Computer display device with dual lateral slide-out screens

• US 6,532,146 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Slide View Corporation
• Original Assignee: Slide View Corp (AP Henderson Group)
• Inventors: Duquette, Daniel Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US10/057,035
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/681, 361/686, 345/1, 345/3, 345/4, 345/5
• US Class Current: 361/679.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• 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

Abstract

A display apparatus comprises a device enclosure supporting a front panel and a monitor housing supporting a first monitor screen. The monitor housing is pivotally engaged with the device enclosure, and enabled for pivotal movement between a closed position wherein the first monitor screen is approximately parallel to the front panel, and an open position, placing the first monitor screen at an angle to the front panel. A sliding assembly supports plural further monitor screens. The further monitor screens are enabled for sliding movement between concealed positions within the monitor housing and viewing positions lateral to the monitor housing. The further monitor screens are further enabled, when placed in their viewing positions, for pivotal movement relative to the monitor assembly for improved viewing, jointly, of the plural screens.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a device enclosure supporting a front panel; and

a monitor housing supporting a first monitor screen, the monitor housing pivotally engaged with the device enclosure, and enabled for pivotal movement between a closed position wherein the first monitor screen is approximately parallel to front panel, and an open position, placing the first monitor screen at an angle to the front panel;

a sliding assembly supporting a second monitor screen disposed in parallel to, and behind the first monitor screen, the sliding assembly enabled for sliding movement between a concealed position within the monitor housing and a viewing position lateral to the monitor housing enabling viewing of the first and the second monitor screens simultaneously from a common viewing position;

the monitor housing providing a first low friction means and the second monitor screen providing a second low friction means, the first and second low friction means in sliding contact for moving the second monitor screen with low effort;

a pair of latches engaging indentations in the second monitor screen on an upper and a lower edge thereof for enabling the second monitor screen to be fixedly engaged with the monitor housing when the second monitor screen is in the fully retracted position and when the second monitor screen is in the fully extended position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second monitor screen is enabled, when placed in the viewing position, for pivotal movement relative to the monitor assembly for improved viewing, jointly, of the first and the second monitor screens from a common viewing position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second monitor screen is enclosed in a separable sliding assembly housing, the sliding assembly housing providing edge gripping means for mounting the sliding assembly housing onto the monitor housing and a means for electrical interconnection between the sliding assembly housing and the device enclosure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sliding assembly is enabled, when placed in the viewing position, for pivotal movement relative to the monitor assembly for improved viewing, jointly, of the first and the second monitor screens.

5. A display apparatus comprising:

a device enclosure supporting a front panel; and

a monitor housing supporting a first monitor screen, the monitor housing pivotally engaged with the device enclosure, and enabled for pivotal movement between a closed position wherein the first monitor screen is approximately parallel to front panel, and an open position, placing the first monitor screen at an angle to the front panel;

a sliding assembly supporting a second and a third monitor screens disposed in parallel to, and behind the first monitor screen, the second and a third monitor screens enabled for sliding movement between a concealed position within the monitor housing and a viewing position lateral to the monitor housing enabling viewing of the first, second and third monitor screens simultaneously from a single viewing position;

the monitor housing providing a first low friction means and the second and third monitor screens each providing a second low friction means, the first and second low friction means in sliding contact for moving the second and third monitor screens with low effort;

a pair of latches engaging each of the second and third monitor screens on an upper and a lower edge of each for enabling the second and the third screens to be fixedly engaged with the monitor housing when the second and the third screens are in the fully retracted position and alternately in the fully laterally extended position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second and the third monitor screens are enabled, when placed in the viewing position, for pivotal movement relative to the monitor assembly for improved viewing, jointly, of the first, second and third monitor screens.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second and the third monitor screens are enclosed in a separable sliding assembly housing, the sliding assembly housing providing edge gripping means enabled for mounting the sliding assembly housing onto the monitor housing and a means for electrical interconnection between the second and the third monitor screens in the sliding assembly housing and the device enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second and the third monitor screens are enabled, when placed in the viewing position, for pivotal movement relative to the monitor assembly for improved viewing, jointly, of the first, second and third monitor screens.