Abstract:
A pen-based portable computer, or pen-tablet computer, for use with a vehicular docking station that allows for the exchange or replacement of components thereof without the need for returning the computer to the manufacturer, is provided with exterior, removable grips that not only provide a gripping function, but also provide shock-absorption and protection exteriorly of the computer-housing. Each grip may be selectively removed from attachment to the computer-housing, in order to allow access to the interior of the housing for repair and maintenance. Four such removable grips are provided, where each grip is provided with an actuable lever for removably locking the grip to a portion of the computer housing, with each actuable lever being capable of movement away from such locking engagement in order to allow removal thereof from the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of commonly-owned, copending application Ser. No. 08/878,758, filed on Jun. 19, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In commonly-owned, copending application Ser. No. 08/878,758 there is disclosed a portable, pen-based computer for use in a vehicle, or what is typically called &#34;Pen Tablet Computer&#34;. Portable, pen-based computers are currently used in the utility industry by salesmen and representatives. A pen-based computer is desirable in the utility industry since the software typically used are forms that must be filled; thus, the easiest and simplest way for the salesman or representative to complete the form is by means of a pen stylus device and/or by touch, such as a touch screen. Any industry where its representatives typically use forms-software that must be filled out is capable of using the pen-based computer, such as the public-safety departments of cities and states, the agricultural and transportation industries, and insurance adjusters. 
     The portable, pen-based computer of commonly-owned, copending application Ser. No. 08/878,758 is provided with four outer handle-grips which not only provide a means for grasping the portable computer, but also provide a sealing function by clamping together the upper and lower casing sections of the portable computer, and, also, provide shock-absorbing qualities, so as to absorb impacts if the portable computer should be dropped. In conventional, portable computers, the shock-absorption and protection for the computer is provided interiorly via various, internal-component mounting schemes using foams, frames, etc., and ignore the exterior of the computer housing. The theory is to protect the internal components before they experience any external pressures due to drops, bumps, knocks, shocks, vibration, environmental challenges, etc. In general, prior-art products approach shock-protection from the inside out. They use different internal component mounting schemes which involve metal brackets, foams, gels, tape, etc. to provide shock absorption. In some instances, an external shield is provided by enclosing the entire computer in a rubberized external &#34;boot&#34; or cover. This is often implemented after the product has been released and is in affect a rubber carrying case or cover. This is not considered part of the design, but rather an accessory or peripheral. 
     In the external grips for the housing of a portable computer according to the present invention, if the portable computer is dropped on any of its axis, including front and back, the first thing to hit the surface or feel the bump, knock, etc., is one of the surface faces or edges of the grips, thereby providing shock-absorption and protection from exteriorly of the housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a pen-based portable computer, or pen-tablet computer, such as that used with a vehicular docking station, with exterior, removable grips that not only provide a gripping function, but also provide shock-absorption and protection exteriorly of the computer-housing. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide such removable grips for a portable, pen-tablet computer that allows each grip to be selectively removed from attachment to the computer-housing, in order to allow access to the interior of the housing for repair and maintenance. 
     It is still another objective of the present invention to provide four such removable grips for a portable, pen-tablet computer housing, where each grip is provided with an actuable lever for removably locking the grip to a portion of the computer housing, with each actuable lever being capable of movement away from such locking engagement in order to allow removal thereof from the housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the portable computer with removable, outer grips of the invention for providing exterior shock-absorption and protection; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric assembly view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one of the removable, exterior grips; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric assembly view of a removable, exterior grip; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the a locking lever for removably locking a grip to a portion of the computer-housing; 
     FIG. 6 is an assembly view, in partial cross section, showing the assembly of a locking lever to an exterior, removable grip; and 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the bottom of the portable computer&#39;s housing showing the openings cooperating with the locking levers of the removable, outer grips of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown a portable, pen-based computer tablet 10, such as that disclosed is commonly-owned, copending Ser. No. 08/878,758, which portable computer may be used with a vehicular docking station, as set forth in said copending application. The portable, pen-based computer tablet 10 is typically made up of a housing 12 made of aluminum or magnesium, and consisting of an upper section and a lower section secured together by screws. The upper and lower housing sections are also held together by means of a plurality of grips or mounting brackets of the invention. There are two upper, lateral grips, 20, 22, and two lower, lateral mounting brackets, or grips, 24, 26, each of U-shaped cross section, and each substantially the same, except for handedness, and except for the lower-right grip 26 which is provided with a central cutout 26&#39; for allowing access to the power harness of the housing of the computer. The power harness contains an on/off toggle switch, reset button and AC/DC power receptacle, so that the user can interface with the various power-harness elements. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, each grip 20-26 consists of two parts: An internal sheet metal frame 30, which provides structural support and the guiding mechanism for the grip as described hereinbelow, and, a rubber over-mold, or neoprene outer shell, 32 which fits over the sheet metal frame 30. The internal sheet metal frame is designed specifically to mate with the rubber over-mold, and to slide onto the computer-housing. Each rubber over-mold is constructed of high-impact resistant, durable Neoprene material. When assembled, each grip 20-26 defines a slight, outwardly-curving or convex-shaped exterior side surface 34, which provides shock-dissipation characteristics, as well as ergonomic benefits. The convex-shaped exterior surface dissipates any force thereon so that it is not concentrated at any one location, when the computer 10 is dropped on a surface. Each grip also has a slightly convex-shaped exterior end-surface 36 which also provides the same shock-dissipation characteristics. Each side of the computer 10 has a grip projecting beyond a corresponding edge-surface of housing, whereby when the computer is dropped, only the projecting portion of a grip will contact the floor or ground during impact. The inner sheet metal frame 30 of each grip 20-26 is provided with a series of cutouts 40&#39; formed during the sheet-metal processing, in order to provide a lighter-weight grip. The grips also provide a perfect gripping mechanism or handle when the unit is being used in a mobile application. The user can easily grasp any of the grips to provide a solid, non-slippery hold on the unit. In addition, computer 10 is being mounted in a vehicle docking system or desk top dock, the grips provide a perfect interface for seating the unit in the various docks, as described in commonly-owned, copending application Ser. No. 08/878,758. The grips provide a further sealing and locking mechanism to ensure that the upper and lower housing sections are securely and reliably fastened and sealed. The grips lock into place when they are attached, and offer unprecedented security for the internal components. 
