PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9348372-B2
Application Number: US-201414304592-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Friction hinge with embedded counterbalance

Abstract:
An electronic device such as a portable computer including a base and a lid is provided. The electronic device also includes a hinge assembly that facilitates pivoting movement between the lid and the base. The hinge assembly includes a body and a shaft configured to respective engage one of the base and the lid. The hinge assembly also includes a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism may include a friction member that induces friction during movement of the lid to help retain the lid in a user-selected angular position with respect to the base. Further, the clutch mechanism may include a spring that extends through a cavity defined through the shaft. The spring may be affixed to the shaft at one end and affixed to the body at a second end. Thereby, movement of the lid may be assisted or opposed by torsion in the spring, so as to improve a user experience.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hinge assembly, comprising:
 a shaft comprising a cavity extending through the shaft; 
 a body comprising a base engagement portion configured to engage a base of an electronic device and a shaft engagement portion engaged with the shaft and configured to allow rotation of the shaft with respect to the shaft engagement portion; 
 a spring comprising a first end, a second end, and a major portion received in the cavity of the shaft, the spring being affixed to the shaft at the first end and affixed to the body at the second end; and 
 a friction member disposed in an open recess of the body, the friction member coupled to one of the shaft and the body and configured to provide frictional engagement between the shaft and the body. 
 
     
     
       2. The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fixation member coupled to the body and the second end of the spring. 
     
     
       3. The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a torsion bar. 
     
     
       4. The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein only the second end of the spring extends out of the cavity of the shaft. 
     
     
       5. The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft, is configured to engage a lid of the electronic device. 
     
     
       6. The hinge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the shaft comprises a plurality of splines at an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       7. The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the friction member comprises at least a clip disposed in the open recess of the body. 
     
     
       8. An electronic device comprising:
 a base; 
 a lid; and 
 a hinge assembly, comprising:
 a shaft engaged with the lid, the shaft comprising a cavity extending at least partially through the shaft; 
 a body comprising a base engagement portion engaged with the base and a shaft engagement portion engaged with the shaft and configured to allow rotation of the shall with respect to the base; 
 a fixation member coupled to the body; and 
 a spring comprising a major portion extending from a first end of the spring to an angled portion of the spring that terminates at a second end of the spring, wherein the major portion is enclosed by the cavity of the shaft, and wherein the spring is affixed to the shaft at the first end and affixed to the body at the second end, wherein the major portion is fully disposed in the cavity of the shaft, and wherein the angled portion extends out of the cavity of the shaft and forms the second end affixed to the fixation member. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a friction member, the friction member being coupled to one of the shaft and the body and configured to provide frictional engagement therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the spring comprises a torsion bar. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft comprises a plurality of splines at an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the lid includes a chin that includes a region that receives the plurality of splines. 
     
     
       13. A hinge assembly for rotating a top portion of an electronic device with respect to a bottom portion of the electronic device, the hinge assembly:
 a shaft having a cavity extending through the shaft, the shaft further having a plurality of splines on an outer surface of the shaft, the plurality of splines engaging the top portion; 
 a body comprising:
 a shaft engagement portion having a guide and an aperture within the guide, the aperture receiving the shaft; and 
 a base engagement portion affixing the body to the bottom portion; 
 
 a clutch mechanism having a friction member coupled to the body and the shaft, the friction member having a clip, wherein when the shaft rotates, the clip frictionally engages the shaft while remaining substantially stationary with respect to the body; 
 a torsion bar having a major portion positioned in the cavity and an angled portion substantially perpendicular to the major portion, the major portion having a first end affixed to and terminating at an end of the shaft that includes the plurality of splines, the angled portion having a second end; and 
 a fixation member coupled to the body, the fixation member enclosing the second end of the torsion bar, 
 wherein when the top portion is rotated relative to the bottom portion, the shaft and the major portion of the torsion bar rotate with the top portion and the angled portion of the torsion bar and the fixation member are substantially stationary. 
 
