Automatic inclination device for a portable computer

• US 6,053,589 A
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Jing-Jye
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/151,381
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 220/241, 220/324, 312/271, 403/688, 403/685, 403/923, 361/679, 361/683, 361/681
• US Class Current: 312/271
• 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 1/166 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

Abstract

An automatic inclination device for a portable or notebook computer. It includes: (a) a base, on which an operation board is mounted; (b) a cover, pivotally connecting on an axis to a portion of the base; (c) a driving element, which is fixed to the cover and is coaxial with the axis, such that the driving element rotates when the cover is pivotally opened or closed; and (d) a driven element, engaged with the driving element to move therewith. The driven element is structured to move a stand to either come out from a cavity formed under the base near the pivotal portion so as to cause an associated portion of the base to rise up and the operation board to be in an inclined position, or retrieve into the cavity when the cover is opened and closed, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the driving element is a ring gear the driven is a rack gear, and the stand is an extension of the rack gear.

Claims

1. An automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer, comprising:

a base, on which the operation board is mounted;

a cover, pivotally connecting on an axis to a portion of the base;

at least a driving element, which is fixed to the cover and is coaxial with the axis, such that the driving element rotates when the cover is pivotally opened or closed; and

at least a driven element, engaged with the driving element to move therewith, the driven element being structured to move a stand to either (a) come out from a cavity formed under the base near the pivotal portion so as to cause an associated portion of the base to rise up and the operation board to be in an inclined position, or (b) retrieve into the cavity when the cover is opened or closed, respectively.

2. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 1 wherein the driving element is a gear.

3. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 2 wherein the driven element is a rack engaged with the gear.

4. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 3 wherein the rack and the gear are engaged in a suitable gear ratio for providing a suitable inclination of the base relative to a pivotal angle of the cover.

5. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 1 wherein the driving element is a driven bevel gear.

6. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 5 wherein the driven element is a driven bevel gear engaged with the driving bevel gear.

7. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 6 wherein the driven bevel gear is further engaged with the stand by a screw means.

8. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 6 wherein the driving and the driven bevel gears are engaged in a suitable gear ratio for providing a suitable inclination of the base relative to a pivotal angle of the cover.

9. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 1 wherein the driving element is a cam.

10. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 9 wherein the driven element is a rod connected to the stand and kept in contact with the cam by a force provided by a spring mounted in the cavity.

11. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 10 wherein the cam and the rod are formed with a dead end and a concavity respectively for providing a suitable inclination of the base relative to a pivotal angle of the cover.

12. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 10 wherein the spring is a tension spring connecting the rod and the cavity for normally retrieving the rod and the stand into the cavity.

13. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 10 wherein the spring is a compression spring connecting the rod and the cavity for normally retrieving the rod and the stand into the cavity.

14. The automatic inclination device for an operation board of a portable computer according to claim 1 wherein the driving element is a ring gear, the driven element is a rack gear, and the stand is an extension of the rack gear;

whereby, when the cover is opened up, the driving element is caused to rotate, and the rotation of the driving element, through its engagement with the driven element, causes the stand to move downward and the associated portion of the base to rise, so as to cause the operation board to be in an inclined position

and when the cover is closed, the rotation of the driving element in an opposite direction, through its engagement with the driven element, causes the stand to move upward and the associated portion of the base to descend, so as to cause the operation board to be in an uninclined position.