EP3268839A1

EP3268839A1 - Hinge assemblies

Info

Publication number: EP3268839A1
Application number: EP15898445.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Victor Su; George Chiang; Chin Ho WANG
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2015-07-14
Filing date: 2015-07-14
Publication date: 2018-01-17
Also published as: WO2017010995A1; TW201709799A

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein relate to a hinge assembly. An example includes a first shaft disposed inside a curved member; a universal joint coupled to the first shaft at an angle and disposed inside the curved member; and a spring member to supports a weight while the curved member is rotated about an axis extending through the first shaft and the universal joint.

Description

HINGE ASSEMBLIES

BACKGROUND

[0001] Various devices may be coupied to a stand. A stand may be a separate component temporarily coupled to the device or permanently coup!ed thereto. A stand may include a portion coupled to the device to support the weight of the device and a portion disposed on a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The following detailed description references the drawings, wherein;

[0003] FIG, 1 is a front view of an example electronic device.

[0004| FIG. 2 is a rear view of the electronic device of FIG. 1.

[0005] FSG- 3 is a bottom elevation view of the eiectronic device of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3,

[0006] P'G. 4 is an enlarged view of an example hinge assembly of FIG, 3.

[0007] FIG. 5a is a diagrammatic illustration of some components of an example hinge assembly.

[0008] PSG- 5b is an exploded view of the hinge assembly of FIG. 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] In following discussion and in the claims, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to include suitable indirect and/or direct connections. Thus, if a first component is described as being coupled to a second component that coupling may, for example, be; (1 ) through a direct electrical, mechanical, or thermal connection, (2) through an indirect electrical, mechanical, or thermal connection via other devices and connections, (3} through an optical electrical connection, (4) through a wireless electrical connection, and/or (5) another suitable coupling. The term "approximately" as used herein to modify a value is intended to be determined based on the understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art, and can, for example, mean plus or minus 10% of that value. An "electronic device" may be any device operating under electrical power, such as, a display device, such as a monitor or television, a computing device, etc,

[0010] A stand supports the weight of device to stand upright relative to a surface on which the device is disposed. Some devices may rotate about an axis or tilt in addition to standing upright. A hinge assembly may couple the device and the stand to aliow the device to rotate or tilt reiative to the stand by providing a force to counter the rotational torque of the device reiative to the stand. However, as devices become larger in size and/or weight, hinge assemblies used to support the weight of the device may also increase in size to counter the rotational torque of the device. However, a larger hinge assembly may not be suitable for ail device configurations, such as those with a curved external surface in which the width of the device may vary along a dimension of the device.

[0011] To address these issues, in the examples described herein, a hinge assembly is coupled to a device. In examples, the hinge assembly includes a universal joint disposed inside a curved member of the device to allow a first shaft to be coupled to the device at an angle. In some examples, the universal joint may couple the first shaft at an oblique angle relative to a second shaft coupled to a stand. In such an example, the first shaft may be disposed inside the curved member in such a manner as to not interfere with the operation of the curved member.

[0012] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front view of an example electronic device 100. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1. in the example of F!Gs. 1-2, electronic device 100 may include a first stand 110 coupled to a first hinge assembly 210, a second stand 120 coupled to a second hinge assembly 220, and a display 150 in a housing 160. Although depicted with two hinge assemblies each coupled to a stand, the exemplary examples are not limited thereto and electronic device 100 may include any number of hinge assemblies and stands to allow the housing 160 to be coupled to a stand(s).

[0013] In an example, first hinge assembly 210 and second hinge assembly 220 may be coupled to housing 160 to allow housing 160 to rotate relative to first stand 110 and second stand 120, respectively, in an example, first hinge assembly 210 and second hinge assembly 220 may be partially disposed inside housing 160. In other examples, first hinge assembly 210 and second hinge assembly 220 may be coupled to an external surface of housing 160. In some examples, housing 160 may rotate about an axis 230 of first hinge assembly 210 and second hinge assembly 220. in such an example, housing 160 may rotate about axis 230 such that display 150 is tilted relative to first stand 110 and second stand 120.

