Notebook Hinge Casing Assembly With Rotation-Limiting Cover Stops
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing twistable notebook computers face issues with stoppers on shafts between the monitor and host becoming movable over time, leading to potential damage of connecting wires due to excessive turning.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a fixed frame, rotatable frame, and cover, featuring positioning structures that limit the rotatable range by cooperating with each other, ensuring the cover is fixed to the casing for enhanced strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stopper is fixed on a shaft to limit monitor rotation, then the monitor can be prevented from excessive turning, but the fixation strength is weak and the stopper becomes movable after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into multiple functional components: a fixed frame attached to the host casing, a rotatable frame attached to the monitor, a shaft connecting the two frames, and a cover fixed to the host casing. The positioning structures are distributed across these segments, with the first positioning structure on the rotatable frame and the second positioning structure on either the fixed frame or cover, creating a modular system that improves reliability while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper function is extracted from the shaft and repositioned to the cover or fixed frame, which are firmly attached to the host casing. This extraction removes the weak fixation point from the rotating shaft and relocates the stopping mechanism to a stationary component, ensuring the stopper remains effective after repeated monitor rotations.
2Strength
If the cover is fixed to the first casing instead of the shaft, then the second positioning structure has sufficient strength to stop the first positioning structure, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is merged with the first casing through firm fixation, creating a unified stationary structure. The second positioning structure is integrated into either the fixed frame or the cover, both of which are securely attached to the host casing. This merging ensures that when the first positioning structure on the rotatable frame contacts the second positioning structure, the force is absorbed by the robust casing assembly rather than a weakly attached component.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If positioning structures are cooperated to limit rotatable range, then wires are protected from damage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning structures act as intermediary elements between the rotatable frame and the stationary components. The first positioning structure on the rotatable frame interacts with the second positioning structure on the fixed frame or cover, creating a mechanical constraint that limits rotation. This intermediary mechanism prevents excessive twisting of wires connected to the monitor without requiring complex electronic sensors or control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly includes a fixed frame, a shaft, a rotatable frame and a cover. The shaft is rotatably disposed on the fixed frame. The rotatable frame is fixed to the shaft, and the rotatable frame has a first positioning structure. The cover is at least partially located between the rotatable frame and the fixed frame and sleeved on the shaft. The fixed frame or the cover has at least one second positioning structure, and the first positioning structure and the at least one second positioning structure are cooperated with each other so as to limit a rotatable range of the rotatable frame.