Interchangeable modular arrangement of computer and accessory devices

Claim 2

A structure of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module, wherein the computer module includes signal conducting portions on at least one side and wherein the computer module includes slots on at least one side; a first accessory module, wherein the first accessory module includes signal conducting portions on at least two sides, feet on at least one side for attaching to slots of other modules, and slots on at least one side; and a second accessory module, wherein the second accessory module includes signal conducting portions on at least two sides, feet on at least one side for attaching to slots of other modules, and slots on at least one side; wherein the feet of the first accessory module fasten to the slots of the computer module so that signals can pass between the signal conducting portion of the computer module and the signal conducting portion of the first accessory module, wherein the feet of the second accessory module fasten to the slots of the first accessory module so that signals can pass between the signal conducting portion of the first accessory module and the signal conducting portion of the second accessory module, wherein the computer module and the first and second accessory modules are securely connected so that signals may be passed between the modules, wherein the slots include a narrow section and a wide section and wherein the feet are T-shaped and the top of the feet is wider than the narrow section and narrower than the wide section.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein the feet insert into the wide sections and are secured under the narrow sections so that the computer, first, and second modules establish the secure connection.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 wherein the signals include voltage supply and data signals.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 wherein the signal conducting portions comprise electrical leads.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure of interconnected modules has a total dimension of approximately 30 mm by 86 mm by 54 mm.

Claim 7

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said first interlock mechanism comprising a slot.

Claim 8

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said first interlock mechanism comprising a slot.

Claim 9

The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said second interlock mechanism comprises a foot.

Claim 10

The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said slot includes a narrow section and a wide section, said foot is T-shaped and a top of said foot is wider than said narrow section and narrower than said wide section.

Claim 11

The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said foot is inserted into said wide section and is secured under said narrow section.

Claim 12

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said first interlock mechanism comprising a groove.

Claim 13

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said first interlock mechanism comprising a groove.

Claim 14

The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said second interlock mechanism comprises a rail.

Claim 15

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said groove is inserted under said rail and is secured under said rail.

Claim 16

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device; and a second accessory module detachably connected to said first accessory module by means of a second interlocking structure, said second interlocking structure comprising said third interlock mechanism and a fourth interlock mechanism on said second accessory module, said third and fourth interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said first and second accessory modules, said fourth interlock mechanism being similar to said second interlock mechanism, wherein said second accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, a personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said fourth interlock mechanism comprising a rail; and said third interlock mechanism comprising a groove, wherein said groove is inserted under said rail and is secured under said rail.

Claim 17

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device; and a second accessory module detachably connected to said first accessory module by means of a second interlocking structure, said second interlocking structure comprising said third interlock mechanism and a fourth interlock mechanism on said second accessory module, said third and fourth interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said first and second accessory modules, said fourth interlock mechanism being similar to said second interlock mechanism, wherein said second accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, a personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said fourth interlock mechanism comprising a rail; and said third interlock mechanism comprising a groove, wherein said groove is inserted under said rail and is secured under said rail.

Claim 18

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said computer module and first accessory module being hand held, and a length of said computer module being approximately 86 mm; and a width of said computer module being approximately 54 mm.

Claim 19

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said computer module and first accessory module being hand held, and a length of said computer module being approximately 86 mm; and a width of said computer module being approximately 54 mm.

Claim 20

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said second accessory module is hand held, and a length of said computer module being approximately 86 mm; and a width of said computer module being approximately 54 mm.

Claim 21

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said second accessory module is hand held, and a length of said computer module being approximately 86 mm; and a width of said computer module being approximately 54 mm.

Claim 22

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said first side of said first accessory module including a second electrical contact, said first and second electrical contacts coupling by a movement of said second side of said computer module parallel to said first side of said first accessory module.

Claim 23

An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising: a computer module having a first side and second side, wherein said second side includes a first electrical contact; and a first accessory module having first and second sides and being detachably connected to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure comprising a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further comprising a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, wherein said first accessory module is selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device, said first side of said first accessory module including a second electrical contact, said first and second electrical contacts coupling by a movement of said second side of said computer module parallel to said first side of said first accessory module.