LAPTOP COMPUTER

• US 20190317552A1
• Filed: 04/16/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: CHENG, Yan-Fong, LING, Cheng-Nan, HUANG, Yi-Ta, HUANG, Pao-Min
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

A laptop computer includes a host, a hinge mechanism, and a display. The host includes a housing having a bottom surface, a raising mechanism disposed in the housing, and a pad connected to the raising mechanism, and adjacent to the bottom surface. The hinge mechanism is connected to the host and includes a first shaft connected to the raising mechanism. The display is affixed to the rotation element. When the display is rotated about the host, the first shaft drives the raising mechanism to change the distance between the top of the pad and the bottom surface.

Claims

1. A laptop computer, comprising:

a host comprising;

a housing having a bottom surface;

a raising mechanism disposed in the housing; and

a footpad connected to the raising mechanism, and adjacent to the bottom surface, wherein the footpad has a top end far from the bottom surface;

a hinge mechanism connected to the host, and comprising;

a first shaft connected to the raising mechanism; and

a display connected to the hinge mechanism, and being rotatable relative to the host via the hinge mechanism,

wherein when the display is rotated relative to the host, the first shaft drives the raising mechanism to change a distance between the top end and the bottom surface of the footpad.

2. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein while the display is moving from a cover position to an open position, a distance between the top end and the bottom surface increases gradually,

wherein while the display is moving from the open position to the cover position, the distance between the top end and the bottom surface decreases gradually.

3. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raising mechanism is a mechanical raising mechanism.

4. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raising mechanism comprises:

a gear connected to the first shaft; and

a rack engaged with the gear, and connected to the footpad.

5. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raising mechanism comprises:

a gear assembly connected to the first shaft; and

a cam connected to the gear assembly, and in contact with the footpad,

wherein when the display is rotated relative to the host, the gear assembly drives the cam to rotate.

6. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the display is in a cover position, there is a first distance between the top end and the bottom surface, and when the display is in an open position, the cam abuts the footpad, and there is a second distance between the top end and the bottom surface, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

7. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host further comprises a base disposed in the housing, and having a curved groove, and the hinge mechanism further comprises a rotation element comprising a curved portion located in the curved groove,

wherein when the display is rotated relative to the host, the curved portion is rotated relative to the curved groove along a curved path.

8. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the curved path is a circular path, and the curved groove and the curved portion are C-shaped.

9. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises:

a torque assembly connected to the rotation element, and configured to apply a torque between the host and the display; and

a fixed element connected to the torque assembly, and affixed to the housing.

10. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the torque assembly comprises the first shaft pivoting on the fixed element, wherein the torque assembly further comprises:

a connection element connected to the first shaft; and

a second shaft connected to the connection element and the rotation element, and extending parallel to the first shaft.

11. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the torque assembly further comprises a plurality of torque elements disposed on the first shaft, and the torque elements are configured to apply a torque between the first shaft and the fixed element.

12. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first curved cover connected to the rotation element;

a second curved cover connected to the rotation element, wherein a gap is formed between the second curved cover and the first curved cover; and

a transmission wire connected to the host and the display, and located in the gap.