The present invention relates generally to a peripheral device and more particularly to a mounting fixture for a computer peripheral.
In many applications, a peripheral device is mounted on a computing device for a variety of reasons. For example, a camera can be mounted on the display of the computer peripheral to allow for its use as part of the computer system. One example is the iSightâ„¢ camera manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., which is mounted on the external housing of the display typically.
The mounting in the conventional system is provided with a tape of some sort which allows the mounting fixture for the camera to be coupled to the display of the computer. The problem with this type of mounting fixture is that the tape provides a bad appearance and tape is usually a more permanent attachment that can damage surfaces when removed. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and system for mounting the camera or other peripheral device to a computing device that is less permanent than the conventional tape mounted fixture. The mounting fixture should be easily implemented, cost effective and adaptable to existing systems. The present invention addresses such a need.
A mounting fixture for a computer peripheral is disclosed. The fixture comprises a mounting member adapted to be coupled to the peripheral; and a magnet coupled to the mounting member. The magnet couples the fixture to a housing. Accordingly, a mounting fixture is provided which can easily be adapted to a variety of peripheral devices to allow for their attachment to a computer or the like. By utilizing a magnet with a mounting member, a peripheral can easily and securely be mounted on the computer with minimal modification thereof.
The present invention relates generally to a computer peripheral and more particularly to a mounting fixture for a computer peripheral. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
A mounting fixture in accordance with the present invention utilizes a magnet for positioning a computer peripheral on a display. In one embodiment, its external housing is a ferromagnetic material, and accordingly the camera can then be placed anywhere on the display. In another embodiment where the external housing is not ferromagnetic, i.e., plastics or anodized aluminum, a ferromagnetic strip or ferromagnetic material may be exposed for guidance on the under surface of the housing. In a final embodiment, a desired mounting position can be provided by placing the metal plate or a magnet in a particular position to provide for the desired mounting position.
To describe the present invention in more detail, refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
The mounting fixture 104 can be attached to the housing of the display in a variety of ways. For example, in one embodiment, the external can be a ferromagnetic material, and accordingly the camera can then be placed anywhere on the display. In another embodiment where the external housing is not ferromagnetic, (i.e., plastics or anodized aluminum), a ferromagnetic strip 302 or magnetic material may be exposed for guidance on the tinder surface of the housing as shown in
Accordingly, a mounting fixture is provided which can easily be adapted to a variety of peripheral devices to allow for their attachment to a computer or the like. By utilizing a magnet with a mounting member, a peripheral can be easily and securely mounted on the computer with minimal modification thereof.
Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, although a cylindrical mounting member and a cylindrical magnet are disclosed herein. These elements can be of any shape and they would still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3223898 | Bey | Dec 1965 | A |
4401960 | Uchikune et al. | Aug 1983 | A |
5125134 | Morita | Jun 1992 | A |
5589985 | Heller et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5868346 | Cobos | Feb 1999 | A |
5873486 | Morgan | Feb 1999 | A |
5940229 | Baumgarten | Aug 1999 | A |
6477749 | Reiter | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6553626 | Coburn | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6739567 | Curtis | May 2004 | B1 |
6763734 | Shukla et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
7039309 | Hsiao | May 2006 | B2 |
20030161142 | Kotovsky | Aug 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20050284993 A1 | Dec 2005 | US |