Multi-purpose handle/prop for pen-based computer

• US 5,323,290 A
• Filed: 06/25/1993
• Issued: 06/21/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US08/081,698
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 220/756, 220/761-764, 206/45.18, 294/142, 294/169, 16/126, 16/321-326, 248/455, 248/674, 248/917-923, 74/523, 74/527, 74/528, 74/536, 364/708, 364/708.1, 235/1 D, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/244, 361/679-686, 361/724-727, 361/730, 361/825, 361/752, 361/755, 361/796, 361/829, 340/700, 340/706-708, 340/711, 340/712, 395/169, 395/905
• 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 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. In particular, to facilitate writing on the computer screen while holding the computer, the handle/prop is mounted so that it can be swung into a recessed position behind an overlapping portion of the front display surface. This will minimize the size of the computer and minimize interference with holding the computer and writing on its screen at the same time.

Claims

1. 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,

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 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 includes 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 so that the handle/prop is located behind the overlapping portion of the front display surface to minimize the size of the computer and minimize interference with holding the computer and writing on a screen of the computer when a user is holding the computer in the second position.

2. A handle/prop according to claim 1, 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.

3. A handle/prop according to claim 1, wherein the crossbar portion contacts the bottom edge of the computer in the second position.

4. A handle/prop according to claim 1, wherein in the second position the handle/prop will not be visible when the computer is viewed from the front display screen.

5. A handle/prop according to claim 4, wherein at least four bumps are provided on at least one of the first and second side edges of the computer at locations corresponding to the first to fourth positions, wherein a recess is provided on a corresponding one of the first and second portions of the handle/prop, and wherein the first and second portions of the handle/prop are connected to the first and second side edges at a location such that the recess in said at least one of said first and second portions will be respectively located over one of the four bumps on the corresponding first and second side edges to secure the handle/prop in one of the corresponding first to fourth positions.

6. A handle/prop according to claim 1, 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.

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

8. A handle/prop according to claim 1, wherein at least four bumps are provided on at least one of the first and second side edges of the computer at locations corresponding to the first to fourth positions, wherein a recess is provided on a corresponding one of the first and second portions of the handle/prop, and wherein the first and second portions of the handle/prop are connected to the first and second side edges at a location such that the recess in said at least one of said first and second portions will be respectively located over one of the four bumps on the corresponding first and second side edges to secure the handle/prop in one of the corresponding first to fourth positions.

9. A handle/prop according to claim 8, wherein the handle/prop includes an antenna.

10. A handle/prop according to claim 1, wherein the handle/prop includes an antenna.

11. A pen-based computer according to claim 10, wherein the antenna is embedded in the handle/prop.

12. A pen-based computer according to claim 10, wherein the antenna is wrapped around the handle/prop.

13. A handle/prop according to claim 1, 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.

14. A pen-based computer according to claim 1, further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions.

15. A pen-based computer according to claim 14, 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.