Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-18
2001-01-23
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S689000, C235S00100C, C235S14500A, C016S277000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178085
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a calculator which generally possesses a flat, compact and portable housing construction, and more specifically pertains to a calculator lid mechanism which pivots a flat cover of the calculator in a predetermined controlled manner between a first position causing the flat cover to form a lid which overlies a calculator display, and a second operational position in which the cover is pivoted towards the rear of the calculator so as to form a stand for tilting the calculator into an upwardly inclined ergonomic position relative to a horizontal support surface during intended use thereof.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
The utilization of hand-held or portable pocket-sized calculators or various other small devices which incorporate cover or lid structures, and which are adapted to form stands or supports for the calculators or devices when located on a horizontal surface, is well-known in the technology.
Hollingsworth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,054 discloses a carrying case for a notebook computer wherein front and back panels are adapted to cover the computer, and whereby, in an opened positioned, the front panel incorporates structure adapted to be folded rearwardly forming a stand so as to be able to support the notebook computer in an inclined or ergonomically comfortable position for a user.
Nelson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,358 discloses a portable signal processing communications unit having a cover structure which is hinged to one end of a housing containing operating components, and wherein the cover structure may be folded backwardly about its hinge connection to the housing so as to form an inclined supporting structure for maintaining the signal processing and communications unit in a upwardly tilted position during use when located on a horizontal supporting surface.
Loh, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,234 discloses a hand held calculator wherein a cover which is adapted to extend over the entire front surface of the calculator when the latter is not in used, is adapted to be slid towards one end of the calculator by means of elements on the cover engaging in a pair of longitudinal side grooves of the calculator housing. Thereafter the cover may be rotated to extend below the rear of the calculator so as to form a stand or support through the intermediary of a raised portion of the hinge which will maintain the calculator in an inclined or a tilted position when positioned on a horizontal surface.
Narishima, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,160 discloses a casing structure for a portable electronic appliance, such as a small hand held portable calculator, wherein portions of the casing of the computer which are hinged to each other may be folded backwardly in order to form a supporting stand for maintaining the calculator or device in an inclined or tilted position during use on a support surface.
Dynesen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,568 discloses a portable or pocket calculator in which casing structure includes hinged cover portions attached to one end of the casing structure, and wherein the cover portions are adapted to be folded rearwardly when the calculator is deposited and supported on a horizontal surface so as to provide a stand construction maintaining the calculator in an upwardly tilted position. When not in use, the components which are hinged to the calculator casing structure may be folded forwardly and layed flat over the surface of the calculator so as to form a protective flat cover extending over the entire front surface of the calculator.
Although the above-mentioned publications disclose various types of cover structures for hand-held or pocket calculators or similar small-sized electronic units and devices, none of these disclose a simple construction wherein a spring-loaded lid or cover element is hingedly connected to the housing of a hand-held or pocket calculator, and upon actuation of a switch is adapted to swing rearwardly in a controlled damped manner so as to provide visual access to a display panel in the front of the calculator housing, while concurrently forming a stand for calculator when located on a horizontal supporting surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to attain the foregoing, the present invention provides for a novel construction of a calculator lid mechanism, wherein a lid structure is hingedly connected thereto an upper end of a calculator housing, and which in the inoperative condition of the calculator, or when the latter is to be stored, is maintained in a lay flat covering orientation over a display panel which is located in the front surface of the calculator housing so as to protectively cover the display panel. Upon the actuation of a switch, a release mechanism enables the lid to be pivoted rearwardly in a controlled damped manner about a hinge connection, which articulates the lid to the calculator housing, under the urging of a torsion spring and damping drum arrangement located within a tubular bore within the hinge portion of the lid structure into an essentially perpendicular orientation relative to the rear surface of the calculator housing so as to form a stand for tiltingly support the calculator when positioned on a horizontal surface.
In essence, the calculator lid structure includes a generally flat cover portion, which in a first inoperative condition of the calculator is adapted to overlie the calculator display panel. Integrally formed at one end of the flat cover portion is an open-ended tubular hinge portion having two coaxially cylindrical compartments or blind bores extending towards each other from opposite ends mounting trunnions which project inwardly from upper ends of flanges extend from the side walls of the calculator housing, are adapted to be jointed to, respectively, the opposite open ends of the cylindrical bores and form hinge connections for the lid structure with the calculator housing. One of the blind bores or cylindrical compartments or blind bores of the tubular lid hinge portion constitutes a damping cylinder which receives a torsion spring and a damping drum. A damping grease is adapted to be introduced between the surface of the damping cylinder and the damping drum to thereby facilitate a controlled and damped pivoting action of the lid mechanism, and resulting of the lid structure, when the cover portion of the latter is released from its latched position over the calculator display, through the actuation of a spring-biased switch and latching element.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lid structure for a calculator including novel calculator lid mechanism adapted for controlled pivoting actuation to alternatively form a cover for a display panel and a stand for the calculator.
Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel lid structure for a calculator having a portion forming a cover for a display panel on the front surface of a calculator housing when not in use, and adapted to be released so as to pivot rearwardly of the calculator housing about a hinge portion of the lid structure incorporating novel lid mechanism for controlling the pivoting speed in the opening of the lid when pivoted into an operative position forming a stand for the calculator.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel calculator lid mechanism within a hinge structure of the lid structure which, in a first position thereof, covers a display panel on the front surface of the calculator, and in a second operative position, is adapted to be pivoted rearwardly so as to form a stand for the calculator, wherein the hinge structure incorporates novel operative mechanism comprising a torsion spring, damping drum and damping grease located therein to thereby impart controlled damped pivoting movement to the lid structure.
A still further object of the present invention is provide a novel calculator lid mechanism for a lid structure which is maintained in a covering position over a display panel in the front surface of the calculator housing, and wherein a simple pulling action
CCL Products Enterprises, Inc.
Picard Leo P.
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
Vortman Anatoly
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