Heath Company

Zenith Radio Corporation

Zenith Data Systems Corporation

Zenith Electronics Corporation

Horst M Krenz

Wayne J Kooy

Lawrence C Unger

Fred E Wahlemeier

An installation mechanism for a removable computer drive module with a handle operated automatically engaging dual rack and pinion device. The pinions are carried by the handle which is pivotally mounted adjacent a module receiving opening in a console. The module carries a pair of rails that have the rack gears formed integrally at one end. After the handle is pivoted to an upward position, the module is inserted into the console and pushed forward engaging the handle pinions. Further pushing on the module causes driving engagement between the racks and the pinions forcing the handle to pivot downwardly. The connectors between the module and the console are engaged by grasping and rotating the handle further downwardly driving the module further into the console.

Installation mechanism for removable computer drive module

Disclosed is an assembly for a hard disk drive which is removable from a computer. A latch is provided suitable for forcing the the drive into or out of engagement with the computer against resistance from mounting guide rails and an electrical connector. The latch is also suitable for locking the drive securely in place when it is in use and for carrying the drive between computers.

Removable hard disk drive having a combination latch, lever and handle

A computer stand for supporting a horizontal compute in a vertical position.

Computer stand

A portable computer with a base, a pivotal visual display and a keyboard releasably attached to the base so it can be used as a stand alone component. The base has a tapered forwardly projecting wide tongue that guides the keyboard horizontally and vertically as the keyboard moves toward the base and when the keyboard reaches its fully seated position a pair of latch assemblies automatically engage. The rear of the keyboard has a transverse recess into which a precoiled section of keyboard cable is stored in the keyboard attached position.

Keyboard latching arrangement for portable computers

A unitary portable compact computer comprises a cabinet which encloses computer circuitry and a CRT having a display panel. A detachable keyboard, electrically connectable to the computer circuitry, is attachable to the cabinet for storage and transit therewith. A stowable disk drive deck having disk receiving ports is pivotally supported atop the cabinet for displacement between a retracted storage position, in which the deck is received by and contributes to the symmetry of the cabinet and an extended operating position in which the disk receiving ports are presented for receiving a disk. A latching arrangement serves to stably maintain the deck in its storage or operating positions and is actuatable to permit removal of the deck from the computer.

Portable personal computer

A metal clip is capable of securely engaging an electrical cable along the length thereof and is adapter for insertion and stable positioning within an elongated ventilation slot in the cabinet or chassis of an electronic apparatus to provide strain relief for the electrical cable. The strain relief clip may be in the form of either an appropriately twisted and bent metal wire or an appropriately configured solid metal clip formed by stamping. By providing a secure mounting for the electrical cable to the electronic device to which the cable is electrically coupled, movement between a connector located between the end of the cable and a receptacle mounted to, for example, a printed circuit board within the electronic device is prevented and electrical continuity is maintained.

Strain relief clip for electrical cable

Apparatus for selectively controlling the viewing angle of a video display unit by adjusting the tilt of the unit by means of a single, readily accessible manual control is disclosed. A viewer-operated control knob is used to rotate a shaft located within a linear recessed portion on an upper surface of a display support structure. The shaft includes right- and left-hand threaded portions to which lower end portions of respective support links are pivotally coupled allowing the linear displacement thereof. The upper end of each link is pivotally coupled to a support platform which is raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of the control knob. A conventional video display unit is positioned upon the support structure which may take the form of an enclosed case for housing video display spare parts or additional circuitry. The support platform is positioned in contact with a lower, aft portion of the video display unit permitting its viewing angle to be easily adjusted by means of a single manual control. The tilt angle can be varied continuously between -5.degree. and +10.degree. with stable position locking available at any intermediate angle.

Video display tilt apparatus

A curvilinear, semi-rigid paper guide for a bi-directional line printer mounted on a platen which provides a surface that bears against the moving print head as the print medium passes between the print head and the paper guide is disclosed. By adjusting the curvature of the paper guide, differences in the distances between adjacent drive sprockets of upper and lower print medium drive mechanisms may be compensated for thus ensuring the printing of straight, parallel and unskewed character lines. In addition, the present invention may be used in a line printer having a single print medium drive mechanism to compensate for nonlinearities in and non-parallelism between the surface of the platen and print head movement.

