CA2015731A1

CA2015731A1 - Center pivot cover

Info

Publication number: CA2015731A1
Application number: CA002015731A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Eric I. Gruenberg; James J. Halicho; Melvin J. Phillips; Troy K. Hulick
Original assignee: Apple Computer Inc
Current assignee: Apple Inc
Priority date: 1989-05-16
Filing date: 1990-04-30
Publication date: 1990-11-16
Also published as: US4959887A

Abstract

ABSTRACT

An improved hinge assembly for a personal computer system.
The hinge is comprised of a tubular portion which is rigidly connected to the cover unit of the computer. A part of the tubular hinge is left open to form a passageway into the cover unit. The tubular portion rotates relative to the main body section of the computer. The tubular portion has a longitudinal section removed from near its mid-point, forming a gap. This gap is closed by a curved cover element. The cover element is held stationary with respect to the main body section of the computer. Thus, when the cover unit is opened, the tubular portion rotates relative to the cover element. A cable connecting the electrical components in the cover unit to the main body section passes through an opening in the curved cover element, is bent, travels through the tubular section, parallel to its central axis, is bent again and passes into the cover unit.

Description

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B~CKGROUND OF THE INv~rrIoN

A. Field of thP In~ention:
Ihe present invention relates to the field of hinge and cormection de~ice~, and more particularly to an imprc~ved h~nge and cable assembly ~or a portable personal camputer.

B. Art E~ackqround ~ :n the ~ield of p~rsonal coqnputers, c~ puter~ æe portable and may easily be carried from plac:e to place are commonly re~erred to as "lap-top" computers. Iypically lap-top computers are co~spact in 6ize and r~latively li~ht in weight. Because of their portable nature, l~p-top co~nputer~ 2Ire usually configured differently then most othar personal computer ~ystems. A lap-ltop ~omputer i8 usually a ~ingle, ~ntegrated, unit. All o~ the elem~lts o~ the c~mputer ~re placed withi~ one h~using. This is in con~rast to ~ost personal computer ~ystems where ~he elements of the 6yste~, ~uch as the keyboard, video display, and Central Process~ng Unit (CPU) ~re physically di6~inct entitie~. The integrat~d nature of lap-top computers is desirable because it ~nhance~ their p~rtability.
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~ fos~ lap-top C:GmpUters have a ~ain body E;ection w~ con~ins all of the essential circ:uitry o~ the computer 6uch as the CPU~ the pow~r 6upply, and data etorage devices, 6UC~ a floppy or hard di6k7 Attached to the front of the main hody section is a keyboard unit whi~h allows a user to con~nunic~te with the oamputer. mere is ~ top cover unit whic~ i8 placed over the keyboard unit. q~he s:wver unit i8 connected to the ma~n body 6ection by a hinge. ~rhe hinge allows the cover to be opened upwards, revealing the keyboard.

qhe top cover unit per~onns ~;everal functions. First, when closed, it cavers the 3ceyboardt thus protecting the lceys while the con~puter i6 beillg transported. me cover also usually holds the display unit of the lap-top. ~en the cover i~ lifl:ed upward~s, t~e di~play unit i6 vi~ le to the user. In this ~anner, the di~play unit i~ also protected. ~h@ display uni'c can be a video monitor, a liquid cry6tal display~ or sny other eguivalent device. O~ten, when the cover is rotated upwar~s the co~nputer is turned on.

BecalLse the co~puter's video display i8 located in the cover unit, there must be eome method of conum~nicating between the video display ~nd the electronic circuitry ~n the main body sect~on. The video display must be provided with a power ~upply as well as control ~ignals ~or the actual display device. Iypically, thi6 communication iB accompli6hed through the use of an electrical cabl~. :

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Several methods of routing the cable between ~he main ~dy ::
section and the cover unit are known in th~ prior ark~ However all o~ these preYiously disclosed arrangemen~s have some ~orm o a~
inheren~ limitation. In one metho~, for exa~ple, ~h~ cable ~ ~ ly ~xits the housing at ~me location near the hinge and then reenters the coYer some distance away. Thi6 method i5 illustrated in Figure 1. miS ~ethod is obviously undesir~ble because it exposes the cable to ~he outside e~vironment. ~uch ~xposure could ~asily lead to damage in the cable or eYen a potential el~ctrical shock to user of the comput~r.

In ~ ~econd ~e~hod known ~n the prior art, the cable ~ e ~ ly rout~d through the hinge in the manner as Ehown ~n Fisure 2. In ~hi6 manner, ~he cable i~ covered. However, thi8 method i8 also undesirable for 6everal reasons. First, when the cover is ~pened and closed, the cable bends at point A. ~his repeated bendin~ can lead to a work-hardening o~ the metal conductors within the cable.
Eventually, the conductors oan become brittle ~nd break ~hich ~ill lead to ~ ~ailure in the cable. Another ~rawback with ~his method i6 that ~he ~pace pr~vided fox the cable within the hinge is very limited. As a result, the cable must be passed through the hinge before the connectore which are coupled to ~he ends of the cable are attached. Att~ching the connector~ while khe cable i8 with~n the computer i6 ~ di~icult task. A~ BUCh, the tL~e needed to manu-~acture the computer and its associated costs are both increased.

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SU~ARY OF ~E I~ION

~ e present inventlon ~vereomes the limitatiorls o~ the prior a~ by providing an impr~ed hinge ~æsembly ~or a portable per~onal co~puter. Wi~ he present lnvention the hinge i~ c~mprised of a tubular port~on which i~ rigidly connected to the co~er unit o~ Ithe cong?uter. A part of the tubular hinge ie left open ~o ~o~
pa~sag~way into the oover unit. q:he tubular ~portion ro~ates relativs to ~he main ~ody ~ection o~ ~he computer. The tubular portion haB a longitudinal ~ec~ion remcved fro~ n~ar i~s mid-point, forming a gap. m iæ gap i~ closed by a ~urved c~ver ~lement. ~he cover ele~ent i6 held 6tationa~y w~th respect to the m~in body ~:
~ec*ion o~ the computer~ mus, when the cover ~nit i6 opened, ~he tubular portion rotate~ relative to the cover element. A cable ~onnecting ~he electri~al component~ ln the cover unit to the ~ain b~dy seckion pas~e~ thrvugh an openin~ ~n the curved cover element, i8 bent, travels ~hrcugh the tu~ular 6ection, parallel t~ its ~entral axls, is b~nt again and passes into the cover unit.

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SU~RY t)F_THE ~RAWINGS

Figure 1 i~ an illu~tration o~ a cable routing arrangement that was used in thiB prior art.
Figure 2 is an illus~ation o~ an alter~ative cal:)le routillg arrang~ment that was al~o used in the prior art.
Figure 3 ~how~ a portabl~ per~onal computer Gyst~ that ~mploy~ the center pi~o~ c:~er of the present inverl~ion.
Figure 4 i6 a view 5i~11ilar t:o figuxe 3 except t~at portiorl~ o~
the casing of ~e computer E;y5tem ha~re ~en ~ut away and ~e cavisr BeCtiOn is ~hown in exploded formatO
Figures 5a and 5~ illustrate the preferred embodiment o~ the cal:le which ~s u~ed ~n the present im~ention.
Fi~re 6 1~ a cross ~;ectional view o the hinge with the cover in the open po~ition taken along the line 6-6 in Figuxe 3.
Figur~ 7 i~ a cros6--sectional view o~ th~ hillge with th~3 CGVer in the closed pc~ition taken along the line 6~6 in Figure 3.
Fis~ure 8 iB a ~op detail view of ~he hinge showiny how the cover eection 1~ coupled to the tubular portions.
Figure 9 illustrates the co~rer sect~on a6 used in ~he present ~nvention.
Flgure 10 i~ A 6ide view or' the c:over 6ection.
Figure 11 i8 a cross eectional view of the cover ~;ection taken along the line 11-11 in Figure 10., ~5--; ' '. . ' '' " ~ '''~.' `

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g~AILED DESCRIPTION OF I~IE INV~tq'ION

A center pivo~ over for u~e in a port~ble personal ~o~puter ~ystem is described. ~hroughout the :~ollowing ~pecification, various details ~ as ~pecific componen~ ~hapes and arrangements, are ~et forth in order ko provide a more c~mple~te clescription o~ the present in~ iora. Ln e~ther instances well knawn elements and 3n~thods of manufacture are no~ described in detail 60 as not to obscure the present invention unnecessarily. lIoreaver, throughout the ~ollowlng ~pecificationt the present lnventi~n i~ described with re~erence to to use in a portable per~onal computer ~ystem. It will ~e apparent to ~hose 6killed in the art, however, ~hat th~ c~nter pivot c~ver and hinge arrang~ment can be adopted for use in any electronic ~y~te~ that contains two or ~ore el~ments which must be vably connected toge~her.

