Retractable operator control panel with universal hinge design and dual orientation features

• US 7,515,429 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wombie, James Scott, Kelaher, Daniel Paul, Barina, Richard M., Schmidt, Derek Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/045,989
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-686, 361724-727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 248917-923
• US Class Current: 361/727
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1494 having hardware for monitoring blades, e.g. keyboards, displays methods or software therefore H05K7/1498
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

An information control panel and hinge member is removably joined together as a single unit to a retractable shuttle device utilized with computer servers or processor-based devices. The shuttle device having a first central opening with plural spaced apart detent grooves positioned thereabout. The hinge member includes a second central opening with plural spaced apart tabs positioned thereabout. A screw fastening element positioned through the first and second openings to directly and rotatably secure the hinge member relative to the shuttle device. A latch release means permits the single unit to be easily positioned in plural horizontal and vertical orientation positions that moves between selective ranges of 0 degrees to 90 degrees as the tabs moves relative to the detent grooves. Also, at least a stop member is located on the hinge member adjacent one of the tabs to stop the single unit at the minimum and extreme orientation positions.

Claims

1. An operator information panel and a universal hinge member connected together as a single unit to a slidable shuttle device mounted for use with a processor-based device, comprising:

a shuttle device slidable between retracted and extended display positions from within a server system;

the shuttle device with a central hub portion with first opening therein;

a universal hinge member with a central intermediate portion with a second opening therein;

the central hub portion with at least a pair of plural selective detent grooves thereon;

the universal hinge member with at least a pair of spaced apart tabs above and below the second opening;

at least a stop member positioned outwardly of and adjacent to the at least one of the pair of spaced apart tabs;

a shoulder screw member with a head portion and a cone-shaped washer disposed thereon and below the head portion;

the screw member being inserted through the first and second openings with an end portion opposite the head portion for receiving a retaining member for securing the shuttle device to the hinge member and information panel unit, the hinge member is disposed parallel and substantially along the entire length of a surface of the shuttle device in a horizontal orientation position; and

a releasable latch means disposed between the universal hinge member and the shuttle device, wherein the hinge member and the information panel is able to be rotated as single unit relative to the shuttle device to selective plural horizontal and vertical positions along a central rotational axis about the first and second openings, the releasing of the locking means allows the at least a pair of spaced apart tabs to be selective rotated along the at least a pair of plural selective detent grooves to orient a top face of the information panel to be able to viewed in both the horizontal and the vertical positions as the single unit is rotated about the rotational axis relative to shuttle device, and the selective horizontal and vertical positions extend within a range between 0 degrees and 90 degrees due to the selective rotational position of the stop member.