Tablet computer housing and method of construction

• US 6,791,825 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pro-Design Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Pro-Design Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Taylor, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US10/316,552
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/683, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.6
• 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 1/1656 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 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Abstract

A tablet computer housing assembly and housing construction method. A molded front housing has a planar perimeter margin and a front opening for viewing a LCD screen which is sealingly mounted within the housing assembly. A front sealing bracket having an open central portion is rigidly connected along an outer margin thereof to, and forms a seal with, the perimeter margin of the front housing. A molded rear housing having a planar perimeter margin and a rear sealing bracket and having an open central portion is rigidly connected to, and forms a seal with the perimeter margin of the rear housing. A flat compressible main sealing gasket having an open central portion is positioned between the front and rear sealing brackets to form a sealed connection therebetween whereby a sealed interior volume is established within the mating housings.

Claims

1. A tablet computer housing assembly comprising:

a molded front housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin and a front opening formed into a central panel thereof for viewing a LCD screen sealingly mounted within said housing assembly;

a separate generally flat rigid front sealing bracket having an open central portion and connected along an outer margin thereof to, and forming a seal with, said perimeter margin of said front housing;

a molded rear housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin;

a separate generally flat rigid rear sealing bracket having an open central portion connected to, and forming a seal with said perimeter margin of said rear housing;

each of said sealing brackets having a width which is substantially greater than a thickness of each corresponding said perimeter margin;

a flat compressible main sealing gasket having an open central portion positioned between said front and rear sealing brackets and matingly engaged together to form a sealed connection therebetween whereby a substantially sealed interior volume is defined within and between said front and rear housings for protectively mounting electronic components therewithin.

2. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said front and rear sealing brackets are each sealingly connected to said front and rear housings, respectively, by permanently bonding corresponding perimeter margins of each of said front and rear sealing brackets into a mating groove formed into each perimeter margin of each of said housings.

3. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said front sealing bracket further includes:

generally orthogonally extending spaced attaching tabs each having a substantially flat distal attachment pad in permanent adhesive contact with an inner surface of said front housing adjacent said perimeter margin thereof.

4. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a removable universal electronics component mounting chassis formed as a substantially flat panel connected within said interior volume;

said chassis adapted for receiving and securement thereon of substantially any selected electronics mounting arrangement;

said chassis connected to one of said housings with resilient vibration isolation therebetween to reduce the effects of housing assembly multi-directional vibration and impact upon the electronics components.

5. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure regulator arrangement sealingly connected through a wall of one said housing whereby static air pressure in said interior volume is maintained at a level not to exceed a seal rupture pressure of said housing assembly.

6. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a removable outlet panel sealingly connected from within said interior volume against a similarly sized aperture formed through said rear housing;

said outlet panel including electronics outlet connector apertures each for sealingly receiving an outlet connector sealingly mounted therethrough whereby a mating external cable may be connected to an external portion of a corresponding said outlet connector while maintaining an airtight condition in said interior volume.

7. A tablet computer having a sealed interior volume for hermetically protecting electronic components therein comprising:

a molded front housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin and a front opening formed into a central panel thereof for viewing a LCD screen sealingly mounted within said housing assembly;

a separate generally flat rigid front sealing bracket having an open central portion and connected along an outer margin thereof to, and forming a seal with, said perimeter margin of said front housing;

a molded rear housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin;

a separate generally flat rigid rear sealing bracket having an open central portion connected to, and forming a seal with said perimeter margin of said rear housing;

each of said sealing brackets having a width which is substantially greater than a thickness of each corresponding said perimeter margin;

a flat compressible main sealing gasket having an open central portion positioned between said front and rear sealing brackets and matingly engaged together to form a sealed connection therebetween whereby a substantially sealed interior volume is defined within and between said front and rear housings for protectively mounting electronic components therewithin;

a removable universal electronics component mounting chassis formed as a substantially flat panel connected within said interior volume;

said chassis adapted to receive substantially any selected electronics mounting arrangement attached thereto;

said chassis connected to one of said housings with resilient vibration isolation therebetween to reduce the effects of housing assembly vibration and impact upon the electronics components.

8. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said front and rear sealing brackets are each sealingly connected to said front and rear housings, respectively, by permanently bonding corresponding perimeter margins of each of said front and rear sealing brackets into a mating groove formed into each perimeter margin of each of said housings.

9. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said front sealing bracket further includes:

generally orthogonally extending spaced attaching tabs each having a substantially flat distal attachment pad in permanent adhesive contact with an inner surface of said front housing adjacent said perimeter margin thereof.

10. A tablet computer housing assembly as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

a pressure regulator arrangement sealingly connected through a wall of one said housing whereby static air pressure in said interior volume is maintained at a level not to exceed a seal rupture pressure of said housing assembly.

11. A method of releasably sealing connecting front and rear housings together to form a tablet computer housing assembly comprising the steps of:

A. providing a molded front housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin and a front opening formed into a central panel thereof for viewing a LCD screen sealingly mounted within said housing assembly;

B. providing a generally flat rigid front sealing bracket having an open central portion;

C. rigidly connecting said front sealing bracket along an outer margin thereof to, and forming a seal with, said perimeter margin of said front housing;

D. providing a molded rear housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin;

E. providing a generally flat rigid rear sealing bracket having an open central portion thereof;

F. rigidly connecting said rear sealing bracket to, and forming a seal with said perimeter margin of said rear housing;

G. providing a flat compressible main sealing gasket having an open central portion thereof;

H. positioning said main sealing gasket between said front and rear sealing brackets and matingly engaging said housings together to form a sealed connection therebetween whereby a substantially sealed interior volume is defined within and between said front and rear housings for protectively mounting electronic components therewithin.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

I. before step A, forming a groove into and entirely along perimeter margins of each of said housings, each said groove sized to snugly matably receive the corresponding said sealing bracket.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

J. before step B, forming orthogonally extending spaced tabs from adjacent to said outer margin of said front sealing bracket, each said tab having a substantially flat distal attachment portion positioned against an inner wall surface of said front housing;

K. permanently bonding each said attachment portion against the inner wall surface of said front housing simultaneous with step C.

14. A tablet computer housing assembly comprising:

a molded front housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin and a front opening formed into a central panel thereof for viewing a LCD screen sealingly mounted within said housing assembly;

a separate generally flat rigid front sealing bracket having an open central portion and connected along an outer margin thereof to, and forming a seal with, said perimeter margin of said front housing;

a molded rear housing having a substantially planar perimeter margin;

a separate generally flat rigid rear sealing bracket having an open central portion connected to, and forming a seal with said perimeter margin of said rear housing;

each of said sealing brackets having a width which is substantially greater than a thickness of each corresponding said perimeter margin;

a flat compressible main sealing gasket having an open central portion positioned between said front and rear sealing brackets and matingly engaged together to form a sealed connection therebetween whereby a substantially sealed interior volume is defined within and between said front and rear housings for protectively mounting electronic components therewithin;

said front and rear sealing brackets are each sealingly connected to said front and rear housings, respectively, by connecting corresponding perimeter margins of each of said front and rear sealing brackets into a mating groove formed into each perimeter margin of each of said housing.