Items with fabric hinges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683591-B1
Application number	US-201916276203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2019
Priority date	Apr 23, 2018
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

An item such as a removable device cover or a portable electronic device may have a fabric hinge. The item may have first and second structures that are configured to rotate relative to each other. The fabric hinge may have first and second fabric layers that are coupled to the first structure and third and fourth fabric layers that are coupled to the second structure. A center portion of the fabric hinge may have one side that is coupled to the first and second fabric layers and an opposing second side that is coupled to the third and fourth fabric layers. In the center portion, first strands of material may extend outwardly into the first and fourth fabric layers and second parallel strands that are interspersed with the first strands may extend outwardly into the second and third fabric layers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An item, comprising:
a first structure;
a second structure;
a fabric hinge coupled between the first and second structures and configured to allow the first and second structures to rotate relative to each other about a hinge axis, wherein the fabric hinge comprises:
first and second fabric layers coupled to the first structure;
third and fourth fabric layers coupled to the second structure; and
a center portion, wherein first strands of material in the center portion that run perpendicular to the hinge axis extend into the first fabric layer and into the fourth fabric layer and wherein second strands of material in the center portion that are interspersed with the first strands of material and that run perpendicular to the hinge axis extend into the second fabric layer and the third fabric layer.

2. The item defined in claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth fabric layers comprise orthogonal strands of material that run orthogonal to the first and second strands.

3. The item defined in claim 2 wherein the first fabric layer comprises a first woven fabric layer in which the first strands are interwoven with a first portion of the orthogonal strands, the second fabric layer comprises a second woven fabric layer in which the second strands are interwoven with a second portion of the orthogonal strands, the third fabric layer comprises a third woven fabric layer in which the second strands of material are interwoven with a third portion of the orthogonal strands, and the fourth fabric layer comprises a fourth woven fabric layer in which the first strands of material are interwoven with the a fourth portion of the orthogonal strands, and wherein the center portion does not include any strands orthogonal to the first and second strands.

4. The item defined in claim 3 wherein the first structure is configured to form a first housing portion of a portable electronic device housing, wherein the second structure is configured to form a second housing portion of the portable electronic device housing, and wherein the item further comprises a keyboard in the first housing portion and a display in the second housing portion.

5. The item defined in claim 2 wherein the center portion does not include strands orthogonal to the first and second strands, wherein the first structure is configured to form a first housing portion of a portable electronic device housing, and wherein the second structure is configured to form a second housing portion of the portable electronic device housing.

6. The item defined in claim 5 further comprising a first display in the first housing portion and a second display in the second housing portion.

7. The item defined in claim 5 wherein the first and second housing portions have respective first and second bearing surfaces configured to bear against each other as the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other.

8. The item defined in claim 7 wherein the first and second bearing surfaces comprise respective curved surfaces.

9. The item defined in claim 8 wherein the first and second bearing surfaces each have a semicircular cross-sectional profile.

10. The item defined in claim 7 wherein the first and second bearing surfaces each have a planar area configured to form an angular rotation detent.

11. The item defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second structures are configured to form an electronic device housing.

12. The item defined in claim 1 further comprising:
first electrical components in the first structure; and
second electrical components in the second structure, wherein the first strands include conductive strands forming signal paths between the first and second electrical components.

13. The item defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second structures are configured to form a removable cover for an electronic device.

14. The item defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second structures are configured to form a computer housing.

15. The item defined in claim 1 further comprising polymer material in the first fabric layer that binds the first strands to orthogonal strands running perpendicular to the first strands.

16. The item defined in claim 15 wherein polymer material comprises fusible strands.

17. The item defined in claim 1 further comprising openings in the first fabric layer configured to receive portions of the first structure.

18. A fabric hinge comprising:
first and second fabric layers;
third and fourth fabric layers; and
a center portion having a first side coupled to the first and second fabric layers and an opposing second side coupled to the third and fourth fabric layers, wherein first strands of material in the center portion extend across the center portion from the first fabric layer to the fourth fabric layer and wherein second strands of material in the center portion that are interspersed with the first strands of material extend across the center portion from the second fabric layer to the first fabric layer, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth fabric layers comprise orthogonal strands of material that run perpendicular to the first and second strands.

19. The fabric hinge defined in claim 18 wherein the first fabric layer comprises a first woven fabric layer in which the first strands are interwoven with the orthogonal strands, the second fabric layer comprises a second woven fabric layer in which the second strands are interwoven with the orthogonal strands, the third fabric layer comprises a third woven fabric layer in which the second strands of material are interwoven with the orthogonal strands, and the fourth fabric layer comprises a fourth woven fabric layer in which the first strands of material are interwoven with the orthogonal strands, and wherein the center portion does not include any strands orthogonal to the first and second strands.

20. An electronic device, comprising:
a first housing portion;
first electrical components in the first housing portion;
a second housing portion configured to rotate relative to the first housing portion about a hinge axis;
second electrical components in the second housing portion;
a fabric hinge that extends along the hinge axis, wherein the fabric hinge comprises:
first and second fabric layers coupled to the first housing portion;
third and fourth fabric layers coupled to the second housing portion; and
a center portion, wherein first strands of material in the center portion extend into the first fabric layer and into the fourth fabric layer, wherein second strands of material in the center portion that are interspersed with the first strands of material extend into the second fabric layer and the third fabric layer, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth fabric layers comprise orthogonal strands of material that run orthogonal to the first and second strands.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 20 further comprising:
conductive strands of material forming signal paths through the fabric hinge.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Podhajny Daniel A
• Sunshine Daniel D
• Gomes Didio V
• Robinson Kevin M
• Lanas Mariel L
• Miller Ari P
• Farahani Houtan

Classifications

• A45C11/003

  for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• A45C11/002

  for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones · CPC title

• D03D11/02

  Fabrics formed with pockets, tubes, loops, folds, tucks or flaps (fabrics consisting of a single tube D03D3/02) · CPC title

• A45C13/005

  Hinges · CPC title

• A45C11/00

  Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) · CPC title