Patents by Inventor Erich Elkins

Erich Elkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7196901
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module, a pair of sliding members mounted slidably on the expansion base module, a system module connected to the sliding members, and a synchronizing unit including a pair of first front and rear pulleys, a pair of second front and rear pulleys, and an endless cord that is connected to the sliding members and that trains on the first front and rear and second front and rear pulleys in such a manner to permit synchronous sliding movements of the sliding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Acer Inc.
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Patent number: 7106579
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module with a connector, a hinge mechanism mounted slidably on the expansion base module, slidable relative to the expansion base module, and including a pivot shaft, a system module pivoted to the expansion base module through the pivot shaft, and a ribbon cable having a first segment that is electrically connected to and that extends from the connector toward the pivot shaft, and a second segment that extends from the first segment, that is wound around the pivot shaft, and that is electrically connected to the system module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Acer Inc.
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Patent number: 6980420
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module, a hinge mechanism mounted slidably on the expansion base module and slidable relative to the expansion base module, a docking unit pivoted to the hinge mechanism, defining a docking groove, and including a docking connector, and a system module including a panel having two opposite sides that respectively have two opposing end portions inserted into and detachably retained in the docking groove. The system module further includes a system connector that is mounted on the panel and that mates with the docking connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Acer Inc.
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Patent number: 6862171
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a base module with a housing defining upper and lower sliding grooves at each of two opposite side walls of the housing, and a system module mounted slidably on the base module through a pair of sliding units. Each of the sliding units includes an upper rolling member that is received in the upper sliding groove and that is in rolling contact with a respective one of the side walls, and a lower rolling member that is received in the lower sliding groove and that is in rolling contact with a respective one of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: ACER Inc.
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Publication number: 20050041381
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a base module with a housing defining upper and lower sliding grooves at each of two opposite side walls of the housing, and a system module mounted slidably on the base module through a pair of sliding units. Each of the sliding units includes an upper rolling member that is received in the upper sliding groove and that is in rolling contact with a respective one of the side walls, and a lower rolling member that is received in the lower sliding groove and that is in rolling contact with a respective one of the side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Publication number: 20040246666
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module, a hinge mechanism mounted slidably on the expansion base module and slidable relative to the expansion base module, a docking unit pivoted to the hinge mechanism, defining a docking groove, and including a docking connector, and a system module including a panel having two opposite sides that respectively have two opposing end portions inserted into and detachably retained in the docking groove. The system module further includes a system connector that is mounted on the panel and that mates with the docking connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Publication number: 20040246667
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module with a connector, a hinge mechanism mounted slidably on the expansion base module, slidable relative to the expansion base module, and including a pivot shaft, a system module pivoted to the expansion base module through the pivot shaft, and a ribbon cable having a first segment that is electrically connected to and that extends from the connector toward the pivot shaft, and a second segment that extends from the first segment, that is wound around the pivot shaft, and that is electrically connected to the system module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Publication number: 20040246668
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module, a pair of sliding members mounted slidably on the expansion base module, a system module connected to the sliding members, and a synchronizing unit including a pair of first front and rear pulleys, a pair of second front and rear pulleys, and an endless cord that is connected to the sliding members and that trains on the first front and rear and second front and rear pulleys in such a manner to permit synchronous sliding movements of the sliding members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Arif Maskatia, Stephen Cheung, Erich Elkins, Christopher Fruhauf