# US 8,464,395 B2 · Multi-directional hinge mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,395 B2 - Document ID: US8464395B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/296,177 - Filed: 2011-11-14 - Published: 2012-12-27 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-21 - Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Lian-Cheng Huang; Shen Li - Inventors: Lian-Cheng Huang; Shen Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464395B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - E05D 3/10: with non-parallel pins - E05Y 2800/00: Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for - E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A multi-directional hinge mechanism includes a pair of first rotating assemblies, a second rotating assembly and a connecting member, and is capable of functioning on two perpendicularly-opposed axes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-directional hinge mechanism, comprising: two first rotating assemblies, each first rotating assembly comprising a first rotating bracket; a second rotating assembly comprising a second rotating bracket; and a connecting member, comprising: two first wrapping portions aligned along a first axis, each first wrapping portion defining a through hole along the first axis and being sleeved on a corresponding one of the first rotating brackets tightly; and a second wrapping portion coaxial with a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis; the second wrapping portion defining a through hole along the second axis and being sleeved on the second rotating bracket tightly, wherein the second rotating bracket comprises a shaft and a pair of second connecting portions extending from opposite sides of the shaft, the pair of second connecting portions comprises two protrusions on opposite sides of the shaft, the second wrapping portion defines a plurality of grooves toward the second rotating bracket, the two protrusions of the second rotating bracket engage in the plurality of grooves of the second wrapping portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connecting member, the first rotating assemblies, and the second rotating assembly are made of plastic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein each first rotating assembly comprises a first latching member, the first latching member comprises a base and a first latching portion located on an end surface of the base, the first latching portion extends into the corresponding first wrapping portion at the end opposite to the first rotating bracket until the base abuts the end surface of the first wrapping portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the base is substantially annular and comprises a restricting protrusion radiating from the base, the base abuts the end surface of the first wrapping portion via the restricting protrusion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the first latching portion comprises a plurality of claws located on an end surface of the base, the claws and the base cooperatively define a plurality of latching grooves; each first rotating bracket comprises a shaft, and the shaft comprises a second latching portion engaging in the latching grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 5, wherein the first latching portion comprises two positioning blocks located underneath the claws respectively, the second latching portion defines two positioning grooves around an inner wall thereof, the positioning blocks engage with the positioning grooves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second rotating assembly comprises a second latching member, wherein the second latching member comprises a base and a latching portion located on an end surface of the base, the latching portion extends into the second wrapping portion at the end opposite to the second rotating bracket until the base abuts an end surface of the second wrapping portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein each first rotating bracket comprises a shaft and a pair of first connecting portions extending from opposite sides of the shaft, the shaft comprises a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion, the diameter of the first shaft portion is greater than that of the second shaft portion, the shaft further comprises a stepped surface located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, the first shaft portion engages in the first wrapping portion tightly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a base body and a connecting sheet extending from a side of the base body, the two first wrapping portions are disposed on opposites sides of the connecting sheet, the second wrapping portion is located at the far end of the base body, away from the connecting sheet. ### Claim 10 A multi-directional hinge mechanism, comprising: two first rotating assemblies, each first rotating assembly comprising a first rotating bracket and a first latching member; a second rotating assembly comprising a second rotating bracket and a second latching member; and a connecting member comprising: two first wrapping portions aligned along a first axis, each first wrapping portion defining a through hole along the first axis and being sleeved on a corresponding one of the first rotating brackets tightly, the first latching member extending into the corresponding first wrapping portion at the end opposite to the first rotating bracket and engaging with first rotating bracket; and a second wrapping portion coaxial with a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis; the second wrapping portion defining a through hole along the second axis and being sleeved on the second rotating bracket tightly, the second latching member extending into the second wrapping portion at the end opposite to the second rotating bracket and engaging with second rotating bracket, wherein the second rotating bracket comprises a shaft and a pair of second connecting portions extending from opposite sides of the shaft, the pair of second connecting portions comprises two protrusions on opposite sides of the shaft, the second wrapping portion defines a plurality of grooves toward the second rotating bracket, the two protrusions of the second rotating bracket engage in the plurality of grooves of the second wrapping portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 10 wherein the first latching member comprises a base and a first latching portion, the first latching portion comprises a plurality of claws located on the end surface of the base, the plurality of claws and the base cooperatively define a plurality of latching grooves, each first rotating bracket comprises a shaft, the shaft comprises a second latching portion, the second latching portion engages in the latching grooves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 10, wherein the connecting member comprises a base body and a connecting sheet extending from a side of the base body, the two first wrapping portions are disposed on opposite sides of the connecting sheet, the second wrapping portion is located at the far end of the base body, away from the connecting sheet. ### Claim 13 A multi-directional hinge mechanism comprising: a first rotating assembly comprising a first rotating bracket; a second rotating assembly comprising a second rotating bracket, the second rotating bracket comprising a shaft and a pair of second connecting portions extending from opposite sides of the shaft, the pair of second connecting portions comprising two protrusions on opposite sides of the shaft; and a connecting member, comprising: a first wrapping portion coaxial with a first axis, the first wrapping portion defining a through hole along the first axis and being sleeved on the first rotating bracket tightly; and a second wrapping portion coaxial with a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis; the second wrapping portion defining a through hole along the second axis and being sleeved on the second rotating bracket tightly, the second wrapping portion defining a plurality of grooves toward the second rotating bracket, the two protrusions of the second rotating bracket engage in the plurality of grooves of the second wrapping portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 13, wherein the connecting member, the first rotating assemblies and the second rotating assembly are made of plastic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first rotating assembly further comprises a first latching member, the first latching member comprises a base and a first latching portion located on an end surface of the base, the first latching portion extends into the first wrapping portion at the end opposite to the first rotating bracket until the base abuts the end surface of the first wrapping portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 15, wherein the base is substantially annular and comprises a restricting protrusion radiating from the base, the base abuts the end surface of the first wrapping portion via the restricting protrusion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 15, wherein the first latching portion comprises a plurality of claws located on an end surface of the base, the claws and the base cooperatively define a plurality of latching grooves, the first rotating bracket comprises a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a second latching portion, the second latching portion engages in the latching grooves. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The multi-directional hinge mechanism of claim 17, wherein the first latching portion comprises two positioning blocks located on the claws, the second latching portion defines two positioning grooves around an inner wall thereof, the positioning blocks engage in the positioning grooves respectively.