Belt synchronized expandable dual axle hinge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11797059-B2
Application number	US-202117245467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Sep 26, 2019
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of first and second chassis that slide to move the axles to varied distances. The first and second axles transfer rotation through one or more belts and first and second transfer pulleys rotationally coupled with members that adjust transfer pulley positions as the distance between the first and second axles change to maintain belt tension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for rotating information handling system housing portions about a hinge assembly, the method comprising:
rotationally coupling first and second housing portions with the hinge assembly, the hinge assembly having first and second axles in a parallel arrangement biased to a first spacing;
rotating the first and second housing portions;
translating the rotating between the first and second axles with one or more belts routed around first and second transfer pulleys; and
expanding the first and second axles apart from each other by adjusting the relative position of the first and second transfer pulleys.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
rotationally coupling the first axle to the first transfer pulley by a first member, rotation transferred between the first axle and first transfer pulley by first of the one or more belts; and
rotationally coupling the second axle to the second transfer pulley by a second member, rotation transferred between the second axle and the second transfer pulley by a second of the one or more belts; and
transferring rotation between the first and second transfer pulleys by a third of the one or more belts.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
biasing the first and second axles towards each other; and
overcoming the biasing to perform the expanding at a threshold separation force associated with a pressure constraint of the display.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the expanding further comprises:
coupling the first axle with a bracket through a counter rotation drive; and
responding to counter rotation at the first axle with the expanding.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
rotationally coupling the first axle to the first transfer pulley by a first member;
rotationally coupling the second axle to the second transfer pulley by a second member;
rotationally coupling the first transfer pulley to the second transfer pulley by a third member; and
transferring rotation between the first and second axles with a single belt proceeding around the first and second transfer pulleys.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second axles and the first and second transfer pulleys integrate grooves to guide the single belt.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Hallar James H
• Morrison John Trevor

Classifications

• 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

• E05D11/1028

  for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open · CPC title

• 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

• E05D3/122

  Gear hinges · CPC title

• E05Y2900/606

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic