The present invention relates generally to the field of accessory monitors, and more particularly to monitors that are portable and easily attached to portable computing devices.
Use of multiple computer monitors can increase productivity and efficiency. However, when using a laptop on the go, there is no convenient way to bring a second monitor with you. It is not practical to carry a large and heavy monitor everywhere. This makes it difficult to be productive and efficient when working in coffee shops, libraries, plane rides and virtually all locations outside of your office. The present invention solves the problem of not having a second monitor when on the go.
In one embodiment the present invention comprises an accessory monitor assembly, comprising: a frame comprised of a front retainer and a rear retainer, wherein the rear retainer and the front retainer define a space therebetween; a first arm and a second arm coupled to the frame, wherein the first arm is mounted to a first side of the rear retainer, wherein the second arm is mounted to a second side of the rear retainer, wherein the first arm and second arm are configured to extendingly couple and de-couple the accessory monitor assembly to a portable computer device; and a monitor comprised of a flat display coupled to the frame, wherein the monitor is configured to be stored in the space via rotation of the monitor into the space about a fixed axis, and wherein the monitor is configured to be removed from the space via rotation of the monitor out of the space about the fixed axis. In one embodiment, the fixed axis comprises two fixed axes, and wherein the monitor comprises two posts, and wherein the two posts are disposed about the two fixed axes. In one embodiment, the frame comprises two recesses, wherein the two recesses are configured to receive and release the two posts. In one embodiment, the two recesses are each defined by curved walls. In one embodiment, the monitor is configured to be received and released from the frame via linear movement of at least one of the two posts into or from at least one of the two recesses. In one embodiment, the monitor is configured to be received and released from the frame via linear movement of both of the two posts into or from the two recesses. In one embodiment, each recess is comprised of a stopper configured to retain one of the two posts during the rotation of the monitor. In one embodiment, the stopper is spring loaded. In one embodiment, the flat display is configured to be viewable in conjunction with a display of the portable computer device when only one of the two posts is received within one of the two recesses. In one embodiment, the two posts are orthogonal to a surface of the flat display, wherein the monitor comprises two opposite ends and a top and a bottom, and wherein each of the two posts are disposed centrally between the top and bottom along the two opposite ends. In one embodiment, each of the two opposite ends is coupled to the flat display via a mechanism that allows the display to pivot forward or backward with respect to the frame. In one embodiment, the mechanism comprises a hinge.
In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an accessory monitor assembly for use with a portable computer device comprising: an attachment mechanism configured to releasably attach the assembly to portable computer devices, wherein the attachment mechanism is also configured to de-attach the assembly from the portable computer devices; and a monitor comprised of a flat display, wherein the monitor is coupled to the attachment mechanism, wherein the monitor is configured to be pivotally rotated either to the left or right with respect to the assembly via a first rotation mechanism and along an axis that is orthogonal with respect to a surface of the flat display. In one embodiment, the monitor comprises two opposite ends and a top and a bottom, wherein the first rotation mechanism is disposed between the top and bottom along and between one of the two opposite ends. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a second rotation mechanism, wherein the second rotation mechanism is configured to mate with the first rotation mechanism. In one embodiment, the first rotation mechanism comprises a post that is disposed about the axis. In one embodiment, the monitor is configured to be attached to and decoupled from the attachment mechanism via the first rotation mechanism. In one embodiment, the portable computer device is a laptop or notebook computer.
In one embodiment the present invention comprises a method of attaching an accessory monitor to a portable computer for use with the portable computer, comprising the steps of: attaching the accessory monitor to a back side of a portable computer having a display; rotating the accessory monitor either to the left or to the right with respect a center of the display to view the accessory monitor and the display; rotating the accessory monitor either to the right or to the left with respect to the center of the display to store the accessory monitor; and removing the accessory monitor from the back side of the portable computer when needed to reduce weight of the portable computer for transport, for use with another computer device, for convenience, or when it is no longer needed. In one embodiment, the monitor comprises a flat screen and two opposite ends and a top and a bottom, wherein the step of rotating is performed about an axis that is orthogonal to the flat screen, and wherein the axis is located between the top and bottom along and between the two opposite ends.
Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.
Throughout the course of discussion that follows, certain terms are used throughout such as “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “side”, “front”, “rear” and the like. These terms provide a suitable frame of reference with regard to the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to overly limit of the inventive concepts that are described herein, except where specifically and notably indicated.
The presently described invention generally relates to a monitor that can attach and detach to a portable monitor, and flip, pivot, or rotate to either side of the computing device.
In addition, the drawings presented herein are intended to adequately illustrate the salient features of the system, including the portable monitor elements. To that end, it should be understood that the drawings may not be necessarily to scale and no reliance on scaling of the same should be made other than to provide a required understanding of features.
In an embodiment, the first arm 102 may be positioned on a first side 120 of the monitor assembly 100. Similarly, the second arm may be positioned on a second side 122 of the monitor assembly 100 to provide at least two extendible positions, an open position and a closed position.
