Hinge assembly and portable electronic device having same

1. A hinge assembly comprising:

a tubular hinge housing forming a hollow channel therein, a step being formed on an interior wall of the tubular hinge housing;

a follower member having a connector, a shaft, and a cylindrical portion connecting the connector and the shaft, the cylindrical portion having a flat surface and at least one tab formed on the flat surface;

a insert member having two claws and being inserted into the hollow channel of the tubular hinge housing for retaining the follower member therein;

a cam having a flat ring surface, a cam surface, and a curved surface between the flat ring surface and the cam surface, at least one peak and one valley formed on the cam surface; and

a spring;

wherein the spring, the cam, and the follower member are received in the tubular hinge housing with the connector exposed outside, the cam is slidably engaged with the tubular hinge housing, and is rotatably and longitudinally slidably coupled to the shaft of the follower member with the cam surface being coupled to the flat surface of the cylindrical portion of the follower member so that the at least one tab of the follower member is received in the at least one valley of the cam, the spring is coiled around the shaft and compressively engaged against both the flat ring surface of the cam and a surface of the step of the tubular hinge housing.

2. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one rib is formed on the curved surface of the cam, and the at least one rib abuts against inner walls of the tubular hinge housing so that the cam is prevented from rotating relative to the tubular hinge housing but can longitudinally slip within the tubular hinge housing.

3. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one rib is two ribs, one on each of two opposite sides of the cam.

4. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab formed on the flat surface of the follower member is two tabs, which are spaced 180 degrees apart.

5. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shaft forms a lip at one end opposite the cylindrical portion.

6. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a groove is formed through a wall of the tubular hinge housing, and the insert member is inserted through the groove.

7. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one tongue is formed on the interior wall of the tubular hinge housing.

8. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein at least one spring tab is formed on the insert member, and the at least one spring tab abuts against the at least one tongue for fixing the insert member in the tubular hinge housing.

9. The binge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector has a triangular shape.

10. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector defines a hole in a center of a frontmost end thereof.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

a cover;

a main body; and

a hinge assembly joining the cover to the main body; wherein

the hinge assembly comprises:

a spring;

a cam having a cam surface, at least one peak and at least one valley formed on the cam surface;

a follower member having a connector, a shaft, and a cylindrical portion connecting the connector and the shaft, the cylindrical portion having a flat surface and at least one tab formed on the flat surface;

a tubular hinge housing having at least one tongue formed on an interior wall thereof, the tubular hinge housing encasing the spring, the cam and the follower member in an interior space thereof with the connector of the follower member exposed outside of the tubular hinge housing; and

an insert member inserted into the interior space of the tubular hinge housing for retaining the follower member therein;

wherein the cam surface is coupled to the flat surface of the cylindrical portion of the follower member so that the at least one tab of the follower member is received in the at least one valley of the cam, the spring is coiled around the shaft and compressively engaged against both an outer surface of the cam and an inner surface of the tubular hinge housing, the tubular hinge housing is received in the cover while the connector of the follower member is engaged in the main body, so that the cam slips within the tubular hinge housing, and is rotatably and longitudinally slidably coupled to the shaft of the follower member during cover rotation.

12. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein at least one spring tab is formed on the insert member, and the at least one spring tab abuts against the at least one tongue for fixing the insert member in the tubular hinge housing.

13. A hinge assembly comprising:

a tubular hinge housing forming a hollow channel therein and a groove therethrough;

a cam being slidably but not rotatably received in the housing;

a follower member rotatably but not slidably received in the housing and defining means for engagement with the cam;

an insert member inserted into the groove and the hollow channel of the tubular hinge housing for retaining the follower member therein; and

a biasing means received in the housing and urging said cam toward the follower member.

14. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the insert member has two claws.

15. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one tongue is formed on an interior wall of the tubular hinge housing.

16. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 15 , wherein at least one spring tab is formed on the insert member, and the at least one spring tab abuts against the at least one tongue for fixing the insert member in the tubular hinge housing.