Pen-based computer with handle/prop having ratchet locking mechanism

A pen-based computer having a handle/prop, a front display surface with a screen, a top edge adjacent to the top of the front display surface, a bottom edge adjacent to the bottom of the front display surface, and first and second side edges adjacent to opposite side edges of the front display surface, wherein the improvement comprises said handle/prop having first and second portions pivotally connected to said first and second side edges of the pen-based computer and a crossbar portion connected to said first and second portions, and means for selectively locating said handle/prop in one of:

• 1) a first position for carrying the pen-based computer, wherein the crossbar portion is adjacent to, and spaced apart from, said top edge of the front display surface;
• 2) a second position wherein the crossbar portion is located adjacent to the bottom edge of the pen-based computer to permit hand-holding of the computer in a position for writing on the screen of the computer, wherein the distance between the crossbar portion and the bottom edge of the computer in the second position is less than the distance between the crossbar portion and the top edge of the computer in the first position;
• 3) a third position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to permit easy viewing of the screen of the pen-based computer;
• and
• 4) a fourth position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a second inclined position less steep than the first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface for permitting writing on the screen of the pen-based computer,
• further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions;
• wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer;
• and
• wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.

A pen-based computer having a handle/prop wherein the improvement comprises the handle/prop being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the computer to pivot and lock into a selected one of at least:

• 1) a first position for carrying the computer:
• 2) a second position to permit hand-holding of the computer in a position for writing on the screen of the computer;
• 3) a third position to support the computer in a first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to facilitate viewing the screen of the computer;
• and
• 4) a fourth position to support the computer in a second inclined position less steep than that of the first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to facilitate writing on the screen of the computer,
• further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions
• wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer;
• and
• wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.

A pen-based computer having a handle/prop, a front display surface with a screen, a top edge adjacent to the top of the front display surface, a bottom edge adjacent to the bottom of the front display surface, and first and second side edges adjacent to opposite side edges of the front display surface, wherein the improvement comprises said handle/prop having first and second portions pivotally connected to said first and second side edges of the pen-based computer and a crossbar portion connected to said first and second portions, and means for selectively locating aid handle/prop in one of:

• 1) a first position for carrying the pen-based computer, wherein the crossbar portion is adjacent to, and spaced apart from, said top edge of the front display surface;
• 2) a second position wherein the crossbar portion is located adjacent to the bottom edge of the pen-based computer to permit hand-holding of the computer in a position for writing on the screen of the computer, wherein the distance between the crossbar portion and the bottom edge of the computer in the second position is less than the distance between the crossbar portion and the top edge of the computer in the first position;
• 3) a third position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface to permit easy viewing of the screen of the pen-based computer;
• and
• 4) a fourth position wherein the crossbar portion is located for supporting the pen-based computer in a second inclined position less steep than the first inclined position when the computer is placed on a flat surface for permitting writing on the screen of the pen-based computer, wherein said first and second portions of the handle/prop are mounted at said first and second side edges of said computer at locations closer to the top edge of the computer than to the bottom edge of the computer,
• wherein the first and second portions of the handle/prop are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the crossbar portion is substantially perpendicular to said first and second portions,
• wherein the crossbar portion contacts the bottom edge of the computer in the second position,
• wherein said pen-based computer includes a back surface opposite to said front display surface, and wherein the total area of the front display surface is greater than the total area of the back surface so that said front display surface overlaps said back surface at lest at the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the computer so that said bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the computer include a recessed portion adjacent to the back surface of the computer,
• wherein said first and second portions of the handle/prop are connected to the computer in the recessed portions of the first and second side edges of the computer, and
• wherein the handle is connected to the computer so that, in the second position, the first and second portions of the handle will be in the recessed portion of the first and second side edges, under the overlapping portion of the front display surface, and wherein the crossbar portion of the handle/prop will be in the recessed portion of the bottom edge of the computer, under the overlapping portion of the front display surface,
• further comprising a ratchet locking mechanism for locking said handle/prop into said plurality of different positions;
• wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes first and second release buttons located at points where the handle/prop pivotally connects at opposite side edges of the computer;
• and
• wherein said ratchet locking mechanism includes a handle-tie piece extending through the interior of the computer so as to spring bias the release buttons into a locked position.