Hinge and interference apparatus for the same

[0001] Related subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/202,331, filed concurrently with the present application, entitled “HINGE AND INTERFERENCE APPARATUS FOR THE SAME”, which is assigned to the same assignee as that of the present application. The inventor of the co-pending application is Jung-Bin Chang. The Specification and Drawings of the co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to hinges and, particularly, to a hinge for a foldable electronic device and an interference apparatus for the hinge.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] A foldable electronic device including a main body and a display often uses a hinge to interconnect the main body and the display, which allows the display to be rotational with respect to the main body, and can also be folded with the main body for saving space.

[0006] A hinge normally includes two pieces respectively fixed to the main body and the display of the foldable electronic device. The pieces are rotational relative to each other. A protrusion protrudes from the first member, and a recession is defined in the second member. During rotation, when the angle of the main body and the display are within a special range, the protrusion can be received in the recession automatically, and the display is maintained at a fixed angle with respect to the main body unless external forces are applied. Typically, the protrusion and the recession are not durable. After frequent usage and due to wear and tear, the protrusion and the recession could no longer fit together tightly, thereby preventing the display from being stopped during rotation. Even worse, when the protrusion or the recession is worn out, the display cannot maintain stability at any angle with respect to the main body, which creates a quite inconvenience for users.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a first bracket 12, a second bracket 14, a shaft 16, and an interference apparatus 18.

[0016] The first bracket 12 and the second bracket 14 are rotational relative to each other. The first bracket 12 is used for being fixed to a first part of an electronic device (not shown), such as a display. The second bracket 14 is used for being fixed to a second part of the electronic device, such as a main body. Therefore, the first and second parts of the electronic device are rotational with respect to each other. The interference apparatus 18 is configured on the shaft 16.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the hinge further includes a plurality of rings 20, a plurality of washers 22, and a fastener 24, all engaged on the shaft 16.

[0018] The first bracket 12 defines a plurality of fixing holes 122 for allowing screws or rivets to extend through, thereby fixing the first bracket 12 to the first part of the electronic device. Similarly, the second bracket 14 defines a plurality of fixing holes 142 for allowing screws or rivets to extend through, thereby fixing the second bracket 12 to the second part of the electronic device. The second bracket 14 further defines a round shaft hole 144 and a retaining hole 146 beside the shaft hole 144.

[0019] The shaft 16 is fixed to an end of the first bracket 12, and a distal end of the shaft 16 is non-circular, defining a threaded portion 162 thereon. The shaft 16 extends through the shaft hole 144 of the second bracket 14, thereby allowing the second bracket 14 to rotate freely relative to the shaft 16 and the first bracket 12.

[0020] The interference apparatus 18 includes a first interference element 182 and a second interference element 184, both of which are engaged on the shaft 16. The first interference element 182 defines a circular through hole 192 for rotationally fitting the shaft 16, and the second interference element 184 defines a non-circular through hole 194 for engaging the shaft 16. The shape of the non-circular through hole 194 corresponds to the cross-section of the non-circular shaft 16, and thus, the second interference element 184, the shaft 16, and the first bracket 12 are immovable with one another.

[0021] The first interference element 182 includes a post 196 protruding therefrom to be engaged in the retaining hole 146 of the second bracket 14, thereby fixing the first interference element 182 to the second bracket 14. Moreover, a first ring of the rings 20 is engaged on the shaft 16 between the second bracket 14 and the first interference element 182. The first ring 20 defines a non-circular through hole 202 therein corresponding to the cross-section of the shaft 16, thereby making it immovable on the shaft 16. A second ring of the rings 20 is engaged on the shaft 16 and attached to a side of the second interference element 184, away from the first interference element 182. The second ring 20 defines two opposite slots 204 in a circumference thereof. Correspondingly, two opposite blocks 198 protrude from a circumference of the second interference element 184. The blocks 198 are engaged in the corresponding slots 204 to fix the second interference element 184 with the second ring 20.

