Portable information processing apparatus with an improved acoustic effect

Patent 6067224 Issued on May 23, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 26, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Personal multimedia speaker system
Patent #: 5588063
Issued on: 12/24/1996
Inventor: Edgar

Retractable speakers for portable computer Patent #: 5838537
Issued on: 11/17/1998
Inventor: Lundgren, et al.

Inventor

Nobuchi, Atsunobu

Application

No. 048095 filed on 03/26/1998

US Classes:

361/683, Computer related support361/680, Including keyboard support381/87, HAVING NON-ELECTRICAL FEATURE (E.G., MOUNTING)381/336Curved or angled housing

Examiners

Primary: Picard, Leo P.
Assistant: Reed, John D.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Staas & Halsey, LLP

Foreign Patent References

0 635 777 EP. 01/13/1995
55-55401 JP. 04/13/1980
4-617 JP. 01/13/1992
5-324124 JP. 12/13/1993
6-35489 JP. 02/13/1994
8-76884 JP. 03/13/1996
8-171477 JP. 07/13/1996
9-6475 JP. 01/13/1997
9-81271 JP. 03/13/1997
9-120354 JP. 05/13/1997

International Class

G06F 001/16

Foreign Application Priority Data

1997-10-03 JP

Abstract

A portable information processing apparatus includes a body having an opening at a top wall thereof, a display unit mounted for pivotal motion on the body, a speaker mounted in an upwardly directed condition in the body below the opening, and a plurality of baffles mounted in the opening for pivotal motion between a first position in which the baffles substantially close up the opening and a second position in which the baffles are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the top wall of the body. The portable information processing apparatus further includes a guide member mounted for movement between an advanced position and a retracted position, and a motion conversion mechanism for converting linear motion of the guide member into pivotal motion of the baffles. When the display unit is closed, then the guide member is moved to the retracted position and the baffles are pivoted to the first position in which they substantially close up the opening. When the display unit is opened, then the guide member is moved to the advanced position by the biasing force of a coil spring, whereupon the baffles are pivoted to the second position wherein they are inclined by the predetermined angle with respect to the top wall of the body.