Patent ID: 7079874

Claim:
A mobile terminal having two parts connected to each other by a hinge, the hinge comprising: a helical spring having a longitudinal axis, the spring comprising one or more wound strands of material, each strand having two ends; a first hinge part extending into the helical spring, contacting an inner part of the helical spring at a first position or area along the longitudinal axis, and being connected to or attached to a first part of the two parts; and a second hinge part contacting the one or more strands of the helical spring and being connected to or attached to a second part of the two parts; the spring facilitating that: rotation of the first hinge part in a first direction around the longitudinal axis and in relation to the second hinge part will provide a first, lower friction between the first hinge part and the helical spring, and rotation of the first hinge part in a second direction, being opposite to the first direction, around the longitudinal axis and in relation to the second hinge part will provide a second, higher friction between the first hinge part and the helical spring; and the terminal further comprising: release means for increasing a diameter of the helical spring at the first position or area in order to reduce the second, higher friction between the first hinge part and the helical spring during rotation of the first hinge part in the second direction; the second, higher friction being reduced to a third friction; and biasing means for providing a rotation of the first hinge part in the second direction when the release means are operated; and the biasing means providing a force exceeding a force required to overcome the third friction but being lower than a force required to overcome the second friction.