Notebook Hinge Assembly with Resilient Position Limiting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies for notebook computers are unreliable in maintaining the display position when fully opened, especially when additional accessories like webcams or antennas are attached, due to inconsistent engagement of position limiting members.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly design featuring a pintle with two sections, including a first section for a coupling member and a second section with position limiting members and a biasing device, utilizing resilient members with arcuate and undulating wall portions for non-continuous contact, ensuring stable engagement and torque resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a position limiting member engages with a protrusion to limit hinge movement, then the display position is constrained, but the engagement is unreliable when the hinge is fully opened
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into two functional sections: a first section for basic coupling and a second section for position limiting and biasing functions. This segmentation allows each section to specialize in specific functions, improving the reliability of position limiting when fully opened while maintaining ease of operation for the display.
Solution Approach 2:
The position limiting members are designed to be resilient rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adapt to the hinge's movement. The resilient members can deform and recover, ensuring reliable engagement with the protrusions at all hinge angles including when fully opened, thus improving both engagement reliability and position stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If accessories are added to the display, then functionality is improved, but the hinge assembly becomes less reliable in maintaining display position
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient position limiting members can dynamically adjust to additional weights from accessories. Their elasticity allows them to maintain reliable engagement with the protrusions even under increased load, ensuring display position stability regardless of accessory weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The second section of the hinge assembly serves multiple functions: it provides position limiting, maintains torque resistance, and supports additional accessories. This multi-functionality allows the hinge to handle both the mechanical constraints and the additional loads from accessories without compromising reliability.
3Device complexity
If a resilient member with continuous contact is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but torque resistance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member features localized undulating wall sections with non-continuous contact areas rather than uniform continuous contact. This local variation in contact quality increases the member's ability to resist torque by creating multiple engagement points along its length, improving strength without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The undulating wall sections introduce curved, non-linear contact surfaces that better distribute and resist torque forces. The curved geometry provides mechanical advantage in resisting rotational forces compared to flat continuous contact, enhancing torque resistance while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides reliable support and stability to the display, even when additional accessories are attached, by ensuring consistent engagement and increased torque resistance through the use of resilient members and position limiting protrusions.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing means includes a plurality of resilient members. Each resilient member includes a hole having a wall portion that provides non-continuous contact with the second section of the pintle.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly includes a pintle supporting a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The second coupling member includes two protrusions formed on two opposing faces. Two position limiting members simultaneously abut against the protrusions respectively when the hinge assembly is fully opened. A biasing means include a plurality of resilient members that provides non-continuous contact with the pintle.