Display system using mountable tablet enclosure

• US 9,307,131 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Damien Breen
• Original Assignee: Damien Breen
• Inventors: Breen, Damien
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/451,521
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for displaying content. One representative embodiment involves (a) an enclosure apparatus having a front face that includes a see-through portion and an attachment surface; and (b) a tablet computing device that (i) has a display screen on its front surface, and (ii) is enclosed within the enclosure apparatus such that the display screen is visible through the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus, with the attachment surface securely attached to an inside surface of a window so that the display screen of the tablet computing device is visible through the window.

Claims

1. A system for displaying content, comprising:

(a) an enclosure apparatus having a front face that includes a see-through portion and an attachment surface; and

(b) a tablet computing device that (i) has a display screen on its front surface, and (ii) is enclosed within the enclosure apparatus such that the display screen is visible through the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus,

wherein the attachment surface is securely attached to an inside surface of a window so that the display screen of the tablet computing device is visible through the window,

wherein the attachment surface comprises a frame that completely surrounds the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus,

wherein the frame is securely attached to the inside surface of the window solely through the use of an air-pressure differential, and

wherein the enclosure apparatus includes a valve for attaching an external pump to evacuate air from a space enclosed by the frame when the frame is pressed against the window.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure apparatus includes a front-face component that has a peripheral structure defining a central visual opening, wherein the central visual opening forms at least a part of the see-through portion of the front face, and wherein the frame resiliently fits around a peripheral edge of the front-face component.

3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising an insert piece, disposed between the front-face component and a tablet computing device, that includes a flexible and resilient peripheral structure surrounding a second visual opening that also forms a part of the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure apparatus includes an attachment mechanism that is configured to removably attach and detach a battery unit, and further comprising an electrical coupler that carries power from the battery unit to a power input of the tablet computing device.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the tablet computing device communicates, through a wireless network, with a central server that controls operation of the tablet computing device.

6. A system according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of additional units, each comprising a said tablet computing device enclosed within a said enclosure apparatus, and wherein the central server communicates with and controls operation of each said tablet computing device.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the tablet computing device includes a front-facing camera, and wherein the enclosure apparatus includes a visual opening that permits the camera to receive visual images through the window.

8. A system for displaying content, comprising:

(a) an enclosure apparatus having a front face that includes a see-through portion and an attachment surface; and

(b) a tablet computing device that (i) has a display screen on its front surface, and (ii) is enclosed within the enclosure apparatus such that the display screen is visible through the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus,

wherein the attachment surface is securely attached to an inside surface of a window so that the display screen of the tablet computing device is visible through the window,

wherein the enclosure apparatus includes an attachment mechanism that is configured to removably attach and detach a battery unit, and further comprising an electrical coupler that carries power from the battery unit to a power input of the tablet computing device, and

wherein the attachment mechanism is attached to a backing plate disposed behind the tablet computing device that cooperates with other components of the enclosure apparatus to completely enclose the tablet computing device even when the battery unit is removed.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the attachment surface comprises a frame that completely surrounds the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the frame is securely attached to the inside surface of the window solely through the use of an air-pressure differential.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the enclosure apparatus includes a valve for attaching an external pump to evacuate air from a space enclosed by the frame when the frame is pressed against the window.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the enclosure apparatus includes a front-face component that has a peripheral structure defining a central visual opening, wherein the central visual opening forms at least a part of the see-through portion of the front face, and wherein the frame resiliently fits around a peripheral edge of the front-face component.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising an insert piece, disposed between the front-face component and a tablet computing device, that includes a flexible and resilient peripheral structure surrounding a second visual opening that also forms a part of the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the tablet computing device communicates, through a wireless network, with a central server that controls operation of the tablet computing device.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of additional units, each comprising a said tablet computing device enclosed within a said enclosure apparatus, and wherein the central server communicates with and controls operation of each said tablet computing device.

16. A system according to claim 8, wherein the tablet computing device includes a front-facing camera, and wherein the enclosure apparatus includes a visual opening that permits the camera to receive visual images through the window.