[0022] Each of the washers 22 defines a circular through hole 222 therein for allowing the shaft 16 to extend therethrough. The washers 22 are generally made of elastic material. A third ring of the rings 20 is fitted about the shaft 16 and attached to one of the washers 22 away from the second ring 20. After the fastener 24 has been screwed to the threaded portion 162 of the shaft 16, the washers 22 provide elastic forces along an axial direction to tighten the second bracket 14, the interference apparatus 18, and the rings 20.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, a side surface opposite to the side that the post 196 of the first interference element 182 is protruded includes an outer circle 326 neighboring a circumference of the first interference element 182, and an inner circle 330 neighboring and surrounding the through hole 192. The outer circle 326 defines a recession 328 therein. The recession 328 includes two slanted surfaces 329 at two ends thereof to connect the bottom of the recession 328 and the outer circle 326. The inner circle 330 is elevated from and rounded by the outer circle 326, therefore, the inner circle 330 and the outer circle 326 collectively define a step on the side surface of the first interference element 182. A recession 332 is defined in the inner circle 330, with the bottom thereof being leveled with the outer circle 326. The recession 332 includes two slanted surfaces 333 at two ends thereof to connect the inner circle 330 with the bottom of the recession 332. The recessions 328 and 332 are opposite across the through hole 192.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, a side surface opposite to the blocks 198 of the second interference element 184 includes an outer circle 346 neighboring a circumference of the second interference element 184, and an inner circle 350 neighboring and rounding the through hole 194. A protrusion 348 protrudes from the outer circle 346. The protrusion 348 includes two slanted surfaces 349 at two ends thereof to connect the outer circle 346 and the top of the protrusion 348. The inner circle 350 is descended from and rounded by the outer circle 346 of the second interference element 184. Therefore, the inner circle 350 and the outer circle 346 collectively define a step on the side surface of the second interference element 184 corresponding to the step of the first interference element 182. A protrusion 352 protrudes from the inner circle 350, with the top thereof being generally leveled with the outer circle 346. The protrusion 352 includes two slanted surfaces 353 at two ends thereof to connect the inner circle 350 and the top of the protrusion 352. Corresponding to the recessions 328 and 332 of the first interference element 182, the protrusions 348 and 352 are opposite across the through hole 194.

[0025] Referring also to FIG. 5, the first and second interference elements 182, 184 are fitted about the shaft 16, with the outer circle 326 of the first interference element 182 facing and contacting the outer circle 346 of the second interference element 184. When the first part of the electronic device rotates relative to the second part of the electronic device, the first interference element 182 rotates relative to the second interference element 184. When the first interference element 182 is compressed to the second interference element 184 during rotation, the protrusions 348 and 352 of the second interference element 184 are guided to enter and are received in the corresponding recessions 328 and 332 of the first interference element 182. The steps of the first interference element 182 and the second interference element 184 are engaged with each other, with the outer circle 326 of the first interference element 182 being close to the outer circle 346 of the second interference element 184, and the inner circle 330 of the first interference element 182 being close to the inner circle 350 of the second interference element 184. Therefore, extra engagement is provided in addition to the engagement between the protrusions 348, 352 and the recessions 328, 332.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, according to a second exemplary embodiment, the first interference element 62 defines a round through hole 622 for allowing the shaft 16 to extend through. A side surface of the first interference element 62 includes an outer circle 626 neighboring a circumference of the first interference element 62, and an inner circle 630 neighboring and surrounding the through hole 622. The outer circle 626 defines a recession 628 therein. The recession 628 includes two slanted surfaces 629 at two ends thereof to connect the bottom of the recession 628 and the outer circle 626. The inner circle 630 is descended in and rounded by the outer circle 626 of the first interference element 62. Therefore, the inner circle 630 and the side surface 626 collectively define a step on the side surface of the first interference element 62. The inner circle 630 is generally leveled with the bottom of the recession 628. A recession 632 is further defined in the inner circle 630. The recession 632 includes two slanted surfaces 633 at opposite ends thereof to connect the inner circle 630 and the bottom of the recession 632. The recessions 628 and 632 are opposite across the through hole 622.

[0027] Referring also to FIG. 7, according to the first interference element 62 of the second embodiment, the second interference element 64 defines a non-circular through hole 642 for engaging the shaft 16. As a result, the second interference element 64 is fixed to and immovable with the shaft 16. The second interference element 64 includes two blocks 644 protruding therefrom away from the first interference element 62. A side surface 646 of the second interference element 64 includes an outer circle 646 neighboring a circumference of the second interference element 64, and an inner circle 650 neighboring and surrounding the through hole 642. A protrusion 648 protrudes from the outer circle 646 of the second interference element 64. The protrusion 648 includes two slanted surfaces 649 at two ends thereof to connect the outer circle 646 and the top of the protrusion 648. The inner circle 650 is raised from and rounded by the outer circle 646 of the second interference element 64. The inner circle 650 is leveled with the top of the protrusion 648. Therefore, the inner circle 650 and the outer circle 646 collectively define a step corresponding to the step of the first interference element 62. A protrusion 652 protrudes from the inner circle 650. The protrusion 652 includes two slanted surfaces 651 at two ends thereof to connect the inner circle 650 and the top of the protrusion 652. The protrusions 648 and 652 are opposite across the through hole 642.

[0028] Referring also to FIG. 8, when the first interference element 62 is compressed to the second interference element 64 during rotation, the protrusions 648 and 652 of the second interference element 64 are guided to enter and are received in the recessions 628 and 632 of the first interference element 62. The steps of the first interference element 62 and the second interference element 64 engage each other, with the outer circle 626 of the first interference element 62 being close to the outer circle 646 of the second interference element 64, and the inner circle 630 of the first interference element 62 being close to the inner circle 650 of the second interference element 64. Therefore, extra engagement is provided besides the engagement between the protrusions 648, 652 and the recessions 628, 632.

[0029] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.