Laptop computer with hinged keyboard

• US 5,278,779 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel C. Swann, Kevin M. Conway
• Original Assignee: Daniel C. Swann, Kevin M. Conway
• Inventors: Swann, Daniel C., Conway, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US07/905,024
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 341/22, 400/472, 400/479, 400/482, 400/488, 400/489, 361/393
• US Class Current: 361/679.16
• 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 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence

Abstract

A laptop computer and keyboard provides an improved assembly of a central processing unit (CPU) housing, keyboard and screen, utilizing a keyboard having a right and left hand pair of keyboard portions or halves joined together in a non-planar (V-shaped or open-book shaped) arrangement along a common edge or by a connecting member. Both sides of each keyboard half preferably contain at least one key or input control, such that the entire desired array of keys is disposed about the four surfaces (i.e., two front sides and two back sides) and/or edges.

Claims

1. A laptop computer comprising:

a first keyboard half portion having a front side, back side, top, bottom and perimeter edge, side front side bearing at least one keyboard key;

a second keyboard half portion having a front side, back side, top, bottom and perimeter edge, said front side bearing at least one keyboard key;

keyboard hinge means for connecting said first keyboard half portion and said second keyboard half portion in non-planar relationship, wherein when said keyboard halves are grasped by a user'"'"'s hands, said keyboard keys on said keyboard half portions front sides are accessible to the user'"'"'s fingers, and said keyboard half portions back sides are accessible to the user'"'"'s thumbs;

a computer screen; and

screen hinge means for connecting said computer screen to said keyboard half portions proximate said top.

2. The laptop computer of claim 1 wherein said first and second keyboard half portion perimeter edges bear at least one keyboard key accessible to the user'"'"'s thumbs.

3. The laptop computer of claim 1 wherein said first and second keyboard half portions back sides bear at least one keyboard key accessible to the user'"'"'s thumbs.

4. The laptop computer of claim 1 wherein at least one of said keyboard half portions bears a trackball/mouse control.

5. A laptop computer comprising:

a first keyboard half portion having a front side, back side, top, bottom and perimeter edge, said front side bearing at least one keyboard key;

a second keyboard half portion having a front side, back side, top, bottom and perimeter edge, said front side bearing at least one keyboard key;

keyboard hinge means for connecting said first keyboard half portion and said second keyboard half portion in non-planar relationship, wherein when said keyboard halves are grasped by a user'"'"'s hands, said keyboard keys on said keyboard half portions front sides are accessible to the user'"'"'s fingers, and said keyboard half portions back sides are accessible to the user'"'"'s thumbs;

a computer screen;

screen hinge means for connecting said computer screen to said keyboard half portions proximate said top;

a CPU housing;

CPU housing hinge means for connecting said CPU housing to said keyboard half portions proximate said bottom.

6. The laptop computer of claim 5 wherein said first and second keyboard half portion perimeter edges bear at least one keyboard key accessible to the user'"'"'s thumbs.

7. The laptop computer of claim 5 wherein said first and second keyboard half portions back sides bear at least one keyboard key accessible to the user'"'"'s thumbs.

8. The laptop computer of claim 5 wherein at least one of said keyboard half portions bears a trackball/mouse control.