US-12625523-B2 - Modular portable information handling system hinge with quick attachment and detachment

Abstract

An information handling system hinge has a modular and selectively separable core that couples to hinge mounts in an interchangeable manner so that core selection defines hinge characteristics, such as torque, detent orientation and stop orientation. A standardized mount accepts cores with different rotational characteristics for streamlined manufacture of information handling systems and improved reuse and recycling of hinge components. A wire bale couples to a latching assembly and over the hinge mount to couple the hinge mount to the housing in a removeable manner.

Inventors

• Anthony J. Sanchez
• John Trevor Morrison
• Jace W. Files

Assignees

• DELL PRODUCTS L.P.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231004

Claims (17)

1. 1 . An information handling system comprising: a housing having a lid portion and a main portion; a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information; a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information; and a hinge coupled to the housing to rotate the lid portion and main portion between open and closed positions, the hinge coupled to the housing by a wire and a lever coupling device, the hinge captured between the wire and the housing by the lever coupling device; wherein the lever coupling device comprises: a first latch area aligned to accept the wire parallel with a rotational axis of the hinge; and a second latch area aligned to accept the wire perpendicular to the rotational axis of the hinge.
2. 2 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the wire rotates within the second latch area to release from the first latch area and thereby release the hinge from the housing.
3. 3 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the wire further comprises straight portions coupled by hinged portions that rotate the straight portions to aid fit into openings of the hinge, wire routing at least in part between the hinge and the housing.
4. 4 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the hinge further comprises: a first mount configured to couple to the main portion; a second mount configured to couple to the lid portion; and a core removably coupled to the first and second mounts, the core having a rotatable axle and a torque device coupled to the rotatable axle to resist rotation of the axle.
5. 5 . The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the torque device comprises an outer shield that presses on the rotatable axle and maintains a rotational orientation relative to the first mount while the rotatable axle rotates.
6. 6 . The information handling system of claim 5 wherein the torque device further comprises a C-Clip that couples over the rotatable axle and maintains a rotational orientation relative to the first mount while the rotatable axle rotates.
7. 7 . The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising: a first core having a first torque; and a second core having a second torque different from the first torque; wherein one of the first and second cores are selected to couple to the first and second mounts to achieve a predetermined housing rotation characteristic.
8. 8 . The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising a stop to define rotational orientation of the core between the closed position and the open position, the stop removable when the hinge couples to the housing to allow a rotation of greater than the open position.
9. 9 . A method for assembly of an information handling system, the method comprising: coupling a first hinge mount to a lid housing portion with a first wire bale compressed over the first hinge mount with a first latch assembly by rotating the first wire bale about a first latch area of the latch assembly about a rotational axis perpendicular to a rotational axis of the hinge and inserting the first wire bale in a second latch area of the latch assembly along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the hinge; and coupling a second hinge mount to a main housing portion with a second wire bale compressed over the second hinge mount with a second latch assembly.
10. 10 . The method of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the first wire bale runs between the first hinge mount and the lid housing portion.
11. 11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the first wire bale comprises stainless steel that deflects to compress the first hinge mount.
12. 12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the first wire bale comprises nickel titanium that deflects to compress the first hinge mount.
13. 13 . The method of claim 9 further comprising: selecting a hinge core from plural hinge cores, the plural hinge cores having different torque characteristics; and assembling the selected hinge core to the first hinge mount and second hinge mount to configure the lid housing portion and main housing portion to rotate with a selected torque characteristic.
14. 14 . The method of claim 9 further comprising: inserting an axle into an outer shield; and generating torque by friction between the outer shield and the axle when the axle rotates.
15. 15 . A hinge system comprising: a housing having a lid portion and a main portion; a first mount configured to couple to the main portion; a second mount configured to couple to the lid portion; a core removably coupled to the first and second mounts, the core having a rotatable axle and a torque device coupled to the rotatable axle to resist rotation of the rotatable axle; a wire; and a lever coupling device, the first mount captured between the wire and the housing by the lever coupling device; wherein the lever coupling device comprises: a first latch area aligned to accept the wire parallel with a rotational axis of the rotatable core; and a second latch area aligned to accept the wire perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotatable core.
16. 16 . The hinge system of claim 15 wherein the wire rotates within the second latch area to release from the first latch area and thereby release the hinge from the housing.
17. 17 . The hinge system of claim 15 wherein the wire routes at least in part between the first mount and the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to the field of portable information handling systems, and more particularly to a modular portable information handling system hinge with quick attachment and detachment. Description of the Related Art As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. Portable information handling systems integrate processing components, a display and a power source in a portable housing to support mobile operations. Portable information handling systems allow end users to carry a system between meetings, during travel, and between home and office locations so that an end user has access to processing capabilities while mobile. Tablet configurations typically expose a touchscreen display on a planar housing that both outputs information as visual images and accepts inputs as touches. Convertible configurations typically include multiple separate housing portions that couple to each other so that the system converts between closed and open positions. For example, a main housing portion integrates processing components and a keyboard and rotationally couples with hinges to a lid housing portion that integrates a display. In clamshell configuration, the lid housing portion rotates approximately ninety degrees to a raised position above the main housing portion so that an end user can type inputs while viewing the display. After usage, convertible information handling systems rotate the lid housing portion over the main housing portion to protect the keyboard and display, thus reducing the system footprint for improved storage and mobility. Information handling systems generally have a stationary or portable configuration. Stationary configurations include desktop and server systems that typically operate in a fixed location with external power and peripherals. Portable information handling systems integrate processing components, a display and a power source in a portable housing to support mobile operations. Portable information handling systems allow end users to carry a system between meetings, during travel, and between home and office locations so that an end user has access to processing capabilities while mobile. Tablet configurations typically expose a touchscreen display on a planar housing that both outputs information as visual images and accepts inputs as touches. Convertible configurations typically include multiple separate housing portions that couple to each other so that the system converts between closed and open positions. For example, a main housing portion integrates processing components and a keyboard and rotationally couples with hinges to a lid housing portion that integrates a display. In a clamshell configuration, the lid housing portion rotates approximately ninety degrees to a raised position above the main housing portion so that an end user can type inputs while viewing the display. After usage, convertible information handling systems rotate the lid housing portion over the main housing portion to protect the keyboard and display, thus reducing the system footprint for improved storage and mobility. Portable information handling systems also operate with peripheral devices, particularly when the end user is in an office or home environment. Recently, increased reliance on work from home and improvements in processing, storage and networking capabilities for portable information handling systems have resulted in a greater use of portable information systems for personal and enterprise usage scenarios. Mobile use scenarios can result in greater wear and tear on portable information handling systems with large variances in expected life depending o