Patent ID: 7469451

Claim:
A hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge element mounted for rotation relative to a second hinge element about a hinge axis through a first angle in a clockwise direction from a closed configuration to an open configuration; a plurality of elongate flexible members extending between the first and second hinge elements along the hinge axis, and each elongate flexible member having a portion which is generally longitudinally orientated along the hinge axis and, when the first and second hinge elements are in the closed configuration, the plurality of elongate flexible members are longitudinally axially twisted in a clockwise direction through a second angle as they travel from the first hinge element to the second hinge element along the hinge axis, wherein the magnitude of the second angle is greater than the magnitude of the first angle; and wherein relative movement of the first hinge element and the second hinge element from the closed configuration to the open configuration partially untwists the plurality of elongate flexible members so that they remain twisted in the clockwise direction but through a third angle as they travel from the first hinge element to the second hinge element along the hinge axis, wherein the third angle is less than the second angle, and wherein the third angle is less than the first angle.