US20020122291A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable computer pedestal method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2001-03-01
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A support apparatus and method for providing ergonomic viewing positions to portable devices such as a portable computer. In an exemplary embodiment, a pedestal generally includes a base having a recess formed to receive a portable device, an anchor movably coupled to the base, and a support pivotally coupled to the base. The portable device may include a desktop portion and a display portion. The anchor may be formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess of the base. The support may extend upwardly from the base for holding the display portion of the portable device. According to one aspect of invention, the support apparatus and method provide advantages in that viewability of a laptop computer can be readily extended by ergonomically orienting the laptop computer through the use of a portable pedestal.
Inventors
- 👤 David Hubbard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:22
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/20; F16M11/2007; F16M11/2021; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/043; F16M11/046; F16M2200/00; F16M2200/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/917; Y10S248/919; Y10S248/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
1 . A support apparatus, comprising: a base having a recess formed to receive a portable device, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion; an anchor movably coupled to said base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when said desktop portion of said portable device is disposed in the recess of said base; and a support operably coupled to said base, the support extending upwardly from the base for holding the display portion of said portable device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
1 . A support apparatus, comprising: a base having a recess formed to receive a portable device, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion; an anchor movably coupled to said base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when said desktop portion of said portable device is disposed in the recess of said base; and a support operably coupled to said base, the support extending upwardly from the base for holding the display portion of said portable device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a locking mechanism for the anchor to releasably engage the desktop portion within the recess of said base in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a latching mechanism for the support to releasably hold the display portion in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the support comprising: a mounting portion formed to hold the display portion of said portable device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , the desktop portion being disposed adjacent to the mounting portion in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , the support being hinged onto said base for selectively orienting the portable device by moving the display portion with respect to the base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said portable device includes a laptop computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said portable device includes a notebook computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said base, anchor, and support are configured to form a pedestal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , said pedestal includes a portable computer pedestal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , said pedestal is operative in a manner to cause said portable device to position in a vertical orientation relative to said base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , said vertical orientation includes an ergonomic viewing position for the portable device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , said ergonomic viewing position includes a portable device position with the display portion opened to 180 degrees from the desktop portion in a vertical plane relative to said base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an activation mechanism for automatically sliding the anchor, in a horizontal plane, away from the base to receive one end of the desktop portion of said portable device within said recess.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , said activation mechanism includes a button.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , said activation mechanism further comprising: an ejector mechanism for causing the support to automatically move in a predetermined position, the predetermined position of said support facilitates clamping of said display portion of the portable device thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising: a release mechanism for disengaging the anchor from the base to decouple said one end of the desktop portion of said portable device, said release mechanism includes a lever.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said base, anchor, and support are configured to fold in a manner to provide a portable pedestal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said display portion is operative in a manner to cause the display portion of said portable device to orient in a plane substantially parallel to the desktop portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
20 . A pedestal, comprising: a base having a housing formed to receive a portable computer; and a support, the support is pivotally coupled to the base to releasably engage the portable computer at an ergonomic viewing position responsive to the placement of said portable computer in the housing of said base.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
20 . A pedestal, comprising: a base having a housing formed to receive a portable computer; and a support, the support is pivotally coupled to the base to releasably engage the portable computer at an ergonomic viewing position responsive to the placement of said portable computer in the housing of said base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
21 . A portable computer pedestal for selectively orienting a portable computer having a desktop portion and a display screen in an ergonomic viewing position, comprising: a pedestal base having a housing formed to receive said portable computer; and a support having a mounting portion, the support is movably coupled to the pedestal base to releasably engage the portable computer responsive to the placement of said desktop portion in the housing of said pedestal base, the desktop portion being disposed adjacent to the mounting portion in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
21 . A portable computer pedestal for selectively orienting a portable computer having a desktop portion and a display screen in an ergonomic viewing position, comprising: a pedestal base having a housing formed to receive said portable computer; and a support having a mounting portion, the support is movably coupled to the pedestal base to releasably engage the portable computer responsive to the placement of said desktop portion in the housing of said pedestal base, the desktop portion being disposed adjacent to the mounting portion in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
22 . An method, comprising: providing a base having a recess formed to receive a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion; providing an anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess of said base; providing a support for holding the display portion of said portable device; and interposing the desktop portion in said recess for ergonomically positioning said portable device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
