Display unit attachment device

• US 5,144,290 A
• Filed: 10/30/1989
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Youji, Honda, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US07/428,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 248/917, 16/337, 16/341, 340/711, 403/146, 267/155, 364/708
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/084 the friction depending on direction of rotation or opening angle of the hinge
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/12 to allow easy detachment of the hinge from the wing or the frame E05D15/507 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 9/005 from plastics E05D1/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 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 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: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A portable apparatus comprises a base body having a front portion provided with a keyboard and a rear portion, a display unit having a display, a socket for allowing the display unit to be detachable with the base body and for mechanically rotatably connecting the display unit between the first position where the display unit covers the keyboard and the second position where allows an operation of the keyboard on watching the display, and a part for giving rotational force to the display unit when the display unit is connected to the base body and for forming the rear portion to be flat when the display unit is removed from the base body. The portable apparatus of the present invention allows the front phase of the socket to be set to the position opposing to the socket mount phase when the display unit is removed from the socket, it can avoid the socket to be in the way, and the operability and the portability of the apparatus can be improved.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a front portion having a keyboard and a rear portion having a socket mounting surface;

a socket mounted on the socket mounting surface and being rotatable between a first socket position for covering the socket mounting surface and a second socket position for exposing the socket mounting surface, the socket having an attaching portion;

a display unit having a display and a leg portion removably attached to the socket attaching portion, the display unit being rotatable between a closed position for covering the keyboard and an open position for viewing the display whenever the leg portion is attached to the socket attaching portion;

biasing means fixed to the base unit for generating a biasing force for urging the display unit toward the open position whenever the display unit is in the closed position, the biasing means transmitting the biasing force directly to the leg portion and indirectly to the socket through the leg portion whereby the biasing force acting on the socket is released whenever the leg portion is removed from the socket and the socket is freely rotatable between the first socket position and the second position.

2. A portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base unit further includes a rear top surface which is higher than the socket mounting surface and the socket further includes a rear surface which is flush with the rear top surface whenever the socket is in the first position.

3. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a front upper surface and a rear portion having a socket attaching portion, a socket storing surface and a shaft attaching portion;

a socket attached to the socket attaching portion, the socket including an inner portion and a side wall having a socket shaft hole;

a shaft device including a rotational shaft having a first end, a middle portion, a second end having a first engaging portion, and a shaft supporter fixed to the shaft attaching portion so as to pivotally support the first end such that the second end projects into the socket inner portion and the middle portion is in pivotal supporting contact with the socket shaft hole;

a display unit including a display and a leg removably attached to the socket inner portion, the leg having a second engaging portion engaging the first engaging portion whenever the leg is disposed within the socket inner portion, the display being rotatable between a closed position for covering the front upper surface and an open position for viewing the display, the rotation of the display unit causing rotation of the rotational shaft; and

a coil spring wound around the rotational shaft so as to generate a biasing force for biasing the display unit toward the open position whenever the display unit is in the closed position, the biasing force being applied directly to the leg through the rotational shaft and indirectly to the socket through the leg portion.

4. A portable apparatus according to claim 3, wherein whenever the leg portion is removed from the socket, the middle portion freely supports the socket and the socket is freely rotatable between a first socket position for covering the socket storing surface and a second socket position for exposing the socket storing surface.

5. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a front portion having a keyboard and a rear portion having a socket storing surface an a socket attaching portion;

a socket pivotally attached to the socket attaching portion;

a display unit including a leg portion removably attached to the socket, the display unit being rotatable between a closed position for covering the keyboard and an open position for operating the apparatus when the leg portion is attached to the socket;

a biasing means connected to the base unit for generating a biasing force for biasing the display unit toward the open position; and

transmitting means for directly transmitting the biasing force to the leg portion and indirectly transmitting the biasing force to the socket through the leg portion when the leg portion is attached to the socket, the biasing force acting on the socket being released by removing the leg portion from the socket.