Pen-based computer with handle/prop having ratchet locking mechanism

• US 5,235,495 A
• Filed: 09/21/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telepad Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telepad Corporation
• Inventors: Blair, William A., Dankman, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/947,431
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 220/756, 220/761, 220/762, 220/763, 220/764, 16/126, 16/321-326, 248/455, 248/674, 74/523, 74/527, 74/528, 74/536, 361/380, 361/390, 361/391-395, 361/427-429, 361/399, 364/708, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/244, 235/1 D
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• 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: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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: H05K 5/023 Handles; Grips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20612 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20642 Hand crank

Abstract

An improved handle/prop is provided for a pen-based computer wherein the handle/prop is pivotally mounted to opposite side edges of the computer. The handle/prop can be pivoted and locked into a plurality of different positions. In particular, these positions are selected to facilitate carrying the computer, supporting the computer on a flat surface in one or more inclined positions for writing and/or viewing, and holding the computer during writing. A ratchet locking mechanism is provided for locking the handle/prop into the plurality of different positions. This ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer. In addition, the ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer to spring bias the release button into a locked position.

Claims

1. A pen-based computer having a handle/prop pivotally mounted to opposite side edges of the computer, wherein the handle/prop can be pivoted and locked into a plurality of different positions to respectively facilitate carrying the computer, supporting the computer on a flat surface in one or more inclined positions for writing and viewing, and holding the computer during writing, further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions;

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer; and

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.

2. A pen-based computer according to claim 1, wherein the handle/prop includes an antenna.

3. A pen-based computer according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is embedded in the handle/prop.

4. A pen-based computer according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is wrapped around the handle/prop.

5. A pen-based computer according to claim 1, wherein the handle-tie piece includes a first leg portion contacting said first release button, a second leg portion contacting said second release button, a deformable hinge member joining the first leg portion to the second portion, and spring bias means for urging the first and second leg portions outwardly so as to spring bias the release buttons into the locked position.

6. A pen-based computer having a handle/prop, a front display surface with a screen, a top edge adjacent to the top of the front display surface, a bottom edge adjacent to the bottom of the front display surface, and first and second side edges adjacent to opposite side edges of the front display surface, wherein the improvement comprises said handle/prop having first and second portions pivotally connected to said first and second side edges of the pen-based computer and a crossbar portion connected to said first and second portions, and means for selectively locating said handle/prop in one of:

1) a first position for carrying the pen-based computer, wherein the crossbar portion is adjacent to, and spaced apart from, said top edge of the front display surface;

2) a second position wherein the crossbar portion is located adjacent to the bottom edge of the pen-based computer to permit hand-holding of the computer in a position for writing on the screen of the computer, wherein the distance between the crossbar portion and the bottom edge of the computer in the second position is less than the distance between the crossbar portion and the top edge of the computer in the first position;

3) a third position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to permit easy viewing of the screen of the pen-based computer; and

4) a fourth position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a second inclined position less steep than the first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface for permitting writing on the screen of the pen-based computer,

further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions;

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer; and

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.

7. A handle/prop according to claim 6, wherein said first and second portions of the handle/prop are mounted at said first and second side edges of said computer at locations closer to the top edge of the computer than to the bottom edge of the computer.

8. A handle/prop according to claim 7, wherein the first and second portions of the handle/prop are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the crossbar portion is substantially perpendicular to said first and second portions.

9. A handle/prop according to claim 8, wherein the crossbar portion contacts the bottom edge of the computer in the second position.

10. A handle/prop according to claim 6, wherein said pen-based computer includes a back surface opposite to said front display surface, and wherein the total area of the front display surface is greater than the total area of the back surface so that said front display surface overlaps said back surface at least at the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the computer so that said bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the computer include a recessed portion adjacent to the back surface of the computer.

11. A handle/prop according to claim 10, wherein said first and second portions of the handle/prop are connected to the computer in the recessed portions of the first and second side edges of the computer.

12. A handle/prop according to claim 11, wherein the handle is connected to the computer so that, in the second position, the first and second portions of the handle will be in the recessed portion of the first and second side edges, under the overlapping portion of the front display surface, and wherein the crossbar portion of the handle/prop will b in the recessed portion of the bottom edge of the computer, under the overlapping portion of the front display surface.

13. A handle/prop according to claim 12, wherein in the second position the handle/prop will not be visible when the computer is viewed from the front display screen.

14. A handle/prop according to claim 6, wherein the first and second portions of the handle/prop are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the crossbar portion is substantially perpendicular to said first and second portions.

15. A handle/prop according to claim 6, wherein the crossbar portion contacts the bottom edge of the computer in the second position.

