PREASSEMBLED FRICTION HINGE MODULE, HINGED SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MAKING PREASSEMBLED FRICTION HINGE MODULES AND SYSTEMS

A method for assembling a hinge module, the method comprising:placing a torque element inside an interior space of a housing having a rear wall and a side wall together at least partially defining the interior space;applying a lubricant to the torque element;aligning an aperture defined in the rear wall of the housing with an aperture defined in the torque element to create a passage;inserting a shaft through the passage;placing a cover adjacent the torque element such that an end of the shaft is exposed through an aperture defined in the cover and the cover extends at least partially into the interior space of the housing; anddeforming the side wall of the housing to secure the cover relative to the housing, further comprising:applying lubricant to the shaft;pressing at least a portion of the cover toward the interior space;injecting lubricant into the interior space via a passageway defined in the rear wall of the housing; androtating the shaft about a pivot axis to distribute the lubricant along a groove defined in the rear wall of the housing, the groove being configured to guide the flow of lubricant from the passageway defined in the rear wall of the housing, the step of applying the lubricant to the torque element being preceded by the step of aligning the aperture defined in the rear wall of the housing with the aperture defined in the torque element.