Enclosure mechanism for a computing device

• US 8,259,445 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Skillman, Peter, Del Balso, Anthony, Yeruva, Siva Raja Sekhar Reddy, Much, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/821,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20110058332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.58
• US Class Current: 361/679.58
• 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 1/1656 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

Abstract

A computing device that includes a housing, an accessory interface, and a self-closing enclosure mechanism for the accessory interface. The self-closing enclosure mechanism is positioned over the accessory interface and is pivotable to move between a closed and open position.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a housing;

an accessory interface;

an enclosure mechanism provided with the housing and pivotable between an open and a closed position, the enclosure mechanism being positioned over the accessory surface to (i) provide access to the accessory interface when in the open position, and (ii) enclose the accessory interface when in the closed position, wherein the enclosure mechanism is extended from a hinge line that is unitarily formed into a portion of the housing; and

a magnetic latch provided with the accessory interface and the enclosure mechanism to facilitate the enclosure mechanism being moved into and remaining in the closed position.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic latch comprises a magnetic element positioned on at least one of (i) a surface of the accessory interface;

or (ii) an interior surface of the enclosure mechanism.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the magnetic element is positioned on the surface of the accessory interface, and wherein magnetic latch comprises a metallic element positioned on the interior surface of the enclosure mechanism.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the accessory interface includes a connector port for the computing device.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the housing and the enclosure mechanism are formed from an elastomer, and wherein the enclosure mechanism stems from the housing, so that when the enclosure mechanism is moved into the open position, the enclosure mechanism is biased into moving back towards the closed position.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the elastomer of the enclosure mechanism, in combination with the magnetic latch, enables the enclosure mechanism to move from the open position into the closed position with only light or no additional applied force from the user, so that the enclosure mechanism is substantially flush with a surface of the housing.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a cellular device.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure mechanism is contoured to match a corresponding contour of a surface of the housing that receives the enclosure mechanism in the closed position.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure mechanism is formed from hardened plastic.

10. A housing for a computing device comprising:

an opening that is positioned to align with an accessory interface of the computing device;

an enclosure mechanism, positioned to be pivotable over the opening to move between an open and a closed position;

wherein the housing is formed from an elastomer, and the enclosure mechanism stems from the opening so as to bias and be capable of self-propelling towards the closed position from the open position.

11. The housing of claim 10, further comprising a magnetically attractive element provided on an interior surface of the enclosure mechanism that is positioned to align and form a magnetic latch with another element when the enclosure mechanism in the closed position.

12. A computing device comprising:

a housing;

an accessory interface; and

a self-closing enclosure mechanism that is positioned over the accessory interface and pivotable from a closed position to an open position to expose the accessory device, wherein the self-closing enclosure mechanism is formed from elastomer material and is unitarily formed on one end to extend from a portion of the housing, so as to form a hinge line that enables the enclosure mechanism to bias when in the open position.

13. The computing device of claim 12, further comprising a magnetic latch that is at least partially integrated with the enclosure mechanism to enable the enclosure mechanism to shut against the housing.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the magnetic latch includes a metallic element that is provided on an interior surface of the enclosure mechanism.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the self-closing enclosure mechanism is capable of self-propelling from the open position to the closed position in response to the user releasing the enclosure mechanism at the open position.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the self-closing enclosure mechanism is capable of self-propelling from the open position to the closed position in response to a light tap or movement from a user, that would, but for the bias, be insufficient to move the enclosure mechanism to the closed position.

17. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the enclosure mechanism is contoured to match a corresponding contour of a surface of the housing that receives the enclosure mechanism in the closed position.

18. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the self-closing enclosure mechanism is formed from hardened plastic and is unitarily formed on one end to extend from a portion of the housing.

19. A computing device comprising:

a housing;

a component that is accessible on the housing for use;

a door that is provided as a feature of the housing to protect the component, the door being pivotable between (i) an open position that provides access to the component, and (ii) a closed position that protects the component, wherein the door is extended from a hinge line that is unitarily formed into a portion of the housing; and

a magnetic latch, formed by a combination of elements that are distributed on (i) an interior surface of the door, and (ii) a surface of the housing or component, to magnetically retain the door in the closed position.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the magnetic latch includes (ii) one or more magnets provided on a surface of the component, and (ii) magnetically attractive material provided on an interior surface of the door.

21. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the magnetic latch is configured to self-propel the door into the closed position from the open, or a partially opened position.

22. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the door is formed from an elastomer.

23. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the door is formed from hardened plastic.

24. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the door is connected to the housing to bias when moved towards the open position.

25. The computing device of claim 24, wherein the door and the housing are formed from a same material.

26. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the component corresponds to a connector interface.