Clip friction hinge

Abstract

The present invention is a torque producing apparatus comprising a first member, a second member, and a retention means. The first member has first and second arms, each having first and second ends, and a connection portion adjacent the joined first ends of the first and second arms. The arms have an outer surface and define an axial aperture. The axial aperture defines at least a portion of an inner surface of the arms. The second ends of the arms define an opening between the touter and inner surfaces. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces have a predetermined diameter when the member is in a relaxed state. The second member has a surface arranged to engage in interference fit against at least one surface of the first member when the first member is in its relaxed state. The retention means engages the connection portion of the first member so that the second member rotates relative to the first member upon relative rotation of the second member and the retention means.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A frictional torque hinge comprising: 
       a first member with an axial thickness having first and second resilient arms, each having a first and a second end, the first ends of the first and second arms being joined, and a connection portion adjacent the joined first ends of the first and second arms, the arms having an outer surface and a radial thickness greater than the axial thickness, the arms defining an axial aperture that defines at least a portion of an inner surface of the arms, the second ends of the arms defining an opening between the outer and inner surfaces;  
       a second member rotatably mounted relative to the first member having a surface arranged to engage tin interference fit against the inner or outer surface of the first member; and  
       retention means engaging the connection portion of the first member so that the second member rotates relative to the first member upon relative rotation of the second member and the retention means.  
     
     
       2. The torque hinge of  claim 1  wherein the second member is a rotatable shaft, the aperture defining a predetermined diameter of the inner surface of the first member, the shaft having a surface having an outer diameter greater than the predetermined diameter of the inner surface of the first member so that the surface of the shaft is engaged in interference fit to the inner surface of the first member. 
     
     
       3. The torque hinge of  claim 2  wherein the retention means engages the connection portion of the first member so that the shaft rotates relative to the first member upon relative rotation of the shaft and the retention means. 
     
     
       4. The torque hinge of  claim 1  wherein the second member is a sleeve, the outer surface of the first member having a predetermined diameter, the sleeve having a surface having an inner diameter smaller than the predetermined diameter of the outer surface of the first member so that the surface of the sleeve is engaged in interference fit to the outer surface of the first member. 
     
     
       5. The torque hinge of  claim 4  wherein the connection portion of the first member is disposed within the aperture, and retention means includes a shaft extending through the aperture and having a surface configured to engage the connection portion of the first member so that the sleeve rotates relative to the first member upon relative rotation of the sleeve and the shaft. 
     
     
       6. The torque hinge of  claim 1  wherein the first member is a clip stamped out of a flat material. 
     
     
       7. A frictional torque hinge comprising: 
       a member having an axis and an axially extending thickness, the member having an outer edge, an axial aperture, an opening between the outer edge and the aperture defining first and second resilient arms and a connection portion adjacent the first and second arms, the aperture having a predetermined diameter greater than the axially extending thickness;  
       a rotatable shaft rotatably mounted relative to the member and extending through the aperture, the shaft having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture such that the shaft frictionally engages the member; and  
       retention means engaging the connection portion of the member so that the shaft rotates relative to the member upon relative rotation of the shaft and the retention means about the axis.  
     
     
       8. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the retention means is fixed in position relative to the shaft to prevent rotation of the member upon rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the friction between the shaft and the member is independent of the engagement of the retention means and the connection portion. 
     
     
       10. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the opening is oriented opposite to the connection portion so that the first and second arms are equal in length and so that the friction between the shaft and the aperture is equal for both directions of rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
       11. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the opening is oriented opposite to the connection portion so that the first and second arms are unequal in length and so that the friction between the shaft and the aperture is unequal for each direction of rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
       12. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the connection portion comprises a rectangular projection with rounded edges extending tangentially from the first and second arms. 
     
     
       13. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the retention means includes a substantially cylindrical tube shaped to match the circular outer profile of the member. 
     
     
       14. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the connection portion comprises a sawtooth projection extending tangentially from the first and second arms. 
     