In further embodiments, each member may be telescoping, mechanically or pneumatically extendable, foldably extendable, among other forms of extendability known in the art.
In a preferred embodiment, a user laterally extends each arm to open position C1 such that each arm is laterally extended past the perimeter of the device 200. A user may then apply medial pressure to the arms to retract to the closed and in use position C2, until the arms frictionally engage with the device 200, thus retaining the monitor assembly 100 in place during use.
In an embodiment, each arm 102, 104 is extended to position C2, until the arm engages with the outer edge of the device 200. Each arm 102, 104 may be suitably dimensioned to remain outside the perimeter of the display area 202 of the device 200 such that a user's view is not obstructed while the monitor assembly 100 is engaged.
In one embodiment, the arms 102 and 104 are spring loaded to bias arms 102 and 104 to remain in place on device 200.
In a different embodiment, it is contemplated that monitor assembly 100 can be configured such that its arms up and down rather than to the left and right to grip a computer device 200 from the top and bottom rather than the sides.
In a preferred embodiment, and in reference to
In an embodiment, monitor 106 is retained within the housing 108 by first and second monitor attachment mechanism 510, 512. In one embodiment, monitor 106 comprises attachment mechanisms 510, 512 which are mounted along sides of monitor 106 centrally with respect to a top and bottom of the monitor. In one embodiment monitor 106 is configured to pivot to the left or right about an axis of the attachment mechanisms and with respect to housing 108. In one embodiment, the axis is orthogonal to a flat screen of the monitor 106. In one embodiment, first attachment mechanism 510 is positioned within a recess at one side 520 of the housing 108, while a second attachment mechanism 512 is positioned within a recess at a second side 522 of the housing 108. In one embodiment, the recesses are formed within front retainer 501 of the housing 108.
In an embodiment, the monitor assembly 100 may have a support 514 disposed thereon. The support may be hinged at an end allowing the user to articulate the support about the hinge and supportably engage the non hinged end with a surface. The support 514 may allow the user to prop the monitor assembly 100 at an angle to enhance the visual orientation of the monitor 106.
In one embodiment, monitor 106 can removed from housing 108 by lifting the monitor vertically up and out of recesses 612, 614. In one embodiment, recesses 612, 614 comprise a curved wall. In one embodiment, recesses 612, 614 comprise a u-shaped recess that defines a smaller channel at its open top than at its closed bottom. In one embodiment, the width of the smaller channel acts as a stopper to larger width attachment mechanisms inserted within the channel.
In an embodiment, attachment mechanisms 510, 512 comprise quick release pins that mate with a corresponding opening within the monitor 106. In one embodiment, attachment mechanisms 510 comprise a diameter that is larger than a width of the open top of the recesses 612, 612 such that with the attachment mechanisms mounted within the recesses, the recesses keep the monitor 106 retained to the housing 108. In one embodiment, attachment mechanisms 510, 512 can be inserted and removed from a corresponding opening in the monitor to effectuate pivotal rotation or removal of the monitor 106. In one embodiment, a user may remove one of both of the attachment mechanisms to effectuate pivotal rotation of the monitor about the other non-removed attachment mechanism or to permit removal of the monitor 106 from the housing 108.
Now referring to
In an embodiment, rear retainer 502 of the housing 108 may comprise a recessed channel 602 along the travel path of each attachment mechanism 510, 512 to accommodate ends of the attachment mechanisms that exit from an opposite side of the monitor 106 after having been inserted into respective holes in the monitor.
Referring now to
The monitor 106 is in electrical communication with the computing device 200 via a cable. In an embodiment, the cable can be stored in a recess in housing 108 when not in use, and is connected when the monitor 106 is to be connected to computing device 200. In one embodiment, the cable is a separate from the housing 108. In another embodiment, the cable is an integrated feature of the monitor assembly 100. In the embodiment where the cable is an integrated feature of the monitor assembly 100, there are two cables so that the monitor 106 can be plugged into the computing device 200 regardless of the orientation of the monitor 106. The cable can be, but is not limited to Universal Serial Bus (USB), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Video Graphic Array (VGA), and the like. In additional embodiments, the cable is detachable to allow for different types of connection means to computing device 200 and also to reduce clutter when storing or traveling with the monitor assembly 100.
The invention is inclusive of combinations of the embodiments or embodiments described herein. References to “a particular embodiment” or “embodiment” and the like refer to features that are present in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “an embodiment” or “particular embodiments” or “embodiments” or the like do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments; however, such embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unless so indicated or as are readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The use of singular or plural in referring to “method” or “methods” and the like is not limiting. The word “or” is used in this disclosure in a non-exclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly noted.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.
The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiment disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the spirit of the invention throughout the description.
The present invention claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/362,181 filed on 14 Jul. 2016