Multifunction pads for portable or notebook computers

• US 20100046165A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Budge
• Original Assignee: Michael Budge
• Inventors: Budge, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/229,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.590
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203

Abstract

In combination with a computer having a first section supporting a keyboard and a second section supporting a screen, the second section pivotally connected to pivot between upright raised position and a down pivoted position with the second section then overlying the first section and keyboard, the improvement comprising the first section having two laterally spaced upwardly facing surfaces offset from the keyboard, two flat support pads respectively attached to the two spaced surfaces, and openly spaced below the second section in down pivoted position thereof, the pads being relatively thin, the pads sized to comfortably support the computer user'"'"'s wrists during stroking of the keyboard, when the second section is in raised position, the screen located in a re-entrant recess formed by the second section, the pads received in said recess, but spaced from the screen in said second section down-pivoted position, the pads consisting of molded plastic material, there being auxiliary graphics on the pads and openly presented toward the screen, to be upwardly visible when the first section is raised relative to the second section.

Claims

1. In combination with a computer having a first section supporting a keyboard and a second section supporting a screen, the second section pivotally connected to pivot between upright raised position and a down pivoted position with the second section then overlying the first section and keyboard, the improvement comprising

a) the first section having two laterally spaced upwardly facing surfaces offset from the keyboard,

b) two flat support pads respectively attached to said two spaced surfaces, and openly spaced below the second section in down pivoted position thereof,

c) said pads being relatively thin,

d) said pads sized to comfortably support the computer user'"'"'s wrists during stroking of the keyboard, when the second section is in raised position,

e) the screen located in a re-entrant recess formed by the second section, the pads received in said recess, but spaced from the screen in said second section down-pivoted position,

f) the pads consisting of molded plastic material,

g) there being auxiliary graphics on the pads and openly presented toward the screen, to be upwardly visible when the first section is raised relative to the second section.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said pads have thickness less than about 0.010 inch.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the pads are adhesively attached to said surface.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each pad is substantially rectangular and has overall length dimension between about 8 and 9 centimeters, and overall width dimension between about 5 and 6 centimeters.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said computer sections have interengagable stop shoulders proximate said recess to limit closing of the second section downwardly toward the first section when said pads extend in said recess.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein the pads have press-on adhesive material at their undersides, allowing ease of removal and replacement of the pad or pads, relative to said surfaces or surface.

6. In combination of with a computer having a first section supporting a keyboard and a second section supporting a screen, the second section pivotally connected to pivot between upright raised position and a down pivoted position with the second section then overlying the first section and keyboard, the improvement comprising

a) the first section having a laterally extending upward facing surface offset from the keyboard,

b) a flat support pad attached to said surface, and openly spaced below the second section in down pivoted position, thereof,

c) said pad being relatively thin,

d) said pad sized to comfortably support the computer user'"'"'s wrist during stroking of the keyboard, when the second section is in raised position,

e) the screen located in a re-entrant recess formed by the second section, the pad received in said recess, but spaced from the screen in said second section down-pivoted position,

f) the pad consisting of molded plastic material,

g) there being auxiliary graphics on the pad and openly presented toward the screen to be upwardly visible when the first section is raised relative to the second section.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the pad has thickness less than about 0.010 inch, throughout its lengthwise and widthwise extent.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the pad is adhesively attached to said surface.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein the pad is substantially rectangular and has overall length dimension between about 8 and 9 centimeters, and overall width dimension between about 5 and 6 centimeters.

10. The combination of claim 6 wherein said computer sections have interengagable stop shoulders proximate said recess to limit closing of the second section downwardly toward the first section when said pad is in said recess.

12. The combination of claim 6 wherein the pad has press-on adhesive material at its undersides allowing ease of removal and replacement of the pad relative to said surface

13. The method of using the computer and pad of claim 12 which include

i) applying the pad to said surface by press-on force exertion on the pad,

ii) viewing the pad graphics in association with use of the computer,

iii) pull-up removal of the pad from said surface,

iv) and applying an auxiliary and like pad to said surface by press-on force exertion on that pad.

14. The combination of claim 6, the pad having localized surface roughness.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said surface roughness blocks wrist slippage off the pad, and extends proximate the pad periphery, lengthwise and widthwise of the pad.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said roughness consists of knurling.