Locking Hinge Design for Electronic Device Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinged chassis designs for electronic devices suffer from unstable surface contact between the top and bottom cases and uncontrollable flatness tolerance, leading to inefficient assembly and potential electro-magnetic interference issues.
Innovation Solution
A locking hinge design featuring an L-shaped flange on the top case and a vertical return-stop plate on the bottom case, which ensures reliable surface contact and meets regulatory requirements by reducing gaps that can cause electro-magnetic emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a sliding assembly is used to close the top case against the bottom case, then the assembly structure is simple, but the friction force is large making assembly difficult and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding assembly mechanism with a hinge assembly mechanism. The hinge assembly includes a hinge body with a hinge axis, allowing the top case to rotate and close against the bottom case through a flipping motion rather than sliding. This mechanical substitution eliminates the large friction force associated with sliding while maintaining structural simplicity, thereby improving assembly efficiency.
2Productivity
If a hinge assembly is used to avoid large friction force, then assembly becomes easier and more efficient, but the surface contact between top case and bottom case is unstable and flatness tolerance is uncontrollable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hinge body as an intermediary component between the top case and bottom case. The hinge body includes a hinge axis and positioning structures that mediate the connection between the two cases, providing stable surface contact and controllable flatness tolerance while maintaining the assembly efficiency benefits of the hinge mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the hinge assembly with positioning structures that ensure the top case and bottom case maintain stable surface contact at multiple points along the hinge side. This creates equipotential contact conditions, distributing the contact load evenly and controlling flatness tolerance, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing assembly efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If existing hinged chassis designs are used, then assembly is easier compared to sliding assembly, but gaps between cases cause electro-magnetic interference issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the gap problem by designing the hinge assembly with positioning structures that ensure tight contact between the top case and bottom case. The hinge body includes features that take out the unwanted space or gap that would otherwise exist in conventional hinged designs, preventing electro-magnetic interference while maintaining assembly ease.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising a top case having a top surface and a side surface and a bottom case having a bottom surface and a side surface. The top case comprises a flange protruding from the side surface, the flange having at least one extended surface. The bottom case has an aperture having portions extending from the bottom surface to the side surface. The portion of the aperture extending along the bottom surface is configured to have sufficient width to allow the entire flange to pass through. The side surface of the bottom case has a vertical post such that the base section of the flange passes through the portion of the aperture on the side surface while vertical post retains the at least one extended surface.