Hinge apparatus having a self-latching hinge shaft for foldable radiotelephones
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorJames D. Domoleczny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hinge apparatus rotatably couples about an axis of rotation (303) a body portion (101) and a flip element (103) of a foldable radiotelephone (100). The hinge apparatus includes a hinge shaft (205) having an unlatched and latched position on the axis of rotation (303) relative to the body portion (101). The hinge shaft (205) may be removeably latched to a front housing portion (231) of the body portion (101) wherein the hinge apparatus may be tested before final assembly of the foldable radiotelephone (100). The hinge shaft (205), accessible through a slot (245) in the body portion (101), may be removeably latched from the outside of the body portion (101).
Claims8
A foldable radiotelephone comprising:
- first and second housing portions;
- a first hinge shaft for rotatably coupling the first and second housing portions about an axis of rotation, the first hinge shaft having lateral surfaces and a circumferential surface;
- and
- a first spring arm integrally formed with the first hinge shaft and disposed parallel to the axis of rotation, the first spring arm having a first end attached to a lateral surface of the first hinge shaft and a second end disposed in free space, the second end of the first spring arm being permitted to flex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the first spring arm latches the first hinge shaft and the first housing portion when the first hinge shaft is moved to a first axial position on the axis of rotation and unlatches the first hinge shaft and the first housing portion when the first hinge shaft is moved to a second axial position on the axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.