. Referring fir~t to Figure 3, ~ persp~ct~ve view of a ~ortable personal computer 6y8tem using the center pivot cover of the present lnvention is shown. The computer 6yste~ consists o~ ~he main body section 10 and a cover unit 12. In Figure 3 the cover unit 1~ 6h4wn in a closed position. ~owever, the cover UUIit rotates upwi~rd to i~n open position. In the open position the keyboi~rd and the video display o~ the ccmputer 6ystem are expo5ed. The keyboi~rd ~
~ontained ~n the keyboard sestion 14 which i8 located uulderneath ~he cover unit 12.

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The c~ver unit 12 15 connected to the main body section 10 by means o~ a hing~ 15. qhe hinge i6 cylindrical in ~hape with a ~ubstantially circulax CX'06S ~ection. In the prefexred e3nbodimen~, it exte~ds substantially across the entire width o:E the co~puter ~ystem. It will be apparent to those skilled irl the art, hawe~er, that the hinge i~ not reqlaired to extend acros~ the entire width c:f the coIqputer system and that the same resu1t~ can be a ie~red witll a hinge that covers only part o~E the c~mputer ~ystem. The hinge co~pris~s two tubll1ar portions 17, a curved cover e1~ent 22 and two clu1:c~ units 18. qhe tubular portions 17 are r~gidly c:onnected to the c~ver ~ection 12. me c1utc~h units 18 are disposed at opposite ends o~ the h;nge 15 ansl are rigldly cormected to the maiLn body ~ection 10. lhe hinge is connected to each of the c1utch unit~
and rotaltes wi~h respect to the c1ut~ units 18. The c1ut~ unit~
contain a mechanism which hold the caver unit 12 in p1ace after it ha~ been opened, me term ~Icenter pivot caver" refers to the hinge and cover ele3nent arrang~ment that is u~ed in the present invention.

Referring next to Fit3ure 4, a eecond perspective view o~ ~he computer ~yetem ie shown. In thie ~11u6tration~ port~ons of the ca~ing o~ tht~ computer ~y~tem have been cut ~way ~o as to ~ore clt~rly illustrate the inter~or dQtai1s of the ct~putar ~nd thB
relationship of the curved ct~ver element 22 to the various othex element~ o~ ~he computer eyetem. In Figure 4, the curved t~over , 2 ~ 3 ~
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element 22 removed ~rom the co~put~r fiystem with the ~ oqn lines indicating haw the caver ~ection i5 coupled to the h~ge. As can be seen, a longitudinal gap 21 i6 present between the two t~ibul~r sections 17. Ihls gap is covered ~nd closed }~y the cover section 22. Figure 4 also illustrates how the cable 20 passes throllgh the hinge 15 and ~nto the cover unit 12.

Figure 8 illustrates a top detail vi~w e~f the cam~?uter ~ystem Ehow~n~ how the cc~vPr elemenl: 22 i6 o~upled to the tubular portions 17 and 'che hinge 15. Figure 4 also illustra~es how the c~ver element 22 is coupled to the tubular pOrtiOill8. Ihe cav~r element is 5il~ply ~napp~ to place to c~ver the gap Zl ~etween in the tubular portions 17 of the hinge 1~. ~he cover piece is not fix~l to ~he tul:)ular portions 17, ~ut ie free to move relative thereto. In Figure 8, various 6ections of the tubular portions 17 anà the ~rved cover elemellt 22 have baen cut away in order to more clearly ~how the element6 of the present inventionO A~; can be ~een, the end~ cs~
the tubular portions 17 are o~ a 6maller diametsr than the ~ain body of the tubular portion~. ml~ reducti~n in diam~ter provide~ ~
rece~ed 4rea 27 into which the cover section 22 is placed. The racessed Area ~7 works together with the ~tiffener~ 24 located on the inner surface of the cover ~ection 22 to properly ~ooate the cover ~ection 22. When the cover ~ection i8 ln place, it entlrely cover6 the gap 21 between the tubular portions 17. As described in more detail below, the opening 23 in the c~ver section i5 held ~ixed .. . . ,~ ; ,..
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so as not to be vis~ble ~y a user Oc the computer ~ysteml. Also, int:he preferred ~odiment, the c~ver ele~ent has a diameter whi~
~abstarltiaily equal t~ the diameter ~f the tub~r portions. In thi6 manner, it appear~ ~s though the hinge i6 one ~eamless unit to the user o~ the computer sy6~

