Sliding display apparatus

• US 20030109230A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias, Palmer, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,107,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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

Abstract

A sliding display apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a base and a cover. The cover substantially covers the base in a closed position. A first edge of the cover is slideably coupled to the base and the cover is also coupled to the base by one or more links. Each of the links have a first pivot in a first axis and a second pivot in a second axis. The first axis, the second axis and the first edge of the cover are substantially parallel. The first axis is located in the base, the second axis is located in the cover. The first pivot can also include a tensioner that applies tension to the first pivot of each one of the links.

Claims

1. A sliding display apparatus comprising:

a base; and

a cover;

wherein the cover substantially covers the base in a closed position;

wherein a first edge of the cover is slideably coupled to the base;

wherein the cover is further coupled to the base by one or more links;

wherein each one of the one or more links have a first pivot in a first axis and a second pivot in a second axis;

wherein the first axis, the second axis and the first edge of the cover are substantially parallel;

wherein the first axis is substantially located in the base;

wherein the second axis is located in the cover;

wherein the first pivot includes a tensioner; and

wherein the tensioner applies tension to the first pivot of each of the one or more links.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein slideably coupled includes at least one track and at least one track engagement in each of the at least one track.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one track is substantially located in the base and wherein the at least one track engagement is attached to the cover.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes a first track side and a second track side wherein the first track side extends above base to the substantially overlap a first side of the cover and wherein the second track side extends above base to the substantially overlap a second side of the cover and wherein the first and second sides of the cover are opposing sides of the cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein slideably coupled includes a first track located in the first track side and a second track located in the second track side and wherein an open side of the first track opens toward the first side of the cover and wherein the an open side of the second track opens toward the second side of the cover and wherein a first engagement is attached to the first side of the cover located proximal to the first edge of the cover and wherein the first engagement slideably engages the first track and wherein a second engagement is attached to the second side of the cover located proximal to the first edge of the cover and wherein the second engagement slideably engages the second track.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a display.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes a keyboard.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the base further includes a computer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the computer includes a wireless network device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless network device includes a receiver-transmitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless network device includes a cellular telephone receiver transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless network device includes a cellular telephone.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tension on the first pivot is reduced as the cover is moved from the closed position to an open position.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tension on the first pivot is increased as the cover is moved from the closed position to a center position and wherein the tension on the first pivot is reduced as the cover is moved from the center position to a open position.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tensioner includes a damper.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the damper is a rotary damper.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tensioner includes a spring.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the spring is a torsional spring.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes at least one latch and wherein the at least one latch engages the cover in the closed position.