Portable computing device with leather grain top

Abstract

Portable computing devices, such as notebook and palm top computers are provided which include top and bottom housing portions connected by a hinge in which a set of keys is disposed in the bottom portion and a display screen is disposed in the upper portion. These devices further include a leather grain layer disposed between protective edge portions on an exterior facing side of the top portion.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A portable computing device comprising: 
 a housing having top and bottom portions connected by a hinge, said top and bottom housing portions having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface and a peripheral edge, said outwardly facing surface having a central surface bordered by a pair of raised lateral side edge portions;    a set of keys disposed on an inwardly facing surface of said bottom portion;    a display screen disposed on an inwardly facing surface of said top portion; and    a leather-like layer disposed between said pair of raised lateral side edges on said central surface.    
     
     
         2 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein said leather-like layer is affixed to said outwardly facing surface of said top portion of said housing.  
     
     
         3 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said leather-like layer is disposed coextensively with a top surface of said lateral side edges.  
     
     
         4 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of lateral side edges has a surface area less than the surface area of said leather-like layer.  
     
     
         5 . The portable computing device of  claim 4 , wherein said pair of lateral side edges comprise a different texture than said leather-like layer.  
     
     
         6 . The portable computing device of  claim 5 , wherein said leather-like layer exhibits a leather-like pattern.  
     
     
         7 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein said leather-like layer comprises natural or synthetic material  
     
     
         8 . A portable computing device comprising: 
 a housing having top and bottom shell portions hingedly connected along a rear edge of said shell portions, each of said shell portions having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surfaces facing one another when said top and bottom shell portions are swivelled along said hinge into a closed position, said top shell portion having disposed thereon a pair of raised side edge portions;    a set of keys located on said inwardly facing surface of said bottom shell portion;    a display screen located on said inwardly facing surface of said top shell portion; and    a leather-like layer disposed between and protected by said pair of raised side edge portions on an outwardly facing surface of said top shell portion.    
     
     
         9 . The portable computing device of  claim 8  wherein a portion of said leather-like layer is disposed coextensively with a top surface of said raised lateral side edges.  
     
     
         10 . The portable computing device of  claim 8  wherein said side edge portions exhibit a different texture than said leather-like layer.  
     
     
         11 . A portable computing device comprising: 
 a housing having top and bottom shell portions hingedly connected proximate to a rear edge region of said shell portions, each of said shell portions having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surfaces facing one another when the top and bottom shell portions are swivelled along said hinge into a closed position;    a set of keys located on an inwardly facing surface of said bottom shell portion;    a display screen located on an inwardly facing surface of said top shell portion; and    a leather-like layer disposed on an outwardly facing surface of said top shell portion; said top shell portion comprising a pair of raised lateral side edge portions bordering said leather-like layer on opposing sides of said top shell portion, said raised lateral side edge portions configured to help in protecting an edge of the leather-like layer from being damaged due to heavy use or contact with hard surfaces.    
     
     
         12 . The portable computing device of  claim 11  wherein said leather-like layer is affixed to said outwardly facing surface of said top shell portion.  
     
     
         13 . The portable computing device of  claim 11  wherein said portable computing device comprises a hand-held or palmtop computing device.  
     
     
         14 . The portable computing device of  claim 11  wherein said raised lateral side edge portions comprise a different texture than said leather-like layer.  
     
     
         15 . The portable computing device of  claim 11  wherein said raised lateral side edge portions comprise a top surface which is at least substantially coplanar with a portion of said leather-like layer.  
     
     
         16 . The portable computing device of  claim 11  wherein said leather-like layer comprises a natural or synthetic material.  
     
     
         17 . The portable computing device of  claim 13  wherein said hand-held or palmtop computing device comprises a speaker or microphone.  
     
     
         18 . The portable computing device of  claim 13  wherein said top shell portion comprises a curved edge or corner.  
     
     
         19 . The portable computing device of  claim 11  wherein said leather-like layer provides a better tactile feel for greater gripping capability.