Joints and connections – Articulated members – Lockable at fixed position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2002-05-28
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Lockable at fixed position
C403S322100, C403S092000, C403S097000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394687
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotating shaft unit, more particularly to a rotating shaft unit having two shaft sections, which can be located selectively at a relative angular position.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional rotating shaft unit
1
, which is used to interconnect a keyboard unit (not shown) and a monitor unit (not shown) of a portable computer (not shown), is shown. The conventional rotating shaft
1
includes a first shaft section (
1
A) and a second shaft section (
1
B). The first shaft section (
1
A) includes an internally splined first sleeve
11
and a first plug
13
, which has an outer end surface that is formed with a cylindrical axial bore
131
. The first plug
13
is externally splined to engage fittingly the first sleeve
11
, thereby preventing rotation of the first plug
13
within the first sleeve
11
while permitting axial movement of the first plug
13
within the first sleeve
11
. A right coupler plate
16
is fixed on the first sleeve
11
, and has a mounting portion
161
, which is adapted to be coupled with the keyboard unit (not shown). The second shaft section (
1
B) includes an internally splined second sleeve
12
and a second plug
14
, which is externally splined to engage fittingly the second sleeve
12
. Similarly, the second plug
14
can move axially but is not rotatable within the second sleeve
12
. The second plug
14
has an end surface, which is formed with a bore
141
, in which a spring
142
is disposed between the second plug
14
and a left end wall of the second sleeve
12
. The second plug
14
further has an integral tongue
143
, which extends movably into the bore
131
in the first plug
13
. A left coupler plate
17
is fixed on the second sleeve
12
, and is adapted to be coupled with the monitor unit (not shown). The first and second plugs
13
,
14
are formed respectively and integrally with opposed annular tooth units
15
. The spring
142
is in a compressed state to engage the annular tooth units
15
so as to prevent relative rotation of the first and second plugs
13
,
14
, thereby positioning the monitor unit (not shown) relative to the keyboard unit (not shown). The first and second plugs
13
,
14
can be disengaged forcibly from each other to permit rotation of the monitor unit (not shown) relative to the keyboard unit (not shown). When it is desired to adjust the position of the monitor unit (not shown) relative to the keyboard unit (not a shown), the operator must force the annular tooth units
15
to disengage upon rotation of the monitor unit (not shown) relative to the keyboard unit (not shown), thereby resulting in energy consumption and inconvenience during the adjustment process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a rotating shaft unit in which the relative angular position of two interconnected shaft sections can be adjusted easily in an energy-saving manner.
According to this invention, a rotating shaft unit is adapted to interconnect a first object and a second object. The rotating shaft unit includes a first shaft section with a first sleeve adapted to be fixed on the first object, and a second shaft section with a second sleeve adapted to be fixed on the second object. A fixed plug is secured within the first sleeve. A movable plug is disposed axially and movably within the second sleeve. Each of the fixed plug and the movable plug has an integral annular tooth unit. A radial push rod extends movably into the first sleeve and the fixed plug, and is located at a retracted position. A radial resilient element biases the radial push rod to move outwardly in the first sleeve and the fixed plug. An axial push rod is fixed on the movable plug, and extends movably through the fixed plug and the first sleeve. An axial resilient element biases the axial push rod to an extended position, in which the annular tooth units engage each other to secure relative angular position of the fixed plug and the movable plug. When the axial push rod is pressed to a retracted position, the radial push rod is biased by the radial resilient element to an extended position. At this time, the radial push rod is located so as to prevent the axial push rod from axial movement in the first sleeve, thereby disengaging the annular tooth units from each other. As such, the first object can be rotated relative to the second object. After the first object is rotated to a selected position relative to the second object, the radial push rod is pressed to the retracted position so as to return the axial push rod to the extended position by the action of the axial resilient element, thereby engaging the annular tooth units. Accordingly, the relative angular position of the first and second objects can be adjusted easily in an energy-saving manner.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4186905 (1980-02-01), Brudy
patent: 4692049 (1987-09-01), Engle
patent: 5464083 (1995-11-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 5520474 (1996-05-01), Liu
patent: 6148480 (2000-11-01), Cooke
patent: 6154925 (2000-12-01), Miura
Browne Lynne H.
Cottlngham John R.
Ladas & Parry
Mitac International Corp.
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