CA2018680A1 - Portable computer housing - Google Patents

Abstract

PORTABLE COMPUTER HOUSING

ABSTRACT

A portable computer housing which is comprised of a support base section having a detachable keyboard.
The keyboard is connected to the base section by detach-able connectors. A top section is disposed over the top wall of the base and hinged to a rear portion of the base.
The top portion is a two-part articulated section defining a rear housing portion and a forward housing portion secured to the rear housing portion by a second hinge assembly. A screen area is provided in the inner face of the forward housing portion. The hinge assemblies permit the rear and the forward housing portions to be articu-lated with respect to one another and with the base to position the housing portions flat over a top wall of the support base section or at desired angles thereabove. The keyboard section, when connected, is coextensive with the base section and, when disconnected, is used as a laptop keyboard and the articulated top sections are supported on a narrow base section.

Description

~o~ o BACKGROVND OF INVENTION:
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable computer housing wherein the keyboard extends coexten-sively with a support base of the housing and is detach-able therefrom so that a two-section articulated top portion of the housing can be supported by a narrow base and the keyboard used separately. ~ ~
Description of Prior Art ~ ;
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Portable personal computers are known wherein a ~-~
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support base is provided with a keyboard and further - .: .::
wherein the screen section of the computer is provided in a rectangular-like housing section which is a~rti-culated to ~ ~, . - -, ~ the base so that it can hinge upwardly substantially - - ~ -:
. vertically from the base and rearwardly of the keyboard.
. ~;: :. .
It is desirable with such portable computers that the keyboard be maintained of a certain standard size to . .: ~ . :
facilitate the manipulation of the keys by the fingers, much like with a typewriter. It is also desirable with such portable computers that the screen area be suffi-ciently large to permit the use of large enough-characters :; : ~ - .,, to provide good vlsibility and also to permit a display of sufficient lines of information. Various portable ~ ~
computers have been constructed in an attempt to meet the -above criteria. However, such portable computers are still too large for use in a restricted space, such as on the tray table in front of a seat in an aircraft or other such cramped quarters, the viewinq angle of the screen -often not being adequate particularly under certain light ~-conditions, and the keyboard also not being comfortably - ~ -positioned.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
It is a feature of the present invention to :: -, .. . ; .. ,:
provide a portable computer which substantially overcomes .
the above-mentioned disadvantage of the prior art and satisfies the desired needs.
Another feature of the present invention is to -::~
provide a portable computer wherein the base is provided .~
with a detachable keyboard which can be used separately ~; :
allowing it to be more comfortable to use, and ma~ing the support base very narrow and whereon a screen section is ~ ::
hingedly connected. .
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Another feature of the present inventlon is to : provide a portable computer housing having a two-part articulated top section to define a rear housing and a :::~
front housing having a screen thereon and with the rear :: : ::: : . ~: : i housing being hingedly connected to the base and the front housing hingedly connected to the rear housing making it :
possible to raise or lower the screen to have a better :
:~ viewing angle, and wherein these connections are effected : ~:, . .
by an improved hinge assembly. ::~
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a portable computer having a narrow support base to which is removably connected a keyboard section and a two-part articulated top section which is formed of a rear `
housing portion and a frGnt housing portion with a screen area being provided on ~he inner face of the forward : ::~
housing portion, both housing portions being inter-connected by an improved hinge assembly, with ~he hinge assembly offering maximum torque agalnst forward displace- : :
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ment of the rear housing portion when displaced in an open ~: :