Figures 9 through 11 illustrate the c~ved co~ver ~lement 22 ~ic~ is used in t~e presen~ invention to close the longitud~al gap 21 between the tu~ular portions 17 of the hinge 15. In oro~s~
6ection the curved cover piece ha~ a sh~pe whi~ comprises a por~ion of tlle arc o~ a ~ircle. ~he cover ~ not entirely circular.
An opening 23 is left ~tween the e~d6 36 of the cover. q~he cable 20 passes through this opening. ~Che exteriQr surIace of the preferred e~nbodiment of the cover i~ relat~vely E;~nooth. me interior surface has located on it a plurality e~f ~tiffeners 24 to help maintain the ~hape of the caver piece 22. q~he ~tiffener~ 2~1 are 8i~1y raised portions tha'c are fonned integrally with the cover piece. I~e ~tiffener6 24 are disposed longitudinally along the interior ~urface and are ~ubstantially parallel to ~he central ~xi~
of the hinge 15. The stlf~eners 24 do not extend all the way to the edge of the cover piece. ~nstead ~here i8 a gap between the end o~
the ~tiffener~ 24 and the edge of the cover piece 22. Thi~ gap form~ a shoulder portion 25. Wh~n the cover ~ection i6 coupled to the tubular portions 17 o~ the hinge, tha shoulder ac*s ~5 ~ 6top to keep the covQr piece properly located in thQ longitudinal direction.
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2~ 5~1 In the preferred embodiment, the cover ~ectioh is man~factured ~xom in~ection ~o}ded plastic.

When the comput~r i8 in it6 ~ssembled form, the cover element 22 i6 held in ~ fixed orientation wi~h respect to the ~ain body ~ection 10 of the computer. m iz ~ best illustrated with refarence to Figures 6 and 7. In ~igure 7, the ~over unit i closed. In Figure 6 it i6 ope~. me curYed cover el~ment 22 i~ preYented from ~vin~ by physioal ~top ~ember 26. m ie element i8 an ~xtended ~rm whi~h projec~s upwardly from tha base o~ the main b~dy 6ection 10.
In ~he preferred e~bodiment, tha phy~ical 8top ~ber i8 manufactured from injecti~n ~lded plastic. m e phy~i~al ~t~p member has a vertical eurface 28, and a horizontal ~urface 30 which c~ntacts the edges of the curved cover element 22. qh~s prevent~
~he cover element from moving when the cover unit 12 i~ opened ~nd closed. qhus, regardless of the position of the cover unit 12, the curved ccver element i~ ~lways oriented 80 that the opening 23 $e located ~nside o the computer system and is n~t vi6$b1e to the u~er.

Referring again to Figure 8, the relationship between the cover element 21 and the physicsl stop member 26 i~ ~urkher lllu6trated. AB can b~ seen, the physical ~top ~ember 26 i6 relatively narrow and doe~ not take up the entire width of the cover sec*ion. Instead, the cable 20 i~ inserted into the hinge at thiB

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point. !~he ~nann~ in wh~ch the cable i~ routed into t~e hinge i~
described in more detail helowO

Ref~rring again to Figures 6 ~nd ~, two cross;-s~ctiorlal Vi~!W8 c)f the hinge 15 and c~ver unit 12 are shawn. As can be æe~ he ~ubular port$on 17 is not a con~plete circle. ~erle it i~ cor~cted to the ccnrer ILnit 12, there is a passageway 32. Passas~eway 32 i~ ;~
pr~sent to ~llad the cable to pass fr~m t:he hinge 15 in~o the oo~er unil: 12. ~rhe tubular portion 17 has ~ relatlvely thin 6urface wall.
It ~nay also contain reinforcing panel~ (not ~OWtl~ to help mairl~ain the ~ylindrical ~ape o~ the hinge.

