Electronic device comprising a single hinge twist mechanism and a method to use same

Abstract

An electronic device ( 100 ) can include a base portion ( 105 ) and a flip portion ( 110 ) moveably attached to the base portion ( 105 ) through a single hinge twist mechanism ( 200 ) such that the flip portion ( 110 ) is capable of rotating about a first axis ( 115 ) to a first open position and twisting about a second axis ( 120 ) to a second open position. The second axis ( 120 ) can be substantially perpendicular to the first axis ( 115 ).

1 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a base portion;    a flip portion moveably attached to the base portion through a single hinge twist mechanism, such that the flip portion is capable of rotating about a first axis to a first open position and twisting about a second axis to a second open position, wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the base portion.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first open position is one of a plurality of first open positions in which the flip portion is capable being positioned by rotating about the first axis.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second open position is one of a plurality of second open positions in which the flip portion is capable of being positioned by twisting about the second axis.  
   
   
       5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the single hinge twist mechanism comprises: 
 a casing having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is substantially perpendicular to the second opening;    a flip open spindle, which fits into the first opening of the casing, capable of rotating about the first axis along the first opening of the casing;    a twist spindle, which fits into the second opening of the casing, capable of twisting about the second axis along the second opening of the casing; and,    a dual loop flex integrated into the casing for carrying signals.    
   
   
       6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the dual loop flex wraps around a stem portion of the flip open spindle.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the dual loop flex wraps around a stem portion of the twist spindle.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein a first portion of the dual loop flex enters the single hinge twist mechanism in a first direction and a second portion of the dual loop flex exits the single hinge twist mechanism in a second direction.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein a third portion of the dual loop flex exits the single hinge twist mechanism in a third direction.  
   
   
       10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device.  
   
   
       11 . A single hinge twist mechanism comprising: 
 a casing having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is substantially perpendicular to the second opening;    a flip open spindle, which fits into the first opening of the casing, capable of rotating about a first axis along the first opening of the casing;    a twist spindle, which fits into the second opening of the casing, capable of twisting about a second axis along the second opening of the casing; and,    a dual loop flex integrated into the casing for carrying signals.    
   
   
       12 . The single hinge twist mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein a first portion of the dual loop flex enters the single hinge twist mechanism from a slit in the flip open spindle.  
   
   
       13 . The single hinge twist mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein a second portion of the dual loop flex exits the single hinge twist mechanism from a slit in the twist spindle.  
   
   
       14 . The single hinge twist mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein a third portion of the dual loop flex exits the single hinge twist mechanism towards a plurality of controls.  
   
   
       15 . A method of using an electronic device, the method comprising: 
 opening a flip portion of the electronic device, about a first axis through a single hinge twist mechanism, relative to a base portion of the electronic device to a first open position;    twisting the flip portion of the electronic device, about a second axis through the single hinge twist mechanism, to a second open position, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.