Hinge for a notebook computer

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a hinge for a notebook computer.

2. Description of Related Art

A notebook computer has a body and an LCD monitor pivotally mounted on the body by a hinge. Conventional hinges generally have complex structures including basic elements such as a pintle, a barrel, and seats, and some assistant elements such as positioning rings, collars, washers, resilient members and so on. It is inconvenient and time-consuming to assemble these conventional hinges. Moreover, the conventional hinges with a large number of elements have high costs.

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

The main objective of the invention is to provide a hinge for a notebook computer which has a simple structure and a low cost.

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 an exploded perspective view of a hinge for a notebook computer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of the hinge assembled in a notebook computer;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the hinge when an LCD monitor of the notebook computer abuts a body;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the hinge when the LCD monitor is raised;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the notebook computer assembled with the hinges in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the hinge in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of the hinge in FIG. 7 assembled in a notebook computer.

Referring to FIG. 1, a hinge for a notebook computer is composed of a first seat ( 10 ), a barrel ( 20 ), a pintle ( 30 ), and a second seat ( 40 ).

The first seat ( 10 ) has an L-shaped form with a first lateral part (not numbered) and a first upright part (not numbered). A first opening ( 11 ) with a T-like section is defined through the first upright part, and a second opening ( 12 ) with an arcuate section is defined below the first opening ( 11 ).

The barrel ( 20 ) is mounted on a side of the first upright part of the first seat ( 10 ) away from the first lateral part. The barrel ( 20 ) has a T-like rib ( 21 ) longitudinally formed at an outer periphery thereof and protruded from an end surface ( 23 ) facing the first upright part of the first seat ( 10 ) to be received in the first opening ( 11 ). The rib ( 21 ) is composed of two L-shaped wings (not numbered) symmetrically formed together. An ear ( 22 ) is protruded from the end surface ( 23 ) to be received in the second opening ( 12 ).

The pintle ( 30 ) has an axle rotatably extending in the barrel ( 20 ). A plurality of round recesses ( 31 ) is circumferentially defined at the axle of the pintle ( 30 ) for storing lubrication. A butt ( 32 ) is formed at an end of the pintle ( 30 ) opposite to the axle and mounted on the second seat ( 40 ). A flange ( 33 ) is formed between the axle and the butt ( 32 ).

The second seat ( 40 ) has an L-shaped form with a second lateral part (not numbered) and a second upright part (not numbered). A third opening ( 41 ) is defined through the second upright part to receive the butt ( 32 ).

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 , 4 , and 6 , by fasteners, the first seat ( 10 ) is fastened on an LCD monitor ( 50 ) of a notebook computer, and the second seat ( 40 ) is fastened on a body ( 51 ) of a notebook computer. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the LCD monitor ( 50 ) is raised by a user, the barrel ( 20 ) along with the first seat ( 10 ) can be turned about the pintle ( 30 ) and the second seat ( 40 ) secured on the body ( 51 ).

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in a second embodiment of the invention, the hinge has a first seat ( 60 ) with a first lateral part and a first upright part. A first opening ( 61 ) with a T-like section is defined through the first upright part, and a second opening ( 62 ) is defined below the first opening ( 61 ). The second opening ( 62 ) has a circular portion (not numbered) and an arcuate portion (not numbered).

The barrel ( 20 ) is mounted on a side of the first upright par of the first seat ( 60 ) adjacent the first lateral part. The T-like rib ( 21 ) is received in the first opening ( 61 ), and the ear ( 22 ) is received in the arcuate portion of the second opening ( 62 ).

The pintle ( 30 ) rotatably extends through the circular portion of the second opening ( 62 ) and in the barrel ( 20 ), and is mounted on the second seat ( 40 ) by the butt ( 32 ) received in the third opening ( 41 ).

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.