One of the major a~Tantages o~ the pre~erlt invention $s that it allows the ~able 20 s~onnect~ng the electronic componen~s in the main body ~ection 10 and the t::aver urlit 12 to be routed in a ~er that i~ easy to a~se~le and cloes not place a large amount o~ ~train on the cable. The cable 20 enter6 the hinge 15 through the gap 23 in the curved cover piece 22. In the preîerred e~odiment, the cable 20 i6 a ~lat cable with a plural~ty of parallel conductors.
Ihi~ type o~ cable changes direction by being ~olded along approximately ~ 45- line RO that it make~ ~ right angle bend. After thQ cabl~ enter~ the hlnge, it iB bent ~o as to travel substantl~lly parall~l to ~he central axis o~ the h$nge 15. The cable 20 extend~
a predetermined length through the hinge. At that point, the cable i5 bent again and passes into ~he c~ver unit 12, through passageway .... . .
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32, ~ere it t::onverts to the electronic components asE;ociated with the video displa3T of the co~mputer ~ystem. me ~nanner in whic~ the cable '~6 folded in the pre~erred embod~ment i6 ~hown in Figure~ 5a ~nd 5b.
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lhis arrangement of the cable 20 is advantageous in that it does n~t place a l~e amount of 6train on the cable when t~e cover anit i~ op~ nd closed. In 'chis ~rrangement, the cable 20 tw:i6ts along the entire length whi~ ; ln the hinge whenever the c~
UIlit 12 iB moved . Thi6 i6 in contra~ to the prior art where the cable would bend at a singl2 poi~t. By twisting along a length, the conductive ~lements in ~he oable are not ~ubjected to work hardening and therefore do not bec~me br~ttle over time. ml~ lead~ to longer, useful life~ for the cable. Another advantage o~ the 1present arrange3~ent iE; tha~ the cable can be completely asse~bled before it ls placed in the co~nputer IBy6tem. It is no~ neces~a~y to add ~or~ector~ to the cable after it has ~een placed in the con~?u~er.
That manufacturing ~tep can be acco~nplished while the cable 20 i6 out~ide the con~?uter~ This grea~y simplifies the ~anuîacture of the computer 6ystem.

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Claims

1. An improved hinge for use in a computer system, said computer system having at least a main body section and a cover unit comprising:
a hinge means fixedly coupled to said cover unit, said hinge means having removed therefrom a longitudinal section so as to form a gap;
a cover means movably coupled to said hinge means, covering said gap;
a stop means coupled to the main body section for holding said cover section in a fixed orientation relative to the main body section.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said cover means has formed therein an opening so as to allow a cable to be passed through said opening, through said hinge means and into said cover unit.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said hinge, said cover section and said stop member are manufactured from injection molded plastic.

4. An improved hinge for use in a portable personal computer system, said hinge comprising:
first and second substantially hollow tubular portions fixedly coupled to a cover unit of the computer system, said first and second tubular portions being arranged so as to form a gap therebetween;
mounting means coupled to said first and second tubular portions for rotatably coupling said cover unit to a main body section of said computer system;
a curved cover element movably coupled to said first and second tubular portions, covering said gap, said cover section having formed therein in an opening;
a stop member coupled to said main body section and contacting said curved cover element so as to hold said curved cover element in a fixed orientation with respect to said main body section.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a cable, said cable passing through said opening in said curved cover element, entering one of said tubular portions, and travelling into said cover unit so as to electrically connect electronic components in said cover unit and said main body section.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said first and second tubular portions and said curved cover element are all substantially circular in cross section, and have substantially identical cross sectional diameters.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said stop member comprises an extended arm coupled to, and rising upwards from, a base of said main body section.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said cable comprises a flat cable with a plurality of parallel conductors.

9. The device of claim 4 wherein said curved cover element is movably coupled to said tubular portions by being placed around a recessed end of each of said tubular portions.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said tubular portions, said curved cover element, and said stop member are all manufactured from injection molded plastic.