# US 11,079,807 B1 · Friction roller hinge for electronic devices and method for making roller and spacer elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,807 B1 - Document ID: US11079807B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/053,693 - Filed: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-03 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Kevin M. Robinson; Houtan R. Farahani; Ari P. Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079807B1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - E05D 7/00: Hinges or pivots of special construction (used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02) - E05D 11/0081: {for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing} - E05D 11/082: {with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces} - G06F 1/1616: {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} - G06F 1/1637: {Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing} - G06F 1/1679: {for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence)} - E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly may include roller elements and spacer elements positioned between adjacent roller elements. The hinge assembly couples with two housing parts, and allows movement of the housing parts with respect to one another. The roller elements synchronously rotate along surfaces of the spacer elements during rotation of one of the housing parts. Also, in order to maintain engagement between the roller elements and the spacer elements, a strap may extend through openings of the roller elements and the spacer elements. Further, the strap may provide the hinge assembly with a desired stiffness. For example, when the first housing part ceases rotational movement, the strap may cause the first housing part to maintain its position relative to the second housing part. Also, the hinge assembly may include a tensioning element coupled to the strap in order to provide tension to the strap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laptop computing device, comprising: a base portion that carries an input mechanism; a display housing that carries a display that is controlled by the input mechanism, wherein the display housing is rotatable from an open position to a closed position with respect to the base portion; a hinge assembly coupled to the display housing and the base portion, the hinge assembly comprising: a first cylindrical roller element comprising a first opening, a second cylindrical roller element comprising a second opening, and a spacer element comprising: a first concave surface engaged with the first roller cylindrical element, a second concave surface engaged with the second cylindrical roller element, a first protrusion extending from the first concave surface and located in the first opening, and a second protrusion extending from the second concave surface and located in the second opening; and a strap coupled to the display housing and the base portion and extending through the first roller element, the second roller element, and the spacer element, the strap providing a stiffness such that a transition from the open position to the closed position causes synchronous motion of the first roller element, the second roller element, and the spacer element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly provides a mechanical stop defined by the strap being pinched between i) the first cylindrical roller element and the spacer element, and ii) the second cylindrical roller element and the spacer element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The laptop computing device of claim 2, further comprising: a third cylindrical roller element; and a second spacer element between the second cylindrical roller element and the third cylindrical roller element, wherein the mechanical stop includes the spacer element in contact with the second spacer element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein: the first opening defines a first internal surface, the second opening defines a second internal surface, and the hinge assembly provides a mechanical stop defined by the first protrusion being engaged with the first internal surface and the second protrusion being engaged with the second internal surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein in the closed position, the display housing and the base portion combine to define a circular opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein: the input mechanism comprises a keyboard, and the display housing is rotatable from an open position defined by the keyboard uncovered by the display housing to the closed position defined by the input mechanism covered by the display housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The laptop computing device of claim 1, further comprising an end piece positioned in the base portion and coupled the strap, wherein the strap includes fibers aligned in a first direction and wherein the end piece includes fibers aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The laptop computing device of claim 6, further comprising a second strap and a third strap, the second strap and the third strap extending through the first roller element, the second roller element, and the spacer element, wherein: the strap defines a first strap, the second strap counterbalances the display housing, and the third strap comprises a flexible circuit that electrically couples the display with a processor carried by the base portion. ### Claim 9 A system, comprising: a first housing part; a second housing part that defines an internal volume; a hinge assembly that rotatably couples the first housing part with the second housing part, the hinge assembly comprising: a first cylindrical roller element, a second cylindrical roller element, and a spacer element positioned between, and providing a frictional engagement with, the first cylindrical roller element and the second cylindrical roller element, wherein movement of the first housing part with respect to the second housing part causes a synchronous movement of the first cylindrical roller element, the second cylindrical roller element, and the spacer element; and a strap extending through the first roller element, spacer element, and the second roller element; and an adjustable tension system coupled to the strap and fully enclosed within the internal volume, the adjustable tension system comprising: a strap retention element coupled, and providing a force to, the strap, the force causing the synchronous movement; and a fastener coupled with strap retention element and configured to adjust the force. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the strap maintains the frictional engagement between the spacer element and the first cylindrical roller element and the second roller cylindrical element during the rotational movement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the strap comprises: a glass fiber; and a flexible material coupled with the glass fiber, wherein when a pulling force is applied to the flexible material, the flexible material stretches and elongates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the first roller cylindrical element comprises an opening through which the strap passes, the opening defined by a flat surface and a curved surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the strap allows the hinge assembly to bend in a first direction but limits the hinge assembly to a predetermined angle in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a first housing part defined by first dimension extending from a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a second housing part rotatably coupled to the first housing part by a first hinge assembly, the first hinge assembly comprising: a first cylindrical roller element comprising a first opening, a second cylindrical roller element comprising a first opening, a spacer element comprising: a first concave surface frictionally engaged with the first roller cylindrical element, a second concave surface frictionally engaged with the second cylindrical roller element, wherein each of the first cylindrical roller element, the second cylindrical roller element, and the spacer element are defined by a second dimension that extends from the first end to the second end; a first protrusion extending from the first concave surface and positioned in the first opening, and a second protrusion extending from the second concave surface and positioned in the second opening; a third housing part; and a second hinge assembly coupled to the second housing part and the third housing part, the second hinge assembly allowing rotational movement between the second housing part and the third housing part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first cylindrical roller element and the second cylindrical roller element provide a synchronous rotational movement from a closed position defined by the first housing part being positioned over the second housing part to an open position defined by the first housing part being rotated away from the second housing part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first housing part includes a concave portion that receives the first cylindrical roller element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first hinge assembly allows for rotation of the first housing part relative to the second housing part subsequent to the second hinge assembly allowing the second housing part to separate from the third housing part by a predetermined angle, and wherein the first hinge assembly prevents the rotation of the first housing part relative to the second housing part prior to the second housing part separating from the third housing part by the predetermined angle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first dimension equals the second dimension. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first cylindrical roller element comprises at least one convex surface and at least one flat surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising: a display carried by the first housing part; and a keyboard carried by the second housing part. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the first housing part defines a first rectangular housing part, the second housing part defines a second rectangular housing part, and in the closed position the first rectangular housing part is parallel with respect to the second rectangular housing part.