Rotational wrist pad operably linked to extendable legs of a computer having a backside surface configured for flush storage of the wrist pad

• US 6,654,230 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Jeffrey Allen, Sanchez-Cifuentes, Alvaro
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/138,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20030206395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/683, 400/691, 400/713, 400/714, 400/719, 400/715, 400/472, 400/488, 400/489, 400/692, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 248/918, 248/346, 248/345.1, 248/678, 248/917, 248/442.2, 248/444.1, 248/449, 248/451-454, 248/650, 248/923, 312/208.2, 312/208.4, 312/223--22, 206/45.28, 206/305, 206/320, 206/576
• US Class Current: 361/679.19
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle

Abstract

A mounting apparatus is disclosed to allow a wrist pad to be rotationally mounted to a forward end of a computer. The wrist pad is operably coupled to a leg near the rearward end of the computer. Rotation of the wrist pad causes a linkage to draw the leg inward into the computer or extend the leg outward from the computer. The wrist pad can be placed in a storage configuration against an exterior surface of the computer or the wrist pad can be placed in a configuration in front of the computer or on top of a keyboard when the computer is opened and configured for use. Placing the wrist pad in at least two operable positions gives the user flexibility in relieving pressure points along the user'"'"'s lower arm and hand area. Also, placing the wrist pad in a storage configuration makes the exterior surface of the stored pad coplanar with the exterior surface of the computer. Accordingly, one surface of the computer has an angled or beveled surface to accommodate the stored wrist pad and to abut with a working surface when the leg or legs are extended.

Claims

1. A computer wrist pad mounting apparatus, comprising:

a wrist pad adapted to rotate to a pre-defined position;

a leg; and

a linkage coupled between the wrist pad and the leg for extending the leg during times when the wrist pad is rotated to the pre-defined position.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the wrist pad is adapted for rotation in excess of 180°

.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the wrist pad is rotationally coupled about a first axis to a bracket, and the bracket is rotationally coupled about a second axis to a forward surface of a computer.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the first axis and the second axis extend along the forward surface parallel to one another.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pre-defined position is proximate an upper surface of a computer.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pre-defined position is an extension of a forward surface of a computer.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the linkage is further adapted to retract the leg during times when the wrist pad is rotated to another pre-defined position proximate a lower surface of a computer into which the leg is retracted.

8. A computer, comprising:

a pad having opposed first and second surfaces rotational about an axis that extends along a forward area of the computer; and

a first portion and a second portion of a backside surface of the computer, wherein the first portion abuts with the first surface of the pad and the second surface is substantially co-planar with the second surface of the pad.

9. The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second portions extend in an obtuse angle relative to each other.

10. The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second surfaces extend in an acute angle relative to each other.

11. The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer comprises a keyboard on a frontside surface of the computer, and wherein the backside surface is opposite the frontside surface.

12. The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein the first portion abuts with the first surface of the pad during times when the computer is configured for storage.

13. The computer as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer is configured for storage when a keyboard is pivotally collapsed onto an electronic display.

14. The computer as recited in claim 8, further comprising a leg is operable communication with rotation of the pad about the axis.

15. The computer as recited in claim 8, further comprising a leg adapted for retraction beneath the second portion of the backside surface during times when the first surface abuts with the first portion of the backside surface.

16. The computer as recited in claim 8, further comprising a leg adapted for extension from the second portion of the backside surface during times when the first surface is drawn from abutment with the first portion.

17. The computer as recited in claim 16, wherein a distal end of the leg and the first portion form substantially all surfaces of which the computer rests upon a working surface.

18. The computer as recited in claim 16, wherein the first portion and not the second portion rests upon a working surface during times when the leg extends from the second portion.

19. A method for opening a laptop computer, comprising:

unfolding a computer screen from a keyboard; and

rotating a wrist pad from a backside surface of the keyboard to a frontside surface of the keyboard.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said rotating further comprising extending at least one leg from the backside surface of the keyboard.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein unfolding comprises separating the computer screen from the keyboard about an axis near a rearward surface of the computer.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein rotating comprises actuating a bracket rotationally fastened to the wrist pad against a linkage for causing the linkage to draw the leg against a cam near the backside surface.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising, after said rotating, placing the leg and a portion of the backside surface of the keyboard vacated by the wrist pad against a working surface.