Input device with bendable support mechanism for a computing device

• US 10,345,916 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Gu, Jiawei
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US14/517,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20150293601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

An input device with a bendable support mechanism for a computing device is described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a housing, input functionality available via a surface of the housing, and a support mechanism. The input functionality is configured to initiate one or more inputs that are configured to be communicatively coupled to a computing device to initiate one or more operations of the computing device. The support mechanism configured to assume a closed configuration in which a majority of the support mechanism is disposed within the housing and an open configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed outside of the housing and arranged as forming a bend to support a rear of a computing device having a slate configuration.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an interior space in between the first and second surfaces;

input functionality available via the first surface of the housing, the input functionality configured to initiate one or more inputs that are configured to be communicatively coupled to a computing device to initiate one or more operations of the computing device; and

a support mechanism comprising first and second portions and a spine between the first and second portions, the support mechanism bending at the spine, the support mechanism configured to assume;

a closed configuration in which the spine is completely disposed within the interior of the housing; and

an open configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed outside of the housing and arranged to support a rear of the computing device, the support mechanism configured to slide out from the closed configuration which is then flexed to form the open configuration.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the support mechanism is bendable between the closed and open configurations by one or more hands of a user without using tools.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein an angle between a surface of a display device of the computing device and a surface of the input functionality, when in the open configuration, is greater than ninety degrees.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein an angle between first and second portions of the support mechanism, when bent in relation to each other in the open configuration, is less than ninety degrees.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the support mechanism includes a flexible outer layer and a spine disposed within the flexible outer layer that is configured to support bending to transition the support mechanism between the closed and open configurations.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the spine is configured using a metal having a sufficient structural rigidity to support the rear of the computing device such that the computing device is arranged in an upright configuration when then apparatus is placed on a surface.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the spine is configured using a plurality of ribs that are configured to lock together to form the open configuration and unlock to form the closed configuration.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the spine is configured using the plurality of ribs to lock together using cams and indentions.

9. A system comprising:

a computing device having a slate configuration;

a housing comprising a keyboard in a first surface of the housing, and a second surface opposite the first surface, an interior space being defined in between the first and second surfaces; and

a support mechanism, the support mechanism comprising;

a first end positioned within the interior of the housing,

a second end most distant from the first end when the support mechanism is unbent, and

a spine extending from the first end to the second end where the spine is configured to bend to form an arcuate section between the first end and the second end, wherein the support mechanism is configured to assume a closed configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed within the interior of the housing, and an open configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed outside the housing and bent to have the second end support a rear of the computing device such that an angle of a display device of the computing device is at an angle to the first surface of the housing.

10. A system as described in claim 9, wherein the support mechanism further includes a flexible outer layer and the spine disposed within the flexible outer layer.

11. A system as described in claim 10, wherein the spine is configured using a metal having a sufficient structural rigidity to support the rear of the computing device such that the computing device is arranged in an upright configuration when then apparatus is placed on a surface.

12. A system as described in claim 10, wherein the spine is configured using a plurality of ribs that are configured to lock together to form the open configuration and unlock to form the closed configuration.

13. A system as described in claim 10, wherein the spine is configured using the plurality of ribs to lock together using cams and indentions.

14. A system comprising:

a computing device having a slate configuration;

a housing comprising an input mechanism, in a first surface of the housing, for receiving input for the computing device, and a second surface opposite the first surface, an interior space being defined in between the first and second surfaces; and

a support mechanism, the support mechanism comprising;

a first end positioned within the interior of the housing,

a second end opposite the first end when the support mechanism is unbent, and

a spine extending from the first end to the second end where the spine is configured to bend, wherein the support mechanism is configured to assume a closed configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed within the interior of the housing, and an open configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed outside the housing and bent to have the second end support a rear of the computing device, the support mechanism configured to slide out from the closed configuration which is then flexed to form the open configuration.

15. A system as described in claim 14, wherein the support mechanism includes a flexible outer layer and a spine disposed within the flexible outer layer.

16. A system as described in claim 15, wherein the spine is configured using a plurality of ribs that are configured to lock together to form the open configuration and unlock to form the closed configuration.

17. A system comprising:

a computing device having a slate configuration;

a housing comprising a keyboard in a first surface of the housing, and a second surface opposite the first surface, a back surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and an opening extending into the back surface to form an interior space being defined in between the first and second surfaces; and

a support mechanism, the support mechanism comprising;

a first end positioned within the interior of the housing,

a second end opposite to the first end when the support mechanism is unbent, and

a spine between the first and second ends where the support mechanism is configured to bend, wherein the support mechanism is configured to assume a closed configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed within the interior of the housing with the second end of the support mechanism forming a portion of the back surface of the housing and a portion of the second surface of the housing, and an open configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed outside the housing and the spine is bent such that the second end touches a rear of a display device of the computing device to support the display device such that an angle of the display device of the computing device is at an angle to the first surface of the housing.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an interior space in between the first and second surfaces;

input functionality available via the first surface of the housing, the input functionality configured to initiate one or more inputs that are configured to be communicatively coupled to a computing device to initiate one or more operations of the computing device; and

a support mechanism comprising first and second portions and a spine between the first and second portions, the support mechanism bending at the spine, the support mechanism configured to assume;

a closed configuration in which the spine is disposed within the interior of the housing; and

an open configuration in which the support mechanism is disposed outside of the housing and arranged to support a rear of the computing device, the support mechanism configured to slide out from the closed configuration which is then flexed to form the open configuration.