IP Library Granted Patent US 10,503,212
Granted Patent B2
US 10,503,212 · App. 15/158,027 · Granted Dec 10, 2019

Removable access panel

Inventors: Matthew Joseph Geary (Raleigh, NC); Jason Pratt Parrish (Raleigh, NC); Wesley Abram Luttrell (Raleigh, NC); Daniel Jordan Schantz (Raleigh, NC); Thomas John Sluchak (Apex, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F1/1656
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,503,212
App. No.
15/158,027
Granted
Dec 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides am information handling device, comprising: a housing, the housing comprising an access panel; the access panel comprising a plurality of locking mechanisms; wherein removal of the access panel requires activating each of the plurality of locking mechanism substantially simultaneously. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (35)

1. An information handling device, comprising:

a housing, the housing comprising an access panel, wherein the access panel provides access to an internal component of the information handling device;

the access panel comprising a plurality of locking mechanisms, wherein each of the plurality of locking mechanisms are located at least partially on an exterior surface of the access panel;

wherein removal of the access panel requires manipulating, with an unlocking apparatus, each of the plurality of locking mechanisms to move in an identical, predetermined slide pattern substantially simultaneously.

2. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprise magnetic locking mechanisms.

3. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprise mechanical locking mechanisms.

4. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein activating each of the plurality of locking mechanism substantially simultaneously further comprises moving each of the plurality of locking mechanisms in a predetermined pattern substantially simultaneously.

5. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the information handling device is connectable to a base, the base comprising a plurality of unlocking mechanisms; and

wherein combining the base and the information handling device unlocks the access panel.

6. The information handling device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of unlocking mechanisms are arranged complementary to the pattern of the plurality of locking mechanisms.

7. The information handling device of claim 5 further comprising: a first fastening mechanism disposed on the access panel; and

a second fastening mechanism disposed on the base;

wherein, in response to the base being attached to the information handling device, the first and second fastening mechanism are connected.

8. The information handling device of claim 7 , wherein the access panel remains connected to the base as the information handling device is separated from the base.

9. The information handling device of claim 5 , wherein said combining further comprises at least one of: activating each of the plurality of unlocking mechanism in a predetermined order and sliding the information handling device in a predetermined pattern.

10. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the information handling device comprises at least one of: a laptop computer, a tablet, a smart phone, and a desktop computer.

11. An information handling device, comprising:

a housing, the housing comprising a first portion and a second portion;

the second portion comprising a plurality of locking mechanisms, wherein each of the plurality of locking mechanisms are located at least partially on an exterior surface of the second portion and wherein the second portion provides access to an internal component of the information handling device;

wherein removal of the second portion requires manipulating, with an unlocking apparatus, each of the plurality of locking mechanisms to move in an identical, predetermined slide pattern substantially simultaneously.

12. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprise magnetic locking mechanisms.

13. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprise mechanical locking mechanisms.

14. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein activating each of the plurality of locking mechanism substantially simultaneously further comprises moving each of the plurality of locking mechanisms in a predetermined pattern substantially simultaneously.

15. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein the information handling device is connectable to a base, the base comprising a plurality of unlocking mechanisms; and

wherein combining the base and the information handling device unlocks the second portion.

16. The information handling device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of unlocking mechanisms are arranged complementary to the pattern of the plurality of locking mechanisms.

17. The information handling device of claim 15 further comprising: a first fastening mechanism disposed on the second portion; and

a second fastening mechanism disposed on the base;

wherein, in response to the base being attached to the second portion, the first and second fastening mechanism are connected.

18. The information handling device of claim 17 , wherein second portion remains connected to the base as the information handling device is separated from the base.

19. The information handling device of claim 15 , wherein said combining further comprises at least one of: activating each of the plurality of unlocking mechanism in a predetermined order and sliding the information handling device in a predetermined pattern.

20. A method, comprising:

forming a housing comprising an access panel, wherein the access panel provides access to an internal component of an information handling device; and

attaching the access panel to the housing via a plurality of locking mechanisms, wherein each of the plurality of locking mechanisms are located at least partially on an exterior surface of the access panel;

wherein removal of the access panel requires manipulating, with an unlocking apparatus, each of the plurality of locking mechanisms to move in an identical, predetermined slide pattern substantially simultaneously.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2021
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 055939/0085 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2016
From: GEARY, MATTHEW JOSEPH; PARRISH, JASON PRATT; LUTTRELL, WESLEY ABRAM; SCHANTZ, DANIEL JORDAN; SLUCHAK, THOMAS J.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 038636/0610 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170336833A1 · Nov 23, 2017