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US5039846A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flat and foldable electric appliance

Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1990-04-24
•
Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-04-24
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Abstract

Abstract A flat and foldable electronic appliance which comprises a generally rectangular first flat casing having a pocket defined therein for accommodating a card for expansion of functions; a generally rectangular second flat casing similar in shape to the first flat casing and having a plurality of operating keys; a bridge member including at least two hinge joints for pivotably connecting the first and second flat casings together, one of the first and second flat casing being pivotable between folded and unfolded positions relative to the other of the first and second flat casings; and a generally cylindrical battery chamber provided on a portion of the bridge means other than the hinge joints. The generally cylindrical battery chamber is of a volume sufficient to accommodate therein at least one AA-size battery for powering electric and electronic circuits in the appliance and has a peripheral wall which is so curved as to follow the path of movement of such one of the first and second flat casings relative to the other of the first and second flat casings.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shigeki Komaki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 12:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/0216

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
A flat and foldable electronic appliance which comprises: a generally rectangular first flat casing having a pocket defined therein for accommodating a card for expansion of functions; a generally rectangular second flat casing similar in shape to the first flat casing and having a plurality of operating keys; a bridge means including at least two hinge joints for pivotably connecting the first and second flat casings together, one of the first and second flat casing being pivotable between folded and unfolded positions relative to the other of the first and second flat casings; and a generally cylindrical battery chamber provided on a portion of the bridge means other than the hinge joints; said generally cylindrical battery chamber having a peripheral wall which is so curved as to follow a path of movement of said one of the first and second flat casings relative to the other of the first and second flat casings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 153 words
A flat and foldable electronic appliance which comprises: a generally rectangular first flat casing having a pocket defined therein for accommodating a card for expansion of functions; a generally rectangular second flat casing similar in shape to the first flat casing and having a plurality of operating keys; a bridge means including at least two hinge joints for pivotably connecting the first and second flat casings together, one of the first and second flat casing being pivotable between folded and unfolded positions relative to the other of the first and second flat casings; and a generally cylindrical battery chamber provided on a portion of the bridge means other than the hinge joints; said generally cylindrical battery chamber having a peripheral wall which is so curved as to follow a path of movement of said one of the first and second flat casings relative to the other of the first and second flat casings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery chamber has an outer diameter substantially equal to a sum of respective thicknesses of the first and second flat casings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said appliance is an electronic system notebook or an IC card reader.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery chamber is so sized as to accommodate an AA-size battery.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4264962A Cited
US4517660A Cited
JPS6025618A Cited
JPS62147022A Cited
US4825395A Cited
US4882471A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-12 1995-02-11 1995-08-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-12 1999-02-11 1999-08-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-12 2003-02-11 2003-08-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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