Host and adapter for selectively positioning a consumer electronic display in visible and concealed orientations

• US 7,869,201 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Moes, Christopher S., McCoy, Richard A., Viswanathan, Ameresh
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai; Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US11/619,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 312/405, 312/406, 361/679, 361/681, 361/683, 361/686, 361724-727, 36167901-67945, 36167955-67959, 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169, 248917-924
• US Class Current: 361/679.07
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment

Abstract

A modular system comprises an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation, a consumer electronic device removably mounted to the appliance and having a display, and an adapter mounting the consumer electronic device to the appliance for movement between a first orientation, where the display is visible to a user, and a second orientation, where the display is concealed from the user.

Claims

1. A modular system comprising:

an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation, and having a cabinet with an open face, a door with a front surface and a recess in the front surface and movably mounted to the cabinet for selectively closing the open face, and an appliance service interface that provides an electrical service;

an electrical hinged adapter mounted to the door and having a first adapter service interface that couples with the appliance service interface and a second adapter service interface, wherein the hinged adapter comprises a pivot axis of rotation that is generally horizontal and a hinged axis of rotation that is transverse to the pivot axis of rotation and generally normal to the front surface of the door; and

an electronic device mounted to the hinged adapter, the electronic device having a display and a device service interface that is incompatible with the appliance service interface and that couples with the second adapter service interface;

wherein the hinged adapter selectively communicates the electrical service between the appliance and the electronic device via the coupled first adapter service interface and appliance service interface and the coupled second adapter service interface and device service interface, and the electronic device is moveable relative to the appliance between a first orientation, where the display faces away from the front surface of the door, and a second orientation, where the display faces the front surface of the door by pivoting the hinged adapter away from the door about the pivot axis, rotating the hinged adapter about the hinge axis, and pivoting the hinged adapter toward the door about the pivot axis;

wherein the display is received in the recess in the first and second orientations.

2. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the electrical service provided by the appliance service interface is a first electrical service, and the electrical service provided by the second adapter service interface is a second electrical service that is different than the first electrical service.

3. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the hinged adapter provides the electrical service to the electronic device in the first orientation and does not provide the electrical service in the second orientation.

4. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the electrical service is selected from a power service and a data service.

5. The modular system of claim 4, wherein the electrical service comprises both a power service and a data service.

6. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the hinged adapter directly couples the display to the door.