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US 12,001,247 B2Granted
Hinge mechanism and foldable device having same
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsAngus Hsu, Dennis Shen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable device may include a foldable layer and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism may include a plurality of hinge segments, arranged in a plurality of rows, and with adjacent hinge segments being movably coupled so as to guide a folding and an unfolding motion of the foldable layer.
Claims18
A hinge mechanism for a computing device, the hinge mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of hinge segments, including a plurality of first hinge segments and a plurality of second hinge segments alternately arranged in a row, each of the plurality of hinge segments being movably coupled to an adjacent hinge segment of the plurality of hinge segments, wherein
- each first hinge segment includes:
- a first recess formed in a main body of the first hinge segment;
- a second recess formed in the main body of the first hinge segment;
- and
- a central wall positioned between the first recess and the second recess;
- and
- each second hinge segment includes:
- a first protrusion formed at a first end portion of a main body of the second hinge segment, wherein the first protrusion is movably coupled in the first recess of a first hinge segment adjacent to the first end portion of the second hinge segment at which the first protrusion is formed;
- and
- a second protrusion formed at a second end portion of the main body of the second hinge segment, wherein the second protrusion is movably received in the second recess of a first hinge segment adjacent to the second end portion of the second hinge segment at which the second protrusion is formed, wherein
- the hinge mechanism is installed in the computing device at a position corresponding to a bendable section of a foldable display, and
- wherein the foldable display rests against at least one of the plurality of first hinge segments and against at least one of the plurality of second hinge segments when the computing device is in an unfolded configuration.
10 more elements
A foldable device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a foldable display;
- and
- a hinge mechanism provided in the housing, at a position in the housing corresponding to a bendable section of the foldable device and a bendable section of the foldable display, wherein the hinge mechanism rotatably couples a first portion of the housing and a second portion of the housing, the hinge mechanism including a plurality of longitudinally arranged hinge segments, including a plurality of first hinge segments alternately arranged with a plurality of second hinge segments, each of the plurality of hinge segments being movably coupled to an adjacent hinge segment of the plurality of hinge segments, wherein
- each first hinge segment includes:
- a first recess formed in a first end portion of a main body of the first hinge segment;
- a second recess formed in a second end portion of the main body of the first hinge segment;
- and
- a central wall positioned between the first recess and the second recess;
- and
- each second hinge segment includes:
- a first protrusion formed at a first end portion of a main body of the second hinge segment;
- and
- a second protrusion formed at a second end portion of the main body of the second hinge segment;
- wherein the first protrusion is configured to be movably received in the first recess of an adjacent first hinge segment, and the second protrusion is configured to be movably received in the second recess of an adjacent first hinge segment;
- and
- wherein the foldable display rests against at least one of the plurality of first hinge segments and against at least one of the plurality of second hinge segments when the foldable device is in an unfolded configuration.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.