Abstract:
A portable computer having a main computer body and a display unit which is slidably attached to the main computer body and movable to various vertical positions up and away from the computer main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to portable computers, and in particular, to an ergonomically designed portable computer. 
     Portable computers, alternatively known as either laptops or notebook computers, were introduced to accommodate the mobile computing needs of people whose work environment is not fixed. Portable computers are light and compact so that they may be easily transported from location to location. Portable computers are continuously being down sized into even smaller and lighter portable computers. Portable computers are characterized by unique design demands. In addition to being durable, portable computers must be of compact construction so that they will be sufficiently small and light weight to be readily carried, held and manipulated for portable use. 
     According to modern ergonomic theory and experience improper posture of human bodies during the use of computers can produce many types of injuries. These are generally classified as repetitive strain injuries. It is ergonomically desirable to have the keyboard unit approximately at elbow level with the user&#39;s arms parallel to the body. The top of the display unit should be approximately at eye level. 
     Prior art portable computers are not ergonomic. Because of their portability, such computers are frequently used in places that require the user to operate such computers from their lap. In such instances, the user must type with his or her wrists bent at an unnatural angle. Necks and heads must be bent downward to view the screens. This is a particular problem with liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) which are typically more difficult to view at oblique angles. By their very nature portable computers are designed to be used in environments which are not conducive to the best ergonomic setup. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a standard portable computer has a main computer body  1 , a keyboard unit  2  which is electrically and mechanically connected to said main computer body  1 , and a display unit  3  which is electrically attached to the main computer body  1  and mechanically attached by some type of hinge mechanism  4 . The display unit  3  can be vertically pivoted about said horizontal hinge mechanism  4 . When the portable computer is transported or stored, the display unit  3  is folded over the main computer body  1  as a protective cover in a closed position. When in use, the display unit  3  is unfolded and pivoted about the hinge mechanism  4  to an open position. As a practical matter, this construction has limited the angle to which the display can be raised in use of the computer. As a result, the display unit  3  of a standard portable computer cannot be positioned at an optimum angle for use of the computer while actually resting on the lap of a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the problem of prior art portable computers by providing a portable computer with a display unit which is slidably attached to the main computer body and movable to various vertical positions up and away from the computer main body. In this fashion the wrists and head of the user may use the keyboard and display in a more ergonomically comfortable position. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art portable computer. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the invention in a closed position with cover removed. 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the cover of the invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the invention with display unit open and arm rest deployed. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the invention with display unit partially deployed. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the invention with display unit approximately 75% deployed. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the invention with display unit fully deployed. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the invention with display unit approximately 75% deployed. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the invention with display unit fully deployed. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the main computer body. 
         FIG. 9  is the view shown in  FIG. 8  with the keyboard door open. 
         FIG. 10  is the view shown in  FIG. 9  with the document holder removed. 
         FIG. 11  is the view shown in  FIG. 10  with the keyboard unit deployed. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the document holder being assembled. 
         FIG. 13  is the view shown in  FIG. 5  with the document holder deployed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in  FIGS. 2–13  an embodiment of the invention presented as a portable computer  5 . The portable computer  5  has a main computer body  10 , a keyboard unit  20  which is electrically and mechanically connected to said body  10 , a display unit  60  which is attached to the body  10 , and a cover  130 . 
     The main computer body  10  has a top  11 , bottom  12 , front  13 , rear  14 , right side  15 , left side  16 , an exterior surface  17  and an interior  18 . The computer body front  13  and rear  14  define the computer body length. The computer body right side  15  and left side  16  define the computer body width. The keyboard unit  20  is positioned to the computer body front  13  and the display unit  60  is positioned on top  11  and deployed to the rear  14 . The computer body interior  18  contains the conventional computer electronics (not shown) such as CPU, memory, hard drive, driver electronics, bus, diskette and CD-ROM drives, and the like. The cover  130  may be removably positioned over the computer body top  11  and sides  15 ,  16 . 
     The computer body top  11  has a stepped configuration. The top  11  is divided into a rear shelf portion  30  extending from side  15  to side  16 , a middle indented portion  50  also extending from side  15  to side  16 , and a combination removable forward shelf/document holder portion  150 . In this embodiment of the invention the rear shelf portion foremost edge  31  extends from the body rear  14  forward approximately one-quarter of the computer body length. The middle indented portion  50  begins at the rear shelf portion foremost edge  31  and extends toward the computer body front  13  terminating at the combination forward shelf/document holder portion  150 . 
