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:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1998
Mark W Weadon, Apex, NC (US);
William H Jennings, Bedford, VA (US);
Ericsson, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Abstract
A wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, is provided with a torsional hinging mechanism for rotatably coupling a flip cover to the device's main body. The torsional hinging mechanism both minimizes lateral loading and causes the flip cover to automatically assume the open position when released. One, and preferably two, torsional axles interconnect the main body to the flip cover. One end of the torsional axle is engaged by the main body so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween, for example by fitting the end through a retaining slit in the main body. The opposite end of the torsional axle is engaged by the flip cover so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween, for example by fitting a keyed end into a keyed hole. When the flip cover is in the closed position, the torsional axle is rotationally loaded so as to urge the flip cover towards the open position. Optionally, the one or more of the torsional axles may include an acoustic passage for acoustically connecting the flip cover to a microphone in the main body when the flip cover is in the open position.