Motorola Corporation

Other

Michael J Hartigan

Michael P Goldenberg

William J Scheid

Suthirug Num Pisutha-Arnond

Scott R Wilcox

An electronic device (10) has a foldable housing (11) including a base unit (12) and a cover unit (14). The cover unit is rotatably joined to the base unit by a hinge mechanism. Within cover unit is a frictional hinge mechanism including a cam member (30), a cam follower (32) and an o-ring (34). The cam member has an attachment post (38) connected to an attachment gear on base unit such that the cam member is fixed to the base unit. The cover unit rotates against noticeable friction produced by o-ring rubbing between cover unit and cam member while cover unit is at angles of rotation larger than a pre-set angle, and cover unit rotates against minimal friction at angles of rotation smaller than the pre-set angle. The friction allows cover unit to maintain a multiplicity of positions with respect to base unit within a preselected range of angles larger than pre-set angle.

Rotation dependent frictional hinge mechanism

A foldable housing (11) for an electronic device (10) includes a body portion (12) and a flip portion (14). The flip portion (14) is rotatable joined to the body portion (12) by a relatively small hinge control mechanism (22). The hinge control mechanism (22) includes a U-shaped spring (28) having a pair of spring arms (42) and (44) between which a shaft (30) is located. As the flip portion (14) is moved, it rotates the spring arms (42), (44) around the shaft (30). Protuberances (34) and (36) on the shaft surface (32) deflect the spring arms (42), (44) to generate a force which varies with the amount of deflection and which holds the flip portion (14) in a closed position or in an open position, and allows the flip portion (14) to be adjusted from the open position to a read position selected by the user.

Hinge control mechanism for a foldable device

Communications transceiver

Communication product holster

An electronic device (100) that has an housing assembly and electrical circuit therein includes a first housing portion (116), a second housing portion (118) coupled to the first housing portion (116), and a cam assembly (102) rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions (116, 118). The cam assembly (102) includes a cam (220), a cam follower (205), and a spring (224). The spring (224) resiliently biases the cam (220) and the cam follower (205) into engagement. At least one of the cam (220) and cam follower (205) is depressible within one of the first and second housing portions (116, 118) for permitting their assembly.

Electronic device having a cam assembly functioning as a depressible

A one piece holster 10 for a PCD (Personal Communication Device) 24 has a back wall 14, sidewalls 18 and a bottom ledge 20 formed to receive a PCD either by lateral or vertical insertion. A snap fit feature and a locking mechanism 38 hold the PCD securely within the holster 10. A clip 56 is integrally formed with the back wall 14 for supporting the holster on a user's clothing.

Growing community of inventors

Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Michael J Hartigan