HTC Hinge Patent Revealed – Are HTC Building a Courier Style Booklet Device?

HTC have applied for a patent that indicates that are working on a device with a new hinge mechanism. From what we can see in the patent it looks like a clamshell device will open up with a smooth surface. The outer side will also have the hinge hidden.

It’s a unique way although it reminds us (and WMPoweruser) of how a kitchen cabinet door opens which isn’t exactly unique.

From the patent… “A handheld electronic device includes a first frame, a second frame and at least a pivot mechanism. A first connecting rod of the pivot mechanism has a first pivot part, a third pivot part and a second pivot part between them. The first pivot part is slidably disposed on a first groove of the first frame, and the third pivot part is pivoted at the second frame. A second connecting rod of the pivot mechanism has a fourth pivot part, a sixth pivot part and a fifth pivot part between them. The fifth pivot part is pivoted at the second pivot part, the fourth pivot part is slidably disposed on a second groove of the second frame, and the sixth pivot part is pivoted at the first frame for the first frame and the second frame to be opened and closed by the pivot mechanism.”

After reading that are you able to figure out exactly what they are referring to here? All we can sum it up to meaning is that when a device opens up it will completely lay flat creating one large screen surface which kind of reminds us a little of how the Microsoft [MSFT] Courier will function.

Of course we don’t know just yet what HTC plan on doing with this patent, but as it does specifically refer to handheld electronic devices we can hope that some sort of funky Booklet or dual screen phone is in the works.

We’ll keep our eyes open for this one.