US6151012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multifunctional portable computing device with special housing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-07-25
•
Granted: 2000-11-21
•
Expires: 2018-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A portable computing device includes pivoting and hinging mechanisms which enable its housing to reconfigure to function in multiple modes. In one configuration the device functions as a laptop computer with keyboard input. In another configuration the device folds into a compact, hand-held, pen-based computer. In another configuration the device folds around the display for protection during transport. A set of adjustable stops enable easy and repeatable transitions between the different configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Bullister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/86; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1618; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1662; G06F1/1666; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213; G06F3/0216; G06F3/0221; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/046; H01H2223/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
A foldable keyboard, comprising: a) a first keyboard section having first front edge, a first rear edge, a substantially planar first top surface, and a plurality of keys protruding from said first top surface; b) a second keyboard section having a second front edge, a second rear edge, a substantially planar second top surface and a plurality of keys protruding from said second top surface; c) a first keytop surface formed from the tops of said keys protruding from said first keyboard section; d) a second keytop surface formed from the tops of said keys protruding from said second keyboard section; e) a first hinge, said first hinge adjacent to said first and second rear edges, connecting said first and second keyboard sections and allowing said first and second keyboard sections to rotate with respect to each other from an extended position to a collapsed position, said first hinge having an axle whose axis of rotation with respect to said first keyboard section is at least as high as the said keytop surfaces in the said extended position; f) a second hinge, said second hinge located closer to said first and second front edges than said first hinge, said second hinge connecting said first and second keyboard sections, and said second hinge having no axle with the same axis of rotation with respect to said first keyboard section as the said axle of the said first hinge, whereby said first and second hinges allow said keyboard to fold from a more compact collapsed condition to an extended position for use, and during said use said second hinge retracts to facilitate typing, and whereby due to said rearward location of said first hinge, said first hinge need not retract.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
A foldable keyboard, comprising: a) a first keyboard section having first front edge, a first rear edge, a substantially planar first top surface, and a plurality of keys protruding from said first top surface; b) a second keyboard section having a second front edge, a second rear edge, a substantially planar second top surface and a plurality of keys protruding from said second top surface; c) a first keytop surface formed from the tops of said keys protruding from said first keyboard section; d) a second keytop surface formed from the tops of said keys protruding from said second keyboard section; e) a first hinge, said first hinge adjacent to said first and second rear edges, connecting said first and second keyboard sections and allowing said first and second keyboard sections to rotate with respect to each other from an extended position to a collapsed position, said first hinge having an axle whose axis of rotation with respect to said first keyboard section is at least as high as the said keytop surfaces in the said extended position; f) a second hinge, said second hinge located closer to said first and second front edges than said first hinge, said second hinge connecting said first and second keyboard sections, and said second hinge having no axle with the same axis of rotation with respect to said first keyboard section as the said axle of the said first hinge, whereby said first and second hinges allow said keyboard to fold from a more compact collapsed condition to an extended position for use, and during said use said second hinge retracts to facilitate typing, and whereby due to said rearward location of said first hinge, said first hinge need not retract.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein said first hinge is a simple pivoting joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein said first and second keyboard sections rotate relative to each other about the axis which passes through said axle of said first hinge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein said second hinge includes a first front axle, a second front axle, and a link connecting said first and second front axles, whereby in said extended position, said first and second front axles and said link remain beneath the keytop surfaces, and in said collapsed condition, said link crossed the first and second keytop surfaces and forms a brace to maintain a fixed spacing between said first and second keyboard sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein said rear axle, said first front axle, and said second front axle have rotation axes which are mutually parallel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein said first and second hinges comprise pairs of lugs pivotally connected by axels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein the relative motion between connected parts in said first and second hinges is restricted to relative rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The foldable keyboard of claim 1, wherein the relative motion between connected parts in said first and second hinges does not include relative translation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3622720A
Cited
US3940758A
Cited
US4075702A
Cited
US4264962A
Cited
US4395704A
Cited
US4517660A
Cited
US4597681A
Cited
US4742478A
Cited
US4799771A
Cited
US4703160A
Cited
US5087910A
Cited
US4882471A
Cited
US5119078A
Cited
US4796977A
Cited
US4939514A
Cited
US4926365A
Cited
US4903221A
Cited
US4918632A
Cited
US5021922A
Cited
US5122876A
Cited
US5196993A
Cited
US5109354A
Cited
US4959887A
Cited
US5363227A
Cited
US5002184A
Cited
US4969830A
Cited
US5067834A
Cited
US5410447A
Cited
US5268817A
Cited
US5333116A
Cited
US5267127A
Cited
US5103376A
Cited
US5321579A
Cited
US5260885A
Cited
EP0530829A2
Cited
US5187644A
Cited
US5347477A
Cited
US5163765A
Cited
US5233502A
Cited
US5410333A
Cited
US5340073A
Cited
US5285398A
Cited
US5295089A
Cited
US5457453A
Cited
US5278779A
Cited
US5383138A
Cited
US5241451A
Cited
US5235495A
Cited
US5335142A
Cited
US5494447A
Cited
US5345362A
Cited
US5844543A
Cited
US5325984A
Cited
US5363276A
Cited
US5375076A
Cited
US5416730A
Cited
US5574481A
Cited
US5469194A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-21 | 2004-05-22 | 2004-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-21 | 2008-05-22 | 2008-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-21 | 2012-05-22 | 2012-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |