Hinged detent

Abstract

Two pivoting portions of a product are connected by a hinged detent. The hinged detent provides a snap feel when the product halves are closed or opened to an operable angle. It also allows for the placement of wires and connectors within the hinge. The hinged detent design further enables easy vertical axis assembly and provides for one of a multiple of operable angles to be factory-set. In adjustable hinge detents, a dial or similar mechanism can be rotated to adjust and set the desired operable angle to which the hinged product halves will be opened. Locating elements are forcibly disengaged from one set of adjusting recesses in the adjustable hinge, then rotated to different adjusting recesses of the hinge, and finally permitted to reengage the adjustable hinge in the new adjusting recesses. This mechanism permits a multitude of operable angles to be selected. Each time the product portions are reopened, they will automatically open to the previously selected angle. The adjustable hinge detent can be used, for example, to connect two v-keyboard halves, a screen to a laptop base, two components of collapsing headphones, or two parts of an adjustable stand.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hinged apparatus, comprising: 
 a first hinged portion;    a second hinged portion; and    a detent operatively connected to said first and second hinged portions.    
     
     
         2 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said first and second hinged portions form at least part of a keyboard.    
     
     
         3 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a detent instrument; and    wherein said first hinged portion includes a recess for receiving said detent instrument.    
     
     
         4 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 at least one detent hump.    
     
     
         5 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 4   , further comprising: 
 a plurality of locating groove and detent recess pairs;    a detent instrument; and    wherein: 
 a detent position can be selected by placing said detent instrument in one of said plurality of locating groove and detent recess pairs during assembly.  
   
     
     
         6 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 4   , further comprising: 
 a plurality of locating groove and detent recess pairs;    a plurality of detent instruments;    wherein: 
 a plurality of detent positions can be enabled by placing one each of said plurality of detent instruments in more than one of said plurality of locating groove and detent recess pairs during assembly.  
   
     
     
         7 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 6   , wherein: 
 said first and second hinged portions form at least part of a keyboard.    
     
     
         8 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said detent includes a detent adjustor.    
     
     
         9 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 8   , wherein: 
 said detent further includes at least one locating element.    
     
     
         10 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 8   , wherein: 
 said first hinged portion includes an associated first hinged area;    said second hinged portion includes an associated second hinged area; and    said detent further includes a spring and a detent instrument.    
     
     
         11 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 10   , wherein: 
 said spring is incorporated into said detent adjustor.    
     
     
         12 . The hinged apparatus of    claim 10   , wherein: 
 said first hinged area, which is associated with said first hinged portion, includes at least one indication feature.    
     
     
         13 . A method for operating an adjustable hinge with a first hinged portion, a second hinged portion, and a detent, which is operatively connected to said first and second hinged portions and includes a detent adjustor, the method comprising: 
 rotating said first hinged portion with respect to said second hinged portion to a first predetermined angle;    adjusting said detent adjustor; and    rotating said first hinged portion with respect to said second hinged portion to a second predetermined angle.    
     
     
         14 . The method for operating an adjustable hinge of    claim 13   , further comprising the step of: 
 ascertaining a preferred angle.    
     
     
         15 . The method for operating an adjustable hinge of    claim 14   , wherein: 
 said step of adjusting said detent adjustor further includes the step of    setting said detent adjustor to said preferred angle.    
     
     
         16 . The method for operating an adjustable hinge of    claim 15   , wherein: 
 said preferred angle coincides with said second predetermined angle.    
     
     
         17 . The method for operating an adjustable hinge of    claim 16   , wherein: 
 said first and second hinged portions form at least part of a keyboard.    
     
     
         18 . An adjustable hinge, comprising: 
 a first hinged portion;    a second hinged portion; and    detent means in operative association with said first and second hinged portions for setting an operable angle between said first and second hinged portions.    
     
     
         19 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 said detent means is disposed between said first and second hinged portions and further includes 
 a detent adjustor,  
 a detent instrument, and  
 a spring.  
   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 19   , wherein: 
 said detent adjustor further includes 
 at least one locating element attached to said detent adjustor; and  
 a visible tip attached to said detent adjustor.  
   
     
     
         21 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 20   , further comprising: 
 a first hinged area connected to said first hinged portion, said first hinged area including at least one indication feature;    a second hinged area connected to said second hinged portion, said second hinged area including at least one snap feature; and    at least one recess for said detent instrument on any of said first hinged area, said second hinged area, or said detent adjustor.    
     
     
         22 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 19   , wherein: 
 said first and second hinged portions form at least part of a keyboard.    
     
     
         23 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 said detent means includes 
 a dial,  
 a detent plate,  
 a key for engaging said detent plate, and  
 a spring.  
   
     
     
         24 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 23   , wherein: 
 said spring is incorporated into said detent plate.    
     
     
         25 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 23   , wherein: 
 said dial is capable of being adjusted by hand.    
     
     
         26 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 said detent means includes 
 a dial,  
 first and second detent plates,  
 a first key for engaging said first detent plate,  
 a second key for engaging said second detent plate, and  
 first and second springs for biasing said detent means.  
   
     
     
         27 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 said detent means further comprises a detent implement.    
     
     
         28 . The adjustable hinge of    claim 27   , wherein: 
 said detent implement is selected from the group consisting of detent instruments, post-and-hole detents, detent dogs, detent catches, and camming surfaces and springs.    
     
     
         29 . A hinge for electronic devices, comprising: 
 a first housing;    a second housing rotatably connected to said first housing; and    means for providing a detent for said hinge.    
     
     
         30 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 29   , wherein: 
 said means for providing a detent further includes a detent instrument.    
     
     
         31 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 30   , wherein: 
 said means for providing a detent further includes 
 a locating groove; and  
 an instrument mate;  
   wherein both said locating groove and said instrument mate maintain said detent instrument in a constant position with respect to one of said first housing and said second housing.    
     
     
         32 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 31   , wherein: 
 said instrument mate is a ball recess.    
     
     
         33 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 30   , wherein: 
 said means for providing a detent further includes a plurality of pairs of locating grooves and instrument mates;    wherein each one of said plurality of pairs can maintain said detent instrument in a constant position with respect to one of said first housing and said second housing.    
     
     
         34 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 33   , wherein: 
 said means for providing a detent further includes a plurality of said detent instruments; and    wherein a plurality of pairs receive one of said plurality of said detent instruments.    
     
     
         35 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 30   , wherein: 
 said means for providing a detent further includes a detent instrument groove for permitting said detent instrument to move with respect to one of said first housing and said second housing without being under stress.    
     
     
         36 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 30   , wherein: 
 said means for providing a detent further includes 
 a detent hump; and  
 a detent groove.  
   
     
     
         37 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 36   , wherein: 
 a material composing said detent instrument is dissimilar to a material forming said detent hump.    
     
     
         38 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 29   , further comprising: 
 a hinge shaft disposed on said first housing.    
     
     
         39 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 38   , further comprising: 
 a hinge fastener secured to said hinge shaft.    
     
     
         40 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 29   , wherein: 
 said first housing or said second housing or both form at least part of a large pocket for routing electronic wires or components through said hinge.    
     
     
         41 . The hinge for electronic devices of    claim 29   , wherein: 
 said hinge is adapted for assembly in the vertical axis.