Preassembled friction hinge module, hinged system, and method for making preassembled friction hinge modules and systems

A method for assembling a hinge module configured for coupling a first component to a second component, the method comprising:

• placing a torque element inside an interior space of a housing having a rear wall and a side wall together at least partially defining the interior space, the side wall of the housing comprises a detent or protrusion extending into the interior space within the housing and the rear wall defining an aperture, the torque element being configured for frictionally engaging a shaft and having a perimeter defining a recess;
• applying a lubricant to the torque element;
• aligning the aperture defined in the rear wall of the housing with an aperture defined in the torque element to create a passage;
• inserting the shaft defining a pivot axis through the passage;
• placing a cover adjacent the torque element such that an end of the shaft is exposed through an aperture defined in the cover and the cover extends at least partially into the interior space of the housing, wherein the aperture of the rear wall, the aperture defined in the torque element, and the aperture defined in the cover are aligned with the pivot axis of the shaft, with the shaft extending through at least the aperture of the cover, the interior space, and the aperture of the rear wall;
• and
• deforming the side wall of the housing to secure the cover relative to the housing.

A hinge module set configured for coupling a first component to a second component for pivotal movement relative to one another, the hinge module set comprising a first preassembled hinge module configured to control relative pivotal movement of the first and second components in a first pivot direction, and a second preassembled hinge module configured to control relative pivotal movement of the first and second components in a second pivot direction opposite the first direction, the first and second preassembled hinge modules each comprising:

• a shaft defining a pivot axis;
• a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft;
• and
• a housing having a side wall and a rear wall and a cover, the side wall and the rear wall and the cover together defining an interior space within the housing, wherein the interior space is configured to receive the torque element inside the housing, wherein the side wall of the housing comprises a detent or protrusion extending into the interior space within the housing and being configured to secure the torque element inside the housing and limit rotation of torque element relative to the housing;
• wherein the cover defines a first aperture and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture being aligned with the pivot axis of the shaft, with the shaft extending through at least the first aperture, the interior space of the housing, and the second aperture;
• wherein the shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component;
• and
• wherein the housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.