Case for portable display devices

• US 20060138913A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Si Kim
• Original Assignee: Si Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Si Han, Kim, Jang Ho, Kim, Hyung Nyun
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/223.100
• 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 1/1616 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a case for a portable display device that can realize a large-sized screen by interconnecting a plurality of display elements. When the display elements are unfolded, the adjacent sides of the display elements closely contact each other, thereby minimizing the non-display area. When the display elements are folded, the outer surface of the display elements can be protected. The case includes a foldable panel housing receiving at least two flat display panel elements. The panel housing is provided with an opening such that when the panel housing is unfolded, the adjacent sides of the flat display elements closes contact each other. The case further includes a hinge supporting member for providing the folding/unfolding operation of the panel housing and cover means for covering a side of the flat display elements, which is exposed through the opening, to protect the display elements.

Claims

1. A case for a portable display device, comprising:

a foldable panel housing receiving at least two flat panel display elements, the flat panel display elements forming a co-planar, eseentially continuous display, when the panel housing is unfolded;

a folding support member for supporting a folding operation of the panel housing;

a cover means for covering the adjacent sidewalls of the flat panel display elements when the panel housing is folded; and

the cover means is operated to a location where the cover means does not cover the adjacent sidewalls of the flat panel display elements when the panel housing is unfolded.

2. A case of claim 1 wherein the panel housing includes an opening defined by cutting the sidewalls, the opening being designed such that the adjacent sidewalls of the flat panel display elements contact each other when the panel housing is unfolded.

3. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is mounted on the folding part of the panel housing.

6. A case of claim 1 further comprising fixing means for fixing the cover means, the fixing means being an elastic member.

7. A case of claim 1 wherein the folding support member includes a hinge mounted on a rotational center of the panel housing.

8. A case of claim 1 wherein the folding support member includes two rotational bars one ends of which is coupled to the panel housing and a rotational shaft on which each the other ends of the rotational bars are fixed.

9. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means comprises shock-absorbing means mounted on an inner surface of the cover means.

20. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is designed to be received in a shelter of the panel housing, the shelter receiving the cover means when the panel housing is unfolded.

27. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means comprises first and second unit covers flexibly connected by a connecting part, the first unit cover being fixed on a panel housing, and the second unit cover being receiving in a shelter.

30. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is formed of flexible sheet, one end of which is fixed inside a panel housing and the other end of which is mounted on the other panel housing with an elastic member interposed.

33. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is designed to be extended when the panel housing is folded and to be shrunken when the panel housing is unfolded.

39. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is formed of plural unit covers slidably connected to each other.

55. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is formed of a sheet cover so that it can be bended or unbended by cover driving means when the panel housing is folded or unfolded.

56. A case of claim 55 wherein the cover means comprises a concave portion and a convex portion.

57. A case of claim 55 further comprising a shelter for receiving the cover means when the panel housing is unfolded.

58. A case of claim 57 further comprising an elastic member disposed between one end portion of the cover means and an inner wall of the shelter.

59. A case of claim 55 wherein the cover driving means comprises an elastic member connected to the other end portion of the cover means and the panel housing.

62. A case of claim 1 wherein the panel housing is provided with a space in which the cover means is received when the panel housing is unfolded, the space being located on an inner or outer side of the panel housing.

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