Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-06
2001-07-24
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S679090, C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266235
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a method for securing a display housing to a base of a laptop computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Laptop computers are portable computers that generally operate from either external or portable power sources. Conventional laptop computers typically have a base pivotally connected to a display housing. The base typically includes a primary input device, such as a keyboard, and a secondary input device, such as a computer mouse, roller ball or touch pad. The display housing typically includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other type of display. To access the keyboard and the display, a user positions the base on a surface (e.g., the user's lap or a fixed surface) and opens the computer by pivoting the display housing away from the base. To close and easily transport the computer after use, the user pivots the display housing toward the base and secures the housing to the base.
In conventional laptop computers, the display housing is generally relatively small so that the laptop computer can be easily transported. One drawback with this arrangement is that text and graphics on the display may be difficult to visually discern. Accordingly, it may be difficult to use the laptop computer.
One means for addressing this drawback is to enlarge the size of the display housing while keeping the size of the base approximately the same. Accordingly, the display can be made larger and easier to read without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the computer by also increasing the size of the base. However, one drawback with this approach is that it may be difficult to latch or otherwise secure the oversized display housing to the base. For example, it may be difficult to latch a display that overhangs the base without using a relatively complex mechanism that can be cumbersome and/or heavy. Another drawback is that the portion of the oversized display that overhangs the base may be exposed even when the laptop computer is closed. Accordingly, the display may be susceptible to damage when the laptop computer is transported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward methods for operating a display housing relative to a base of a laptop computer. In one aspect of the invention, the method includes stowing the display housing by folding the display housing toward the base to extend an overhanging portion of the display housing beyond an edge of the base, and releasably securing the overhanging portion of the display housing to the base. The method can further include releasing the overhanging portion of the display housing from the base and folding the display housing away from the base to access a display of the display housing.
The overhanging portion of the display housing can be secured to the base according to one or more of several methods. For example, in one aspect of the invention the overhanging portion of the display housing can be secured to the base by rotating a latch member of one of the base and the display housing to engage the latch member with a corresponding protrusion of the other of the base and the display housing. In another aspect of the invention, securing the overhanging portion of the display housing from the base can include translating a latch member relative to the display housing to engage the latch member with the base. In still a further aspect of the invention, the display housing can be released from the base by depressing a latch member inwardly from a surface of the display housing to disengage the latch member from the base.
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Catalog Item “New Dell® Latitude® CPi,” Dell® Business Catalog, Jul. 1998, pp. 14-15.
Chang Yean-Hsi
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
Perkins Coie LLP
Picard Leo P.
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