Retractable palmrest for keyboard-equipped electronic products

• US 6,025,986 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daniel I. Sternglass
• Original Assignee: Daniel I. Sternglass
• Inventors: Grube, Donald F., Sternglass, Daniel I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US08/993,763
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/683, 400/715, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections

Abstract

A portable or stationary electronic device equipped with a typing keyboard, such as a notebook or desktop personal computer or screen-phone, with a retractable palmrest in accordance with the present invention includes a platform, circuitry, a display, a keyboard, and the retractable palmrest. The palmrest provides ergonomic benefit for typing and a suitable location for a full-size track pad (mouse pad) pointing device, mouse buttons and other low-profile peripheral devices. By retracting, and optionally folding, it reduces the size of the electronic device during storage or transport. The platform includes a front surface, opposing side surfaces, a back surface, and a top surface. The circuitry is connected to the platform. Keys forming a keyboard are connected to the top surface of the platform and are coupled to the circuitry along with the display. The palmrest includes a surface with a front edge, opposing side edges, and a back edge and is slidably connected to the platform to move to a retracted position substantially behind the front surface, in between the side surfaces, and in front of the back surface, and to an extended position substantially in front of the front surface.

Claims

1. A electronic device equipped with a keyboard comprising:

a platform comprising a front surface, opposing side surfaces, a back surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface;

keys connected to the top surface of the platform to form the keyboard; and

a palmrest comprising a surface with a front edge, opposing side edges, and a back edge, the palmrest slidably connected to the platform, the palmrest moveable to a retracted position substantially behind the front surface, in between the side surfaces, and in front of the back surface, above the bottom surface and below the top surface and to an extended position substantially in front of the front surface.

2. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the palmrest comprises a base and one or more wing sections pivotally connected to the base, each of the wing sections pivotable to a first position resting on the base and to a second position providing an extension of the base wherein the wing sections rest substantially in the same plane as a top surface of the base in the second position.

3. The electronic device as set forth in claim 2 further comprising:

one or more slots in the front surface of the platform; and

one or more tab detents extending out from the back edge of the palmrest, each of the tab detents mating with one of the slots when the palmrest is in an extended and secured position.

4. The electronic device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of the tab detents extends out from the back edge of one or more of the wing sections.

5. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an opening in the front surface of the platform which permits a substantial portion of the palmrest to pass through as the palmrest travels between the retracted and extended positions.

6. The electronic device as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:

a track formed in each of the side surfaces; and

at least one guiding projection extending from each of the opposing side edges, each of the projections seated to ride in one of the tracks as the platform moves through the opening between the retracted and extended positions.

7. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cover member pivotally connected to the front edge of the palmrest, the cover member pivotable to a closed position resting adjacent the front face of the platform when the palmrest is in a retracted positions and to an open position providing a forward extension of the palmrest along substantially the same plane when the palmrest is in an extended position.

8. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising one or more electrical components connected to the palmrest.

9. The electronic device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the electrical component is a computer mouse.

10. The electronic device as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of the tracks comprises at least two portions, wherein the two portions guide the palmrest in two different directions of travel.

11. An apparatus with a keyboard comprising:

a platform;

keys connected to the top surface of the platform to form the keyboard;

a palmrest moveable to a retracted position substantially within the platform and to an extended position substantially outside of the platform in front of the keyboard;

an opening in the platform which permits a substantial portion of the palmrest to pass through as the palmrest travels between the retracted and extended positions;

a track formed in each of the side surfaces; and

at least one guiding projection extending from each of the opposing side edges, each of the projections seated to ride in one of the tracks as the platform moves through the opening between the retracted and extended positions.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of the tracks comprises at least two portions, wherein the two portions guide the palmrest in two different directions of travel.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the palmrest comprises a base and one or more wing sections pivotally connected to the base, each of the wing sections pivotable to a first position resting on the base and to a second position providing an extension of the base wherein the wing sections and the base rest substantially in the same plane in the second position.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

one or more slots in a surface of the platform in front of the keyboard; and

one or more tab detents extending out from the back edge of the palmrest, each of the tab detents mating with one of the slots when the palmrest is in an extended and secured position.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of the tab detents extends out from the back edge of one or more of the wing sections.

16. An apparatus with a keyboard comprising:

a platform comprising a base and one or more wing sections pivotally connected to the base, each of the wing sections pivotable to a first position resting on the base and to a second position providing an extension of the base wherein the wing sections and the base rest substantially in the same plane in the second position;

keys connected to the top surface of the platform to form the keyboard; and

a palmrest moveable to a retracted position substantially within the platform and to an extended position substantially outside of the platform in from of the keyboard.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

one or more slots in a surface of the platform in front of the keyboard; and

one or more tab detents extending out from the back edge of the palmrest, each of the tab detents mating with one of the slots when the palmrest is in an extended and secured position.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of the tab detents extends out from the back edge of one or more of the wing sections.