Abstract:
A computer monitor housing comprising first and second hemispherical shells having sizes such that one of the shells can nest substantially completely inside the other, a video display panel supported within the first shell, a supporting pedestal secured to the first shell, a powered drive for pivotally moving the first and second shells about a substantially horizontal diametrical axis in such a manner that the shells are relatively movable between a closed position in which the shells are positioned with their concave sides facing so as to conceal the video display panel and an open position in which the shells are nested one inside the other for revealing the video display panel.

Description:
This invention relates to a computer monitor housing. More particularly the invention relates to a computer monitor housing which has an aesthetic appeal distinct from the appearance of a conventional monitor, and which is capable of concealing the monitor when not in use. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Computer monitors have become extremely common items in offices, workspaces, retail stores, automobile service facilities, airports, and anywhere a computer is used. The monitors generally sit on desks, tables, stands, counters and the like. But regardless of where such monitors are located, they have a very familiar shape and appearance, and are immediately recognized as a computer monitor, largely because of their shape or appearance. Although the computer industry has exploded with technology in the latter part of the twentieth century, the shape and appearance of computer monitors has changed little. Monitors have even grown, from the thirteen inch monitors so common in the 1980&#39;s, to the 17, 19 and 21 inch monitors presently. 
     Prior art monitors generally are rather heavy and have a large, bulky and familiar shape, with a generally rectangular appearance from the front, tapering in all directions toward the rear, and supported on a pedestal. The screen of course is located on the rectangular front, often includes knobs or controls for the monitor. 
     More recently, some attention has been directed at monitors to create a more aesthetic appearance with corresponding appeal. For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. 413,105 discloses a horizontal teardrop shape, with rounded corners and concealed front controls. This housing has been marketed in colors to again increase the aesthetic appeal. 
     Another approach has been taken in Design U.S. Pat. No. 390,218 wherein speakers are mounted in wings hingedly attached to the sides of the monitor and are pivotal to the front to conceal the monitor and speakers when closed. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,766,422 and 4,735,467 discloses other ways to conceal the computer monitor by mounting it on a support which is retractable into the desk when not in use. This patent uses a flat screen display, much like the displays used in laptop computers, in order to facilitate the support and concealment of the display. 
     Most of the prior attempts to change the appearance of the monitor have still produced shapes which are largely dictated by the shape of the cathode ray tube which forms the bulk of the actual monitor. Although changes in such tubes have reduced the length of the tube, they still have the familiar elongated shape, which is not particularly aesthetic, and which is bulky and dominant on a desktop, and has little appeal apart from its function. 
     Accordingly the primary object of present invention is to provide a monitor housing which is capable of significant and distinctive aesthetic appeal. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a monitor housing which conceals the function of the monitor when not in use. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a monitor housing which is convertible from an aesthetic object to a functional computer monitor. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a monitor housing which may be ornamented to simulate a variety of objects with different appeal. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a monitor housing which interacts with the computer power saving features so as to conceal the monitor when the computer is in a power saving mode. 
     Still a further object of the invention is to provide a monitor housing which may be of different shapes to simulate different objects. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention takes advantage of flat screen technology for a so-called “desktop” monitor in order to benefit from the size advantages of flat screen displays. Although the invention could be used with cathode ray tube type video displays, the size of such displays is one of their biggest drawbacks, and the flat screen displays are preferred. The monitor housing of this invention comprises at least two shells which are pivotally connected together along a midline. The shells are relatively pivotable from a position in which they are nested one inside the other, to a position in which they overlap at their edges to form a shape which simulates a unique object. For example, the object may be a sports ball such as a golf ball, a basket ball, a soccer ball, a football, or the like. 
     When the shells are pivoted to a first or open position in which they are nested, the video display terminal is visible for use as a computer display. But, when the shells are relatively pivoted to a second or closed position, the video display screen is hidden from view. By suitably ornamenting the exterior of shells, the housing can be made to resemble a golf ball, a soccer ball, a globe or the like. A mirror finish may also be provided. Likewise, the housing may be elongated in an egg-shape and ornamented to resemble a football, while still concealing the video display screen. 
     The half shells may simply be pivotally connected so that one of the shells is mounted on a base or pedestal and the other is pivotally attached to the first. A handle may be provided if desired to facilitate manually moving the pivotal shell between the open and closed positions. 
     In another embodiment, a servo-motor is connected to the movable shell to move that shell between the open and closed positions. Preferable, the motor is provided with a connection to the computer, so that when the display screen is energized, the motor is activated to pivot the shell to the first position and thereby open the housing for use. Similarly, when the video display is powered down, the servo-motor is reversed to close the housing. A variety of different drive connections can be provided between the servo-motor and the movable shell. 
