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US 8,540,062 B2Granted
Low profile rotary damper
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsMartin Earl Holman, IV, Bruce Alan Ivanik, Douglas Wayne Moskowitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dampening assembly for a portable electronic device includes a housing. The housing includes a top portion and a bottom portion. A pivot arm is pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the housing. A reservoir is defined between the top portion and the bottom portion. The reservoir includes at least one of a fluid and a viscous material. A first portion of the pivot arm is disposed within the reservoir. A second portion of the pivot arm extends through and above the top portion of the housing.
Claims14
A dampening assembly for a portable electronic device, the dampening assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion;
- a pivot arm pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the housing;
- a reservoir defined between the top portion and the bottom portion, the reservoir comprising at least one of a fluid and a viscous material, wherein a separately formed first portion of the pivot arm is disposed within the reservoir, and wherein a separately formed second portion of the pivot arm extends through and above the top portion of the housing;
- and
- a fastening member for maintaining the first portion of the pivot arm in contact with the second portion of the pivot arm and for preventing the pivot arm from lifting out of the housing, wherein the fastening member mates with the bottom portion of the housing at a location outside of the reservoir,
- wherein the top portion of the housing comprises:
- a first recessed area that extends from a bottom surface of the top portion towards a top surface of the top portion, and
- a first cavity that extends through the to surface and the bottom surface of the to portion, and
- wherein the bottom portion comprises:
- a second recessed area extending from a top surface of the bottom portion towards a bottom surface of the bottom portion, the second recessed area comprising a vertical member extending above the top surface of the bottom portion, the vertical member being disposed in the second recessed area at a location that substantially corresponds to the first cavity of the to portion, wherein the first recessed area and the second recessed area define the reservoir, and wherein the fastening member mates with a cavity of the vertical member.
7 more elements
A slide mechanism for a portable electronic device, the slide mechanism comprising:
- a guide base;
- a slide plate, wherein the guide base and the slide plate are configured to move in a linear direction with respect to each other;
- and
- a dampening assembly, coupled to the guide base, the dampening assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion;
- a pivot arm pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the housing;
- a reservoir defined between the top portion and the bottom portion of the housing, the reservoir comprising at least one of a fluid and a viscous material, wherein a separately formed first portion of the pivot arm is disposed within the reservoir, and wherein a separately formed second portion of the pivot arm extends through and above the top portion of the housing;
- and
- a fastening member for maintaining the first portion of the pivot arm in contact with the second portion of the pivot arm and for preventing the second portion of the pivot arm from lifting out of the housing,
- wherein the top portion of the housing comprises:
- a first recessed area that extends from a bottom surface of the top portion towards a top surface of the top portion, and
- a first cavity that extends through the to surface and the bottom surface of the top portion, and
- wherein the bottom portion of the housing comprises:
- a second recessed area extending from a top surface of the bottom portion towards a bottom surface of the bottom portion, the second recessed area comprising a vertical member extending above the top surface of the bottom portion, the vertical member being disposed in the recessed area at a location that substantially corresponds to the first cavity of the top portion, wherein the first recessed area and the second recessed area define the reservoir, and wherein the fastening member mates with a cavity of the vertical member.
11 more elements
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a first portion;
- a second portion;
- and
- a slide mechanism, wherein the first portion is coupled to a guide base of the slide mechanism, and the second portion is coupled to a slide plate of the slide mechanism, and wherein the slide mechanism comprises a dampening assembly coupled to the guide base, the dampening assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion;
- a pivot arm pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the housing;
- a reservoir defined between the top portion and the bottom portion, the reservoir comprising at least one of a fluid and a viscous material, wherein a separately formed first portion of the pivot arm is disposed within the reservoir, and a separately formed second portion of the pivot arm extends through and above the top portion of the housing;
- and
- a fastening member for maintaining the first portion of the pivot arm in contact with the second portion of the pivot arm and for preventing the second portion of the pivot arm from lifting out of the housing,
- wherein the to portion of the housing comprises:
- a first recessed area that extends from a bottom surface of the top portion towards a top surface of the top portion, and
- a first cavity that extends through the to surface and the bottom surface of the top portion, and
- wherein the bottom portion of the housing comprises:
- a second recessed area extending from a top surface of the bottom portion towards a bottom surface of the bottom portion, the second recessed area comprising a vertical member extending above the top surface of the bottom portion, the vertical member being disposed in the recessed area at a location that substantially corresponds to the first cavity of the to portion, wherein the first recessed area and the second recessed area define the reservoir, and wherein the fastening member mates with a cavity of the vertical member.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.