Patent Publication Number: US-2021181803-A1

Title: Laptop display screen support device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to laptop computers, and more particularly, to laptop display screen supporting devices that can be used to raise and lower a laptop computer display screen above a base surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, there has been a tremendous growth in the sale of laptop computers and notebook computers. Laptop computers are very useful instruments, which essentially present a computer to the user in a convenient compact fashion. Typically, the screen of the laptop computer is a liquid crystal display. The screen of the laptop computer can fold upon the body of the computer so as to close when not in use. When the laptop computer is in use, the screen is folded about its hinges so as to face the user. The bottom surface of the laptop computer is typically placed on a table, on a lap, or other flat surface. Various devices such as power supplies, modems, external drives, and other items can also be connected to the laptop computer so as to enhance the use of the laptop computer. 
     While the design of the laptop computer is optimized for compactness and convenience, but not necessarily for optimum ergonomic efficiency. When the laptop computer is placed on a flat surface, the screen of the laptop computer often does not face the user directly. As such the user of the laptop computer must slouch or otherwise manipulate the screen so as to be in an optimal viewing position. The screen at this angle can also reflect an undesirable glare from overhead lighting. Therefore, there remains a need in the art for devices and methods for supporting a laptop display screen for the convenience of the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     Thus, in an embodiment, the disclosure provides a laptop display screen supporting device, having a pair of support arms, each support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, each proximal end rotatably attachable to a side of a laptop body and each distal end attachable to a side of the display screen, wherein the pair of support arms can rotate the display screen from a closed position to an opened position about a lateral axis through the laptop body and proximal ends; and a means for raising and lowering the display screen along the pair of support arms while in the opened position. 
     In one embodiment, the means for raising and lowering the display screen includes a rack and pinion mechanism. 
     In other embodiments, the means for raising and lowering the display screen includes a bolt and nut mechanism. 
     In other embodiments, the means for raising and lowering the display screen includes a spring mechanism. 
     In other embodiments, the means for raising and lowering the display screen includes a friction slide mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the disclosure and should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen supporting device of a rack and pinion mechanism with the display screen shown in the lowered position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen supporting device of a rack and pinion mechanism with the display screen as shown in the raised position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen supporting device of a nut and bolt mechanism with the display screen shown in the lowered position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen supporting device of a nut and bolt mechanism with the display screen shown in the raised position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen support device of a spring mechanism with the display screen shown in the lowered position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen support device of a spring mechanism with the display screen shown in the raised position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen support device of a friction slider mechanism with the display screen shown in the lowered position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of an opened laptop computer with a laptop display screen support device of a friction slider mechanism with the display screen shown in the raised position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Further features and advantages of the disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use embodiments described herein. Descriptions of specific devices, techniques, and applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples described herein and shown, but is to be accorded the scope consistent with the claims. 
     The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. 
     It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process disclosed herein is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes can be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the disclosure. Any accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
     As used herein, the term “laptop computer” can include various types of small portable computers. For example, the term “laptop computer” can include laptops, notebook and sub-notebook computers, palm-top computers, word processors, pocket computers and electronic organizers, and micro-computers, as well as keyboards and keyboard substitutes such as keypads and electronic writing and drawing pads for pen-based computing. 
     The disclosure provides a laptop display screen supporting device having a pair of support arms, each support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, each proximal end rotatably attachable to a side of a laptop body and each distal end attachable to a side of the display screen, wherein the pair of support arms can rotate the display screen from a closed position to an opened position about a lateral axis through the laptop body and proximal ends; and a means for raising and lowering the display screen along the pair of support arms while in the opened position. 
     In some embodiments, the laptop display screen supporting device includes having the pair of supporting arms and attached display screen rotating about the lateral axis from about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees. 
     In some embodiments, the laptop display screen supporting device includes having each distal end of the pair of support arms can rotate the display screen about a lateral axis through the display screen and distal ends. 
     In some embodiments, the laptop display screen supporting device includes having each distal end being interconnected. 
     In some embodiments, the laptop display screen supporting device includes having the display screen between 10 inches and 18 inches. 
     In some embodiments, the laptop display screen supporting device includes having the display screen being 10.1, 11.6, 12.1, 13.3, 14.0, 15.6, 16.0 or 17.3 inches. 
     In some embodiments, the laptop display screen supporting device includes having the pair of support arms being each independently made of plastic, polymer, fiberglass, carbon fiber, composite, metal, or a metal alloy. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to aspects of the subject technology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen supporting device  101  of a rack and pinion mechanism  115  with the display screen  102  shown in the lowered position; and  FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen supporting device  101  of a rack and pinion mechanism  115  with the display screen  102  shown in the raised position. 