Paper guide for line printer

In a line printer, form trimming apparatus for automatically separating paper-drive edge perforated tear strips from a continuous paper form comprises a trimmer having hold-down sections which include slots for receiving the sprocket of a paper driver to permit those sections to hold the edge perforated strips against the sprocket to enable the sprocket to draw the form past a print head. A ramp extends at an acute angle from the hold-down sections to ramp the center section of the form upwardly and away from the tear strip. The ramp includes an edge that projects below the level of the hold-down section to facilitate automatic separation of the tear strips from the center section of the form as the form passes through the line printer.

Form trimming apparatus and method for line printer

Disclosed is a multi-pin connector for grounding a shielded flat cable enclosed in an insulator. A first conducting element is positioned between and in contact with the receptacle portion of the connector and a grounded portion of the panel through which the connector passes via an aperture thereon. The first conducting element includes a first flat extension which projects away from the panel on a first side thereof and which is folded around a first segment of the flat cable so as to be in contact with and ground the electrical shield of the first cable segment. A second flat extension of the first conducting element projects through the aperture and grounds a second conducting element which is coupled to the plug portion of the connector by means of a cable positioning slot therein through which a second segment of the cable and the second conducting element pass. The second conducting element includes a first flat extension which is folded around the flat cable in contact with the cable shield which is effectively grounded when the connection is made. The second conducting element also includes a distally positioned second flat extension which includes a plurality of short, sharp projections, or teeth, thereon for securely engaging the insulator when the second flat extension is folded around the second cable segment thus enhancing cable connection wear and stress resistance.

Grounded multi-pin connector for shielded flat cable

This disclosure depicts a low-cost assembly for mounting a battery, fuse, or other terminal-bearing electrical device on a printed circuit board supporting an electrically conductive pattern. The assembly comprises a one-piece molded receptacle sized and internally configured to receive one or more of such electrical devices, said receptacle having sidewalls and opposed end walls, one sidewall having a pair of slots, one adjacent each end wall. A pair of generally Z-shaped, resilient, electrically conductive, multi-function sheet material members simultaneously provide total mechanical retention of the receptacle on the printed circuit board and make electrical interconnection between an electrical device loaded in the receptacle and the printed circuit board conductive pattern. The assembly provides for total mechanical and electrical coupling with the printed circuit board of a terminal-bearing electrical device loaded into the receptacle.

Printed circuit board mount for batteries and the like

Means are disclosed for use in a line printer having a print head for traversing between a first side frame and a second side frame. The print head is driven in its traverse by a flexible belt close-looped between an idler pulley and a driven pulley. A predetermined tension of the belt is provided and maintained by the means and method according to the invention.

Print head drive belt tensioning means and method for line printer

Means are disclosed for use in a line printer having a print head on a carriage traversing parallel to a platen for printing characters through an inked ribbon onto a print medium drawn between the ribbon and platen. The inventive means provide for adjusting the print head position. Bracket means slidably mounted on the carriage provide for movement of the bracket toward and away from the platen. The bracket provides for mounting the print head on the carriage. A bracket adjusting member consisting of a lever in the preferred embodiment is coupled between the carriage and the bracket for manual adjustment of the spacing of the print head with respect to the platen. Pointer means are pivotally mounted on the carriage engage the bracket such that bracket movement and hence print head movement is translated into pointer movment, providing for a gross indication by means of indicia beneath the pointer of print head location with respect to the platen. Thus the spacing between print head and the platen can be adjusted by the bracket adjusting member for print media of different thicknesses.

Means and method for compensating for print medium thickness in line

A multi-pin connector for grounding a shielded flat cable is disclosed. A first conducting element is positioned between the receptacle portion of the connector and a grounded portion of the panel through which the connector passes via an aperture therein. A flat extension of the first conducting element projects through the aperture and grounds a second conducting element which is coupled to the plug portion of the connector by means of a cable positioning slot therein through which the cable and second conducting element pass. The second conducting element is folded around the flat cable in contact with the cable shield which is effectively grounded when the connection is made.

Growing community of inventors

St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Horst M Krenz