US Patent 8379378 Hybrid hinge and an electronic device comprising the hybrid hinge

The invention relates to a hybrid hinge. The hybrid hinges 7, 8 are used for rotatably adjoining segments S1, S2, S1 of a suitable electronic apparatus. The hybrid hinge 7, 8 comprise respective rigid hinges 2, 4 arranged to rotate the segments S1, S2, respectively S2, S1′ about respective shafts 2, 4. The hybrid hinges further comprise respective elastic hinges having respective portions 3a, 3b, 3c and 5a, 5b, 5c. Preferably, a central portion 3b, 5b of the elastic hinges is arranged to coincide with the shaft 2a, 4a. More preferably, the elastic hinges are arranged to seal an interface between the segments S1, S2 and S2, S1′ in the area of the rigid hinge. The invention further relates to an electronic device comprising the hybrid hinge.