     
     
       14. The hinge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the top portion is a lid, and the bottom portion is a base. 
     
     
       15. The hinge assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the lid includes a chin that receiving the plurality of splines. 
     
     
       16. The hinge assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the major portion of the torsion bar is affixed to the shaft by welding, brazing, crimping, or bending. 
     
     
       17. The hinge assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the shaft and the body are made from steel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US14/42260, with an international filing date of Jun. 13, 2014, entitled “FRICTION HINGE WITH EMBEDDED COUNTERBALANCE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to hinge assemblies and more particularly to hinge assemblies for an electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as portable computers typically include a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, which may also be respectively referred to as a lid and a base. The lid and the base may be connected by a hinge. The base typically contains components such as printed circuit boards, disk drives, a keyboard, and a battery. The lid typically contains a display. When the portable computer is in an open configuration, the lid may be positioned substantially vertically and substantially at a right angle with respect to the base such that the display is visible to the user of the portable computer. When the portable computer is closed, the lid lies substantially flat against the base. The closed configuration protects the display and keyboard and facilitates transport of the portable computer. 
     The design of hinges for portable computers presents certain challenges. In this regard, it is generally desirable to include a clutch mechanism in a hinge assembly that holds the lid at a selected angular position with respect to the base while still allowing for easy manipulation of the lid relative to the base. A hinge with an overly stiff clutch mechanism may require a user of the portable computer to use undesirably large amounts of force to pry apart the lid from the base. Stiff clutch mechanisms may resist opening to such an extent that the entire portable computer will be lifted upwards if a user attempts to open the portable computer by lifting the lid using only one hand. To address these concerns, clutch mechanisms may be made that are less stiff. Although clutch mechanisms designed in this manner may facilitate opening of the portable computer, they may not always prevent unintended movement of the upper housing relative to the lower housing. 
     Further, in the production of portable computers, compact design thereof is frequently sought after. In this regard, even relatively small components are undergoing scrutiny in terms of the size thereof. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device such as a portable computer is provided. The portable computer may include a base and a lid. The base and the lid may be hingedly coupled by a hinge assembly. 
     The hinge assembly may include a body that engages the base and a shaft that engages the lid, or vice versa. The hinge assembly may include a clutch mechanism that affects forces associated with opening and closing the lid. Thereby, a user experience may be improved. 
     The hinge assembly may include a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism may include a friction member that causes friction during rotation of the lid. Further, the clutch mechanism may include a spring. The spring may be configured to assist or counter movement of the lid in certain instances. 
     The spring may include a torsion bar that extends through a cavity defined through the shaft. The torsion bar may be affixed to the shaft at one end and affixed to the body at the other end. For example, a fixation member may couple a second end of the torsion bar to the body. Thereby, the torsion bar may impart force during rotation of the lid. 
     Other apparatuses, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and arrangements for the disclosed apparatuses, assemblies, methods, and systems. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the disclosure by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of an electronic device, the electronic device being embodied as a portable computer and including a housing including a base and a lid positioned in a closed configuration according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  wherein the base and the lid are positioned in an open configuration according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective top view of a top case of the base of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  showing a bottom case thereof coupled to the top case according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged schematic view of Section A from  FIG. 4  showing a hinge assembly coupled to the lid and the base of the electronic device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an enlarged side view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 5  according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an enlarged sectional view through the hinge assembly of  FIG. 5  according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a method for assembling an electronic device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Representative applications of systems, apparatuses, computer program products and methods according to the presently described embodiments are provided in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described embodiments. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the presently described embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presently described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting. 
