Removable stand alone display for laptop computer

• US 5,196,993 A
• Filed: 04/15/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Herron, Matthew A., Boyle, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/684,755
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 248/454, 248/185, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 361/380, 361/392, 361/393, 361/394, 361/395, 361/399, 312/107, 340/700, 340/711, 340/784
• US Class Current: 361/679.29
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A portable computer having a base housing and a removable display pivotably mounted thereon, the display being removable from the base housing to be made free-standing on pivotable support feet, while having a removable electrical cable to the base housing.

Claims

1. A portable computer assembly comprising:

computer base means including base connector means,

display means adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable with respect thereto;

said display means including deployable support means and also including display-connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connector means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected from said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing condition; and

extended-length electrical cable means adapted for removable connection between said base connector means and said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting on said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means;

said base means including means for so pivotably mounting said display means thereon;

said display means further including display-base means including said display-connect means and pivotably deployable support feet means facilitating said free-standing condition.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said support feet are pivotably secured to said display-base means;

and further including means for pivotably moving said feet into stowed-condition in said display-base means.

3. A computer assembly comprising:

a main housing including a central processor means;

connect-plug means for receiving display connector means, and display mounting means for receiving detachable display means and accommodating pivoting movement thereof;

display means comprising a base, a display housing attached to said base and including display screen means, display-connect means mounted on said base, and electrically connected to said screen means and adapted to be detachably connected with said connect-plug means; and

pivot means arranged for removable mounting on said mounting means of said main housing;

said display means being further adapted to be placed in independent, free-standing condition remote from said housing, with cable means fitting into said connect-plug means and said display-connect means whereby to electrically interconnect said display means and said central processor means;

said display means also including display-base means including said display-connect means and pivotably deployable support feet means facilitating said free-standing condition.

4. Two-way display means adapted to be removably mounted upon associated computer housing means, and electrically-connected thereto, while also being adapted for independent, free-standing operation remote from said housing means, said housing means including computer base means with base connector means,

said display means including pivoting deployable support means, being adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable with respect thereto;

said display means including display - connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connector means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected from said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing condition.

5. The display means of claim 4 including:

electrical interconnect means adapted for selective connection of said base connector means with said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting on said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means.

6. A portable computer assembly comprising:

computer base means including base connector means;

display means adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable with respect thereto;

said display means including auxiliary support means and display-connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connector means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected from said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing condition; and

electrical interconnect means adapted for selective inter-connection of said base connector means with said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting on said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means;

said auxiliary support means being selectively deployable when said display means assumes free-standing condition.

7. A portable computer assembly comprising:

computer base means including base connector means, display means, display means adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable toward and away from said base means;

said display means including display-connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connector means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected from said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing operating condition;

said display means also including display-connect means and auxiliary support means for support thereof in said free-standing condition;

said support means being, then, adapted to move relative to the rest of said display means, into a position which supports said display means; and

extended-length electrical cable means adapted for removable connection between said base connector means and said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting on said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said base means includes means for so pivotably mounting said display means thereon.

9. A computer assembly comprising:

a main housing including central processor means;

connect-plug means for receiving display connector means, and display mounting means for receiving detachable display means and accommodating pivoting movement thereof;

display means comprising display base means, a display housing attached to said base means and including display screen means, auxiliary screen support means, and display-connect means mounted on said base, and electrically connected to said screen means and adapted to be detachably connected with said connect-plug means; and

pivot means arranged for removable mounting on said mounting means of said main housing and accommodating said pivoting of said display means toward and away from said housing;

said display means being further adapted to be placed in independent, free-standing condition remote from said housing, with cable means removably fitting into said connect-plug means and said display-connect means whereby to electrically interconnect said display means and said central processor means;

said display-base means including said display-connect means with deployable support means including support feet pivotably-deployable to facilitate said free-standing condition.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said display screen support means is selectively deployable only when said display means is free standing.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said support feet are pivotably secured to said display-base means;

and further including means for pivotably moving said feet into stowed-condition in said display-base means.

12. A portable computer assembly comprising:

computer base means including base connector means, display means adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable toward and away from said base means;

said display means including display-connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connector means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected from said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing condition and including auxiliary support means which move, relative to the rest of said display means into a position for support thereof in said free-standing condition; and

extended-length electrical cable means adapted for removable connection between said base connector means and said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting on said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said display means includes display-base means including said display-connect means and deployable support means separate from said cable means facilitating said free-standing condition.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said support means comprises support feet deployable for said free-standing condition.

15. A computer assembly comprising:

a main housing including central processor means;

connect-plug means for receiving display connector means, and display mounting means for receiving detachable display means and accommodating pivoting movement thereof;

display means comprising a base, a display housing attached to said base and including display screen means, auxiliary screen support means, and display-connect means mounted on said base, and electrically connected to said screen means and adapted to be detachably connected with said connect-plug means; and

pivot means arranged for removable mounting on said mounting means of said main housing and accommodating said pivoting of said display means toward and away from said housing;

said display means being further adapted to be placed in independent, free-standing condition remote from said housing, with cable means removably fitting into said connect-plug means and said display-connect means whereby to electrically interconnect said display means and said central processor means;

said support means being, then, adapted to move relative to the rest of said display means, into a position which supports said display means.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said display screen support means is selectively deployable only when said display means is free standing.

17. A portable computer assembly comprising:

computer base means including base connector means, and display means adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable toward and away from said base means;

said display means including auxiliary support means and display-connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connector means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected from said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing condition; and

interconnect means adapted to selectively connect said base connector means, electrically, with said display connect means;

said support means being selectively deployable to move, relative to the rest of said display means and when said display means is free-standing into a support position.

18. The assembly of claim 17 also including:

extended-length electrical cable means adapted for removable connection between said base connector means and said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting on said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means.

19. Two-way display means adapted to be removably mounted upon associated computer housing means, and electrically-connected thereto, while also being adapted for independent, free-standing operation remote from said housing means, said housing means including computer base means with base connector means,

said display means being adapted and arranged to be removably attached to said base means so as to be pivotable toward and away from said base means;

said display means including auxiliary support means and display-connect means adapted for detachable electrical connection with said base connected means whereby to receive electrical signals therefrom;

said display means being arranged and adapted to be disconnected form said base means and said base connector means and placed in independent free-standing condition; and

interconnect means adapted to selectively connect said base connector means, electrically, with said display connect means;

said support means being selectively deployable and movable relative to said display means, when said display means is free-standing, into a position supporting said display means.

20. The display means of claim 19 including:

extended-length electrical cable means adapted for removable connection between said base connector means and said display connect means when said display means is removed from mounting n said base means and is set in independent free-standing condition remote from said computer base means.