16. A handle/prop according to claim 6, wherein the handle/prop includes an antenna.

17. A handle/prop according to claim 6, wherein the third position inclines the computer at an angle between 57°

and 75°

relative to the flat surface, and wherein the fourth position inclines the computer at an angle between 18° and

35°

relative to the flat surface.

18. A pen-based computer according to claim 6, wherein the handle-tie piece includes a first leg portion contacting said first release button, a second leg potion contacting said second release button, a deformable hinge member joining the first leg portion to the second portion, and spring bias means for urging the first and second leg portions outwardly so as to spring bias the release buttons into the locked position.

19. A pen-based computer having a handle/prop wherein the improvement comprises the handle/prop being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the computer to pivot and lock into a selected one of at least:

1) a first position for carrying the computer;

2) a second position to permit hand-holding of the computer in a position for writing on the screen of the computer;

3) a third position to support the computer in a first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to facilitate viewing the screen of the computer; and

4) a fourth position to support the computer in a second inclined position less steep than that of the first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to facilitate writing on the screen of the computer,

further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer; and

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.

20. A handle/prop for a pen-based computer according to claim 19, wherein the handle/prop includes an antenna.

21. A handle/prop for a pen-based computer according to claim 20, wherein the antenna is embedded in the handle/prop.

22. A handle/prop for a pen-based computer according to claim 20, wherein the antenna is wrapped around the handle/prop.

23. A handle/prop according to claim 19, wherein the third position inclines the computer at an angle between 57°

and 75°

relative to the flat surface, and wherein the fourth position inclines the computer at an angle between 18° and

35°

relative to the flat surface.

24. A pen-based computer according to claim 19, wherein the handle-tie piece includes a first leg portion contacting said first release button, a second leg portion contacting said second release button, a deformable hinge member joining the first leg portion to the second portion, and spring bias means for urging the first and second leg portions outwardly so as to spring bias the release buttons into the locked position.

25. A pen-based computer having a handle/prop, a front display surface with a screen, a top edge adjacent to the top of the front display surface, a bottom edge adjacent to the bottom of the front display surface, and first and second side edges adjacent to opposite side edges of the front display surface, wherein the improvement comprises said handle/prop having first and second portions pivotally connected to said first and second side edges of the pen-based computer and a crossbar portion connected to said first and second portions, and means for selectively locating aid handle/prop in one of:

1) a first position for carrying the pen-based computer, wherein the crossbar portion is adjacent to, and spaced apart from, said top edge of the front display surface;

2) a second position wherein the crossbar portion is located adjacent to the bottom edge of the pen-based computer to permit hand-holding of the computer in a position for writing on the screen of the computer, wherein the distance between the crossbar portion and the bottom edge of the computer in the second position is less than the distance between the crossbar portion and the top edge of the computer in the first position;

3) a third position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to permit easy viewing of the screen of the pen-based computer; and

4) a fourth position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a second inclined position less steep than the first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface for permitting writing on the screen of the pen-based computer, wherein said first and second portions of the handle/prop are mounted at said first and second side edges of said computer at locations closer to the top edge of the computer than to the bottom edge of the computer,

wherein the first and second portions of the handle/prop are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the crossbar portion is substantially perpendicular to said first and second portions,

wherein the crossbar portion contacts the bottom edge of the computer in the second position,

wherein said pen-based computer includes a back surface opposite to said front display surface, and wherein the total area of the front display surface is greater than the total area of the back surface so that said front display surface overlaps said back surface at lest at the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the computer so that said bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the computer include a recessed portion adjacent to the back surface of the computer,

wherein said first and second portions of the handle/prop are connected to the computer in the recessed portions of the first and second side edges of the computer, and

wherein the handle is connected to the computer so that, in the second position, the first and second portions of the handle will be in the recessed portion of the first and second side edges, under the overlapping portion of the front display surface, and wherein the crossbar portion of the handle/prop will be in the recessed portion of the bottom edge of the computer, under the overlapping portion of the front display surface,

further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions;

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer; and

wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.

26. A handle/prop according to claim 25, wherein in the second position the handle/prop will not be visible when the computer is viewed from the front display screen.

27. A handle/prop according to claim 25, wherein the third position inclines the computer at an angle between 57°

and 75°

relative to the flat surface, and wherein the fourth position inclines the computer at an angle between 18° and

35°

relative to the flat surface.

28. A pen-based computer according to claim 25, wherein the handle-tie piece includes a first leg portion contacting said first release button, a second leg portion contacting said second release button, a deformable hinge member joining the first leg portion to the second portion, and spring bias means for urging the first and second leg portions outwardly so as to spring bias the release buttons into the locked position.