Hinge assembly for a computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10528090-B2
Application number	US-201515563980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein provide a hinge assembly for a computing device. One example hinge assembly includes a first bracket attached to a first member of the computing device and a second bracket attached to a second member of the computing device. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pivotally connecting the first bracket to the second bracket along a first axis, and a first gear rotatably connected to the first bracket along the first axis. The hinge assembly further includes a set of gears, each gear from the set of gears rotatably connected to different axes parallel to the first axis. As an example, the set of gears is to provide friction against the first gear to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when the first bracket is to be moved along the first axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge assembly for a computing device, the hinge assembly comprising:
a first bracket to be attached to a first member of the computing device;
a second bracket to be attached to a second member of the computing device;
a hinge coupled to the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the first bracket is to pivot relative to the second bracket about a first axis via the hinge;
a first gear rotatably connected to the first bracket, wherein the first gear is to rotate about the first axis when the first bracket pivots relative to the second bracket about the first axis; and
a set of gears, each gear from the set of gears rotatably aligned with different axes that are parallel to the first axis, wherein the set of gears are rotatably coupled to the first gear such that rotation of the first gear about the first axis is to cause a corresponding rotation of the set of gears about the different axes, wherein the set of gears is to provide friction against the first gear to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when the first bracket is to be pivoted about the first axis relative to the second bracket.

2. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein a quantity of gears in the set of gears is to determined a magnitude of the friction provided by the set of gears against the first gear.

3. The hinge assembly of claim 2 , wherein increasing the quantity of the gears in the set of gears is to increase the magnitude of the friction provided by the set of gears against the first gear.

4. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein, for each gear from the set of gears, a pivot point of the gear around a respective axis from the different axes parallel to the first axis has a frictional value to provide a level of resistance of the rotation of the gear around the respective axis.

5. The hinge assembly of claim 4 , wherein, for each gear from the set of gears, the frictional value of the pivot point of the gear around the respective axis from the different axes parallel to the first axis is provided by an element comprising friction hinges, clutches, washers, and bands.

6. The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first gear comprises teeth to mesh with teeth in a second gear from the set of gears in order to synchronize the rotation of the set of gears with the first gear.

7. A computing device comprising:
a display member;
a base member rotatably connected to the display member around an axis of rotation; and
a hinge assembly to join the display member to the base member, the hinge assembly comprising:
a first bracket attached to the display member;
a second bracket attached to the base member;
a hinge pivotally coupled to the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the display member is to pivot relative to the base member about the axis of rotation via the hinge;
a first gear rotatably connected to the first bracket, wherein the first gear is to rotate about the axis of rotation when the display member pivots relative to the base member about the axis of rotation; and
a set of gears, each gear from the set of gears rotatably aligned with different axes that are parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein the set of gears are rotatably coupled to the first gear such that rotation of the first gear about the axis of rotation is to cause a corresponding rotation of the set of gears about the different axes, wherein the set of gears is to provide friction against the first gear to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when the display member is to be pivoted about the axis of rotation relative to the base member.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein a quantity of gears in the set of gears is to determine a magnitude of the friction provided by the set of gears against the first gear.

9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein increasing the quantity of the gears in the set of gears is to increase the magnitude of the friction provided by the set of gears against the first gear.

10. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein, for each gear from the set of gears, a pivot point of the gear around a respective axis from the different axes parallel to the axis of rotation has a frictional value to provide a level of resistance of the rotation of the gear around the respective axis.

11. A computing device comprising:
a display member;
a kickstand rotatably connected to the display member around an axis of rotation, wherein the kickstand is to support the display member in a plurality of viewing angles; and
a hinge assembly to join the kickstand to the display member, the hinge assembly comprising:
a first bracket attached to the kickstand;
a second bracket attached to the display member;
a hinge pivotally coupled to the first bracket and the second member about the axis of rotation via the hinge;
a first gear rotatably connected to the first bracket, wherein the first gear is to rotate about the axis of rotation when the kickstand pivots relative to the display member about the axis of rotation; and
a set of gears, each gear from the set of gears rotatably aligned with different axes that are parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein the set of gears are rotatably coupled to the first gear such that rotation of the first gear about the axis of rotation is to cause a corresponding rotation of the set of gears about the different axes, wherein the set of gears is to provide friction against the first gear to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when the kickstand is to be pivoted about the axis of rotation relative to the display member.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein a quantity of gears in the set of gears is to determine a magnitude of the friction provided by the set of gears against the first gear.

13. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein, for each gear from the set of gears, a pivot point of the gear around a respective axis from the different axes parallel to the axis of rotation has a frictional value to provide a level of resistance of the rotation of the gear around the respective axis.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Chen Roger
• Wu Kt
• Ku Charlie

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• E05D11/082

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

• E05D3/122

  Gear hinges · CPC title

• F16M13/005

  integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported · CPC title

• H05K5/0234

  Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor · CPC title