Portable computing device having an adjustable hinge

• US 5,548,478 A
• Filed: 07/25/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Khyber Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Khyber Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Rajendra, Brooks, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/280,092
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 439/164, 439/165, 16/223, 16/365, 16/366, 16/378, 16/379, 361/679-683
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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

Abstract

A laptop style computing device (10) includes a base portion (11), a display portion (12) containing a display screen (16) and a touch input panel (18) and a mechanism (45, 55) for selectively positioning the display portion in selective angular engagement with the base portion in a plurality of angular upright positions for use in the laptop mode, as well as the display up position for slate style use and the display down position for closing the device.

Claims

1. An improved portable computing device comprising:

a base portion;

a display portion containing a display screen and a touch input panel;

at least one channel disposed within said base portion;

at least one roller disposed within said channel; and

hinge pin means engaging said roller and said display portion whereby said display portion is slidably pivoted relative to said base portion;

at least one inclined groove disposed within said base portion;

at least one support tab extending from said display portion into said inclined groove to support said display portion at varying angles relative to said base position;

said channel and said inclined groove are carried within an end wall of said base, said channel being above said groove;

a second channel disposed within said base portion, opposite said first channel;

a roller disposed within said second channel;

hinge pins means engaging said roller within said second channel and said display portion whereby said display portion is slidably pivoted relative to said base portion;

a second inclined groove disposed within said base portion, opposite said first groove; and

a second support tab extending from said display portion into said second inclined groove to support said display portion at varying angles relative to said base position.

2. An improved portable computing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second channel and said second inclined groove are carried within an end wall of said base, said channel being above said groove.

3. An improved portable computing device comprising:

a base portion;

a display portion containing a display screen and a touch input panel;

at least one channel disposed within said base portion;

hinge arm means providing first and second hinge pins, said first hinge pin being engageable with said channel and said second hinge pin being engaging with said display portion whereby said display portion is slidably pivoted relative to said base portion;

at least one inclined groove disposed within said base portion; and

at least one support tab extending from said display portion into said inclined groove to support said display portion at varying angles relative to said base position.

4. An improved portable computing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said channel and said inclined groove are carried within an end wall of said base, said channel being below said groove.

5. An improved portable computing device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising

a second channel disposed within said base portion, opposite said first channel;

and

second hinge arm means providing first and second hinge pins, said first hinge pin being engageable with said second channel and said second hinge pin being engaging with said display portion whereby said display portion is slidably pivoted relative to said base portion.

6. An improved portable computing device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising first and second bearing means movable within said first and second channels, respectively and engageable with said first hinge pins, respectively.