Dual-use portable display device

• US 8,457,564 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey Champion
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey Champion
• Inventors: Champion, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US13/292,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20120057289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 361/679.16, 361/679.28, 361/679.2, 361/679.3, 361/679.09, 361/679.55, 345/169, 341/22, 348/14.01, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

A keyboard extension for a removable, portable display device such as a cellphone that also functions to house the display device. The display device housing is shaped and sized to securely enclose the removable, portable display device. The keyboard extension may have keyboard housing panels that are substantially equal in size to the display device being removably housed. These keyboard housing panels ham be hingeably connected so that in a first configuration, the keyboard extension may function as a portable display device holder, while in a second configuration it may function as a wirelessly connected, split, full size keyboard input to the portable display. The keyboard extension may also include a numeric keypad housing panel that may be hingeably connected to either of the keyboard housing panels.

Claims

1. A keyboard extension for a portable display device, comprising:

a substantially rectangular display device housing, shaped and sized to removably house said portable display device and having a first short side and a second short side, and wherein said first display panel covers an area of 80% or more of said display panel housing;

a first keyboard housing panel, substantially equal in size to said substantially rectangular display device housing and less than 25% larger than said first display panel, and being hingeably connected to said first short side of said substantially rectangular display device housing;

a second keyboard housing panel, substantially equal in size to said substantially rectangular display device housing and hingeably connected to said second short side of said substantially rectangular display device housing, such that in a first configuration, said keyboard extension for a portable display device functions as a portable display device holder and in a second configuration it functions as a wirelessly connected, split, full size keyboard input to said removable, portable display device, and said second keyboard housing having a substantially constant, rectangular cross-section, and

wherein in said first configuration, said substantially rectangular in cross-section, second keyboard is sandwiched between said display panel housing and said first keyboard housing and said substantially rectangular in cross-section, second keyboard separates all parts of said display panel housing from said first keyboard housing by at least the thickness of said substantially rectangular in cross-section second keyboard.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a numeric keypad housing panel hingeably connected to a short side of either said first keyboard housing panel or said second keyboard housing panel.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising functional user access to said numeric keypad 20 housing panel in either said first configuration or said second configuration.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a module providing a functional connectivity between said removable, portable display device and said keyboard extension.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said module comprises a USB port.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said module comprises a BlueTooth wireless module.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said support frame is shaped and sized to allow functional use of a camera having a lens located on a rear of said removable, portable display device.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said support frame is shaped and sized to provide a releasable holding mechanism for said removable, portable display device.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said releasable hold mechanism comprises one or more screws connecting a support platform to said support frame.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said releasable hold mechanism comprises one or more spring clips that are integral with said support frame.