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US 4,903,221 AGranted
Keyboard latching arrangement for portable computers
AssigneeZenith Electronics Corporation
InventorHorst M. Krenz
Life of this patent
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AssigneeZenith Electronics Corporation
InventorHorst M. Krenz
Estimating the term…
A portable computer with a base, a pivotal visual display and a keyboard releasably attached to the base so it can be used as a stand alone component. The base has a tapered forwardly projecting wide tongue that guides the keyboard horizontally and vertically as the keyboard moves toward the base and when the keyboard reaches its fully seated position a pair of latch assemblies automatically engage. The rear of the keyboard has a transverse recess into which a precoiled section of keyboard cable is stored in the keyboard attached position.
A portable computer, comprising:
A portable computer, comprising:
A portable computer, comprising:
A portable computer, comprising:
A portable computer, comprising:
A portable computer, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
With several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function: with folding flat displays,…
Details related to the integrated keyboard: detachable keyboards
Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts: for locking or maintaining the movable…
Computing and data processing
Term ended 31 Oct 2008 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
Over recent years there has been a widespread development of personal computers, and the industry has experienced a rather dramatic increase in the design, development and sale of computer which are portable. These portable computers are not significantly larger than small portable typewriters, and contain their own built-in central processing unit, memory, hard drive, disk drives, keyboard, visual display and carrying handle. The display is typically a liquid crystal display on one side of a panel or lid which folds down flat on the upper surface of the keyboard to serve as a cover to protect the keyboard and display during storage and travel.
It is desirable that the display panel, including its hinging hardware, fold flush with the upper surface of the keyboard and this is sometimes accomplished by accommodating the display panel with a recess into which the upper surface of the keyboard fits.
In the past, the keyboards have been permanently fixed to a base so that in use the user had to operate the keyboard in a position directly adjacent the open lid and base. This has several disadvantages, the first of which is that it requires the user's eyes by within 12 to 14 inches of the screen, which is not the optimum distance for eye comfort. Secondly, the standard table height of 30 to 31 inches positions the keyboard, when fixed to the computer, at a height somewhat higher than desirable for operator hand comfort.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the personal computer according to the present invention with the lid assembly open and the keyboard assembly attached;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the keyboard assembly detached;
FIG. 3 is a right side view of the computer illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the keyboard assembly detached;
Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 to 3, a portable computer 10 is illustrated according to the present invention and seen to generally include a transversely elongated base 11, a detachable keyboard assembly 13, and a lid assembly 14 pivotally mounted on base 11. The lid assembly 14 is selectively locked over the keyboard assembly 13 by side latch assemblies 18.
The base 11 typically carries a central processing unit, memory circuitry, hard drive, disk drives and a plurality of slots for additional optional components.
The keyboard assembly 13 includes a plurality of keys for manually accessing the central processing unit in the base 11. The lid assembly 14 has a flat LCD screen assembly 23 mounted therein visible as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the lid is in its open position.