Body structure for a pocket computer having a fastener with multiple spaced apart elements

• US 5,253,142 A
• Filed: 09/19/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics Company Limited (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited)
• Inventors: Weng, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/762,339
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/31, 439/165, 439/490, 292/87, 292/91, 292/DIG. 38, 364/708, 400/490, 400/493.1, 400/494, 400/495, 200/54, 200/341, 200/345, 200/310-313, 200/316, 200/317, 248/917-919, 248/923, 248/922, 248/921, 16/223, 16/337, 16/341, 16/342, 16/374, 16/377, 16/386, 340/815.03, 340/815.15, 362/800, 362/244, 362/246, 361/380, 361/390-395, 361/399, 361/413, 361/415
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/06 in which the securing part if formed or carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/022 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/034 Coloured areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/028 Telescopic guiding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/03 Stoppers for on or off position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/066 replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/042 Briefcase; Note-book
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0902 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0907 Multiple head

Abstract

The body structure of a pocket computer includes a fastener mainly an elastic fastening element of a multi-layered construction accommodated in an insertion space located at a front edge of the main body housing. A simplified telephone input jack is constructed in the side wall of the pocket computer main body. The association of the main body and the cover body of the pocket computer is accomplished by a pivotal shaft, which is characterized in that it is provided with a delay swivel device permitting the communication cables linking the main body with the cover body to be less vulnerable to bending caused by the actions of opening and closing the cover body and that it includes indicator lights serving to show the operating status of electronic functions of the computer. The keyboard includes entry keys which are securely coupled with the housing plate of the keyboard by slide keys and slide key mounts. The entry key is made up of a face plate and a sole plate, which are of different colors, with the face plate including thereon a figured hole coinciding with a given alphanumerical symbol.

Claims

1. A body structure for a pocket computer comprising

a main body housing,

a cover body,

fastening means having an elastic fastening element accommodated in an insertion space located at a front edge of the main body housing for fastening said main body housing and said cover body, with multiple elements of said elastic fastening element being spaced apart and being coupled with one another by a support piece, said fastening means further including a hook retaining piece located on the main body housing to hook a hooked piece located correspondingly on the cover body.

2. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 1, wherein said insertion space is defined by a wall of said main body housing and said insertion space is capped by a suppressing casing with a hole located correspondingly with an upper portion of said insertion space permitting said hooked piece to insert thereinto, said insertion space and said suppressing casing forming jointly a press hole located at a front edge thereof.

3. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 2, wherein said suppressing casing is provided with a recess located correspondingly with said insertion space, said recess including a hole located at a top surface thereof to permit said hooked piece to insert thereinto, said recess and said insertion space comprising a press hole at a front edge thereof.

4. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 1, wherein said support piece is capable of being held securely to the wall of said insertion space and comprising extended edges located respectively at front edges of both ends thereof, said extended edges being provided with cambered bracing pieces, with a press piece being formed between said bracing pieces and with said support piece.

5. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 4, wherein said press piece comprises an extended support face inwardly disposed at a top edge thereof, said extended support face including said hook retaining piece which faces outwardly and is disposed upwardly at a rear edge of said support face, said hook retaining piece being located corresponding to the insertion hole of said hooked piece.

6. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 1, wherein a telephone input jack is located in a side wall of said main body housing and includes an insertion guide hole consistent with a profile of the telephone input plug, said insertion guide hole includes insertion mounts to support thereof a terminal body and has a hole in conjunction with a bottom surface of said terminal body to receive therein said telephone input plug.

7. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 6, wherein said insertion guide hole has an open upper portion with two corresponding recess receptacles and support frames disposed therein, said support frames includes baffles, wherein said insertion guide hole further comprises restrictors disposed at an inner bottom surface thereof, and wherein said insertion guide hole and said terminal body are provided with stabilizers disposed at upper portions thereof.

8. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 6, wherein said terminal body is provided with signal cables entering thereinto from a rear end thereof, said signal cables having cores emerging from core exits located in a front face of said terminal body and extending downwardly and backwardly to define, on a surface of said terminal body, parallel guide channels which correspond in number with said signal cables, and each of said signal cables is bent appropriately in a direction toward said guide channel and is subsequently guided to extend downwardly and backwardly;

wherein said terminal body further comprises two arrest wings located at both sides of a front end thereof and fit into recess receptacles of the main body; and

wherein said terminal body in arranged so that its front face and a side wall of said main body are aligned in a same plane and that a tail end of said terminal body is received on a baffle of a support frame of said main body.

9. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 6, wherein a pivotal shaft is disposed between the main body and the cover body and provided with pivotal portions having pivotal ear pieces located near the edges of said cover body adjacent to said pivotal shaft, said pivotal ear pieces being provided respectively with pivotal through holes which communicate with each other, with each of said pivotal ear pieces comprising therein a column pin dimensioned to fit into said pivotal through hole with an appropriate tightness.

10. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 6, wherein a keyboard is made up of a housing plate and a plurality of entry keys, said housing plate being provided with a plurality of key tubular holes arranged thereon in sequence, with each of said key tubular holes including a tubular flange, said tubular flange having slide keys disposed oppositely at the positions located on an opposite angular line thereof and hook retaining ears disposed on another opposite angular line thereof;

said entry key being composed of a suppressing column located at a center of a bottom surface thereof and an enclosing flange of circular construction located at the bottom surface thereof and dimensioned to accommodate therein said tubular flange of said housing plate, said entry key further comprising slide key mounts and hooks, said slide key mounts are disposed at the opposite angular positions on said enclosing flange and are positioned correspondingly to said slide keys of said tubular flange so that said slide key mounts engage with said slide keys, and hooks are disposed at positions located on another opposite angular line thereof to correspond position-wise to said hook retaining ears of said housing plate.

11. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 1, wherein a pivotal shaft is disposed between the main body and the cover body and provided with pivotal portions having pivotal ear pieces located near edges of said cover body adjacent to said pivotal shaft, said pivotal ear pieces being provided respectively with pivotal through holes which communicate with each other, with each of said pivotal ear pieces comprising therein a column pin dimensioned to fit into said pivotal through hole.

12. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 11, wherein said pivotal shaft further comprises a function exhibiting section provided with indicator lights for monitoring the operation of electronic devices of the pocket computer.

13. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 12, wherein said function exhibiting section is provided with a cover piece arranged at the edge of the main body adjacent to said pivotal shaft, said cover piece comprising light perforations;

and wherein said function exhibiting section is further provided with a transparent cover plate located under said cover piece, under which there is an indicator plate having thereon indicator lights positioned correspondingly to the light perforations.

14. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 13, wherein said cover piece comprises an enlarge light perforation which remains visible when the cover body is closed.

15. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 11, wherein said column pin is provided thereon with axial threads.

16. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 15, wherein a keyboard is made up of a housing plate and a plurality of entry keys, said housing plate being provided with a plurality of key tubular holes arranged thereon in sequence, with each of said key tubular holes including a tubular flange, said tubular flange having slide keys disposed oppositely at the positions located on an opposite angular line thereof and hook retaining ears disposed on another opposite angular line thereof;

said entry key being composed of a suppressing column located at a center of a bottom surface thereof and an enclosing flange of circular construction located at the bottom surface thereof and dimensioned to accommodate therein said tubular flange of said housing plate, said entry key further comprising slide key mounts and hooks, said slide key mounts are disposed at the opposite angular positions on said enclosing flange and are positioned correspondingly to said slide keys of said tubular flange so that said slide key mounts engage with said slide keys, and hooks are disposed at positions located on another opposite angular line thereof to correspond position-wise to said hook retaining ears of said housing plate.

17. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 12, wherein said pivotal shaft comprises a swivel section which is composed of an outer swivel piece and an inner swivel piece, at least one of said outer swivel piece and said inner swivel piece having thereon protrusions to form gaps located therebetween to permit a communication cable set linking the main body with the cover body to pass therethrough.

18. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 17, wherein said swivel section is additionally provided with a delay swivel groove to permit a wrenching piece located under the cover body to be inserted therein.

19. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 18, wherein said delay swivel grooves are disposed at both ends of said swivel section.

20. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 18, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

21. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 17, wherein said swivel portion is made up of a semi-circular outer swivel piece and a semi-circular inner swivel piece, at least one of said outer swivel piece and said inner swivel piece having protrusions disposed on edges thereof to form gaps permitting a communication cable set to pass therethrough.

22. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 21, wherein said inner swivel piece and said outer swivel piece are joined by connection pins and pin mounts which are located inside said swivel pieces so as to form a swivel section.

23. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 22, wherein said outer swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface for fitting a receiving edge of the main body;

wherein said inner swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface which is slightly deeper than the recessed surface of said outer swivel piece; and

wherein said inner swivel piece is additionally provided with a delay swivel groove to permit a wrenching piece located under the cover body to be inserted thereinto.

24. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 23, wherein said delay swivel grooves are disposed at both ends of said inner swivel piece.

25. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 21, wherein said outer swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface for fitting a receiving edge of the main body;

wherein said inner swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface which is slightly deeper than the recessed surface of said outer swivel piece; and

wherein said inner swivel piece is additionally provided with a delay swivel groove to permit a wrenching piece located under the cover body to be inserted thereinto.

26. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 20, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

27. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 17, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

28. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 1, wherein said pivotal shaft further comprises a swivel section which is composed of an outer swivel piece and an inner swivel piece, at least one of said outer swivel piece and said inner said swivel piece having thereon protrusions to form gaps located between said outer swivel piece and said inner swivel piece to permit a communication cable set linking the main body with the cover body to pass therethrough.

29. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 28, wherein said swivel section is additionally provided with a delay swivel groove to permit a wrenching piece located under the cover body to be inserted therein.

30. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 29, wherein said delay swivel grooves are disposed at both ends of said swivel section.

31. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 30, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

32. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 29, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

33. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 28, wherein said swivel portion is made up of a semi-circular outer swivel piece and a semi-circular inner swivel piece, at least one of said outer swivel piece and said inner swivel piece having protrusions disposed on edges thereof to form gaps permitting a communication cable set to pass therethrough.

34. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 33, wherein said inner swivel piece and said outer swivel piece are joined by connection pins and pin mounts which are located inside said swivel pieces so as to form a swivel section.

35. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 34, wherein said outer swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface for fitting a receiving edge of the main body;

wherein said inner swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface which is slightly deeper than the recessed surface of said outer swivel piece; and

wherein said inner swivel piece is additionally provided with a delay swivel groove to permit a wrenching piece located under the cover body to be inserted thereinto.

36. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 35, wherein said delay swivel grooves are disposed at both ends of said inner swivel piece.

37. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 36, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

38. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 34, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

39. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 33, wherein said outer swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface for fitting a receiving edge of the main body;

wherein said inner swivel piece has a portion on an outer surface thereof defining a recessed surface which is slightly deeper than the recessed surface of said outer swivel piece; and

wherein said inner swivel piece is additionally provided with a delay swivel groove to permit a wrenching piece located under the cover body to be inserted therein.

40. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 39, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

41. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 33, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

42. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 28, wherein said swivel section is pivotally mounted between a function exhibiting section and the pivotal portions.

43. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 11, wherein a keyboard is made up of a housing plate and a plurality of entry keys, said housing plate being provided with a plurality of key tubular holes arranged thereon in sequence, with each of said key tubular holes including a tubular flange, said tubular flange having slide keys disposed oppositely at the positions located on an opposite angular line thereof and hook retaining ears disposed on another opposite angular line thereof;

said entry key being composed of a suppressing column located at a center of a bottom surface thereof and an enclosing flange of circular construction located at the bottom surface thereof and dimensioned to accommodate therein said tubular flange of said housing plate, said entry key further comprising slide key mounts and hooks, said slide key mounts are disposed at the opposite angular positions on said enclosing flange and are positioned correspondingly to said slide keys of said tubular flange so that said slide key mounts engage with said slide keys, and hooks are disposed at positions located on another opposite angular line thereof to correspond position-wise to said hook retaining ears of said housing plate.

44. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 1, wherein a keyboard is made up of a housing plate and a plurality of entry keys, said housing plate being provided with a plurality of key tubular holes arranged thereon in sequence, with each of said key tubular holes including a tubular flange, said tubular flange having slide keys disposed oppositely at the positions located on an opposite angular line thereof and hook retaining ears disposed on another opposite angular line thereof;

said entry key being composed of a suppressing column located at a center of a bottom surface thereof and an enclosing flange of circular construction located at the bottom surface thereof and dimensioned to accommodate therein said tubular flange of said housing plate, said entry key further comprising slide key mounts and hooks, said slide key mounts are disposed at the opposite angular positions on said enclosing flange and are positioned correspondingly to said slide keys of said tubular flange so that said slide key mounts engage with said slide keys, and hooks are disposed at positions located on another opposite angular line thereof to correspond position-wise to said hook retaining ears of said housing plate.

45. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 44, wherein said slide keys and said slide key mounts are disposed respectively at central positions of opposite sides of said housing plate and of a sole plate of said entry key;

and wherein said hooks and said hook retaining ears are disposed respectively at central positions of other opposite sides of said entry key and said housing plate.

46. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 45, wherein said housing plate is provided with a regulation slot of a shape positioned correspondingly with said slide key;

and wherein said enclosing flange of said entry key comprises thereon slide key mounts positioned correspondingly to said slide keys.

47. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 45, wherein said enclosing flange comprises two slide key mounts positioned oppositely;

and wherein said housing plate comprises slide keys positioned correspondingly to said slide key mounts.

48. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 45, wherein said housing plate is provided with a retreat hole, which is located under said hook retaining ear;

and wherein said entry key is provided with hooks disposed at a bottom surface thereof and positioned correspondingly with said hook retaining ears.

49. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 45, wherein said entry key includes a face plate and a sole plate, which are of different colors and are made integrally into a unitary body, said face plate comprising thereon a figured hole coinciding with a given alphanumerical symbol.

50. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 45, wherein said entry key is provided with hooks disposed at a distance from said enclosing flange thereof;

and wherein said housing plate is provided hook retaining ears positioned correspondingly with said hooks.

51. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 44, wherein said housing plate is provided with a regulation slot of a shape positioned correspondingly with said slide key;

and wherein said enclosing flange of said entry key comprises thereon slide key mounts positioned correspondingly to said slide keys.

52. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 44, wherein said enclosing flange comprises two slide key mounts positioned oppositely;

and wherein said housing plate comprises slide keys positioned correspondingly to said slide key mounts.

53. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 44, wherein said housing plate is provided with a retreat hole, which is located under said hook retaining ear;

and wherein said entry key is provided with hooks disposed at a bottom surface thereof and positioned correspondingly with said hook retaining ears.

54. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 44, wherein said entry key is provided with hooks disposed at a distance from said enclosing flange thereof;

and wherein said housing plate is provided with hook retaining ears positioned correspondingly with said hooks.

55. A body structure for a pocket computer according to claim 44, wherein said entry key includes a face plate and a sole plate, which are of different colors and are made integrally into a unitary body, said face plate comprising thereon a figured hole coinciding with a given alphanumerical symbol.