US5881150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinge mechanism having a sound guide
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Filing: 1997-08-28
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2017-08-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism which provides a tight sound guide joint in a sound guide (13) which is split between a communication unit (11) and a foldable flip part (12). At least two shaft elements (21, 22) pivotally connect the flip part to the communication unit. Each shaft element is arranged in a respective pivot point (26, 27) for the flip part along the pivot axis (25) of the flip part. The sound guide joint is arranged in a first pivot point (26) for the flip part between an opposing surface on the flip part and an opposing surface on the communication unit. The sound guide parts (13a, 13b) are thereby connected to each other irrespective of which pivot position the flip part takes up relative to the communication unit. The hinge mechanism comprises at least one compressive resilient element (32), which, via a shaft element (22) in a second pivot point (27), exerts a force on the two opposing surfaces so that the sound guide joint is pressed together and becomes sound-tight.
Inventors
- 👤 Per-Håkan Persson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0216; H04M1/03; H04M1/035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
Hinge mechanism for a folding flip part (12) for a communication unit (11) for achieving a sound-tight sound guide joint in a sound guide (13a, 13b) split between the flip part and the communication unit, at the same time as the flip part can pivot relative to the communication unit, wherein the sound guide is arranged from its first part (13a) from a sound input (14) on the flip part via its second part (13b) to a microphone (28) in the communication unit, and wherein the flip part (12) can be rotated relative to the communication unit (11) around at least two pivot points (26, 27, 79, 95), which together define a pivot axis (25), whereby at least two projecting shaft elements (21, 22, 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, 51, 53, 61, 65, 91a, 91b) each are arranged in a respective pivot point in order to pivotally connect the flip part to the communication unit, characterized in that the sound guide joint is arranged by a first pivot point (26, 79, 95) for the flip part, between a first opposing surface on the flip part (12) and a second opposing surface on the communication unit (11), and that at least a first of said at least two shaft elements (22, 22a, 22b, 53, 65, 91a, 91b) is influenced by a compressive resilient force in the direction of the pivot axis, so that a second (21, 53) of at least two shaft elements in its turn produces a force on said first opposing surface in relation to said second opposing surface, whereby said first and second sound guide parts (13a, 13b) are tightly connected to each other independent of the pivot position of the flip part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
Hinge mechanism for a folding flip part (12) for a communication unit (11) for achieving a sound-tight sound guide joint in a sound guide (13a, 13b) split between the flip part and the communication unit, at the same time as the flip part can pivot relative to the communication unit, wherein the sound guide is arranged from its first part (13a) from a sound input (14) on the flip part via its second part (13b) to a microphone (28) in the communication unit, and wherein the flip part (12) can be rotated relative to the communication unit (11) around at least two pivot points (26, 27, 79, 95), which together define a pivot axis (25), whereby at least two projecting shaft elements (21, 22, 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, 51, 53, 61, 65, 91a, 91b) each are arranged in a respective pivot point in order to pivotally connect the flip part to the communication unit, characterized in that the sound guide joint is arranged by a first pivot point (26, 79, 95) for the flip part, between a first opposing surface on the flip part (12) and a second opposing surface on the communication unit (11), and that at least a first of said at least two shaft elements (22, 22a, 22b, 53, 65, 91a, 91b) is influenced by a compressive resilient force in the direction of the pivot axis, so that a second (21, 53) of at least two shaft elements in its turn produces a force on said first opposing surface in relation to said second opposing surface, whereby said first and second sound guide parts (13a, 13b) are tightly connected to each other independent of the pivot position of the flip part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the second (22b, 91b) of said at least two shaft elements is influenced by a compressive resilient force in the direction of the pivot axis, in order to increase said pressure on said first opposing surface in relation to said second opposing surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 65, 91a, 91b), which produces the force on said opposing surfaces, projects out of a hinge part (17, 16, 71, 73) comprised in the communication unit (11), whereby the flip part (12) comprises an opposing hinge part (16, 17, 74a, 74b) comprising a notch (24, 67, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) in which the shaft element is fitted, whereby a second pivot point (27) for the flip part is situated between the bottom surface of the notch and the projecting end surface of the shaft element, so that the shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 65, 91a, 91b) presses against the notch (24, 67, 78a, 78b, 96a, 96b), whereby the flip part (12) is pressed in the direction of the pivot axis so that the two opposing surfaces are pressed together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (53), which produces the force on said opposing surfaces, projects out of a hinge part (16) comprised in the flip part (12), whereby the communication unit (11) comprises an opposing hinge part (17) with a notch (55) in which the shaft element (53) is fitted, whereby a second pivot point for the flip part is situated between the bottom surface of the notch (55) and the projecting end surface of the shaft element (53), so that the shaft element (53) is pressed by the spring force towards the notch (55), whereby the flip part (12) is pressed in the direction of the pivot shaft, so that the two opposing surfaces are pressed together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (53), which produces the pressure on said opposing surfaces, is rigidly arranged and is fitted into a notch (55) which is movable in the direction of the pivot axis, which notch (55) is influenced by a resilient compressive force in the direction of the pivot axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (65), which produces the force on said opposing surfaces, is itself a movable resilient compressive element in the direction of the pivot axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b), which produces the pressure on said opposing surfaces, is movable in the direction of the pivot axis and is arranged in contact with a resilient compressive element (32, 32a, 32b, 92).