angulated configuration. .:~
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~nl~6so According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a portable computer housing which comprises a support base section having a detachable keyboard. Detachable connecting means is provided to retain the keyboard substantially coextensive with the base section. A top section is disposed over a top wall of the base section in a closed position. Hinge means is provided to connect the top section to the base section for displaciny the top section upwardly of the top wall to an open pGsition to display a screen area in an inner face of the top section. The top section extends over at least a major portion of the keyboard section when in the closed position and with the keyboard section attached to the base section.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable computer housing which comprises a support base section and a two-part articulated top section.` The two-part articulated section defines a rear housing portion secured at a rear edge to a first hinge assembly to a rear portion of the support base section, and a forward housing portion secured to a second hinge assembly with a front edge of the rear housing portion. A screen area is provided in an inner face of the forward housing portion. The first and second hinge assemblies permit the rear and forward housing portions to be articulated and arrested with respect to one another and with the base to position the housing portions flat over a top wall of the support base section or at desired angular configurations thereabove thereby permitting the screen area to be raised or lowered with respect to the base as well as being articulated.

2~ 0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the presen-t invention ; ~ ;
will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the portahle comp1lter housing shown with the articuated top housing sections in an open angulated configuration~
FIGURE 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but ..
showing the keyboard section of the base disconnected therefrom;
FIGURE 3 is an end view of the portable computer housing shown in its closed condition and appears ;
on the sheet with Figure l; -~
FIGURE 4 is a perspective end view of the base ~.
portion of Figure 1 showing the connecting means FIGURE S is a perspective end view of the :~
keyboard showing the mating connecting means for attach- ~-ment to the base connectors of Figure 4; .
FIGURE 6 is a fragmented top section view showing the manner in which the latch fingers are secured : :~
within the retention cavities; .
FIGURES 7A to 7D are perspective views showing .
the sequence of operation to connect and disconnect the ~ ~ :
.keyboard from the support base of the portable computer housing;
FIGURE 8 is a simplified schematic view showing the angular displacement of the two-part articulated top -~.:
housing; ` ; -.
FIGURE 9 is a fragmented perspective view ::::
showing the disposition and construction of the hinge ~ ~:
assemblies; and :

- 4 ~

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view showing the construction of the hinge assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMsoDIME
Referring to the drawings, and more particu~
larly to Figures 1 to 7, there wlll be described the general construction of the portable computer housing 10 of the present invention and the manner in which its detachable keyboard 11 is detachab].y secured to the narrow support base 12. As herein shown, the detachable keyboard 11 is connected to the base 12 coextensively therewith so I that when disconnected, the support base 12 has a very ~ narrow width which is much shorter than the length of the j ~ top a.rticulated section 13, as better seen from Figure 3.
: As herein shown, the top section 13 a two-part articulated section which defines a rear housing portion 14 and a forward keyboard portion 15. These portions are hingedly i.nterconnected to one another and to the base and together constitute a portable closed unit, as shown in Figure 3, ~ : or a usable open and separable unit as shown in Figure 1.
i The manne.r in ~hich the top housing portions are a.rticu-lated together and to the support base 12 will be described in detail later.
Referring now more specifically to Figures 2 to 4, there will be described the manner in which the detach-able keyboard 11 is connected to the support base 12. As herein shown, the keyboard 11 is provided with detachable connecting means, herein constituted by a pair cf reten-tion cavities 16, provided in a rear end wall 11' of the keyboard and aligned with a pair of latching fingers 17 extending spaced-apart on the front end wall 12' of the support base 12. Releasable attachment means 18 is r`~
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provided to maintain the latch fingers connected in the retention cavity 16 to connect the keyboard to the base and also provides for the disconnection of the keyboard from the base. This releasahle attachment means 18 extends across the front and rear end walls 11' and 12' of the keyboard and base respectively when in their secure~
ment position. The releaseable attachment means 18 has a projecting engaglng end 19 for snap engagement in a retention recess 20 provided ad~acent the front end wall 11' of the keyboard. The resilient pivoting catch 18 is further provided with a finger abutment end 20 opposite :, ., :. . .
the engaging end 19 wherein downward pressure applied to the finger abutment end 20 causes the engaging end 19 to -lift and disconnect from the retention recess 20. -Referring to Figure 6, there is shown the construction of the latching fingers 17 and the retention cavities lfi. As herein shown, each latching finger is provided with a side hook end 21 for retention within a :.-, respective one of the cavities 16. The cavities 16 are provided with an entry port 22 and a side flange wall 23 defined by the provision of an inner side po~t 24.
As shown in Figures 7A to 7D, in order to disconnest the keyboard 11 from the support base 12, it is -~
:, first necessary to apply pressure on the finger abutment end 20 of the catch 18, as indicated by arrow 25 in Figure 7A. The keyboard is then shifted laterally in the direc-tion of arrow 26. The keyboard is now disconnected and can be pulled out in the direction of arrow 27 as shown in Figure 7B. To re-nest the keyboard 11 with the support base 12, the keyboard is moved in the direction of arrow 28, as shown in Figure 7C, with the retention cavity 16 ::
~ ' :-Z0~36~0 aligned with the latching fingers 17. The catch is simul~

