A mobile device includes a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing and enabling movement of the device between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The hinge assembly includes a pair of link arm assemblies each including a first linkage arm configured for engaging the first housing and a second linkage arm configured for engaging the second housing. When the device is in the open configuration, the first housing is planar with the second housing.
1. A mobile device comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing; and
a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing and enabling movement of the device between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the hinge assembly including a pair of link arm assemblies each including a first linkage arm configured for engaging the first housing and a second linkage arm configured for engaging the second housing, the first and second linkage arms being parallel and adjacent one another when the device is in the closed configuration and collinear with one another when the device is in the open configuration;
wherein when the device is in the open configuration, the first housing is planar with the second housing.
2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes an inner face and the second housing includes an inner face such that in the open configuration, the first housing inner face is arranged at 180 degree relative to the second housing inner face.
3. The mobile device of claim 1 further including at least one input device provided on the first and second housings.
4. The mobile device of claim 3 wherein the input device includes a display provided on the first housing inner face.
5. The mobile device of claim 3 wherein the input device includes a keyboard provided on the second housing inner face.
6. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein the first housing includes an outer face opposite the first housing inner face and having a display.
7. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the hinge assembly further includes a spine and a pair of end caps provided on either end of the spine.
8. The mobile device of claim 7 wherein each link arm assembly further includes:
a linkage rod;
a linkage bar; and
a biasing member configured for engaging said linkage bar;
wherein the link arm assembly is configured for enabling movement of the device between the closed and open configurations.
9. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the biasing member is a spring.
10. The mobile device of claim 1 further including a gap defined between said first and second housings and having a thickness, said thickness remaining substantially constant whether said device is in the open or the closed configuration.
11. A mobile device comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing; and
a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing and enabling movement of the device between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the hinge assembly including at least one link arm assembly comprising:
a first linkage arm;
a second linkage arm;
a linkage rod connecting said first linkage arm and said second linkage arm;
a linkage bar configured for engaging said first linkage arm and said second linkage arm; and
a biasing member configured for engaging said linkage bar;
wherein the first and second linkage arms are parallel and adjacent one another when the device is in the closed configuration and collinear with one another when the device is in the open configuration and further wherein when the device is in the open configuration, the first housing is planar with the second housing.
12. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the input device includes a display provided on one of said first and said second housing; and a keyboard provided on the other of said first and said second housing.
13. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the first housing includes an inner face and the second housing includes an inner face such that in the open configuration, the first housing inner face is arranged at 180 degree relative to the second housing inner face.
14. The mobile device of claim 11 further including a gap defined between said first and second housings and having a thickness, said thickness remaining substantially constant whether said device is in the open or the closed configuration.
15. A hinge assembly for a mobile device, comprising:
at least one link arm assembly comprising:
a first linkage arm;
a second linkage arm;
a linkage rod connecting said first linkage arm and said second linkage arm;
a linkage bar configured for engaging said first linkage arm and said second linkage arm; and
a biasing member configured for engaging said linkage bar;
wherein the first and second linkage arms are parallel and adjacent one another when the device is in a closed configuration and collinear with one another when the device is in an open configuration and further wherein when the device is in the open configuration, a first housing of the device is planar with a second housing of the device.
16. The hinge assembly of claim 15 wherein the hinge assembly is configured for rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing and enabling movement of the device between the open configuration and a closed configuration.
17. The hinge assembly of claim 15 wherein the biasing member is a spring.
18. The hinge assembly of claim 15 wherein the first linkage arm is connected to the first housing, and the second linkage arm is connected to the second housing.
19. The hinge assembly of claim 15 further including a spine configured for concealing the hinge assembly.
20. The hinge assembly of claim 19 wherein the spine defines a guide slot configured for receiving a guide pin, the guide pin configured to slide within the guide slot as the device moves from the open configuration to the closed configuration.