Abstract:
The invention is a foldable set of six displays screens in two rows of three screens. The top and bottom middle screens are hinged together. First side of upper and lower screens are hinged to the one side of the upper and lower middle screens. The second side of the upper and lower screens are attached to the upper and lower middle screens by means of double hinges.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to the field of display screens for computers and the like and, in particular, to a multiple display screen assembly that is foldable in to a small package for storage or transport. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Providing a series of foldable display screens is far from new. For example, all laptop or notebook computers have a computer screen that can be folded over onto the key board for storage purposes. However, it becomes more of a problem when one wants multiple display screens connected to a computer. This issue was addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,612 Pivotally Extensible Display Device by C. B. Fowler, et al. Here a smaller display screen is pivotally attached to the top of the main screen of a laptop computer. A smaller screen is pivotally attached to each side of the main display screen. For storage, the top and two side screens are folded over onto the main screen and the main screen is folded on top of the key board. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,124 Multiple Display Portable Computer Devices, by P. J. Walk, discloses a notebook computer also having multiple screens. In this case, the main body of the computer includes a key board pivotally connected to a second part having a display screen. Pivotally attached to the second part is a second display screen. Attached to the second display screen is a third display screen. To store the computer, the key board is folded over onto the first screen. The Third screen is folded onto the second screen. Thereafter the folded second and third screens are folded over onto the now folded first screen and key board. 
         [0006]    None of these devices allow for a large number of display screens, six to be exact, of equal size to be folded and stored in a small compact package. 
         [0007]    Thus, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a display device having six display screens that are foldable into a small package. 
         [0008]    It is another primary object of the invention to provide a display device having six display screens that are foldable into a small package wherein all the display screens are of equal size. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a display device having six display screens that are foldable into a small package that are lockable in the extended position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention is a display screen assembly. In detail the invention includes first and second display screens, each having top, bottom edges and first and second side edges, the bottom edge of the first screen is mounted to the top edge of the second screen by a first hinge. Third and fourth display screens having first and second sides and top, bottom and first and second side edges are connected to their first edges of said first and second screens, respectively, by second and third hinges. Finally, fifth and sixth screens having first and second sides and top, bottom and first and second side edges are connected to said second side edges of said first and second screens, respectively, by first and second double hinges, respectively. Locking assemblies are provided to secure the screens together. 
         [0011]    Thus the third and fourth screens can be folded over on to the first and second screens and the fifth and sixth screens can thereafter folded over onto the folded third and fourth screens and, finally the first third and fifth screens can thereafter be folded over onto the first third and fifth screens. In this stored condition, the screen assembly can easily be transported or stored in a compact space 
         [0012]    The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the six display screens in the extended position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the six screens in the extended position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the six screens shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism used to lock the screens together when in the extended position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view similar to  FIG. 3  illustrating the first step in folding the six screens. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view similar to  FIG. 5  illustrating the second step in folding the six screens. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating the third step in folding the six screens. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view of  FIG. 7  illustrating the final step of folding the six screens. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the display screen assembly, generally indicated by numeral  10 , includes upper middle screen  12 , having front and rear surfaces  14 A and  14 B, upper and lower edges  16 A and  16 B and side edges  18 A and  18 B. A lower middle screen  20  includes front and rear surfaces  22 A and  22 B, upper and lower edges  24 A and  24 B and side edges  26 A and  26 B. The lower middle screen  20  is rotatably coupled by its upper edge  26 A to the lower edge  18 B of screen  12  by a hinge  28  located in proximity to the rear surfaces  14 B and  22 B, such that rear surface  14 B of the upper middle screen  12  is in contact with the rear surface  22 B of the lower middle screen  20 . 
         [0022]    An upper first side screen  30  includes front and rear surfaces  32 A and  32 B, upper and lower edges  34 A and  34 B and side edges  36 A and  36 B. The first side edge  36 A is coupled to the first aide edge  18 A by means of hinge  38  located in proximity to the front surfaces  14 A and  32 A. A lower first side screen  40  includes front and rear surfaces  42 A and  42 B, upper and lower side edges  44 A and  44 B and first and second side edges  46 A and  46 B. The first side edge  46 A of the side screen  40  is coupled to the first side edge  26 A of the screen  20  by means of hinge  48  located in proximity to the surfaces  42 A and  22 A. 
