Computer device with universal cover

• US 7,535,702 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Doczy, Paul J., Moore, Earl W., Deluga, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US11/239,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/679
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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

Abstract

A computer device comprises at least one housing configured with a peripheral opening to enable access to a plurality of components disposed therein, and a cover couplable to the at least one housing over the peripheral opening to cooperatively enclose the plurality of components.

Claims

1. A computer device, comprising:

a display member housing rotatably coupled to a base member housing, the display member housing configured with a peripheral opening to enable access to a plurality of components disposed therein; and

a cover couplable to the display member housing over the peripheral opening to cooperatively enclose the plurality of components, wherein the cover is exchangeably couplable between the display member housing of the computer device and another display member housing of another computer device.

2. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the cover couples to different models of computer devices that have a different number, type, location, or size of antennas.

3. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the cover couples to different models of computer devices that have different types, styles, shapes, or sizes of housings.

4. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the cover is flexible.

5. The computer device of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the cover to the display member housing.

6. The computer device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of components comprises an antenna.

7. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the cover is rotatably coupled to the display member housing.

8. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the cover is removably couplable to the display member housing.

9. A computer device, comprising:

a display member housing means rotatably coupled to a base member housing, the display member housing means configured with a peripheral opening to enable access to a plurality of components disposed therein; and

means couplable to the display member housing means over the peripheral opening for cooperatively enclosing the plurality of components, wherein the means couplable to the display member housing means is exchangeably couplable between the display member housing means of the computer device and another display member housing means of another computer device.

10. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the means couplable to the display member housing means is universally configured to accommodate different arrangements of antennas enclosed in the display member housing means.

11. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the means couplable to the display member housing means extends to at least two surfaces of the display member housing means.

12. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the means couplable to the display member housing means is flexible.

13. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the means couplable to the display member housing means is rotatably coupled to the display member housing means.

14. A method of manufacturing a computer device, comprising:

providing a display member housing rotatably coupled to a base member housing, the display member housing configured with a peripheral opening to enable access to a plurality of components disposed therein; and

providing a cover couplable to the display member housing over the peripheral opening to cooperatively enclose the plurality of components, wherein the cover is exchangeably couplable between the display member housing of the computer device and another display member housing of another computer device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cover couples to different models of computer devices that have a different number, type, location, or size of antennas.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the cover couples to different models of computer devices that have different types, styles, shapes, or sizes of housings.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a cover comprises providing a flexible cover.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a locking mechanism to removably secure the cover to the display member housing.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring the cover to extend an entire dimension of at least one surface of the display member housing.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising rotatably coupling the cover to the display member housing.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising disposing at least one antenna in the peripheral opening.

22. A computer device, comprising:

a first computer housing having a peripheral opening for disposing a plurality of computer components therein;

a second computer housing having a peripheral opening for disposing a plurality of computer components therein; and

a cover exchangeably couplable between the first and second computer housings to enclose the respective plurality of components.

23. The computer device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of computer components within the second computer housing is different from at least one of the plurality of computer components within the first computer housing.

24. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the first computer housing is a display mcmber.

25. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the first computer housing is a base member.

26. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the second computer housing is a display member.

27. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the second computer housing is a base member.

28. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the first computer housing is different in style than the second computer housing.

29. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the first computer housing is different in shape than the second computer housing.

30. The computer device of claim 22, wherein the first computer housing is different in size than the second computer housing.

31. A computer device, comprising:

a housing configured with a peripheral opening to enable access to a plurality of antennas disposed therein; and

a cover couplable to the display member housing over the peripheral opening to cooperatively enclose, the plurality of antennas, wherein the cover is exchangeably couplable between the display member housing of the computer device and another display member housing of a different model and type of computer device.

32. The computer device of claim 31, wherein the cover couples to different models of computer devices that have a different number, type, location, or size of antennas.

33. The computer device of claim 31, wherein the cover couples to different models of computer devices that have different types, styles, shapes, or sizes of housings.

34. The computer device of claim 31, wherein the cover is configured to cover different arrangements of antennas.

35. The computer device of claim 31, wherein a selected one of the plurality of antennas is spaced apart from another selected one of the plurality of antennas.