     
       15. The torque hinge of  claim 7  wherein the member is stamped out of a flat material. 
     
     
       16. A torque device comprising: 
       a plurality of clips, each clip having an axial thickness and defining an aperture having a diameter, the diameter of the aperture being greater than the axial thickness, wherein each of the clips has an opening extending along and through its axial thickness forming two spaced apart resilient arms, and wherein the clips include antirotation means preventing rotation of the plurality of clips;  
       a rotatable shaft rotatably mounted relative to the clips and having an outer diameter, the shaft extending through the apertures of the clips, the outer diameter of the shaft being larger than the diameter of the apertures such that the shaft frictionally engages the clips; and  
       stationary means engaging the antirotation means such that the plurality of clips are prevented from rotating relative to the stationary means as the shaft is rotated and the stationary means is held stable, and such that friction between the shaft and the plurality of clips is unaffected by the engagement.  
     
     
       17. The torque device of  claim 16  wherein each of the clips include the antirotation means such that the clips and the antirotation means form a one piece unit. 
     
     
       18. The torque device of  claim 16  wherein each of the clips is stamped out of a flat material. 
     
     
       19. A torque hinge device comprising: 
       a sleeve having an inner surface and an inner diameter;  
       at least one clip rotatably mounted relative to and within the sleeve and having an outer surface and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve such that the outer surface of the clip frictionally engages the inner surface of the sleeve, each clip having an axial thickness and an opening central to the clip, the outer diameter of the clip being greater than the thickness of the clip and the clip having an axially extending slit through its axial thickness forming two spaced apart resilient arms; and  
       a shaft extending through the opening of each clip, the shaft configured for non-rotationally engaging the clip such that the clip rotates with the shaft as the shaft is rotated.  
     
     
       20. The torque device of  claim 19  wherein the surface of the sleeve comprises a substantially cylindrical shape to match a profile of the surface of the clip. 
     
     
       21. The torque device of  claim 19  wherein each of the clips is stamped out of a flat material. 
     
     
       22. A frictional torque hinge comprising: 
       
         a rotatable shaft;  
       
       
         a plurality of flat members mounted on the shaft, each member having an axis, an axially extending thickness, an axial aperture, and an outer surface defining a profile, the profile having a width in a direction transverse to the axial direction that is greater than the thickness of the flat member, and the shaft extending through the aperture of the members such that the shaft frictionally engages the members; and  
       
       
         a connection portion engaging the members such that the shaft rotates relative to the members upon relative rotation of the shaft and connection portion, and wherein torque of the hinge increases as the number of members mounted on the shaft increases. 
       
     
     
       23. A frictional torque hinge comprising: 
       
         a shaft capable of rotation;  
       
         a plurality of flat metal members mounted side - by - side on the shaft, each member having an aperture through which that shaft extends causing frictional engagement between the member and shaft, each member having an outer surface forming a diameter, and each member having two surfaces that are essentially parallel to one another and essentially perpendicular to the shaft, the surfaces spaced apart to define a member thickness that is less than the diameter of the member, and wherein torque of the hinge increases as the number of members mounted on the shaft increases; and    
       
         a connector portion engaging the members such that when the shaft rotates relative to the members the connector holds the members together and prevents the members from rotating with the shaft. 
       
     
     
       24. The frictional torque hinge of  claim 23  wherein the flat members are mounted on the shaft such that a surface of one of the plurality of members is touching a surface of an adjacent member. 
     
     
       25. A frictional torque hinge comprising: 
       
         a plurality of resilient clips having an axis and an axially extending thickness, the clips having an outer surface, and an axial aperture, the axially extending thickness of the clip being less that a diameter formed by the outer surface of the clip, and torque of the hinge increasing as the number of clips increases;  
       
       
         a rotatable shaft rotatably mounted relative to the clips and extending through the aperture of the clips, the shaft having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture of the clips such that the shaft frictionally engages the clips; and  
       
       
         a restraint engaging the clips such that the shaft rotates relative to the clips upon relative rotation of the shaft about the axis. 
       
     
     
       26. A frictional torque hinge comprising: 
       
         a shaft having an axis with an axial length and a diameter;  
       
       
         a plurality of members mounted on the shaft such that each frictionally engages the shaft, each member having a thickness and an outer surface forming a diameter that is greater than the thickness;  
       
       
         a restraint engaging the members such that the shaft rotates relative to the members upon relative rotation of the shaft about its axis; and  
       
       
         the members being mounted on the shaft such that the torque of the hinge increases as the number of members that are stacked on the shaft increases.