         [0023]    An upper second side screen  50  includes front and rear surfaces  52 A and  52 B, upper and lower edges  54 A and  54 B and side edges  56 A and  56 B. The first side edge  56 A is coupled to the first aide edge  18 B by means of double hinge assembly  57  located in proximity to the rear surfaces  14 B and  52 B. The hinge assembly  57  includes two plates  58 A and  58 B coupled together by a hinge  59 A and to hinge  59 B mounted edge  18 B of screen  12  and by a hinge  59 C to the side edge  56 A of screen  50 . A lower second side screen  60  includes front and rear surfaces  62 A and  62 B, upper and lower side edges  64 A and  64 B and first and second side edges  66 A and  66 B. The first side edge  66 A of the side screen  60  is coupled to the second side edge  26 B of the screen  20  by means of double hinge assembly  68  (identical to hinge assembly  57 ) located in proximity to the surfaces  62 B and  22 B. 
         [0024]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and additionally to  FIG. 4 , the screens  12 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50 , and  60  are all locked in the extended position by a series of identical locking assemblies  67 A,  67 B,  67 C,  67 D,  67 E,  67 F and  67 G. For purposes of illustration locking assembly  66 B will be described in detail. Locking assembly  67 B includes a slot  70  in the edge  16 A of the screen  12 . A round hole  72  extends from the slot  70  to the edge  18 B. Mounted in the slot  70  is a locking member  74  having a rod portion  76  movably mounted in the hole  72  having a circular indentation  78  at one end and a tab  80  extending upward into the slot  70 . The tab  80  is sized to slidably engage the walls of the slot  70  such that the rod portion can not rotate. 
         [0025]    A hole  82  aligned with the hole  72  extends from the side edge  36 A of the screen  20  and includes a ball detent assembly  84 . The ball detent assembly  84  includes a small diameter hole  86  that extends from upper edge  54 A having a counter bore  88 . A ball  90  is biased by a spring  92  mounted in the counter bore  88  and is retained by threaded plug  94 . The ball  90  is sized such that it extends partially through the hole  86  and into the hole  82 . Thus when tap  80  is pushed to toward screen  20 , the rod portion  76  enters the hole  82 , the ball  90  is pushed back until the indentation  78  becomes aligned. It then, because it is spring biased engages the indentation  78 , locking the rod  76  in place. This screen  12  is locked to screens  30  and  50 , and screen  20  is locked to screens  40  and  60 , screen  40  is locked to screen  20  and screen  50  is locked to screen  60 . It should be noted that other types of locking systems could be used. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4-7  To fold up the screen assembly  10 , all the locking assemblies must first be unlocked by moving the tabs  80  such that the rods  76  are removed from the holes  82 . Thereafter, screens  30  and  40  are fold ever onto sides  14 A of screen  12  and screen  40  is folded over on to side  22 A of screen  20 . Thereafter, screens  50  and  60  are folded over on the rear sides  52 B and  62 B of the screens  30  and  40 . Note that the hinge assemblies  57  and  68  allow for the screens  50  and  60  to translate forward prior to rotation over the screens  30  and  40 . Final the fold screens  12 ,  20  and  40  are rotated about hinge  28  such that side  18 A of screen  13  is against The screens can be electrically wired together or plugged together after expansion. Note electrical connector panels  90  on each screen. 
         [0027]    Thus it can be seen that the six screens and be extended and folded up into a portable size with ease. Again, it should be noted that locking assemblies described were for purposes of illustration only and many other types of locking devices could be used. 
         [0028]    While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it should be understood that the embodiment is merely illustrative as there are numerous variations and modifications which may be made by those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is to be construed as being limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0029]    The invention has applicability to the computer industry.