Hinge construction with a snap-open, snap-shut feel, for a folding mobile phone handset

Abstract

A hinge construction for a two part folding mobile phone body has a spindle provided at one end with a torsion spring for applying torque in a closing direction to the two parts of the phone body. A first cam member is mounted on the spindle for movement axially thereof and has a portion engaged with one part of the phone body to prevent reciprocal rotation therebetween. A second cam member is attached to the other part of the phone body. A helical compression spring surrounding the spindle urges the first cam member into engagement with the second cam member. Push-button is disposed at the opposite end of the spindle for applying axial thrust to the first cam member to release the first cam member from the second cam member and allow opening movement of the body parts out of the closed position. The first and second cam members are shaped so as (a) to maintain the body parts in a closed position when closed and (b) to provide a torque urging the body parts towards a fully open position when in a partially open position. The hinge construction described is compact and provides all the desiderata for a folding body mobile phone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.