     As used herein, all description of the sides of the laptop computer are with respect to a user&#39;s point of view while in front of the computer during normal operation. Thus, as shown in these figures, the laptop computer  100  includes a laptop display screen supporting device  101 , a display screen  102  and a base  103 , which contains the various electrical components for operation of the computer. The base  103  includes a front side  104 , a left side  105 , a right side  106 , a bottom side  107 , a rear side  108 , and a top side  109 . The top side includes a keyboard  110 , a touchpad  111 , and which is pivotally attached the display screen  102 . As with most laptop computers, the display screen  102  can rotate along a lateral axis  112  through the base  103  by a hinge mechanism  113  attachable to a pair of support arms  114 , so that so that the display screen  102  can rotate between a closed position (˜0 degrees) through to fully opened position (˜180 degrees). In some embodiments, the pair of support arms  114  include an optional back plate  114 ′ for support of the display screen  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the laptop display screen supporting device  101  includes a rack and pinion mechanism  115 , which includes one or more racks  116  and one or more pinions  117  in each of the pair of support arms  114 . The rack and pinion mechanism can be used as a means for raising and lowering the display screen  102 . In some embodiments, the pair of support arms  114  can be attached to the display screen  102 , wherein when the pinion in each of the pair of support arms rotates or travels along its rack, the display screen can be raised or lowered accordingly. In some embodiments, the rack and pinion mechanism can be manually driven or can be motor driven, for example, by a dowel rod  118  (not shown) through the pinion  117 , which can be attached to a manually driven handle (not shown) attached to the dowel rod or by a motor (not shown) attached to dowel rod. 
       FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen supporting device  101  of a nut and bolt mechanism  119  with the display screen  102  shown in the lowered position; and  FIG. 4  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen supporting device  101  of a nut and bolt mechanism  119  with the display screen  102  shown in the raised position. 
     As shown in these figures, the nut and bolt mechanism  119  includes one or more nuts  120  and a bolt  121  in each of the pair of support arms  114  (not shown). In some embodiments, the bolts  121  can act as the pair of support arms. In other embodiments, the support arms  114  cover or incorporate the bolts  121 . The nut and bolt mechanism  119  can be used as a means for raising and lowering the display screen  102 . In some embodiments, one or more nuts  120  can be attached to the display screen  102 , wherein when the bolt  121  in each of the pair of support arms rotates through its nut  120 , the display screen  102  can be raised or lowered accordingly. In some embodiments, the nut and bolt mechanism can be manually driven or can be motor driven, for example, by a manually driven handle (not shown) attached to the bolt or by a motor (not shown) attached to the bolt. 
       FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen support device  101  of a spring mechanism  122  with the display screen  102  shown in the lowered position; and  FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  101  with a laptop display screen support device  101  of a spring mechanism  122  with the display screen  102  shown in the raised position. 
     As shown in these figures, the spring mechanism  122  includes a rod  123  and compression spring  124 , a step rack  125  and a torsion spring stopper  126  in each of the pair of support arms  114 . The spring mechanism  122  can be used as a means for raising and lowering the display screen  102 . In some embodiments, the pair of support arms  114  can be attached to the display screen  102 . When the torsion spring  126  and stopper  127  are released by pushing down on the rod  123 , the rod  123  and compression spring  124  and the pair of support arms  114  can travel up or down the step rack  125  thereby raising or lowering the display screen  102 . When the rod  123  is no longer pressed down, the compression spring  124  returns the rod  123  to its original position, and the torsion spring  126  returns the stopper  127  to its original position. 
       FIG. 7  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen support device  101  of a friction slider mechanism  128  with the display screen  102  shown in the lowered position; and  FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an opened laptop computer  100  with a laptop display screen support device  101  of a friction slider mechanism  128  with the display screen  102  shown in the raised position. 
     As shown in these figures, the friction slider mechanism  128  includes a fixed bar  129  with a first set of interlocking teeth  130 , and a slider bar  131  with a second set of interlocking teeth  132  in each pair of support arms  114 . In some embodiments, the fixed bars  129  can act as the pair of support arms  114 . In other embodiments, the support arms  114  cover or incorporate the fixed bars  130 . The friction slider mechanism  128  can be used as a means for raising and lowering the display screen  102 . In some embodiments, the slider bars  131  can be attached to the display screen  102 . When the fixed bars  129  and first set of interlocking teeth  132  are pulled apart from the slider bars  131  and second set of interlocking teeth  131 , the display screen  102  can be raised or lowered. Reversing this procedure, secures the display screen  102  in the raised or lowered position. 
     As described herein, the display screen support device can be used to raise a laptop display screen to provide an elevated view, preferably to near eye level of the user, and conversely, in reverse order, lowered downward to provide the display screen in the standard laptop display screen position. 
     While the inventive features have been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those in the art that the foregoing and other changes can be made therein without departing from the sprit and the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations and can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.