Abstract:
A sub-component of a friction hinge ( 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 ) includes a member ( 14, 204 ) including a connection portion ( 28, 128, 228 ) defining a passage ( 36 ), wherein the passage ( 36 ) includes a splined circumferential inner periphery ( 38 ), and wherein the member ( 14, 204 ) defines a gap ( 30, 230   a ); and a shaft ( 16 ) including a splined ( 34 ) circumferential outer profile ( 32 ) movably-engaged with the circumferential inner periphery ( 38 ) of the member ( 14, 204   a ) to connect the connection portion ( 28, 128, 228 ) about an axis of rotation (A-A) extending through the shaft ( 16 ), wherein the gap ( 30, 230   a ) axially extends in a substantial parallel relationship to the axis of rotation (A-A). A friction hinge ( 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 ) is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a friction hinge including cooperating inner and outer shafts. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Friction hinges are known in the art and are typically utilized for maintaining an object connected to the friction hinge at a predetermined position, angle, or the like. According to a known application, friction hinges are commonly associated with portable laptop computers including a monitor that is pivotably-coupled to a base portion including a keyboard. As such, friction hinges may, according to the above-described application, be utilized in a manner to maintain a monitor at a desired angle relative the base portion. 
         [0005]    Although conventional friction hinges are known in the art and have been utilized in numerous applications, global competitive forces demand that material and manufacturing costs are reduced to provide a manufacturer with a profit. As such, there is a need in the art to reduce manufacturing time and number of parts typically associated with friction hinges, such as, for example, steel torsion springs, clips, and the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a friction hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective, cross-sectional view of a friction hinge according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the friction hinge according to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3B  is another cross-sectional view of the friction hinge according to  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3C  is another cross-sectional view of the friction hinge according to  FIG. 3B ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a friction hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a friction hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial, top perspective, cross-sectional view of a friction hinge according to  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partial, bottom perspective, cross-sectional view of a friction hinge according to  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a friction hinge according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9A  is a magnified view of  FIG. 3A  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9B  is a magnified view of  FIG. 8  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view of the friction hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of the friction hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10C  is a cross-sectional view of the friction hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The Figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a friction hinge  10 ,  100 ,  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For brevity, the disclosure hereof will illustrate and describe a friction hinge  10 ,  100 ,  200  that maintains an object connected to the friction hinge  10 ,  100 ,  200  at a predetermined position, angle, or the like. Based on the foregoing, it is to be generally understood that the nomenclature used herein is simply for convenience and the terms used to describe the invention should be given the broadest meaning by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a friction hinge is shown generally at  10  according to an embodiment. The friction hinge  10  includes a first member  12 , a second member  14 , and a shaft  16  ( FIG. 2 ) that pivotably-connects the first member  12  relative the second member  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first and second members  12 ,  14  include a plurality of openings  18  that respectively accommodate passage of a fastener (not shown). As such, when fasteners are passed through the plurality of openings  18 , the fasteners may secure the first and second members  12 ,  14  to a first body (not shown) and a second body (not shown), respectively. 
         [0024]    According to an embodiment, the first body may include, for example, a monitor of a laptop computer, and the second body may include, for example, a base of a laptop computer including a keyboard. However, it will be appreciated that the first and second bodies may not be limited to portions of a laptop computer and may be directed to any desirable application. As such, according to an embodiment, the first body may include, for example, a door of a storage compartment in an automotive vehicle, and the second body may include, for example, a receptacle portion of a storage compartment in an automotive vehicle. Thus, it will be appreciated upon considering this present disclosure that the friction hinge  10  is not limited to a particular application and may be utilized in conjunction with any desirable application, as desired. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first member  12 , according to an embodiment, is formed to include a C-shape, having first and second ends  20 ,  22  that are rigidly fixed to first and second ends  24 ,  26  of the shaft  16 . The second member  14 , according to an embodiment, is formed to include a J-shape having a shaft portion  28  that circumferentially wraps-around the shaft  16 . Although the shaft portion  28  is said to wrap around the shaft  16 , it will be appreciated that the shaft portion  28  is shaped to partially wrap, in a circumferential manner, around the shaft  16 . For reasons discussed below, the partial, incomplete circumferential wrapping of the shaft portion  28  about the shaft  16 , according to an embodiment, is provided by including an absence of material or a gap  30  extending across a length, L G , of the shaft portion  28 . Because the shaft portion  28  circumferentially wraps-around the shaft  16 , the shaft  16  may also be referred to as an inner shaft whereas the shaft portion  28  may be referred to as an outer shaft. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment, the friction hinge  10  may be formed from two or more materials in a mold tool (not shown) by way of a multi-shot molding/over-molding process. According to an embodiment, as explained below in further detail, the shaft  16  is formed from a rigid material whereas the second member  14  is formed from an elastic material. 
