Case for portable display devices

• US 20020104769A1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Si Han Kim
• Original Assignee: Si Han Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Si Han, Kim, Jang Ho, Kim, Hyung Nyun
• Granted Patent: US 7,032,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a case for a portable display device that can realize a large-sized screen by interconnecting a plurality of display elements. When the display elements are unfolded, the adjacent sides of the display elements closely contact each other, thereby minimizing the non-display area. When the display elements are folded, the outer surface of the display elements can be protected. The case includes a foldable panel housing receiving at least two flat display panel elements. The panel housing is provided with an opening such that when the panel housing is unfolded, the adjacent sides of the flat display elements closes contact each other. The case further includes a hinge supporting member for providing the folding/unfolding operation of the panel housing and cover means for covering a side of the flat display elements, which is exposed through the opening, to protect the display elements.

Claims

1. A case for a portable display device, comprising:

a foldable panel housing receiving at least two flat panel display elements, the flat panel display elements having adjacent sidewalls contacting each other when the panel housing is unfolded;

a folding support member for supporting a folding operation of the panel housing; and

cover means for covering the adjacent sidewalls of the flat panel display elements when the panel housing is folded.

2. A case of claim 1 wherein the panel housing includes an opening defined by cutting the sidewalls, the opening being designed such that the adjacent sidewalls of the flat panel display elements contact each other when the panel housing is unfolded.

3. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is mounted on the folding part of the panel housing.

4. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is operated to a location where the cover means dose not interfere the contact of the adjacent sidewalls of the flat panel display elements when the panel housing is unfolded.

5. A case of claim 1 wherein the panel housing is provided with a space in which the cover means is received when the panel housing is folded, the space being located on an inner or outer side of the panel housing.

6. A case of claim 1 further comprising fixing means for fixing the cover means, the fixing means being an elastic member.

7. A case of claim 1 wherein the folding support member includes a hinge mounted on a rotational center of the panel housing.

8. A case of claim 1 wherein the folding support member includes two rotational bars one ends of which is coupled to the panel housing and a rotational shaft on which each the other ends of the rotational bars are fixed.

9. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means comprises shock-absorbing means mounted on an inner surface of which.

10. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means comprises a center cover for covering the sidewalls of the flat panel display elements and bendable side covers extending from both sides of the center cover, the center cover being received in a shelter formed on the panel housing when the panel housing is unfolded.

11. A case of claim 10 wherein a flexible connecting member is disposed between the center cover and the side covers.

12. A case of claim 10 wherein the cover means further comprises a cover mounted on upper and lower portion of the center cover.

13. A case of claim 10 wherein the cover means further comprises a hinge shaft projected from the side covers and coupled to the panel housing.

14. A case of claim 10 further comprising cover-folding means for folding the cover means to the shelter when the panel housing is folded and unfolded.

15. A case of claim 14 wherein the cover-folding means comprises an elastic member coupled between an inner wall of the shelter and the side covers.

16. A case of claim 14 wherein the cover-folding means comprises a stopper for preventing the side covers from rotating outward.

17. A case of claim 14 wherein the cover-folding means comprises a guide projection formed on the side covers and a guide groove for guiding an inward rotation of the guide projection to the shelter.

18. A case of claim 10 wherein the side covers include plural unit covers between which connecting portions are formed so that the side covers are bendable.

19. A case of claim 10 wherein the side cover is formed of a flexible sheet.

20. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is designed to be flexible and received in a shelter of the panel housing, the shelter receiving the cover means so that the cover means is not exposed outside when the panel housing is unfolded.

21. A case of claim 20 wherein the cover means comprises a center cover for covering the sidewalls of the flat panel display elements, side covers connected to both sides of the center cover by connecting portions, and a hook step formed on one ends of the side covers.

22. A case of claim 21 further comprising an elastic member connected between an inner wall of the shelter and the hook step.

23. A case of claim 21 wherein the cover means is formed of plural unit covers between which connecting portions are disposed such that the cover means is flexible.

24. A case of claim 21 wherein the cover means is formed of a flexible sheet.

25. A case of claim 21 wherein the cover means further comprises a mounting part mounted on upper and lower portions of the center cover and a longitudinal groove formed on the mounting part, the folding support member being provided with a shaft projection coupled to the longitudinal groove.

26. A case of claim 25 further comprising a finalizing part formed on the panel housing to enclose the mounting part.

27. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means comprises first and second unit covers flexibly connected by a connecting part, the first unit cover being fixed on a panel housing, and the second unit cover being receiving in a shelter.