     The upper, left grip 20 is a solid grip which slides onto the upper left corner of the case. The lower, left grip 24 is the same as grip 20. When grip 24 is removed, a metal, battery door of the computer-housing is exposed, which door provides a cover for the battery compartment of the computer. When the battery door is removed, the battery compartment is exposed. The upper, right grip 22 is the same as grip 20, except for handedness since it is positioned in the upper right corner. The lower, right grip 26, as described above, is different in that it has the cutout 26&#39;. 
     Each inner metal casing 30 of each grip 20-26 is provided with a plurality of downwardly-projecting upper tongues 43 and a plurality of upwardly-projecting lower tongues 45. Depending upon the location of the grip, the upper tongues 43 slide in an upper lateral groove 43&#39; or 43&#34; formed in the upper surface of the computer housing, as seen in FIG. 2, while the lower tongues 45 slide in a a lower lateral groove 45&#39; or 45&#34; formed in the lower surface of the computer housing as seen in FIG. 7. This tongue-and-groove arrangement allows for easy and secure sliding on of each grip. In order to prevent each grip 20-26 from sliding off from its connection with a respective groove 43&#39;, 43&#34;, 45&#39;, or 45&#34;, each grip 20-26 has a unique locking mechanism 40 which is built into the frame/rubber over-mold combination, that cooperates with a mating portion on the housing itself. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-6, each locking mechanism 40 consists of a pivotal lever arm 42 having a main body section 44 from which protrude a first, locking protuberance or tab 46 which cooperates with an opening or cutout 46&#39; formed in the bottom surface of the housing, as seen in FIG. 7. The tab 46 has a sloping face 47 and a vertical flat surface 47&#39;, extending from the sloping surface 47, which vertical flat surface 47&#39; cooperates with and abuts against the inner edge 46&#34; of a respective cooperating opening 46&#39; of the computer housing. A second, fulcrum protuberance or tab 50 is spaced from the tab 46, which fulcrum protuberance has rounded or convex surface-portion 50&#39; which forms a fulcrum about which the lever arm 42 may pivot. The lever arm 42 is also provided with an enlarged head-end 52 that allows the lever-arm 42 to be pivoted by depressing against the resilient, flexible neoprene outer shell, opposite the enlarged head-end 52, which causes the lever arm to pivot about the convex surface-portion 50&#39;, and to remove the tab 46 out of respective cooperating cutout in the lower surface of the computer housing, as described hereinbelow. Each lever-arm 42 is received in an appropriately-shaped cavity 60 formed in the outer rubber sleeve 32, as can best be seen in FIG. 4. The inner sheet metal frame 30 is provided with a pair of holes 54, 56 for passing therethrough the tabs 46, 50, respectively. When a grip with locking mechanism is locked to a portion of the housing, the locking tab 46 mates with a respective cooperating cutout 46&#39; on the bottom surface of the housing, to thereby lock the grip in place. When it is desired to unlock and remove the grip, the respective lever-arm 42 is pivoted by pressing on the exterior of the neoprene outer shell opposite the enlarged head-end 52. Such pressure causes the lever arm 42 to pivot about the convex-shaped fulcrum-surface 50&#39; in a clockwise direction when viewing FIGS. 3 and 6, to thereby remove the locking tab 46 from its cooperation in the cooperating cutout 46&#39; on the bottom surface of the housing, to thus allow the respective grip to be slid off of the housing. The fulcrum-portion 50, when the lever arm 42 is pivoted, contacts against the surface of the computer housing juxtapositioned thereat. The biasing force for urging the locking tab 46 against the cooperating section in the bottom surface of the housing is inherently provided by the rubber or neoprene over-mold section 32 in which the locking mechanism is mounted. 
     The grips of the invention also provide basic contact-protection; that is, if the portable computer is resting on a desk or other non-yielding surface, on any axis thereof, the grips will be in contact with such surface. One or more grips besides grip 26 may also have a cutout to accommodate a serial, USB, mouse port, or the like, depending on user requirements. 
     The grips also offer a method for attaching accessory items to the portable computer in a very secure and stable manner. As an example, a small Global Positioning System (GPS) Antenna can be attached to either of the top grips 20, 22 via two small screws which are applied from the inside of the grips and attached to the bottom of the antenna. The grip is then placed on the computer housing with the GPS antenna firmly attached. The other end of the antenna may simply screw into its mating connector on the accessory unit, as set forth in detail in copending application Ser. No. 08/878,758. Another example of an exterior attachment is a pen tether, which can be attached to some of the grips. This tether would provide a solid receptacle for the pen when not in use. 
     While there have been shown four such removable grips for the portable computer housing, two for each side, it is possible to provide two such grips, one for each side, with any appropriate opening being formed therein. 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope, spirit and intent of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.