Patent Application
20050103965
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing support to a computer system, and specifically to a portable computer system.
Portable computers such as mainstay laptop computers have changed the nature of conducting business. Teamed with the Internet and advances in communication technology, portable computers enable instant access to information from a variety of virtual office locations. Whether used in a make shift office at a remote visitor's center, on an airplane, at home or while traveling at a variety of customer locations, these portable computers allow their user to conduct business in the same manner as if in a traditional office setting. A variety of portable computers have been developed to meet the current needs of businesses. Portable computers include laptop computers (also commonly referred to as notebook computers, all of which are hereinafter identified as “laptop computers”), for example, those sold under the name ThinkPad® by International Business Machines Corporation, sub-notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDA) and other hand-held computers. Laptop computers, however, have provided the most flexibility in conducting business in a similar way to that associated with a conventional office setting. This is because most laptop computers have many of the same performance characteristics as traditional desktop computers, but without the bulkiness of traditional desktop computers. Even in a traditional office setting, many businesses opt to provide laptop computers to their employees in place of traditional desktop computers because of the advantages these systems provide. A laptop computer takes less space and can be stored easily, can be used in the office and can be transported easily for use in other environments such as conference rooms, classrooms, airports, airplanes and hotel rooms. Laptop computers can be transported and easily used in other environments, such as in field locations either indoors or outdoors, e.g. to manufacturing production floors and sites where scientific study, surveying, or construction are performed.
However, one difficulty in using portable computers, especially laptop computers in such locations, is to provide a way to support the weight of the computer, especially when traditional office space is not provided or available. When used in cramped or sparsely furnished offices, make shift environments such as airports, hotel rooms and such, the user must either support the computer in an uncomfortable position on his or her lap or use another surface such as a bed that is not positioned well or sufficiently secure to permit the freedom of movement necessary to use the keyboard and cursor positioning tool. In field locations, where the portable computer requires use in a standing position, heretofore only cumbersome, single purpose stands dedicated to supporting the computer have been provided in the prior art. Because of their dedicated purpose in supporting the computer, such stands must be transported in their entirety with the computer from place to place. In addition, in either such environment, cables have to be attached and maintained to supply power and permit network access. However, such cables have a tendency to become tangled or loosen when dangling from points of attachment to a laptop computer supported by such stand.
Structures provided by the prior art for supporting laptop computers include single purpose stands with platforms having integrally attached legs or in which telescopic legs are attached to the portable computer device itself in one way or another. The problem with such structures is that they do not facilitate ease of transport and usability that has made laptop computers attractive in the first place. Users of the prior art supporting structures must specially fit the laptop computer to such stands and transport the entire stand having foldable or telescopic legs from place to place. If the user does not possess or wish to carry such single purpose stand, the user must forego the convenience of a supporting stand for the computer.
Accordingly an apparatus is needed as a component of a supporting structure for laptop or other portable computers, which does not require retrofitting the portable computer and which facilitates ease of transport.
The present invention provides an adapter operable to support a computing device. The adapter includes a support plate. The support plate has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. According to an aspect of the invention, a connector is provided from the bottom surface to removably mount the support plate to a support stand. A latch is provided from the top surface for securing a computing device to the support plate. Alternatively, the connector is provided from a side surface of the support plate to removably mount the support plate to a cooperating support which is oriented in a substantially vertical direction.
According to another aspect of the invention, the adapter further includes a plurality of interior electrical connectors for mating with corresponding electrical connectors of the portable computing device. According to such aspect, the adapter has a plurality of exterior electrical connectors coupled to the interior electrical connectors. The exterior electrical connectors are adapted to mate with a plurality of corresponding cables, thereby connecting the electrical connectors of the portable computing device to the corresponding cables.
Laptop computers and other portable computers are used instead of traditional desktop computers, not only on the desktop, but also away from the desk in a variety of environments. However, a drawback to the portability of such computers is that they are not easily supported in a comfortable position for use in non-office environments. Without the provision of a supporting surface, laptop computers require placement on the user's lap for use in a sitting position, and require a stand for use in a standing position. These problems are addressed as follows. According to an embodiment of the invention, a supporting adapter is provided that attaches easily and securely to a portable computer such as a laptop computer, and which also fastens removably and securely to a readily available support stands such as photography tripods.
The adapter 100 includes a support plate having a bottom surface 120, as shown in
Photography tripods are typically designed to support and withstand equipment weighing in excess of 25 pounds. The heaviest laptops and other portable computers typically weigh less than 10 pounds. The adapter according to an embodiment of the invention cooperates with a standard photography tripod, allowing the tripod to serve as a stand for the computer, typically without any modification of the tripod. Equipment such as photography tripods are readily available and can be relatively easily transported to non-office environments including field locations where a supporting table is not available or when use from a standing position is preferred.
In an embodiment of the invention, the adapter 100 has slightly larger dimensions than the portable computer that it is designed to support. In an embodiment, one or more upwardly extending sidewalls on the front, left or right sides of the adapter are provided to further help guide the portable computer to a secure position on the adapter. Such sidewalls are desirably made short in order to avoid them from interfering with operation of various connectors, drives, switches, etc., that the sidewalls of portable computers typically house.
The placement of the connector relative to the adapter can vary depending upon a number of factors. For example, the placement of the connector can be varied based on the expected use of the computer from a sitting or standing position affecting the angle made by the monitor screen to the base of the computer, the type of computer to be supported by the adapter, and whether the portable computer is to be tilted during use.
Desirably, for stability, the connector is placed in a location of the adapter which corresponds to the center of gravity of the portable computer when connected to the adapter 100 for use. In the particular implementation shown in
In addition, a variety of connector designs can be used for providing a secure connection between the adapter and the tripod or other such supports. In
As provided in
In
The connector of the embodiments provided in
A variety of designs can be used to provide such attachments. One example of such attachment is a latch or latches, which engages a corresponding secure keyhole of the computing device. The term “attachment”, is used herein for ease of reference and can include a variety of latches and other attachments ranging from a simple slot or hole to a plurality of ridges and pivots, and other configurations generally shown at 240 in
In an embodiment, these latches or attachments, as shown at 240 in
Thus, attachments 240 are designed in a manner, such as shown in
It should be noted that the adapter as shown in
Whether used in conjunction with a photography tripod or not, in an embodiment, the size of the adapter is made much larger that the actual portable computing device as a platform for supporting computing devices of different sizes and/or to provide enhanced stability. Alternatively, the size of the adapter can be made much smaller than the portable computing device it is designed to support. In such a case, the adapter needs to be only large enough to provide secure attachment to the computing device and to a support such as a support stand, e.g., a tripod.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In yet another embodiment, an enhanced adapter is provided that functions like a docking station or a port replicator. The size and features of such an adapter can be designed specifically for a particular use, such as a laptop computer, or for more general purposes such that it can be used with a variety of portable computing devices.
An embodiment of such adapter 400 is illustrated in the front and rear perspective views of
The adapter 400 includes interior electrical connectors 410. Such connectors are provided for the purpose of connecting the adapter to one or more of the following connectors of the portable computing system: without limitation, for external monitor, keyboard, mouse or other pointing device, printer, network, modem (telephone), serial interface, parallel interface, universal serial bus (USB), diskette drive, audio line-in, audio line-out and power input (AC adapter).
The interior electrical connectors are provided at an appropriate position and orientation for mating with a portable computing system. For example, when the portable computing system provides electrical connectors on a rear sidewall thereof, the electrical connectors of the adapter 400 are provided on a cooperating surface of the adapter, which can be a forward-facing sidewall 420 provided at the rear of the adapter 400, as shown in
As shown in
An advantage of such embodiment is that the cables needed to connect the laptop computer for additional functions, e.g., for networking function, printer, AC adapter, audio in/out, etc., can be attached to the adapter, and not directly to the laptop itself. In such manner, cumbersome wiring is avoided when the laptop and adapter are attached to a support stand such as a tripod. Also, it simplifies removal of the laptop from the adapter and support stand for transport to another location, and reinstallation when the stand is needed again.
In addition, the particular design enables the user not to be forced to purchase a variety of laptop accessories that are difficult to attach and expensive to retrofit. Other advantages of an adapter that also functions as a docking station or a port replicator may be the addition of other built-in features or support wireless connections.
In embodiments of the invention, the adapter is lightweight and thin and can be transported easily with the portable computing device, for example, such as the case for a laptop computer.
In an alternative embodiment, the adapter can even be designed to be left permanently in place under the portable computing device, such as a laptop computer, at all times if desired, to provide for ease of transport. Since the adapter is relatively thin and lightweight, it enables the user to pack the device and the adapter in a carrying case provided for the portable computing device with ease.
Embodiments of the adapter enable a computing device, especially portable computing devices such as laptop computers, to be supported in a secure manner by readily available support stands such as photography tripods. Alternative embodiments allow for mounting to vertical surfaces and other structures. The adapter is transportable with ease either by itself, or in a carrying case as attached to a portable computing device.
While the invention has been described in accordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand the many modifications and enhancements which can be made thereto without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the claims appended below.
