Self-latching hinge assembly

A hinge assembly, comprising:

• a main member having a main cam member and a bore extending generally along an axis of rotation of the main member;
• a shaft extending through the bore along the axis of rotation, the shaft having an end;
• a pivot member fixed to the end of the shaft and rotatable with respect to the main member, the pivot member having a pivot cam member that abuts the main cam member;
• and
• at least one torque element engaged with the shaft and substantially rotationally fixed with respect to the main member, the shaft being rotatable with respect to the at least one torque element with the at least one torque element imparting a first frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a first direction and a second frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a second direction, the first frictional resistance being greater than the second frictional resistance, wherein interaction of the main cam member with the pivot cam member assists in maintaining the hinge assembly in at least first and second positions,
• wherein the at least one torque element includes a wrapped portion disposed within the bore of the main member for engagement with the shaft and a tab for insertion within a slot of the bore in order to substantially rotationally fix the at least one torque element with respect to the main member.

A self-latching hinge assembly for a notebook computer having a base and a pivotable display screen, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a main member engaged with the base of the notebook computer, the main member having a main cam member and a bore extending generally along an axis of rotation of the main member;
• a shaft extending through the bore along the axis of rotation, the shaft having an end;
• a pivot member engaged with the display screen of the notebook computer and fixed to the end of the shaft so that the pivot member is rotatable with respect to the main member, the pivot member having a pivot cam member that abuts the main cam member;
• at least one torque element engaged with the shaft and substantially rotationally fixed with respect to the main member, the shaft being rotatable with respect to the at least one torque element with the at least one torque element imparting a first frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a first direction and a second frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a second direction, the first frictional resistance being greater than the second frictional resistance, wherein interaction of the main cam member with the pivot cam member assists in maintaining the display screen in at least a closed position with respect to the base;
• a cam insert on which the main cam member is disposed, the cam insert being disposed at least partially within the bore of the main member and slideable along the axis of rotation of the main member;
• and
• a spring abutting the cam insert to bias the cam insert along the axis of rotation, wherein the cam insert slides axially along the axis of rotation during rotation of the pivot member with respect to the main member due to the interaction between the main cam member and the pivot cam member.

A self latching hinge assembly for a notebook computer having a base and a pivotable display screen, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a main member engaged with the base of the notebook computer, the main member having a main cam member and a bore extending generally along an axis of rotation of the main member;
• a shaft extending through the bore along the axis of rotation, the shaft having an end;
• a pivot member engaged with the display screen of the notebook computer and fixed to the end of the shaft so that the pivot member is rotatable with respect to the main member, the pivot member having a pivot cam member that abuts the main cam member;
• and
• at least one torque element engaged with the shaft and substantially rotationally fixed with respect to the main member, the shaft being rotatable with respect to the at least one torque element with the at least one torque element imparting a first frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a first direction and a second frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a second direction, the first frictional resistance being greater than the second frictional resistance, wherein interaction of the main cam member with the pivot cam member assists in maintaining the display screen in at least a closed position with respect to the base,
• wherein the at least one torque element includes a wrapped portion disposed within the bore of the main member for engagement with the shaft and a tab for insertion within a slot of the bore in order to substantially rotationally fix the at least one torque element with respect to the main member.