     As described in detail below, the following relates to hinge assemblies for electronic devices such as portable computers, which include a lid and a base. The hinge assembly may include a body and a shaft that respectively engage one of the base and the lid. Thereby, the hinge assembly may facilitate movement of the lid with respect to the base. 
     In this regard, the hinge assembly may include a friction member configured to create friction during rotation of the lid with respect to the base. For example, the friction member may be affixed to the body and configured to friction engage the shaft, which rotates during hinged movement of the lid. Accordingly, the friction member may assist in maintaining the lid in a user-selected position. 
     Further, the clutch mechanism may include a spring, which may increase or decrease the force associated with pivoting the lid. The spring may extend through a cavity defined along a rotational axis of the shaft. In this regard, the spring may be affixed to the shaft at a first end and coupled to the body at a second end that extends out of the shaft. Accordingly, the spring functions as a torsion bar that saves space by being positioned largely within the cavity of the shaft. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only. 
       FIG. 1  shows an electronic device  100  (e.g., a portable computer, such as a laptop computer) in which embodiments of a hinge assembly may be included. More particularly,  FIG. 1  shows a front facing perspective view of the electronic device  100  in a closed configuration. As illustrated, the electronic device  100  may include a housing  102  having a base  104 , which may also be referred to as a lower portion or a main unit, and a lid  106 , which may also be referred to as an upper portion or a cover. 
     In the closed configuration, the lid  106  and the base  104  may form what appears to be a uniform structure having a continuously varying and coherent shape that enhances both the look and feel of the electronic device  100 . The electronic device  100  may include a logo  108  at a rear case  110  of the lid  106  of the housing  102 . In one embodiment, the logo  108  can be illuminated by light emitted from a display (shown later). 
     The base  104  can be pivotally connected to the lid  106  to allow for opening and closing of the electronic device. Accordingly, the lid  106  of the housing  102  can be moved with respect to the base  104  of the housing from a closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to an open position. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front facing perspective view of the electronic device  100  in the open configuration. The display  112  may be coupled to the rear case  110  of the lid  106  such that the display is provided with structural support. In this regard, the lid  106  can be formed to have uni-body construction provided by the rear case  110  that can provide additional strength and resiliency to the lid which is particularly important due to the stresses caused by repeated opening and closing occurring during normal use. In addition to the increase in strength and resiliency, the uni-body construction of the lid  106  can reduce an overall part count by eliminating separate support features, which may decrease manufacturing cost and/or complexity. 
     The lid  106  may include a mask (also referred to as display trim)  116  that surrounds the display  112 . The display trim  116  can be formed of an opaque material such as ink deposited on top of or within a protective layer of the display  112 . Thus, the display trim  116  can enhance the overall appearance of display  112  by hiding operational and structural components as well as focusing attention onto the active area of the display. Also, the electronic device  100  may include a logo  108  at a rear case  110  of the lid  106  of the housing  102 . In one embodiment, the logo  108  can be illuminated by light emitted from a display  112 . Also, the lid  106  may be couple to a chin  136 . The lid  106  and chin  136  may rotate relative to the base  104  in order open or close the electronic device  136 . The chin  136  may be couple to a hinge assembly (discussed later) in order to perform the relative rotation. 
     The display  112  can display visual content such as a graphical user interface, still images such as photos as well as video media items such as movies. The display  112  can display images using any appropriate technology such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, etc. Further, the electronic device  100  may include an image capture device  118 . In one embodiment the image capture device  118  may be located on a transparent portion of the display trim  116 . The image capture device  118  can be configured to capture both still and video images in some embodiments. 
