Housing for a computing device

• US 8,256,913 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Novak, Chris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US12/212,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 362/253, 362/95, 362/85, 362/26
• US Class Current: 362/26
• 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: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing is provided with one of an illuminable connector, a touch pad arrangement, and a palm rest stiffening plate. Normally, the illuminable connector and the touch pad arrangement are provided on external portions of a housing of the computing device such that they are available for user interaction. The palm rest stiffening plate is provided internal to a housing to provide stiffness or rigidity to a palm rest region of the housing.

Claims

1. A connector configured to transmit electrical signals and including an illuminable member and a light source configured to illuminate the illuminable member to show a status.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is a socket connector.

3. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is a plug connector.

4. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the illuminable member substantially surrounds the connector.

5. The connector as recited in claim 4, wherein the illuminable member is disposed entirely around the outer periphery of the connector.

6. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the shape of the illuminable member is circular.

7. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is carried by a computing device.

8. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source turns on when the connector is operatively coupled to a corresponding connector, and turns off when the connector is not operatively coupled to a corresponding connector.

9. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the status indicates that a proper electrical connection has been made with the connector.

10. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the illuminable member includes a light receiving area, a light directing area, and an illuminating area, the light receiving area being configured to transmit light from the light source to a light directing area, the light directing area being arranged to direct the transmitted light from the light receiving area to the illuminating area such that the illuminating area is illuminated when the light source is turned on.

11. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is adjacent to the illuminable member to efficiently couple light from the light source to the illuminable member.

12. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

13. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the illuminable member includes a substantially translucent portion having a light receiving area and an illumination area, the translucent portion being configured to direct light from the light source through the translucent portion from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, the illuminating area forming an outer surface of the connector that is luminous when the light source is providing light.