Palm rest with numerical keypad

• US 6,493,218 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Fraga, Johnny C., Mullen, Cassius J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/715,247
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680, 361/683, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer includes a base having an exterior surface and a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface. A palm rest area is provided adjacent the keyboard. A palm rest component is detachably mounted in the palm rest area. A numerical keypad is mounted in the palm rest component. A coupling connects the numerical keypad to supplement the input components of the keyboard.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a base having an exterior surface;

a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface;

a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

a first palm rest component detachably mounted in a first position on the palm rest area;

a second palm rest component detachably mounted in a second position on the palm rest area spaced apart from the first position;

a numerical keypad mounted in the first palm rest component; and

a coupling for connecting the numerical keypad to supplement the input components of the keyboard.

2. The computer defined in claim 1 wherein the coupling includes a connector mounted on the first palm rest component and a mating connector mounted in the base.

3. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein each palm rest component includes an exterior surface.

4. The computer as defined in claim 3 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material and the exterior surface of each palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material.

5. The computer as defined in claim 3 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material having a first color and first texture, and the exterior surface of each palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material and having a second color and a second texture, different from the first color and the first texture.

6. The computer as defined in claim 3 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material having a first texture, and the exterior surface of each component palm rest is formed of a second material, different from the first material, and having a second texture, different from the first texture.

7. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein the first palm rest component included an exterior surface adjacent the numerical keypad.

8. The computer as defined in claim 7 wherein the exeterior surface of the base is formed of a first material and the exterior surface of the first palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material.

9. The computer as defined in claim 7 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material having a first color and a first texture, and the exterior surface of the first palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material, and having a second color and a second texture, different from the first color and the first texture.

10. The computer as defined in claim 7 wherein in the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material having a first texture, and the exterior surface of the first palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material, and having a second texture, different from the first texture.

11. A computer system comprising:

a chassis having an exterior surface;

a microprocessor mounted in the chassis;

a storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a video controller coupled to the microprocessor;

a memory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor;

a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface;

a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

a first palm rest component detachably mounted in a first position on the palm rest area;

a second palm rest component detachably mounted in a second position on the palm rest area spaced apart from the first position;

a numerical keypad mounted in the first palm rest component; and

a coupling for connecting the numerical keypad to supplement the input component of the keyboard.

12. The computer system as defined in claim 11 wherein the coupling includes a connector mounted on the first palm rest component and a mating connector mounted on the base.

13. A customer configured portable computer comprising:

a base having an exterior surface;

a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface;

a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

a customer configured first palm rest component detachably mounted in a first position on the palm rest area;

a customer configured second palm rest component detachably mounted in a second position on the palm rest area spaced apart from the first position;

a customer configured numerical keypad mounted in the first palm rest component; and

a coupling for connecting the numerical keypad to supplement the input components of the keyboard.

14. The computer as defined in claim 13 wherein the first palm rest component includes an exterior surface adjacent the numerical keypad.

15. The computer as defined in claim 14 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material and the exterior surface of the first palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material.

16. The computer as defined in claim 14 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material having a first color, and the exterior surface of the first palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material, and having a second color, different from the first color.

17. The computer as defined in claim 14 wherein the exterior surface of the base is formed of a first material having a first texture, and the exterior surface of the first palm rest component is formed of a second material, different from the first material, and having a second texture, different from the first texture.

18. A method of providing numerical controls for a portable computer comprising:

forming a base having an exterior surface;

mounting a keyboard on a portion of the exterior surface, the keyboard including input components;

providing a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

detachably mounting a first palm rest component in a first position on the palm rest area;

detachably mounting a second palm rest component in a second position on the palm rest area spaced apart from the first position; and

mounting a numerical keypad in the first palm rest component.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 wherein the numerical keypad is customer configured.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 further comprising coupling the numerical keypad to supplement the input components of the keyboard.