28. A case of claim 27 wherein the cover means further comprises a hinge shaft mounted on the first unit cover, the hinge shaft being inserted into a groove formed on the panel housing, the panel housing is provided with a hook portion for preventing the hinge shaft from moving away.

29. A case of claim 27 wherein the both ends of the cover means are rotatably coupled on the panel housing to cover the opening when the panel housing is folded.

30. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is formed of flexible sheet, one end of which is fixed inside a panel housing and the other end of which is mounted on the other panel housing with an elastic member interposed.

31. A case of claim 30 wherein the cover means is attached on the inner surface of a panel housing.

32. A case of claim 30 wherein the one end of the cover means connected to the elastic member is received in the shelter.

33. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is designed to be extended when the panel housing is folded and to be shrunken when the panel housing is unfolded.

34. A case of claim 33 wherein the cover means is formed in a bellows-shape.

35. A case of claim 34 further comprising a protecting cover for covering upper and lower portions of the cover means

36. A case of claim 35 wherein the protecting cover comprises a coupling member coupled to the folding support member, a holder coupled to the coupling member and connected to a bellows part of the cover means, and a cover for covering the holder.

37. A case of claim 33 wherein the cover means is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric and synthetic resin.

38. A case of claim 38 wherein the cover means comprises a coupling part fixed on an inner surface of the sidewall of the panel housing and a bellows part.

39. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is formed of plural unit covers slidably connected to each other.

40. A case of claim 39 further comprising a shelter for receiving the cover means when the panel housing is unfolded.

41. A case of claim 40 wherein the shelter is formed on the sidewall of the panel housing.

42. A case of claim 39 wherein the cover means comprises first and third covers each having a sliding groove, a second cover having a sliding projection slidably inserted into the sliding grooves, and a bendable connecting part extending from the first and third covers and rotatably coupled to the panel housing.

43. A case of claim 42 wherein a plurality of sliding projection is formed on inner and outer surfaces of the second cover.

44. A case of claim 42 wherein a plurality of sliding projection is formed on an inner surface of the second cover.

45. A case of claim 42 wherein the cover means further comprises a mounting part formed on upper and lower portions of the second cover and a longitudinal groove formed on an inner surface of the mounting part and coupled to a shaft projection of the folding support member.

46. A case of claim 1 further comprising sliding guide means for guiding the cover means behind the folding part of the panel housing when the panel housing is unfolded.

47. A case of claim 46 wherein the cover means comprises a cover body for covering the opening of the panel housing and the sidewalls of the flat panel display elements and a mounting part formed on upper and lower portions of the cover body.

48. A case of claim 47 wherein the mounting part is provided with a groove in which a shaft projection of the folding support member is coupled.

49. A case of claim 47 wherein the folding support member comprises two rotational bars one ends of which is coupled to the panel housing and a rotational shaft on which each the other ends of the rotational bars are fixed.

50. A case of claim 49 wherein a longitudinal groove coupled to the rotational shaft is formed on an inner surface of the mounting part.

51. A case of claim 47 wherein the cover means further comprises a guide wall enclosing the sidewall of the panel housing to prevent the panel housing from inadvertently unfolding.

52. A case of claim 47 wherein the sliding guide means comprises a longitudinal groove formed on the mounting part and a shaft projection formed on the folding support member and coupled to the longitudinal groove.

53. A case of claim 52 further comprising an elastic member coupled between the shaft projection and the cover means.

54. A case of claim 52 wherein the mounting part is further provided with an incline groove formed on both sides of the longitudinal groove and a projection formed on the panel housing to correspond to the inclined groove.

55. A case of claim 1 wherein the cover means is formed of a sheet cover so that it can be bended or unbended by cover driving means when the panel housing is folded or unfolded.

56. A case of claim 55 wherein the cover means comprises a concave portion and a convex portion.

57. A case of claim 55 further comprising a shelter for receiving the cover means when the panel housing is unfolded.

58. A case of claim 57 further comprising an elastic member disposed between one end portion of the cover means and an inner wall of the shelter.

59. A case of claim 55 wherein the cover driving means comprises an elastic member connected to the other end portion of the cover means and the panel housing.

60. A case of claim 55 wherein the cover driving means comprises a gear part formed on an outer circumference of a first cylinder of the folding support member connected to the panel housing, and idle and driving gears engaged with and driven by the gear part, the cover means being provided with concave and convex portions engaged with the driving gear.

61. A case of claim 60 wherein the idle and driving gears are mounted on the panel housing.