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:
Mar. 23, 1993
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1991
Keizo Ohgami, Tokyo, JP;
Takashi Hosoi, Tokyo, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A hinge device comprising a shaft, a coil spring, a shaft holder, and a bracket. The coil spring has a coiled portion wound around the main portion of the shaft. The shaft holder is secured to a first member and holds one end of the shaft, thus preventing the shaft from rotating. The bracket supports both end portions of the shaft, and is secured to a second member. The bracket, therefore, allows the first and second members to rotate relative to each other around the shaft. The main portion of the shaft has a cross section having a short diameter and a long diameter. The coiled portion is formed of a plurality of turns contacting one another. Each turn extends at a predetermined pitch angle to a line which extends at right angles to the axis of the shaft. The turn therefore looks elliptical when viewed in the axial direction, and has a short diameter greater than that of the main portion of said shaft, and a long diameter substantially equal to that of the main portion of said shaft. When the first and second members are rotated relative to each other around the shaft, the coiled portion is elastically deformed, changing the pitch angle and applying a frictional drag to the shaft. This drag suppresses the rotation of the first member or the second member.