Grip device and information processing unit

• US 7,936,562 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Haruka, Nagamura, Yoshiaki, Tanaka, Shintaro, Nakatani, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/551,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.59, 161/131, 164/29
• US Class Current: 361/679.59
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/023 Handles; Grips

Abstract

In a grip device of the present invention, shielding members are placed in the openings of a handle in which arm members are to be arranged, respectively. This can make it difficult for a foreign matter to enter the handle via the openings. The presence of the shielding members can prevent a foreign matter from being caught between the handle and each of the arm members when the handle is moved from the extended position to the retracted position, resulting in a smooth movement of the handle.

Claims

1. A grip device comprising:

a pair of first and second stationary portions that are fixed to a case;

a pair of first and second arm members, each of which has two ends, and one end of the first arm member and one end of the second arm member are supported rotatably by the first stationary portion and the second stationary portion, respectively; and

a grip that is supported rotatably between the other end of the first arm member and the other end of the second arm member, that has openings at both ends for receiving the first arm member and the second arm member, and that can accommodate the first arm member and the second arm member through the openings,

wherein the grip includes shielding portions for shielding the openings.

2. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein the grip is supported by the first stationary portion and the second stationary portion so as to be movable between a retracted position that is close to the case and an extended position that is away from the case, and

wherein the first arm member and the second arm member have first notches that are in contact with the shielding portions when the grip is at the retracted position, respectively.

3. The grip device according to claim 2, wherein the first notches are provided in outer edges of the first arm member and the second arm member on an opposite side to the case, and

an inner surface of each of the first notches on a stationary portion side is substantially flush with a side of the stationary portion when the grip is at the extended position.

4. The grip device according to claim 2, wherein the first arm member and the second arm member further have second notches that are in contact with the shielding portions when the grip is at the extended position, respectively.

5. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding portions are made of a plastic resin.

6. An information processing unit comprising:

an information signal input portion for inputting an information signal;

a case containing an information processing means for processing the information signal; and

a grip device coupled to the case,

wherein the grip device comprises;

a pair of first and second stationary portions that are fixed to the case;

a pair of first and second arm members, each of which has two end, and one end of the first arm member and one end of the second arm member are supported rotatably by the first stationary portion and the second stationary portion, respectively; and

a grip that is supported rotatably between the other end of the first arm member and the other end of the second arm member, that has openings at both ends for receiving the first arm member and the second arm member, and that can accommodate the first arm member and the second arm member through the openings,

wherein the grip includes shielding portions for shielding the openings.

7. The information processing unit according to claim 6, wherein the grip is supported by the first stationary portion and the second stationary portion so as to be movable between a retracted position that is close to the case and an extended position that is away from the case, and

wherein the first arm member and the second arm member have first notches that are in contact with the shielding portions when the grip is at the retracted position, respectively.

8. The information processing unit according to claim 7, wherein the first notches are provided in outer edges of the first arm member and the second arm member on an opposite side to the case, and

an inner surface of each of the first notches on a stationary portion side is substantially flush with a side of the stationary portion when the grip is at the extended position.

9. The information processing unit according to claim 7, wherein the first arm member and the second arm member further have second notches that are in contact with the shielding portions when the grip is at the extended position, respectively.

10. The information processing unit according to claim 6, wherein the shielding portions are made of a plastic resin.