U.S. patent application number 10/800234 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for storage compartment, and related computer systems and methods.
Invention is credited to Jacobs, Joel, Karim, Ameer, Neal, Thomas S., Voon, Sze-Moey.
Application Number | 20050200249 10/800234 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34920677 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050200249 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Voon, Sze-Moey ; et
al. |
September 15, 2005 |
Storage compartment, and related computer systems and methods
Abstract
A storage compartment to store one or more items includes a
body, a top, and a coupling element operable to couple the top to
the body and allow the top to be moved relative to the body. The
body includes a bottom and a sidewall that define an interior in
which one or more items, such as a storage medium or a portable
device, may be stored. The sidewall includes a passage to allow an
item stored in the interior to be coupled to another item outside
the interior. The top may be moved relative to the body to open and
close the storage compartment. With the storage compartment, one
may securely and safely store a PDA, for example, that is coupled
with a processor of a computer system.
Inventors: |
Voon, Sze-Moey; (Cupertino,
CA) ; Neal, Thomas S.; (Cupertino, CA) ;
Karim, Ameer; (Cupertino, CA) ; Jacobs, Joel;
(San Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
34920677 |
Appl. No.: |
10/800234 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/182 20130101;
G06F 1/1632 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 097/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A housing for a computer system, the housing comprising: a
storage compartment including: a body having an interior, a bottom
and a sidewall that define the interior, and a passage operable to
allow an item disposed within the interior to be communicatively
coupled to another item outside the interior; and a lid.
2. The housing of claim 1 wherein the interior is sized to retain a
PDA.
3. The housing of claim 1 wherein the interior is sized to hold
storage media.
4. The housing of claim 1 wherein the sidewall includes the
passage.
5. The housing of claim 1 wherein the storage compartment includes
a coupling element operable to couple the lid to the sidewall.
6. The housing of claim 1 wherein the storage compartment includes
a locking element operable to retain the lid in a closed
position.
7. The housing of claim 1 wherein: the housing further comprises a
conduit having an opening; and the passage opens to the conduit's
opening.
8. A housing for a computer system, the housing comprising: a
storage compartment including: a body having an interior, a bottom
and a sidewall that define the interior, and a lid having an
opening operable to allow access to an item disposed within the
interior.
9. The housing of claim 8 wherein the interior is sized to retain a
camera docking station, and when a camera is coupled to the docking
station, the camera protrudes through the opening.
10. A computer system comprising: a housing having a storage
compartment to retain an item and including: a body having an
interior, a bottom and a sidewall that define the interior, and a
passage operable to allow an item disposed within the interior to
be communicatively coupled to another item outside the interior;
and a lid.
11. A computer system comprising: a housing having a storage
compartment to retain an item and including: a body having an
interior, a bottom and a sidewall that define the interior, and a
lid having an opening operable to allow an item disposed within the
interior to protrude through the opening.
12. A method for storing an item, the method comprising: placing an
item in an interior of a storage compartment that includes a lid
and a body having a bottom and a sidewall that define the interior;
extending a cable from the exterior of the storage compartment
through a passage in the body; and coupling the cable to the item
in the interior.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein extending a cable from the
exterior of the storage compartment includes extending the cable
through an opening of a conduit.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising closing the lid.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising: closing the lid, and
supporting another item on the lid.
16. A method for storing an item, the method comprising: placing an
item in an interior of a storage compartment that includes a lid
having an opening, and a body having a bottom and a sidewall that
define the interior; inserting another item through the opening;
and coupling the items together.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to the following patent
applications: U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. ______
titled STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH POSITIONABLE HOLDER FOR HOLDING A
COMPACT DISC, attorney docket number 200314060-1 (1964-45-3), filed
on 12 Mar. 2004; U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. ______
titled HOUSING HAVING A CABLE CONDUIT AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND
METHODS, attorney docket number 200314056-1 (1964-49-3), filed on
12 Mar. 2004; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______ titled
PORTION OF A HOUSING FOR PROCESSING CIRCUITRY OR OTHER SIMILAR
ITEM, attorney docket number 200314058-1 (1964-47-5), filed on 12
Mar. 2004; and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______titled
POWER SWITCH FOR PROCESSING CIRCUITRY OR OTHER SIMILAR ITEM,
attorney docket number 200402715-1 (1964-47-6), filed on 12 Mar.
2004, which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many computer systems include processing circuitry for
performing various computing functions, such as receiving and
generating data and executing instructions, and include one or more
portable devices, such as, for example, a personal data assistant
(PDA) and/or a camera, that may be coupled to the circuitry. When a
portable device is coupled to the processing circuitry, the
circuitry can write data to or read data from the device, or
otherwise control the operation of the device.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer system 10, which
includes a housing 12 that protects processing circuitry (not
shown) located inside the housing, a portable device 14 (here, a
PDA), and a cable 16 that couples the PDA to the circuitry via an
external connector (not shown). When the PDA 14 is coupled to the
processing circuitry, it is typically set on top of the housing 12.
The computer system 10 also includes a storage device 18 that reads
data stored on a removable storage medium and that writes data to
the medium, and a storage compartment 20 designed to store one or
more removable storage media 22 when the media are not being used.
For example, the storage device 18 may be a disc drive, such as a
compact disc read-write (CDRW) drive and/or a digital versatile
disc (DVD) drive, that transfers data to and from the removable
storage media 22, such as, for example, a compact disc or a dvd,
after the media has been inserted into the drive. The storage
compartment 20 includes a support 24 with a shaft 26 to hold the
compact disc 22 in an interior 28 of the compartment. To store the
compact disc 22 in the compartment 20, one typically pushes a hole
30 of the disc onto the shaft 26.
[0004] Unfortunately, when the PDA 14 is placed on top of the
housing 12, the PDA is exposed and susceptible to inadvertent
contact with one's arm, hand or other object. Therefore, because
the PDA 14 is not secured to the housing 12, one may inadvertently
knock the PDA over and/or off the housing and, thus, may
inadvertently damage the PDA.
[0005] One way to protect the PDA 14 is placing the PDA in the
storage compartment 20, but this typically will not adequately
protect the PDA. Because the storage compartment 20 is designed to
store one or more removable storage media 22, not a device that is
typically heavier and bulkier, the storage compartment typically
does not have enough space to store the PDA 14. For example, the
support 24 in the storage compartment 20 may occupy much of the
space that the PDA 14 would otherwise occupy if stored in the
compartment. Thus, when the PDA 14 is placed in the storage
compartment 20, a portion of the PDA typically remains exposed and
susceptible to inadvertent contact.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one aspect of the invention, a storage compartment of a
housing includes a body having an interior and a passage operable
to allow an item disposed within the interior to be communicatively
coupled to another item outside the interior, and a lid. The body
includes a bottom and a sidewall that define the interior in which
one or more items, such as a storage medium or a portable device,
may be stored. The lid may be moved relative to the body to open
and close the storage compartment. When opened, one may insert or
remove an item from the storage compartment, and when closed, an
item located in the storage compartment may be protected against
inadvertent contact. With the storage compartment, one may securely
and safely store a PDA, for example, that is coupled to processing
circuitry of a computer system.
[0007] In another aspect of the invention, a storage compartment of
a housing includes a body having an interior, a bottom and a
sidewall that define the interior, and a lid having an opening
operable to allow access to an item disposed within the interior.
With the opening in the lid, one may store an item that is larger
than the interior by allowing the item to protrude through the
opening. In addition, one may store a coupler in the interior and
couple a device to the coupler through the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional computer
system that includes a PDA placed on top of the system's
housing.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a computer system that
incorporates a storage compartment according to an embodiment of
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage compartment in
FIG. 2 with a top in an open position according to an embodiment of
the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of a coupling element in FIG. 3 that
couples the top to the body of the storage compartment in FIGS. 2
and 3, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage compartment
according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a computer system 40 that
includes a storage compartment 42 according to an embodiment of the
invention. The storage compartment 42 may be incorporated into a
housing 44 of the computer system 40 as shown, or the storage
compartment may be separate from the system. The storage
compartment 42 includes a body 46 having a bottom 48 and a side 50
that define an interior 52 in which one or more items (not shown)
may be securely stored. For example, one or more portable
electronic devices, such as a PDA, personal information manager
(PIM), a camera, and/or camera docking station, may be stored in
the interior, as well as removable storage media. The storage
compartment 42 also includes a lid 54 and a coupling element 56
(discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 3) to couple
the top to the body 46 and allow one to open and close the
compartment by moving the top relative to the body. When the
storage compartment 42 is closed as illustrated here by the lid 54
shown in dashed lines, an item stored in the interior 52 is
protected against being inadvertently knocked over and/or off the
housing 44. Thus, with the storage compartment 42, one may securely
store a PDA, for example, that is coupled to (or uncoupled from)
processing circuitry (not shown) of the system 40.
[0014] Although the storage compartment 42 is shown located along
the top 55 of the housing 44, the storage compartment may be
located along the sides of the housing, or along the front of the
housing 44 similar to the storage compartment 20 of the computer
system 10 in FIG. 1. When located along the sides or front of the
housing 44, the storage compartment 42 may include an item
retention component, such as, for example, a strap (not shown) to
help retain an item in the compartment. In addition, although the
computer system 40 is shown in FIG. 2 with the housing 44 in a
tower configuration, the housing may be in a desktop
configuration.
[0015] Still referring to FIG. 2, the storage compartment 42 may
also include a locking element 58 (discussed in greater detail in
conjunction with FIG. 3) to retain the lid 54 in a position
relative to the body 46. For example, in one embodiment, the
locking element 58 may retain the lid 54 in the closed position
(dashed line), that is, the position where the lid is parallel to
the top 55 and, thus, prevents access to the storage compartment.
Thus, in the closed position, the lid 54 forms a barrier between
the interior 52 and the outside environment above the interior 52
to prevent objects, such as, for example one's arm, from contacting
an item stored in the interior. In the open position (solid line),
the lid 54 allows one to remove an item stored in the interior 52,
or insert an item into the interior. By retaining the lid 54 in the
closed position, the locking element 58 reduces the chance that the
lid may be inadvertently moved to an open position. Thus, the
storage compartment 42 can more securely store and better protect
an item stored in the interior 52.
[0016] Still referring to FIG. 2, one or more of the sides 50a-50d
may include an passage 60 to allow a cable 62 to couple an
electronic device (not shown in FIG. 2) to a processing circuitry
(not shown) of the computer system 40. With the passage 60, one may
store a portable electronic device such as, for example, a PDA, in
the storage compartment 42 to protect the PDA while the processor
reads or writes data to the PDA. In one embodiment, the passage 60
may be located in the back side 50a. The passage 60 may also be
aligned with an opening (not shown) of a conduit 66 that reduces
the exposure of the cable 62 as it extends from the PDA to a
connector, which is typically located on the back (not shown) of
the housing 44. The conduit 66 is further discussed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ titled HOUSING HAVING A CABLE CONDUIT
AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS, and filed ______, which is
incorporated by reference. In operation, one may insert the PDA
into the storage compartment 42, couple the cable 62 to the PDA,
and close the lid 54 to protect the PDA.
[0017] Still referring to FIG. 2, the storage compartment 42 may
also include a positionable post 68 that may be positioned relative
to the body 46 to retain one or more storage media (not shown in
FIG. 2) such as compact discs, in the compartment, and that may be
re-positioned to store other items, such as a PDA, in the
compartment. For example, in one embodiment, the post may include a
first component 70 and a second component 72 that may be positioned
independently of each other. When each component 70 and 72 is
positioned in a respective first position, each component lies in a
receptacle 74 substantially parallel to the bottom 48 of the
compartment 42. In the receptacle 74 the components 70 and 72 do
not extend into the interior 52, thus allowing one to store items,
such as a PDA, other than a compact disc. When each component 70
and 72 is positioned in a respective second position (not shown),
each component extends into the interior 52 substantially
perpendicular to the bottom 48. In the second position the
components 70 and 72 form a post that may retain one or more
storage media by engaging a center hole of the media. The
positionable post 68 is further discussed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ titled STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH
POSITIONABLE POST FOR HOLDING A COMPACT DISC AND RELATED SYSTEMS
AND METHODS, and filed ______, which was previously incorporated by
reference.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage compartment 42
in FIG. 2 with the lid 54 in an open position according to an
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the coupling
element 56 in FIGS. 2 and 3, according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the coupling element 56 couples
the lid 54 to the body 46 and allows one to move the lid 54
relative to the body 46 to open and close the compartment 42. In
one embodiment, the coupling element 56 may be a hinge 76 that
releasably couples the lid 54 to the back side 50a. The hinge 76
may include a shaft 78, and a receiver 80 that retains the shaft
and allows the shaft to rotate about the shaft's axis 82. Thus, one
pivots the lid 54 relative to the back 50a to open and close the
storage compartment 42. To retain the shaft 78, the receiver 80
includes a receptacle 84 to restrain movement of the shaft in the X
direction, and a cantilevered member 86 to restrain movement of the
shaft in the Y direction. The cantilevered member 86 includes an
end 88 located above the receptacle 84 a distance that is less than
the diameter of the shaft, and thus, the member urges the shaft to
remain in the receptacle. To separate the shaft 78 from the
receiver 80, and thus release the lid 54 from the back 50a, one
moves the end 88 away from the receptacle 84 and removes the shaft
from the receptacle. To engage the shaft 78 with the receiver 80,
one moves the end 88 away from the receptacle 84 and inserts the
shaft into the receptacle.
[0020] Other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the hinge
76 may couple the lid 54 to other areas of the body 46, such as the
sides 50a-50b (FIG. 2) and/or the bottom 48. In another example,
the hinge 76 may permanently couple the lid 54 to the body 46. In
yet another example, the coupling element 56 may include a track
that the lid 54 slides on to open and close the storage compartment
42.
[0021] Still referring to FIG. 3, the locking element 58 retains
the lid 54 in a position relative to the body 46. For example, in
one embodiment, the locking element 58 retains the lid 54 in a
closed position, and includes two locking-element protrusions 90
(only one shown for clarity) and two locking-element receptacles 92
(only one shown for clarity). When the lid 54 is closed, each
locking element protrusion 90 is aligned with a respective one of
the locking-element receptacles 92, and urged toward their
respective receptacles 92 by a cantilevered post 94 to engage the
receptacles. With both locking-element protrusions 90 inserted into
a locking-element receptacle 92, the locking element 58 retains the
body 38 in the closed position. To unlock the lid 54, one pulls
and/or pushes the top with sufficient force to cause the
locking-element receptacles 92 to urge the respective
locking-element protrusions 90 toward each other, and thus out of
the receptacles.
[0022] Other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the locking
element 58 may include one or more than two locking-element
protrusions and corresponding locking-element receptacles. In
another example, the locking element 58 may include a screw, snap
and/or strap to retain the lid 54 at the closed position. In yet
another example, the locking element 58 may retain the lid 54 in a
position relative to the body 46 where the lid 54 does not close
the storage compartment 42.
[0023] Still referring to FIG. 3, the storage compartment 42 may be
made of any desirable material, and sized and formed as desired.
For example, in one embodiment the storage compartment 42 is formed
by casting conventional plastic in a mold, is square shaped and
approximately one inch deep. The lid 54 includes an outer surface
(not shown) that is substantially flat and extends over
substantially all of the interior 52 when closed. The lid 54 may
also support an item when the lid 54 is closed, and thus, one may
place one or more items on the lid 54 and store one or more items
in the storage compartment 42 at the same time.
[0024] Other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the storage
compartment 42 may have other shapes, such as circular, rectangular
or polygonal, and may be more or less than one inch deep. In
another example, the lid 54 may extend over only a portion of the
interior 52. In yet another example, the lid may include a
receptacle in the outer surface sized to receive and retain an
item, or the outer surface may be concave or convex.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage compartment 100
that includes a lid 102 having an opening 104 according to another
embodiment of the invention. The lid 102 may include a cover (not
shown) to open and close the opening; or the lid may not include a
cover. The opening 104 may be any shape and size desired to allow
one to access an item stored in the storage compartment 100. This
may be desirable to store an item that is larger than the interior
(not shown) of the storage compartment 100, such that the item can
protrude through the opening 104. This may also be desirable to
store a coupler in the storage compartment 100 and couple a device
to the coupler through the opening 104.
[0026] For example, one may store a camera docking station 106 that
may be used to couple a camera 108 to the processing circuitry
and/or a power source (not shown). When stored in the storage
compartment 100, the camera docking station 106 may be coupled to
the circuitry via a cable (not shown) as previously discussed in
conjunction with FIG. 2. When the circuitry is coupled to the
camera 108, the circuitry may write and/or read data from the
camera to generate a picture, and the power source may recharge the
camera's batteries. To couple the camera 108 to the circuitry
and/or power source, a plug (not shown) of the docking station 106
is typically inserted into a receptacle (not shown) of the camera
108. Thus, when the camera is frequently used, one can easily
engage and disengage the camera's receptacle from the docking
station's plug.
[0027] Without the opening 104, one would have to move the lid 102
to an open position to engage the camera's receptacle with the
docking station's plug. If the camera is then knocked over, the
docking station could easily follow, and thus both the camera and
the docking station could be damaged. With the opening 104,
however, one can couple the camera 108 to the docking station 106
while the docking station is safely stored in the storage
compartment 100 and the lid 102 is locked in the closed
position.
[0028] The preceding discussion is presented to enable one skilled
in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to
the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled
in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to
other embodiments and applications without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown,
but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the
principles and features disclosed herein.
* * * * *