Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2002-04-09
Mah, Chuck Y. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
C016S257000, C016S262000, C016S271000, C016S336000, C016S341000, C361S310000, C361S310000, C361S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367122
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to hinge structures and, more particularly, to a hinge structure for use in an operation panel, for example, that is pivotally fixed to a portable electronic device, such as a memory card device or the like, which serves as an auxiliary storage device, for an information apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional portable electronic device, such as a memory card device for example, or a sub-unit is used by being inserted into a main unit of an information apparatus, such as an entertainment system, of which a typical example is a video game machine. Such a portable electronic device or a sub-unit of the information apparatus has an interface for connecting the device or the sub-unit to the main unit of the information apparatus and a non-volatile storage device for storing data.
FIG. 1A
illustrates the configuration of the main portion of a memory card device, which serves as an example of conventional portable electronic devices. A memory card generally indicated by
10
includes a control unit
11
for controlling the operation of the memory card
10
, a connector
12
used for connecting the memory card
10
to a terminal provided for a slot of the main unit, such as an information apparatus, and a non-volatile memory
16
for storing data. The connector
12
and the non-volatile memory
16
are connected to the control unit
11
.
The control unit
11
may be formed of a microcomputer. As the non-volatile memory
16
, a flash memory, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) may be used. As an interface for connecting the memory card
10
to the information apparatus, a microcomputer, which serves as a controller for interpreting protocols, may be used.
FIG. 1B
illustrates items to be controlled by the control unit
11
of the memory card
10
.
FIG. 1B
shows that the control unit
11
of the conventional memory card
10
includes only a main-unit-connecting interface for connecting the memory card
10
to the main unit, such as the information apparatus, and a memory interface for inputting and outputting data into and from the non-volatile memory
16
.
Conventional video game machines, such as home-use TV game machines, have a function of storing game data into auxiliary storage devices. The above-described memory card device is also used as such an auxiliary storage device of the video game machine.
Referring to the schematic diagram illustrating an example of conventional video game machines using a memory card as an auxiliary storage device shown in
FIG. 2
, a main unit
2
of a conventional video game machine generally represented by
1
is accommodated within a generally quadrilateral housing. A disk-loading portion
3
is disposed at the center of the main unit
2
so as to load an optical disc, which is a recording medium for recording an application program, such as a video game. The main unit
2
also includes a reset switch
4
for resetting the game at any time, a power-supply switch
5
, a disc operating switch
6
for operating the loading of the optical disc, and two slots
7
A and
7
B.
The memory card
10
, which serves as an auxiliary storage device, is inserted into one of the slots
7
A and
7
B, and, for example, a game result obtained by executing the game on the video game machine
1
is sent from a control unit (central processing unit (CPU))
19
and is written into the non-volatile memory
16
. A plurality of operation units (controllers) (not shown) may be connected to the slots
7
A and
7
B, so that a plurality of users can simultaneously play an opposing game.
Hitherto, in the aforementioned conventional portable electronic devices, as shown in
FIG. 3
, an operation panel
203
may be pivotally fixed to a main unit
201
of the device via a hinge unit
202
.
The hinge unit
202
is configured, as illustrated in
FIG. 4
, in such a manner that a shaft
205
projects from a casing
204
, the shaft
205
being formed in a non-circular shape, as shown in FIG.
5
. The hinge unit
202
is rotatable by a support component (not shown) built into the casing
204
, and is stopped rotating every 180 degrees by an urging force of a spring (not shown) which is also built into the casing
204
.
The above-configured hinge unit
202
is fixed at a predetermined position of the main unit
201
of the portable electronic device, as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, and the operation panel
203
is fitted to the shaft
205
.
However, a large space is required for the above type of hinge unit
202
since the support component and the spring are built into the casing
204
, thereby hampering the miniaturization of the hinge unit
202
and the saving of space. It is also difficult to detach the operation panel
203
from the main unit
201
of the electronic device. Additionally, if an excessive force is applied to the operation panel
203
, not only the operation panel
203
, but also the main unit
201
of the electronic device may be destroyed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and compact hinge structure which allows a movable portion to be easily attached to and detached from a main unit of a device and which prevents the movable portion and the main unit of the device from being destroyed even if an excessive force is applied to such movable unit.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a hinge structure for pivotally and detachably fixing a movable unit to a main unit. The hinge structure of the invention preferably includes a shaft provided for one of the movable unit and the main unit, and a bearing unit provided for the one of the movable unit and the main unit that is not provided with the shaft. The bearing unit includes an opening for attaching or detaching the shaft in an axial direction. The bearing unit includes a first bearing for receiving one portion of a peripheral surface of the shaft and a second bearing for receiving another portion of the peripheral surface of the shaft, the first bearing and the second bearing facing or positioned adjacent each other. A space formed between the first bearing and the second bearing becomes narrower as it is closer to the opening, and at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing is formed of an elastic member.
The surface of the first bearing for receiving the shaft may preferably be formed in an arch-like shape, and the first bearing may preferably be formed of a non-elastic member provided for or formed from the main unit.
The surface of the second bearing for receiving the shaft may preferably be planar in shape, and the second bearing may preferably be formed of an elastic member, such as, for example, a leaf spring, provided for the main unit.
The shaft may preferably include a surface and a cam-like projection provided at part of the surface. The projection may preferably be located on the surface of the shaft at a position at which the bearing unit elastically slides over the cam-like projection while the movable unit is pivoting, in particular, while the movable unit is pivoting between a rising (open) state and a lying (closed) state.
The movable unit may preferably include an engaging portion to be engaged with part of the main unit when the movable unit is in a lying state. The engaging portion may preferably be configured to displace the movable unit in a direction in which a space between the first bearing and the second bearing widens against an elastic force while the engaging portion is engaged or is being engaged. The engaging portion may preferably include an engaging projection which slides over part of the main unit.
The opening may preferably widen due to an elastic deformation of the elastic member when attaching or detaching the shaft.
With the above arrangement, when an excessive force is applied to the movable unit or the main unit, the space between the first bearing and th
Mah Chuck Y.
Rosenman & Colin LLP
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
LandOfFree
Hinge structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hinge structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hinge structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2869591