Hinged device
The description relates to hinge devices. One example relates to a device that has a first portion and a second portion. The device can include a hinge assembly secured to the first portion and the second portion and a flexible display secured to the first portion and the second portion. The device can include a biasing element that biases the first portion away from the hinge assembly. The device can further include a cord that extends along a pathway between the first portion and the hinge assembly. A length of the pathway can change as the first and second portions are rotated around the hinge assembly, such that at a first orientation the biasing element biases the first portion away from the hinge assembly and at a second orientation, the cord overcomes the bias and pulls the first portion toward the hinge assembly.
1. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion;
a hinge assembly slideably secured to the first portion and the second portion;
a flexible display secured to the first portion and the second portion;
a first biasing element that biases the first portion away from the hinge assembly;
a second biasing element that biases the second portion away from the hinge assembly;
a first cord that extends along a first pathway between the first portion and the hinge assembly; and,
a second cord that extends along a second pathway between the second portion and the hinge assembly; lengths of the first and second pathways changing as the first and second portions are rotated around the hinge assembly such that at a zero-degree orientation between the first and second portions the first and second cords overcome the biases of the first and second biasing elements and pull the first and second portions toward the hinge assembly and at a 180-degree orientation between the first and second portions the first and second biasing elements bias the first and second portions away from the hinge assembly.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly is slideably secured to the first portion and the second portion, or where the hinge assembly is slideably secured to the first portion and fixedly secured to the second portion.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cords function in combination with the first and second biasing elements to match a length of the device to a length of the flexible display.
4. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion;
a hinge assembly secured to the first portion and the second portion;
a flexible display secured to the first portion and the second portion;
a biasing element that biases the first portion away from the hinge assembly; and,
a cord that extends along a pathway between the first portion and the hinge assembly; a length of the pathway changing as the first and second portions are rotated around the hinge assembly, such that at a 180-degree orientation between the first and second portions the pathway is relatively shorter and the cord allows the biasing element to bias the first portion away from the second portion and at a zero-degree orientation between the first and second portions the pathway is relatively longer and the cord overcomes the bias of the biasing element and pulls the first portion toward the hinge assembly.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the hinge assembly is slideably secured to the first portion and the second portion, or where the hinge assembly is slideably secured to the first portion and fixedly secured to the second portion.
6. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a deformable member positioned between the hinge assembly and the flexible display.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the deformable member comprises an encapsulated fluid.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the encapsulated fluid is semi-viscous.
9. The device of claim 4 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the spring is compressed between the first portion and the hinge assembly.
11. The device of claim 4 , wherein the cord is secured to the first portion.
12. The device of claim 4 , wherein the cord is under tension.
13. The device of claim 4 , wherein the cord is secured to a tensioning element that extends between the first portion and the cord.
14. The device of claim 4 , wherein the cord extends from a first end to a second end, the first end of the cord is secured to a first end of a first tensioning spring and a second end of the first tensioning spring is secured to the first portion, and the second end of the cord is secured to a first end of a second tensioning spring and a second end of the second tensioning spring is secured to the first portion.
15. The device of claim 4 , wherein the hinge assembly defines a hinge axis that the first portion rotates around and the pathway intersects the hinge axis.
16. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion;
a hinge assembly secured to the first portion and the second portion;
a flexible display secured to the first portion and the second portion;
a biasing element that biases the first portion away from the hinge assembly; and,
a cord that extends along a pathway between the first portion and the hinge assembly; a length of the pathway changing as the first and second portions are rotated around the hinge assembly, such that at a first orientation the biasing element biases the first portion away from the hinge assembly and at a second orientation, and the cord overcomes the bias and pulls the first portion toward the hinge assembly.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the hinge assembly defines a 360-degree range of rotation between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the pathway is relatively shorter at a zero-degree orientation than at a 360-degree orientation.
18. The device of claim 16 , further comprising a deformable member positioned between the flexible display and the hinge assembly.
19. The device of claim 18 , further comprising bridge structures positioned between the deformable member and the hinge assembly.
20. The device of claim 16 , wherein the cord is elastic or wherein the cord is inelastic.