Patent ID: 8477487

Claim:
A hinge assembly arranged to pivotally couple a portable computer base portion to a portable computer lid portion, comprising: an outer clutch barrel; a hollow clutch disposed within the outer clutch barrel and having an annular outer region and a central bore region surrounded by the annular outer region, wherein the hollow clutch includes a first opening and a second opening disposed at distal ends of the hollow clutch and providing access to the central bore region, at least one electrical conductor configured to electrically couple the base portion to the lid portion, wherein the at least one electrical conductor enters the central bore region through the first opening and exits the central bore region through the second opening; a first fastening component adapted to couple the hollow clutch to the lid portion of the portable computing device, wherein the first fastening component is integrally formed with the hollow clutch as a single part; and a second fastening component adapted to couple the outer clutch barrel to the base portion of the portable computing device.