Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-06
2001-08-07
Feild, Lynn D. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C016S342000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272006
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all rights accruing thereto under 35 U.S.C. §119 through my patent application entitled Pivot Device and Portable Computer With the Same earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the day of May 6, 1997 and there duly assigned Serial No. 1997/17227.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pivot device, located at the junction between a portable computer's display body and main body, for a portable computer and, more specifically, to a pivot device that more effectively supports the weight of a liquid crystal display panel and prevents the distortion or deformation of the display housing that occurs during the opening and closing process.
2. Background Art
Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels are commonly used with portable computers because of their compact design. However, the weight of LCD panels often leads to a weakening of the hinge mechanism that connects the display body to the main body of the portable computer. This problem has become more common as the size and the weight of the LCD display panels used in portable computers increases.
Different techniques for pivotally mounting housings containing LCD display panels to the main body of portable computers are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,102 to Fujino entitled Portable Information Processing Apparatus with Hinge for Enlarged LCD Display, U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,048 to Esterberg entitled Hinge Assembly for a Device Having a Display, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,072 to Youn entitled Hinge Securement Device for a Portable Computer, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,982 to Hosoi entitled Hinge Mechanism for Portable Electronic Apparatus. Hinges used in the contemporary art fail to provide a means of better distributing the load of a LCD display panel to prevent the separation of the front of a display panel housing from the LCD display panel. This is caused by the deformations incurred during the opening and closing of the portable computer.
As such, I believe it may be possible to improve on the contemporary art by providing a hinge that reduces the deformation caused by repetitive opening and closing of the portable computer, that avoids the separation of the front of the display panel housing from the liquid crystal display, that prevents the increase in vibrations caused by permanent deformation of the display housing, and that more evenly distributes the weight of a liquid crystal display panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hinge device for a portable computer.
It is another object to provide a hinge device for a portable computer that reduces the deformations caused by the repetitive opening and closing of the display panel on the portable computer.
It is still another object to provide a hinge device for a portable computer that avoids the separation of the front of the display panel housing from the liquid crystal display panel.
It is yet another object to provide a hinge device for a portable computer that prevents an increase in vibrations caused by the permanent deformation of the display housing.
It is still yet another object to provide a hinge device for a portable computer that more evenly distributes the weight of a liquid crystal display panel.
To achieve these and other objects, a pivot device for portable computers is provided that may be constructed using a pivot bearing, located at the rear edge of a main body of the portable computer and a pivot member that is fastenably attached to a display housing. Thus, the display housing is rotatably connected to the main body. The pivot member may be constructed using both a lower support part, that is mounted to the lower portion of the display housing, and a side support part that extends radially away from the hinge axis to fastenably attach to the side portion of the display body. In the second embodiment of this invention, the side support part of the pivot member has a hook that engages the inner surface of the side wall in the display housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4730364 (1988-03-01), Tat-Kee
patent: 5077551 (1991-12-01), Saitou
patent: 5081742 (1992-01-01), Kobayashi
patent: 5173837 (1992-12-01), Blackwell et al.
patent: 5195213 (1993-03-01), Ohgami et al.
patent: 5473794 (1995-12-01), Kobayashi
patent: 5500982 (1996-03-01), Hosoi
patent: 5507072 (1996-04-01), Youn
patent: 5636102 (1997-06-01), Fujino et al.
patent: 5754395 (1998-05-01), Hse et al.
patent: 5844774 (1998-12-01), Gushiken et al.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Feild Lynn D.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Hinge device for a portable computer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hinge device for a portable computer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hinge device for a portable computer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2453562