Bell crank linked hinge mechanism for a computing device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorMark Senatori
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Examples disclosed herein provide a hinge mechanism to pivotally connect housings of a computing device along an axis. As an example, the hinge mechanism includes a first guide rail fixed to a first housing of the computing device, a second guide rail fixed to a second housing of the computing device, and an intermediate guide rail to connect the first and second guide rails to each other. As an example, the hinge mechanism includes a rotation assembly linked to the first guide rail via a bell crank, wherein a rotational axis of the rotation assembly is offset from the axis, and the rotation assembly is to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when opening or closing the first housing with respect to the second housing.
Claims15
A hinge mechanism to pivotally connect first and second housings of a computing device along an axis, the hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first guide rail fixed to a first housing of the computing device;
- a second guide rail fixed to a second housing of the computing device;
- an intermediate guide rail to connect the first and second guide rails to each other, wherein the first and second guide rails are concentric along the axis and fit with the intermediate guide rail and slide one with another;
- and a rotation assembly connected to the first guide rail via a bell crank and a link, the bell crank and the link rotationally coupled to each other along a second axis, wherein a rotational axis of the rotation assembly is offset from the axis, and the rotation assembly is to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when opening or closing the first housing with respect to the second housing.
A computing device comprising:
- a display member;
- a base member;
- and a hinge mechanism to pivotally connect the display and base members along an axis, the hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first guide rail fixed to the display member;
- a second guide rail fixed to the base member;
- an intermediate guide rail to connect the first and second guide rails to each other, wherein the first and second guide rails are concentric along the axis and fit with the intermediate guide rail and slide one with another;
- and a rotation assembly connected to the first guide rail via a bell crank and a link, the bell crank and the link rotationally coupled to each other along a second axis, wherein a rotational axis of the rotation assembly is offset from the axis, and the rotation assembly is to provide a level of resistance to a torque provided when opening or closing the display member with respect to the base member.
A hinge mechanism to pivotally connect first and second housings of a computing device along an axis, the hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first guide rail fixed to a first housing of the computing device;
- a second guide rail fixed to a second housing of the computing device;
- an intermediate guide rail to connect the first and second guide rails to each other, wherein the first and second guide rails are concentric along the axis and fit with the intermediate guide rail and slide one with another;
- and a rotation assembly connected to the first guide rail via a bell crank and a link, the bell crank and the link rotationally coupled to each other along a second axis, wherein a rotational axis of the rotation assembly is offset from the axis, and the rotation assembly is to provide a variable level of resistance to a torque provided when opening or closing the first housing with respect to the second housing, wherein the variable level of resistance is based on an angle of the first housing with respect to the second housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.