Abstract:
The present disclosure includes a fastenerless hinge system which enables a thin form factor low cost design. A hinge system described herein may include a hinge bracket and a hinge wing. The hinge bracket includes an elevated portion thereby providing a hollow region and one or more spring tabs. The hinge wing is slidably coupled to the hinge bracket through the hollow portion. Advantageously, a hinge system consistent with the present disclosure does not include fasteners such that the “Z” height of the computing device may be minimized in addition to reducing costs.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Non-Prov. patent application Ser. No. 14/752,938 filed Jun. 27, 2015 which is entirely incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments described herein generally relate to convertible 2-in-1 computing systems and more particularly to a fastenerless hinge which enables a thin form factor low cost design. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Clamshell and convertible systems, such as 2-in-1 computing systems, require a hinge system to attach the lid and base assemblies. As the industry moves towards thinner and lighter computing systems, conventional techniques for attaching hinges is becoming a limiting factor of the system, particularly the lid&#39;s height. 
         [0004]    Hinge systems in conventional computing systems include a torque engine, hinge pin, and hinge wings that are stamped metal which fit into a chassis and fixed with pins and screws. Most notably, conventional computing systems include screw bosses, brackets, and screws which add to the overall height and cost of computing systems. 
         [0005]    As such, there exists a need to eliminate some of the assembly parts to save cost and reduce the height while still maintaining the hinge system&#39;s core functionality. The present disclosure addresses this need. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a conventional hinge system for a computing device known in the art. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a conventional hinge system for a computing device known in the art. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary hinge system for a computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary hinge system for a computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5A-5B  are schematics of an assembled and disassembled hinge system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is top view of an exemplary hinge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary hinge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary hinge system coupled to a notebook computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    A detailed description of some embodiments is provided below along with accompanying figures. The detailed description is provided in connection with such embodiments, but is not limited to any particular example. The scope is limited only by the claims and numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents are encompassed. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the described techniques may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to some embodiments have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a conventional hinge system for a computing device  100  known in the art. In particular, this figure exposes an inner portion of the chassis  101  of the computing device  100 . In some embodiments, the chassis includes conventional screw/bolt fasteners  103  to attach a back cover of the computing device  100  to the frame  102  (e.g., metal frame) of the device  100 . In addition, any of various conventional fasteners  103  may attach a plastic frame component  104  to the computing device&#39;s  100  chassis  101 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a conventional hinge system for a computing device  200  known in the art. In this view, the “Z” height  202  of the computing device  200  is shown. For example, the “Z” height of computing device  200  is approximately 3.6 mm. In one more embodiments, the “Z” height of a computing device may be the vertical height that the device extends from a bottom surface when the device is in its ordinary position. Notably, the “Z” height of computing device  200  may be affected by the presence of conventional fasteners  201 . 
         [0017]    It should be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that the “Z” height may vary along the length of the computing device  200 . However, the present disclosure provides techniques to reduce the “Z” height of the computing device along at least one area as will be described below. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary hinge system for a computing device  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Computing device  300  may be a 2-in-1 device, computer notebook device, computer sub-notebook device, laptop computer, or the like. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a hinge system consistent with the present disclosure includes a hinge wing  302  and hinge bracket  303 . In proximity to the hinge system is a metal support bracket  304  and plastic component  305  of the computing device&#39;s  300  chassis. In some embodiments, the hinge bracket  303  and metal support bracket  304  may have a translucent portion such that the hinge wing  302  may be more readily exposed. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, the hinge system employed in computing device  300  reduces the device&#39;s  300  “Z” height thereby reducing costs. Hinge wing  302  may be considered narrow in comparison to hinge wings in conventional hinge systems. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary hinge system  400  for a computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hinge system  400  includes a hinge wing  401  that is fitted in hinge bracket  402 . Most notably, the “Z” height of a computing device may be substantially reduced by employing hinge system  400  thereby negating the need to use conventional fasteners known in the art. In the embodiment shown, the “Z” height of the computing device may be between 1.8 mm and 2.8 mm. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 5A-5B  are schematics of an assembled and disassembled hinge system  500 . In particular,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  show cross sections of the hinge system  500 . In  FIG. 5A , an elevated portion  504  of a hinge bracket  505  and base portions  502   a,    502   b  of the hinge bracket are shown along with disassembled hinge wing  501 . 
