Abstract:
A hand-held portable computer is disclosed. The computer includes a housing at least partially enclosing computer electronics, a visible display screen supported by the computer housing and a handle assembly connected to the computer housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support, a support retainer affixed to the housing at a location opposite the screen and a handle supported by the handle support. The support retainer adjustably connects the handle support to the computer housing. In the preferred embodiment, the handle support is rotatably adjustable with respect to the computer housing. The handle support includes an annular ring having a plurality of indentations on one surface and the support retainer includes a detent which engages a selected one of the indentations to secure the handle support in a desired rotational orientation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/341,429, filed Nov. 17, 1994 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,045 on Jul. 24, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/268,806 to Meyerson et al. entitled “Configurable Electronic Work Slate Unit” filed on Jun. 30, 1994 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,470 on Jan. 17, 1997. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a hand-held portable computer and, more particularly, to a hand-held computer with an adjustable handle. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Hand-held portable computers are used by a variety of enterprises including manufacturing firms, department, grocery and drug stores, transportation companies, package delivery services, insurance firms and utility companies. Hand-held computers are advantageously employed to facilitate such diverse business functions as inventory control, production scheduling and expediting, billing and both package route tracking. 
     Hand-held computers, including pen computers and touch screen computers, are gaining popularity in the hand-held computer market. A pen computer is a portable computer including a housing enclosing a microprocessor and associated circuitry and an interactive visible display screen, often referred to as an electronic workslate. Instead of using a keyboard to enter data and initiate processing routines, a pen computer utilizes either a cordless electromagnetic pen or an electromagnetic pen tethered to the housing to interact with the microprocessor. By appropriately touching the display screen with the pen, a user many input data and access stored data, boot tip in operating system, change screen displays or menus, select and run programs from a set of application and utility programs stored in computer memory and enter processing or query commands. The pen computer also includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data via radio frequency signals and input/output ports to interface with various devices. 
     A touch screen computer is similar to a pen computer but, instead of using an electromagnetic pen to interface with the computer, a touch sensitive display screen is provided and the user interfaces with the computer by appropriately touching areas of the display screen with his or her finger to execute commands, enter data, respond to prompts, etc. 
     As user mobility is a key advantage of hand-held computers, such computers will often be operated by a user who is standing or walking, e.g., a user entering inventory data into the computer while walking through a warehouse. To use a pen computer in standing position, the electronic pen is grasped in the user&#39;s writing hand while the housing is supported in the other hand by grasping an edge of the housing with the hand such that the user&#39;s fingers extend over a bottom surface of the housing and a thumb extends over a portion of an upper surface of the computer housing. Alternately, the computer may be supported by the user&#39;s forearm. In this position, a lower surface of the computer rests on the forearm and palm and the user grips the computer by curling his or her fingers curl over an edge of the housing. Either method of holding the computer is awkward and tiring and requires an application of significant force by user to grip the computer. In addition, repetitive use of the computer can cause discomfort because the user must angle his or her wrist to orient the display screen in a readable position. 
     The weight of a pen computer is appreciable, approximately five pounds. Holding such a five pound instrument for extended periods with one hand will induce fatigue in the user&#39;s grasping hand, wrist and arm. Compounding this problem is the fact that the user must use the pen in his or her writing hand, thereby precluding the possibility of alternating the hand holding the computer to ameliorate fatigue. 
     Similarly, a touch screen computer is held in one hand or supported by the user&#39;s forearm as described above. The user employs the index finger of his or her free hand (usually the writing hand) to appropriately touch the screen. 
     Ergonomic theories teach the importance of designing products suitable to human physiological capabilities and limitations. A pen computer or touch screen computer which does not provide an ergonomically proper means of holding and positioning the computer can lead to a marked decline in user productivity as the work day continues as a result of increasing fatigue. Additionally, subjecting a user of a pen or touch screen computer to hand, wrist and arm fatigue may result in long term health problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     A hand-held portable computer made according to this invention includes a housing at least partially enclosing computer electronics, a visible display screen supported by the housing and a handle assembly connected to the housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support, a support retainer affixed to the housing at a location opposite the screen and a handle supported by the handle support. The support retainer adjustably connects the handle support to the housing. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the handle support is rotatably adjustable with respect to the housing, The handle support includes an annular ring having a indentations on one surface and the support retainer includes a detent which engages an aligned one of the indentations to secure the handle support in a desired rotational orientation. The support retainer further includes an annular surface and shoulder adjacent its outer periphery providing thrust and bearing surfaces for the handle support annular ring. The annular ring includes a pair of handle attachment members which extend outwardly from the annular ring and away from the housing. The handle attachment members optionally support a plurality of handle configurations. 