     The base  104  may include a top case  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the top case  120  can be configured to accommodate various user input devices such as a keyboard  124  and a touchpad  126 . In particular, these user input devices may be exposed such that a user may interact therewith when the electronic device is positioned in the open configuration. A perspective view of top case  120  showing an inner portion of top case  120  is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Further, the base  104  may include a bottom case (shown later). The top case  120  and the bottom case of the base  104  may cooperate to receive various other electronic and mechanical components therebetween. As may be understood, by way of example, the electronic components may include a mass storage device (e.g., a hard drive or a solid state storage device such as a flash memory device including non-transitory and tangible memory that may be, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory) configured to store information, data, files, applications, instructions or the like, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor or controller) configured to control the overall operation of the portable electronic device, a communication interface configured for transmitting and receiving data through, for example, a wired or wireless network such as a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), and/or a wide area network (WAN), for example, the Internet, a fan, a heat pipe, and one or more batteries. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the electronic device  100  showing the bottom case  122  coupled to the top case  120 . In some embodiments a hinge assembly may be coupled to the base  104  and the lid  106 , and located in an area denoted as Section A.  FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged view of Section A from  FIG. 4 . 
     In this regard, by way of example, the hinge assembly  130  may include a body  132  and a shaft  134 . The body  132  of the hinge assembly  130  may be coupled to the base  104 . Thus, for example, the body  132  of the hinge assembly  130  may be received between the top case  120  and the bottom case  122  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). Further, the shaft  134  may be coupled to the lid  106 . In this regard, the shaft  134  may engage a chin  136  of the lid  106 . However, as may be understood, the hinge assembly  130  may hingedly couple the base  104  and the lid  106  in a variety of other manners. 
     The hinge assembly  130  may facilitate opening and closing of the lid  106  relative to the base  104  by allowing relative rotation therebetween about a rotational axis  138 . In this regard, the hinge assembly  130  may provide friction and stabilizing forces that allow a user to smoothly open and close the lid  106  of the electronic device  100 . A satisfactory hinge assembly  130  is not excessively resistive. A hinge assembly that is overly resistive will make it difficult to open lid  106  of housing  102  smoothly. For example, a stiff hinge assembly may cause the base  104  to lift up from a table top as a user attempts to lift the lid  106 . At the same time, a weak hinge assembly will not be satisfactory. If a hinge assembly is too weak, small disturbances may cause lid  106  to slam shut or fall further open. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of hinge assemblies may include clutch mechanisms configured to facilitate easy opening of a lid while also substantially preventing unintended movement of the lid relative to the base. Such clutch mechanisms may include one or more friction members configured to resist relative movement between the lid and base. In this regard, the friction members may employ friction to resist movement of the lid. 
     Further, such clutch mechanisms may include a spring that provides force configured to assist and/or resist movement of the lid relative to the base during certain instances. For example, the spring may counteract gravity during an opening motion to facilitate opening of the electronic device and act as a counterbalance. The force provided by the spring may also cause the required forces associated with opening and/or closing the electronic device to be substantially even across the stroke regardless of the angular position of the lid with respect to the base. Alternatively, the spring may define a neutral position when the lid is at approximately a ninety degree angle with respect to the base, at which the spring applies no force between the lid and base. As may be understood, the spring may be particularly configured to provide force either assisting or countering movement of the lid across the strokes associated with opening and closing the lid in any of a variety of manners as may be desired. Further, the spring may be particularly sized and configured to provide a desired magnitude of force. 
     However, such clutch mechanisms tend to undesirably increase the size of hinge assemblies. Further, existing embodiments of clutch mechanisms may include a helical torsion spring, which may be expensive to manufacture. Accordingly, advances with respect to decreasing the size of hinge assemblies may be desirable. Further, it may be desirable to avoid usage of helical torsion springs. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the hinge assembly  130  of  FIG. 5 . As noted above, the hinge assembly  130  includes a body  132  configured to engage a base of an electronic device, such as the base  104  of the electronic device (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). As further noted above, the hinge assembly  130  includes a shaft  134  configured to engage a lid of an electronic device, such as the lid  106  of the electronic device (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). In this regard, note that while the hinge assembly  130  is generally described in terms of inclusion in the electronic device  100  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ), the hinge assembly  130  may be employed in various other embodiments of electronic devices including a base and a lid in other embodiments. 
