Hinge unit and method for limiting rotation angle of hinge unit
AssigneeNEC Platforms, Ltd.
InventorShinichirou Yonemaru
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge unit includes a first member, a second member, a coupling member, a protrusion fixed to the first member, and a tilt stopper. When the tilt stopper is fixed at a position (P1) of the second member, the tilt stopper and the protrusion are brought into contact with each other, to thereby limit a movable range within a first angle range. When the tilt stopper is fixed at a position (P2) of the second member, the tilt stopper and the protrusion are held in non-contact with each other irrespective of a pivoting angle.
Claims9
A display apparatus, comprising:
- a hinge unit, comprising:
- a first member;
- a second member;
- a coupling member configured to couple the first member and the second member to each other in a pivotable manner;
- a first stopper member fixed to the first member;
- and a first limiting member capable of being fixed to at least two positions of the second member, the first limiting member being configured to limit a mutually pivotable angle between the first member and the second member within a first angle range in such a manner that the first limiting member is brought into contact with the first stopper member when the first limiting member is fixed at a first position of the second member, and being held in non-contact with the first stopper member irrespective of a pivoting angle when the first limiting member is fixed at a second position of the second member,
- a first casing fixed to the first member, and a second casing fixed to the second member,
- wherein the second casing comprises a cover which is removable, and
- wherein the first stopper member prevents mounting of the cover when the first stopper member is at the second position.
A method of limiting a pivoting angle of a hinge unit of a display apparatus, the hinge unit comprising a first member, a second member, and a coupling member configured to couple the first member and the second member to each other in a pivotable manner, the display apparatus comprising the hinge unit, a first casing and a second casing, the first member being fixed to the first casing, the second member being fixed to the second casing, the method comprising:
- limiting a mutually pivotable angle between the first member and the second member within a first angle range in such a manner that a first limiting member and a first stopper member fixed to the first member are brought into contact with each other when the first limiting member is fixed at a first position of the second member;
- and
- holding the first limiting member and the first stopper member in non-contact with each other irrespective of a pivoting angle when the first limiting member is fixed at a second position of the second member different from the first position, and imposing, by the first limiting member, no limitation on a pivotable angle of the second member with respect to the first member,
- wherein the first limiting member has a through hole and has an elongated opening,
- wherein the hinge unit further comprises a fixing tool that is passed through the through hole and is configured to fix the first limiting member to the second member, and
- wherein the fixing tool fixes the first limiting member at any positions including the first position and the second position of the second member in accordance with a position of the through hole through which the fixing tool is passed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.