Impact-resistant electronic device

• US 6,522,763 B2
• Filed: 08/13/1998
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Selker, Edwin Joseph, Burleson, Winslow Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US09/133,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 381/306, 381/333, 381/388, 381/189, 381/353-354, 361/681-683
• US Class Current: 381/189
• 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 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a sound system having one or more speakers, each located at an impact point of the electronic device. Each speaker includes a sound chamber and shock absorbing means for protecting the electronic device from a force resulting from an impact between the electronic device and another object.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising a sound system, the sound system comprising at least one speaker, the at least one speaker comprising a sound chamber and a shock absorbing frame that defines both a corner of an outer housing of the portable electronic device and defines at least part of the sound chamber, the shock absorbing frame for protecting the portable electronic device from an external impact at the corner of the outer housing of the portable electronic device, wherein the sound chamber is at least partially formed by a plurality of inner walls of an outer corner of the outer housing, and wherein the shock absorbing frame and the sound chamber are for offering a cushioning effect for substantially absorbing said impact.

2. An audio system for use with an electronic device, the audio system comprising:

an outer housing of an electronic device;

a sound chamber, the sound chamber comprising a housing which defines the sound chamber, wherein the sound chamber is at least partially formed by a plurality of inner walls of a corner of the outer housing of the electronic device for substantially receiving an impact at the corner of the outer housing thereby providing protection against the impact to the electronic device; and

means for protecting the sound chamber and therefore also the electronic device from harm resulting from an impact at the corner of the outer housing of the electronic device, wherein the means for protecting is internal to the outer housing of the electronic device foam and wherein the sound chamber and the means for protecting are for offering a cushioning effect that substantially absorbs said impact.

3. A portable computer comprising a sound system, the sound system comprising a speaker, a speaker chamber, and a shock absorbing frame defining at least part of the speaker chamber and additionally defining a corner of an outer housing of the portable computer for protecting the portable computer from an impact to the portable computer at the corner of the outer housing of the portable computer, and wherein the speaker chamber is at least partially formed by a plurality of inner walls of a corner of the outer housing, and wherein the speaker chamber and the shock absorbing frame are for offering a cushioning effect that substantially absorbs said impact.

4. A portable computer comprising:

an outer housing of the portable computer for containing components of a portable computer; and

a sound system comprising;

at least one speaker; and

at least one speaker chamber, at least partially formed by a plurality of inner walls of a corner of the outer housing of the portable computer and associated with the at least one speaker for providing audio, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one speaker chamber being, at least partially formed by a plurality of inner walls of a corner of the outer housing of the portable computer for protecting the components contained in the outer housing from an external impact to the corner of the outer housing, and wherein the at least one speaker chamber comprising a shock absorbing frame, the at least one speaker chamber and the shock absorbing frame are for offering a cushioning effect for substantially absorbing said external impact for protecting the components contained in the outer housing from said external impact to the outer housing.

5. The potable computer of claim 4, wherein the shock absorbing frame comprises metal strips strong enough to substantially absorb said external impact to the outer housing.