Tilting mechanism having rotatable extension, for information inputting apparatus

• US 5,347,424 A
• Filed: 09/18/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akahane, Ryosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/946,610
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 400/681, 400/682, 400/683, 108/115, 108/117, 108/121, 108/122, 108/123, 108/128, 74/104, 74/107, 74/527, 248/688, 248/918, 248/923, 364/708, 364/708.1, 361/380, 361/390-395, 361/399, 361/679-686, 361/724-726, 361/730, 361/752, 361/796, D14/100, D14/106
• US Class Current: 361/679.12
• 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 1/166 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: Y10T 74/18936 Slidable connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

A first shaft 2a and a first guide portion 2c are provided on a rear side portion 2 of an information inputting apparatus. The first guide portion 2c advances in a direction spaced away from the first shaft 2a toward below, and a notch hole 2h connects to a lower portion of the first guide portion 2c. Then, a second guide portion 3b for engaging with the first shaft 2a and a second shaft 3d for engaging with the first guide portion 2c are provided on the foot member 3, and a pair of resilient pieces 3e are provided on side faces of the foot member 3. Further, a foot cover 5 is provided which has an extending through portion 5e for moving the foot member 3 to appear and disappear and is supported for rotation on the first shaft 2a. When the hook member 3 is rotated the distance between an end portion 3a of the hook member 3 and the first shaft 2a increases gradually, and when the hook member 3 is rotated also after the resilient pieces 3e are contacted with resilient piece receiving portions 5i of the hook cover, the second shaft 3d is fitted with the notch hole 2h.

Claims

1. A tilting mechanism in combination with an information inputting apparatus, characterized in that

a pair of substantially vertical face portions at a rear portion of said information inputting apparatus and a pair of foot members opposed to said substantially vertical face portions are engaged with each other

said substantially vertical face portions being located on opposite side portions of said information inputting apparatus;

each of said vertical face portions has provided thereon a first fixed shaft and a first guide portion around said first fixed shaft which advances in a direction gradually spaced away from said first fixed shaft toward a bottom face of said information inputting apparatus, and a notch hole connected to a lower portion of said first guide portion and extending upwardly;

each of said foot members has provided thereon a second guide portion which is fitted for sliding movement with said first fixed shaft and extends in a longitudinal direction of said foot member and a second fixed shaft which is fitted for sliding movement with said first guide portion, and a resilient piece is provided projecting at a side portion of said foot member;

a foot cover, said foot cover is supported for rotation on said first fixed shaft and has an extending through portion provided therein for sliding movement relative to said foot member so that said foot cover may be rotated together with said foot member, and said foot cover further has a resilient piece receiving portion provided thereon with which said resilient piece is contacted when said second fixed shaft is positioned at said notch hole; and

said second fixed shafts are slidably moved, when said information inputting apparatus is to be used, along said first guide portions from a retracted condition, and then also after said resilient pieces are contacted with said resilient piece receiving portions, said second fixed shafts are further slidably moved until said second fixed shafts are fitted with said notch holes thereby to thereafter maintain said foot members in a projecting condition;

whereby said foot members may serve as legs of said information inputting apparatus thereby to tilt said information inputting apparatus.

2. A tilting mechanism for an information inputting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

each first fixed shaft is provided at and extends outwardly from a position a lower than a central position of the side portion in the vertical direction.

3. A tilting mechanism for an information inputting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

said second guide portions are formed from an axially symmetrical bifurcated portion, and the axis of symmetry of said bifurcated portion is positioned a eccentrically from an axial line of each of said foot member.

4. A tilting mechanism for an information inputting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

a pivotal shaft is provided projectingly on each of said foot covers, and

a pair of third guide portions are provided uprightly and in parallel with each other at positions spaced apart equally from said pivotal shaft.

5. A tilting mechanism for an information inputting apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that

the amount of eccentricity between an axis of symmetry of said pair of third guide portions and an axial line interconnecting a central portion of the extending through portion and a central point of said foot cover is equal to an amount of eccentricity between the axis of symmetry of said foot member and said axial line.