Housing for a computing device

• US 6,357,887 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Novak, Chris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/426,408
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/85, 362/95, 362/253, 345/156, D13/133, 340/815.45, 340/815.73, 359/299, 359/315
• US Class Current: 362/26
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

Improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing is provided with one of an illuminable connector, a touch pad arrangement, and a palm rest stiffening plate. Normally, the illuminable connector and the touch pad arrangement are provided on external portions of a housing of the computing device such that they are available for user interaction. The palm rest stiffening plate is provided internal to a housing to provide stiffness or rigidity to a palm rest region of the housing.

Claims

1. An illuminable connector for use with a computer having a light source, said illuminating connector comprising:

a connector configured to transmit signals to and from the computer; and

a light emitting enclosure having a light receiving area and an illuminating area, said light emitting enclosure being configured to direct light from the light source through said light emitting enclosure from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, and said light emitting enclosure being disposed around the outer periphery of said connector.

2. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said light emitting enclosure is formed from a translucent material.

3. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said light emitting enclosure is formed from plastic.

4. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the plastic is polycarbonate.

5. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said light emitting enclosure has an interior peripheral shape that coincides with at least a portion of an external peripheral shape of said connector.

6. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector is one of a socket or a plug.

14. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 5, wherein the light emitting enclosure has an outer peripheral shape.

15. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer peripheral shape is a circle.

16. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer peripheral shape is a square, rectangle, triangle, polygon or logo.

17. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes an opening that allows the connector to be fitted therein.

18. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting enclosure further comprises a light directing area configured to direct light from the light source through said light emitting enclosure from the light receiving area to the illuminating area.

19. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 18, wherein the light directing area is a reflecting surface that is configured to reflect the transmitted light from the light receiving area towards the illuminating area.

20. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a first distal end, wherein the connector includes a second distal end, and wherein the first distal end is flush with the second distal end.

21. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a first distal end, wherein the connector includes a second distal end, and wherein the first distal end extends past the second distal end.

22. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer has a second light source, and wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a second light receiving area, said light emitting enclosure being configured to direct light from the second light source through said light emitting enclosure from the second light receiving area to the illuminating area.

23. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal is a data signal.

24. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 23, wherein the connector provides an audio/visual connection, a telephony connection, a serial connection or a parallel connection.

25. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to transmit light when an operative connection is made at the connector so as to visually notify a user that a proper connection was made.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a light source;

a computer housing configured to enclose said light source, said computer housing having an outer peripheral surface; and

an illuminable connector provided at the outer peripheral surface of said computer housing, said illuminable connector including;

a connector configured to transmit signals to and from said computer system; and

a light emitting enclosure having a light receiving area and an illuminating area, said light emitting enclosure being configured to direct light from said light source through said light emitting enclosure from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, and said light emitting enclosure being disposed around the outer periphery of said connector.

8. A computer system as recited in claim 7,

wherein said connector is a socket, and

wherein said light source is turned on when the socket is operatively connected to a mating plug.

9. A computer system as recited in claim 7,

wherein said connector is a socket, and

wherein said light source is turned off when the socket is operatively connected to a mating plug.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

11. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said light source is affixed within said computer housing relative to said illuminable connector.

12. A computer system as recited in claim 11, wherein said light source is affixed to a printed circuit board utilized within said computer housing.

26. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a distal end, and wherein the distal end extends out relative to the outer peripheral surface of the computer housing.

27. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a distal end, and wherein the distal end is flush with the outer peripheral surface of the computer housing.

28. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the light source is configured to transmit light external to the computer housing via the light emitting enclosure when an operative connection is made at the connector such that a computer operator is visually notified that a proper connection was made.

13. A method for illuminating a translucent connector that is connected to an outer peripheral surface of a computer housing, the method comprising:

transmitting light from a light source enclosed in the computer housing;

receiving the transmitted light at a light receiving portion of the translucent connector;

directing the transmitted light from the light receiving portion of the translucent connector through the translucent connector to an outer periphery of the translucent connector such that light is directed outward away from the outer periphery of the computer housing.