HOUSING FOR SLATE TABLET COMPUTER

• US 20110222238A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Over The Sun, LLC
• Original Assignee: Over The Sun, LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Christopher, Roach, Leonard, Staats, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 8,749,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A housing for a slate tablet computer is composed of a frame component and an input component. The frame component is removably attached to the input component. A support mechanism attached to the input component, wherein the support mechanism extends from the input component to oppose inadvertent rotating of the slate tablet computer housing around a hinge connecting the frame component and the input component. In an alternate implementation, a support mechanism attached to the frame component is used to prevent the inadvertent rotating of the slate tablet computer housing around a hinge connecting the frame component and the input component.

Claims

1. A slate tablet computer housing, comprising

a frame component configured to receive a slate tablet computer;

an input component connected with the frame component; and

a support mechanism attached to the input component, wherein the support mechanism extends from the input component to oppose rotating of the slate tablet computer housing around a hinge connecting the frame component and the input component.

2. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 1, wherein the input component is removably connected with the frame component.

3. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 1, wherein the support mechanism is a counterbalance armature that is retractable with respect to the input component and is at least partially housed within the input component when in a retracted position.

4. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 3, wherein

the input component further comprises a housing that defines two or more slots;

and

the counter balance armature further comprises two or more rails that are respectively received and housed within the two or more slots.

5. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 3, wherein the input component further comprises an engagement structure in each of the two or more slots that engages the rails to prevent the counter balance armature from separating from the input component when fully extended.

6. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 4, wherein a cross section of each of the rails is T-shaped.

7. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 3, wherein the counterbalance armature functions as a handle for the slate tablet computer housing.

8. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 3, wherein the input component further comprises:

one or more fixed tension hinges; and

a rotating tension hinge rotationally engaged with the one or more fixed tension hinges.

9. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 8, wherein

the rotating tension hinge further comprises an interface tab;

and

the frame component further comprises a tab slot configured to releasably engage the interface tab.

10. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 9, wherein

the interface tab further comprises one or more connection traces;

and

the tab slot in the frame component further comprises one or more receptacles configured to communicatively engage the connection traces.

11. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 9, wherein

the rotating tension hinge further comprises a first engagement surface;

the counterbalance armature is retractable with respect to the input component and defines a second engagement surface; and

when the counterbalance armature is at least partially housed within the input component, the first engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface and prevents the frame component from being manipulated from a closed position to the open position.

12. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 3, wherein the counterbalance armature is forced to automatically extend from the input component as the frame component moves into an open position with respect to the input component.

13. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 1, wherein the input component lies in a plane and the counterbalance armature extends along the plane of the input component.

14. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 1, wherein the frame component further comprises a proprietary connector that is adapted to communicatively connect to the slate tablet computer.

15. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 14, wherein the proprietary connector is communicatively connected to the input component via a physical data link.

17. The slate tablet computer housing of claim 14, wherein the support mechanism is adapted to function as a carrying handle for the slate tablet computer housing.

16. A slate tablet computer housing, comprising

a frame component configured to attach to a slate tablet computer;

an input component connected with the frame component; and

a support mechanism attached to the frame component, wherein one end of the support mechanism is attached to a back surface of the frame component and a second end of the support mechanism is adapted to swing away from the frame component.

18. A method of using a slate tablet computer, the method comprising

inserting the slate tablet computer into a frame component of a slate tablet computer housing;

attaching the frame component to an input component;

opening the frame component around a hinge mechanism connected to the input component; and

retracting a support mechanism away from the input component.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein retracting the support mechanism away from the input component comprises automatically retracting the support mechanism as the frame component is opened.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicatively attaching the slate tablet computer to a proprietary connector, wherein the proprietary connector is communicatively connected to the input component via a physical data link.