[0014] In an example, housing 160 may have one or more substantially curved external surface. For example, housing 160 may have a rear external surface 162 with a substantially convex shape, as depicted in FIG. 2. in such an example, a front external surface 164 of housing 160 opposite rear external surface 162 may be a substantially concave external surface of housing 160 or may be a planar external surface. In some examples, display 150 may be substantially planar surface or a substantially concave surface. In other examples, rear external surface 162 may be a concave shaped surface and front external surface 164 may be a substantially convex shaped surface on which display 150 may be disposed.

[0015] In some examples, first hinge assembly 210 and second hinge assembly 220 may be configured to apply a force opposite to a rotational torque of housing 160 about axis 230 to hold housing 180 at a fixed position reiative to first stand 110 and second stand 120. in some examples, housing 180 may be rotated about axis 230 between zero (0) degrees and ninety (90) degrees relative to first stand 110 and second stand 120.

[0016] FiG. 3 is a bottom elevation view of the electronic device 100 of FiG, 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG, 2. in the example of FiG, 3, first hinge assembly 210 and second hinge assembiy 220 may be coupled to housing 180 via a support structure 165 disposed in housing 180. In an example, support staicture 165 may be any component in electronic device 100 to which a hinge assembiy may be coupied. Although depicted as a single support structure 165 in FiG. 3, exemplary examples are not limited thereto and support structure 185 may be more than one structure to which a hinge assembiy may be coupled,

[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of first hinge assembly 210 of FiG. 3. FiG, 5a is a diagrammatic ii!ustration of some components of first hinge assembiy 210 of F!G. 4. FiG. 5b is an exploded view of first hinge assembiy 210 of FIG. 4, Referring to FIGs. 4-5b, first hinge assembly 210 may inciude a universai joint 214, a second shaft 216, and a spring 218. In some examples, first hinge assembiy 210 may also inciude a first shaft 212, a washer 219, a first nut 202, a second nut 204, and a locking nut 206. in some examples, second hinge assembiy 220 may be substantiaiiy similar to first hinge assembly 210.

[0018] In the example of F!Gs. 4-5b, first shaft 212 may be partially disposed in housing 160 and partially disposed outside of housing 160 to couple first hinge assembiy 210 to first stand 110. In such an example, a portion 212a of first shaft 212 may be disposed outside housing 160 and a portion 212b of first shaft 212 may be disposed inside housing 160. First shaft 212 may he coupied to universai Joint 214 via any mechanism, such as soldering, glue, a joint such as a screw, etc. In the example of FIGs, 4- 5b, portion 212b of first shaft 212 may be coupied to universal joint via a screw (not shown in FIGs. 5a-5b). In an example, portion 212a of first shaft 212 may be substantiaiiy larger than portion 212b of first shaft 212. in such an example, first shaft 212 may be disposed substantiaiiy outside housing 160. In an examples, some of portion 212a of first shaft 212 may be coupled to stand 110 by any mechanism, such as soldering, glue, a joint such as a screw, etc,

[0019] some exampies, universal joint 214 may be any joint to couple first shaft 212 to second shaft 216 at a variable angle. In some exampies, universai joint 214 may be any type of joint which can join two objects at an angle relative to each other. For example, universal joint 214 may couple first shaft 212 to second shaft 216 at a first obiique angie reiative to each other. In such examples, when coupled via universal joint 214, axis 230 extends through first shaft 212 and second shaft 216 at different angles. For example, axis 230 may extend at a second obiique angle relative to a longitudinal dimension of first shaft 212 while extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of second shaft 216. As used herein, a longitudinal dimension of an element refers to a dimension parallel to the x-axis as depicted in FIGs. 3-5b. in another example, axis 230 may extend at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal dimension of second shaft 216 while extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of first shaft 212. In some examples, axis 230 may extend through universal Joint 214 at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal dimension of universal joint 214. In another example, axis 230 may extend through universal joint 214 at substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of universal joint 214. In the examples, universal joint 214 may be coupled to first shaft 212 and second shaft 216 by any mechanism. Although FIGs. 4~5a depict universal joint 214 as disposed inside housing 160, the examples are not limited thereto. In some examples, universal joint 214 may be disposed outside housing 160, for example in stand 110. In other examples, universal joint 214 may be coupled to an external surface of housing 160, such as, rear external surface 162.

