Electronic device including apparatus and method for routing flexible circuit conductors

A communication device comprising:

• a first housing containing first electronic circuitry, the first housing including a front surface and a first knuckle disposed on the front surface at one end, the front surface defining a slot;
• a shaft extending from the first knuckle along an axis, the shaft including a barrel and a bearing surface, the shaft defining a shaft slot in one side of the shaft, the shaft slot aligning with the slot;
• a second housing containing second electronic circuitry, the second housing including a second knuckle aligned with the first knuckle and the shaft for rotation about the axis, one side of the second knuckle having an open end and defining an inner rotation surface which pivotably engages the bearing surface, the second knuckle defining a second knuckle slot proximate the second electronic circuitry;
• and
• a flexible circuit element coupling the first electronic circuitry and the second electronic circuitry, the flexible circuit element being routed from the second housing through the second knuckle slot, through the open end of the second knuckle and through the shaft slot and the slot to the first housing.

A method for routing a flexible circuit element between movable housing elements, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hinge which includes a first hinge portion having a slot and a shaft, the shaft including a bore and a slotted bearing surface, and a second hinge portion defining an aperture having an inner rotation surface;
• inserting the flexible circuit element in the aperture of the second hinge portion;
• extending the flexible circuit element through the slotted bearing surface and the bore and through the slot;
• and
• positioning the shaft in the aperture so that the inner rotation surface engages the bearing surface.

A hinge integrally associated with movable housing portions of a wireless communication device for routing a flexible circuit element between the movable housing portions, the hinge comprising:

• a first housing portion including a first knuckle having a first side wall defining a first hinge aperture, the first hinge portion defining a slot adjacent the knuckle;
• a shaft extending from the first knuckle along an axis, the shaft including a shaft side wall defining a hollow bore and a shaft slot in the shaft side wall and a bearing surface;
• a second housing portion having a second side wall defining a second hinge aperture and a second slot;
• and
• a flexible circuit element having a first portion extending through the second slot to the second hinge aperture and a second portion extending through the shaft slot to the hollow bore and into the slot.