Friction hinge with pop-up feature

Claim 2

A friction hinge comprising: a shaft; a band including a spring portion having an end, said spring portion rotatable relative said shaft and wrapped tightly about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and said spring portion; a contact member fixedly mounted along said shaft such that said contact member engages said spring portion end when said spring portion is rotated in one of a first and second direction relative said shaft and reaches a selected rotational position with respect to said shaft; wherein said spring portion is capable of further rotation relative said shaft past said selected rotational position in said one of said first and second directions in order to cause said band spring portion to loosen about said shaft.

Claim 3

The friction hinge of claim 1 , wherein said contact member comprises a pin extending outwardly from said shaft in one radial direction and substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof.

Claim 4

The friction hinge of claim 2 , wherein said band is formed with a slot in which said extending pin is rotatably received.

Claim 5

The friction hinge of claim 2 , wherein said end of said band spring portion is formed with a cut-out for receiving said pin upon engagement thereof.

Claim 6

The friction hinge of claim 1 , wherein said contact member comprises at least one raised area formed along said shaft.

Claim 7

The friction hinge of claim 1 , wherein said contact member comprises a caming surface formed along said shaft.

Claim 8

The friction hinge of claim 1 , wherein said spring portion of said band includes a first section having said end selectively engageable by said contact member such that further rotation of said shaft causes said first section of said spring portion to loosen about said shaft, and a second section co-axial with said first section at least partially separated therefrom such that said second section in response to said further rotation of said shaft is loosened about said shaft to an extent less than said first section.

Claim 9

The friction hinge of claim 7 , wherein said first section of said spring portion is separated from said second section of said spring portion by means of a slot formed in said spring portion of said band.

Claim 10

The friction hinge of claim 8 , wherein said extent of said second section loosening about said shaft less than said first section is controllable by selective adjustment of the length of said slot.

Claim 11

The friction hinge of claim 7 , wherein each of said first and second sections of said spring portion has a radial length and said extent of said second section of said spring portion loosening about said shaft less than said first section is controllable by selectable adjustment of at least one of said radial lengths.

Claim 12

A friction hinge comprising: a shaft rotatable in both first and second directions and thereby defining an axis of rotation; a band including a spring portion having an end, said spring portion wrapped about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and said spring portion of said band; a contact member fixedly mounted along said shaft such that said contact member engages said spring portion end when said shaft is rotated in one of said first and second directions in order to reach a selected rotational position with respect to said band spring portion; wherein said spring portion of said band includes a first section having said end selectively engageable by said contact member such that further rotation of said shaft causes said first section of said spring portion to loosen about said shaft, and a second section co-axial with said first section at least partially separated therefrom such that said second section in response to said further rotation of said shaft is loosened about said shaft to an extent less than said first section; wherein said first section of said spring portion is separated from said second section of said spring portion by means of a slot formed in said spring portion of said band.

Claim 13

A friction hinge comprising: a shaft rotatable in both first and second directions and thereby defining an axis of rotation; a band including a spring portion having an end, said spring portion wrapped about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and said spring portion of said band; a contact member fixedly mounted along said shaft such that said contact member engages said spring portion end when said shaft is rotated in one of said first and second directions in order to reach a selected rotational position with respect to said band spring portion; wherein said spring portion of said band includes a first section having said end selectively engageable by said contact member such that further rotation of said shaft causes said first section of said spring portion to loosen about said shaft, and a second section co-axial with said first section at least partially separated therefrom such that said second section in response to said further rotation of said shaft is loosened about said shaft to an extent less than said first section; wherein said first section of said spring portion is separated from said second section of said spring portion by means of a slot formed in said spring portion of said band.

Claim 14

The friction hinge of claim 11 , wherein said extent of said second section loosening about said shaft less than said first section is controllable by selective adjustment of the length of said slot.

Claim 15

The friction hinge of claim 11 , wherein said contact member comprises a pin extending outwardly from said shaft in one radial direction and substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof.

Claim 16

The friction hinge of claim 11 , wherein said contact member comprises at least one raised area formed along said shaft.

Claim 17

The friction of claim 11 , wherein said contact member comprises a caming surface formed along said shaft.

Claim 18

A friction hinge comprising: a shaft rotatable in both first and second directions and thereby defining an axis of rotation; a band including a spring portion having an end, said spring portion wrapped about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and said spring portion of said band; a contact member fixedly mounted along said shaft such that said contact member engages said spring portion end when said shaft is rotated in one of said first and second directions in order to reach a selected rotational position with respect to said band spring portion; wherein further rotation of said shaft in said one of said first and second directions causes said band spring portion to loosen about said shaft; wherein said spring portion of said band includes a first section having said end selectively engageable by said contact member such that further rotation of said shaft causes said first section of said spring portion to loosen about said shaft, and a second section co-axial with said first section at least partially separated therefrom such that said second section in response to said further rotation of said shaft is loosened about said shaft to an extent less than said first section; wherein each of said first and second sections of said spring portion has a radial length and said extent of said second section of said spring portion loosening about said shaft less than said first section is controllable by selectable adjustment of at least one of said radial lengths.

Claim 19

A friction hinge comprising: a shaft rotatable in both first and second directions and thereby defining an axis of rotation; a band including a spring portion having an end, said spring portion wrapped about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and said spring portion of said band; a contact member fixedly mounted along said shaft such that said contact member engages said spring portion end when said shaft is rotated in one of said first and second directions in order to reach a selected rotational position with respect to said band spring portion; wherein further rotation of said shaft in said one of said first and second directions causes said band spring portion to loosen about said shaft; wherein said spring portion of said band includes a first section having said end selectively engageable by said contact member such that further rotation of said shaft causes said first section of said spring portion to loosen about said shaft, and a second section co-axial with said first section at least partially separated therefrom such that said second section in response to said further rotation of said shaft is loosened about said shaft to an extent less than said first section; wherein each of said first and second sections of said spring portion has a radial length and said extent of said second section of said spring portion loosening about said shaft less than said first section is controllable by selectable adjustment of at least one of said radial lengths.

Claim 20

The friction hinge of claim 16 , wherein said contact member comprises a pin extending outwardly from said shaft in one radial direction and substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof.

Claim 21

The friction hinge of claim 17 , wherein said band is formed with a slot in which said extending pin is rotatably received.

Claim 22

The friction hinge of claim 17 , wherein said end of said band spring portion is formed with a cut-out for receiving said pin upon engagement thereof.

Claim 23

A friction hinge comprising a shaft and a band including a spring portion rotatable relative to said shaft and wrapped about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and spring portion, said shaft including a member for engaging said spring portion when said spring portion is rotated in one of a first and second direction and reaches a selected rotational position with respect to said shaft, wherein said hinge is designed for further relative rotation of said shaft with respect to said band past said selected rotational position in said one of said first and second directions in order to cause said band spring portion to loosen elastically about said shaft.

Claim 24

A friction hinge comprising a shaft and a band including a spring portion rotatable relative to said shaft and wrapped about said shaft for providing frictional torque between said shaft and spring portion, said shaft including a member for engaging said spring portion when said spring portion is rotated in one of a first and second direction and reaches a selected rotational position with respect to said shaft, wherein said hinge is designed for further relative rotation of said shaft with respect to said band past said selected rotational position in said one of said first and second directions in order to cause said band spring portion to loosen elastically about said shaft.