Stowable, pivotally attached palm rest and handle for a notebook computer

• US 5,596,482 A
• Filed: 09/22/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Horikoshi, Seita
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/532,345
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 364/708.1, 400/715
• US Class Current: 361/679.59
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• 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 1/1656 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a palm rest with a simple structure that can be stored in a lid of an electric device. A palm rest 10 is supported rotatable at a case assembly 14 within which a keyboard 34 is mounted. By rotating the palm rest 10 outward, an operator can rest his palms on it, thus facilitating key manipulation. When the palm rest 10 is positioned upright, it is retained within a lid 18, which covers the keyboard 34. In this case, the palm rest 10 does not project outward from the PC 12 and the PC 12 can therefore be stored without difficulty. Since a gap is defined between the palm rest 10 and the front wall of the case assembly 14 when the palm rest 10 is rotated forward, a user can slip his fingers through the defined gap and grasp the palm rest 10, which then can serve as a handle for carrying the PC 12.

Claims

1. A palm rest, which is installed into a data processing apparatus having a case assembly with a keyboard and a lid, said palm rest being rotatably hinged on said case assembly, being capable of holding an operator'"'"'s palms when rotated outward, being covered with said lid when said lid is closed, and forming a handle when said palm rest is rotated outward and said lid is closed.

2. A palm rest according to claim 1, wherein the surface of said palm rest on which said operator'"'"'s palms are to be rested is on the same plane as that formed by said keyboard.

3. A palm rest according to claim 1, which is hinged on the front wall of said case assembly.

4. A palm rest according to claim 1, which can be held upright and held in contact with the internal wall of said lid when said lid is closed.

5. A data processing apparatus, having a case assembly mounting a keyboard and a lid, further comprising:

a palm rest, being rotatably hinged on said case assembly, being capable of holding an operator'"'"'s palms when rotated outward, being storable upright in said lid when said lid is closed, and forming a handle when said palm rest is rotated outward and said lid is closed.

6. A data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the surface of said palm rest on which said operator'"'"'s palms are to be rested is on the same plane as that formed by said keyboard.

7. A data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said palm rest is hinged on the front wall of said case assembly.

8. A data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said palm rest can be held upright and held in contact with the internal wall of said lid.