# US 5,704,094 A · Electronic device having a cam assembly functioning as a depressible hinge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,094 A - Document ID: US5704094A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/703,238 - Filed: 1996-08-26 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1995-05-18 - Assignees: Motorola, Inc. - Inventors: Michael J. Hartigan; Scott R. Wilcox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704094A ## CPC - H04M 1/0214: {Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235)} - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - E05D 7/1011: {biased by free springs (E05D7/1016 takes precedence)} - E05D 11/1078: {the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot} - E05F 1/061: {with cams or helical tracks} - E05F 1/1223: {with a compression or traction spring} - E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - 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 An electronic device (100) that has an housing assembly and electrical circuit therein includes a first housing portion (116), a second housing portion (118) coupled to the first housing portion (116), and a cam assembly (102) rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions (116, 118). The cam assembly (102) includes a cam (220), a cam follower (205), and a spring (224). The spring (224) resiliently biases the cam (220) and the cam follower (205) into engagement. At least one of the cam (220) and cam follower (205) is depressible within one of the first and second housing portions (116, 118) for permitting their assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A housing assembly, comprising: a first housing portion having a cavity; a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion; and a cam assembly contained by the cavity of the first housing portion, the cam assembly rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions, the cam assembly consisting of: a cam, a cam follower, and a spring resiliently biasing the cam and the cam follower into engagement, wherein at least one of the cam and cam follower is depressible within the cavity of the first housing portion for permitting assembly with the second housing portion, wherein one of the cam and cam follower has a keyed portion, and wherein one of the cam and cam follower is keyed to the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second housing portion includes a keyed portion that engages to the keyed portion of one of the cam and cam follower. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second housing portions comprises a cover and the other housing portion comprises a body. ### Claim 4 A housing assembly, comprising: a first housing portion having a cavity; a second housing portion rotationally coupled to the first housing portion; and cam assembly means contained by the cavity of the first housing portion, the cam assembly means coupled to the first and second housing portions, the cam assembly means consisting of: cam means, cam follower means, and resiliently biasing means for biasing the cam means and the cam follower means into engagement, wherein at least one of the cam means and cam follower means is depressible within the cavity of the first housing portion for permitting assembly with the second housing portion, and wherein one of the cam means and cam follower means is keyed to the cavity. ### Claim 5 A housing assembly, comprising: a first housing portion having a cavity; a second housing portion having a keyed portion coupled to the first housing portion; and a cam assembly contained by the cavity of the first housing portion, the cam assembly coupled to the first and second housing portions, the cam assembly consisting of: a cam, a cam follower, a spring resiliently biasing the cam and the cam follower into engagement, and a cap holding, the cam, the cam follower and the spring in place on the first housing portion, one of the cam and cam follower has a keyed portion for engaging the keyed portion included in the second housing portion, wherein one of the cam and cam follower is keyed to the cavity, and at least one of the cam and cam follower is depressible within the cavity of the first housing portion for permitting interlocking assembly of the first and second housing portions, and for rotational coupling at the first and second housing portions. ### Claim 6 An electronic device, comprising: an electrical circuit; and a housing assembly including the electrical circuit, comprising: a first housing portion having a cavity, a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, and a cam assembly contained by the cavity of the first housing portion, the cam assembly rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions, the cam assembly consisting of: a cam, a cam follower, and a spring resiliently biasing the cam and the cam follower into engagement, wherein at least one of the cam and cam follower is depressible within the cavity of the first housing portion for permitting assembly with the second housing portion, wherein one of the cam and cam follower has a keyed portion, and wherein one of the cam and cam follower is keyed to the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the electrical circuit is a selective call receiver for receiving selective call messages from a radio communication system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, the electrical circuit comprising in the second housing portion: a radio receiver for receiving radio signals from a radio communication system and for generating a demodulated signal; a processor coupled to the radio receiver for controlling operation of the electronic device, and for processing a message included in the demodulated signal; an alerting device coupled to the processor for alerting a user of the message received by the electronic device; and user controls coupled to the processor for enabling control of the electronic device by the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic device as set forth in claim 8, the electrical circuit comprising in the first housing portion: an antenna coupled to the radio receiver; and a user interface for conveying messages to the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of the first and second housing portions is a cover; and the other housing portion is a body coupled to the cover, wherein the body and the cover are rotatable about an axis of coupling and rotation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second housing portion includes a keyed portion that engages to the keyed portion of one of the cam and cam follower.