Impact resistant hinge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11943885-B2
Application number	US-202217567819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2022
Priority date	Oct 1, 2019
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A computing device includes a first portion and a second portion rotatable relative to each other about a hinge. A bumper is located between the hinge and the first portion. The bumper includes an impact resistant material. The impact resistant material absorbs some or all of the force from an impact between a hinge body and the first portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device, comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion, the second portion including:
a connecting member directly adhered to and extending underneath the second portion, the connecting member having a connecting profile, and the connecting profile including one or more connection features; and
an impact resistant member connected to the connecting profile and extending over the one or more connection features; and

a rotating and translating hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection features include cut-outs along the connecting profile.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection features include protrusions along the connecting profile.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection features include knurling.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection features include cross-hatching.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting profile is oriented along a lateral end of the connecting member.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein an extension of the impact resistant member into the connecting profile increases a mechanical strength of a connection between the impact resistant member and the connecting member.

8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is connected to the first portion with an adhesive.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant member extends above a surface of the first portion.

10. A computing device, comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion, the second portion including:
a connecting member directly adhered to and extending underneath the second portion, the connecting member including a lip; and
an impact resistant member overmolded over the connecting member and the lip; and

a rotating and translating hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the lip is a bend in the connecting member.

12. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the lip extends perpendicular to the connecting member.

13. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the impact resistant member is overmolded to match to contours of the connecting member.

14. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the impact resistant member is connected to the second portion through the connecting member.

15. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the impact resistant member contacts both the second portion and the connecting member.

16. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the connecting member is secured to the second portion with an adhesive layer.

17. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the connecting member includes one or more connection features.

18. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more connection features are located on the lip.

19. A computing device, comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion;
a connecting member directly adhered to and extending underneath the second portion, the connecting member including one or more connection features along a connection profile;
an impact resistant material molded to the connecting member at the one or more connection features, the one or more connection features creating a mechanical connection between the impact resistant material and the connecting member; and
an adhesive layer connecting the connecting member to the first portion.

20. The computing device of claim 19 , wherein the connecting member includes a lip.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Campbell Kent Allen
• Raghavendra Prasad

Classifications

• H05K5/0226 Primary

  Hinges · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  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

• G06F1/1656 Primary

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

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

• G06F1/1618

  the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure · CPC title