         [0022]    In some implementations, spring tabs  503   a,    503   b  are disposed in an angular fashion on a top surface of base portions  502   a,    502   b.  In the embodiment shown, the spring tabs  503   a,    503   b  are disposed in an angular fashion to account for the insertion of hinge wing  501  while also providing a force when hinge wing  501  is inserted into the hinge bracket  505 . 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, spring tabs  503   a,    503   b  may be disposed at an angle from 20° to 45° and may apply a force on the hinge wing  501  in the range of 1.5 lbs. to 2.0 lbs. Accordingly, the insertion force needed to assemble the hinge wing  501  into the hinge bracket  505  may be a function of the force provided by the spring tabs  503   a,    503   b.    
         [0024]    It should be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that the insertion force may be equal to or different than the extraction force—the force needed to remove the hinge wing  501  from the hinge bracket  505 . In some embodiments, the extraction force needed to remove the hinge wing  501  from the hinge bracket  505  is greater than the insertion force needed to insert the hinge wing  501  into the hinge  505 . 
         [0025]    In  FIGS. 5A-5B , two spring tabs  503   a,    503   b  are shown. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, spring tabs  503   a,    503   b  are disposed from the base portions  502   a,    502   b  of the hinge bracket  505  at the same angle but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, spring tabs  503   a,    503   b  may have different spring forces  512   a,    512   b  and may be disposed at different angles from the base portions  502   a,    502   b  of the hinge bracket  505 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5B  provides an illustration of some of the forces within the hinge system  500 . As shown, the insertion force  511  may be a function of the forces provided by the spring tabs (i.e, spring forces  512   a,    512   b ) and the frictional force provided by the contact between the surfaces of the hinge wing  501  and hinge bracket  505  (i.e., frictional force  513 ). For example, the surfaces of both the hinge wing  501  and hinge bracket  505  may be hard steel or sheet metal steel. In some embodiments, when both surfaces comprise sheet metal steel, the static coefficient of friction may be about 0.78. 
         [0027]    In some implementations, a lubricant may be added to the surface of either the hinge wing or hinge bracket to aid in extraction or insertion. The application of wet or dry lubricants to the aforementioned surfaces may yield a static coefficient of friction of approximately 0.3 in some embodiments. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is top view of an exemplary hinge system  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hinge system  600  includes a hinge wing  601 , hinge bracket  602 , and friction dampening component  603 . Hinge wing  601  may have various features such as, but not limited to, mechanical stops  605 , alignment groove  607 , and insert tabs  604 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, insert tabs  604  have a shallow angle which may be designed to be manipulated by a tool. In some embodiments, the insert tabs  604  are disposed at an angle less than 45°. As such, a tool may be used to compress the insert tabs  604  to withdraw the hinge wing  601 . The insert tabs  604  may function as a locking mechanism. 
         [0030]    Hinge bracket  602  includes a plurality of features including those described above. In addition, hinge bracket  602  includes a mechanical stop  611  and an alignment component  609 . In some implementations, the hinge bracket  602  is internal to the chassis of a computing device. 
         [0031]    Hinge wing  601  includes mechanical stops  606  which interact with mechanical stops  608  of hinge bracket  602 . In some implementations, mechanical stops  606  has a depth and angular disposition for alignment to lock into the hinge bracket  602 . Upon assembly, the hinge wing  601  is inserted in direction  606 . Upon assembly, the alignment component  607  of hinge wing  601  meets the alignment feature  609  of hinge bracket  602 . 
         [0032]    Furthermore, in some embodiments, hinge system  600  includes a friction dampening component  603 . Friction dampening component  603  may include a viscoelastic material. Friction dampening component  603  may also include any of various materials such as, but not limited to, silicon, rubber, and foam. In some embodiments, friction dampening component  603  includes an acetal resin material. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary hinge system  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, hinge wing  701  is to be inserted into hinge bracket  702 . Notably, hinge wing  701  includes a plurality of spring tabs  714 . For example, hinge wing  701  has four spring tabs  714  that fit within the recesses  712  that are disposed upon an internal surface  713  of the hinge bracket  702 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary hinge system coupled to a notebook computing device  800  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the hinge wing  803  is shown coupled to a hinge pin  804  which is coupled to a torque engine  801  component of a notebook computing device  800 . 
         [0035]    Upon assembly, hinge wing  803  is to be inserted into hinge bracket  802  in direction  805 . Notably, hinge bracket  802  may include an angled alignment and mechanical stop feature  816 . Likewise hinge wing  801  may include a mechanical stop  817  which cooperates with alignment and mechanical stop feature  816  of hinge bracket  802 . 
         [0036]    The above description of illustrated implementations of the present disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. While specific implementations of, and examples for, the present disclosure are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. 
         [0037]    These modifications may be made to the present disclosure in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the present disclosure to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.