     By virtue of this invention, a variety of monitors can be provided differing by ornamental rather than functional considerations. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of the monitor housing in the open position such that the video display screen is visible; 
     FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional schematic view of the monitor housing in the closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic view of the monitor housing in the closed position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic view of the monitor housing in the open position; and 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the monitor housing in the closed position and ornamented to resemble a golf ball. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the monitor housing generally designated  10  is seen to include a supporting base  12  and an upstanding pedestal  14  which supports a first, inner shell  16 . As shown, the inner shell  16  is a generally hemispherical shell which can be formed of any suitable material, depending largely upon the appearance desired in the finished product. For example, a molded plastic shell can be used and ornamented in a variety of ways. Alternatively, a polished metal shell can be provided with, for example, a mirror finish, or a brushed finish, to create differing aesthetic appeal. 
     A pivot axle  18  is journalled through the shell  16 , and secured to a second, outer shell  20  at its ends. In this manner, the axle  18  may rotate freely with respect to the inner shell  16 , but rotates with the outer shell  20 . The outer shell  20  has a slightly greater diameter than the inner shell  16 . In this manner, the outer shell  20  may pivotally rotate about the pivot axle  18 , between a first, open or nested position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and a second, closed position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When in the open position, the outer shell  20  pivots around or behind the inner shell  16  as best seen in FIG.  4 . In this position, the interior of the inner shell  16  is visible from the front as seen in FIG. 1, while the rear of the inner shell  16  is concealed by the outer shell  20 . 
     A pair of brackets  22 ,  24  securely extend from diametrically opposite top and bottom points on the interior of the inner shell  16  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A video display panel  26  has a pair of brackets  28 ,  30  securely extending from the top and bottom sides thereof in proximity to and overlapping the brackets  22 ,  24 . A pair of threaded fasteners such as thumb screws  32 ,  34  are used to secure the video display panel  26  and the brackets  28 ,  30  to the brackets  22 ,  24 , and thus to the inner shell  16 . 
     On the inner rear wall of the inner shell  16 , a support bracket  36  is provided. This support bracket  36  may be used to mount a drive mechanism for moving the outer shell  20 , as will be explained. A reversible drive motor  38  is mounted on the bracket  36  behind the video display panel  26 , and concealed by the panel  26 . The drive motor  38  has a drive pulley  40  on its output shaft. Mounted on and secured to the pivot axle  18  is a driven pulley  42 , and a suitable drive belt  44  connects the pulleys  40 ,  42  such that when the motor  38  is actuated, the drive connection represented by the pulley  40 , belt  44  and pulley  42  cause the pivot axle  18  to rotate, in turn causing the outer shell  20  to move between the closed position seen in FIG.  3  and the open or nested position seen in FIG.  4 . In the open position, the video display panel  26  is visible to the user in front of the monitor housing. 
     Also mounted on the interior of the inner shell  16  is a transformer  46  which provides power to the motor  38  through a suitable cable  48 , and to the video display panel  26  through a second cable  50 . The cable  50  may also include signal connections for the display, or a different signal cable  52  may be used for this purpose. In one embodiment, a limit switch  54  is provided on the pedestal  14  and positioned so as to be contacted by the outer shell  20  as it is being pivoted to the open position. In this embodiment, the limit switch  54  serves to interrupt the current to the drive motor  38  and thus stop the motor when the outer shell reaches the limit of its travel. In one embodiment, the power connection is controlled by the energy saving functions of the computer to which the display is connected, so that when the computer itself is in the “sleep” mode, the monitor housing is in the closed position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and when the computer is returned to the active state, the outer shell is activated with the display panel to move the outer shell  20  to the open or nested position. 
     External cabling connections for both the power connections and the video signals can be provided by means of cables  56  and  58  respectively extending from the base to a computer (not shown). 
     If desired, a filler panel may be provided between the video display panel  26  and the surrounding inner shell  16 , such that the motor  38 , transformer  46 , cables  48 ,  50 ,  52 , brackets  22 ,  24 ,  28 ,  30 , and the like are all concealed behind the display panel. Similarly, the function of the brackets  22 ,  24 ,  28  and  30  can be integrated into the filler panel for mounting the display panel  26  within the shell, in such a manner that the drive mechanism, electrical connections and mounting structure are concealed. 
     Similarly, although a simply motor and pulley arrangement has been shown for the driving mechanism for the outer shell, clearly this could be replaced by a suitable gear drive for causing the pivoting of the outer shell  20  in the manner indicated. Moreover, while two complementary shells are shown in the drawings, clearly three or more such shells could be used and nested in the same manner. A different number of nesting shells may provide a higher level of appeal when different ornamentation is utilized. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the front of the monitor housing is shown ornamented to resemble a large golf ball. The base  12  and pedestal  14  are shown, and the outer shell  20  is shown to have a plurality of dimples  60  resembling the dimples on a golf ball. These dimples can be printed onto the surface, or may be molded into the surface, depending on the level of ornamentation and reality desired. Of course the exterior of the shells could be ornamented to resemble a great many different objects, or for novelty appearances or decorative purposes. According to the present invention, the appearance of the computer monitor is no longer governed by function, but may now be a product with aesthetic appeal. 
     While this invention has been described as having certain preferred features and embodiments, it will be understood that it is capable of still further variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention, and this application is intended to cover any and all variations, modifications and adaptations of the invention as may fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.