Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Patent
1996-02-13
1997-07-08
Picard, Leo P.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
361680, 248917, G06F 116, H05K 500
Patent
active
056468180
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic appliance, in particular, to an electronic appliance with a display unit and a keyboard.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
German Patent No. 39 36 261 C2 describes a portable computer, called a "laptop computer," that has a display unit which is configured as a flat plate and is arranged rotatably with respect to a base element. A keyboard is permanently installed in the front area of the base element in front of the pivot bearing of the display unit. The computer is equipped with a locking device so that for transport, the display unit can be secured in a position in which it covers the keyboard arranged on the base unit. For operation, the computer is placed on a desk, the lock is opened, and the display unit is swung up into a second position in which it allows operation of the keyboard and viewing of the display unit. With this electronic appliance, therefore, a suitable surface approximately at desk height is always needed for operability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic appliance that is operable even in unfavorable physical conditions in which a support for the electronic appliance at desk height is absent.
The present invention provides an electronic appliance with a display unit and a keyboard which fulfills the aforementioned object and comprises two laterally arranged lateral supports upon which the display unit is pivoted, with each of the two lateral supports including a base part for providing a secure footing, with each base part including a support mount in a front portion of the base part, and a side member extending upward from a rear portion of the base part, each side member including a pivot bearing, wherein the display unit is pivotally supported approximately about its center of gravity by the pivot bearings of the side members and a rear portion of the keyboard is received by the support mounts of the base parts.
The present invention has the advantage that the electronic appliance imposes very few special requirements on its physical environment, and is operable in almost any industrial situation. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a programing machine for stored program controls, which must often be used on-site close to the process being controlled, and thus under difficult conditions. If a desk is available as support for the electronic appliance, to prepare for operation the display unit is swung approximately 30 degrees backward out of the transport position, and the keyboard is received at its rear area in bearings in the front area of the foot, so that it is secured against displacement. In this case the arrangement of the operating units is comparable to the arrangement with the known laptop computer. When no desk surface is available, on the other hand, it is then possible with the electronic appliance according to the present invention to place the foot, with the display unit received in pivot bearings, on the floor. In order for the display to be easily visible from above, it is swung approximately 90 degrees backward from the transport position. For better accessibility, the keyboard, which has a relatively low weight, can be removed from the foot and held in the hand or, if the user is in a seated position, placed on the lap. It is equally possible to fasten the foot to a wall so the display unit is at eye level. In this case the keyboard can either be held in the bearings on the foot or removed. The new electronic appliance is thus characterized by extremely high flexibility at the place of use. In addition it is easy to transport, since in the transport position it has no projecting parts and very compact dimensions. The transport position can be achieved with few manipulations, since the display must simply be swung to the vertical position, and the keyboard folded up. In addition the display unit and keyboard, which cover one another in the transport position, protect each other from damage during transport.
The present invention,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4903221 (1990-02-01), Krenz
patent: 5107402 (1992-04-01), Malgouires
patent: 5175672 (1992-12-01), Conner et al.
patent: 5247285 (1993-09-01), Yokota et al.
patent: 5267123 (1993-11-01), Boothroyd et al.
patent: 5383138 (1995-01-01), Motoyama et al.
Feild Lynn D.
Picard Leo P.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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