Computing equipment casing having hinged, spring loaded and sliding leaves

• US 5,742,475 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Psion Computers PLC
• Original Assignee: Psion Computers PLC
• Inventors: Riddiford, Martin Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/723,882
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 16/362, 16/365, 16/366, 16/291, 16/293, 16/294, 16/308, 403/80, 403/53, 403/63, 248/286.1, 248/923, 364/708.1, 312/327, 312/223.2, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1679 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: Y10T 403/32008 Plural distinct articulation axes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32091 Plural translating connections

Abstract

A casing for computer equipment, the casing comprising first and second leaves for mounting the computer equipment, the leaves being hinged together so as to be movable between a folded position in which the first leaf overlies the second, and an open position; and a base to which the leaves are movably secured so as to allow the second leaf to slide relative to the base. In the open position of the leaves part of the base extends under the first leaf so as to provide a support to resist tipping movement when pressure is applied to the first leaf.

Claims

1. A casing for computing equipment, the casing comprising first and second leaves for mounting the computer equipment, said leaves being hinged together so as to be movable between a folded position in which said first leaf overlies said second leaf, and an open position, said casing further comprising an urging mechanism for urging said leaves toward at least one of said folded and open positions;

and a base to which said leaves are movably secured so as to allow said second leaf to slide relative to said base whereby in the open position of said leaves part of said base extends under said first leaf so as to provide a support to resist tipping movement when pressure is applied to said first leaf.

2. A casing according to claim 1, wherein said leaves are secured to said base by a hinge mechanism extending between said first leaf and said base whereby pivotal movement of said first leaf relative to said second leaf causes sliding movement of said second leaf relative to said base.

3. A casing according to claim 2, wherein said hinge mechanism comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms each coupled at one end to said first leaf and pivoted to said base at the other end.

4. A casing according to claim 1, wherein said urging mechanism comprises an over center mechanism.

5. A casing according to claim 4, wherein said urging mechanism comprises a torsion spring.

6. A casing according to claim 1, wherein said leaves are secured to said base by a hinge mechanism extending between said first leaf and said base whereby pivotal movement of said first leaf relative to said second leaf causes sliding movement of said second leaf relative to said base, and wherein said urging mechanism forms part of the hinge mechanism.

7. A casing according to claim 6, wherein said hinge mechanism comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms each coupled at one end to said first leaf and pivoted to said base at the other end, wherein said urging mechanism comprises a torsion spring and wherein the pair of arms are coupled to the torsion spring.

8. A casing according to claim 7, wherein said pair of arms and said torsion spring are formed from a single wire.

9. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the overall dimensions of the casing in the folded position do not exceed 170 mm×

90 mm×

23 mm.

10. A casing according to claim 1, wherein said base has similar dimensions in plan to said second leaf so that in the closed position said second leaf substantially covers said base.

11. Computing equipment mounted in a casing, the casing comprising first and second leaves for mounting the computer equipment, said leaves being hinged together so as to be movable between a folded position in which said first leaf overlies said second leaf, and an open position, said casing further comprising an urging mechanism for urging said leaves toward at least one of said folded and open positions;

and a base to which said leaves are movably secured so as to allow said second leaf to slide relative to said base, whereby, in the open position of said leaves, part of said base extends under said first leaf so as to provide a support to resist tipping movement when pressure is applied to said first leaf, the computing equipment including a display mounted in said first leaf and an input device mounted in said second leaf.

12. Computing equipment according to claim 11, wherein the display includes a touch sensitive screen.

13. Computing equipment according to claim 11, wherein the input device comprises a key pad.

14. Computing equipment according to claim 11, wherein said casing is dimensioned such that said computing equipment is portable.

15. Computing equipment according to claim 14, wherein said computing equipment comprises a notebook computer.

16. Computing equipment according to claim 14, wherein said computing equipment comprises a palmtop computer.

17. Computing equipment according to claim 11, wherein said urging mechanism comprises an over center mechanism.

18. Computing equipment according to claim 17, wherein said urging mechanism comprises a torsion spring.

19. Computing equipment according to claim 11, wherein said leaves are secured to said base by a hinge mechanism extending between said first leaf and said base whereby pivotal movement of said first leaf relative to said second leaf causes sliding movement of said second leaf relative to said base, and wherein said urging mechanism forms part of the hinge mechanism.

20. Computing equipment according to claim 19, wherein said hinge mechanism comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms each coupled at one end to said first leaf and pivoted to said base at the other end, wherein said urging mechanism comprises a torsion spring and wherein the pair of arms are coupled to the torsion spring.

21. Computing equipment according to claim 20, wherein said pair of arms and said torsion spring are formed from a single wire.