22 . An method, comprising: providing a base having a recess formed to receive a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion; providing an anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess of said base; providing a support for holding the display portion of said portable device; and interposing the desktop portion in said recess for ergonomically positioning said portable device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising: engaging the desktop portion for releasably locking the desktop portion in the recess of said base in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising: latching the display portion for releasably holding the display portion with the support in a secure relationship therewith.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
25 . The method of claim 22 , said portable device includes a laptop computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
26 . The method of claim 22 , said portable device includes a notebook computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
27 . The method of claim 22 , said base, anchor, and support are configured to form a pedestal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
28 . The method of claim 27 , said pedestal includes a portable computer pedestal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
29 . The method of claim 27 , said pedestal is operative in a manner to cause said portable device to position in a vertical orientation relative to said base.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
30 . The method of claim 29 , said vertical orientation includes an ergonomic viewing position for the portable device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
106 words
31 . An method for orienting a portable computer having a desktop portion and a display screen in an ergonomic viewing position, comprising: providing a pedestal base having a housing formed to receive said desktop portion of the portable computer; providing an anchor for releasably engaging the desktop portion in the housing of said pedestal base; providing a support for releasably holding the display screen of the portable computer; and causing the display screen of the portable computer to be disposed at said ergonomic viewing position in response to placement of the desktop portion in said housing while the display screen being supported by said support.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
106 words
31 . An method for orienting a portable computer having a desktop portion and a display screen in an ergonomic viewing position, comprising: providing a pedestal base having a housing formed to receive said desktop portion of the portable computer; providing an anchor for releasably engaging the desktop portion in the housing of said pedestal base; providing a support for releasably holding the display screen of the portable computer; and causing the display screen of the portable computer to be disposed at said ergonomic viewing position in response to placement of the desktop portion in said housing while the display screen being supported by said support.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
77 words
32 . A support apparatus, comprising: a first portion; a second portion operably coupled to said first portion for providing vertical support thereon; and a third portion movably coupled to said first portion, the third portion formed to provide a housing between the first portion and the third portion; a fourth portion fixedly coupled to the third portion and movably coupled to the first portion, the fourth portion formed to provide said housing responsive to an activation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
77 words
32 . A support apparatus, comprising: a first portion; a second portion operably coupled to said first portion for providing vertical support thereon; and a third portion movably coupled to said first portion, the third portion formed to provide a housing between the first portion and the third portion; a fourth portion fixedly coupled to the third portion and movably coupled to the first portion, the fourth portion formed to provide said housing responsive to an activation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
71 words
33 . The apparatus of claim 32 , the activation is operative in a manner to cause either: a release of said second portion from the first portion responsive to a first user activation, the first user activation provides said housing; or an engagement of said second portion with the first portion responsive to a second user activation, the second user activation securely engages said first portion with said second portion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
34 . The apparatus of claim 32 , the first portion is a back bezel.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
35 . The apparatus of claim 32 , the second portion is an easel.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
36 . The apparatus of claim 32 , the third portion is a front bezel.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
37 . The apparatus of claim 32 , the fourth portion is a pedestal base.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
144 words
38 . A portable computer pedestal for ergonomic viewing, comprising: a first bezel; an easel operably coupled to said first bezel for providing vertical support thereon to an object having a distal end; a second bezel operably coupled to said first bezel, the second bezel formed to provide a housing to receive the distal end of the object and removably clamp said distal end of said object therein substantially against said first bezel; and a retractable pedestal bottom fixedly coupled to the second bezel and movably coupled to the first bezel, the retractable pedestal bottom and the first bezel are formed to selectively move said second bezel either in a first direction to release said second bezel from the first bezel for providing said housing or in a second direction to engage said second bezel with the first bezel for holding said object therebetween.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
144 words
38 . A portable computer pedestal for ergonomic viewing, comprising: a first bezel; an easel operably coupled to said first bezel for providing vertical support thereon to an object having a distal end; a second bezel operably coupled to said first bezel, the second bezel formed to provide a housing to receive the distal end of the object and removably clamp said distal end of said object therein substantially against said first bezel; and a retractable pedestal bottom fixedly coupled to the second bezel and movably coupled to the first bezel, the retractable pedestal bottom and the first bezel are formed to selectively move said second bezel either in a first direction to release said second bezel from the first bezel for providing said housing or in a second direction to engage said second bezel with the first bezel for holding said object therebetween.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
54 words
39 . A portable pedestal, comprising: a base to receive a display device; and a support pivotally coupled to the base for releasably engaging the display device in an ergonomic orientation such that the display device is disposed in an upright vertical position providing an improved viewing range suitable for a plurality of viewers.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
54 words
39 . A portable pedestal, comprising: a base to receive a display device; and a support pivotally coupled to the base for releasably engaging the display device in an ergonomic orientation such that the display device is disposed in an upright vertical position providing an improved viewing range suitable for a plurality of viewers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.