Computer housing for a portable computer

• US 6,411,505 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Itani, Mounir M., Healy, Andrew S., DiFonzo, John C., Andre, Bart, Kim, Sung H., Johnston, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/441,146
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 361/724-727, 439/152, 439/155, 439/159, 439/160, 711/115, 711/2, 711/5
• US Class Current: 361/679.38
• 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 1/1656 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 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0997 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/42 Rigid engaging means

Abstract

Improved housings for computing devices are disclosed. One improvement pertains to a multi-axis ventilation system. Another improvement pertains to a push button latch for a portable computer. Still another improvement pertains to a media bay ejection system provided with a dampener. These improvements can be provided separately or in any combination in a given computing device.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

a media bay capable of receiving a media device; and

a computer housing for components of said portable computer, said computer housing including at least

a media bay opening providing access to said media bay; and

a media ejection mechanism, said media ejection mechanism includes at least a push bar, a dampener and an eject lever, said dampener provides a resistance to rapid movement to said push bar and said eject lever.

2. A portable computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said push bar is spring-biased.

3. A portable computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the eject lever has at least an initial position and an eject position, and

wherein a media device can be inserted into said media bay via said media bay opening while the eject lever is in the initial position, and thereafter the media device can be ejected from said media bay via said media bay opening by moving the eject lever from the initial position to the eject position.

4. A portable computer as recited in claim 3, wherein the eject lever slowly returns from the eject position to the initial position after being released.

5. A portable computer as recited in claim 3, wherein the spring-biased push bar causes the eject lever to return to the initial position, and the dampener causes the rate of the return to be limited.

6. A portable computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the push bar has a first toothed section and the dampener has a gear that meshes against the first toothed section.

7. A portable computer as recited in claim 6, wherein the push bar has a second toothed section and the eject lever has a gear that meshes against the second toothed section.

8. A portable computer as recited in claim 6, wherein said media ejection mechanism further includes a spring, and wherein said dampener further acoustically dampens spring noise.

9. A portable computer as recited in claim 6 wherein said dampener includes a viscous liquid that resists the rotation of said gear.

10. A portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said dampener allows said pull bar and said eject lever to return to their rest positions in a slow and controlled manner.

11. A portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said push bar is positioned inside said computer housing.

12. A portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the eject lever provides a pivot action.

13. A portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said push bar is attached to a spring that is connected to a fixed surface within the interior of said computer housing.

14. A computer, comprising:

a display housing including a display;

a media bay capable of receiving a media device; and

a computer housing for components of said computer, said housing including at least

a media bay opening providing access to said media bay; and

media ejection means for dampening a return action of an ejection lever which ejects a media device from said media bay.

15. A media ejection mechanism for ejecting a media device from a media bay, said media ejection mechanism comprising:

an eject lever that moves between an initial position and an ejection position so as to at least partially eject the media device from the media bay;

a spring having a return force that moves the eject lever to its initial position; and

a dampener for providing a resistance to the return force so as to allow the eject lever to move to its initial position in a slow and controlled manner.

16. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 15 wherein said dampener substantially eliminates acoustic spring sounds or snap back of the eject lever, which are produced by said spring.

17. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 15 further including a push bar that cooperates with said eject lever to at least partially eject said media device from said media bay.

18. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 17 wherein said eject lever is operatively coupled to said push bar, and wherein the eject lever operates to move the push bar between a first position for receiving the media device in the media bay, and a second position for at least partially ejecting the media device from the media bay.

19. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 18 wherein said initial position of said eject lever corresponds to said first position of said push bar, and wherein said ejection position of said eject lever corresponds to said second position of said push bar.

20. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 18 wherein said push bar is configured to push said media device out of said media bay upon actuation of said ejection lever.

21. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 18 wherein said spring is connected to said push bar and to a fixed surface of a housing that contains said media bay.

22. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 21 wherein said return force of said spring pulls said push bar to its first position thereby placing said ejection lever in its initial position.

23. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 17 wherein said dampener is operatively coupled to said push bar.

24. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 17 wherein said ejection lever pivots and said push bar translates.

25. A media ejection mechanism as recited in claim 15 wherein said return force exceeds said resistance by a small amount so as to allow said eject lever to move to its initial position in said slow and controlled manner.

26. A method for controlling the movement of an eject lever used to eject a media device from a media bay, comprising;

continuously biasing the eject lever into an initial position via a return force; and

dampening the return force so as to allow the eject lever to move to its initial position in a slow and controlled manner.