Back to results
US 6,549,399 B2Granted
Door mechanism for handheld computer
AssigneePalm, Inc.
InventorKenneth Arthur Jenks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door mechanism is provided for a handheld computer. The door mechanism includes a detachable section that is extendable from an interior of the handheld computer's housing. The detachable section is biased to pivot towards the housing from the extended position. An interior of the detachable section includes a coupling structure to receive an external electrical component. The detachable section may be returned to a closed position to cause the external electrical component to make contact with an interior element of the handheld computer.
Claims16
A handheld computer comprising:
- a housing including a first face having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- and
- a detachable section extendable from the interior surface of the first face to an extended position, the detachable section being biased to move towards the housing from the extended position, an interior of the detachable section including a coupling structure to couple a component to the detachable section and to position the component to make electrical contact with another element retained within a space confined by the housing;
- wherein the extended position corresponds to the detachable section being pivoted so that the exterior side of the detachable section is adjacent to the exterior side of the housing.
1 more element
A handheld computer comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a detachable section moveably coupled to the housing to move from a closed position against the housing to an extended position, the detachable section forming an angle that is greater than 90 degrees with the housing when in the extended position, the door being positionable to overlay an interior space of the housing;
- wherein a pivot end of the detachable section is moveable from an interior position of the housing to an exterior position of the housing;
- and
- wherein the detachable section is moveable to an intermediate position between the closed position and the extended position corresponding to the pivot end being within the housing and the detachable section being extended up to about 90 degrees relative to the housing.
3 more elements
A handheld computer comprising:
- a housing including a first face and a second face, the first face including an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a detachable section moveably coupled to the interior surface of the first face to move from a closed position against the housing to an extended position;
- a hinge structure coupled to the interior surface of the housing, the hinge structure including a first member extending along a first direction within the housing, the first member flexing about a length to bias the detachable section in a second direction, the hinge structure including a second member and a third member pivotally coupled to a pivot end of the detachable section, the second and third members extending within the housing in the second direction and extendable in a third direction outside of the housing to allow the detachable section to move to the extended position.
A handheld computer comprising:
- a housing including a first face having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a detachable section moveably coupled to the housing to move from a closed position against the housing to an extended position, the detachable section forming an angle greater than 90 degrees with the exterior surface of the housing when in the extended position;
- a hinge structure coupled to the interior surface of the first face and to the detachable section, the hinge structure being moveable from a first position corresponding to the detachable section being in the closed position to a second position corresponding to the detachable section being in a partially extended position in which the detachable section is extended up to about 90 degrees with the exterior surface of the housing, the hinge structure being moveable to a third position corresponding to the detachable section being in an extended position;
- wherein the first position and the second position of the hinge structure correspond to the hinge structure being within the housing, and the third position of the hinge structure correspond to the hinge structure being outside of the housing.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.