System for housing writing instruments of different sizes in a portable computer

• US 20070115618A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Love, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,362,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.550
• 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 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A system that includes an electronic device (such as a portable computer), a writing instrument, and a receptacle located on the device for removably receiving the writing instrument. The receptacle includes an opening on the device and a channel in communication with the opening and extending inwardly with respect to the device. The system further includes an adapter structure configured to change an effective width of the channel between at least two widths to thereby hold writing instruments of different widths in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a writing instrument;

a receptacle located on the portable computer for removably receiving the writing instrument, the receptacle including an opening on the computer and a channel in communication with the opening and extending inwardly with respect to the computer; and

adapting means for adapting an effective width of the channel to a width of the writing instrument to thereby hold writing instruments of different widths in the receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the adapting means comprises a spacer sleeve positionable between the channel of the receptacle and an exterior of the writing instrument when the instrument is positioned in the receptacle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the spacer sleeve is snugly abutted against the channel of the receptacle and being snugly abutted against the writing instrument when the instrument is positioned in the receptacle.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the spacer sleeve has an exterior surface and a passage therethrough defined by an interior surface of the spacer sleeve.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the adapting means comprises a plurality of spacer arms extending radially inwardly from a circumference of the channel to engage an exterior of the writing instrument when the writing instrument is inserted into the receptacle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is integrated into the portable computer and located on a keyboard portion of the portable computer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the channel terminates in a blind end in the portable computer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle additionally includes a slot in communication with the opening and in communication with the channel, the slot extending along a portion of the length of the channel.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the writing instrument includes a clip, and the slot of the receptacle is configured to receive the clip of the writing instrument.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the writing instrument comprises a first writing instrument, and additionally comprising a second writing instrument, the first writing instrument having a first width, the second writing instrument having a second width, the first width being greater than the second width;

and

wherein a width of the channel is substantially equal to the first width and a width of the passage through the spacer sleeve is substantially equal to the second width.

11. A system, comprising:

an electronic device;

a writing instrument;

a receptacle located on the electronic device for removably receiving the writing instrument, the receptacle including an opening on the electronic device and a channel in communication with the opening and extending inwardly with respect to the electronic device; and

an adapter structure configured to change an effective width of the channel between at least two widths to thereby hold writing instruments of different widths in the receptacle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the adapter structure comprises a spacer sleeve positionable between the channel of the receptacle and an exterior of the writing instrument when the instrument is positioned in the receptacle.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the spacer sleeve is snugly abutted against the channel of the receptacle and being snugly abutted against the writing instrument when the instrument is positioned in the receptacle.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the spacer sleeve has an exterior surface and a passage therethrough defined by an interior surface of the spacer sleeve.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the adapter structure comprises a plurality of spacer arms extending radially inwardly from a circumference of the channel to engage an exterior of the writing instrument when the writing instrument is inserted into the receptacle.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the electronic device includes a touch-sensitive screen and the writing instrument comprises a stylus for contacting the screen of the device.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the channel terminates in a blind end in the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the receptacle additionally includes a slot in communication with the opening and in communication with the channel, the slot extending along a portion of the length of the channel.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the writing instrument includes a clip, and the slot of the receptacle is configured to receive the clip of the writing instrument.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the writing instrument comprises a first writing instrument, and additionally comprising a second writing instrument, the first writing instrument having a first width, the second writing instrument having a second width, the first width being greater than the second width;

and

wherein a width of the channel is substantially equal to the first width and a width of the passage through the spacer sleeve is substantially equal to the second width.