     The body  132 , the shaft  134 , and various other components of the hinge assembly  130  may include relatively high strength materials such as steel. The body  132  may include a base engagement portion  132   a  configured to engage the base  104  of the electronic device  100  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). As illustrated, in on embodiment the base engagement portion  132   a  of the body  132  may include one or more apertures  139 . The apertures  139  may be configured to receive fasteners (e.g., screw, bolts, or pins) therethrough in order to couple the base engagement portion  132   a  of the body  132  to the base  104  of the electronic device (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). However, various other attachment mechanisms and methods may be employed to affix the base engagement portion  132   a  of the body  132  to the base  104  of the electronic device (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). For example, welding or adhesives may be employed in other embodiments. 
     Further, the body  132  may include a shaft engagement portion  132   b  engaged with the shaft  134 . The shaft engagement portion  132   b  of the body  132  may be configured to allow rotation of the shaft  134  with respect thereto. As illustrated, in one embodiment the shaft engagement portion  132   b  of the body  132  may include first and second guides  140 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view through the hinge assembly  130 . As illustrated, the guides  140  may include axially aligned apertures  142 . The axially aligned apertures  142  may receive the shaft  134  therethrough and substantially freely allow for rotation thereof. However, in other embodiments a greater or smaller number of guides may be employed. Thus, by way of further example, in one embodiment the shaft engagement portion may include a single guide having one aperture extending therethrough configured to receive the shaft. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the hinge assembly  130  may further include a clutch mechanism  144 . The clutch mechanism  144  may be configured to affect rotation of the lid  106  with respect to the base  104  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ) so as to improve a user experience. In this regard, in one embodiment the clutch mechanism  144  may include a friction member  146 . 
     The friction member  146  may be coupled to one of the shaft  134  and the body  132  and configured to provide frictional engagement therebetween. In this regard, in one embodiment the friction member  146  may include first and second clips  148  coupled to the body  132  and extending at least partially around, and in engagement with, the shaft  134 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Thus, as the shaft  134  rotates, the clips  148  rub against and frictionally engage the shaft  134  while remaining substantially stationary with respect to the body  132 . In another embodiment the clips may be coupled to the shaft and configured to frictionally engage the body. Further, a greater or smaller number of the clips may be employed in other embodiments. Alternatively, the body may integrally define the friction member. In this regard, by way of example, the guides may be configured to frictionally engage the shaft, rather than substantially freely allowing rotation of the shaft therein, or a separate portion of the body may contact the shaft so as to produce friction therebetween. 
     Regardless of the particular configuration of the friction member  146 , the friction member  146  may cause friction between the shaft  134  and the body  132  that resists rotation of the shaft with respect to the body. Accordingly, the friction member  146  may resist rotation of the lid  106  with respect to the base  104  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). In this regard, the shaft  134  may be configured to engage the lid  106  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) such that the shaft rotates when the lid is rotated with respect to the base (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). 
     Thus, by way of example, the shaft  134  may include a plurality of splines  150  at an outer surface  152  thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For example, the shaft  134  may be pressed into engagement with the chin  136  of the lid  106  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). Thereby, the splines  150  may engage the chin  136 , causing firm engagement between the lid  106  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) and the shaft  134 , which substantially prevents rotation therebetween. Accordingly, when the friction member  146  resists rotation of the shaft  134  in the manner described above, the friction member  146  also resists rotation of the lid  106  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) in order to prevent accidental opening and closing thereof and provide other benefits as described elsewhere herein. 
     The clutch mechanism  144  may additionally include a spring  154  in some embodiments. The spring  154  may be configured to provide a force that either opposes or assists opening or closing of the lid  106  relative to the base  104  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ), as described elsewhere herein. As noted above, some embodiments of clutch mechanisms included helical coil springs. However, it may be relatively expensive to manufacture such springs. Further such springs may typically be disposed on an outside of the shaft that engages the lid. Accordingly, in these embodiments, the shaft may be elongated and extend further into the base of the housing of the electronic devices in order for the spring to be positioned thereabout inside the base. Thus, embodiments of hinge assemblies including helical torsion springs may define a relatively long length as a result of the lengthened shaft and helical torsion spring placed thereabout. Further, use of a helical torsion spring extending about the shaft may result in the helical torsion spring exposed to the surrounding environment within the electronic device. Thereby, it may be necessary to design the electronic device to not include any wires, ribbons, insulation or other components in proximity to the hinge assembly to ensure that the spring does not come in contact therewith. 
