Support member for a computing device

• US 10,514,729 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Quijano, David, Richard, Owen, Bassett, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaker, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US15/520,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20170315585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein provide a computing device. One example computing device includes an enclosure and a support member rotatably connected to the enclosure at a first end of the support member, via a shaft disposed within the enclosure along a perimeter of the enclosure. The computing device includes a panel connected at a second end of the support member opposite the first end. As an example, the panel is to enclose the enclosure when the support member is to rotate towards the enclosure. When the support member is to rotate via the shaft, the support member is to wrap around the perimeter of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

an enclosure having an area behind a perimeter, electronic components of the computing device disposed inside the enclosure;

a support member rotatably connected to the enclosure at a first end of the support member, via a shaft disposed within the enclosure along the perimeter of the enclosure; and

a panel connected at a second end of the support member opposite the first end, the panel comprising a display surface of the computing device;

wherein the panel is fixedly connected to the second end of the support member,

wherein the panel is to enclose the enclosure when the support member is rotated towards the enclosure, and

wherein, when the support member is to rotate via the shaft, the support member is to wrap around the perimeter of the enclosure when the panel is opened away from the enclosure and is stowed away within the area behind the perimeter when the panel is closed over the enclosure.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, when the panel is opened away from the enclosure, a portion of the support member abuts an edge of the perimeter of the enclosure.

3. The computing device of claim 1, comprising:

an extendable strut to limit a motion of the panel wherein, when the support member is to rotate away from the enclosure, the extendable strut is to restrict further opening of the panel beyond a certain point.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the extendable strut is gas-charged to limit a speed of the rotation of the support member.

5. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the extendable strut comprises a locking mechanism to initiate closing of the panel to enclose the enclosure.

6. The computing device of claim 1, comprising:

cables to limit a motion of the panel wherein, when the support member is to rotate away from the enclosure, the cables are to restrict further opening of the panel beyond a certain point.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein a pivot point of the support member around the shaft has a frictional value to limit a speed of the rotation of the support member.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, when the panel is closed over the enclosure, an elbow of the support member, located between the shaft and a point at which the support member is attached to the panel extends below the portion of the support member surrounding the shaft.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, when the panel is fully open away from the enclosure, the panel is supported by the support member at a downward angle with a distal edge of the panel away from the enclosure being lower than a proximal edge of the panel attached to the support member.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the shift has a frictional value with respect to the support member, wherein the frictional value resists torque provided by a user in opening the panel.

11. A computing device comprising:

an enclosure having an area behind a perimeter, with electronic components of the computing device disposed in the area of the enclosure;

a support member rotatably connected to the enclosure at a first end of the support member, via a shaft disposed within the enclosure along the perimeter of the enclosure; and

a panel fixedly connected at a second end of the support member opposite the first end, the panel comprising a display surface of the computing device,

wherein the panel is to enclose the enclosure when the support member is to rotate towards the enclosure, and

wherein, when the support member is to rotate via the shaft, the support member is curved to wrap around the perimeter of the enclosure when the panel is opened away from the enclosure, and

when the panel is fully open away from the enclosure, the panel is supported by the support member at a downward angle with a distal edge of the panel away from the enclosure being lower than a proximal edge of the panel attached to the support member.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein, when the panel is to enclose the enclosure, the support member is to stow away within the enclosure along the perimeter of the enclosure.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein a pivot point of the support member around the shaft has a frictional value to limit a speed of the rotation of the support member.

14. The computing device of claim 11, comprising:

an extendable strut to limit a motion of the panel wherein, when the support member is to rotate away from the enclosure, the extendable strut is to restrict further opening of the panel beyond a certain point.

15. The computing device of claim 11, comprising:

cables to limit a motion of the panel wherein, when the support member is to rotate away from the enclosure, the cables are to restrict further opening of the panel beyond a certain point.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein, when the panel is opened away from the enclosure, a portion of the support member abuts an edge of the enclosure.

17. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the frictional value resists torque provided by a user in opening the panel.

18. A computing device comprising:

an enclosure having an area behind a perimeter, with electronic components of the computing device disposed inside the enclosure;

a support member rotatably connected to the enclosure at a first end of the support member, via a shaft disposed within the enclosure along the perimeter of the enclosure, wherein a pivot point of the support member around the shaft has a frictional value to limit a speed of the rotation of the support member; and

a panel fixedly connected at a second end of the support member opposite the first end, the panel comprising a display surface of the computing device, wherein, when the panel is opened away from the enclosure, the support member is to wrap around the perimeter of the enclosure and, when the panel is to be closed over the enclosure, the support member is stowed away within the area behind the perimeter.

19. The computing device of claim 18, comprising:

an extendable strut to limit a motion of the panel wherein, when the support member is to rotate away from the enclosure, the extendable strut is to restrict further opening of the panel beyond a certain point.

20. The computing device of claim 18, comprising:

cables to limit a motion of the panel wherein, when the support member is to rotate away from the enclosure, the cables are to restrict further opening of the panel beyond a certain point.