Portable information processing apparatus having multiple rotatable port covers

• US 5,574,625 A
• Filed: 07/25/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hosoya, Ryo, Ohgami, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/506,170
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 439/133, 439/135, 439/136, 439/137, 439/142, 439/928, 439/928.1, 312/291, 312/292, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 200/50 A, 361/616, 361/679-687, 361/724-727
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A portable information processing apparatus includes a housing storing electronic components. The housing includes first to third card storage portions having insertion ports open to one side surface of the housing, respectively, for card-like electronic components. A first cover is provided on the housing and rotatable between a closed position wherein the insertion port of the first card storage portion is closed by the first cover and an opened position wherein the insertion port of the first card storage portion open. A second cover is provided on the housing to be movable between a closed position wherein the first cover located in the closed position and the insertion ports of the second and third card storage portions are covered with the second cover and an opened position wherein the first cover and the insertion ports of the second and third card storage portions are exposed.

Claims

1. A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

a housing storing electronic components, the housing including an upper surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces continuous with the upper and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of storage portions having insertion ports open to one side surface of said housing, respectively, for storing optional components;

input/display means arranged in the housing and constituting at least a part of the upper surface of the housing, for displaying information and inputting data;

a first cover provided on the housing to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the insertion port of one of said plurality of storage portions is closed by the first cover, and an opened position wherein the insertion port of said one storage portion is open; and

a second cover provided on the housing to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the first cover located in the closed position and the insertion port of another storage portion are covered with the second cover, and an opened position wherein the first cover and the insertion port of said another storage portion are exposed.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of storage portions include a first storage portion for storing a volatile memory card, the first storage portion having said insertion port opened and closed by the first cover.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of storage portions include a second storage portion for storing a card-like component having a connecting terminal connectable to a cable, and said second cover comprises a through port opposing the insertion port of the second storage portion at the closed position, and a third cover provided on the second cover so as to be movable between a closed position wherein the through port is closed and an opened position wherein the through port is open.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of storage portions include a first storage portion having an insertion port open to said one side surface and a second storage portion having an insertion port open to said one side surface, said first and second storage portions being aligned one above the other and partially offset from each other.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises first and second circuit boards opposing each other and arranged in the housing substantially in parallel to the upper surface, a first connector arranged on the first circuit board and connected to the optional component stored in the second storage portion, and a second connector arranged on the second circuit board and connected to the optional component stored in the first storage portion.

6. A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

a flat box-like housing including an upper surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces continuous with the upper and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of storage portions which are defined in the housing and have insertion ports open to one of the side surfaces, respectively, for storing optional components;

a first cover provided on said one side surface of the housing to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the insertion port of one of said plurality of storage portions is closed by the first cover, and an opened position wherein the insertion port of said one storage portion is open; and

a second cover provided on the housing to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the first cover located in the closed position and the insertion port of another storage portion are covered with the second cover, and an opened position wherein the first cover and the insertion port of said another storage portion are exposed;

the first and second covers having rotational center axes which are substantially parallel to each other.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

input/display means provided at the housing and constituting at least a part of the upper surface of the housing for displaying information and inputting data.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said rotational center axes of the first and second covers extend substantially parallel to the upper and bottom surfaces of the housing.

9. A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

a housing storing electronic components, the housing including a first storage portion for storing a first card-like electronic component, and a second storage portion for storing a second card-like electronic component having a connecting terminal connectable to a cable, the first and second storage portions having insertion ports open to one side surface of said housing, respectively;

a first cover provided on the housing to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the insertion port of the first storage portion is closed by the first cover, and an opened position wherein the insertion port of the first storage portion is open;

a second cover provided on the housing to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the first cover located in the closed position and the insertion port of the second storage portion are covered with the second cover, and an opened position wherein the first cover and the insertion port of the second storage portion are exposed, the second cover having a through port opposing the insertion port of the second storage portion; and

a third cover provided on the second cover to be rotatable between a closed position, wherein the through port is closed, and an opened position wherein the through port is open so as to allow a cable to pass the through port.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

input/display means provided at the housing;

the housing having an upper surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces continuous with the upper and bottom surfaces;

the input/display means constituting at least a part of the upper surface for displaying information and inputting data.