Foldable computing apparatus and method of erecting display unit

• US 9,436,229 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoo, Byung-wook, Kim, Tae-wan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/063,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.27, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1667 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of the integrated keyboard independently from the main body adjusting the tilt angle integrally with the main body G06F1/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A foldable computing apparatus includes a display unit having a touch screen, a first body rotatably disposed in an end of the display unit, and a second body rotatably disposed in an end of the first body opposite to the display unit, the second body having a keyboard. The first body is rotated so that a rear surface of the display unit and a rear surface of the first body are close to each other, and then the second body is rotated with respect to the first body so as to support the display unit.

Claims

1. A foldable computing apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a touch screen;

a first body rotatably disposed in an end of the display unit;

a second body rotatably disposed in an end of the first body opposite to the display unit, the second body having a keyboard; and

at least one cushion member disposed in another end of the second body close to the first body, an end of the least one cushion member is movable toward a rear surface of the display unit regardless of a rotation angle of the second body with respect to the first body;

wherein the first body is rotated such that the rear surface of the display unit and a rear surface of the first body are close to each other, and then the second body is rotated with respect to the first body so as to support the display unit.

2. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one first anti-slip member disposed in the other end of the first body close to the display unit.

3. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one second anti-slip member disposed in an end of the second body that is opposite to the first body and will be in contact with a reference surface.

4. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second anti-slip member disposed in an end of the second body that is opposite to the first body and will be in contact with a reference surface.

5. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one cushion member comprises:

a housing formed of a rubber; and

a spring disposed inside the housing.

6. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 5, wherein

the at least one cushion member further includes a magnet disposed above the spring inside the housing;

and

a magnetic material to which the magnet is attracted is disposed in the rear surface of the display unit.

7. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first hinge unit disposed between the display unit and the first body; and

a second hinge unit disposed between the first body and the second body.

8. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 7, wherein

the first hinge unit allows the first body to be rotated 360 degrees with respect to the display unit;

and

the second hinge unit allows the second body to be rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first body.

9. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cushion device disposed in an end of the second body that is opposite to the first body and will be in contact with a reference surface.

10. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein

at least one second anti-slip member is disposed in the cushion device.

11. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cushion device comprises:

a plurality of elastic members disposed in an end of the second body; and

a cushion plate supported by the plurality of elastic members.

12. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first body comprises a main board.

13. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second body comprises a touch pad and at least one USB port.

14. A method of erecting a display unit of a foldable computing apparatus that comprises the display unit, a first body, a second body, and at least one cushion member, the method of erecting the display unit comprising:

rotating the first body with respect to the display unit such that a rear surface of the first body is close to a rear surface of the display unit on which a touch screen is not disposed;

rotating the second body with respect to the first body such that an end of the second body is close to the rear surface of the display unit; and

putting an exposed end of the first body and the other end of the second body on a reference surface,

wherein at least one cushion member is disposed in the end of the second body close to the first body; and

an end of the at least one cushion member is movable toward the rear surface of the display unit regardless of a rotation angle of the second body with respect to the first body.

15. The method of erecting a display unit of claim 14, wherein when the first body is rotated with respect to the display unit, at least one first anti-slip member disposed in an end of the first body close to the display unit is exposed.

16. A foldable computing apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a touch screen;

a first body having a first end to be coupled to the display unit and to be rotatable with respect to the display unit in a range of a first maximum angle;

a second body rotatably coupled to a second end of the first body opposite to the display unit and to be rotatable with respect to the first body in a range of a second maximum angle smaller than the first maximum angle, the second body having a keyboard; and

at least one cushion member disposed in another end of the second body close to the first body, an end of the at least one cushion member is movable toward a rear surface of the display unit regardless of a rotation angle of the second body with respect to the first body.

17. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a first hinge unit having a first shaft connected to the display unit and a second shaft connected to the first body; and

a second hinge unit having a single shaft connected between the first body and the second body.

18. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a cushion member movably disposed on the second body to contact the rear surface of the display unit opposite to the touch screen in a touch mode.

19. The foldable computing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an anti-slip member disposed on at least one of the first body and the second body to contact a reference surface in a touch mode.