     Thus, for the various reasons described above, the spring  154  included in the hinge assembly  130  of the present disclosure does not include a helical torsion spring. Rather, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the spring  154  includes a torsion bar. In this regard, the shaft defines a cavity  155  extending at least partially therethrough along a longitudinal length thereof. In the illustrated embodiment the cavity  155  extends along an entirety of the length of the shaft  134 . The spring  154  may be at least partially received in the cavity  155  of the shaft  134 . 
     The spring  154  extends between a first end  156  and a second end  158 . Further, the spring  154  may define a major portion  160  and an angled portion  162 . The major portion  160  may extend from the first end  156  to the angled portion  162 . The angled portion  162  may extend from the second end  158  to the major portion  160 . The major portion  160  may be substantially entirely disposed in the cavity  155  of the shaft  134 , whereas the angled portion  162  may extend out of the cavity of the shaft. The angled portion  162  may extend substantially perpendicularly to the major portion  160  or otherwise define an angle with respect to the major portion, which may linearly extend through the cavity  155 . 
     The spring  154  may be affixed to the shaft  134  at the first end  156  thereof. For example, the first end  156  of the spring  154  may be welded, brazed, crimped, bent (e.g., into contact with a slot in the shaft  134 ), swaged (e.g., such that the shaft and the spring each define the same non-circular shape, such as a square), or otherwise affixed in other manners such that the first end of the spring may not rotate with respect to the shaft. 
     Further, the second end  158  of the spring  154  may be affixed to the body  132 . In the illustrated embodiment the hinge assembly  130  further includes a fixation member  164  coupled to the body  132  and the second end  158  of the spring  154 . In this regard, the fixation member  164  may be welded or otherwise affixed to the body  132  such that movement thereof with respect to the body  132  is prevented. Further, the second end  158  of the spring  154  may be affixed to the fixation member  164  in a variety of manners. For example, the fixation member  164  may define a slot  166  in which the angled portion  162  is received, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, by affixing the fixation member  164  to the body  132  and restraining movement of the angled portion  162  of the spring  154  with the fixation member  164 , movement of the second end  158  of the spring  154  may be substantially avoided. 
     Thus, the shaft  134  and thereby the first end  156  of the spring  154  may rotate during pivoting movement of the lid  106  relative to the base  104  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ), as a result of the first end of the spring being affixed to the shaft. However, as a result of the angled portion  162  of the spring  154  being affixed to the body  132  via the fixation member  164  or other fixation methods and mechanisms, the second end  158  of the spring may remain substantially stationary during pivoting movement of the lid  106  relative to the base  104  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). Accordingly the spring  154  may be subjected to torsion during pivoting movement of the lid  106  relative to the base  104  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). Thus, the major portion  160  of the spring  154  may include a torsion bar. 
     As a result of employing the above-described configuration, the overall size of the hinge assembly  130  may be reduced relative to comparable embodiments of spring assemblies employing helical torsion springs. In particular, a longitudinal length of the hinge assembly  130  extending along the rotational axis of the shaft  134  may be reduced. Accordingly, the electronic device in which the hinge assembly  130  is positioned may define a reduced size or additional components may be positioned therein. Further, it is noted that employing the shaft  134  having the cavity  155  defined therethrough only marginally reduces the strength of the shaft. In this regard, the majority of the stiffness of the shaft  134  is defined by the radially outward portions thereof. Accordingly, the shaft  134  defining a hollow configuration with the cavity  155  extending therethrough may be configured to define the same stiffness as a solid shaft by only slightly increasing the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension thereof in non-cylindrical embodiments. 
     A method for assembling an electronic device such as the electronic device (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ) is also provided. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the method may include providing a base, a lid, and a hinge assembly at operation  202 . The hinge assembly may include a shaft defining a cavity extending at least partially therethrough along a longitudinal length thereof. Further, the hinge assembly may include a body including a base engagement portion and a shaft engagement portion. The shaft engagement portion may be engaged with the shaft and configured to allow rotation of the shaft with respect thereto. The hinge assembly may additionally include a spring extending between a first end and a second end and at least partially received in the cavity of the shaft. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the spring is a torsion bar. Further, the method may include engaging the shaft of the hinge assembly with the lid at operation  204 . The method may also include engaging the base engagement portion of the body of the hinge assembly with the base at operation  206 . 
