Patent ID: 7543358

Claim:
A multi-stage hinge assembly for connecting a first shell portion and a second shell portion, the hinge assembly comprising: a first component fixed to the first shell portion, the first component having a pivot extending from one side of the first component along a rotating axis, and a protrusion disposed on the pivot; a second component fixed to the second shell portion, the first component rotating relative to the second component; and a connecting portion disposed beside the second component and pivoted on the pivot, the first component rotating relative to the second component by rotating the connecting portion around the rotating axis, the connecting portion having a first trench and a second trench that separate the connecting portion into a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first trench and the second trench connecting each other and respectively having different widths, and the protrusion sliding in the first trench or the second trench, each of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being a ring sleeve surrounding the pivot, wherein the width of the first trench is smaller than a diameter or the protrusion, and the width of the second trench is greater than the diameter of the protrusion such that when the protrusion is located within the first trench, frictional forces exist between the first trench and the protrusion so as to maintain the first shell portion and the second shell portion in an opened state.