Ast Research, Inc.

Peter K Toedter

Charles S Curbbun

Kevin D Simmons

A rotatable bushing for reducing bending fatigue on a flat cable between a display screen cover and a base of a portable computer comprises an elongate cylindrical body having a diametric slot therethrough. The bushing is positioned along the hinge axis between the cover and the base of the portable computer. The cable extends from the cover display screen, through the slot, and to circuitry within the base of the computer. MYLAR Plastic shields also extend through the slot on either side of the cable. When the cover is closed and opened over 180.degree., the cable applies force to the bushing, which is free to rotate as dictated by the force applied by the cable. The rotation of the bushing effectively provides two bending regions on the top and bottom of the bushing slot so that the cable does not bend through the entire range of motion of the cover at a single point. Since the bending of the cable is distributed, fatigue due to bending stress is significantly decreased. The mylar shields and the cable are fixed to the cover, close to the hinge, so there is very little sliding friction between the shields and the cable, and the shields engage and easily accommodate the limited sliding within the bushing.

Rotatable bushing for reducing bending stress in electrical cable

A rotatable bushing for reducing bending fatigue on a flat cable between a display screen cover and a base of a portable computer comprises an elongate cylindrical body having a diametric slot therethrough. The bushing is positioned along the hinge axis between the cover and the base of the portable computer. The cable extends from the cover display screen, through the slot, and to circuitry within the base of the computer. MYLAR shields also extend through the slot on either side of the cable. When the cover is closed and opened over 180.degree., the cable applies force to the bushing, which is free to rotate as dictated by the force applied by the cable. The rotation of the bushing effectively provides two bending regions on the top and bottom of the bushing slot so that the cable does not bend through the entire range of motion of the cover at a single point. Since the bending of the cable is distributed, fatigue due to bending stress is significantly decreased. The mylar shields and the cable are fixed to the cover, close to the hinge, so there is very little sliding friction between the shields and the cable, and the shields engage and easily accommodate the limited sliding within the bushing.

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Trabuco Canyon, CA, United States of America

Peter K Toedter