Patent EP0961459A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0961459A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinge mechanism for a portable telephone
Assignee: Nokia Oyj
•
Filing: 1999-05-28
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2019-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A hinge mechanism for pivotally connecting first and second housings of a portable electronic device for movement between closed and open positions, the mechanism comprising a hinge shaft mounted for rotation with the first housing and providing a camming surface, and resilient means mounted for rotation with the second housing and arranged to cooperate with the camming surface so as to vary loading of the resilient means on the camming surface for relative rotation therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Kwong
- 👤 Tony Salter
- 👤 Graeme Fleming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0216; E; E05; E05D; E05D11/00; E05D11/10; E05D11/1028; E05D11/105; E05Y; E05Y2999/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A hinge mechanism for pivotally connecting first and second housings of a
portable electronic device for movement between closed and open
positions, the mechanism comprising a hinge shaft mounted for rotation
with the first housing and providing a camming surface, and resilient
means mounted for rotation with the second housing and arranged to
cooperate with the camming surface so as respectively to load the resilient
means corresponding to different orientations with respect to the camming
surface for relative rotation therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
housings in the open position are mutually biased apart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
housings in the closed position are mutually biased together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the
camming surface is shaped to define stable and unstable orientations for
the resilient means, the resilient means tending towards the stable
orientation in said open and closed positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the
resilient means comprises a member that extends between, and
converges to engage, two longitudinally spaced apart regions of the hinge
shaft providing the camming surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the
resilient means comprises a spring arm having spatulate ends which
engage the camming surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the
resilient means comprises a pair of spring arms acting on opposite sides of
the camming surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the or each
spring arm is bowed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the
resilient means is carried in a retainer and the retainer is coupled to the
second housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises a
longitudinally split tube, each half of the tube carrying respective resilient
means
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the tube halves include
complementary interengaging formations to connect the tube halves
together around the hinge shaft
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the
camming surface comprises opposing planar surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the planar surfaces are
connected by opposing radii.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the planes
defined by the planar surfaces are offset from the vertical axis of the shaft
end formations for locating the hinge shaft in a housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 14, wherein the offset is ten
degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the hinge
shaft carries a projection adapted to abut a corresponding projection
provided on the second housing, whereby the abutment of the projections
supports the second housing in relation to the first housing in said open
position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the projection on the
hinge shaft comprises a raised lug and the projection on the second
housing comprises a lip extending from the wall of the hinge mechanism
casing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein said
projections are adapted to traverse one another if the housings are
extended beyond said open position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hinge mechanism according to claim 18, wherein said projections are
adapted to return to said closed position on contracting the housings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hinge mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein said hinge
shaft is fixed in relation to said first housing by rectangular bosses mating
with recessed slots.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radio telephone having first and second housings and including a hinge
mechanism as defined in any preceding claim for pivotally connecting said
housings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.