Multi-sectioned arms for portable electronic devices

Abstract

Multi-sectioned arms are used as a basic mechanism for coupling the display and the base of a portable computer. With this mechanism, one single computer can support all of the following capabilities. The display can move continuously, relative to the back edge of the base, along any combination of up and down, backward and forward, and left and right directions. The display can be tilted up and down as well as sideway for viewing angle adjustment, and also set to portrait and landscape orientations. When the display is in conventional open or close positions, each arm can be folded and parked alongside and parallel to as well as away from the edge of the base. The arms can be detached from the computer. The base and the display can overlay each other in four ways. Finally, mechanical mechanisms for implementations of the arms and connections to the computer including friction joint mechanisms and attachment mechanisms for connecting the arm to the display and the base, are presented. A method of assembling the multi-sectioned arm is presented.

1 . A pivotal friction joint, comprising,
 (a) a first hollow member and a second hollow member;   (b) a shaft, firmly attached to said first member;   (c) a first group of one or more discs, unrotatably mounted on said shaft, said first group of discs being housed inside and rotatable relative to said second hollow member;   (d) a second group of one or more discs, housed inside and unrotatable relative to said second hollow member, the discs of said second group being rotatably mounted on said shaft and interposed between the discs of said first group;   (e) an elastic means, mounted on said shaft for urging the discs of said first and second groups into contact with each other;   (f) a fastening means, attached to an end of said shaft;   wherein disposed between said fastening means and said two groups of discs, said elastic means is placed under a desired load.   
     
     
         2 . The friction joint of  claim 1 , wherein a cable is allowed to run from the inside of said first member into the inside of said second member, without leaving the enclosure of said pivotal joint. 
     
     
         3 . The friction joint of  claim 2 , wherein said cable bypasses said two groups of discs. 
     
     
         4 . The friction joint of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft is a hollow portion of said first member; and a cable is allowed to run from the inside of said shaft, directly into the inside of said second member, while indirectly passing through said two groups of discs. 
     
     
         5 . The friction joint of  claim 1 , wherein each disc of said first group has a deformed insertion-hole; each disc of said second group has a circular insertion-hole; said shaft has a deformed small diameter portion that inserts into said insertion-holes of said two groups of discs; said elastic means comprises one or more spring washers or disc springs; and said fastening means is a screw or screw nut. 
     
     
         6 . A pivotal friction joint, comprising,
 (a) a first hollow member and a second hollow member;   (b) a first shaft, firmly attached to said first member;   (c) a second shaft, firmly attached to said second member;   (d) a first group of one or more discs, unrotatably mounted on said first shaft;   (e) a second group of one or more discs, unrotatably mounted on said second shaft;   (f) a third group of one or more discs, rotatably mounted on said first shaft and also rotatably mounted on said second shaft, the discs of said third group being interposed between the discs of said first group and also interposed between the discs of said second group;   (g) a first elastic means, mounted on said first shaft for urging the discs of said first and third groups into contact with each other;   (h) a second elastic means, mounted on said second shaft for urging the discs of said second and third groups into contact with each other;   (i) a first fastening means, attached to an end of said first shaft;   (j) a second fastening means, attached to an end of said second shaft;   wherein disposed between said first fastening means and the discs of said first and third groups, said first elastic means is placed under a desired load; and wherein disposed between said second fastening means and the discs of said second and third groups, said second elastic means is placed under a desired load.   
     
     
         7 . The pivotal friction joint of  claim 6 , further comprising a cover for housing said three groups of discs, said two elastics means, said two fastening means, and said two shafts; and wherein a cable is allowed to run from the inside of said first member, through said cover, and into the inside of said second member. 
     
     
         8 . The friction joint of  claim 7 , wherein said cable bypasses said three groups of discs. 
     
     
         9 . The friction joint of  claim 7 , wherein said first shaft is a hollow portion of said first member; said second shaft is a hollow portion of said second member; and a cable is allowed to run from the inside of said first shaft, through said cover, and into the inside of said second member, while indirectly passing through the discs of said three groups. 
     
     
         10 . The friction joint of  claim 6 , wherein each disc of said first and second groups has a deformed insertion-hole; each disc of said third group has a circular insertion-hole; said first shaft has a deformed small diameter portion that inserts into said insertion-holes of said first and third groups of discs; said second shaft has a deformed small diameter portion that inserts into said insertion-holes of said second and third groups of discs; each of said two elastic means comprises one or more spring washers or disc springs; and each of said fastening means is a screw or screw nut. 
     
     
         11 . A method for assembling a multi-sectioned arm with embedded wiring cable for connecting the display and the base of a portable electronic device, comprising,
 (a) providing components of said arm for assembly; wherein for each hollow component that said cable needs to pass through, either said hollow component is provided with a slide-through gap for said cable to slide into, or said hollow component is provided in two or more separate solid pieces to be merged together;   (b) providing a wiring cable having two of more ends pre-connected with connectors;   (c) sliding said cable into each said hollow component that is provided with a slide-through gap; and for each said hollow component that is provided in separate solid pieces, placing said cable through, then completing the merging of said separate solid pieces; and   (d) assembling said arm completely after said cable is placed inside said hollow components.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said cable is a parallel cable consisting of individual wires; wherein each said slide-through gap is wide enough for every said wire to slide through, but not wide enough for the entire cable to slide through.