US-20260126831-A1 - HINGE APPARATUS FOR A DUAL-BODY INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM

Abstract

A hinge apparatus for a dual-body IHS, including a bracket coupled to a first body of the dual-body IHS; a gear assembly including a first gear, the gear assembly coupled to the bracket via a shaft; a rack moveably coupled to the gear assembly, the rack including an angled surface; a foot assembly coupled to a second body of the dual-body IHS, including: a base; a protrusion extending from the base, the protrusion including a sloped surface; wherein the first body is rotatable with respect to the second body to rotate the first gear via the bracket, wherein the first gear is rotatable to translate the rack along a first direction, wherein the rack is translatable along the first direction such that the angled surface of the rack contacts the sloped surface of the protrusion to translate the foot assembly in a second direction position orthogonal to the first direction.

Inventors

• Tsan-Wei Liu
• HouChun Wang
• Yaotsung Chang

Assignees

• DELL PRODUCTS L.P.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241104

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A hinge apparatus for a dual-body information handling system, including: a bracket coupled to a first body of the dual-body information handling system; a gear assembly including at least a first gear, the gear assembly coupled to the bracket via a shaft; a rack moveably coupled to the gear assembly, the rack including an angled surface; a foot assembly coupled to a second body of the dual-body information handling system, including: a base; and a protrusion extending from the base, the protrusion including a sloped surface; wherein the first body is rotatable with respect to the second body to rotate the first gear via the bracket, wherein the first gear is rotatable to translate the rack along a first direction, and wherein the rack is translatable along the first direction such that the angled surface of the rack contacts the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly to translate the foot assembly in a second direction from an initial position to a second position, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
2. 2 . The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rack includes: a first side, including a toothed surface that is engaged with the gearing assembly; a second side positioned opposite to the first side, the second side including: a first surface spaced-apart from the toothed surface a first distance, a second surface spaced-apart from the toothed surface a second distance greater than the first distance, and the angled surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface.
3. 3 . The hinge apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the protrusion of the foot assembly further includes a flat surface, and wherein when the rack is in the initial position, the first surface of the rack is in contact with the flat surface of the foot assembly.
4. 4 . The hinge apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the angled surface of the rack is complimentary to the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
5. 5 . The hinge apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rack is translatable along the first direction such that the second surface of the rack contacts the flat surface of the foot assembly to transition the rack from the second position to a final position.
6. 6 . The hinge apparatus of claim 3 , the foot assembly further including: a plurality of flexible arms each coupled to the second body of the dual-body information handling system, wherein the flexible arms maintain the initial position of the foot assembly when the first surface of the rack is in contact with the flat surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
7. 7 . The hinge apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the flexible arms flex to transition the foot assembly from the initial position to the second position when the angled surface of the rack contacts the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
8. 8 . The hinge apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flexible arms further flex to transition the foot assembly from the second position to the final position when the second surface of the rack contacts the flat surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
9. 9 . The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gear assembly includes the first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, wherein the first gear is rotatably coupled to the second gear and the second gear is rotatably coupled to the third gear, and wherein the third gear is rotatably coupled to the rack.
10. 10 . The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , further including: a holding bracket including a slot, wherein at least a portion of the rack is positioned within the slot of the holding bracket such that the rack is slidably coupled to the holding bracket.
11. 11 . The hinge apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the gear assembly is coupled to the holding bracket.
12. 12 . A dual-body information handling system, comprising: a processor; memory media storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations; a hinge apparatus, comprising: a bracket coupled to a first body of the dual-body information handling system; a gear assembly including at least a first gear, the gear assembly coupled to the bracket via a shaft; a rack moveably coupled to the gear assembly, the rack including an angled surface; a foot assembly coupled to a second body of the dual-body information handling system, including: a base; and a protrusion extending from the base, the protrusion including a sloped surface; wherein the first body is rotatable with respect to the second body to rotate the first gear via the bracket, wherein the first gear is rotatable to translate the rack along a first direction, and wherein the rack is translatable along the first direction such that the angled surface of the rack contacts the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly to translate the foot assembly in a second direction from an initial position to a second position, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
13. 13 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the rack includes: a first side, including a toothed surface that is engaged with the gearing assembly; and a second side positioned opposite to the first side, the second side including: a first surface spaced-apart from the toothed surface a first distance, a second surface spaced-apart from the toothed surface a second distance greater than the first distance, and the angled surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface.
14. 14 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the protrusion of the foot assembly further includes a flat surface, and wherein when the rack is in the initial position, the first surface of the rack is in contact with the flat surface of the foot assembly.
15. 15 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the angled surface of the rack is complimentary to the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
16. 16 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the rack is translatable along the first direction such that the second surface of the rack contacts the flat surface of the foot assembly to transition the rack from the second position to a final position.
17. 17 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 14 , the foot assembly further including: a plurality of flexible arms each coupled to the second body of the dual-body information handling system, wherein the flexible arms maintain the initial position of the foot assembly when the first surface of the rack is in contact with the flat surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
18. 18 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 17 , wherein the flexible arms flex to transition the foot assembly from the initial position to the second position when the angled surface of the rack contacts the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
19. 19 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 18 , wherein the flexible arms further flex to transition the foot assembly from the second position to the final position when the second surface of the rack contacts the flat surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly.
20. 20 . The dual-body information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the gear assembly includes the first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, wherein the first gear is rotatably coupled to the second gear and the second gear is rotatably coupled to the third gear, and wherein the third gear is rotatably coupled to the rack.

