Computing device support system

• US 7,950,611 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• 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: Harris, Jonathan R., Doczy, Paul J., Tracy, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/786,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 248/685, 248/688, 248/676, 248/677, 248/455, 248/454, 248/370, 248/176.3, 248/125.8, 248/188.2, 248/188.5, 248/188.8, 248/458, 248/461, 248/349.1, 248/917, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.27, 361/679.59, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 361/688, 361/690, 361/692, 361/694, 361/695
• US Class Current: 248/176.3
• 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 1/166 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 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0234 Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A computing device comprising a support system extendable and retractable relative to a housing, the support system extending across a lateral dimension of the housing between a pair of housing sidewalls to support at least a portion of the housing in an elevated position relative to a support surface.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a housing that extends between a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls; and

a support system that includes an outer segment and an inner segment that telescopically extend from and telescopically retract into the housing, the outer and inner segments including a plurality of airflow vents that dissipate thermal energy generated by the computing device and the outer and inner segments extending across a lateral dimension of the housing between the pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls of the housing to support at least a portion of the housing in an elevated position relative to a support surface.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the support system comprises a biasing mechanism that biases the outer and inner segments to an extended position away from a base of the computing device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the inner segment slideably engages in a telescopic manner with the outer segment, and the outer segment slideably engages in a telescopic manner with an opening in the housing.

4. The computing device of claim 1, the support system comprises a plurality of slideably engaged segments that telescopically extend from the housing and telescopically retract into the housing, wherein each of the plurality of slideably engaged segments includes plural airflow vents that cool the computing device.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a notebook computer.

6. A computing device, comprising:

a support system with plural segments that are extendable and retractable relative to a housing to elevate at least a portion of the computing device relative to a support surface, the plural segments comprising an airflow vent to facilitate an airflow through the housing of the computing device to dissipate thermal energy generated by the computing device.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the plural segments telescopically extend from the housing.

8. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the inner segment slideably engages in a telescopic manner with the outer segment, and the outer segment slideably engages in a telescopic manner with an opening in the housing.

9. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the computing device is a laptop computer.

10. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the airflow vent forms an airflow path from the support system into the housing of the computing device.

11. The computer device of claim 6, wherein all of the support system is disposed within the housing in a retracted position.

12. A notebook computer, comprising:

a support system including segments that elevate at least a portion of the notebook computer relative to a support surface, the segments being telescopically coupled to a base of the notebook computer, extending across a lateral dimension of the base between two opposing sidewalls in an extended position, and retracting into the base in a retracted position, wherein the segments extend perpendicular with the base in the extended position.

13. The notebook computer of claim 12, wherein the segments comprises a plurality of airflow vents that dissipate heat generated by the notebook computer.

14. The notebook computer of claim 12, wherein the segments are telescopically movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the base of the notebook computer.

15. The notebook computer of claim 12, wherein at least one of the segments is slideably engaged with another one of the segments.

16. The notebook computer of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the segments are disposed within the base of the notebook computer in a retracted position.

17. A computer, comprising:

a base having a housing;

a display that rotatably connects to the base; and

a support system including a plurality of telescopically engaged segments that support at least a portion of the base of the computer in an elevated position relative to a support surface, the plurality of telescopically engaged segments extendable from a retracted position located within the base to an extended position and extending across a lateral dimension of the base between two opposing sidewalls, wherein the plurality of telescopically engaged segments extend perpendicular with the base in the extended position and retract into the base in the retracted position.