     The computer body front  13  has a generally rectangular aperture  19  formed therein, opening into the computer body interior  18 . The aperture  19  is secured by a door  26  which is attached by hinges  28  to the computer body bottom  12  along the computer body front  13 . A latch  27  is attached to the computer body top  11  at the computer body front  13 , said latch  27  being adapted to engage the door  26 . The keyboard unit  20  is inserted into said aperture  19 . The keyboard unit  20  has a top  21 , bottom  22 , front  23 , rear  24  and two opposite sides  25  interconnecting said front  23 , rear  24 , top  21  and bottom  22 . When the keyboard unit  20  is inserted into the computer body front aperture  19 , the keyboard unit front  23  lies in the same general plane as the computer body front  13  and the keyboard unit rear  24  is positioned within the computer body interior  18 . The keyboard unit  20  may be accessed by removing the combination forward shelf/document holder  150  from the computer body  10 . (See  FIG. 10 ) The keyboard unit  20  may also be pulled forward from the computer body interior  18  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2B ,  6  and  7 , the rear shelf portion has a top, flat surface  32  upon which is mounted a first swivel assembly  35  comprised of two posts  33  fixedly attached to the shelf top flat portion  32  and abutting the computer body rear  14 . The posts  33  hold each end of a cylindrical rod  34 , horizontally positioned between the posts  33 , said rod  34  being parallel to the computer body rear  14 . The first swivel assembly  35  is centered between the two computer body sides  15 ,  16 . 
     The present invention is also comprised of a generally flat, rectangular, brace element  40  having a top  41 , a bottom  42 , two parallel, opposite sides  43 , an inner surface  44  and an outer surface  45 , said top  41  and bottom  42  defining a brace element longitudinal axis. The brace element bottom  42  is rotatably attached to the swivel rod  34 . The brace element  40  has an open central aperture  46  extending from the brace element bottom  42  approximately half the brace element distance toward the brace element top  41 . An inverted U-shaped element  47  is attached to the brace outer surface  45  near to the top  41  and a side  43 , said element  47  protruding along the brace longitudinal axis past the top  41 . 
     In addition to the brace element  40 , a wire take-up reel  140  is embedded in the rear shelf portion  30 . The brace central aperture  46  provides clearance over the reel  140 . See  FIGS. 2B and 6 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4  and  5 , the middle indented portion  50  has two, parallel tracks  51  extending forwardly from the rear shelf foremost edge  31  approximately one-third the distance toward the computer body front  13 . The tracks  51  are parallel to the computer body sides  15 ,  16  and are centrally positioned between said sides  15 ,  16 . A second swivel assembly  55  comprised of two posts  53  is slidably attached to the tracks, one post  53  per track  51 . The posts  53  hold each end of a cylindrical rod  54 , horizontally positioned between the posts  53 , said rod  54  being parallel to the rear shelf foremost edge  31 . 
     The portable computer display unit  60  is comprised of a display  61  and an interface subsystem  70 . The display  61 , itself, is a standard, planar, generally rectangular element comprised (in this embodiment) of a liquid-crystal display (LCD). The display  61  has a front viewing surface  62 , a rear  63 , a top  64 , a bottom  65 , and two sides  66 . The display  61  is attached to the main computer body by an interface subsystem  70 . As may be seen most clearly in  FIG. 2B , the display  61  is adapted to being folded into the main body middle indented portion  50  and onto the forward shelf and document holder  150  when not in use and prior to deployment. The interface subsystem  70  is comprised of three sections: a proximal section  71 , an intermediate section  90  and a distal section  110 . 
     The proximal section  71  has a top  72 , a bottom  73 , two parallel and opposite sides  74 , an inner surface  75  and an opposite, parallel outer surface  76 , said top  72  and bottom  73  defining a longitudinal axis of the proximal section  71 . The proximal section bottom  73  is connected to the second swivel assembly  55  and rotatably joined to the second swivel assembly cylindrical rod  54 . Each side  74  has a channel flange  77  formed over a perimeter portion of the proximal section inner surface  75 . The proximal section inner surface  75  has a row of holding apertures  85  centrally along its longitudinal axis. The holding apertures  85  are each adapted to receive a holding pin  86 . The proximal section  71  also has a wire aperture  78  formed therein near to the bottom  73 , offset from the longitudinal central axis, and extending through the inner and outer surfaces  75 ,  76 . The proximal section inner surface  75  may optionally have an elongated wire channel  83  formed along its longitudinal axis, but offset from the central elongated axis. The proximal section aperture  78  would open through said channel  83 . The proximal section outer surface  76  has a channel  80  formed along its length, said channel  80  being offset from a proximal section longitudinal axis center line. The channel  80  has a row of pin apertures  81  along its longitudinal axis, said apertures  81  adapted to receive a holding pin  82 . The proximal section outer surface  76  also has a crossbar  84  near to the proximal section top  72 , said crossbar  84  extending to the sides  74 . The proximal section  71 , itself, may optionally be concavely curved about the inner surface longitudinal axis. 
     The intermediate section  90  has a top  92 , a bottom  93 , two parallel and opposite sides  94 , an inner surface  95  and an opposite, parallel outer surface  96 , said top  92  and bottom  93  defining a longitudinal axis of the intermediate section  90 . The intermediate section  90  is adapted to lay against the proximal section so that the intermediate section outer surface  96  lies against the proximal section inner surface  75 , and the intermediate section sides  94  are positioned within the proximal section channel flanges  77 . As the intermediate section  90  is slid upward a holding pin  86  may be inserted into one of the proximal section holding apertures  85 . The intermediate section bottom  93  would rest against said holding pin  86  thereby holding the intermediate section  90  in a desired position. The intermediate section inner surface  95  has several T-blocks  97  attached thereto along the central longitudinal axis of the intermediate section. In addition to the T-blocks  97 , several holding apertures  98  are also formed in the same row as the T-blocks  97 . The holding apertures  98  are adapted to receive a holding pin  99 . The intermediate section outer surface  96  has a wire channel  100  formed along its length, said channel  100  being offset from an intermediate section longitudinal axis center line. The channel  100  terminates at the intermediate section top  92  in a notch  101  formed in the intermediate section top  92 . The intermediate section  90  may also optionally be concavely curved about the intermediate section inner surface longitudinal axis. 
     The distal section  110  has a top  112 , a bottom  113 , two parallel and opposite sides  114 , an inner surface  115  and an opposite, parallel outer surface  116 , said top  112  and bottom  113  defining a longitudinal axis of the distal section  110 . The distal section  110  has an open, elongated channel  117  formed therein, said channel  117  opening onto the inner and outer surfaces  115 ,  116 , said channel  117  being formed along the central longitudinal axis of the distal section  110 . The distal section  110  is adapted to lay against the intermediate section  90  so that the distal section outer surface  116  lies against the intermediate section inner surface  95 . The intermediate section T-blocks  97  engage the distal section elongated channel  117 . As the distal section  110  is slid upward a holding pin  99  may be inserted into one of the intermediate section holding apertures  98 . The distal section bottom  113  would rest against said holding pin  99  thereby holding the distal section  110  in a desired position. The distal section outer surface  116  has a wire channel  118  formed along its length, said channel  118  being offset from an distal section longitudinal axis center line. The channel  118  terminates at the distal section top  112  in a notch  119  formed in the distal section top  112 . The distal section  110  may also optionally be concavely curved about distal section inner surface longitudinal axis. 
     The display rear  63  is attached to the distal section  110 . The display  61  thereby is manipulated as the distal section  110  is manipulated. When the display unit  60  is raised from its closed position as shown in  FIG. 2B , the brace element  40  is also raised to engage the proximal section outer surface  76 . The brace element U-shaped element  47  engages the proximal section, outer surface, channel holding pin  82 . The engagement of the proximal section  71  by the brace element  40  determines the depth position of the display. The proximal section crossbar  84  sets a maximum height for brace element  40  engagement of the proximal section  71 , and thereby the depth of the display  61 . The display  61  may then be raised to a desired height by manipulation of the intermediate and distal sections  90 ,  110 . 
     The invention computer  5  may be held in a closed position by a removable wrist rest  120 . The wrist rest is an elongated curved element having an interior surface  121 , an exterior surface  122  and two ends  123 . The element  120  has a concave shape about its interior surface which is snugly fitted over the main body front  13  grasping the top  11  and bottom  12  when not in use. When removed from the computer  5 , the element  120  is laid down so that the interior surface opening  121  is facing downward on the work surface and the exterior surface  122  is facing upward. The use may rest his or her wrists on the element  120  while manipulating the keyboard unit  20 . 
     As stated above the forward shelf/document holder  150  is removable from the main computer body  10  where it acts as the forward portion of the main computer body top  11 . The document holder  150  has a generally rectangular shape with a front surface  151 , a rear surface  152 , a top  153 , a bottom  154 , and two opposite sides  155 . The document holder rear surface  152  has two elongated, parallel channels  156  formed therein, said channels  156  extending from top  153  to bottom  154 , said channels  156  being perpendicular to the sides  155 . Two elongated extender elements  160 , each having two opposite ends, one end being an insert end  161  and the other end  162  terminating in a ninety degree flange  163 , are each inserted into one of the channels  156 , insert end  161  first. The document holder bottom  154  would rest against a holding pin  86  thereby holding the document holder  150  in a desired position. A document (not shown) may be placed against the document holder front surface  151 , resting on the extender element flanges  163 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.