Interactive display user interface computer and method

• US 6,388,659 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telxon Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Yung-Fu, Kochis, Gary, Embree, Donald M., Myerson, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/912,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169-183, 345/901, 345/905, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 341/21-23, 341/32-33, D14/100, D14/106, D14/113, D14/115, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 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 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A hand-held portable computer is disclosed. The computer includes a housing at least partially enclosing computer electronics, a visible display screen supported by the computer housing and a handle assembly connected to the computer housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support, a support retainer affixed to the housing at a location opposite the screen and a handle supported by the handle support. The support retainer adjustably connects the handle support to the computer housing. In the preferred embodiment, the handle support is rotatably adjustable with respect to the computer housing. The handle support includes an annular ring having a plurality of indentations on one surface and the support retainer includes a detent which engages a selected one of the indentations to secure the handle support in a desired rotational orientation.

Claims

1. A computer housing and handle assembly for supporting a display screen housing, the housing and handle assembly comprising:

a) a computer housing including an upper surface adapted to support the display screen housing;

b) a handle assembly coupled to the computer housing, the handle assembly including a handle attachment extension pivotally connected to the computer housing and extending away from the upper surface of the computer housing;

c) the handle assembly further including a handle extending transversely from the handle attachment extension near a first end of the handle attachment extension for use by a user in supporting the display screen housing and the housing and handle assembly; and

d) a cam latching mechanism on abutting surfaces of a second end of the handle attachment extension and the computer housing such that the handle attachment extension may be oriented in a selected one of a plurality of angular orientations with respect to the upper surface of the computer housing, the cam latching mechanism including a detent extending from one of the second end of the handle attachment extension and an abutting surface of the computer housing and a mating camming surface formed in the other of the second end of the handle attachment extension and the abutting surface of the computer housing the camming surface releasably receiving the detent in a plurality of positions thereby providing for the plurality of angular orientations of the handle attachment extension.

2. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the camming surface comprises an aligned plurality of spaced apart indentations, each of the spaced apart indentations of the camming surface being sized to releasably receive the detent.

3. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the camming surface comprises an aligned plurality of spaced apart raised portions, each of the spaced apart raised portions of the camming surface being sized to releasably receive the detent between adjacent pairs of raised portions.

4. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 further including a detent extending from the upper surface of the computer housing which forms part of a second cam latching mechanism formed on abutting surfaces of the display screen housing and the upper surface of the computer housing to permit relative rotation between the computer housing and handle assembly and the display screen housing.

5. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 further including a camming surface formed in the upper surface of the computer housing which forms part of a second cam latching mechanism formed on abutting surfaces of the display screen housing and the upper surface of the computer housing to permit relative rotation between the computer housing and handle assembly and the display screen housing.

6. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly includes a second handle attachment extension pivotally connected to the computer housing and extending away from the upper surface of the computer housing, the handle connected to near a first end of the second handle attachment extension.

7. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the computer housing includes an interior space for housing computer components.

8. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly includes an interior space for housing computer components.

9. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the handle is cylindrical.

10. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the computer housing is generally rectangular shaped.