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US 6,754,081 B2Granted
Pop-up friction hinge having multiple levels of torque
OwnerEdward Rude, Yury Karfiol +1inventors
InventorsEdward Rude, Yury Karfiol, Douglas Collins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction hinge system for a laptop computer is provided. The system allows the computer display to move easily from a closed condition toward various operating angular positions while providing a greater torque for maintaining selected angular orientation. The system includes two or more bands wrapped in the same direction about a common shaft as well as a stop features for limiting the angle of rotation of each band relative to the shaft.
Claims13
A friction hinge assembly comprising:
- a first element and a second element rotatably connected thereto for enabling the first element to be rotatably disposed at varying angular positions relative to said first element;
- a shaft;
- a first band fixed to said first element and having a spring portion rotatably and frictionally wrapped in a first direction about said shaft for providing a frictional torque therebetween such that said spring portion of such first band tends to loosen in one direction of rotation and tighten in the other direction of rotation;
- a second band fixed to said second element and having a spring portion rotatably and frictionally wrapped in said first direction about said shaft for providing a frictional torque therebetween such that said spring portion of said second band tends to loosen in said other direction of rotation and tighten in said one direction of rotation;
- wherein said spring portion of said first band has a first limited angular range of rotation relative to said shaft in said one direction of rotation and said spring portion of said second band has a second limited angular range of rotation relative to said shaft in said other direction of rotation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.