Hinge apparatus, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10146268-B2
Application number	US-201615234698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 11, 2016
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A hinge is disclosed. The hinge includes a first portion and a second portion. The hinge includes a first link having a first pivot and a second pivot. The first pivot is connected to the first portion. The first link is biased about the first pivot of the first link toward a first position. The hinge includes a second link having a first pivot and a second pivot. The first pivot connected to the second portion. The second pivot of the second link connected to the second pivot of the first link. The second link biased about the first pivot of the second link toward the first position. The second pivot of the first link and the second pivot of the second link defining a hinge pivot. Methods of transitioning a computing device are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge, comprising a first portion; a second portion; a first link having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first pivot connected to the first portion, the first link biased about the first pivot of the first link toward a first position; a first spring connected to the first pivot of the first link; a second link having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first pivot of the second link connected to the second portion, the second pivot of the second link connected to the second pivot of the first link, the second link biased about the first pivot of the second link toward the first position, the second pivot of the first link and the second pivot of the second link defining a hinge pivot; and a second spring connected to the first pivot of the second link.

2. The hinge of claim 1 , wherein a first distance between the first pivot and the second pivot of the first link and a second distance between the first pivot and the second pivot of the second link are the same.

3. The hinge of claim 1 , further comprising a friction connection between the second pivot of the second link and the second pivot of the first link.

4. The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the first link and the second link are configured to transition from the first position toward a second position.

5. The hinge of claim 4 , wherein a first angle between the first link and the second link in the first position and a second angle between the first link and the second link in the second position is the same.

6. The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the hinge pivot is in a first location in the first position and a second location in the second position, the first location and the second location being different.

7. The hinge of claim 6 , wherein the hinge pivot remains in the first location as the hinge moves from the first position toward a flat position.

8. The hinge of claim 6 , wherein the hinge pivot moves about an arc from the first location toward the second location as the hinge moves from the first position toward the second position.

9. The hinge of claim 8 , wherein the arc about which the hinge pivot moves is the same as a first angle between the first link and the second link in the first position or a second angle between the first link and the second link in the second position.

10. A computing device, comprising a first portion having a first inner surface and a first outer surface; a second portion having a second inner surface and a second outer surface; and a hinge including: a first link having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first pivot connected to the first portion, the first link biased about the first pivot of the first link toward a first position; a first spring connected to the first pivot of the first link; a second link having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first pivot of the second link connected to the second portion, the second pivot of the second link connected to the second pivot of the first link, the second link biased about the first pivot of the second link toward the first position, the second pivot of the first link and the second pivot of the second link defining a hinge pivot; and a second spring connected to the first pivot of the second link.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the first link and the second link are configured to transition from the first position toward a second position.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first portion includes a first cover glass and the second portion includes a second cover glass.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein a first edge of the first cover glass of the first portion extends to at least one edge of the first portion of the computing device and wherein a second edge of the second cover glass of the second portion extends to at least one edge of the second portion of the computing device.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is configured such that the first edge of the first cover glass does not contact the second edge of the second cover glass as the first link and the second link transition from the first position toward a second position.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the first inner surface of the first portion is adjacent the second inner surface of the second portion in the first position.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the first inner surface of the first portion abuts the second inner surface of the second portion in the first position.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the first outer surface of the first portion is adjacent the second outer surface of the second portion in the second position.

18. A method for transitioning a computing device to a flat configuration, comprising: moving a first portion of a computing device from a closed configuration where a first inner surface of the first portion adjacent a second inner surface of a second portion of the computing device to an open configuration where the first inner surface of the first portion does not abut the second inner surface of the second portion, the computing device comprising: the first portion having the first inner surface and a first outer surface; the second portion having the second inner surface and a second outer surface; and a hinge including: a first link having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first pivot connected to the first portion, the first link biased about the first pivot of the first link toward a first position; a first spring connected to the first pivot of the first link; a second link having a first pivot and a second pivot, the first pivot of the second link connected to the second portion, the second pivot of the second link connected to the second pivot of the first link, the second link biased about the first pivot of the second link toward the first position, the second pivot of the first link and the second pivot of the second link defining a hinge pivot; a second spring connected to the first pivot of the second link; and moving the first portion of the computing device to a flat configuration where the first inner surface of the first portion is parallel to the second inner surface of the second portion.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Tazbaz Errol Mark

Classifications

• G06F1/1615

  with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function (constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206) · CPC title

• E05D11/082

  with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces · CPC title

• G06F1/1681 Primary

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• E05D11/0081

  for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing · CPC title

• E05Y2900/606

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic