Patent · US Expired

Equilibrated hinge with variable frictional torque

US5771540A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
9References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 1997
Grant dateJun 30, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE05Y2999/00
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A hinge that provides equilibration and variable friction for a display screen or a laptop lid. In the preferred embodiment, a torsion rod provides a restoring force which increases as the lid is moved either direction from its vertical position. A friction hinge, of well know design, uses a spring band about a shaft. One end of the torsion rod is coupled to the end of the band of the friction hinge, so that the moment in the torsion rod increases or decreases the moment in the spring band of the hinge, modifying the frictional torque accordingly. This allows the frictional torque to be low as the lid is first opened, and larger as the display reaches the useful range of its motion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.