Hinge device

Details Hinge device Hinge device

2003-01-15

2004-12-21

Shackelford, Heather (Department: 3676)

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,

Hinge

Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...

C016S321000, C016S303000, C016S324000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06832411

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a hinge assembly which is used for cellular telephones and generates a click sound in a closed position and an open position.
BACKGROUND ART
In general, a hinge assembly used for cellular telephones comprises a hinge main body and a turnable member. The hinge main body and the turnable member are non-turnably connected to a transmission section and a reception section, respectively. But the hinge main body and the turnable member are turnably connected to each other. By this, the transmission section and the reception section of the cellular telephone are turnably connected through the hinge assembly.
The turnable member is caused to abut with the hinge main body by bias means such as a coiled spring or the like. FIGS.
18
(A) and
19
(A) show abutment surfaces of the hinge main body and the turnable member b, respectively. Three fitting recesses a
1
, a
2
, a
3
each having a trapezoidal configuration in section are formed in the abutment surface of the hinge main body a at predetermined locations in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, two fitting projections b
1
, b
2
are formed on the abutment surface of the turnable member b. The two fitting projections b
1
, b
2
are fitted in the fitting recesses a
1
, a
2
, when the reception section is turned to the vicinity of the closed position, for example (FIG.
18
(B) shows a state in which the fitting projection b
1
is fitted in the fitting recess a
1
). Then, the biasing force of the bias means is converted into a turn biasing force by inclination surfaces of the fitting projections b
1
, b
2
and the fitting recesses a
1
, a
2
. By this turn biasing force, the reception section is turned into the closed position at a high speed and vigorously collided with the surface of the transmission section. As a consequence, a click sound is generated. On the other hand, when the reception section is turned to the vicinity of the open position, the fitting projections b
1
, b
2
are fitted in the fitting recesses a
3
, a
1
, respectively, thereby causing the basal portion of the reception section to collide with the basal portion of the transmission section. Therefore, a click sound is also generated when the reception section is turned into the open position (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-11831).
In the above-mentioned conventional hinge assembly, if the reception section is turned at a low speed against the biasing force of the bias means when the reception section is turned into the closed position or open position, the reception section is merely contacted with the transmission section and never vigorously collided with the transmission section. Hence, there is such a problem that no click sound is generated.
The present applicant previously proposed a hinge assembly capable of solving the above problem under Japanese Patent Application No. H11-376023 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-152728). The hinge assembly according to this proposal comprises a movable member which is non-turnably but movably connected to a hinge main body. The movable member is caused to abut with a turnable member by bias means such as a coiled spring or the like. A fitting recess and a fitting projection are formed at the abutment surfaces of the turnable member and the movable member, respectively. When the reception section arrives at the vicinity of the closed position, the fitting recess and the fitting projection are fitted to each other to thereby convert the biasing force of the bias means into a turn biasing force in the closing direction. On the other hand, when the reception section arrives at the vicinity of the open position, the fitting recess and the fitting projection are fitted to each other to thereby convert the biasing force of the bias means into a turn biasing force in the opening direction. Therefore, if the reception section is located in the vicinity of the closed position or open position, it is rapidly turned to the closed position or open position by the biasing force of the bias means.
An abutment recess and an abutment projection both extending in the circumferential direction about the rotation axes of the transmission section and the reception section, are formed at the reception section and the turnable member, respectively. The abutment recess and the abutment projection are fitted to each other to thereby turn the turnable member following the motion of the reception section. However, the width of the abutment recess in the circumferential direction is set to be slightly larger than the width of the abutment projection in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the turnable member can make a relative turn by a fine angle corresponding to the difference in width between the reception section and the abutment projection with respect to the reception section.
In the hinge assembly thus constructed, when the fitting recess and the fitting projection are fitted to each other by turning the reception section to the vicinity of the closed position or open position, the turnable member is caused to make a rapid turn by a fine angle with respect to the reception section by the bias means. As a consequence, one side surfaces of the abutment recess and the abutment projection in the circumferential direction are collided with each other at a high speed. Accordingly, a click sound can be generated even if the transmission section is turned at a low speed.
In the hinge assembly according to the previous proposal, when the reception section is turned with respect to the transmission section, the movable member relatively turns with respect to the turnable member and the fitting projection of the movable member slidingly contacts on the abutment surface of the turnable member. Accordingly, if the turnable member should be formed of resin, it would probably be worn out soon. Therefore, the turnable member is formed of metal so that it will be prevented from being worn out soon.
However, if the turnable member is to be formed of metal, another problem arises in which the recent requirement for forming the casing of the reception section from resin cannot be met. That is, whenever the reception section is turned into the closed position or open position, the side surface of the abutment recess in the circumferential direction is collided with the abutment projection. At that time, if the turnable member should be made of metal and the reception section should be made of resin, the abutment projection would be worn out soon. For this reason, the casing of the reception section cannot be formed of resin.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprises, in order to turnably connect an equipment main body and a cover member between a closed position and an open position, a hinge main body non-turnably connected to one of the equipment main body and the cover member, a turnable member arranged on a rotation axis of the equipment body and the cover member, turnably connected to the other of the equipment main body and the cover member, and turnably connected to the hinge main body, and turn bias means disposed between the hinge main body and the turnable member, the turn bias means biasing, when the cover member is located within a predetermined angular range from the closed position towards the open position side, the turnable member from the open position side towards the closed position side and biasing, when the cover member is located within a predetermined angular range from the open position towards the closed position side, the turnable member from the closed position side towards the open position side, an abutment recess being formed in an outer periphery of the turnable member, an abutment projection, which is to be inserted in the abutment recess, being formed on the other of the equipment main body and the cover member to which the turnable member is connected, wherein a driver member is disposed adjacent to the turnable member in a

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