US 6,317,927 B1 · Hinge device

Abstract

A hinge device of the present invention comprises a male hinge member, a female hinge member and a resilient tube. The male hinge member includes a connecting shaft at one end, a mounting plate at an opposite end and a shoulder between the connecting shaft and the mounting plate. The connecting shaft of the male hinge device forms a receptacle therein for receiving the resilient tube. Four channels are longitudinally defined in the connecting shaft and equiangularly distributed in the shape of a cross to prevent loss of friction in the hinge device. An arcuate surface is formed at each edge of the channels. The female hinge member includes a sleeve and a mounting plate extending from one end of the sleeve, the sleeve having a receiving opening for receiving the connecting shaft of the male hinge member. A longitudinal slot is defined through the resilient tube for enhancing resiliency and allowing expansion of the resilient tube.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A hinge device comprising:

a male hinge member including a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to a mainframe board of a mainframe unit of a portable computer, a hollow connecting shaft, and a shoulder between the connecting shaft and the mounting plate, a plurality of longitudinal channels being equiangularly distributed on the connecting shaft;
a female hinge member including a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to a display board of a display unit of the portable computer and a sleeve telescopically receiving the connecting shaft of the male hinge member;
and
a resilient tube defining a longitudinal slot through a periphery thereof and received within the connecting shaft of the male hinge member, the resilient tube circumferentially biasing the connecting shaft against the sleeve of the female hinge member for reliably positioning the male hinge member relative to the female hinge member at a desired angular position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hinge device

Life of this patent

Hinge device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16