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that the shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 92) is a plunger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the resilient compressive element (32, 32a, 32b, 92) is a mechanical spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the resilient compressive element (65) is formed of a rubber material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b, 65) comprises a locking arrangement (35, 66, 93a, 93b) which prevents the shaft element from rotating around the pivot axis relative to the hinge part from which it projects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that said shaft element (22, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b, 65) comprises a locking arrangement (35, 66, 93a, 93b) which prevents the shaft element from moving so far in the direction of the pivot axis from the hinge part from which it projects, so that it loses contact with the hinge part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a shaft element (21, 51, 61, 21a) is rigidly arranged at a hinge part (17, 15, 75) comprised in the communication unit (11) in the first pivot point (26, 79) for the flip part, wherein the flip part (12) comprises an opposing hinge part (15, 17, 74a) with a notch (23, 52, 62, 77a) in which the shaft element is fitted, whereby the projecting end surface of the shaft element and the bottom surface of the notch form said opposing surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a shaft element is rigidly arranged by a hinge part in the flip part, in the first pivot point for the flip part, whereby the communication unit comprises a hinge part with a notch in which the shaft element is fitted, wherein the projecting end surface of the shaft element and the bottom surface of the notch form said opposing surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective shaft element can only rotate around the pivot axis relative to the hinge part towards which it projects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said shaft elements (22, 51, 53, 65, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) in combination with the notch (24, 52, 55, 67, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) in which the shaft element is fitted, forms a male-female connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the projecting end of the shaft element (22, 51, 53, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) is V-shaped, and the notch (24, 52, 55, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) in which it is fitted comprises at least one V-shaped groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the V-shaped end of the shaft element (22, 51, 53, 22a, 22b, 91a, 91b) is fitted in the V-shaped groove in the notch (24, 52, 55, 78a, 78b, 94a, 94b) when the flip part takes up a defined folded-out position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said shaft elements (61) has a spherical projecting end, whereby the notch (62) in which the shaft element is fitted has a corresponding shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
259 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a first shaft element (21, 51, 61) and a second shaft element (22, 53, 65), characterized in that the hinge mechanism further comprises a first outer hinge part (15), a second outer hinge part (16), which both are comprised in one of the flip part (12) or the communication unit (11), and an inner hinge part (17) which is arranged between the two outer hinge parts and is comprised in the other one of the flip part or the communication unit, whereby the hinge parts (15, 16, 17) and the shaft elements (21, 51, 61, 22, 53, 65) are arranged in the direction of the pivot axis (25), whereby the hinge part, towards which the first respectively the second shaft element projects, comprises a first notch (23, 52, 62) and a second notch (24, 55, 67) respectively in which the respective shaft element is fitted, so that the first shaft element (21, 51, 61) pivotally connects the first outer hinge part (15) and a first end (19) of the inner hinge part (17), and the second shaft element (22, 53, 65) pivotally connects the second outer hinge part (16) and a second end (20) of the inner hinge part (17), whereby said first pivot point (26) is situated between the first outer hinge part (15) and the first end (19) of the inner hinge part, and a second pivot point (27) is situated between the second outer hinge part (16) and the second end (20) of the inner hinge part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 20, characterized in that the inner hinge part (17) comprises a resilient element (32) which is compressible in the direction of the pivot axis and which is arranged to exert pressure in the direction of the pivot axis towards the second outer hinge part (16), so that the second outer hinge part is pressed out from the second end (20) of the inner hinge part, whereby the first outer hinge part presses towards the first end of the inner hinge part, whereby the two opposing surfaces in the sound guide joint are pressed towards each other, so that the sound guide joint is pressed together and becomes sound-tight.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
123 words
Hinge part according to claim 20, characterized in that the second outer hinge part (16) comprises a resilient element (65) which is compressible in the direction of the pivot axis and which is arranged to exert pressure in the direction of the pivot axis towards the second end of the inner hinge part (17), so that the inner hinge part (17) is pressed in the direction of the pivot axis from the second outer hinge part (16), whereby the first end (19) of the inner hinge part (17) presses towards the first outer hinge part (15), whereby the two opposing surfaces in the sound guide joint are pressed towards each other so that the sound guide joint is pressed together and becomes sound-tight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 21, characterized in that a free space (40) is formed between the second hinge part (16) and the second end (20) of the third hinge part when the second hinge part is influenced by the force from the resilient element (32), whereby the flip part (12) can be removed from the communication unit (11) when the free space (40) is compressed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
171 words
Hinge mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge mechanism comprises a first outer hinge part (71) and a second outer hinge part (72) as well as a first inner hinge part (73), which all three are comprised in one of the communication unit (11) or the flip part (12), and that a second inner hinge part (74a) and a third inner hinge part (74b) both are comprised in the other of the communication unit (11) or the flip part (12), whereby the second inner hinge part (74a) is fitted between the first outer hinge part (71) and a first end of the first inner hinge part (73), and whereby the third inner hinge part (74b) is fitted between a first end of the inner hinge part (73) and the second outer hinge part, whereby the flip part rotates in relation to the communication unit at a pivot point between the respective hinge part, whereby the sound guide joint is arranged in one of the pivot points (79, 95).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |