Multi-screen laptop system

• US 20050253775A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gordon A. Stewart
• Original Assignee: Gordon A. Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, Gordon A.
• Application Number:
  US11/127,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• 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 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user

Abstract

A multi-screen laptop system for providing increased laptop functionality and productivity. The multi-screen laptop system includes a laptop having a first display and a second display movably connected to one another. The first display is pivotally attached to the second display for allowing the user to view either the first display by itself or both the first display and the second display.

Claims

1. A multi-screen laptop system, comprising:

a laptop having a first display; and

a second display, wherein said first display and said second display are movably connected to one another.

2. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 1, wherein said first display is pivotally attached to the second display.

3. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 2, wherein said first display and said second display are configured for allowing a user to view either the first display by itself or both the first display and the second display

4. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 2, wherein said second display is pivotally connected to said laptop along a horizontal axis, and wherein said first display is pivotally connected to said second display with a swivel hinge.

5. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 4, wherein said swivel hinge allows said first display to pivot along a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

6. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 4, wherein said first display is positionable in an extended position thereby allowing viewing of both said first display and said second display, and wherein said first display is positionable in a retracted position substantially covering said second display thereby allowing viewing of only said first display.

7. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 6, including a vertical member extending forwardly from a side of said second display supporting said first display, and a horizontal member extending forwardly from a bottom edge of said second display.

8. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 7, wherein said vertical member and said horizontal member have a thickness approximately equal to a thickness of said first display.

9. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 4, wherein said swivel hinge is attached to a side of said first display and said second display.

10. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 1, including a rear support attached to said laptop slidably supporting said first display and said second display.

11. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 10, wherein said first display and said second display move along a substantially horizontal axis.

12. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 10, wherein said rear support includes an upper support and a lower support for slidably supporting said first display and said second display.

13. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 1, wherein said second display is slidably positioned within a housing of said first display and extendable through a first side opening within said first display.

14. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 13, including a side door movably attached to said first display for covering said first side opening when said second display is in a retracted position.

15. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 13, including a third display slidably positioned within said housing of said first display and extendable through a second side opening opposite of said first side opening within said first display.

16. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 15, including a first side door movably attached to said first display for covering said first side opening when said second display is in a retracted position and a second side door movably attached to said first display for covering said second side opening when said third display is in a retracted position.

17. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 16, wherein said first side door and said second side door are biased towards a closed position.

18. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 15, wherein said first display, said second display and said third display are electrically connected to a video card within said laptop capable of providing a horizontal mode to said first display, said second display and said third display.

19. The multi-screen laptop system of claim 18, wherein said horizontal mode is entered into only if said second display and/or said third display are fully extended from said first display.