     As the handle support and handle may be rotatably adjusted with respect to the housing, a user of the pen computer will choose a rotation orientation which is comfortable and secure. If the user tires of a chosen handle orientation, the position of the handle may be expeditiously changed to a new desired position. Additionally, a variety of handle configuration afford the user the opportunity to select an ergonomically proper handle size and shape. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the handle assembly functions as a universal joint in that it is both rotatably and pivotably adjustable with respect to the housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support rotatably affixed to the housing, a pair of handle attachment extensions hinged to the handle support and a handle supported by the pair of handle attachment extensions. A cam latching mechanism secures the handle support in a desired rotational orientation with respect to the housing. A surface of the housing facing the handle support assembly includes a plurality of aligned indentations. A detent affixed to the handle support interfits with an aligned one of the indentations to secure the handle support in the desired rotational orientation. Another cam latching mechanism secures the handle attachment extensions and the handle in a desired angular position with respect to the housing. The cam hatching mechanism includes a plurality of indentations on one of the handle support and the handle attachment extension and other of the handle support and handle attachment extension has a detent which engages an aligned one of the indentations to secure the handle attachment extension in the desired angular orientation. 
     This embodiment provides an additional flexibility in positioning the handle as the handle is both rotationally and pivotably adjustable with respect to the housing. The handle may be advantageously pivoted to a position adjacent the housing when the computer is not being used thereby moving the handle out of harm&#39;s way, providing a streamlined appearance and occupying a minimum of space. 
     In a third embodiment, the computer includes a display screen housing supporting a visible display screen and a computer housing and handle assembly. The computer housing and handle assembly is rotatably affixed to the display screen housing. The computer housing and handle assembly includes a computer housing which encloses computer electronics, a handle subassembly is coupled to the computer housing and includes a handle for holding the computer and a cam latching mechanism to secure the computer housing and handle assembly in a desired rotational orientation with respect to the display screen housing. The cam latching mechanism includes a plurality of indentations on one of the display screen housing and the housing and handle assembly and the other of the two includes a detent which engages an aligned one of the indentations to secure the housing and handle assembly in the desired rotational orientation. The latching cam mechanism further includes a detent biasing means for biasing the detent to engage the aligned indentation. 
     In another embodiment, the handle assembly includes a raised member which slidably interfits in a slot in the computer housing. The user can slide the handle assembly along a path of travel parallel to a surface of the computer housing to a selected position. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become better understood from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment which is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the hand-held computer of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the computer of FIG. 1 showing a rotatably adjustable handle assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the computer shown in FIG. 1, the sectional portion of the view as seen from the plane indicated by line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a cam latching mechanism of the handle assembly as seen from the plane indicated by line  3 A— 3 A of FIG. 2, an engaged position being shown in solid and a nonengaged position being shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the handle assembly of FIG. 2, a second position of a handle support and handle are shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a hand-held computer having a pivoting and rotatably adjustable handle assembly; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the computer of FIG. 5 as seen from the plane indicated by line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom plane view of a held computer having a housing rotatably adjustable with respect to a visible display screen; 
     FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the computer of FIG. 7 as seen from the plane indicated by line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hand-held computer having an adjustable handle assembly which a user may selectively position along a path of travel parallel to a surface of the computer housing; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing the attachment structure of the handle assembly and the housing of the hand-held computer of FIG. 9 showing the attachment structure between the handle assembly and the housing; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a hand-held computer having a pivoting handle assembly wherein the handle assembly is affixed to an upper surface of a housing, the upper surface of the housing supporting a video display screen. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the preferred embodiment of a hand-held computer, shown generally at  10 . The computer  10  includes a housing  12  enclosing a microprocessor (not shown) and associated computer circuitry (not shown). An interactive display screen  14  (FIG. 1) is coupled to and forms a part of the housing  12 . An electronic pen  15 , which is not attached to the computer  10 , is employed by a user of the computer to input data and commands by appropriately touching a tip of the pen to the display screen  14 . Of course, it should be appreciated that the electronic pen  15  may be tethered to the housing  12 . A handle assembly  20  is attached to the housing  12  adjacent a housing surface  16  opposite the display screen  14 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, the handle assembly  20  includes a handle support  22 , a support retainer  24  and a handle  26 . The handle support  22  includes an annular ring  30  having a plurality of indentations  32  separated by rounded raised cam portions or ridges  33 . The cam portions  33  are formed in a housing support surface facing the support retainer  24 . The handle support  32  also includes a pair of handle attachment members  34 . Each handle attachment member  34  includes an extending portion  35  which extends outwardly from the annular ring  30  and an angled portion  36  extending away from the housing surface  16 . 
