Compact portable computer having a riser that forms when a cover is opened

• US 5,737,183 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Koga, Yasutaka, Kobayashi, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/645,389
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 235/1 D, 206/45.2, 206/45.23, 206/305, 206/320, 220/212, 220/212.5, 312/223.2, 16/366, 16/368, 248/685, 248/688, 248/917, 248/923, 361/679-683
• US Class Current: 361/679.58
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A portable computer capable of operating on a flat surface or on an operator'"'"'s palm and forearm, including a main body, a display on an upper side of the main body for displaying image or character data or both, a cover which covers the display and opens rotatably to a position where an upper side of the cover touches a bottom side of the main body, a riser formed when the cover is opened which raises the main body to a position so to form an angle relative to the flat surface, when supported on the flat surface, and for stabilizing the computer when held by the operator on the operator'"'"'s palm and forearm. The cover opens and closes with the assistance of first and second hinge pins. An edge portion of the cover and a stand plate extend in generally opposite directions about the first hinge pin when the cover is closed, but are adjacent to one another when the cover is opened. The stand plate is positioned adjacent to the main body when the cover is closed, but is positioned in an opposite direction about the second hinge pin from a holder when the cover is opened.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a main body having an upper side and a bottom side;

a display disposed on the upper side of said main body for display data;

a cover which covers said display when closed and which opens rotatably to a position where an upper side of said cover touches the bottom side of said main body;

a riser for raising one side of said main body when said cover is opened and when supported by a flat surface to position the main body at an angle relative to the flat surface, and for stabilizing the portable computer when supported on an operator'"'"'s palm and forearm, wherein

said cover has a convex shaped portion and said main body has a concave shaped portion formed on the bottom side of the main body corresponding to said convex shaped portion.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said main body has a stopper which latches said cover on said concave shaped portion.

3. A portable computer comprising:

a main body having an upper side and a bottom side;

a display disposed on the upper side of said main body for displaying data;

a cover which covers said display when closed and which opens rotatably to a position where an upper side of said cover touches the bottom side of said main body;

a riser for raising one side of said main body when said cover is opened and when supported by a flat surface to position the main body at an angle relative to the flat surface, and for stabilizing the portable computer when supported on an operator'"'"'s palm and forearm, wherein

said cover has an edge, and a cover notch formed in a center of the edge, and said riser has a stand notch which corresponds in shape and position to said cover notch.

4. A portable computer comprising:

a main body with an upper side a bottom side, and a side surface that is between said upper side and said bottom side;

a display disposed on the upper side of said main body for displaying data;

a cover means for covering said display with a first portion thereof when said cover means is closed and for rotatably opening said cover means to a position where an upper side of said cover means touches the bottom side of said main body, said cover means comprising an edge portion configured to cover a portion of said side surface when said cover means is closed;

means for raising one side of said main body when said cover means is opened and supported by a flat surface so as to position the main body at a predetermined angle relative to the flat surface, said means for raising comprising grasping means for being grasped by at least one finger on a hand of an operator and for stabilizing the portable computer when supported on a palm of said hand of said operator and a forearm of said operator, said means for raising further comprising,

a stand plate having a first end and a second end,

a first hinge pin coupled to said first end of said stand plate and coupled to an end of said edge portion of said cover means, said edge portion of said cover means and said stand plate extending in generally opposing directions about said first hinge pin when said cover means is closed, and being positioned adjacent to each other when said cover means is opened,

a holder being fixed to said main body proximate said side surface and said bottom side of said main body,

a second hinge pin coupled to said holder and said second end of said stand plate, said stand plate being disposed adjacent to said side surface of said main body when said cover means is closed, said holder and said stand plate extending in generally opposing directions from said second hinge pin when said cover means is opened.

5. A portable computer comprising:

a main body having an upper side, a bottom side, and a side surface between said upper side and said bottom side;

a display disposed on the upper side of said main body for displaying data;

a cover having,

a first portion which covers said display, and

an edge portion which covers a portion of said side surface when said cover is closed, said first portion of said cover being configured to contact the bottom side of said main body when said cover is opened;

a hinge apparatus configured to open and close said cover, comprising,

a stand plate having a first end and a second end,

a first hinge pin coupled to said first end of said stand plate and coupled to an end of said edge portion of said cover, said edge portion of said cover and said stand plate extending in generally opposing directions about said first hinge pin when said cover is closed, and positioned adjacent to each other when said cover is opened,

a holder portion fixed to said main body proximate said side surface and said bottom side of said main body,

a second hinge pin coupled to said holder portion and said second end of said stand plate, said stand plate being disposed adjacent to said side surface of said main body when said cover is closed, said holder portion and said stand plate extending in generally opposing directions with respect to said second hinge pin when said cover is opened, wherein

said stand plate and said edge portion of said cover form a riser that protrudes away from the bottom side of said main body when said cover is opened, said riser being configured to be grasped by an operator so as to stabilize the portable computer when supported on a palm and a forearm of said operator, said riser being configured to raise one side of said main body when said cover is opened and when supported by a flat surface so as to position the main body at an angle relative to the flat surface.

6. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein said display includes a touch panel for inputting data to the portable computer when touched.

7. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein said edge portion has an L-shaped cross-section.

8. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein said cover has said edge portion, and a cover notch being formed in a center of the edge portion.

9. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein the holder portion rotatably attaches the stand to the main body and includes means for detachably attaching said stand from the main body.

10. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein said means for detachably attaching comprises a screw.