Pivotally extensible display device

• US 6,302,612 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Videocon Global Ltd. (Videocon Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Timon, Vincent Thomas III, Henkel, David Michael, Martino, Gilford Francis, Fowler, Craig Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/039,928
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 403/76, 403/122, 403/131, 403/135, 403/141, 403/142, 403/143, 162/24, 162/52, 361/681, 439/348
• US Class Current: 403/76
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32196 Articulate joint is ball and socket

Abstract

An interface apparatus includes a base element, an interface element, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the interface element to the base element. The attachment mechanism is pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom. The interface element is an extensible member which is, in two of its embodiments, pivotally mounted so as to be rotatably adjustable about a pivot point with respect to a primary member. The primary member may be a base member or another display member. These members may be computer keyboards or displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), audio speakers, or the like such as are used in desk top or lap top computers and terminals.

Claims

1. An interface apparatus, comprising:

a base element;

a primary interface element;

a secondary interface element;

a first attachment mechanism attaching said secondary interface element at a single point to said primary interface element, said first attachment mechanism being pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom;

said primary interface element being characterized by a major axis and a minor axis; and

said first attachment mechanism is rotatable about at least one axis parallel to said major axis of said primary interface element and at least one axis parallel to said minor axis of said primary interface element;

wherein said first attachment mechanism comprises a first ball and a first socket.

2. An interface apparatus, comprising:

a base element;

a primary interface element;

a secondary interface element;

a first attachment mechanism attaching said secondary interface element to said primary interface element, said first attachment mechanism being pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom and rotatable about at least one axis parallel to a major axis of said primary interface element and at least one axis parallel to a minor axis of said primary interface element; and

a second attachment mechanism for rotatably attaching said primary interface element to said base element, said second attachment mechanism comprising a hinge enabling rotation of said primary interface element about a single axis, and wherein said first attachment mechanism is positioned for rotation about axes offset from said single axis.

3. The interface apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second attachment mechanism comprises a second ball and a second socket adapted to enable rotation of said primary interface element about a plurality of axes of rotation.

4. The interface apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second ball is fixedly attached by a post to said primary interface element;

said second socket is fixedly attached to said base element and grooved so as to direct movement of said post in a manner enabling rotation of said second ball about a plurality of axis of rotation.

5. An interface apparatus, comprising:

a base element;

an interface element;

an attachment mechanism attaching said interface element at a single point to said base element, said attachment mechanism being a ball and socket pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom; and

interconnecting circuitry adapted for interconnecting said base element and said interface element;

wherein said ball is fixedly attached by a post to said interface element;

said socket is fixedly attached to said base element and grooved so as to direct movement of said post in a manner enabling rotation of said ball about a plurality of axis of rotation.

6. The interface apparatus of claim 5, said interconnecting circuitry being adapted for interconnecting said base element and said interface element throughout the motion enabled by the groove in said socket.

7. An interface apparatus, comprising

a base element;

a primary element;

a secondary element;

a first attachment mechanism attaching said secondary interface element at a single point to said primary interface element, said first attachment mechanism being pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom;

said primary interface element being characterized by a major axis and a minor axis; and

said first attachment mechanism is rotatable about at least one axis parallel to said major axis of said primary interface element and at least one axis parallel to said minor axis of said primary interface element;

further comprising a second attachment mechanism for rotatably attaching said primary interface element to said base element.

8. The interface apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second attachment mechanism comprises a hinge enabling rotation of said primary interface element about a single axis, and wherein said first attachment mechanism is positioned for rotation about axes offset from said single axis.

9. The interface apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second attachment mechanism comprises a second ball and a second socket adapted to enable rotation of said primary interface element about a plurality of axes of rotation.

10. The interface apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second ball is fixedly attached by a post to said primary interface element;

said second socket is fixedly attached to said base element and grooved so as to direct movement of said post in a manner enabling rotation of said second ball about a plurality of axis of rotation.

11. An interface apparatus, comprising:

a base element;

a primary interface element;

a secondary interface element;

a first attachment mechanism attaching said secondary interface element at a single point to said primary interface element, said first attachment mechanism being pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom;

said primary interface element being characterized by a major axis and a minor axis;

said first attachment mechanism is rotatable about at least one axis parallel to said major axis of said primary interface element and at least one axis parallel to said minor axis of said primary interface element; and

said primary interface element being a display;

further comprising a second attachment mechanism for rotatably attaching said primary interface element to said base element.

12. An interface apparatus, comprising:

a base element;

a primary interface element;

a secondary element;

a first attachment mechanism attaching said secondary interface element at a single point to said primary interface element, said first attachment mechanism being pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom;

said primary interface element being characterized by a major axis and a minor axis;

said first attachment mechanism is rotatable about at least one axis parallel to said major axis of said primary interface element and at least one axis parallel to said minor axis of said primary interface element; and

said first attachment mechanism comprising a ball and a socket.

13. An interface apparatus, comprising:

a base element;

a primary interface element;

a secondary interface element;

a first attachment mechanism attaching said secondary interface element at a single point to said primary interface element, said first attachment mechanism being pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom;

said primary interface element being characterized by a major axis and a minor axis;

said first attachment mechanism is rotatable about at least one axis parallel to said major axis of said primary interface element and at least one axis parallel to said minor axis of said primary interface element; and

a second attachment mechanism for rotatably attaching said primary interface element to said base element.

14. The interface apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second attachment mechanism comprises a hinge enabling rotation of said primary interface element about a single axis, and wherein said first attachment mechanism is positioned for rotation about axes offset from said single axis.

15. The interface apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second attachment mechanism comprises a second ball and a second socket adapted to enable rotation of said primary interface element about a plurality of axes of rotation.

16. The interface apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second ball is fixedly attached by a post to said primary interface element;

and second socket is fixedly attached to said base element and grooved so as to direct movement of said post in a manner enabling rotation of said second ball about a plurality of axis of rotation.