[0020] In some examples, second shaft 216 may be any shaft to receive spring 218 and be coupled to universal joint 214. In the example of FIGs. 4-5b, second shaft 216 may include a first portion 216a to receive spring 218, a second portion 216b to receive washer 219, first nut 202, second nut 204, and locking nut 206, and a third portion 216c to couple second shaft 216 to support structure 165 of housing 160. Although depicted with third portion 216c to couple second shaft 216 to support structure 165, the examples are not limited thereto and first hinge assembly 210 may be coupled to support structure 165 via any part thereof, in the example of FIGs. 4-5b, second portion 216b of second shaft 216 may be a threated shaft.

[0021] In some examples, spring 218 may be any type of friction providing member to apply a force opposite to a rotational torque of housing 160 about axis 230 to hold housing 160 at a fixed position relative to first stand 110 and second stand 120. In an examples, housing 160 may be rotated about axis 230 between zero (0) degrees and ninety (90) degrees relative to first stand 110 and second stand 120. In an example, spring 218 may be a coiled torsion spring. In the example of FIGs. 4-5b, third portion 216c of second shaft 216 may include an additional hole to couple to a first end of spring 218 and washer 219 may include an additional hole to couple to a second end of spring 218. In such an example, spring 218 may be held in a fixed space by the combination of the additional holes in third portion 216c and washer 219. In an example, first nut 202, second nut 204, and locking nut 206 may threadably engage second portion 216b of second shaft 216 to secure washer 219 against spring 218.

[0022] While certain implementations have been shown and described above, various changes in form and details may be made. For example, some features that have been described in relation to one implementation and/or process can be related to other implementations. In other words, processes, features, components, and/or properties described in relation to one implementation can be useful in other implementations. Furthermore, it should be understood that the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein can include various combinations and/or sub-combinations of the components and/or features of the different implementations described. Thus, features described with reference to one or more implementations can be combined with other implementations described herein.

[0023] The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various examples of the present disclosure. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace aii such variations and modifications.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device including a hinge assembly, comprising: a first shaft disposed inside a curved member of the electronic device;

a second shaft disposed substantially outside the curved member of the electronic device; a universal joint disposed to couple the first shaft and the second shaft at an angle relative to each other; and

a friction providing member to support a weight of the curved member while the curved member is rotated about an axis.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the axis extends through the first shaft and the second shaft at different angles.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the axis extends at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal dimension of the first shaft.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the second shaft.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the axis extends through the universal joint at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal dimension of the universal joint.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the universal joint.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the friction member comprises a coiled torsion spring.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the curved member is a display of the electronic device with a substantially convex external rear surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first shaft is coupled to a support structure of the curved member via a portion of the first shaft

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the friction member is to support the weight of the curve members relative to a stand of the electronic device while the curved member is rotated about the axis.

11. A hinge assembly, comprising: a first shaft disposed inside a curved member of a display;

a universal joint coupled to the first shaft at an angle and disposed inside the curved member of the display; and

a spring member to supports a weight of the display while the curved member is rotated about an axis extending through the first shaft and the universal Joint.

12. The hinge assembly of claim 11 , further comprising: a second shaft coupled to the universal joint at an oblique angle and disposed substantially outside the curved member.

13. The hinge assembly of claim 11 , wherein the axis extends at an oblique angle relative to a first dimension of the first shaft.

14. A display device, comprising: a substantially curved display; and a first stand coupled to the curved display; a hinge assembly to couple the curved display to the first stand and to support a weight of the curved display relative to the first stand while the curved display is rotated about an axis extending through the hinge assembly, the hinge assembly comprising: a first shaft disposed inside the curved display at an oblique angle relative to the axis; a second shaft disposed substantially inside the stand such that the axis extends substantially parallel to the second shaft; a universal joint disposed to couple the first shaft and the second shaft at a first oblique angle relative to each other; and a spring member coupled to the first shaft to support the weight of the curved display about the axis.

15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the axis extends through rite universal joint at a second oblique angle relative to a longitudinal dimension of the universal joint.