Portable device and mobile phone with double hinge torsion bar
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsDavid D. Bohn, Paul M. O'Brien, Christopher Bramley Fruhauf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In embodiments of a double hinge torsion bar, a portable device includes a first housing integrated with a display device, and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing. Double hinges attach to the first and second housings of the portable device, and the double hinges are operable to open and close the first and second housings relative to each other. A torsion bar movably couples the double hinges to open and close at approximately a same timing rate, which can prevent the double hinges from binding when the first and second housings are opened and closed relative to each other.
Claims20
A portable device, comprising:
- a first housing integrated with a display device;
- a second housing movably coupled to the first housing;
- double hinges attached to the first and second housings, and operable to open and close the first and second housings relative to each other;
- a torsion bar extending along a long axis and connecting each of the double hinges, the long axis intersecting through a single hinge link of the double hinges as a pivot point, the torsion bar being configured to movably couple the double hinges to open and close at approximately the same timing rate;
- and
- the double hinges being disposed along the long axis of the torsion bar, the long axis being generally parallel to a plane defined by the first housing when in the closed position.
A method, comprising:
- coupling double hinges together with a torsion bar that extends along a long axis, the long axis intersecting through a single hinge link of the double hinges as a pivot point, the double hinges attached to a first housing of a portable device and attached to a second housing of the portable device, the double hinges operable to open and close the first and second housings relative to each other, the hinges being disposed along the long axis of the torsion bar, the long axis being generally parallel to a plane defined by the first housing when in the closed position;
- and
- operating the double hinges to open and close the double hinges at approximately a same timing rate in response to an applied torque.
A mobile phone, comprising:
- a first housing integrated with a display device;
- a second housing movably coupled to the first housing;
- double hinges attached to the first and second housings, and operable to open and close the first and second housings relative to each other;
- a torsion bar extending along a long axis and connecting each of the double hinges, the long axis intersecting through a single hinge link of the double hinges as a pivot point, the torsion bar being configured to movably couple the double hinges to open and close at approximately the same timing rate;
- and
- the double hinges being disposed along the long axis of the torsion bar, the long axis being generally parallel to a plane defined by the first housing when in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.