Cover for mobile computer

• US 7,729,493 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Krieger, John William, Lewis, Randall Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/637,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20070163080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.13
• US Class Current: 379/433.13
• 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 1/166 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0208 characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A handheld computer comprises a housing and a cover removably connected thereto by a universal hinge assembly. The universal hinge assembly includes a tubular member or arm having a proximal end fixedly (non-rotatably) secured to an edge of the cover and a distal end pivotally coupled to an edge of the cover. The pivotal coupling may comprise a ball and socket arrangement, a pin and slot arrangement, or any other type of coupling arrangement that enables universal pivoting movement and releasable attachment between the cover and the housing. The cover may include a cushion designed to abut a display screen mounted in the housing when the cover is in a closed position. A method of reconfiguring an encasement of a handheld computer having a cover releasably coupled thereto includes removing the first cover and replacing it with a second cover of a different type.

Claims

1. A removable cover assembly, comprising:

a hinge portion; and

a cover portion coupled to the hinge portion, the cover portion and the hinge portion being configured to be removably attached to a portable computing device such that the cover portion may be positioned in a plurality of different first positions and a second position;

wherein the cover portion is configured to hold the portable computing device in a viewing position for viewing by a user at one of a plurality of different inclined angles relative to a horizontal plane when the cover portion is positioned in one of the first positions, each of the different first positions being associated with one of the different inclined angles, the cover portion being at an angle relative to the horizontal plane when in one of the first positions;

wherein the cover portion is configured to cover at least a portion of a surface of the portable computing device when in the second position; and

wherein the cover portion comprises a material configured to enhance a grip of the cover portion on a horizontal surface, wherein the material is disposed on the cover portion to hold the portable computing device in the viewing position for viewing by a user.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is configured to slidably engage the portable computing device.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is configured to cover a display of the portable computing device when in the second position.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is configured to cover one or more user input devices of the portable computing device when in the second position.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is configured to conform to the surface of the portable computing device in the second position.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge portion permits rotation of the cover portion about two axes.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is configured to be located at approximately the longitudinal midpoint of a line extending top to bottom across a display screen of the portable electronic device.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a handheld computing device.

9. The removable cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is configured to be biased in a position corresponding to a viewing position of the portable computing device.

10. The removable cover assembly of claim 9, wherein the hinge portion is configured to be biased in a plurality of positions corresponding to viewing positions of the portable computing device.

11. The removable cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge has a tendency to remain in a predefined position.