Pivot device for a notebook computer

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pivot device for a notebook computer, and more particularly to a pivot device that has a small volume, good pivoting and supporting effects between an LCD screen and a host of the notebook computer.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, the communication technology has made dynamic progress, especially in the internet communication field. Many businessmen, enterprises or students use the internet to gather new information, to communicate with other people by E-mail, or to spread advertisements etc. Generally, a personal computer (PC) is used as a medium for a communication of users. However, the PC usually has many peripheral devices, such as a host, a monitor (screen), a keyboard and a mouse, etc., wherein the volume of the host and monitor are comparatively large, such that the PC occupies a significant amount of space. In order to overcome the size inconvenience of the PC, manufacturers of the PC are gradually introducing notebook computers to replace the PC. The notebook computer has some advantages, such as low weight, small volume, and great portability, thus the notebook computer is gradually becoming a very popular device.

One of the research and development principles of the notebook computer considers how to minimize the volume of the notebook computer. For instance, it might directed to minimize the components or the keyboard size of the notebook computer. Conventionally, a pivot device set between an LCD screen and a host of the notebook computer is designed to have a quite large because it needs to provide enough strength of support and pivot force between the LCD screen and the host. This pivot size means that it is difficult to reduce the size of the notebook computer further. To overcome the shortcomings and minimize the volume of the pivot device, the present invention tends to provide a pivot device for a notebook computer to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the invention tends to provide a pivot device for a notebook computer, the pivot device having a small volume and providing good pivoting effect between an LCD screen and a host of the notebook computer.

Other objects, 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 first embodiment of a pivot device that is assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the pivot device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the pivot device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the pivot device in accordance with the present invention.

With regards to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a pivot device in accordance with the present invention comprises a seat ( 10 ) and a pivotal axle ( 11 ) pivotally connected with the seat ( 10 ). The pivotal axle ( 11 ) has a retaining shoulder ( 112 ) formed at a middle portion of the pivotal axle ( 11 ), a retaining portion ( 111 ) integrally formed at a first end of the retaining shoulder ( 112 ), and a pivotal portion ( 113 ) having a first end integrally formed at a second end of the retaining shoulder ( 110 ). A threaded end ( 114 ) is integrally formed at a second end of the pivotal portion ( 113 ). The retaining portion ( 111 ) is defined with at least two positioning holes ( 110 ), wherein the retaining portion ( 111 ) of the pivotal axle ( 10 ) is securely connected with an LCD screen of a notebook computer (not shown in drawings) by inserting screws into the positioning holes ( 110 ) and fastening with the LCD screen.

As shown in FIG. 2, in a first embodiment of the pivot device, the seat ( 10 ) comprises a flat portion ( 104 ) that is used to securely mounted on a host of the notebook computer (not shown in drawings), and a plate ( 101 ) perpendicularly and integrally formed at a first edge of the flat portion ( 104 ). The plate ( 101 ) is defined with a hole ( 102 ). A pivotal ring ( 103 ) is integrally formed at a second edge that is adjacent to the first edge of the flat portion ( 104 ). A cannular portion ( 105 ) of the pivotal ring ( 103 ) is aligned with the bole ( 102 ) of the plate ( 101 ), wherein the pivotal ring ( 103 ) does not contact with the plate ( 101 ), and a space is defined between the plate ( 101 ) and the pivotal ring ( 103 ). The flat portion ( 104 ) is further defined with at least two retaining holes ( 100 ) for receiving screws to fasten the seat ( 10 ) with the host of the notebook computer.

In assemblage of the pivot device, the threaded end ( 114 ) and the pivotal portion ( 113 ) are inserted into the cannular portion ( 105 ) of the pivotal ring ( 103 ) and the hole ( 102 ) of the plate ( 101 ). In order to reduce friction that generates from the pivotal operating, the threaded end ( 114 ) also extends through at least one of a first plurality of washers ( 12 ) and a first plurality of elastic rings ( 13 ), wherein the one of the first plurality of washers ( 12 ) and the first plurality of elastic rings ( 13 ) are set between a first side of the plate ( 101 ) and the pivotal ring ( 103 ). A free end of the threaded end ( 114 ) extends through the hole ( 101 ) of the plate ( 101 ), a second plurality of washers ( 12 ′), a second plurality of elastic rings ( 13 ′), and then the free end is fastened with a screw nut ( 14 ). Both the first plurality of the washers ( 12 ) and the second plurality of the washers ( 12 ′) are able to be defined with a plurality of lubrication holes ( 121 ) to retain a lubricant therein.

A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, wherein in addition to the seat ( 10 a ), the pivot device of the second embodiment is basically same as the pivot device of the first embodiment. The seat ( 10 a ) shown in FIG. 3 comprises a flat portion ( 104 a ), a plate ( 101 a ) perpendicularly and integrally formed at a first edge of the flat portion ( 104 a ), two pivotal rings ( 103 a ) integrally formed at a edge that is adjacent to the first edge of the flat portion ( 104 a ). The flat portion ( 104 a ) is further defined with a plurality of retaining holes ( 100 a ).

A third embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, wherein in addition to the seat ( 10 b ), the pivot device of the second embodiment is basically same as the pivot device of the first embodiment. The seat ( 10 b ) shown in FIG. 4 comprises a flat portion ( 104 b ), a pair of plates ( 101 b ) perpendicularly and integrally formed at two opposite edges of the flat portion ( 104 b ), and a pivotal ring ( 103 b ) integrally formed at an edge that is adjacent to the two opposite edges of the flat portion ( 104 b ). The flat portion ( 104 b ) is further defined with a plurality of retaining holes ( 100 a ).

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.