Communications device with extendable screen

Abstract

A portable communications device includes a first screen and a second screen. A third screen may be provided. The device includes a housing into in and from which each of the second and/or third screens may be retracted and extended. When retracted, outer edges of the second and/or third screens encase opposing sides of the first screen. A cavity in the housing is provided into which the second and third screens may be retracted. Track mechanisms and bearing mechanisms may support and facilitate extension and retraction of the second and third screens. Spring mechanisms facilitate alignment of the first, second and third screens. Holding and/or cooperative release mechanisms may be used to respectively hold and release the second and third screens within the housing.

1 . A portable communications device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a top surface;
 wherein the top surface includes an upper housing top border and a lower housing top border; 
 
 a bottom surface non-planar with and parallel to the top surface; 
 a top edge; 
 a bottom edge opposite the top edge;
 wherein each of the top edge and the bottom edge are substantially perpendicular to and abut each of the top surface and the bottom surface; 
 
 a right edge comprising a housing upper right edge and a housing lower right edge; 
 a left edge opposite the right edge;
 wherein each of the right edge and the left edge are substantially perpendicular to and abuts each of the top surface, the bottom surface, the top edge and the bottom edge; 
 wherein a cavity is formed within the housing by the top surface, the bottom surface, the top edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge; 
 
   a first screen comprising:
 a first screen display surface affixed to the top surface of the housing and partially encased by the upper housing top border and the lower housing top border; 
   a second screen retractable into and extendable out of the cavity, comprising:
 a second screen right edge; 
   wherein, when the second screen is retracted into the cavity, the second screen right edge is:
 coplanar with the housing upper right edge and the housing lower right edge; 
 encloses a right edge of the cavity; and 
 encases a right edge of the first screen. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, when the second screen is extended out of the cavity, the second screen right edge is:
 not coplanar with the housing upper right edge and the housing lower right edge; and 
 does not encase the right edge of the first screen. 
   
     
     
         3 . The portable communication device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a track mechanism mechanically coupling the second screen with the housing to facilitate retraction and extension of the second screen into and out of the cavity. 
 
     
     
         4 . The portable communications device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second screen further comprises:
 a second display surface; 
 a second bottom surface; 
 a second screen top edge; 
 a second screen bottom edge; and 
   wherein the track mechanism is affixed to at least one of the second bottom surface, the second screen top edge, and the second screen bottom edge.   
     
     
         5 . The portable communications device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a bearing system configured for use opposite to the track mechanism and to facilitate retraction and extension of the second screen. 
 
     
     
         6 . The portable communications device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the track mechanism cooperates with a bearing system to facilitate a gliding retraction and extension of the second screen into and out of the cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The portable communications device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the track mechanism supports the second screen during extension from and while extended out of the cavity.   
     
     
         8 . The portable communications device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a spring mechanism configured to align the first screen and the second screen in a first expanded display configuration;
 wherein for the first expanded display configuration,
 the second screen is fully extended out of the cavity; 
 the first display surface is coplanar with the second display surface, and 
 the right edge of the first screen directly abuts a left edge of the second screen. 
 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The portable communications device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein, during extension of the second screen, the spring mechanism is configured to exert an upward force on the second screen when the ledge edge of the second screen clears the right edge of the first screen.   
     
     
         10 . The portable communications device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a first holding structure configured to hold the second screen in the first expanded display configuration. 
 
     
     
         11 . The portable communications device of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a second holding structure configured to hold the second screen within the cavity while the second screen is retracted into the cavity; and 
 wherein the second screen portion, when retracted into the cavity, is housed beneath the first screen portion. 
 
     
     
         12 . The portable communications device of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a release mechanism configured to, upon activation thereof, release the second screen for extension of the second screen out of the cavity. 
 
     
     
         13 . The portable communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second screen right edge comprises a protective edge portion which may be gripped in order to extend the second screen out of the cavity and pushed-in in order to retract the second screen into the cavity.   
     