         [0027]    According to an embodiment, the friction hinge  10  may be formed in a mold tool that may provide a plurality of different volumes to form the first member  12 , second member  14 , and shaft  16 . According to an embodiment, the mold tool may provide a first cavity volume that receives a first shot of a rigid material that defines the shaft  16 . Then, the mold tool may provide a second cavity volume that receives a second shot of a rigid material that over-molds portions of the shaft  16  to define the first member  12 . Then, the mold tool may provide a third cavity volume that receives a third shot of material, such as, for example, an elastic material, that over-molds a portion of the shaft  16  to define the second member  14 . 
         [0028]    As such, according to an embodiment, the friction hinge  10  may be formed as a “three-shot” product in a multi-shot mold tool. However, it will be appreciated that the friction hinge  10  may be formed as a “two-shot” product, if, for example, a single shot of rigid material is utilized to form an integrated shaft  16  and first member  12  and a second shot of elastic material is utilized to form the second member  14 . In addition, there are a variety of techniques that permit an altering of the volume of a mold tool cavity; such techniques may include, for example, the use of moveable cores, slides, transfer molds, or a rotating member. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a cut-away, perspective view of the friction hinge  10  is shown according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the shaft  16  includes a circumferential profile, which is shown generally at  32 . According to an embodiment, the circumferential profile  32  includes a splined surface including toothed or grooved portions  34  that extend, axially, from the first end  24  to the second end  26  of the shaft  16  along a length, L ( FIG. 1 ), of the friction hinge  10 . As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the shaft portion  28  is generally defined to include a passage  36  including a profile that receives the circumferential profile  32  of the shaft  16 . According to an embodiment, the profile of the passage  36  is also shaped to include a splined surface including toothed or grooved portions  38  that corresponds to the toothed or grooved portions  34  of the shaft  16 . 
         [0030]    According to an embodiment, the toothed or grooved portions  34 ,  38  of the inner and outer shafts  16 ,  28  provides a means to frictionally-engage the first and second members  12 ,  14  with one another such that the first and second members  12 ,  14  are not able to freely move about the shaft  16  unless a force, such as, for example, a force, F, shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, is applied to one of the first and second members  12 ,  14 . Although the following description in  FIGS. 3A-3C  includes a force, F, applied to the first member  14  while the position of the second member  16  is held constant, it will be appreciated that the reverse condition may be applicable where a force, F, is applied to the second member  14  while the first member  12  is held constant, or, in another embodiment, if desired, divergent forces may be applied to each of the first and second members  12 ,  14  to permit movement of the first and second members  12 ,  14  about the shaft  16 . 
         [0031]    As seen in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , movement of the first member  12  relative the second member  14  is permitted (with the first member  12  shown in phantom in  FIG. 3B ) when the force, F, is applied to the first member  12  as the relative positioning of the second member  14  is held constant. As such, when the force, F, is applied to the first member  12 , the force, F, may be translated to the shaft  16  such that the shaft  16  is rotated axially about the axis, A-A ( FIG. 2 ), in the passage  36  of the shaft portion  28  to overcome the friction resistance provided by the interaction of the toothed or grooved portions  34 ,  38  of each of the shaft  16  and shaft portion  28 . Corresponding to the description associated with  FIGS. 3A-3C , the rotation of the shaft  16  about the axis, A-A, is generally defined by the angle,  0 , as referenced from a first positioning of a toothed portion  34   a  of the shaft  16 , as referenced in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0032]    According to an embodiment, the frictional resistance is overcome due to elastic material properties of the shaft portion  28 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the gap  30  extending across a length, L G , of the second member  14  provides a means to resiliently move the shaft portion  28  from an at rest portion ( FIG. 3A ) away from the shaft  16  (i.e., the shaft portion  28  ‘opens’ along the length, L G ) in the direction of arrow, O ( FIG. 3B ), to a flexed position as the toothed or grooved portions  34  of the shaft  16  slips across the toothed or grooved portions  38  of the shaft portion  28 . Then, as seen in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , further movement of the first member  12  by way of the force, F, causes the toothed or grooved portions  34  of the shaft  16  to slip into the grooved portions  38  of the shaft portion  28 , thereby closing the gap  30  and permitting the shaft portion  28  to move in a direction of arrow, O′, opposite that of the arrow, O, from the flexed position of  FIG. 3B  back to an at-rest position similar to that of  FIG. 3A . