Portable apparatus having cable electrically connecting display unit and base unit

• US 5,433,620 A
• Filed: 04/13/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takaichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/226,894
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 439/164, 439/165, 364/708, 16/223, 16/337, 312/7.2, 248/917
• US Class Current: 439/165
• 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 1/1681 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

Abstract

A portable apparatus comprising a base unit and a display unit rotatably connected to the base unit. The base unit has a recess, and the display unit has a first leg portion mounted in the recess. The first leg portion comprises a rear leg segment conjoining a base unit. The first leg portion has a front leg segment fastened to the rear leg segment, defining a guide path between the front leg segment and the rear leg segment. The leg segments, fastened together, form a shaft having a guide path communicating with the guide path. An opening is formed in one of the side walls defining the sides of the recess and also in the wall defining the bottom of the recess, thus allowing access into the base unit. A support segment is removably fitted in this opening, supporting the shaft such that the shaft can rotate. The portable apparatus further comprises a flexible cable which extends from the base unit into the display unit, guided through the opening, the guide path.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a printed circuit board;

a display unit including an outer case having an outer leg case, an inner case, an inner leg case fixed to the outer leg case and a flat panel display arranged between the outer case and the inner case, the outer leg case having a first guide portion, the inner leg case having a second guide portion, the first guide portion cooperating with the second guide portion to form a cable guide opening;

a shaft pivotally connecting the display unit to the base unit; and

the cable including a first end electrically connected to the flat panel display and a second end portion electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the cable passing through the cable guide opening.

2. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a printed circuit board and a receiving portion having a first cable guide opening;

a display unit including an outer case having an outer leg case, an inner case, an inner leg case fixed to the outer leg case and a flat panel display arranged between the outer case and the inner case, the outer leg case having a first guide portion, the inner leg case having a second guide portion, the first guide portion cooperating with the second guide portion to form a second cable guide opening and to form a leg portion, the leg portion being received to the receiving portion;

a shaft pivotally connecting the display unit to the base unit; and

the cable including a first end portion electrically connected to the flat panel display and a second end portion electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the cable passing through the first cable guide opening and the second cable guide opening.

3. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first cable guide opening and the second cable guide opening being located on a line aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

4. A computer comprising:

a base unit including a printed circuit board, an upper case, and a bottom case cooperating with the upper case to form a base housing for the printed circuit board;

a display unit being rotatable to the base unit, including a flat panel display, an outer case having a first housing portion and an outer leg portion, a first inner case cooperating with the first housing portion of the outer case to form a display housing for the flat panel display, and a second inner case being removable from the outer case and the first inner case, the second inner case cooperating with the outer leg portion to form a cable guide hole; and

a cable including a first end electrically connected to the printed circuit board and a second end electrically connected to the flat panel display, and disposed in the cable guide hole.

5. A computer comprising:

a base unit including a printed circuit board, an upper case having a rear top portion, and a bottom case cooperating with the upper case to form a base housing for the printed circuit board;

a display unit including a flat panel display, an outer case having a first housing portion and an outer leg portion having a first cutout portion, a first inner case cooperating with the first housing portion of the outer case to form a display housing for the flat panel display, and a second inner case being removable from the outer case and the first inner case, the second inner case cooperating with the outer leg portion to form a display leg, the second inner case having a second cutout portion cooperating with the first cutout portion to form a cable guide hole;

a shaft disposed in the rear top portion and the display leg portion to rotate the display unit to the base unit; and

a cable disposed in the cable guide hole, including a first end electrically connected to the printed circuit board and a second end electrically connected to the flat panel display.

6. A computer comprising:

a base bottom case;

a printed circuit board;

a base upper case removably fixed to the base bottom case, the base upper case cooperating with the base bottom case to form a base housing for the printed circuit board;

a first display case;

a flat panel display;

a second display case removably fixed to the first display case, the second display case cooperating with the first display case to form a display housing for the flat panel display;

a first leg case conjoined to the first display case, including a first side portion having a first cutout portion;

a second leg case being removable from the first leg case and the second display case, the second leg case including a second side portion having a second cutout portion, the second leg case cooperating with the first leg case to form a display leg for rotating the display housing relative to the base housing, the second cutout portion cooperating with the first cutout portion to form a cable guide hole when the second leg case is fixed to the first leg case; and

a cable disposed in the cable guide hole, including a first end electrically connected to the printed circuit board and a second end electrically connected to the flat panel display.

7. A computer according to claim 6, further comprising a rotational axis for rotating the display housing relative to the base housing, the cable guide hole being disposed on the rotational axis.