Laptop computer display mounting
First Claim
1. A laptop computer, comprising:
- a keyboard module having a generally tabular shape bounded by front and rear margins, the keyboard module adapted for placement on a horizontal support surface; and
a display module connected to the keyboard module adjacent the rear margin of the keyboard module for rotation of the display module between a closed position and an open position, the display module including;
(a) a rail assembly rotatably mounted to the keyboard module adjacent the rear margin of the keyboard module, (b) a display support member mounted to the rail assembly and slidable along the rail assembly when the display module is in the open position, and (c) a display panel having a generally tabular shape bordered by a top margin and a bottom margin, the display panel rotatably mounted to the display support member for rotation of the display panel so that the bottom margin of display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member toward a user of the laptop computer when the display module is in the open position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laptop computer display module (28) for use in a clamshell type laptop computer includes a telescoping rail assembly (100) that enables the display module (28) to be extended upwardly from a keyboard module (24) of the laptop computer when the display module is rotated to an open position. A computer display panel (28) is rotatably mounted to a display support member (120) of the display module adjacent a top margin of the display panel (70) so that the display panel (70) can be manually swung away from the display support member (120) and toward a user of the laptop computer (20). The invention enables the display panel (70) to be positioned at a comfortable viewing angle without blocking access to the keyboard module (24) for typing and is particularly useful in depth-constrained workspaces such as airplane passenger seats, where the display support member (120) must be positioned at an acute angle relative to the keyboard module (24).
-
Citations
72 Claims
-
1. A laptop computer, comprising:
-
a keyboard module having a generally tabular shape bounded by front and rear margins, the keyboard module adapted for placement on a horizontal support surface; and
a display module connected to the keyboard module adjacent the rear margin of the keyboard module for rotation of the display module between a closed position and an open position, the display module including;
(a) a rail assembly rotatably mounted to the keyboard module adjacent the rear margin of the keyboard module, (b) a display support member mounted to the rail assembly and slidable along the rail assembly when the display module is in the open position, and (c) a display panel having a generally tabular shape bordered by a top margin and a bottom margin, the display panel rotatably mounted to the display support member for rotation of the display panel so that the bottom margin of display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member toward a user of the laptop computer when the display module is in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. In a laptop computer of the type including a keyboard module having a generally tabular shape that is adapted for placement on a horizontal support surface and a display module hinged to the keyboard module at a rear margin of the keyboard module for rotation of the display module between an open position and a closed position, the display module including a computer display panel operably connected to the keyboard module, and the computer display panel having a top margin, a top portion, and a bottom portion, an improved computer display mounting comprising:
-
a rail assembly rotatably mounted to the keyboard module so that the rail assembly extends outwardly from the rear margin of the keyboard module;
a display support member attached to the rail assembly so that the display support member is slidable outwardly from the keyboard module along the rail assembly when the display module is rotated to an open position; and
an articulating joint positioned adjacent the top margin of the computer display panel and rotatably interconnecting the top portion of the computer display panel to the display support member so that the bottom portion of the computer display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member and toward a user of the laptop computer when the display module is in the open position, the articulating joint being slidable along the rail assembly along with the display support member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A laptop computer display module, comprising:
-
a rail assembly including a hinge end and a distal end opposite the hinge end, the hinge end adapted to be rotatably mounted to a keyboard module of a laptop computer so that the distal end of the rail assembly extends outwardly from a rear margin of the keyboard module and so that the display module can be rotated about the hinge end between a closed position in which the display module is folded against a keypad of the keyboard module and an open position in which the display module extends from the keyboard module;
a display support member slidably attached to the rail assembly so that the display support member is movable along the rail assembly away from the hinge end of the rail assembly when the display module is rotated to an open position;
a computer display panel having top and bottom margins; and
an articulating joint connecting the computer display panel to the display support member adjacent the top margin of the computer display panel so that the bottom margin of the computer display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member and toward a user of the laptop computer when the display module is mounted to a keyboard module and rotated to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. In a laptop computer of the type including a keyboard module having a keypad extending along a rear margin of the keyboard module and a display module hinged to the keyboard module at the rear margin of the keyboard module for rotation of the display module between an open position and a closed position, the display module including a computer display panel operably connected to the keyboard module, and the computer display panel including a top edge and a bottom edge, an improved computer display mounting comprising:
-
a rail assembly rotatably mounted to the keyboard module, the rail assembly including first and second parallel rails spaced apart along the rear margin and positioned proximal of the respective left and right ends of the rear margin;
a display support member including a first slot and a second slot spaced apart from the first slot, the first and second slots sized and positioned to slidably receive the first and second rails, respectively so that the display support member is slidable outwardly from the keyboard module along the rail assembly when the display module is rotated to an open position;
a friction mechanism for adjustably holding the display support member at a selected position along the rail assembly; and
an articulating joint positioned along the top margin of the computer display panel and rotatably interconnecting the top edge of the computer display panel to the display support member so that the bottom edge of the computer display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member and toward a user of the laptop computer when the display module is in the open position, the articulating joint and the display support member together being slidable along the rail assembly to a height above the keyboard module that is sufficient to allow the computer display panel to rotate about the articulating joint to a comfortable viewing angle without blocking the keypad and to thereby facilitate simultaneous typing on the keypad and viewing of the computer display panel when the laptop computer is used in a depth-constrained workspace. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A laptop computer, comprising:
-
a base unit having a generally tabular shape adapted for placement on a support surface, the base unit including a manual input device; and
a display module rotatably connected to the base unit, the display module being openable and closeable by rotation of the display module relative to the base unit, the display module including;
(a) a rail assembly, (b) a display support member mounted to the rail assembly for movement outwardly from the base unit, and (c) a display panel bordered by a top margin and a bottom margin, the display panel supported on the display support member for rotation of the display panel so- that the bottom margin of display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member toward a user of the laptop computer after opening of the display module. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
-
-
61. A laptop computer display module, comprising:
-
a rail assembly including a hinge end adapted to be rotatably mounted to a base unit of a laptop computer so that the rail assembly extends outwardly from the base unit and so that the display module can be opened and closed by rotating the display module about the hinge end, the display module rotatable to a closed position in which the display module is folded against the base unit and an open position in which the display module extends from the base unit;
a display support member attached to the rail assembly for movement away from the hinge end of the rail assembly when the display module is opened;
a computer display panel having top and bottom margins; and
an articulating joint connecting the computer display panel to the display support member adjacent the top margin of the computer display panel so that the bottom margin of the computer display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member and toward a user of the laptop computer when the display module is mounted to the base unit and opened. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
-
Specification