Fantastic folding laptop designs

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Double-screen, folding laptop

Laptops are thinner and lighter than they were in the past, but their basic clam-shell design has remained relatively unchanged. Even convertible laptops with their rotating or flippable touchscreens have a main body and lid, which are attached with a hinge.

There are those however, who have challenged the standard, two-piece laptop design. The U.S. patent drawings in this gallery show a few of the more interesting designs, from a three-layer device that folds up into a cube to a laptop with two screens.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figure 1)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Seeking to move beyond the "clam-shell" design used by most laptops, Robert Shannon proposed an Accordion-Fold Laptop Computer. According to the patent, Shannon's design would provide improved thermal management, ergonomic features, and greater battery capacity. The design would achieve these goals without "substantially increasing the overall thickness or weight of the laptop".

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 2A and 2B)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figure 3)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 4A and 4B)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 4C)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 5A and 5B)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figure 6)

U.S. Patent number: 6,256,192
Filed: Aug. 9, 1999
Issued: Jul. 3, 2001
Inventor: Robert Shannon
Assignee: Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,256,192 - Digitized by Google
Three Layered Laptop Computer (Figure 1)

U.S. Patent number: 4,839,837
Filed: Oct. 27, 1987
Issued: Jun. 13, 1989
Inventor: Bo E. Chang

Chang's patent describes a "portable, three layered laptop computer". The machine would be made of three sections; a main body and keyboard, screen, and output device (such as a printer). The hinged sections would fold up like a cube.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 4,839,837 - Digitized by Google
Three Layered Laptop Computer (Figure 2)

U.S. Patent number: 4,839,837
Filed: Oct. 27, 1987
Issued: Jun. 13, 1989
Inventor: Bo E. Chang

Image taken from U.S. Patent 4,839,837 - Digitized by Google
Three Layered Laptop Computer (Figures 3 and 4)

U.S. Patent number: 4,839,837
Filed: Oct. 27, 1987
Issued: Jun. 13, 1989
Inventor: Bo E. Chang

Image taken from U.S. Patent 4,839,837 - Digitized by Google
Double screen laptop (Figure 1)

U.S. Patent number: 6,667,878
Filed: Jan. 30, 2002
Issued: Dec. 23 2003
Inventor: David A. Ponx

David Ponx submitted a four-section laptop design to the US Patent and Trademark Office in 1997. Ponx's design consists of a main body, main screen, second (removable) screen, and outer screen cover. The second screen would display what's on the main screen and be "ideal for business presentations, instruction, and other like uses".

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Double screen laptop (Figure 2)

U.S. Patent number: 6,667,878
Filed: Jan. 30, 2002
Issued: Dec. 23 2003
Inventor: David A. Ponx

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Double screen laptop (Figure 3)

U.S. Patent number: 6,667,878
Filed: Jan. 30, 2002
Issued: Dec. 23 2003
Inventor: David A. Ponx

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Double screen laptop (Figure 4)

U.S. Patent number: 6,667,878
Filed: Jan. 30, 2002
Issued: Dec. 23 2003
Inventor: David A. Ponx

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Double screen laptop (Figure 5)

U.S. Patent number: 6,667,878
Filed: Jan. 30, 2002
Issued: Dec. 23 2003
Inventor: David A. Ponx

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Double screen laptop (Figure 6)

U.S. Patent number: 6,667,878
Filed: Jan. 30, 2002
Issued: Dec. 23 2003
Inventor: David A. Ponx

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google
Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 1A and 1B)

U.S. Patent number: 7,511,950
Filed: Oct. 31, 2007
Issued: Mar. 31, 2009
Inventors: Bobbi A. Brekke, Francisco Garcia, David Nevarez, Debora Velarde, and Marcos A. Villarreal
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

In 2007, a group of inventors from IBM filed a patent for a "Trifold Laptop Computer". Their design consisted of a main body, a hinged screen, and a hinged keyboard. The designers envisioned several configurations for the device. In one embodiment, both the screen and keyboard would be attached to opposite ends of the main body. In another embodiment, the keyboard would be attached to the main body and the display would be attached to the screen.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 7,511,950 - Digitized by Google
Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 1C, 1D, and 1E)

U.S. Patent number: 7,511,950
Filed: Oct. 31, 2007
Issued: Mar. 31, 2009
Inventors: Bobbi A. Brekke, Francisco Garcia, David Nevarez, Debora Velarde, and Marcos A. Villarreal
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Image taken from U.S. Patent 7,511,950 - Digitized by Google
Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 2A and 2B)

U.S. Patent number: 7,511,950
Filed: Oct. 31, 2007
Issued: Mar. 31, 2009
Inventors: Bobbi A. Brekke, Francisco Garcia, David Nevarez, Debora Velarde, and Marcos A. Villarreal
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Image taken from U.S. Patent 7,511,950 - Digitized by Google
Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 2C, 2D, 2E)

U.S. Patent number: 7,511,950
Filed: Oct. 31, 2007
Issued: Mar. 31, 2009
Inventors: Bobbi A. Brekke, Francisco Garcia, David Nevarez, Debora Velarde, and Marcos A. Villarreal
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Image taken from U.S. Patent 7,511,950 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 1)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009
Inventor: Raymon Jette

Raymon Jette envisioned a laptop that would help the user maintain "an ergonomically correct sitting position during use thereby eliminating neck, shoulder, back and eye strain". His design included a main body, a middle "lectern" layer, and screen. Not only would the lectern section allow you to adjust the screen's position and viewing angle, it could also serve as a handy book stand. He submitted his design to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2007, but has not been granted a patent.

Image taken from U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 2)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 3)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 4)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 5)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 6)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 7)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 8)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google
Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 9)

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2009/0086424
Filed: Oct. 1, 2007
Published: Apr. 2, 2009

Image taken from Publication No.: US 2009/0086424 - Digitized by Google

Double-screen, folding laptop

Laptops are thinner and lighter than they were in the past, but their basic clam-shell design has remained relatively unchanged. Even convertible laptops with their rotating or flippable touchscreens have a main body and lid, which are attached with a hinge.

There are those however, who have challenged the standard, two-piece laptop design. The U.S. patent drawings in this gallery show a few of the more interesting designs, from a three-layer device that folds up into a cube to a laptop with two screens.

Image taken from U.S. Patent 6,667,878 - Digitized by Google

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...

Double-screen, folding laptop

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figure 1)

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 2A and 2B)

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figure 3)

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 4A and 4B)

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 4C)

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figures 5A and 5B)

Accordion-fold Laptop computer (Figure 6)

Three Layered Laptop Computer (Figure 1)

Three Layered Laptop Computer (Figure 2)

Three Layered Laptop Computer (Figures 3 and 4)

Double screen laptop (Figure 1)

Double screen laptop (Figure 2)

Double screen laptop (Figure 3)

Double screen laptop (Figure 4)

Double screen laptop (Figure 5)

Double screen laptop (Figure 6)

Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 1A and 1B)

Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 1C, 1D, and 1E)

Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 2A and 2B)

Trifold Laptop Computer (Figures 2C, 2D, 2E)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 1)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 2)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 3)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 4)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 5)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 6)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 7)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 8)

Tri-layer Folding Laptop Computer (Figure 9)

Double-screen, folding laptop

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