Patent ID: 8204556

Claim:
A hinge device for connecting a first and second housing of a portable terminal, the hinge device comprising: a first hinge base disposed on an end portion of the first housing and adjacent a first side edge of the first housing; a second hinge base disposed on an end portion of the second housing adjacent a first side edge of the second housing, and where the second hinge base rotates with respect to the first hinge base about an axis extending parallel to said first side edges of said first and second housings, through said respective end portions and perpendicular to said end portions, whereby said first and second housings pivot with respect to each other about said first side edges; and an elastic member that provides an elastic force urging the first and second hinge bases toward each other, wherein said first hinge base and second hinge base are pivotable between a first position where said first and second housings are parallel to each other and lie in the same plane and a second position where the first housing is inclined with respect to a flat surface when the second housing is placed on the flat surface in a position where the first and second housings are at an angle with respect to each other such that the first and second housings are rotated with respect to each other about said axis with said first side edge of said first housing and second housing placed on said surface.