Display support apparatus

• US 20040052037A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawyer, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,762,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/681
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A flexible display extension apparatus for supporting a flexible panel display in a viewing position. The extension apparatus includes an extension member that may be collapsed for allowing the flexible panel display to be at least partially rolled upon itself when the display is not in use.

Claims

1. A support apparatus for a flexible panel display, comprising:

an extension member suitable for being coupled to the flexible panel display, the extension member being suitable for supporting the flexible panel display in a viewing position,

wherein the extension member is capable of collapsing for allowing the flexible panel display to be at least partially rolled upon itself.

2. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extension member comprises a semi-rigid extension member, the semi-rigid extension member being generally rigid when extended and being capable of coiling when collapsed.

3. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member is rolled with the flexible panel display when collapsed.

4. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member is generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

5. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member is generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and is capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

6. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display.

7. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display, the thin strip being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

8. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display, the thin strip being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and being capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

9. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display.

10. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display, the sheet being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

11. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display, the sheet being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and being capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

12. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension member comprises a material having shape memory.

13. The support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extension member comprises a generally rigid armature.

14. The support member as claimed in claim 13, wherein an end of the generally rigid armature is received within a channel disposed in the flexible panel display, the end being capable of moving along the channel as the flexible panel display is rolled upon itself for collapsing the extension member.

15. A flexible panel display assembly, comprising:

a flexible panel display; and

an extension member coupled to the flexible panel display, the extension member being suitable for supporting the flexible panel display in a viewing position,

wherein the extension member is capable of collapsing for allowing flexible panel display to be at least partially rolled upon itself.

16. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the extension member comprises a semi-rigid extension member, the semi-rigid extension member being generally rigid when extended and being capable of coiling when collapsed.

17. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member is rolled with the flexible panel display when collapsed.

18. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member is generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

19. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member is generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and is capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

20. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display.

21. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display, the thin strip being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

22. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display, the thin strip being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and being capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

23. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display.

24. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display, the sheet being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

25. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display, the sheet being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and being capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

26. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension member comprises a material having shape memory.

27. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a housing, the flexible panel display being retractable into the housing, wherein the extension member comprises a generally rigid armature including a first end suitable for being coupled to the flexible panel display and a second end pivotally coupled to the housing.

28. The flexible panel display assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein a first end of the generally rigid armature is received within a channel disposed in the flexible panel display, the first end being capable of moving along the channel as the flexible panel display is coiled for collapsing the extension member.

41. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a housing, the flexible panel display being retractable into the housing, wherein the extension member comprises a generally rigid armature including a first end suitable for being coupled to the flexible panel display and a second end pivotally coupled to the housing.

42. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein a first end of the generally rigid armature is received within a channel disposed in the flexible panel display, the first end being capable of moving along the channel as the flexible panel display is coiled for collapsing the extension member.

29. A computer assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a flexible panel display retractable into the housing; and

an extension member coupled to the flexible panel display, the extension member being suitable for supporting the flexible panel display when the flexible panel display is extended from the housing,

wherein the extension member is capable of collapsing for allowing the flexible panel display to be at least partially rolled upon itself when the flexible panel display is retracted into the housing.

30. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 29, wherein the extension member comprises a semi-rigid extension member, the semi-rigid extension member being generally rigid when extended and being capable of coiling when collapsed.

31. The flexible panel display as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member is rolled with the flexible panel display when collapsed.

32. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member is generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

33. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member is generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and is capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

34. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display.

35. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display, the thin strip being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

36. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a thin strip suitable for being attached to the flexible panel display, the thin strip being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and being capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

37. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display.

38. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display, the sheet being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended.

39. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a sheet of the flexible panel display, the sheet being generally curved in cross-section along its length when extended and being capable of flattening in cross-section when coiled.

40. The computer assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension member comprises a material having shape memory.

43. A extension apparatus for a flexible panel display, comprising:

means, suitable for being coupled to the flexible panel display, for supporting the flexible panel display in a viewing position, and

means for collapsing the supporting means;

wherein the collapsing means is capable of collapsing the supporting means for allowing the flexible panel display to be at least partially rolled upon itself.

44. The extension apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the collapsing means comprises means for coiling the supporting means when collapsed.

45. The extension apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the coiling means is integrally formed with the supporting means.

46. The extension apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the supporting means and collapsing means are integrally formed with the flexible panel display.

47. The extension apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the collapsing means comprises a material having shape memory.