The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 1989
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1987
Yoshio Saitou, Ome, JP;
Katumaru Sasaki, Ome, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A hinge mechanism is disclosed which couples the flat-panel display of a portable apparatus to the housing of the apparatus. The flat-panel display can be folded upon the housing, and the apparatus looks like an attache case. The hinge mechanism has a torsion bar. The torsion bar is fastened, at one end, to the hinge mechanism. The other end portion of the torsion bar is flat and held by a holder such that the torsion bar is prevented from rotating around its axis, but can move in its axial direction. The axis of the hinge mechanism is defined by hollow cylindrical bosses inserted in circular holes cut in the hinge mechanism. The force which the torsion bar generates when it is twisted comes into equilibrium with the force urging the display to fall down toward the housing when the display reaches a position close to the housing. Hence, the panel display stops at this position. The gap between the housing and the panel display held in this position is so broad that an operator never has his or her fingers pinched between the housing and display. Safety can thus be secured to the operator in case display suddenly falls down toward the housing. In addition, the risk of damages to the panel display and the housing can be minimized.