for efficient adjustment of the shrinkage of the frictional elastic member  30 .  
         [0037]    The frictional elastic member  30  works the same as the frictional elastic member  30  in the first embodiment. However, different from the first embodiment, the second embodiment frictional elastic member  30  has, no cylindrical top part to be inserted in the coupling hole  220  in the rotating bracket  213 , but, instead, an adjustment washer between the rotating bracket and the frictional elastic member, additionally. The rotating bracket is identical to the rotating bracket  213  in the first embodiment. The adjustment washer  33  has a sloped surface  34  around a hole projected in a same direction with the frictional elastic member  30  for making close contact with the sloped surface part  32  of the frictional elastic member  30  in one side, and with a taper part  214  around the coupling hole  220  in the rotating bracket  213 . The adjustment washer  33  buffers compression onto the rotating bracket  213  applied for increasing torque to the rotating bracket  213  for preventing the frictional elastic member from being broken by the compression, and makes fine tuning of the torque between the frictional elastic member  30  and the rotating bracket  213 . That is, the adjustment washer  33  is made thin compared to general washers for placing an increased number of washers between the rotating bracket  213  and the frictional elastic member  30  when the torque required from the rotating bracket  213  is not adequate, and for placing a decreased number of washers between the rotating bracket  213  and the frictional elastic member  30  when the torque required from the rotating bracket  213  is excessive. However, the adjustment washer  33  is not essential, but may be dispensed with in a case the torque only by the frictional elastic member  30  is adequate. However, since performance of the frictional elastic member  30  can not, but degrade in a prolonged use of the hinge assembly, the provision of the adjustment washer  33  will permit a longer lifetime of the hinge assembly.  
         [0038]    In the meantime, there is a washer  35  between the rotating bracket  213  and the anti-loose nut  219 , like the thick washer  217  in the first embodiment, for protecting the taper part  214  around the coupling hole  200  of the rotating bracket  213  from breakage when the taper part  214  is pressed by the anti-loose nut  219 . The anti-loose nut  219  works the same as the first embodiment.  
         [0039]    Works of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained.  
         [0040]    Upon rotation of the anti-loose nut on an outside of the hinge assembly, the rotating bracket is pushed to compress the sloped surface part of the frictional elastic member onto an inside of the coupling hole of the rotating bracket, to provide an elastic force to the rotating bracket in turn and a torque to the rotating bracket when the rotating bracket is rotated by friction occurred. According to the above work, the torque provided to the rotating bracket differs depending on a number of rotations of the anti-loose nut, i.e., an extent of fastening.  
         [0041]    As has been explained, the provision of a required torque in a hinge only by means of a sloped frictional elastic member permits to reduce a number of required components, and to provide a simple hinge structure, thereby enhancing a production efficiency of the hinge, reducing a production cost of the hinge, permitting to provide a more precise torque and re-setting of the torque.  
         [0042]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the hinge assembly of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.