Patent Publication Number: US-2010125978-A1

Title: Hinge assembly and portable electronic device using same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The exemplary disclosure generally relates to hinge assemblies, and particularly, to a hinge assembly used in a portable electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the development of technology, portable electronic devices, e.g., mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become widely used. Folding type portable electronic devices are especially popular among consumers. 
     Folding type portable electronic device usually includes a main body, a cover, and a hinge assembly used to rotatably connect the main body and the cover. However, the conventional hinge assembly is often nonadjustable, thus, may deteriorate after repeatedly usage. Moreover, the conventional hinge assembly has complex structure and is hard to assemble and disassemble. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the hinge assembly and the portable electronic device using same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary hinge assembly and the portable electronic device using same. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding sections throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric, exploded view of a foldable portable electronic device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the foldable portable electronic device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The exemplary hinge assembly is suitable for using in portable electronic devices, e.g., mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an exemplary portable electronic device  100  includes a main body  10 , a cover  30 , and a hinge assembly  50  configured for rotatably connecting the main body  10  and the cover  30 . The main body  10  includes a hinged end  15  disposed at one end thereof. The cover  30  includes an assembled end  35  disposed at one end thereof corresponding to the hinged end  15  of the main body  10 . 
     The hinge assembly  50  includes a hinged portion  51 , an assembled portion  52 , a connecting shaft  53  and an adjusting piece  55 . The hinged portion  51  is disposed at the hinged end  15  of the main body  10  and configured for rotatably connecting with the cover  30 . The hinged portion  51  may be detachably assembled with the hinged end  15  or integrally formed with the hinged end  15 . One end of the hinged portion  51  includes a connecting portion  513  axially protruding outwardly, the opposite end of the hinged portion  51  defines a recessed tapered blind hole  515 . 
     The assembled portion  52  includes a first assembled portion  521  disposed at one side of the assembled end  35  of cover  30  and an opposite second assembled portion  522  disposed at the other side of the assembled end  35  of the cover  30 . In the exemplary embodiment, the first assembled portion  521  and the second assembled portion  522  are both cylindrical and spaced, disposed at the two sides of the assembled end  35  of the cover  30 , and formed by one forming mold process. The distance between the first assembled portion  521  and the opposite second assembled portion  522  is substantially the same as the axial length of the hinged portion  51 . The first assembled portion  521  defines a hinged hole  523  recessed therein axially corresponding to the connecting portion  513  of the hinged portion  51 . The second assembled portion  522  defines a substantially cylindrical assembled through hole  525  axially corresponding to the tapered blind hole  515  end of the hinged portion  51 . The inner wall of the assembled through hole  525  adjacent the first assembled portion  521  end defines two guiding walls  526  protruding therefrom and axially parallel to each other. The end of the inner wall of the assembled through hole  525  opposite the first assembled portion  521  defines screw threads  527 . 
     The connecting shaft  53  is substantially hollow and is made of elastic material. The connecting shaft  53  includes a tapered shaft end  531  and an opposite cylindrical shaft end  533  corresponding to the tapered blind hole  515  of the hinged portion  51  and the assembled through hole  525  of the second assembled portion  522  respectively. The outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical shaft end  533  defines two parallel fixing planes  535  thereon corresponding to the two guiding walls  526  of the assembled through hole  525 . 
     The adjusting piece  55  is adjustably screwed within the assembled through hole  525  by the screw threads  527 . The adjusting piece  55  includes a resisting end  551  and a screwing end  552  opposite to the resisting end  551 . The resisting end  551  is configured for resisting on the cylindrical shaft end  533  of the connecting shaft  53  to adjust the tightness between the tapered shaft end  531  and the tapered blind hole  515  of the hinged portion  51 . The outer diameter of the resisting end  551  is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the screwing end  552 . The outer peripheral wall of the screwing end  552  defines outer screw threads (not labeled) thereon corresponding to the screw threads  527  of the second assembled portion  522 . The cross section of the screwing end  552  defines a groove  555  therein for adjusting the adjusting piece  55 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , in assembly, the connecting portion  513  of the hinged portion  51  aligns with and is rotatably inserted into the hinged hole  523  of the first assembled portion  521 , thus, the hinged portion  51  of the main body  10  is assembled and accommodated between the first assembled portion  521  and the second assembled portion  522  of the cover  30 . The tapered shaft end  531  of the connecting shaft  53  penetrates through the assembled through hole  525  of the second assembled portion  522  and is inserted into the tapered blind hole  515  of the hinged portion  51  so as to rotatably connect the cover  30  with the main body  10 . The cylindrical shaft end  533  of the connecting shaft  53  is assembled within the assembled through hole  525  and, the two fixing planes  535  slidably resist against the corresponding two guiding walls  526  of the assembled through hole  525  respectively. The adjusting piece  55  is inserted into the assembled through hole  525  and screws with the screw threads  527  of the assembled through hole  525  to adjust the degree of tightness between the hinged portion  51  of the main body  10  and the assembled portion  52  of the cover  30 . 
     In use, the hinge connecting between the battery cover  30  and the main body  10  may become loose after frequently usage. It can be easily repaired by adjusting the adjusting piece  55 . When rotating the adjusting piece  55 , the adjusting piece  55  may rotate within the assembled through hole  525  relative to the second assembled portion and move or slide toward the first assembled portion  521  to push the connecting shaft  53 . Thus, the tapered shaft end  531  of the connecting shaft  53  may be pushed to tightly connect with the tapered blind hole  515  of the hinged portion  51 . The hollow structure of the connecting shaft  53  ensures its elasticity. Additionally, the electronic device  100  using the hinge assembly  50  has simply structure, and is easy to maintain or detach. 
     It is to be understood that the connecting shaft  53  and the adjusting piece  55  could be made integrally with one forming mold process or omitted. The screw threads could be disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical shaft end  533  of the connecting shaft  53 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structure and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of sections within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms, in which the appended claims are expressed.