Hinge for an LCD monitor of a video movie camera

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an LCD monitor of a video movie camera, and more particularly to a hinge for an LCD monitor by which the LCD monitor can be rotated about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

2. Description of Related Art

A video movie camera generally has an LCD monitor pivotally mounted at a left side. A user can turn outwards the LCD monitor to watch images during filming whereby the user can be sure of what is being recorded. The LCD monitor can be turned about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis for adjustment. However, the LCD monitor pivotally mounted on the camera by a conventional hinge cannot be stably positioned at desired positions, so that the user needs to hold the LCD monitor with one hand, which is very inconvenient. Moreover, the LCD monitor is not rotated very easily and smoothly.

Therefore, the invention provides a hinge for the LCD monitor to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the invention is to provide a hinge by which an LCD monitor on a video camera can be stably positioned at any desired position.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a hinge by which the LCD monitor can be rotated easily and smoothly.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video movie camera with a hinge in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hinge of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the hinge of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is an operatically schematic view showing the hinge pivoting upwards about a horizontal axle; and

FIG. 6 is an operatically schematic view showing the hinge pivoting downwards about the horizontal axle.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an LCD monitor ( 71 ) is pivotally mounted on a video movie camera ( 70 ) by a hinge ( 1 ) in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2–4 , the hinge ( 1 ) is composed of a vertical axle ( 10 ), a barrel ( 20 ), a horizontal axle ( 30 ), a positioning disk ( 40 ), two resilient dished washers ( 50 ), and a seat ( 60 ).

The vertical axle ( 10 ) is secured on the camera ( 70 ) and the barrel ( 20 ) is pivotally mounted on the vertical axle ( 10 ). The barrel ( 20 ) has a pivoting portion ( 21 ) and an installing portion ( 23 ) perpendicular to each other. A tubular part ( 22 ) is formed on the pivoting portion ( 21 ), and the vertical axle ( 10 ) extends through the tubular part ( 22 ). Thus, the barrel ( 20 ) can be pivoted about the vertical axle ( 10 ). A limit slot ( 221 ) is transversally defined through an outer periphery of the tubular part ( 22 ) for a pin ( 11 ) inserted in the vertical axle ( 10 ) and extending out from the limit slot ( 221 ).

The installing portion ( 23 ) has a first opening ( 231 ) defined therethrough. A plurality of cutouts ( 234 ) is evenly defined around the circumference of the first opening ( 231 ). An ear ( 233 ) is formed at a side of the installing portion ( 23 ) away from the pivoting portion ( 22 ). Two first apertures ( 232 ) are respectively defined above and below the first opening ( 231 ).

The horizontal axle ( 30 ) has a first end ( 32 ), a flange ( 34 ) formed at a middle portion thereof, and a second end ( 33 ). A passage ( 31 ) is longitudinally defined through the horizontal axle ( 30 ), and electrical wires (not shown or numbered) connecting the LCD monitor to the camera extends through the passage ( 31 ) and will not be twisted together in rotation of the horizontal axle ( 30 ). Two elongated slots ( 321 ) are longitudinally defined at opposite diametrical sides of the first end ( 32 ), and a step ( 322 ) is formed at an outer periphery of the first end ( 32 ). The first end ( 32 ) extends through the first opening ( 231 ) of the installing portion ( 23 ), and a ring ( 35 ) is provided at the first end ( 32 ) and secured by the step ( 322 ) to rotatably fasten the horizontal axle ( 30 ) on the installing portion ( 23 ).

The positioning disk ( 40 ) with a hole ( 41 ) is provided outside the horizontal axle ( 30 ) between the installing portion ( 23 ) and the flange ( 34 ). A stop ( 42 ) is formed at an outer circumference of the positioning disk ( 40 ), and at least one lug ( 43 ) is formed on a side of the positioning disk ( 40 ) facing the installing portion ( 23 ) and received in the opening ( 231 ). When the positioning disk ( 40 ) is clockwise/counter-clockwise rotated along with the horizontal axle ( 30 ), the stop ( 42 ) will be blocked by the ear ( 233 ), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . The lug ( 43 ) can be located in the corresponding cutout ( 234 ) to stably position the horizontal axle ( 30 ).

In another embodiment not shown, at least one lug is provide on the installing portion ( 23 ), and a plurality of cutouts is defined around the hole ( 41 ) of the positioning disk ( 40 ). The lug of the installing portion ( 23 ) also can be located in the corresponding cutouts of the positioning disk ( 40 ), which has the same effect and function.

Referring back to FIGS. 2–4 , the resilient dished washers ( 50 ) are provided between the positioning disk ( 40 ) and the flange ( 34 ) to press the positioning disk ( 40 ) against the installing portion ( 23 ).

The seat ( 60 ) is mounted on the horizontal axle ( 30 ) by the second end ( 33 ) extending through a second opening ( 61 ) of the seat ( 60 ). Two second apertures ( 62 ) are respectively defined above and below the second opening ( 61 ). The LCD monitor ( 71 ) is secured on the seat ( 60 ) by fasteners (not shown or numbered).

Referring to FIGS. 1 , 3 , 5 , and 6 , the LCD monitor ( 71 ) can be pivoted outwards about the vertical axle ( 10 ) along with the barrel ( 20 ) and the horizontal axle ( 30 ). When the pin ( 11 ) in the limit slot ( 221 ) is blocked by the pivoting portion ( 21 ), the LCD monitor ( 71 ) reaches the maximum horizontal angle and cannot be pivoted outwards any further. Then the LCD monitor ( 71 ) can be pivoted upwards or downwards about the horizontal axle ( 30 ) until the stop ( 42 ) is blocked by the ear ( 233 ).

From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:

1. A user can easily and smoothly turn the LCD monitor about the vertical axle and the horizontal axle to view the LCD monitor.

2. The horizontal axle has the passage provide therein, so that the wires will not be twisted during turning the LCD monitor.

3. The LCD monitor can be stably positioned at any desired position under the force of the resilient dished washers, and especially at the positions corresponding to the cutouts by means of locating the lug in the cutouts.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.