Multi-step hinge and portable terminal having same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a multi-step hinge. The hinge includes a housing. A rotary member is rotatably installed inside of the housing. The rotary member has a retainer groove formed in the outer circumferential face thereof. A stopper is slidably installed at either side of the rotary member inside of the housing. The stopper has a retainer protrusion formed so as to be engaged with the retainer groove. A resilient member is disposed between the housing and the stopper. A portable terminal having the multi-step hinge is also disclosed.

1 . A multi-step hinge suitable for use with a portable terminal for pivotably connecting a body of the portable terminal to a support leg of the portable terminal, the hinge comprising:
 a housing;   a rotary member rotatably installed inside of the housing, the rotary member having a retainer groove formed in the outer circumferential face;   a stopper slidably installed at either side of the rotary member inside of the housing, the stopper having a retainer protrusion formed so as to be engaged with the retainer groove; and   a resilient member disposed between the housing and the stopper.   
     
     
         2 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retainer groove is formed in multiple numbers so as to extend along rotational axis of the rotary member; and   the retainer protrusion is formed correspondingly to the retainer groove.   
     
     
         3 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes:
 a front portion in which the retainer protrusion is formed; and   a guide portion extended from the front portion so as to receive and support the resilient member.   
     
     
         4 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rotary member is formed with a rotation shaft;   the housing is formed with an insert hole through which the rotation shaft passes; he rotation shaft is formed with a rotation limiter protrusion; and   the insert hole is formed with a rotation limiter step which engages the rotation limiter protrusion to restrict rotation of the rotary member within a predetermined angular range.   
     
     
         5 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the rotation limiter protrusion protrudes from the outer face of the rotation shaft and is received in the insert hole; and   the rotation limiter step protrudes from the inner face of the insert hole in a way to embrace part of the rotation shaft.   
     
     
         6 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the stopper is disposed at one side of the rotary member; and   a rotational support member is disposed at the other side of the rotary member so as to slidably contact and embrace the outer surface of the rotary member.   
     
     
         7 . A portable terminal comprising:
 a main body equipped with a display unit;   a support leg for supporting the main body; and   a multi-step hinge pivotably connecting the support leg to the main body, the multi-step hinge including:
 a housing; 
 a rotary member rotatably installed inside of the housing, the rotary member having a retainer groove formed in the outer circumferential face; 
 a stopper slidably installed at either side of the rotary member inside of the housing, the stopper having a retainer protrusion formed so as to be engaged with the retainer groove; and 
 a resilient member disposed between the housing and the stopper. 
   
     
     
         8 . The portable terminal as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the retainer groove is formed in multiple numbers so as to extend along rotational axis of the rotary member; and   the retainer protrusion is formed correspondingly to the retainer groove.   
     
     
         9 . The portable terminal as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the stopper includes:
 a front portion in which the retainer protrusion is formed; and   a guide portion extended from the front portion so as to receive and support the resilient member.   
     
     
         10 . The portable terminal as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the rotary member is formed with a rotation shaft;   the housing is formed with an insert hole through which the rotation shaft passes; the rotation shaft is formed with a rotation limiter protrusion; and   the insert hole is formed with a rotation limiter step which engages the rotation limiter protrusion to restrict rotation of the rotary member within a predetermined angular range.   
     
     
         11 . The portable terminal as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the rotation limiter protrusion protrudes from the outer face of the rotation shaft and is received in the insert hole; and   the rotation limiter step protrudes from the inner face of the insert hole in a way to embrace part of the rotation shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The portable terminal as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the stopper is disposed at one side of the rotary member; and   a rotational support member is disposed at the other side of the rotary member so as to slidably contact and embrace the outer surface of the rotary member.   
     
     
         13 . A multi-step hinge comprising:
 a housing;   a rotary member rotatably installed inside of the housing, the rotary member having retainer grooves formed in the outer circumferential face;   at least two stoppers aligned with each other and slidably installed such that at least one stopper is at both sides of the rotary member inside of the housing, each stopper including:
 a retainer protrusion formed so as to be engaged with a different one of the retainer grooves of the rotary member; 
 a guide portion; 
   at least two resilient members aligned with each other, each resilient member being at least partially received within the guide portion of a corresponding one of said stoppers and positioned between the housing and the corresponding one of said stoppers.   
     
     
         14 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stopper comprises a pair of stoppers;   the resilient member comprises a pair of resilient members each positioned between the housing and a corresponding one of the pair of stoppers.   
     
     
         15 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the pair of stoppers are linearly aligned with each other; and   the pair of resilient members are linearly aligned with each other.   
     
     
         16 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 14 ,
 the pair of stoppers are slidably installed such that a stopper is at both sides of the rotary member for engagement therewith;   the pair of resilient members are positioned relative to the pair of stopper such that each resilient member biases a corresponding one of the pair of stoppers towards engagement with the rotary member.   
     
     
         17 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the rotary member includes two or more retainer grooves; and   the pair of stoppers are positioned relative to the rotary member so that the retainer protrusion of each stopper will engage a different one of the retainer grooves than the retainer protrusion of the other stopper.   
     
     
         18 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes:
 a front portion in which the retainer protrusion is formed; and   a generally C-shaped guide portion extended rearwardly from the front portion so as to receive therein and support the resilient member.   
     
     
         19 . The hinge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resilient member comprises a coil spring; and   the stopper includes a guide portion in which at least an end portion of the coil spring is inserted.   
     
     
         20 . A portable terminal comprising a main body equipped with a display screen and a support leg pivotably connected to the main body by the hinge as claimed in  claim 1 .