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:
Jun. 30, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 22, 1997
David A Carpenter, Clarksville, MD (US);
Mikhail Gelfand, Milford, CT (US);
Edward T Rude, Columbia, MD (US);
TorqMaster, Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A hinge that provides equilibration and variable friction for a display screen or a laptop lid. In the preferred embodiment, a torsion rod provides a restoring force which increases as the lid is moved either direction from its vertical position. A friction hinge, of well know design, uses a spring band about a shaft. One end of the torsion rod is coupled to the end of the band of the friction hinge, so that the moment in the torsion rod increases or decreases the moment in the spring band of the hinge, modifying the frictional torque accordingly. This allows the frictional torque to be low as the lid is first opened, and larger as the display reaches the useful range of its motion.