     In some embodiments the method may further include affixing the first end of the spring to the shaft. The method may additionally include affixing the second end of the spring to the body. Affixing the second end of the spring to the body may include coupling a fixation member to the second end of the spring and the body. Coupling the fixation member to the spring may include coupling the fixation member to an angled portion of the spring extending out of the cavity of the shaft. 
     Further, the method may include coupling a friction member to one of the shaft and the body. The friction member may be configured to provide frictional engagement therebetween. Engaging the shaft of the hinge assembly with the lid at operation  204  may include engaging a plurality of splines extending from an outer surface of the shaft with the lid. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an electronic device  300  suitable for use with the described embodiments. In one example embodiment the electronic device  300  may be embodied in or as a controller configured for controlling assembly operations as disclosed herein. In this regard, the electronic device  300  may be configured to control or execute the above-described assembly operations for the electronic device  100  embodied as a portable computer (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). 
     The electronic device  300  illustrates circuitry of a representative computing device. The electronic device  300  may include a processor  302  that may be microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of the electronic device  300 . In one embodiment the processor  302  may be particularly configured to perform the functions described herein relating to assembling a portable computer. The electronic device  300  may also include a memory device  304 . The memory device  304  may include non-transitory and tangible memory that may be, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory. The memory device  304  may be configured to store information, computer program code, data, files, applications, instructions or the like. For example, the memory device  304  could be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor  302 . Additionally or alternatively, the memory device  304  may be configured to store instructions for execution by the processor  302 . 
     The electronic device  300  may also include a user interface  306  that allows a user of the electronic device  300  to interact with the electronic device. For example, the user interface  306  can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, touch screen, audio input interface, visual/image capture input interface, input in the form of sensor data, etc. Still further, the user interface  306  may be configured to output information to the user through a display, speaker, or other output device. A communication interface  308  may provide for transmitting and receiving data through, for example, a wired or wireless network such as a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), and/or a wide area network (WAN), for example, the Internet. 
     The electronic device  300  may also include an assembly module  310 . The processor  302  may be embodied as, include or otherwise control the assembly module  310 . The assembly module  310  may be configured for controlling or executing the assembly operations as discussed herein. 
     In this regard, for example, in one embodiment a computer program product having at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein is provided. The computer-executable program code portions, which may be stored in the memory device  304 , may include program code instructions for performing the assembly operations disclosed herein, including one or more of the operations described above in reference to  FIG. 8 , and may be executed via a processor such as the processor  302 . 
     Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be recognized that the above described disclosure may be embodied in numerous other specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Certain changes and modifications may be practiced, and it is understood that the disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing details, but rather is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20140613
Publication Date: 20160524
Grant Date: 20160524
Priority Date: 20140613
Inventors: HAMEL BRADLEY J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "Y10T16/5389", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1681", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49865", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B23P19/048", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D7/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1679", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D7/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1681", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1679", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49865", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1681", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B23P19/048", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49865", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 54834025