     
         14 . A portable communications device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a top surface;
 wherein the top surface includes an upper housing top border and a lower housing top border; 
 
 a bottom surface non-planar with and parallel to the top surface; 
 a top edge; 
 a bottom edge opposite the top edge;
 wherein each of the top edge and the bottom edge are substantially perpendicular to and abut each of the top surface and the bottom surface; 
 
 a right edge comprising a housing upper right edge and a housing lower right edge; 
 a left edge opposite the right edge;
 wherein each of the right edge and the left edge are substantially perpendicular to and abuts each of the top surface, the bottom surface, the top edge and the bottom edge; 
 wherein the left edge of the housing further comprises a housing upper left edge and a housing lower left edge; 
 
 wherein a cavity is formed within the housing by the top surface, the bottom surface, the top edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge; 
   a first screen comprising:
 a first screen display surface affixed to the top surface of the housing and partially encased by the upper housing top border and the lower housing top border; 
   a second screen retractable into and extendable out of the cavity, comprising:
 a second screen right edge; 
   wherein, when the second screen is retracted into the cavity, the second screen right edge is:
 coplanar with the housing upper right edge and the housing lower right edge; 
 encloses a right edge of the cavity; and 
 encases a right edge of the first screen; 
   a third screen, retractable into and extendable out of the cavity, comprising:
 a third screen left edge; 
 wherein, when the third screen is retracted into the cavity, the third screen left edge is:
 coplanar with the housing upper left edge and the housing lower left edge; 
 encloses a left edge of the cavity; and 
 encases a left edge of the first screen. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The portable communications device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein, when the second screen is extended out of the cavity, the second screen right edge is:
 not coplanar with the housing upper right edge and the housing lower right edge; and 
 does not encase the right edge of the first screen; 
   wherein, when the third screen is extended out of the cavity, the third screen left edge is:
 not coplanar with the housing upper left edge and the housing lower right edge; and 
 does not encase the left edge of the first screen. 
   
     
     
         16 . The portable communication device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the second screen further comprises:
 a second display surface; 
 a second bottom surface; 
 a second screen top edge; and 
 a second screen bottom edge; 
   wherein the third screen further comprises:
 a third display surface; 
 a third bottom surface; 
 a third screen top edge; 
 a third screen bottom edge; and 
   the portable communication device further comprising:   a right track mechanism mechanically coupling the second screen with the housing to facilitate retraction and extension of the second screen into and out of the cavity;
 wherein the right track mechanism supports the second screen during extension of the second screen out of the cavity; 
 wherein the right track mechanism is affixed to at least one of the second bottom surface, the second screen top edge, and the second screen bottom edge; 
   a left track mechanism mechanically coupling the third screen with the housing to facilitate retraction and extension of the third screen into and out of the cavity;
 wherein the left track mechanism supports the third screen during extension of the third screen out of the cavity; 
 wherein the left track mechanism is affixed to at least one of the third bottom surface, the third screen top edge, and the third screen bottom edge; 
   a right bearing system configured for opposing use with the right track mechanism; and   a left bearing system configured for opposing use with the left track mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . The portable communications device of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a first spring mechanism configured to align the first screen and the second screen in a first expanded display configuration;
 wherein for the first expanded display configuration,
 the second screen is fully extended out of the cavity; 
 a first display surface is coplanar with a second display surface, and 
 the right edge of the first screen directly abuts a left edge of the second screen; 
 
 
 a second spring mechanism configured to align the first screen and the third screen in a second expanded display configuration;
 wherein for the second expanded display configuration,
 the third screen is fully extended out of the cavity; 
 the first display surface is coplanar with the second display surface, and 
 the left edge of the first screen directly abuts a right edge of the third screen. 
 
 
 
     
     
         18 . The portable communications device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the portable communications device is configured for configuration into a fully expanded display configuration where the first screen is coplanar with each of the second screen and the third screen.   
     
     
         19 . The portable communications device of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a first holding structure configured to hold the second screen in a first expanded display configuration; 
 a second holding structure configured to hold the third screen in a second expanded display configuration; 
 a third holding structure configured to hold the second screen within the cavity while the second screen is retracted into the cavity; 
 a fourth holding structure configured to hold the third screen within the cavity while the third screen is retracted into the cavity; 
 a first release mechanism configured to, upon activation thereof, release the second screen for extension of the second screen out of the cavity; and 
 a second release mechanism configured to, upon activation thereof, release the third screen for extension of the third screen out of the cavity. 
 
     
     
         20 . The portable communications device of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the second screen right edge comprises a protective edge portion which may be gripped in order to extend the second screen out of the cavity; and   wherein the third screen right edge comprises another protective edge portion which may be gripped in order to extend the three screen out of the cavity.