Registers – Calculators – Input-output calculator to indicator – printer – etc.
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-03-27
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Calculators
Input-output calculator to indicator, printer, etc.
C235S435000, C235S419000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206281
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to conveniently openable housings for calculators and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Calculators have become commodity appliances. Even “designer” versions have the familiar rectangular shape. Beyond functionality, ergonomic design dictates the use of large comfortable keys and a large display.
These features, however, normally result in a calculator with a larger “footprint” taking up valuable desk space. Because of their utilitarian appearance, calculators are seldom considered decorative items.
In addition, some calculator have a cover that must be physically separated from the calculator before viewing the calculator. Other calculators have no cover, which results in dust and other contaminants lodging upon the keyboard and liquid crystal display (LCD) viewing screen and interfering with clear viewing thereof.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a calculator with a unique appearance that enhances its functionality.
It is a further object of this invention to reduce the desk area of the calculator when not in use.
It is another object of this invention to provide automatic slow motion deployment of the calculator when ready to use.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a whimsical design with kinetic features that can amuse the user.
It is another object of this invention to reduce the desk area of the calculator when not in use.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a housing for storing objects therein, wherein the cover thereof opens in a slow, smooth aesthetically pleasing motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, the present invention includes a kinetic, decorative housing for useful articles, such as a calculator. However, the housing could also function as a small hollow jewelry box or the like for housing small personal articles therein.
The housing has a body with a longitudinally extending dimension. The body is divided along the longitudinal dimension into an upper part and a separate lower part.
The upper and lower parts each have respective outer surfaces and respective parallel mutually opposing inner surfaces in separable contact with one another. The inner surfaces respectively include a front portion terminating in a front edge and a rear portion terminating in a rear edge.
A pair of elongated pivoting members are located in parallel disposition relative to each other and the pivoting members each are rotatably connected within the upper and the lower parts.
One of the pivoting members is a driven member and the other pivoting member is a driver. The driver pivoting member is provided with spring means and motion damping means mounted to the driver pivoting member at the rotatable connection of the driver pivoting member with the lower part of the body of the decorative housing of the calculator.
The upper and lower parts are moveable with a slow gliding rotational motion about the pivoting rods, wherein accelerations are relatively small and velocity is relatively low and substantially constant through most of the travel of the upper and lower parts relative to each other.
This rotational motion includes a component of longitudinal displacement and a component of vertical displacement, wherein the rotational motion occurs between alternate open and closed positions of the decorative housing.
The opposing inner surfaces remaining parallel to each other during the rotational motion In the closed position the inner surface of the upper part covers substantially all of the inner surface of the lower part. However, in the open position the inner surface of the upper part covers less than substantially all of the inner surface of the lower part. A spring urges the upper and lower parts into the open position. The decorative housing for the calculator has a latch means for releasably latching the decorative housing for the calculator in the closed position.
The spring may be a torsion coil mounted in a drum, which has a hollow interior for accommodating the spring therein. The drum is mounted rotatably within a diameter-matching cylindrical bore at the lower end of the driver pivoting member. This bore has an inner surface and the drum has an outer surface in close proximity to the inner surface of the cylindrical bore.
The outer surface of the drum includes a friction resistance rotational motion damper that resists but not prevent the rotational motion of the drum within the diameter-matching cylindrical bore.
This spring is prestressed and torqued so as to bias the decorative housing for the calculator to assume the open viewing position of use. Therefore, the pivoting members, the bore, the drum, and the spring cooperate to provide the slow gliding rotational motion of the upper and lower parts alternately between the open and closed positions.
The rotational motion damper has a coating of friction-producing grease disposed on the outer surface of the drum. The grease is a layer disposed between the outer surface of the drum and the inner surface of the diameter-matching cylindrical bore.
Preferably the outer surfaces of the decorative housing for the calculator are curved.
In the closed position of the decorative housing for the calculator, the front edges and the rear edges of the inner surfaces of the upper and lower parts of the decorative housing are aligned with each other.
Conversely, in the open position of the decorative housing for the calculator, the front and the rear edges of the upper part inner surface are disposed rearwardly of the respective front and rear edges of the lower part.
The curved outer surfaces of the decorative housing for the calculator cooperate in the closed position form the decorative housing for the calculator into a double crescent shape.
The calculator within the decorative housing has a visual display and a photocell disposed on the front portion of the inner surface of the lower part of the decorative housing.
The display and photocell are alternately revealed and hidden when the upper and lower part move to the open and closed positions.
The calculator has a user-touchable data-entry key pad disposed on the outer surface of the upper part. This key pad has a finger-depressible spring-mounted latch which automatically locks the calculator in the closed position. This latch is released by finger pressure so as to permit the torsion coil spring to urge the calculator in to the open position.
Therefore, the decorative housing is a two-piece user openable object capable of moving with a slow gliding motion between an open position and a closed position.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 424604 (2000-05-01), Leung
CCL Products Enterprises, Inc.
Le Thien M.
Morganstern Allen R.
Taylor Larry D
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