Portable personal computer

• US 5,021,922 A
• Filed: 11/22/1989
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wittner, Ernest, Nomura, Hideo, Yoshikawa, Wataru, Martin, Randall W., Pollitt, Richard F., Davis, Myron F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/441,030
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 361/346, 361/380, 361/390, 361/391, 361/392, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 312/208, 312/248, 312/277, 312/313, 312/315, 455/89, 455/90, 455/347, 455/348, 455/349, 455/351
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• 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: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment

Abstract

The computer is adapted to be used and stored on its narrow bottom surface (24), which has an area which is less than the area of the front surface (25) of the computer. A keyboard (4) is pivotally mounted to the back of a cover on the front surface. A floppy disk drive (3) is pivotally mounted behind the cover and the drive can be operated in the open or closed positions. A movable flat display (2) is positioned parallel to the front surface of the computer when the display is in the retracted position. A frictional mechanism (FIG. 5A) permits the display to be positioned at any angle.

Claims

1. A display assembly for a computer, comprising in combination:

a display device;

a first member having a first pivot point, said first member being pivotally attachable to a frame of a computer at said first pivot point;

a second member having a second pivot point, said second member being pivotally attached to said first member a said second pivot point, said second member being attached to said display device;

a frictional mechanism attached to said first and second members, said frictional mechanism including;

a cam surface provided on said second member;

a shoe movably attached to said first member; and

a first spring having one end fixed to said first member and the other end engaged on said shoe, such that said shoe is frictionally engaged with said cam surface.

2. The display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second spring attached to said first member, such that said first member is biased to move in a first direction.

3. A computer, comprising in combination:

a case enclosing a computer, said computer including a supporting frame, a keyboard and a disk drive;

a display device movable between a retracted position and a pulled-out position;

a first member having a first pivot point, said first member being pivotally attached to said frame at said first pivot point;

a second member having a second pivot point, said second member being pivotally attached to said first member at said second pivot point, said second member being attached to said display device; and

a frictional mechanism attached to said first and second members such that said display device can be positioned at variable angles with respect to said case, said frictional mechanism including;

a cam surface provided on said second member;

a shoe movably attached to said first member; and

a first spring having one end fixed to said first member and the other end engaged on said shoe, such that said shoe is frictionally engaged with said cam surface.

4. The computer of claim 3, further comprising a second spring having one end attached to said first member, and the other end attached to said frame, such that said first member is biased to move in a first direction.

5. The computer of claim 4, further comprising means for latching said display device in a retracted position.