Torque-adjustable hinge

{
  "publication_number": "US2012204380A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Torque-adjustable hinge",
  "abstract": "A hinge includes a pivot shaft defining a friction surface and a positioning surface on the periphery thereof in such a manner that the radius between the center of axis of the pivot shaft and the friction surface is greater than the radius between the center of axis of the pivot shaft and the positioning surface, an upright bearing portion extended from one side of the base portion, a circularly curved constraint portion, an elastic buffer portion connected between the upright bearing portion and the circularly curved constraint portion, an opening defined between the free end of the circularly curved constraint portion and the base portion remote from the upright bearing portion and a flexible space defined between the elastic buffer portion and the friction surface for absorbing stress generated upon displacement of the circularly curved constraint portion due to rotation of the pivot shaft relative to the knuckle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A hinge, comprising: a pivot shaft defining a friction surface and a positioning surface on the periphery thereof, the radius between the center of axis of said pivot shaft and said friction surface being greater than the radius between the center of axis of said pivot shaft and said positioning surface; and a knuckle surrounding said pivot shaft, said knuckle comprising a base portion for stopping against said positioning surface of said pivot shaft to hold said pivot shaft in position, an upright bearing portion extended from one side of said base portion, a circularly curved constraint portion, an elastic buffer portion connected between said upright bearing portion and said circularly curved constraint portion, an opening defined between the free end of said circularly curved constraint portion and said base portion remote from said upright bearing portion and a flexible space defined between said elastic buffer portion and said friction surface for absorbing stress generated upon displacement of said circularly curved constraint portion due to rotation of said pivot shaft relative to said knuckle. 2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said friction surface of said pivot shaft is circularly curved; said elastic buffer portion of said knuckle is circularly curved. 3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said friction surface of said pivot shaft and said elastic buffer portion of said knuckle are respectively circularly curved, the curvature of said elastic buffer portion being smaller than the curvature of said friction surface. 4. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning surface of said pivot shaft is a flat surface; said base portion of said knuckle is a flat member. 5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circularly curved constraint portion and said elastic buffer portion of said knuckle are disposed at one side of said pivot shaft opposite to said base portion."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to hinges and more particularly, to a hinge, which is capable of absorbing stress, avoiding component damage due to stress concentration.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nHinges are intensively used in many objects in our daily life. For examples, hinges are commonly used in notebook computers, electronic dictionaries, PDAs and many other electronic devices to connect two solid members, for example, the base member and the cover member, allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them.\n\nA conventional hinge 9, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, comprises a knuckle 91 and a pivot shaft 92. The knuckle 91 comprises a flat base portion 911, an upright bearing portion 912 extended from one side of the flat base portion 911, and a constraint portion 913 circularly curved and extended from the end of the upright bearing portion 912 opposite to the flat base portion 911. The pivot shaft 92 is rotatably inserted through the knuckle 91, defining a flat positioning face 921. When rotating the pivot shaft 92 to the angle where the flat positioning face 921 is abutted against the flat base portion 911, as shown in FIG. 5, the pivot shaft 92 is firmly kept in position subject to the pressure of the constraint portion 913. When rotating the pivot shaft 92 to move the flat positioning face 921 away from the flat base portion 911, the pivot shaft 92 imparts a pressure to the constraint portion 913 in direction away from the flat base portion 911.",
  "cpc": [
    "E05D 11/082",
    "E05Y 2999/00",
    "F16D 3/84",
    "F16J 15/52",
    "G06F 1/1681"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E05D 11/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Yuan Deng Metals Industrial Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Ching-Yao Chen"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-11-09",
  "publication_date": "2012-08-16",
  "priority_date": "2011-02-15",
  "application_number": "US-201113293048-A",
  "family_id": "45092183",
  "cited_by_count": 15,
  "citations": [
    "US5491874A",
    "US20060265839A1",
    "US20060272128A1",
    "US20060272129A1",
    "US20100064475A1",
    "US8074322B2"
  ]
}