Notebook computer

• US 9,594,401 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Company Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Company Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Liang, Runsheng, Wang, Ning, Li, Fenglang
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US14/752,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1618 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 1/1679 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 notebook computer includes a first housing layer, a frame member layer, and a second housing layer. The first housing layer and the second housing layer encloses the frame member layer, the frame member layer is located within an interior enclosing space defined by the first housing layer and the second housing layer. The first and second housing layers are capable of moving along with movement of the frame member layer and form an overall appearance with two hierarchies of the notebook computer.

Claims

1. A notebook computer comprising:

a first housing layer;

a frame member layer; and

a second housing layer;

wherein the first housing layer and the second housing layer enclose the frame member layer, the frame member layer being located within an interior enclosing space defined by the first housing layer and the second housing layer;

the first and second housing layers being capable of moving along with movement of the frame member layer and forming an overall appearance with two hierarchies of the notebook computer, and wherein the frame member comprises;

a first frame;

a rotary connecting member; and

a second frame rotatably connected to the first frame through the rotary connecting member;

the first frame configured to move relative to the second frame through the rotary connecting member upon an external force;

the first and second housing layers configured to move together along with movement of the first frame relative to the second frame, and maintaining the overall appearance with two hierarchies of the notebook computer.

2. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the external force is withdrawn, the rotary connecting member is configured to provide support force to maintain an end state of the movement of the first frame relative to the second frame, the first housing layer and the second housing layer maintain the overall appearance with two hierarchies of the notebook computer in the end state of the movement of the first frame relative to the second frame.

3. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame member layer further comprises:

M first members fixed within the first frame and containing a display output member with a display output area;

M being a positive integer more than or equal to 1; and

N second members fixed within the second frame and containing an input member with an input area;

N being a positive integer more than or equal to 1.

4. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first housing layer comprises:

a first window corresponding to the display output area of the display output member; and

a second window corresponding to the input area of the input member;

the first window and the second window are located in different areas on the first housing layer;

the display output area of the display output member located within the interior enclosing space is exposed through the first window of the first housing layer;

the input area of the input member located within the interior enclosing space is exposed through the second window of the first housing layer.

5. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the external force is withdrawn, the rotary connecting member is configured to provide support force to maintain an end state of the movement of the first frame relative to the second frame, the first frame is in a first relative position relative to the second frame through the rotary connecting member, the first window of the first housing layer and the second window of the first housing layer face each other.

6. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the external force is withdrawn, the rotary connecting member is configured to provide support force to maintain an end state of the movement of the first frame relative to the second frame, the first frame is in a second relative position relative to the second frame through the rotary connecting member, the first window of the first housing layer and the second window of the first housing layer have a predetermined angle therein between.

7. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the external force is withdrawn, the rotary connecting member is configured to provide support force to maintain an end state of the movement of the first frame relative to the second frame, the first frame is in a third relative position relative to the second frame through the rotary connecting member, a portion provided on the second housing layer corresponding to the first frame and a portion provided on the second housing layer corresponding to the second frame are against each other.

8. The notebook computer as claimed claim 1, wherein the first housing layer is integrally-molded one-piece housing;

and the second housing layer is integrally-molded one-piece housing.

9. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first portion provided on the first housing layer corresponding to the rotary connecting member is made from flexible material and a second portion provided on the second housing layer corresponding to the rotary connecting member is made from flexible material.

10. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first portion provided on the first housing layer is a curved recess formed inwardly by an outer surface of a first housing on the first housing layer.

11. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein when the external force is withdrawn, the rotary connecting member is configured to provide support force to maintain an end state of the movement of the first frame relative to the second frame, the first frame is in a first relative position relative to the second frame through the rotary connecting member, a first window of the first housing layer corresponding to the first frame and a second window of the first housing layer corresponding to the second frame face each other, the first portion defined by the curved recess is configured to maintain bending curvature consistent with the second portion provided on the second housing layer.

12. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the first portion of the first housing layer comprises a first area with a third window; and

/or

the second portion of the second housing layer comprises a second area with a fourth window;

the first area of the first portion is corresponding to the second area of the second portion.

13. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the rotary connecting member located within the interior enclosing space is exposed through the third window of the first housing layer; and

/or

the rotary connecting member located within the interior enclosing space is exposed through the fourth window of the second housing layer.