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a friction hinge  100  is shown according to an embodiment. The friction hinge  100  is substantially similar to the friction hinge  10  except that the friction hinge  100  includes an optional spring steel clip  102  that circumferentially wraps-around a shaft portion  128 . Because the spring steel clip  102  wraps-around the shaft portion  128 , additional circumferential clamping resistance is provided to the shaft portion  128  such that additional force, F, is to be provided to permit movement of the shaft portion  128  in the direction of the arrow, O, as described in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7  a friction hinge  200  is shown according to an embodiment. The friction hinge  200  is substantially similar to the friction hinge  10 ,  100  including a gap  230   a  ( FIG. 7 ) extending across a length, L G , of the second member  204 . Additionally, one or more second gaps  230   b ,  230   c  are provided, respectively, at first and second ends  220 ,  222  of the C-shaped first member  202 . According to an embodiment, spring steel clips (not shown) may be provided over the first and second ends  220 ,  222  of the first member  202 , or, alternatively, over the shaft portion  228 , in a substantially similar fashion as shown in  FIG. 4  as related to the shaft portion  128 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a friction hinge is shown generally at  300  according to an embodiment. The friction hinge  300  is substantially similar to the friction hinge  10  of  FIG. 3A  except that the friction hinge includes a shaft  16  including a circumferential profile  32   a  and a passage of the shaft portion  28  including a grooved portion  38   a  that is substantially different from the circumferential profile  32  and grooved portion  38  of the friction hinge  10 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 9A , a magnified view of the shaft  16  of  FIG. 3A  is shown according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the circumferential profile  32  includes the splined surface having toothed or grooved portions  34  defined by a plurality of neighboring axial edge surfaces, which are shown generally at  35 ,  37 . According to the embodiment, each pair of neighboring axial edge surfaces  35 ,  37  define a pair of spline angles, φ 1A , φ 1B , that are defined by a center-line, C L , that radially extends from the axis of rotation, A-A, of the shaft  16  through a point or valley  39  where the axial edge surfaces  35 ,  37  meet. According to an embodiment, each axial edge surface  35 ,  37  includes a substantially similar length, and, are disposed in a manner to be spaced from the center-line, C L , at a substantially similar angle, φ 1A , φ 1B . According to an embodiment, each spline angles, φ 1 , φ 1B , may be approximately equal to, for example, 60°. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9B , a magnified view of the shaft  16  of  FIG. 8  is shown according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the circumferential profile  32   a  includes the splined surface having toothed or grooved portions  34  defined by a plurality of neighboring axial edge surfaces, which are shown generally at  35   a ,  37   a . According to the embodiment, each pair of neighboring axial edge surfaces  35   a ,  37   a  define a pair of spline angles, φ 2A , φ 2B , that are defined by a center-line, C L , that radially extends from the axis of rotation, A-A, of the shaft  16  through a point or valley  39   a  where the axial edge surfaces  35   a ,  37   a  meet. According to an embodiment, each axial edge surface  35   a ,  37   a  may include, for example, a substantially different length, and, are disposed in a manner to be spaced from the center-line, C L , at a substantially different angle, φ 2A , φ 2B . According to an embodiment, the spline angle, φ 2A , may be approximately equal to, for example, 60°, whereas the spline angle, φ 2B , may be approximately equal to, for example, 40°. 
         [0038]    Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the neighboring axial edge surfaces  35 ,  37  and  35   a ,  37   a  may define any desirable spline angle, φ 1A , φ 1B , φ 2A , φ 2B . As such, it will be appreciated upon considering the present disclosure that the orientation of the axial edge surfaces  35 ,  37 ,  35   a ,  37   a  and spline angles, φ 1A , φ 1B , φ 2A , φ 2B , may result in an increase or decrease in force, F, to cause movement of the first member  12  relative the second member  14 . For example, because the spline angles, φ 1A , φ 1B , are substantially the same in  FIG. 9A , the force, F, to move the first member in a clock-wise or counter-clockwise direction is relatively the same. Conversely, the angular disposition of the spline angles, φ 2A , φ 2B , as shown in  FIG. 9B  results in an increase in force, F, for counter-clockwise movement of the first member  12  and a decrease in force, F, for clockwise movement of the first member  12 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 10A , an alternative embodiment of the friction hinge  10  is shown generally at  400  according to an embodiment. The friction hinge  400  is substantially similar to the friction hinge  10  shown in  FIG. 3A  with the exception that the gap  30  is provided with the second member  14  at a position that is shifted 90° in the counter-clockwise direction relative the gap  30  of  FIG. 3A  (i.e., the shift in location of the gap  30  is substantially similar to that as the gap  230   b ,  230   c  shown in  FIG. 5 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 10B  another embodiment of a friction hinge  500  illustrates the gap  30  of the second member  14  at a position that is shifted 180° relative the gap  30  of  FIG. 3A . As illustrated in  FIG. 10C , another embodiment of a friction hinge  600  illustrates the gap  30  is provided with the second member  14  at a position that is shifted 270° in the counter-clockwise direction relative the gap  30  of  FIG. 3A  (i.e., the shift in location of the gap  30  is substantially similar to that as the gap  230   a  shown in  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0040]    Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the gap  30  may be disposed in the second member  14  at any desirable location. According to an embodiment, the location of the gap  30  may result in an increase or decrease in the force, F, that causes movement of the first member  12  relative the second member  14 . For example, as the location of the gap  30  deviates, in an increased counter-clockwise positioning shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C  as referenced from  FIG. 3A , a greater amount of force, F, results to cause movement of the first member  12  relative the second member  14  in the direction as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C . Conversely, when a force, F, is applied to the first member  12  in the opposite direction to that as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the result is a reduced amount of force, F, applied to the first member  12  in the opposite direction as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
         [0041]    The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.