Description

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure The disclosure relates generally to an information handling system, and in particular, a hinge apparatus for a dual-body information handling system. 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. Elevating the bottom of a laptop is a simple yet effective method to enhance thermal cooling. This technique works by improving airflow around the laptop's chassis, allowing heat to dissipate more efficiently. When a laptop rests flat on a surface, its built-in cooling system, which often relies on vents at the bottom, can become obstructed, leading to poor heat management. By using a stand or riser to elevate the laptop, the air can circulate freely underneath, helping to maintain a cooler operating temperature. This not only protects the internal components from overheating but also contributes to better performance and longevity of the device. SUMMARY Innovative aspects of the subject matter described in this specification may be embodied in a hinge apparatus for a dual-body information handling system, including: a bracket coupled to a first body of the dual-body information handling system; a gear assembly including at least a first gear, the gear assembly coupled to the bracket via a shaft; a rack moveably coupled to the gear assembly, the rack including an angled surface; a foot assembly coupled to a second body of the dual-body information handling system, including: a base; and a protrusion extending from the base, the protrusion including a sloped surface; wherein the first body is rotatable with respect to the second body to rotate the first gear via the bracket, wherein the first gear is rotatable to translate the rack along a first direction, and wherein the rack is translatable along the first direction such that the angled surface of the rack contacts the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly to translate the foot assembly in a second direction from an initial position to a second position, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Other embodiments of these aspects include corresponding systems and apparatus. These and other embodiments may each optionally include one or more of the following features. For instance, the rack includes: a first side, including a toothed surface that is engaged with the gearing assembly; a second side positioned opposite to the first side, the second side including: a first surface spaced-apart from the toothed surface a first distance, a second surface spaced-apart from the toothed surface a second distance greater than the first distance, and the angled surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The protrusion of the foot assembly further includes a flat surface, and wherein when the rack is in the initial position, the first surface of the rack is in contact with the flat surface of the foot assembly. The angled surface of the rack is complimentary to the sloped surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly. The rack is translatable along the first direction such that the second surface of the rack contacts the flat surface of the foot assembly to transition the rack from the second position to a final position. The foot assembly further including: a plurality of flexible arms each coupled to the second body of the dual-body information handling system, wherein the flexible arms maintain the initial position of the foot assembly when the first surface of the rack is in contact with the flat surface of the protrusion of the foot assembly. The flexible arms flex to transition the foot assembly from the initial position to the second position when the angled surface of the rack conta