Hinge apparatus for flip style portable phone
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsThomas J. Chintala, Jose F. Olivas, Martin J. Kimbell, Miguel A. Cano, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge apparatus has relatively rotatable first and second parts, one of which is adapted to be secured to the phone housing and the other of which is adapted to be secured to a cover. One of the parts comprises a cam and the other comprises a follower, the cam having end stops corresponding to an open and a closed position of the cover relative to the housing, and a convex surface between the end stops to provide initial resistance to rotation of the cover out of the open and closed positions. The parts are spring loaded such that the cover is snapped into the open and closed positions, respectively, once the follower passes the arcuate surface of the cam.
Claims18
A portable phone, comprising:
- a phone housing having a recess at one end with spaced end walls;
- a hinge assembly mounted in the recess;
- a cover secured to the hinge assembly for rotation relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position;
- the hinge assembly comprising first and second hinge parts, one of the parts comprising a cam having a cam profile and the other part comprising a follower for engaging the cam profile;
- one of the parts being secured to the cover and rotatably mounted in said recess, and the other part being secured against rotation in said recess;
- the cam profile having end stops corresponding to an open and a closed position of the cover relative to the housing, and an arcuate surface between the end stops to provide resistance to initial rotation of the cover out of the open and closed positions.
A portable phone, comprising:
- a phone housing having a recess at one end;
- a cover rotatably mounted on said one end of said housing for movement between a closed position covering at least a portion of said housing and an open position;
- a hinge assembly having a first part secured to said cover and rotatably mounted in said recess and a second part secured against rotation in said recess;
- one of said parts comprising a cam having a predetermined cam profile and the other of said parts comprising a cam follower contacting said cam profile;
- and
- the cam profile having end stops corresponding to open and closed positions of said cover and an arcuate formation between said end stops for resistance against initial movement of said cover from said open and closed positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.