Hinge mechanism for rotatable component attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9304549-B2
Application number	US-201313852848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2013
Priority date	Mar 28, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for rotatable component attachment is described. In at least some implementations, the hinge mechanism enables a support component to be adjustably attached to an apparatus, such as a computing device. For example, the hinge mechanism can be employed to rotatably attach a kickstand to a mobile computing device. The kickstand can be rotated via the hinge mechanism to various positions to provide support for different orientations of the computing device. For example, the kickstand can be positioned to support the computing device in a typing orientation such that input can be provided via an associated input device. As another example, the kickstand can be positioned to enable viewing and/or interaction with the computing device, such as in a portrait viewing orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a kickstand configured to be rotatably attached to a rear portion of a computing device; and
at least one hinge that attaches a portion of the kickstand to the rear portion of the computing device, the hinge being configured to be held in two or more preset open positions such that the kickstand is positionable relative to the computing device according to the two or more preset open positions, the hinge including:
a hinge ring attached to the kickstand and that is rotatable in conjunction with the kickstand;
a hinge ring follower that applies pressure against the hinge ring to cause the hinge ring follower to engage in one or more notches on a surface of the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in a preset open position of the two or more preset open positions; and
a spring positioned against the hinge ring follower and that applies pressure against the hinge ring follower to cause the hinge ring follower to apply pressure against the hinge ring.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hinge further comprises:
a hinge frame;
a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, the hinge ring being rotatably disposed relative to the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the hinge ring follower applies pressure into notches in a surface of the hinge ring to hold the hinge ring in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in at least some of the two or more preset open positions.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises:
a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in others of the two or more preset open positions.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein one of the two or more preset open positions corresponds to a 180 degree rotation of the kickstand relative to the rear portion of the computing device.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hinge ring includes a hinge mount portion that is attached directly to the kickstand.

9. A hinge comprising:
a hinge frame;
a hinge ring rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, the hinge ring including one or more notches and being attachable to a component to enable rotation of the component relative to the hinge frame; and
a hinge ring follower and a hinge ring spring disposed within the hinge frame, the hinge ring spring applying pressure to the hinge ring follower such that the hinge ring follower presses against the hinge ring and when the hinge ring is rotated to an open position relative to the hinge frame, the hinge ring follower applies pressure into the one or more notches of the hinge ring to cause the hinge ring to assume one or more preset open positions for the hinge.

10. A hinge as recited in claim 9 , further comprising a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring in an opening direction beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge.

11. A hinge as recited in claim 9 , wherein the hinge is attached to a computing device, and the component comprises a kickstand that is rotatable via the hinge to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface.

12. A hinge as recited in claim 9 , wherein the hinge is attached to a computing device, and the component comprises a kickstand that is rotatable via the hinge to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface, wherein at least some of the multiple orientations correspond to the one or more preset open positions of the hinge.

13. A hinge as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular position causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge; and
a ring support follower that applies pressure to the ring support to hold the ring support in the one or more other preset open positions.

14. A hinge as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a ring support spring that applies pressure to the ring support follower to enable the ring support follower to apply pressure to the ring support.

15. A computing device comprising:
a housing; and
at least one hinge attached to the housing and a kickstand such that the kickstand is positionable via the hinge at preset positions to support multiple orientations of the computing device relative to an adjacent surface, the hinge including:
a hinge frame;
a hinge ring rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, the hinge ring including one or more notches and being attached to the kickstand such that the kickstand is rotatable relative to the housing; and
a hinge ring follower and a hinge ring spring disposed within the hinge frame, the hinge ring spring applying pressure against the hinge ring follower such that the hinge ring follower presses against the hinge ring and when the hinge ring is rotated to an open position relative to the hinge frame, the hinge ring follower engages against the one or more notches of the hinge ring to cause the hinge ring to assume one or more preset open positions for the hinge.

16. A computing device as described in claim 15 , further comprising a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially within the ring support such that rotation of the hinge ring to a particular position relative to the ring support causes the hinge ring to engage the ring support, and further rotation of the hinge ring beyond the particular positions causes corresponding rotation of the ring support with respect to the hinge frame to cause the ring support to assume one or more other preset open positions for the hinge.

17. A computing device as described in claim 15 , wherein the one or more preset positions comprise a 180 degree rotation of the kickstand relative to the housing.

18. A computing device as described in claim 15 , wherein the hinge further includes:
a ring support rotatably disposed at least partially within the hinge frame, wherein the hinge ring is rotatably disposed at least partially

Assignees

• Microsoft Corp
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Siddiqui Kabir

Classifications

• G06F1/1681

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

• F16M11/10

  around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16M13/005 Primary

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

• G06F1/1637 Primary

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G06F1/166

  related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle · CPC title