Cover with viewing window for palmtop computer

• US 6,381,126 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Klaubert, Heather, Evers, Maaike, Christopher, David, Yoshimoto, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/570,362
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683-686, 361/724-727, 361/740, 361/759, 248/551-553, 312/216, 312/218, 70/57--58, 70/85, 292/42, 292/148, 292/151, 292/307.R
• US Class Current: 361/679.57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application

Abstract

A lid assembly that includes a lid and a coupling mechanism for coupling the lid to a palmtop computer system. The coupling mechanism is double jointed so as to move the lid from a closed position to an open position. In one embodiment, the coupling mechanism includes a plate and two clips that attach to the plate such that the clips rotate relative to the plate. The plate couples to the lid such that the lid rotates relative to the plate. In the closed position, the lid covers the display of the palmtop computer system. The lid is movable into the open position. In the open position, the display is uncovered and the lid is disposed against the rear side of the palmtop computer system. In one embodiment, the lid includes an opaque region and a non-opaque region. The non-opaque region allows for viewing a portion of the display of the palmtop computer while the lid is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A lid assembly for covering a portable computer system having a display, said lid assembly comprising:

a lid comprising an opaque region and a non-opaque region; and

a coupling mechanism for coupling said lid to said portable computer system, said coupling mechanism operable to move said lid from a closed position to an open position, said lid covering said display when said lid is in said closed position, said non-opaque region allowing for viewing of a portion of said display when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

2. A lid assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said lid further comprises a first piece of plastic having an opening disposed therein, said lid further comprising a second piece of plastic disposed within said opening in said first piece of plastic, said first piece of plastic being opaque and said second piece of plastic not being opaque such that a portion of said display is viewable when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

3. A lid assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said lid is a single piece of molded plastic having an opaque region and a non-opaque region, said non-opaque region forming a viewing window for viewing a portion of said display when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

4. A lid assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling mechanism comprises:

a plate having a first end and a second end, said plate rotatably coupled to said lid proximate said first end of said plate such that said lid rotates relative to said plate;

a first clip rotatably coupled to said plate proximate said second end of said plate, said first clip for coupling to said portable computer system; and

a second clip rotatably coupled to said plate proximate said second end of said plate, said second clip for coupling to said portable computer system, said first clip and said second clip rotating relative to said plate such that said lid is movable from said closed position to said open position.

5. A lid assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said lid has a front side and a rear side and wherein said portable computer system has a front side and a rear side, said coupling mechanism double-jointed so as to pivot about a first axis and a second axis such that said lid is disposed with said rear side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said front side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said closed position, said lid movable such that said front side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said rear side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said open position.

6. A lid assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said lid has a front side and a rear side and wherein said palmtop computer system has a front side and a rear side, said lid movable such that lid is disposed with said rear side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said front side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said closed position, said lid movable such that said front side of said lid is flush with said rear side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said open position.

7. A lid assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said lid assembly couples to a palmtop computer system.

8. A method for covering a display of a portable computer system having a front surface and a display disposed in said front surface of said portable computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

a)providing a lid; and

b) providing a double-jointed coupling mechanism that is coupled to said lid, said double-jointed coupling mechanism pivoting about a first axis and pivoting about a second axis for coupling said lid to said portable computer system, said double-jointed coupling mechanism operable to move said lid from a closed position to an open position, said lid covering at least a portion of said front surface of said portable computer system so as to protect said display when said lid is in said closed position.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said lid has a front side and a rear side and wherein said portable computer system has a front side and a rear side, said method further comprising the step of:

c) moving said lid from a closed position into an open position, said lid disposed with said rear side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said front side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said closed position and said lid disposed such that said front side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said rear side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said open position.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of:

d) providing said portable computer, and wherein said portable computer is a palmtop computer having a first opening and a second opening disposed therein, said first opening and said second opening adapted to receive said double-jointed coupling mechanism.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said double-jointed coupling mechanism includes a first clip and a second clip and said method further comprises the steps of:

e) inserting said first clip into said first opening; and

f) inserting said second clip into said second opening, said first clip and said second clip coupling to said palmtop computer so as to couple said lid assembly to said palmtop computer.

12. A lid assembly for a palmtop computer system that includes a display, said lid assembly comprising:

a lid;

a plate having a first end and a second end, said plate rotatably coupled to said lid proximate said first end of said plate such that said plate can rotate relative to said lid; and

a first clip rotatably coupled to said plate proximate said second end of said plate for coupling to said palmtop computer system; and

a second clip, said second clip rotatably coupled to said plate proximate said second end of said plate, said second clip for coupling to said palmtop computer system such that, when said first clip and said second clip are coupled to said palmtop computer system, said lid moves from a closed position to an open position, said lid covering said display when said lid is in said closed position and said lid uncovering said display when said lid is in said open position.

13. A lid assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said lid comprises an opaque region and a non-opaque region, said non-opaque region allowing for viewing of a portion of said display when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

14. A lid assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said lid further comprises a first piece of plastic having an opening disposed therein, said lid further including a second piece of plastic disposed within said opening in said first piece of plastic, said first piece of plastic being non-opaque and said second piece of plastic being opaque such that a portion of said display is viewable when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

15. A lid assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said lid is a single piece of molded plastic having an opaque region and a non-opaque region, said non-opaque region forming a viewing window for viewing a portion of said display when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

16. A lid assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising:

a pin coupled to said plate such that said pin rotates relative to said plate, said first clip and said second clip coupled to said pin such that said first clip and said second clip rotate with the rotation of said pin.

17. A lid assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said lid comprises plastic.

18. A lid assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said plate comprises plastic.

19. A lid assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said first clip and said second clip comprise plastic.

20. A lid assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said lid has a front side and a rear side and wherein said palmtop computer system has a front side and a rear side, said lid movable such that lid is disposed with said rear side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said front side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said closed position, said lid movable such that said front side of said lid is aligned with and directly adjoins said rear side of said portable computer system when said lid is in said open position.