Hinge mechanism for electronic devices
OwnerRobert Charles DeMaioinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge mechanism for electronic devices is implemented by which a user can mechanically and communicatively connect two devices together. Each device supports a rotatable cylindrical shaft that is positioned near adjacent edges of each respective smartphone. The rotatable shaft includes spring-loaded tabs which lock into place against corresponding notches on a hinge pin that is positioned within a cavity of the rotatable shaft. User manipulation (e.g., rotation) of the devices translates to the rotatable shaft to thereby cause rotation of a device relative to the partner device. Upon authorized connection, various functionality can be enabled between the two devices, such as sharing displays to create one large display for viewing and sharing battery power between the devices.
Claims20
A hinge mechanism for a primary computing device, comprising:
- a rotatable shaft positioned inside the primary computing device and which extends from at least an upper portion to a lower portion of the primary computing device;
- and
- a hinge pin positioned inside a cavity of the rotatable shaft and about which the rotatable shaft rotates, the hinge pin having positional points that engage with portions of the rotatable shaft,
- wherein the rotatable shaft, by engaging with the positional points, snaps into one or more positions against the hinge pin responsive to rotational movement.
A primary computing device configured with a hinge mechanism to rotate relative to a companion computing device, comprising:
- a housing having a vertically oriented cavity;
- a display screen attached to the housing and configured to display graphical elements to a user;
- one or more processors positioned inside the housing;
- memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors;
- and
- a rotatable shaft positioned inside the cavity of the housing and fixedly secured to the housing, wherein when an edge of the primary computing device is positioned directly adjacent to an opposing edge of the companion computing device, manipulation of the primary computing device translates to the rotatable shaft about the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.