Patent Publication Number: US-2010107364-A1

Title: Hinge and collapsible device utilizing the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to hinges and, particularly, to a hinge and a collapsible device utilizing the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A collapsible device, such as a notebook computer, or a clamshell mobile phone, generally including a main body and a display, often uses a hinge to interconnect the main body and the display. The hinge includes a female hinge member mounted to the cover and a male hinge member mounted to the base, thereby allowing the display to be rotational with respect to the main body, and to be folded to the main body for saving space. 
     The male hinge member includes a split shaft sleeve, and the female hinge member includes a shaft rotatably received in the shaft sleeve. The shaft is in frictional engagement with an inner wall of the shaft sleeve during rotation of the shaft relative to the shaft sleeve. Therefore, the display can maintain at any angle with respect to the main body by friction between the shaft and the shaft sleeve. However, this kind of hinges is not durable because the shaft and the shaft sleeve are easily worn out. Even worse, after frequent usage and due to wear and tear, the shaft and the shaft sleeve could no longer fit together tightly, thereby preventing the display from being able to stay at certain desirable positions. As a result, the display cannot maintain stability at almost any angle with respect to the main body, which creates inconvenience for users. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a hinge. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of the hinge of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a collapsible device utilizing the hinge of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a hinge  50  includes a first connecting member  10 , a second connecting member  20 , a shaft  30  mounted to the first and second connecting members  10  and  20 , and a fastening member  40  for firmly clamping the second connecting member  20  and the shaft  30 . 
     The first connecting member  10  includes a flat connecting portion  18  defining a plurality of fixing holes  180 , and a cylindrical fixing portion  12  positioned at a side of the connecting portion  18 . The fixing portion  12  axially defines a fixing hole  14  in an end surface of the fixing portion  12 . The fixing hole  14  has a double-D shape in the instant embodiment. A stop post  16  adjacent to the fixing hole  14  axially extends from a circumference of the fixing portion  12 . 
     The second connecting member  20  includes a flat securing portion  28  defining a plurality of fixing holes  280 , a receiving portion  22 , and a sleeve  26 . The receiving portion  22  having a generally C-shaped cross-section extends from an end of the securing portion  28 . A stop block  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) axially extends from an end of the receiving portion  22 , adjacent to the securing portion  28 . The sleeve  26 , having a generally C-shaped cross-section, forms from an inner side of the receiving portion  22 . The receiving portion  22  and the sleeve  26  are coaxial. An opening  260  is longitudinally defined, extending one end of the sleeve  26  to the opposite end of the sleeve  26 , to enable deformation of the sleeve  26 . A first fixing board  262  and a second fixing board  264  opposite to the first fixing board  262  perpendicularly extend from the sleeve  26  and located at opposite sides of the opening  260 . Each of the first and second fixing boards  262  and  264  defines a through hole  266 . The second fixing board  264  defines a receiving space  268  opposite to the first fixing board  262  and communicating with the fixing hole  266  of the second fixing board  264 . Obviously, in other embodiments, the first fixing board  262  can define a receiving space  268  communicating with the fixing hole  266  of the first fixing board  262 . 
     The shaft  30  includes a fixing portion  32  having a double-D shaped cross-section in the instant embodiment, a cylindrical-shaped fixing rod  34  opposite to the fixing portion  32 , and a flange protrusion (not labeled) between the fixing portion  32  and the fixing rod  34 . A plurality of circular slots  36  capable of retaining lubricant are defined in a circumference of the fixing rod  34 . 
     The fastening member  40  includes a screw  42  and a matching screw nut  44 . In the instant embodiment, the screw nut  44  is square-shaped. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in assembly, the fixing portion  32  of the shaft  30  is fixed in the fixing hole  14  of the first connecting member  10 , with a side of the flange protrusion of the shaft  30  resisting against the fixing portion  12 . Therefore, the shaft  30  is unrotatably fixed to the first connecting member  10 . The fixing rod  34  is rotatably passed through the sleeve  26 . The screw nut  44  is received in the receiving space  268 . The screw  42  is adjustably passed through the fixing holes  266  of the first and second fixing boards  262  and  264  in turn, and then, screwed into the screw nut  44 . Therefore, the sleeve  26  is adjustable to make the sleeve  26  clamp the fixing rod  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in use, the above-mentioned hinge  50  is utilized in a collapsible device  100 , here for instance, in a notebook computer that includes a base  102  and a cover  104 . The fixing holes  180  are configured for allowing fastening members, such as screws, bolts, or rivets, etc., to extend through, thereby fixing the first connecting member  10  to one of the cover  104  and the base  102 . Similarly, the fixing holes  280  are configured for allowing fastening members, such as screws, bolts, or rivets, etc., to extend through, thereby the second connecting member  20  is fixed to the other one of the cover  104  and the base  102 . Therefore, during rotation of the cover  104  or the base  102 , the first connecting member  10  rotates relative to the second connecting member  20 , with the fixing rod  34  rotatable relative to the sleeve  26 . As a result, friction between the fixing rod  34  and the sleeve  26  positions the cover  104  maintaining stability at any angle with respect to the base  102 . The stop post  16  can resist against the stop block  24  during the rotation of the base  102  relative to the cover  14 , to limit the rotation range of the shaft. 
     After frequent usage and due to wear and tear, the sleeve  26  and the fixing rod  34  may no longer abut tightly against each other, resulting in reduce friction, so that the cover  104  cannot be maintained at any angle with respect to the base  102 . Therefore, the screw  42  can be tightened urging the first and second fixing boards  262  and  264  closer together, resulting in squeezing the sleeve  26  to firmly clamp the fixing rod  34  again. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments.