Encasement for handheld computer

(54) ENCASEMENT FOR HANDHELD COMPUTER

(75) Inventors: John William Krieger, Oxnard, CA (US); Randall Clark Lewis, Simi Valley, CA (US)

(73) Assignee: Palm, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/158,335

(22) Filed: May 30, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0142470 Al Jul. 31, 2003

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Provisional application No. 60/352,785, filed on Jan. 29, 2002.

(51) Int. CI. G06F 1/16

(52) U.S. CI 361/683; 16/224; 345/156;

D14/341; D14/345

(58) Field of Search 361/681-686,

361/724-727; 16/224; 345/156, 178; D14/341-346;

D18/1, 2, 4, 7

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

6,241,537 Bl 6/2001 Tate et al.

6,266,240 Bl 7/2001 Urban et al.

2002/0180694 Al * 12/2002 Isaacson 345/156

2003/0099094 Al * 5/2003 Coles et al 361/726

2003/0142471 Al * 7/2003 Krieger et al 361/683

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

tDevice News: tDevice Ships Q-PadTM; Slimmest Keyboard & Case Combo for PalmTM VxTM & HandspringTM Visor EdgeTM. Press release [online]. thinkDevice Company, Mar. 25, 2002 [retrieved on Jun. 3, 2002], 2 pps. Retrieved from

the internet <http://www.tdevice.com/company news.

htm.>.

Products: Q-Pad for Palm Vx: Specification: Features and Benefits [online] [Retrieved on Jun. 3, 2002]. 2 pps. Retrieved from the internet: <http://www.tdevice.com/products palmvx spec.htm>.

Q-Pad for Handspring Visor Edge. Copyright 2002 Think Device Company, 1 p. Available through www.tdevice.com on Jun. 3, 2002.

Q-Pad for Palm Vx. Copyright 2001 Think Device Company, 1 p. Available through www.tdevice.com on Jun. 3, 2002.

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Lisa Lea-Edmonds

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Foley & Lardner LLP

(57) ABSTRACT

A handheld computer comprises a generally rectangular housing and a cover movably connected thereto by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a tubular member or arm that has one end fixedly (non-rotatably) secured to an edge of the cover and an opposite end pivotally coupled to an edge of the cover. The hinge assembly enables the cover to be moved to at least three different positions. The cover provides a different function in each position. A method of reconfiguring an encasement of a handheld computer to provide at least two different functions includes rotating the cover about at least two different axes to move the cover between at least two different positions. The cover provides a different function in each position

39 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets