Ericsson Gmbh

David Desmond Middleton

Shawn M Stephenson

Stacy Neil Smith

A rotational hinge for use with a flip cover moveable between a first position and a second position in response to a biasing force is disclosed. The rotational hinge includes a housing integrated with a flip cover and capable of rotational movement about a central axis between the first and second positions. A torsional spring mechanism integrated with the housing converts a biasing force along the central axis of the housing into rotational movement about the central axis of the housing when moved from the first to the second positions. A damping mechanism connected to the torsional spring mechanism damps the biasing force along the central axis of the housing.

Rotational hinge damping mechanism

A mounting assembly is used to mount a liquid crystal display (LCD) to a printed circuit board. The mounting assembly includes a display support which is mounted to the printed circuit board and supports the display in spaced relationship to the printed circuit board. A connector with integral spring contacts snaps into an opening into the display support to electrically connect the contacts on the LCD to the contacts on the printed circuit board. The connector extends over a top surface of the LCD display and functions as a mechanical retention element.

Display assembly

A pair of embossments provided on either mounting arms of a cover pivotably attachable to a housing or, alternatively, provided on mounting surfaces of the housing, engage specifically defined recesses formed in the member on which the embossments are not formed. The embossments and recesses are all coaxially aligned with respect to an axis passing through a portion of the housing and about which the cover rotates between open and closed positions. The embossments are shaped such that positive engagement in the recess is assured when the cover is at predefined positions, such as the open and closed positions, thus inhibiting movement of the cover from the selected position. The present invention is particularly adaptable to small, portable telecommunications instruments, such as cellular phones having a flip cover, and effectively solves the problem of detent member breakage if the instrument is dropped or the need for costly spring mechanisms.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

David Desmond Middleton