Mechanism for automatic deployment of legs for portable personal computer for enhanced cooling

• US 6,097,595 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cipolla, Thomas Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US08/988,328
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/681, 361/680, 361/687, 361/686, 364/708.1, 248/685, 248/688, 248/923
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

An automatically deploying and retracting leg for a portable personal computer including a base and a display. At least one leg is arranged in the base and moves downwardly as it is deployed. At least one deploying mechanism is interconnected with the at least one leg and the display so as to cause the at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving the display respectively between and open and a closed position.

Claims

1. An automatically deploying and retracting leg for a portable personal computer including a base and a display, comprising:

at least one computer supporting leg arranged in the base and moving downwardly as it is deployed for permitting a bottom surface of the computer to be raised above an underlying supporting surface; and

at least one deploying mechanism interconnected with said at least one leg and said display so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position.

2. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one cam on said display; and

at least one cam surface on said at least one deploying mechanism, said display cam acting on said at least one deploying mechanism cam surface so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position.

3. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 2, wherein said at least one deploying mechanism comprises:

at least one plunger, said at least one plunger including said at least one deploying mechanism cam surface; and

at least one pivot lever pivotably connected to both said at least one plunger and said at least one leg, said at least one pivot lever being pivotably interconnected with said base of said portable personal computer at a pivot point, said pivot lever including said deploying mechanism cam surface wherein moving said display between an open and a closed position causes said display cam to act on said deploying mechanism cam surface, thereby causing said pivot lever to pivot and said at least one leg to deploy.

4. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 3, wherein said at least one pivot lever is pivotably connected to said at least one plunger with a pin provided on one of said pivot lever and said plunger and a passage for engaging said pin provided on the other of said pivot lever and said plunger, and wherein said pivot lever is pivotably connected to said at least one leg with a pin provided on one of said pivot lever and said at least one leg and a passage for engaging said pin provided on the other of said pivot lever and said at least one leg.

5. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 3, wherein said passages in said plunger, pivot lever, or at least one leg are elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the member that they are located on.

6. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 3, wherein said passages are located on said pivot lever and said pins are located on said plunger and said at least one leg.

7. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 6, wherein said pivot lever and said plunger are pivotably interconnected at a point about 4 mm from the pivot point where said pivot lever is pivotably interconnected with said base, and said pivot lever is pivotably interconnected with said at least one leg at a point about 20 mm from the point where said pivot lever and said plunger are interconnected.

8. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 3, wherein moving said display between an open and a closed position causes said cam on said display to move along said cam surface on said plunger causing said plunger to pivot downward about its interconnection with said base, said pivot arm causing said at least one leg to move downward simultaneously with said downward pivot of said pivot lever.

9. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 3, further comprising:

a deploying mechanism housing for housing said deploying mechanism and said at least one leg.

10. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 9, wherein said housing is joined to said base.

11. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 9, wherein said housing is integral with said base.

12. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 3, further comprising:

a spring for biasing said at least one leg in a closed position, wherein said at least one leg is retracted within said base.

13. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 2, wherein said deploying mechanism comprises:

at least one sliding member slidably interconnected with said base, said at least one sliding member including said at least one deploying mechanism cam surface, wherein moving said display between an open and a closed position causes said at least one display cam to act on said at least one deploying mechanism cam surface, thereby causing said at least one sliding member to slide and said at least one leg to deploy; and

at least one pivot lever pivotably interconnected with said base at a pivot point, pivotably connected to said at least one sliding member, and pivotably connected to said at least one leg.

14. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 13, wherein said at least one pivot lever is pivotably connected to said at least one sliding member with a pin provided on one of said pivot lever and said sliding member and a passage for engaging said pin provided on the other of said pivot lever and said at least one sliding member, and wherein said pivot lever is pivotably connected to said at least one leg with a pin provided on one of said pivot lever and said at least one leg and a passage for engaging said pin provided on the other of said pivot lever and said at least one leg.

15. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 14, wherein said passages in said sliding member, said pivot lever, or at least one leg are elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the member that they are located on.

16. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 14, wherein said passages are located on said pivot lever.

17. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 14, wherein moving said display between an open and a closed position causes said cam on said display to move along said cam surface on said sliding member causing said sliding member to slide at its interconnection with said base, movement of said sliding member simultaneously causing said pivot lever to pivot about said pivot point, pivoting of said pivot lever simultaneously causing at least one leg to move downward simultaneously with said pivot of said pivot arm.

18. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 17, further comprising:

a spring for biasing said at least one leg in a closed position, wherein said at least one leg is retracted within said base.

19. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 1, wherein said at least one leg extends below a bottom surface of said base by about 15 mm to about 30 mm.

20. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 1, including two legs and two deploying mechanisms.

21. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 1, wherein said at least one leg is fully deployed before said display is moved to a usable position.

22. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 1, wherein the at least one leg moves downward linearly as it is deployed.

23. A portable personal computer, comprising:

a base;

a display pivotably joined to said base;

at least one computer supporting leg arranged in the base and moving downwardly as it is deployed for permitting a bottom surface of the computer to be raised above an underlying supporting surface; and

at least one deploying mechanism interconnected with said at least one leg and said display so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position.

24. A method for deploying and retracting at least one leg of a portable personal computer including a base and a display, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one computer supporting leg arranged in the base and moving downwardly as it is deployed;

providing at least one deploying mechanism interconnected with said at least one leg and said display so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position;

moving said display from a closed to an open position, thereby causing said at least one deploying mechanism to cause said at least one leg to deploy by moving downwardly relative to said base, thereby permitting a bottom surface of the computer to be raised above an underlying supporting surface; and

moving said display from said open to said closed position, thereby causing said at least one deploying mechanism to cause said at least one leg to retract by moving upwardly relative to said base.

25. A method for temperature management in a portable personal computer including a base and a display, said method comprising the steps of:

providing said computer with at least one automatically deploying and retracting computer supporting leg arranged in the base and moving downwardly as it is deployed and at least one deploying mechanism interconnected with said at least one leg and said display so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position;

providing power to said computer;

moving said display from a closed to an open position, thereby causing said at least one deploying mechanism to cause said at least one leg to deploy by moving downwardly relative to said base, thereby permitting a bottom surface of the computer to be raised above an underlying supporting surface; and

moving said display from said open to said closed position, thereby causing said at least one deploying mechanism to cause said at least one leg to retract by moving upwardly relative to said base.

26. An automatically deploying and retracting leg for a portable personal computer including a base and a display, comprising:

at least one computer supporting leg arranged in the base and moving downwardly from the computer as it is deployed, thereby permitting a bottom surface of the computer to be raised;

at least one deploying mechanism interconnected with said at least one leg and said display so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position.

27. An automatically deploying and retracting leg for a portable personal computer including a base and a display, comprising:

at least one leg arranged in the base and moving downwardly as it is deployed;

at least one cam on said display;

at least one deploying mechanism interconnected with said at least one leg and said display so as to cause said at least one leg to deploy and retract upon moving said display respectively between and open and a closed position, said at least one deploying mechanism comprising at least one plunger including at least one cam surface, at least one pivot lever pivotably connected to both said at least one plunger and said at least one leg, said at least one pivot lever being pivotably interconnected with said base of said portable personal computer at a pivot point, said pivot lever including said deploying mechanism cam surface wherein moving said display between an open and a closed position causes said display cam to act on said deploying mechanism cam surface, thereby causing said pivot lever to pivot and said at least one leg to deploy.

28. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 27, wherein said at least one pivot lever is pivotably connected to said at least one plunger with a pin provided on one of said pivot lever and said plunger and a passage for engaging said pin provided on the other of said pivot lever and said plunger, and wherein said pivot lever is pivotably connected to said at least one leg with a pin provided on one of said pivot lever and said at least one leg and a passage for engaging said pin provided on the other of said pivot lever and said at least one leg.

29. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 27, wherein said passages in said plunger, pivot arm, or at least one leg are elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the member that they are located on.

30. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 27, wherein said passages are located on said pivot arm and said pins are located on said plunger and said at least one leg.

31. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 27, wherein moving said display between an open and a closed position causes said cam on said display to move along said cam surface on said plunger causing said plunger to pivot downward about its interconnection with said base, said pivot arm causing said at least one leg to move downward simultaneously with said downward pivot of said pivot arm.

32. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 27, further comprising:

a deploying mechanism housing for housing said deploying mechanism and said at least one leg.

33. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 32, wherein said housing is joined to said base.

34. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 32, wherein said housing is integral with said base.

35. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 27, further comprising:

a spring for biasing said at least one leg in a closed position, wherein said at least one leg is retracted within said base.

36. The automatically deploying and retracting leg according to claim 30, wherein said pivot lever and said plunger are pivotably interconnected at a point about 4 mm from the pivot point where said pivot lever is pivotably interconnected with said base, and said pivot lever is pivotably interconnected with said at least one leg at a point about 20 mm from the point where said pivot lever and said plunger are interconnected.