IP Library Granted Patent US 12,724,465
Granted Patent B2
US 12,724,465 · App. 18/395,682 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Computing device

Inventor: Matthew Sean Hilliard (Morrisville, NC)
Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
G06F1/1681G06F1/1616
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,724,465
App. No.
18/395,682
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computing device can include a first housing, a first component pivot and a second component pivot of a four-bar linkage, where the first housing forms a first bar; a second housing that includes a hinge recess that includes a first component pivot and a second component pivot of the four-bar linkage, where the second housing forms a second bar; a first hinge component coupled to the first component pivots to form a third bar, where the first hinge component includes a second component stop surface and a stop that contacts a stop surface of the first housing in a fully open position of the housings; and a second hinge component coupled to the second component pivots to form a fourth bar, where the second component includes a stop that contacts the second component stop surface in the fully open position of the housings.

Claims (25)

1 . A device comprising:

a first housing that comprises a hinge recess that comprises a stop surface, a first component pivot and a second component pivot of a four-bar linkage, wherein the first housing forms a second bar;

a second housing that comprises a hinge recess that comprises a first component pivot and a second component pivot of the four-bar linkage, wherein the second housing forms a first bar;

a first hinge component coupled to the first component pivots to form a third bar, wherein the first hinge component comprises a second component stop surface and a stop that contacts the stop surface of the hinge recess of the first housing in a fully open position of the first housing and the second housing; and

a second hinge component coupled to the second component pivots to form a fourth bar, wherein the second component comprises a stop that contacts the second component stop surface in the fully open position of the first housing and the second housing.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stop that contacts the second component stop surface limits opening of the device to the fully open position.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing comprises a base housing and wherein the second housing comprises a display housing.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing comprises a first thickness and wherein the second housing comprises a second thickness wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the first housing comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein the second housing comprises a top surface and a bottom surface.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein, in a closed position of the first housing and the second housing, the bottom surface of the second housing is disposed adjacent and parallel to the top surface of the first housing.

7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein, in the fully open position, a portion of the second housing extends outwardly beyond a hinge recess end of the first housing and another portion of the second housing is disposed adjacent and parallel to the top surface of the first housing.

8 . The device of claim 5 , wherein, in the fully open position, a portion of the top surface of the second housing is disposed adjacent and parallel to the top surface of the first housing.

9 . The device of claim 1 , comprising a hinge recess cover that covers an end side of the hinge recess of the first housing and an end side of the hinge recess of the second housing.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the hinge recess cover is pivotably coupled to the first hinge component.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the hinge recess of the first housing comprises a hinge cover guide slot that guides pivotal movement of the hinge recess cover.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, in an open position of the second housing with respect to the first housing, a gap exists between a hinge recess end of the second housing and the first housing.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the gap is a clearance gap for a corner of the second housing.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the fully open position, a hinge recess end of the first housing is not blocked by the second housing.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the hinge recess end of the first housing comprises one or more interfaces.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more interfaces comprise one or more of an electrical interface and an air interface.

17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fully open position is a 180 degree open position and wherein a closed position of the first housing and the second housing is a 0 degree position.

18 . The device of claim 17 , comprising open positions of the first housing and the second housing over a range of angles from approximately 90 degrees to 130 degrees.

19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the four-bar linkage comprises a four-bar friction linkage that imparts friction force that counteracts gravitational force to maintain the first housing and the second housing in one of the open positions.

20 . A method comprising:

in a computing device that comprises a base housing and a display housing coupled via a four-bar linkage hinge wherein the base housing forms a second bar, the display housing forms a first bar, a first hinge component forms a third bar, and a second hinge component forms a fourth bar, supporting the display housing in an open position with respect to the base housing wherein, in the open position, the display housing is oriented orthogonally at approximately 90 degrees to the base housing and disposed a vertical distance away from the base housing to form a corner clearance gap for clearance of a corner of the display housing for full opening of the display housing with respect to the base housing to an angle of approximately 180 degrees in a stepped open position, wherein at the angle of approximately 180 degrees, the stepped open position is formed by the corner of the display housing remaining vertically over the base housing and inset a distance from a back edge of the base housing to form a stepped overlap between the display housing and the base housing.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 066946/0333 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 25, 2023
From: HILLIARD, MATTHEW SEAN
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 065949/0380 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250208664A1 · Jun 26, 2025
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