Handheld device hinge with elastomer urging element

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a portable device hinge having an elastomer urging element that is used to supply the necessary force for controlled rotation of a main part and a flip part. Embodiments of the invention include low part count hinges. Embodiments of the invention also include hinges that permit pass-through of wiring between a flip part and a main part. A handset of the invention includes a flip part and a main part with one or more hinges of the invention controlling rotation between the flip part and the main part. Preferred embodiment handsets have wiring that passes though the can and the elastomer urging element of a hinge of the invention.

1 . A hinge for a handheld device, the hinge comprising: 
 a can;    a handheld device interface extending out through a hole in said can; and    a cam surface;    a follower that cooperates with said cam surface to control rotation of the handheld device interface relative to the can;    an urging element that urges said follower against said cam surface; and    a cap to hold said urging element and said follower within said can; wherein    each of said can, said follower and said urging element are formed solely from one or more non-conductive materials.    
     
     
         2 . The hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-conductive materials comprise one or both of plastics and polymer materials.  
     
     
         3 . The hinge of  claim 1 , wherein said urging element comprises a substantially solid elastomer material compressed in said can to urge said follower against said cam surface.  
     
     
         4 . The hinge of  claim 3 , wherein said urging element and said can are in a substantially fixed relative rotational position.  
     
     
         5 . The hinge of  claim 4 , further comprising aligned slots providing a passage through said can and said urging element, the slots being dimensioned to accommodate wiring.  
     
     
         6 . The hinge of  claim 4 , comprising interlock shapes on said urging element to engage with another part of the hinge and hold said urging element in the substantially fixed relative rotational position to said can.  
     
     
         7 . The hinge of  claim 1 , wherein said handheld device interface and said follower are formed as a single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, said cam surface comprises an inner surface of said can; and the hinge consists of four parts that are said single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, said can, said cap and said urging element.  
     
     
         8 . The hinge of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a ridge on said urging element; and    a valley in said can for accepting said ridge to rotationally fix said can and said urging element relative to one another.    
     
     
         9 . The hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam that defines said cam surface, wherein said handheld device interface and said follower are formed as a single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, and the hinge consists of five parts that are said single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, said cam, said can, said cap and said urging element.  
     
     
         10 . The hinge of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 ridges on each of said urging element and said cam; and    a valley in said can for accepting said ridges to rotationally fix said cam, said urging element and said can relative to each of the others.    
     
     
         11 . The hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising means for fixing the rotational position of said urging element relative to said can.  
     
     
         12 . The hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising means for fixing the rotational position of said can relative to the handheld device.  
     
     
         13 . The hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising a through hole passing axially through said can, said urging element, said cap, said follower and said handheld device interface.  
     
     
         14 . A handset comprising: 
 a hinge according to  claim 1;     a flip part rotationally fixed with respect to one of said can or said device interface; and    a main part rotationally fixed with respect to the other of said can or said device interface.    
     
     
         15 . The handset of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a passage through said can and said urging element; and    wiring through said passage, said wiring connecting circuitry in said main part and said flip part.    
     
     
         16 . The hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar around a portion of said urging element.  
     
     
         17 . The hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna mounted on the hinge.  
     
     
         18 . The hinge of  claim 17 , wherein the antenna is mounted on an outer surface of said can, said antenna comprising contact means for contacting an antenna feed point.  
     
     
         19 . A hinge for a handheld device, the hinge comprising: 
 a can;    a follower and cam surface axially aligned by said can;    a handheld device interface extending beyond said can and having its rotational position defined by the rotational position of said follower; and    an elastomer urging element held within said can in a compressed state to urge said follower and said cam surface against each other while permitting controlled relative rotational movement between said follower and said cam surface and axial displacement of one or both of said cam and said follower by additional compression of said elastomer urging element to accommodate the controlled relative rotational movement.    
     
     
         20 . The hinge of  claim 19 , formed completely of non-conductive parts.  
     
     
         21 . The hinge of  claim 19 , lacking any metal parts.  
     
     
         22 . The hinge of  claim 19 , wherein said urging element and said can are in a substantially fixed relative rotational position.  
     
     
         23 . The hinge of  claim 22 , further comprising aligned slots providing a passage through said can and said urging element, the slots being dimensioned to accommodate wiring.  
     
     
         24 . The hinge of  claim 19 , comprising interlock shapes on said urging element to engage with another part of the hinge and hold said urging element in the substantially fixed relative rotational position to said can.  
     
     
         25 . The hinge of  claim 19 , wherein said handheld device interface and said follower are formed as a single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, said cam surface comprises an inner surface of said can; and the hinge consists of four parts that are said single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, said can, said urging element, and a cap that closes said can.  
     
     
         26 . The hinge of  claim 19 , further comprising a cam that defines said cam surface, wherein said handheld device interface and said follower are formed as a single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, and the hinge consists of five parts that are said single unitary combined follower and handheld device interface part, said cam, said can, said urging element, and a cap that closes said can.  
     
     
         27 . A handset comprising: 
 a hinge according to  claim 19;     a flip part rotationally fixed with respect to one of said can or said device interface; and    a main part rotationally fixed with respect to the other of said can or said device interface.    
     
     
         28 . The handset of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a passage through said can and said urging element; and    wiring through said passage, said wiring connecting circuitry in said main part and said flip part.    
     
     
         29 . The hinge of  claim 19 , further comprising a collar around a portion of said urging element.  
     
     
         30 . The hinge of  claim 19 , further comprising an antenna mounted on the hinge.  
     
     
         31 . The hinge of  claim 30 , wherein the antenna is mounted on an outer surface of said can, said antenna comprising contact means for contacting an antenna feed point.