초록

A sliding and rotating hinge module for supporting a display screen or the like, includes a bracket, a slider and a support member. The slider is capable of sliding movement relative to said bracket and said support member is capable of pivotal movement relative to said slider.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A sliding and rotating hinge module comprising: at least one bracket adapted for fastening to a vehicle, said bracket having a front;a slider mounted within said bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said bracket between a retracted position and an extended position, said slider

1. A sliding and rotating hinge module comprising: at least one bracket adapted for fastening to a vehicle, said bracket having a front;a slider mounted within said bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said bracket between a retracted position and an extended position, said slider having a front end, said front end of said slider extending outwardly from said front of said bracket when said slider is in said retracted position;a constant force spring provided between said bracket and said slider and biasing said slider toward said extended position;a support member pivotally attached to the slider proximate said front end of said slider, said support member being pivotally movable relative to said slider between a first position and a second position at least when said slider is in said extended position, said support member being spring biased toward said second position relative to said slider, wherein said support member is adapted for supporting a display screen;a latch provided for selectively holding said slider in said retracted position, said latch engaging said support member in order to hold said slider in said retracted position; andsaid support member being attached proximate said front end of said slider by a cylinder-within-cylinder joint having damping grease disposed between surfaces of said support member and of said slider defined by said cylinder-within-cylinder joint for damping pivotal movement of said support member relative to said slider. 2. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 1, further comprising: a secondary latch system for holding said support member in said first position relative to said slider as said slider moves between said retracted position and said extended position. 3. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 2, wherein said secondary latch system is automatically actuated to release said support member for rotation from said first position to said second position when said slider reaches said extended position. 4. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 1, wherein said support member is spring biased toward said second position relative to said slider by a torsion spring provided proximate said front end of said slider. 5. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 1claim 4, wherein said support member is a rotating arm adapted for supporting a display screen. 6. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 5, wherein said latch comprises a hook pivotally attached to said bracket, wherein said support member further comprises a protrusion fixed to said rotating arm, and wherein said hook is capable of engaging said protrusion in order to hold said slider in said retracted position with said rotating arm in said first position. 7. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bracket is a first bracket, said slider is a first slider, said constant force spring is a first constant force spring, said support member is a first support member, and said latch is a first latch, wherein said first position is a first position of said first support member and said second position is a second position of said first support member, and wherein the sliding and rotating hinge module further comprises: a second bracket adapted for fastening to the vehicle in parallel to said first bracket, said second bracket having a front;a second slider mounted within said second bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said second bracket between a retracted position and an extended position, said second slider having a front end, said front end of said second slider extending outwardly from said front of said second bracket when said second slider is in said retracted position of said second slider;a second constant force spring provided between said second bracket and said second slider and biasing said second slider toward said extended position of said second slider;a second support member pivotally attached to the second slider, said second support member being pivotally movable relative to said second slider between a first position and a second position at least when said second slider is in said extended position of said second slider; anda second latch provided for selectively holding said second slider in said retracted position of said second slider. 8. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 7, wherein said first latch is capable of engaging said first support member in order to hold said first slider in said retracted position of said first slider, and wherein said second latch is capable of engaging said second support member in order to hold said second slider in said retracted position of said second slider. 9. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 8, wherein said second support member is spring biased toward said second position of said second support member relative to said second slider. 10. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 9, wherein said first support member is spring biased toward said second position of said first support member relative to said first slider by a first torsion spring provided proximate said front end of said first slider, and wherein said second support member is spring biased toward said second position of said second support member relative to said second slider by a second torsion spring provided proximate said front end of said second slider. 11. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 10, wherein said first support member is a first rotating arm adapted for supporting a display screen, and wherein said second support member is a second rotating arm adapted for cooperatively supporting the display screen. 12. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 11, wherein said first latch comprises a first hook pivotally attached to said first bracket, wherein said first support member further comprises a first protrusion fixed to said first rotating arm, and wherein said first hook is capable of engaging said first protrusion in order to hold said first slider in said retracted position of said first slider with said first rotating arm being in said first position of said first rotating arm, and wherein said second latch comprises a second hook pivotally attached to said second bracket, wherein said second support member further comprises a second protrusion fixed to said second rotating arm, and wherein said second hook is capable of engaging said second protrusion in order to hold said second slider in said retracted position of said second slider with said second rotating arm being in said first position of said second rotating arm. 13. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 12, wherein said first hook and said second hook are coupled together by a shaft so as to rotate together as a unit. 14. A sliding and rotating hinge module comprising: at least one bracket adapted for fastening to a vehicle;a slider mounted within said bracket and supported for sliding movement relative to said bracket between a retracted position and an extended position, said slider having a front end and a back end;a constant force spring provided between said bracket and said slider and biasing said slider toward said extended position;a support member pivotally attached to the slider proximate said front end of said slider, said support member being pivotally movable relative to said slider between a first position and a second position at least when said slider is in said extended position, wherein said support member is adapted for supporting a display screen;a latch provided for selectively holding said slider in said retracted position, said latch being attached to said bracket; anda hook provided at said back end of said slider and at spaced separation from said support member, wherein said hook is engaged by said latch in order to hold said slider in said retracted position. 15. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 14, wherein said latch is of a type such that, when a display is attached to said support member and the slider is in the retracted position, the display is pushed in a direction opposite a direction in which said slider moves to reach said extended position in order for said latch to release said slider from said retracted position. 16. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 14, further comprising: a hinge pivotally supporting said support member relative to said slider, wherein said hinge is adapted to maintain said support member at a user selected angular position relative to said slider selected from a range of angular positions between and including said first position and said second position. 17. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 16, wherein said support member is a tray adapted for supporting a display screen. 18. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to any one of claims 1 and 16, further comprising: damping means for damping said sliding movement of said slider relative to said bracket. 19. The sliding and rotating hinge module according to claim 16, wherein said latch is of a type such that, when a display is attached to said support member and the slider is in the retracted position, the display is pushed in a direction opposite a direction in which said slider moves to reach said extended position in order for said latch to release said slider from said retracted position.