Portable computer assembly and method
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorsRafael E. Aguilera, Robert J. Crockett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable computer assembly includes a portable computer and a receptacle adapted to hold the portable computer. The portable computer assembly further includes a base for supporting the receptacle. Moreover, the portable computer assembly includes a latch for latching the receptacle to the base. Additionally disclosed is a method of removing particulate from a portable computer storage system which includes a receptacle, a base, and a locking mechanism.
Claims21
A portable computer assembly, comprising:
- a portable computer;
- a receptacle adapted to hold said portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- and
- a latch for latching said receptacle to said base, wherein said latch comprises a movement actuator, and wherein actuation of the movement actuator allows movement of said receptacle from a first latched position to a second latched position.
A portable computer assembly, comprising:
- a portable computer;
- a receptacle adapted to hold said portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- a latch for latching said receptacle to said base;
- a guide assembly, secured to said receptacle, for guiding said portable computer within said receptacle;
- and
- an elastic member interposed between said guide assembly and said receptacle.
A portable computer assembly, comprising:
- a portable computer;
- a receptacle adapted to hold said portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- and
- a latch for latching said receptacle to said base, wherein:
- said portable computer has a first IR transceiver secured thereto;
- said base has a second IR transceiver secured thereto;
- and
- said receptacle has an aperture defined therein through which the first and second IR transceivers interface with each other so as to transfer signals to or from the portable computer when (1) said receptacle is supported by said base, and (2) said portable computer is held by said receptacle.
A method of removing particulate from a portable computer storage system which has a receptacle, a base and a latch, including the steps of:
- stowing a portable computer within the receptacle;
- latching the receptacle to the base so as to prevent release of the receptacle from the base;
- unlatching the receptacle from the base so as to allow release of the receptacle from the base;
- removing the portable computer from the receptacle;
- separating the receptacle from the base after the unlatching step;
- and
- removing particulate from the receptacle after the separating step.
The method of 12, wherein the unlatching step further includes the step of displacing a bottom portion of the receptacle away from a bottom portion of the base when the receptacle is moved from the first latched position to the second latched position.
A portable computer storage system, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to hold a portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- and
- a lock and release mechanism for locking said receptacle to said base,
- wherein said lock and release mechanism comprises a movement actuator, and
- wherein actuation of the movement actuator allows movement of said receptacle relative to said base.
A portable computer storage system, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to hold a portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- a lock and release mechanism for locking said receptacle to said base;
- a guide assembly, secured to said receptacle, for guiding the portable computer within said receptacle;
- and
- an elastic member interposed between said guide assembly and said receptacle.
A portable computer storage system, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to hold a portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- a lock and release mechanism for locking said receptacle to said base;
- and
- wherein said lock and release mechanism comprises a movement actuator, and wherein actuation of the movement actuator allows movement of said receptacle from a first locked position to a second locked position,
- wherein the portable computer is locked to said receptacle when (1) the portable computer is held by said receptacle, and (2) said receptacle is in the first locked position, and
- wherein the portable computer is unlocked from said receptacle when (1) the portable computer is held by said receptacle, and (2) said receptacle is in the second locked position.
A portable computer storage system, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to hold a portable computer;
- a base for supporting said receptacle;
- a lock and release mechanism for locking said receptacle to said base;
- and
- a spring secured to a bottom potion of said receptacle,
- wherein said lock and release mechanism comprises a movement actuator, and wherein actuation of the movement actuator allows movement of said receptacle from a first locked position to a second locked position,
- wherein said spring is compressed between a bottom portion of said base and the bottom portion of said receptacle when said receptacle is in the first locked position, and
- wherein said spring displaces the bottom portion of said receptacle away from the bottom portion of said base so as to move said receptacle from the first locked position to the second locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.