Wall mounted personal communications routing system

• US 5,673,169 A
• Filed: 10/03/1995
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US08/538,329
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-683, D14/100, D14/102, 364/708.7
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1667 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of the integrated keyboard independently from the main body adjusting the tilt angle integrally with the main body G06F1/166
• 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

Abstract

A computer system for use on either a horizontal surface or a vertical wall. The system includes a computer having a base. The system further includes a viewing device for displaying information from the computer. The device is rotatably mounted to the computer to enable rotation of the computer and the device relative to each other. The system further includes a keyboard having keys for inputting commands to the computer. The keyboard is rotatably mounted to the computer to enable rotation of the keyboard relative to the computer. Upon placement of the base on the desk top or vertical wall, the device is rotatable to a substantially vertical position suitable for viewing the device. Further, when the base is positioned on the horizontal surface, the keyboard may be rotated to a substantially horizontal orientation. In addition, when the base is positioned on the vertical wall, the keyboard may be rotated to a substantially vertical orientation suitable for accessing the keyboard.

Claims

1. A computer system for use on a vertical surface, comprising:

a computer having a base with a cavity;

a viewing device for displaying information from said computer, said device being rotatably mounted to said computer to enable rotation of said computer and said device relative to each other; and

input key means for inputting commands to said computer, said input key means being rotatably mounted to a main block section to enable rotation of said input key means relative to said computer, wherein upon placement of said base on said vertical surface said device is rotatable to a substantially vertical position suitable for viewing the device and said input key means is rotatable to a substantially vertical position suitable for accessing said input key means; and

moving means for moving said input key means from a stowed position within said cavity to an exposed position.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer includes slots and said main block section includes projecting portions adapted for sliding on said slots to enable movement of said input key means between said stowed position and said exposed position.

3. The computer system according to claim 2, further including spring means for urging said input key means out of said cavity.

4. The computer system according to claim 1, further including mounting means for removably mounting said base to said surface.

5. A personal communications routing system for use on a surface, comprising:

a computer having a base with a cavity;

a viewing device for displaying information from said computer, said device being rotatably mounted to said computer to enable rotation of said computer and said device relative to each other;

input key means for inputting commands to said computer, said input key means being rotatably mounted to a main block section to enable rotation of said input key means relative to said computer, wherein upon placement of said base on said surface said device is rotatable to a substantially vertical position suitable for viewing the device and said input key means is rotatable to a sloped position suitable for accessing said input key means; and

moving means for moving said input key means from a stowed position within said cavity to an exposed position.

6. The routing system according to claim 5, wherein said computer includes slots and said main block section includes projecting portions adapted for sliding on said slots to enable movement of said input key means between said stowed position and said exposed position.

7. The routing system according to claim 6, further including spring means for urging said input key means out of said cavity.

8. The computer system according to claim 5, further including mounting means for removably mounting said base to said surface.

9. A personal communications routing system for use on a vertical wall, comprising:

a computer having a base with a cavity;

a viewing device for displaying information from said computer, said device being rotatably mounted to said computer to enable rotation of said computer and said device relative to each other, wherein said device is rotatable to a viewing position in which said device is oriented substantially vertically and wherein simultaneously said computer is rotatable to a wall mounted position for affixing said base to said vertical wall; and

input key means for inputting commands to said computer, said input key means being rotatably mounted to a main block section to enable rotation of said input key means relative to said computer, wherein upon placement of said base on said vertical wall said input key means is rotatable to a sloped position suitable for accessing said input key means; and

moving means for moving said input key means from a stowed position within said cavity to an exposed position.

10. The routing system according to claim 9, wherein said computer includes slots and said main block section includes projecting portions adapted for sliding on said slots to enable movement of said input key means between said stowed position and said exposed position.

11. The routing system according to claim 10, further including spring means for urging said input key means out of said cavity.

12. The computer system according to claim 9, further including mounting means for removably mounting said base to said surface.

13. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

input key means for inputting information to said computer;

a main block section rotatably attached to said input key means for enabling rotation of said input key means relative to said main block section; and

moving means for moving said main block section and thus said input key means between a stowed position within said computer and an exposed position outside of said computer wherein said input key means is exposed to enable access to said input key means.

14. The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein said moving means includes first and second slots formed in said computer for receiving first and second projecting portions, respectively, which extend from said main block section.

15. The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein said computer includes a cavity and said main block section and said input key means are positioned within said cavity in said stowed position.

16. The keyboard according to claim 13, further including spring means for urging said main block section and thus said input key means to said exposed position.

17. A personal communications routing system for use on a wall, comprising:

a computer having a cavity and a base, said base including mounting means for removably affixing said base to said wall;

a viewing device for displaying information from said computer, said device being rotatably affixed to said computer to enable rotation of said computer and said device relative to each other;

a keyboard for providing input commands to said computer, wherein in a stowed position said keyboard is positioned within said cavity and in an exposed position said keyboard is moved out of said cavity;

a main block section rotatably affixed to said keyboard, said main block section having projecting portions adapted for sliding within slots formed in said computer to enable movement of said keyboard between said stowed position and said exposed position wherein said keyboard is rotated into a sloped position suitable for providing access to said keyboard; and

spring means for urging said input key means out of said cavity.

18. The routing system according to claim 17, wherein said viewing device is a monitor.

19. The routing system according to claim 17, wherein said viewing device is a liquid crystal display.