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:
Dec. 05, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1998
Thomas J Chintala, San Diego, CA (US);
Jose F Olivas, San Diego, CA (US);
Martin J Kimbell, Round Lake Beach, IL (US);
Miguel A Cano, Jr, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A snap hinge assembly for rotatably connecting a flip cover to a portable phone housing has only two parts, a hinge pin and a spring. The hinge pin is rotatably mounted in the housing and secured to the cover so as to rotate with the cover as it is opened and closed, and has a cam portion for engaging the spring. The spring is anchored in the housing and has a bearing portion for bearing against the cam portion as the pin rotates with the cover. The shape of the cam portion is such that the bearing portion is resiliently biased as the hinge pin rotates, and released at a predetermined orientation so as to snap the cover into either the open or closed position, depending on the direction of rotation of the pin. The cover is held by the engaging spring and cam surfaces in the open or closed position until positively urged towards the opposite end position.