taneously depressed to lift the engaging end 19, or this ~: - . :
may take place automatically, and the keyboard is then ,:
shifted laterally in the direction of arrow ?9, as shown in Figure 7D. The catch 18 is then released and the ~ -:
keyboard is connected with the support base 12. Other type securement means are also possible and obvious to a person skilled in the art.
As shown in Figure 2, a flexible cable 30 connects the keyboard 11 to the base 12 and contains all the wiring necessary to interface the keyboard 11 with the computer circuitry as housed in the base section and/or the two-part articulated top section. As shown in Figure 1, this cable 30 is disposed within a locating cavity 31 ::
which is provided between the base section and the keyboard section when attached to one another so that the cable extends below the top wall 12" of the base section and the top face 11" of the keyboard section so as to permit the articulated top housing portions 13 to be placed flat thereover without obstruct;on, as shown in Figure 3. The housing portions 13 are retained in this position by their hinges.
As shown in Figure 5, the rear end wall of the keyboard 11 has an elongated rectangular projection 32 with the retention cavities 16 spaced apart in the rear wall of these projections. As shown in Figure 4, the base section 12 is provided with forwardly projecting end flange walls 33 and a top flange wall 34 which has an elongated recess 3~ therein wherein the keyboard is nested 1~ :
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to the support base to constitute the loca-ting cavity 31.
carrying handle 36 is also retractably connected to the front edge 37 of the keyboard 11 to transport the computer ~ ;;
10. ,, ~, 1 As herein shown, the support base section 12 is 4 a rectangular shaped base section provided with a flat support base to provide rigid stability of the articulated ~ top sections when in their position of use, as sho~n in ~ -~3 Figure 2. secause the keyboard 11 is detachable, the - --~ support base 12 becomes very narrow and, accordingly, can ;
¦ be placed on any small support surface such as the tray table hinged to the rear wall of an aircraft seat to , ,' permit a co~fortable use of the portable computer in flight with the keyboard detached. The detached keyboard can therefore be positioned at a more comfortable location '`
to the arms of the user.
., Referring now more specifically to Figures 8 to 10, there will be described the construction and operation of the hinge assemblies 40 which are disposed in opposed corners of the rear housing pGrtion 14 and which provide the articulated connection of the rear housing portion to the base 12 and to the forward housing portion 15. As herein shown, the front housing portion 15 is provided with a screen 41 in an inner face 42 of the forward ~-. :~
housing portion. Each hinge assembly 40 is constructed such as to provide low torque in one rotational direction and high torque in the a reverse direction. Since the forward housing portion 15 is adjustable by the rear portion 14, it can be raised and lowered to place it at a better viewing position, particularly under poor lighting conditions. --~