     The annular ring  30  is rotatably secured between the support retainer  24  and the housing surface  16 . A screw  40  connects the support retainer  24  to the housing  12  and, thereby, secures the handle support  22  in place. The screw  40  extends through an aperture  42  in the support retainer  24  and is threaded into a bore  44  in the housing  12 . To provide a clean appearance, a cap  46  snaps onto the support retainer  24  and overlies a head portion of the screw  40 . 
     The annular ring  30  is rotatable with respect to the housing  12  and the support retainer  24 . If the coupling between the support retainer  24  and the housing  12  provided by the screw  40  is sufficiently tight, the frictional forces opposing relative movement between the annular ring  30  and the housing and support retainer will be sufficient to hold the handle support  22  in a desired rotational position with respect to the housing. Alternatively, a friction brake (not shown) could be used to secure the handle support  22  in the desired position. Preferably, however, the support retainer  24  includes a cam latching mechanism in the form of a detent  50  which interfits into an aligned one of the annular ring indentions  32 . As can best be seen in FIG. 3A, the detent  50  is biased toward engaged positions. The biasing of the detent  50  toward engaged positions may result from the resiliency of a material the detent is comprised of, for example, polypropylene or another resilient plastic or vinyl material. Alternately and preferably, a spring (not shown) is operably interposed between the detent and a surface of the support retainer to provide the desired engagement biasing. 
     To rotate the handle support  22  with respect to the housing  12 , the user holds the housing with one hand and grasps the handle  26  with the other hand and relatively rotates them. Two handle positions (one being in phantom) are shown in FIG.  4 . When a sufficient force is applied to the handle  26 , the attached annular ring  30  will rotate with respect to the housing  12  and the support retainer  24 . The detent  50 , affixed to the support retainer  24 , remains rotatively stationary and functions as a cam follower as it bears against and follows the rotating annular ring surface. As shown in phantom in FIG. 3A, the detent  50  will be displaced from its indentation engaged position when a ridge  33 , separating adjacent indentations  32 , cams the detent. The detent  50  will ride lip one face of the ridge and down an opposing face as the annular ring  30  is rotated. The camming action of the detent  50  is facilitated by a tapered surface contour of the ridges  33 . Additionally, a bearing surface  52  of the detent  50  is also tapered. Once the handle  26  is in the desired rotational position with respect to the housing  12 , the computer  10  is ready for operation. 
     The support retainer  24  further includes in annular surface and shoulder  54  (shown in FIG.  3  and in phantom in FIG. 2) adjacent an outer peripheral surface which provides thrust bearing and radial bearing surfaces for the annular ring  30 . The angled portions  36  of the handle attachment members  34  terminate in end pieces  56  which include recessed portions (not shown) having central apertures. The handle  26  is secured between the recessed endpieces. A selected one of a variety of handle configurations may be employed a including straight cylindrical handle (shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 ), an arcuate handle (shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 ), etc. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, a pen computer  60  includes a handle assembly  62  including handle support  64  rotatably attached to a computer housing  66 . A screw (not shown) overlied by a cap  67  secures the handle support  64  to the housing  66 . A surface of the computer housing  66  includes in aligned plurality of indentations  68  spaced apart by raised cam portions or ridges. The indentations  68  define a camming surface for a detent  70  protruding from a surface of the handle support  64  facing the housing  66 . The detent and camming surface comprise a cam latching mechanism which secures the handle support  64  in a desired rotational orientation with respect to the housing  66 . 
     Additionally, the handle assembly  62  includes a pair of handle attachment extensions  72 . The handle attachment extensions  72  support an arcuately curved handle  74  and are hinged to the handle support  64  for pivotal adjustment with respect to the housing  66 . Another cam latching mechanism is provided to secure the handle attachment extensions  72  in a selected angular relationship with respect to the housing  66 . The cam latching mechanism includes a detent (not shown) affixed to one of the handle support extensions  68 . This detent interfits with a selected one of an aligned plurality of indentations (not shown) on the handle support  64  to secure the handle attachment extensions  72  in the desired angular orientation with respect to the housing  66 . 
