US5335142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable computer display tilt/swivel mechanism
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-12-21
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2012-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A portable computer having a hinge assembly which allows the cover and display screen to be tilted from the base of the portable computer and then swiveled about a vertical axis. One hinge is provided at the rear edge of the base of the portable computer about which the cover both tilts and swivels. The hinge assembly includes stops which limit the amount of tilt and swivel. The cover of the personal computer may be tilted backwards from a closed position to 115° and swiveled 30° from a straight-forward position.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/162; F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/06; F16M11/10; F16M11/20; F16M11/2007; F16M11/2014; F16M13/00; F16M13/005; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1675; G06F1/1681; F16M2200/00; F16M2200/04; F16M2200/041; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/917; Y10S248/919; Y10S248/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A portable computer, comprising: a base; a cover incorporating a display screen; a hinge assembly connecting said cover and said base, said hinge assembly movable in two axes to permit said cover to tilt about a horizontal axis and to swivel about a vertical axis relative to said base, said hinge assembly comprising: a mounting ring attached to said base, said mounting ring having an inner surface, said mounting ring further comprising a split mounting ring assembly having two semicircular members, each member having respective ends, said two semicircular members positioned so that said ends are abutting, said abutting ends fastened together to form a circle; a swivel disk adapted to swivel about said vertical axis, said swivel disk having a peripheral edge located within said mounting ring and guided by said inner surface of said mounting ring; and a tilt assembly mounted to said swivel disk and also to said cover of the portable computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A portable computer, comprising: a base; a cover incorporating a display screen; a hinge assembly connecting said cover and said base, said hinge assembly movable in two axes to permit said cover to tilt about a horizontal axis and to swivel about a vertical axis relative to said base, said hinge assembly comprising: a mounting ring attached to said base, said mounting ring having an inner surface, said mounting ring further comprising a split mounting ring assembly having two semicircular members, each member having respective ends, said two semicircular members positioned so that said ends are abutting, said abutting ends fastened together to form a circle; a swivel disk adapted to swivel about said vertical axis, said swivel disk having a peripheral edge located within said mounting ring and guided by said inner surface of said mounting ring; and a tilt assembly mounted to said swivel disk and also to said cover of the portable computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said tilt assembly comprises: a tilt base mounted to said swivel disk; a tilt tube held horizontally within aligned apertures in said tilt base and held rotationally with respect to said tilt base; a yoke having a mounting plate for mounting said yoke to said cover and two arms having aligned apertures sized to freely rotate over cylindrical regions of said tilt tube, whereby said cover mounts to said yoke to rotate about said tilt tube, tilt base and swivel disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The portable computer of claim 2, wherein said hinge assembly includes a pathway through which a cable may travel from said base to said cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portable computer of claim 3, wherein said pathway extends directly through said swivel disk into said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portable computer of claim 3, wherein said tilt tube is hollow and said pathway extends into a central aperture of said tilt tube and out through an end of said tilt tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly is mounted in a recess in said base so as not to project above the upper surface of said cover when said cover is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly is provided with stops which limit the angle of tilt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly is provided with stops which limit the angle of tilt to a maximum of 115° from the horizontal closed position of said cover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly includes swivel stops which limit the angle at which the cover may be swiveled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly includes swivel stops which limit the angle at which the cover may be swiveled relative to the base to 30° in either direction from an initial position where a bottom edge of said cover is parallel to a rear edge of said base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly comprises plastic parts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein: each semicircular member includes a first end having a flange and a second end having a mounting surface; and fasteners pass through said flanges on each ring member and connect with said mounting surfaces on the other ring member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said two semicircular members are identical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said mounting ring includes an inner circular groove defining a guide channel for said peripheral edge of the swivel disk.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The portable computer of claim 14, wherein said inner groove further includes at least one stop block therein and said swivel disk includes at least one outwardly extending stop tab arranged to interfere with said stop block and limit the angle of swivel of said swivel disk.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
153 words
A portable computer, comprising: a base; a cover incorporating a display screen; a hinge assembly interconnecting said cover and said base, said hinge assembly movable in two axes to permit said cover to tilt about a horizontal axis and to swivel about a vertical axis relative to said base; a mounting ring attached to said base; a swivel disk adapted to swivel about said vertical axis within said mounting ring; a tilt assembly mounted to said swivel disk and also to said cover of the portable computer; a tilt base mounted to said swivel disk; a hollow tilt tube held within aligned apertures in said tilt base; and a yoke comprising: a mounting plate for mounting said yoke to said cover; and two arms having aligned apertures sized to freely rotate over said tilt tube, whereby said cover mounts to said yoke to rotate about said tilt tube, tilt base, and swivel disk.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
A portable computer, comprising: a base; a cover incorporating a display screen; a hinge assembly interconnecting said cover and said base, said hinge assembly movable in two axes to permit said cover to tilt about a horizontal axis and to swivel about a vertical axis relative to said base; a mounting ring attached to said base; a swivel disk adapted to swivel about said vertical axis within said mounting ring; a tilt assembly mounted to said swivel disk and also to said cover of the portable computer; a tilt base mounted to said swivel disk; a hollow tilt tube held within aligned apertures in said tilt base; and a yoke comprising: a mounting plate for mounting said yoke to said cover; and two arms having aligned apertures sized to freely rotate over said tilt tube, whereby said cover mounts to said yoke to rotate about said tilt tube, tilt base, and swivel disk.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The portable computer of claim 16, wherein said hollow tilt tube includes a centrally disposed opening in communication with open ends of said tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The portable computer of claim 17, wherein: said hinge assembly includes a pathway through which a cable is routed from said base to said cover; and said pathway extends into said opening of said hollow tilt tube and out through one of said open ends of said tilt tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The portable computer of claim 17, wherein said tilt tube is held horizontally within said aligned apertures by at least one demountable end cap on said tilt tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said tilt tube is held rotationally with respect to said tilt base by a tab on one of said tilt tube or said base and a notch on the other of said tilt tube or said base.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |