Z-configuration structure for computers, scanners, and communications and video devices

Claim 2

A computer having a housing pivotally deployable by a user between a first, folded, closed configuration and at least a second, unfolded, deployed configuration for use on a support surface, comprising in operative combination: a) a base panel housing having a rear edge, a front edge, and including a keyboard; b) an intermediate panel housing having a lower edge and an upper edge; c) a display panel housing having a lower edge and including a flat panel display in at least one face thereof; d) at least one of said base panel housing, said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing includes a plurality of conventional computer components, component mountings and electrical interconnectors; e) a lower pivot assembly mounted to said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing, said lower pivot assembly having a lower hinge axis adjacent to each of said base panel housing rear edge and intermediate panel housing lower edge, to foldably connect said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing; f) an upper pivot assembly mounted to said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing, said upper pivot assembly having an upper hinge axis adjacent each of said intermediate panel housing upper edge and display panel housing lower edge, to foldably connect said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing; g) at least one electrical interconnector communicating between said panel housings adjacent said hinges, said at least one electrical interconnector functionally interconnecting selected ones of said plurality of computer components; h) in said unfolded, deployed configuration: (i) said base panel housing is supported upon said support surface; (ii) said intermediate panel housing is deployed above said base panel housing in a generally upwardly directed angle with respect to said support surface; and (iii) said display panel housing is deployed above said intermediate panel housing in an generally upwardly directed angle with respect to said support surface wherein said flat panel display is viewable by said user; i) said base panel housing, said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing fold to lie generally parallel and closely adjacent to one another in said a closed configuration; and j) in said closed configuration said display panel housing is disposed between said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing.

Claim 3

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said intermediate panel housing includes a CPU.

Claim 4

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said base panel housing includes a CPU.

Claim 5

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said base panel housing is tapered so as to slope generally downwards from said rear edge to said front edge.

Claim 6

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said intermediate panel housing includes: a) at least one internally-mounted heat-generating component; b) at least one air inlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing lower edge; c) at least one air outlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing upper edge; d) at least one internal passage for airflow communicating between said inlet vent and said outlet vent; and e) said passage is configured to bring said airflow into thermal contact with said heat-generating component when said computer is in said deployed configuration to cause said airflow to absorb heat from said component and to convectively cool said component by said airflow between said inlet vent and said outlet vent.

Claim 7

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said upper and lower pivot assemblies includes a user-adjustable hinge lock mechanism.

Claim 8

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said intermediate panel housing includes a light for keyboard illumination integrated in said panel.

Claim 9

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said base panel housing includes at least one retractable stabilizer member, said stabilizer member mounted to said base panel housing, and said stabilizer member is deployable to extend generally horizontally rearward from adjacent said rear edge of said base panel housing, so as to support said computer against rearward tip-over.

Claim 10

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said computer is a portable computer.

Claim 11

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said computer is a desk-top computer.

Claim 12

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said computer includes a cell-phone.

Claim 13

A computer as in claim 1 , wherein said computer includes a product identification code scanner.

Claim 14

In a data processing user interface system for computing and communication devices having a multi-part housing which includes a plurality of conventional computer components, component mountings and electrical interconnections, a user input device, and a deployable flat panel display pivotally deployable by a user between a first folded closed configuration and at least a second, unfolded deployed configuration for use on a support surface, the improvement in said system comprising a configuration structure having: a) a base panel housing having a rear edge, a front edge, and including said manual user input device; b) an intermediate panel housing having a lower edge and an upper edge; c) a display panel housing having a lower edge and including at least said flat panel display; e) a lower pivot assembly mounted to said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing to foldably connect said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing; said lower pivot assembly has a hinge axis adjacent and substantially parallel to each of said base panel housing rear edge and intermediate panel housing lower edge; said lower pivot assembly includes at least one electrical interconnector communicating to functionally interconnect at least one of said computer components in each of said base and intermediate panel housings; f) an upper pivot assembly mounted to said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing to foldably connect said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing; said upper pivot assembly has a hinge axis adjacent and substantially parallel to each of said intermediate panel housing upper edge and display panel housing lower edge; said upper pivot assembly includes at least one electrical interconnector communicating to functionally interconnect at least one of said computer components in each of said intermediate and display panel housings; h) in said unfolded, deployed configuration: (i) said base panel housing is supported upon said support surface; (ii) said intermediate panel housing is pivotally deployed above said base panel housing in a generally upwardly directed angle with respect to said support surface; and (iii) said display panel housing is pivotally deployed from said intermediate panel housing in a generally upwardly directed angle with respect to said support surface directed at an angle with respect to said user wherein said flat panel display is viewable by said user in an elevated, ergonomically improved deployed configuration; and i) in said closed configuration said display panel housing is disposed between said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing.

Claim 15

In a data processing user interface system for computing and communication devices having a multi-part housing which includes a plurality of conventional computer components, component mountings and electrical interconnections, a user input device, and a deployable flat panel display pivotally deployable by a user between a first folded closed configuration and at least a second, unfolded deployed configuration for use on a support surface, the improvement in said system comprising a configuration structure having: a) a base panel housing having a rear edge, a front edge, and including said manual user input device; b) an intermediate panel housing having a lower edge and an upper edge; c) a display panel housing having a lower edge and including at least said flat panel display; e) a lower pivot assembly mounted to said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing to foldably connect said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing; said lower pivot assembly has a hinge axis adjacent and substantially parallel to each of said base panel housing rear edge and intermediate panel housing lower edge; said lower pivot assembly includes at least one electrical interconnector communicating to functionally interconnect at least one of said computer components in each of said base and intermediate panel housings; f) an upper pivot assembly mounted to said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing to foldably connect said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing; said upper pivot assembly has a hinge axis adjacent and substantially parallel to each of said intermediate panel housing upper edge and display panel housing lower edge; said upper pivot assembly includes at least one electrical interconnector communicating to functionally interconnect at least one of said computer components in each of said intermediate and display panel housings; h) in said unfolded, deployed configuration: (i) said base panel housing is supported upon said support surface; (ii) said intermediate panel housing is pivotally deployed above said base panel housing in a generally upwardly directed angle with respect to said support surface; and (iii) said display panel housing is pivotally deployed from said intermediate panel housing in a generally upwardly directed angle with respect to said support surface directed at an angle with respect to said user wherein said flat panel display is viewable by said user in an elevated, ergonomically improved deployed configuration; and i) in said closed configuration said display panel housing is disposed between said base panel housing and said intermediate panel housing.

Claim 16

A data processing user interface system as in claim 13 , wherein said base panel housing includes at least one stabilizer member, said stabilizer member is retractably mounted to said base panel housing, and said stabilizer is deployable to extend generally horizontally rearward from adjacent said rear edge of said base panel housing, so as to support said interface system against rearward tip-over.

Claim 17

A data processing user interface system as in claim 13 , wherein at least one of said upper and lower pivot assemblies includes a user-adjustable hinge lock mechanism.

Claim 18

A data processing user interface system as in claim 13 , wherein said intermediate panel housing includes: a) at least one internally-mounted component which generates heat from use; b) at least one air inlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing lower edge; c) at least one air outlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing upper edge; d) at least one internal passage for airflow communicating between said inlet vent and said outlet vent; and e) said passage is configured to bring said airflow into thermal contact with said heat-generating component when said interface system is in said deployed configuration to cause said airflow to absorb heat from said component and to convectively cool said component by said airflow between said inlet vent and said outlet vent.

Claim 19

A data processing user interface system as in claim 13 , wherein said manual user input device in said base panel housing is a keyboard.

Claim 20

A data processing user interface system as in claim 17 , wherein said intermediate panel housing includes a CPU.

Claim 21

A data processing user interface system as in claim 17 , wherein said base panel housing includes a CPU.

Claim 22

A data processing user interface system as in claim 17 , wherein said base panel housing, said intermediate panel housing and said display panel housing fold to lie generally parallel and closely adjacent to one another in said a closed configuration.

Claim 23

A data processing user interface system as in claim 17 , wherein said base panel housing is tapered so as to slope generally downwards from said rear edge to said front edge.

Claim 24

A data processing user interface system as in claim 17 , wherein said intermediate panel housing includes a light for keyboard illumination integrated in said panel.

Claim 25

A data processing user interface system as in claim 17 , wherein said interface system is portable.

Claim 26

A configuration structure for a computing or communication electronics device including a display and a CPU, wherein said device configuration structure is a three-panel housing assembly comprising: a) a first base panel housing; b) a second intermediate panel housing which includes: i) at least one internally-mounted heat-generating component; ii) at least one air inlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing lower edge; iii) at least one air outlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing upper edge; iv) at least one internal passage for airflow communicating between said inlet vent and said outlet vent; and v) said passage is configured to bring said airflow into thermal contact with said heat-generating component when said computer is in said deployed configuration to cause said airflow to absorb heat from said component and to convectively cool said component by said airflow between said inlet vent and said outlet vent; c) an upper display panel housing; d) said device is movable between a closed position and a deployed, use position; e) said base and display panel housings being hinged to said intermediate panel housing at opposed adjacent marginal edges of said intermediate panel housing, so that said device, in its deployed, use position is generally Z-shaped viewed in side elevation; f) in said deployed, use position said panel housings are adjustable horizontally and vertically with respect for each other to provide improved ergonomic viewing; and g) in said closed position, said display panel housing is folded to be disposed adjacent said intermediate panel housing.

Claim 27

A configuration structure for a computing or communication electronics device including a display and a CPU, wherein said device configuration structure is a three-panel housing assembly comprising: a) a first base panel housing; b) a second intermediate panel housing which includes: i) at least one internally-mounted heat-generating component; ii) at least one air inlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing lower edge; iii) at least one air outlet vent adjacent said intermediate panel housing upper edge; iv) at least one internal passage for airflow communicating between said inlet vent and said outlet vent; and v) said passage is configured to bring said airflow into thermal contact with said heat-generating component when said computer is in said deployed configuration to cause said airflow to absorb heat from said component and to convectively cool said component by said airflow between said inlet vent and said outlet vent; c) an upper display panel housing; d) said device is movable between a closed position and a deployed, use position; e) said base and display panel housings being hinged to said intermediate panel housing at opposed adjacent marginal edges of said intermediate panel housing, so that said device, in its deployed, use position is generally Z-shaped viewed in side elevation; f) in said deployed, use position said panel housings are adjustable horizontally and vertically with respect for each other to provide improved ergonomic viewing; and g) in said closed position, said display panel housing is folded to be disposed adjacent said intermediate panel housing.

Claim 28

An electronics device as in claim 24 , wherein said device is a computer.

Claim 29

An electronics device as in claim 25 , wherein said computer is portable.

Claim 30

An electronics device as in claim 24 , wherein said device is a communications device.

Claim 31

An electronics device as in claim 27 , wherein said device is a cell phone.

Claim 32

An electronics device as in claim 24 , wherein said device is a video display device.

Claim 33

An electronics device as in claim 29 , wherein said device is a one of a digital video player, a CD player and a television.

Claim 34

An electronics device as in claim 24 , wherein said device is personal digital assistant.