Spring biased hinges and methods therefor

• Main Authors: SPENCE MICHAEL F, HARMON ROGER W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.04.2006
• Subjects: CHECKS FOR WINGS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS; KEYS; LOCKS; SAFES; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

A hinged housing portion ( 110 ) coupled to a second housing portion ( 120 ), for example in a wireless communications device, including a compression spring ( 134 ) coupled to one of the housing portions, a cam ( 142 ) coupled to the body member, and a follower ( 336 ) coupled between the cam and the compression spring. The compression spring compresses along a compression axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The contoured surface or cam surface urges the follower against a first side of the second housing portion with the follower force 724 . The follower force is parallel to the slope of the contoured surface slope at the point of contact between the follower and the contoured surface. The follower force results in rotation of the second housing portion in a first direction or second direction of rotation about the first axis depending on the angle of the contoured surface relative to the compression spring axis.