     Extreme adjustment positions of the handle support extensions  72  and the handle  74  are respectively shown in phantom and solid lines in FIGS. 5 and 6. The phantom position would be used when the computer  60  is not in operation. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the phantom position provides a “low profile” look to the computer and positions the handle  74  and handle attachment extensions  72  out of harm&#39;s way. 
     A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, a hand-held computer  80  includes a display screen housing  82  supporting at display screen (not shown). The computer  80  also includes a computer housing and handle assembly  84  rotatably secured to the display screen housing  82 . The computer housing and handle assembly  84  includes a computer housing  86  and a handle subassembly  88 . A surface of the display screen housing  82  includes an aligned plurality of indentations  89  (shown in phantom in FIG. 7) spaced apart by raised cam portions or ridges (also shown in phantom). The indentations  89  and ridges define a camming surface for a detent  90  protruding from a surface of the computer housing  86  facing the, display screen housing  82 . The detent and camming surface comprise a cam latching mechanism which secures the computer housing and handle assembly  84  in a desired rotational orientation with respect to the display screen housing  82 . Alternately, the positions of the detent  90  and camming surface may be reversed, that is, the aligned plurality of indentations  88  may be disposed on a surface of the computer housing  86  and the detent  90  may protrude from a surface of the display screen housing  82  facing the computer housing  86 . 
     The handle assembly  88  also includes a pair of handle attachment extensions  94  supporting a handle  96 . The handle attachment extensions  94  are hinged to a support member (not shown) of the handle assembly  88  so as to pivot with respect to the display screen housing  82 . Another cam latching mechanism (not shown) is provided to secure the handle attachment extensions  94  in a desired angular orientation with respect to the display screen housing  82  is described in the previous embodiment. 
     A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this embodiment, a hand-held computer  100  includes a handle assembly  102  slidably adjustable in a line parallel to a surface  104  of a housing  106 . The housing surface  104  preferably includes two spaced-apart parallel slots  108  (although it should he understood that one slot would be sufficient to perform the function). As can best be seen in FIG. 10, the handle assembly  102  includes two parallel extensions  110  which extend from a base  112  of a hand support  114  and slidably interfit in respective slots  108 . The extensions  110  are T-shaped in cross-section and are sized to snugly interfit in the slots  108 . The interfit is tight enough such that frictional forces prevent the handle assembly  102  from freely moving along its path of travel but not so tight as to prevent the user from moving the handle assembly by applying a force to he or she desires to change the handle position. 
     Alternately, a cam latching mechanism could be provided to insure positive latching of the handle assembly  102  in the selected position. The cam latching mechanism would be comprised of a plurality of surface indentations (not shown) in a portion of one of the slots  108  and an interfitting detent (not shown) extending from a corresponding surface of the one of the handle assembly extensions  110 . Alternatively, the relative positions of the surface indentations and the detent could be reversed, with the plurality of surface indentations (not shown) in a portion of one of the handle assembly extensions  110  and the detent (not shown) extending from a corresponding surface of the one of the handle assembly extensions  110 . 
     Yet another embodiment of a hand-held computer  120  of the present invention is shown in FIG.  11 . In this embodiment, a handle assembly  122  is pivotably adjustable with respect to a housing  124 . The handle assembly  122  includes a pair of handle attachment extensions  126  supporting a handle  128 . The handle extensions  126  are affixed to a cylindrical pin  130 . Ends of the pin  130  are rotatably supported by flanges  132  extending from the housing upper surface. 
     A cam latching mechanism is provided to permit the handle attachment extensions  126  to be pivotally adjusted and secured in a selected angular relationship with respect to the housing upper surface. The cam latching mechanism includes a detent (not shown) affixed to one of the handle attachment extensions  126 . This detent interfits with a selected one of an aligned plurality of indentations (not shown) on one of the flanges  132  to secure the handle attachment extensions  72  in the selected position. Alternatively, the cam latching mechanism could reverse the respective positions of the detent and the plurality of indentations, with the detent affixed to one of the flanges  132  and the plurality of indentations on the handle attachment extensions  72 . 
     Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, operation and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.