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Z'~8~80 Referring now more specifically to Figure 10, there is shown the construction of one of these hinge assemblies which are essentially all nylon parts. The hinge assembly is constituted by a connecting shaft 43 having a circular connecting portion whlch is segmented to form opposed arcuate shaft segments 43'. The connecting portion of the shaft is positioned in frictional pressure retention contact with the inner face 44 of a uni-directional annular gear 45. The gear is provided with a circumferential toothed outer surface 46 for engagement with an arresting means, herein gear teeth 47 provided on a spring-loaded lever action gear-engaging stopper member 48. A metal spring pin 49 having a predetermined outer diameter is press-fitted within the circular bore 50 of the shaft 43 to cause the shaft segments 43' to displace laterally to engage the inner surface 44 of the annular gear 45 to provide an arres~ing frictional force therewith or a torque force. The torque force is dependent upon the pressure applied by the spring pin 49 and accordingly by seiecting the proper diameter of the spring pin, this torque can be increased or decreased.
The spring-loaded engaging stopper member 48 is a resilient member provided with an arcuate gear engaging section 51 which is positioned against the circumferential toothed outer surface 46 of the gear 45, and a spring-biasing section 52 for applying biasing pressure of the arcuate section against the circumferential toothed outer surface 46 of gear 45. As herein shown, the toothed outer surface of the gear 45 is provided with a series of equidistantly spaced, transverse teeth 53, all of which extend at a predetermined sloped angle and all along the . :.~. . ~.

:

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Z~ 36~0 circumference of the gear. The arresting gear teeth 47 on section 51 extend at a reverse angle to permit the gear 45 to rotate in the direction of arrow 54 wherein the section 51 flexes, and to be arrested in a counter-d rection, where the gear teeth 53 and 47 engage.
The spring-biasing section 52 is an elongated ;~
arcuate section provided with a stop flange SS at a lower end thereof for enyaging in a locating cavity 56 provided adjacent a bo-ttom end of a hinge support housing 58. An attachment flange 57 extends laterally of the housing bottom open end 63'. As herein shown, only a few arrest-ing gear teeth 59 are necessary on the gear mating surface 60 of the arcuate section 51 to arrest the gear in a counter-rotational direction. However, the shaft 43 when applied a predetermined torque in the counter-direction, as indicated by arrow 61, will overcome the frictional ~;
resistance force between it and the inner surface 44 of the gear and rota-e. As previously described, this torque is adjustable and in this gear assembly s much greate ~-~
than the torque necessary to turn the gear 45 against its frictional resistance provided by the pressure applied thereagainst by the arcuate section Sl of the spring-loaded stopper member 48. The annular gear 45 is herein shown located within a circular bore 62 of the gear housing 58. The resilient member 48 is removable from the open bottom end 63 of the housing 58. The attachment ~ ~
flange 64 is provided to secure the housing 58 to either ~-one of adjacent articulated top housing portions of the computer housing. The shaft 43 is also secured to an attachment means 65 for securement to the adjacent housing portion which is to be articulated.

- 10 - . , ' ` 20186g50 1, .
~ , , As shown in Figure 9, the hinge support housing 58 is herein shown as integrally formed with ~he support . ~:
base 12 in opposed rear corner portions thereof. The attachment element 65 is constituted by a rear extension portion 66 of the rear housing portion 14 and the shaft 43 extends therefrom on opposed sides and mates within the inner surface 44 of the annular gear 45 of both housings ~-58. The uni-directional annular gear 45 and the gear~
engaging stopper member 48 are pGsitioned on opposed ends of the suppo~t base 12 so that the hinge provides low torque when the rear housing portion 14 is lifted from the support base 12 and provides maximum torque against the load on the rear hGusing portion 14. This load is consti-tuted by the weight of the rear housing portion 14 and also the weight of the front articulated portion lS-supported thereby. Accordingly, there is more resistance to rotation ln the direction of arrow 67 as in the direction of arrow 68.
Two of the hinge assemblies are also connected . .
in the outer lower corner portions of the forward housing portion 15 and these are disposed in opposition to one `~
another so that a balanced torque force is provided against the arcuate displacemen~ of ~he top housing portion 15 with respect to the rear housing portion 14.
The angle of the teeth 53 about the periphery of the gear 45 is herein set at an angle of 7 and ~here-fore the rear housing portion 14 or the top housing :~
portion lS may be displaced on their hinge assemblies in 7 increments. Each time the hinge is displaced at a 7 increment, the teeth 59 of the stopper member 45 will snap ., ,..~. .
in between the teeth in the circumference of the gear 45 Z~18680 ~ ~:

and create a clicking noise with each click signalling a7 increment displacement. To restore both of the top housing portions 14 and 15 back to their storage position on the outer surface of the support base in the keyboard, it is only necessary 'o apply a restoring pressure on the rear housing portions 14 and 15 thereby causing their hinge assembly shafts to overcome the frictional force with the inner surface of the hinge gear, with the gear remaining stationary due to its engagement with the stopper member 48.
It is within the ambit of the present inver.tion to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (24)

1. A portable computer housing comprising a support base section having a detachable keyboard, detach-able connecting means to retain said keyboard substan-tially coextensively with said base section, a top section disposed over a top wall of said base section in a closed position, hinge means connecting said top section to said base section for displacing said top section upwardly of said top wall to an open position to display a screen area in an inner face of said top section, said top section extending over at least a major portion of said keyboard section when in said closed postion and with said keyboard section attached to said base section.

2. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detachable connecting means comprises a first connecting means disposed spaced-apart in a rear end wall of said keyboard section for mating engagement with second connecting means disposed in a front end wall of said base section, and releasable attachment means to provide release of said mated connecting means.

3. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 2 wherein said releasable attachment means is a resilient catch extending across said front or rear end wall and having a projecting engaging end for snap engagement in a retention recess provided adjacent said front or rear wall, said engaging end engaging within said retention recess when aligned therewith with said first and second connecting means mated.

4. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second connecting means is constituted by a pair of latching fingers extending spaced-apart on said front end wall of said base section, said first connecting means being a pair of retention cavities provided in said rear end wall of said keyboard section and aligned with said fingers.

5. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 4 wherein said latching fingers are provided with a side hook end, said retention cavities having an entry port for receiving a respective one of said fingers and an inner side port and a flange wall for retention engagement of said hook end when said keyboard is displaced laterally with respect to said base to locate said hook end in said side port and further to align said engaging end of said catch with said retention recess.

6. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 5 wherein said catch is a resilient pivoting catch having a finger abutment end opposite said engaging end wherein downward pressure applied to said finger abutment end causes said engaging end to disconnect from said retention recess.

7. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 2 wherein a flexible cable is secured between said rear end wall and said front end wall, and a cable locating cavity between said base section and said keyboard section when attached to one another for locating same therein below said top wall of said base section and a top face of said keyboard to permit said top section to be folded flat thereover without obstruction.

8. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 7 wherein a carrying handle is provided in a front edge of said keyboard section, said rear end wall of said keyboard having an elongated rectangular projection therein, said second connecting means being a pair of retention cavities spaced apart in said projection, said front end wall of said base section having forwardly projecting end flange walls and a top flange wall, said cable locating cavity being constituted by an elongated recess in said top flange wall, said first connecting means being a pair of spaced apart latching fingers aligned with said retention cavities.

9. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 2 wherein said top section is a double articulated section provided with a transverse hinge connection to articulate a forward section relative to a rear section, said screen being provided in said forward section, and at least one hinge post formed in a rear of said base section and projecting upwardly therefrom to connect with a rear hinge portion of said rear section.

10. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base section is a rectangular base having a flat support base and having a width which is substan-tially shorter than the width of said top section when said keyboard section is detached therefrom, said base section supporting said top section in an open articulated position upwardly therefrom.

11. A portable computer housing comprising a support base section and a two part articulated top section, said two part articulated section defining a rear housing portion secured at a rear edge by a first hinge assembly to a rear portion of said support base section and a forward housing portion secured to a second hinge assembly with a front edge of said rear housing portion, a screen area in an inner face of said forward housing portion, said first and second hinge assemblies permitting said rear and forward housing portions to be articulated and arrested with respect to one another and with said base to position said housing portions flat over a top wall of said support base section or at desired angle or configurations thereabove thereby permitting said screen area to be raised or lowered with respect to said base as well as being articulated.

12. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 11 wherein said hinge assemblies are comprised of a connecting shaft having a circular connecting portion in frictional pressure retention contact within a circular bore of a uni-directional annular gear, said gear having a circumferential toothed outer surface for engagement with arresting means to permit rotational displacement of said gear and said shaft in a first rotational direction, said arresting means preventing said gear to rotate in a counter-rotational direction, said shaft being rotatable in said counter-rotational direction by applying a turning force to said shaft which is greater than the force applied to turn said gear in said first rotational direction.

13. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least said connecting portion of said connecting shaft is provided with annular wall segments displaceable for friction pressure contact with said circular bore of said gear, and means to apply outward pressure on said annular wall sections.

14. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means to apply outward pressure is a spring pin forced between said annular wall segments to displace said sections outwardly, said friction pressure contact being dependent on the selected outer diameter of said spring pin.

15. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least said shaft and said gear are constructed of nylon or plastics material.

16. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 13 wherein said arresting means is a spring loaded lever-action gear engaging stopper member having arresting gear teeth disposed against said circumferential toothed outer surface of said annular gear for meshing engagement there-with to permit said gear to rotate in said first rotational direction and preventing said counter-rotational displacement of said gear.

17. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 16 wherein said stopper means is a resilient member having an arcuate section positioned against said circumferential toothed outer surface of said annular gear, and a spring biasing section for applying biasing pressure to said arcuate section against said circumferential toothed outer surface, said arresting gear teeth being disposed in an outer surface of said arcuate section.

18. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 17 wherein said circumferential toothed outer surface is provided with a series of transverse teeth extending at a sloped angle all along the circumference of said gear, said arresting gear teeth extending at a sloped reverse angle to permit said gear to rotate in said rotational direction only.

19. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 18 wherein said gear is removably located within a bore in a gear housing, said resilient member being removably connected in said housing, said housing having attachment means, said shaft also being secured to attachment means, said attachment means being connected to respective ones of two elements to be articulated one with respect to the other.

20. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 13 wherein said shaft of said second hinge assembly is provided with attachment means to secure same to a lower edge portion of said forward housing portion, said gear being located n a gear housing also having attachment means to secure same in a front edge portion of said rear housing portion whereby said forward housing portion can be angulated rearwardly of said front edge portion of said rear housing portion by rotating said shaft and said gear against said arresting means.

21. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 20 wherein said shaft of said first hinge assembly has its attachment means secure to said rear edge of said rear housing portion and said housing of said gear being secured to said rear portion of said support base section.

22. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 21 wherein there are two hinge assemblies interconnecting opposed ends of said rear edge portion of said forward housing portion and said front edge portion of said rear housing portion together, and two hinge assemblies inter-connecting opposed ends of said rear edge portion of said rear housing portion with said support base section.

23. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 21 wherein said stopper means is a resilient member having an arcuate section positioned against said circumferential toothed outer surface of said annular gear, and a spring biasing section for applying biasing pressure to said arcuate section against said circumferential toothed outer surface, said arresting gear teeth being disposed in an outer surface of said arcuate section, said circumferen-tial toothed outer surface is provided with a series of transverse teeth extending at a sloped angle all along the circumference of said gear, said arresting gear teeth extending at a sloped reverse angle to permit said gear to rotate in said rotational direction only, said rear and forward housings being displaced at selected desired angles with respect to one another and said support base in predetermined angular increments determined by the sloped angles of said transverse teeth, said rear and forward housings being re-positioned flat over said support base by applying a restoring force thereon to cause said shaft of said hinge assemblies to rotate within said gear against the friction force applied by said means to apply outward pressure on said annular wall sections.

24. A portable computer housing as claimed in claim 22 wherein said two hinge assemblies at opposed ends of said forward housing are inversely connected to provide a balance frictional resistance across said hinge connection.