Patent ID: 8359710

Claim:
A portable computer, comprising: a first housing portion having a first component; a second housing portion having a second component, wherein a cable electrically couples the first and second components; a hinge clutch structure that connects the first and second housing portions, the hinge clutch structure comprising: a base mount structure coupled to the second housing portion, the base mount structure having an associated shaft with a longitudinal axis; a spring formed around the shaft, wherein the spring is connected to the shaft at a shaft end; a friction band structure coupled to the first housing portion, wherein the friction band structure is connected to the spring and rotates relative to the shaft about the longitudinal axis, wherein the frictional band structure is in frictional contact with the shaft to provide a frictional support force that supports the first housing portion in relation to the second housing portion; and a protective cap disposed over the shaft end, wherein the protective cap protects a portion the cable that traverses a region proximate to the spring at the shaft end, and wherein during operation of the hinge clutch structure the protective cap is at a fixed position relative to the shaft and does not engage with the spring; and magnetic latch structures positioned on the first and second housing portions that hold the first and second housing portions in place against each other in a closed configuration until an opening force sufficient to overcome a spring force of the spring, a frictional force of the frictional band structure in frictional contact with the shaft and a magnetic force of the magnetic latch structures is applied to the first housing portion and transferred to the hinge clutch structure.