Coaxial hinge apparatus

Abstract

A hinge apparatus includes an inner cylindrical housing having a first slot formed therethough extending between distal ends of the inner cylindrical housing, and an outer cylindrical housing having a second slot formed therethough extending between distal ends of the outer cylindrical housing and being configured to engage with the inner cylindrical housing. The first slot and second slot form unique paths which prevent complete alignment of the first slot and the second slot during axial rotation of the hinge apparatus.

1 . A hinge apparatus, comprising:
 a first cylindrical housing having a first slot formed therethough and having a first geometry, an interior surface of the first cylindrical housing defining a cylindrical channel; and   a second cylindrical housing having a second slot formed therethough and having a second geometry different than the first geometry, the second cylindrical housing defining an interior channel,   wherein in a decoupled state the first slot and the second slot are configured to allow a cable to pass into the cylindrical channel and the interior channel respectively, and wherein in a coupled state: the second cylindrical housing is disposed within the cylindrical channel and frictionally engaged with the interior surface, and an orientation of the first geometry with respect to the second geometry traps the cable within the interior channel.   
     
     
         2 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first slot extends from a first end of the first cylindrical housing to a second end of the first cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         3 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first slot has a linear geometry. 
     
     
         4 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first slot has a helical geometry. 
     
     
         5 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second slot has a linear geometry. 
     
     
         6 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the geometry of the first and second slots are arranged so that complete alignment of the first and second slots does not occur regardless of axial rotation of the first cylindrical housing with respect to the second cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         7 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical housing is fixedly coupled to a base member. 
     
     
         8 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the base member comprises a notch configured to support cabling routed through the interior channel of the second housing component. 
     
     
         9 . The hinge apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical channel defined by the first housing component is smaller than the second cylindrical housing, causing a robust frictional coupling between the first housing component and the second housing component when the hinge apparatus is in the coupled state. 
     
     
         10 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a first housing component;   a second housing component;   a hinge apparatus that pivotally couples the first housing component to the second housing component, the hinge apparatus comprising:
 a first cylindrical housing having a first slot formed therethough and having a first geometry, an interior surface of the first cylindrical housing defining a cylindrical channel, and 
 a second cylindrical housing having a second slot formed therethough and having a second geometry different than the first geometry, the second cylindrical housing defining an interior channel, the second cylindrical housing being disposed within the cylindrical housing; and 
   a cable routed through the interior channel of the second housing,   wherein an orientation of the first geometry with respect to the second geometry traps the cable within the interior channel, regardless of a rotational orientation of the first cylindrical housing with respect to the second cylindrical housing.   
     
     
         11 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first cylindrical housing is coupled with the first housing component. 
     
     
         12 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second cylindrical housing is coupled with the second housing component. 
     
     
         13 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second housing component supports a display. 
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first housing component includes a user input device. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the cable electrically couples an electrical component disposed within the first housing component with an electrical component disposed within the second housing component. 
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the interior channel has a cylindrical geometry. 
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein static friction between the first cylindrical housing and the second cylindrical housing keep the second housing component at any rotational orientation of the first cylindrical housing with respect to the second cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the hinge apparatus comprises a first hinge apparatus, and wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a second hinge apparatus pivotally coupling the first housing component to the second housing component.