The present invention relates to computer sleeves, and more particularly to adjustable computer sleeves.
Computer sleeves are commonly used to protect portable computers, e.g., laptop computers, during transportation. Computer sleeves typically comprise a cushioned or padded inner compartment for receiving a computer to be protectively transported. The cushion provides the computer with cushioned protection from impacts and drops during transportation. The inner compartment of the computer sleeve is typically dimensioned for a particular computer size so that the computer snugly fits in the inner compartment.
A disadvantage of conventional computer sleeves is that their inner compartments are only dimensioned to snugly fit computers of a particular size. If the computer is too large for the computer sleeve, then the computer will not fit in the computer sleeve. If the computer is too small for the computer sleeve, then the computer will not snugly fit in the computer sleeve and move around in the computer sleeve during transportation.
Other disadvantages associated with conventional computer sleeves include the following. A person who already owns a computer sleeve for an old computer and purchases a new computer of a different size must also purchase a new computer sleeve instead of reusing the old one. Stores have to stock computer sleeves of varying sizes to accommodate customers with computers of varying sizes. A person purchasing a computer sleeve may not know the size of the computer. This may occur, e.g., when the computer is purchased as a gift or the person has forgotten to write down the dimensions of the computer.
Some computer sleeves include movable or insertable baffles or fillers for accommodating a limited range of different computer sizes, e.g., medium computer sizes. However, these baffles or fillers can be lost and/or have to be repositioned inside the computer sleeve for different computer sizes.
Accordingly, there is a need for an adjustable computer sleeve that can be adjusted to snugly fit computers of various sizes in the computer sleeve with shock absorbing material to protect the computer from damage.
The present invention provides an adjustable computer sleeve that can be adjusted to snugly fit computers of various sizes in the computer sleeve.
In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustable computer sleeve comprises a first panel, a second panel, and a band. The band has a central portion attached between the first and second panels and two side portions extending from opposite ends of the central portion. The side portions are bendable so that the band can be bent into U-shapes of varying widths to snugly fit computers of various widths in the sleeve. The adjustable computer sleeve further comprises adjustable fasteners, e.g., hook and loop fasteners, for fastening the side portions of the band between the first and second panels when the band's U-shape is adjusted to a desired width. This enables the adjustable computer sleeve to snugly fit computers of various widths between the side portions of the band.
In one embodiment, the first and second panels contain the bottom edge of the computer to protect it from shock and impact. The side portions of the band can also protect the sides of the computer.
In a further embodiment, the adjustable computer sleeve comprises a strap attached to and extending from the top of one of the panels, and an adjustable fastener for adjustably fastening the strap to the other panel. The top of each panel includes a curved in generally U-shaped portion for allowing the strap to pass therethrough. The strap can be adjustably fastened to secure computers of various heights in the adjustable computer sleeve. To secure a computer in the adjustable computer sleeve, the computer is placed in the sleeve. The strap is then warped around an edge, e.g., front edge, of the computer and adjustably fastened to the other panel. The curved in portions on the tops of the panels allow the strap to wrap around computers having heights smaller than the height of the computer sleeve. Therefore, the adjustable computer sleeve is able to secure computers of various heights in the sleeve.
Another advantage of the adjustable computer sleeve is it does not require movable or insertable baffles or fillers, which may become lost.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.
Turning now to the drawings,
The first and second panels 13 and 15 and the band 17 include inner surfaces, 23, 25, and 27, respectively. The inner surfaces comprise a cushion for protecting a portable computer, e.g., a laptop computer. The cushion may comprise foam padding, e.g., dense foam padding. The first and second panels 13 and 15 and the band 17 also include outer surfaces (not shown in
The first panel 13 includes a top edge 31, two side edges 33a and 33b, and a bottom edge 35 attached to the band 17. The top edge 31 includes a curved in generally U-shaped portion 37. The second panel 15 includes a top edge 41, two side edges 43a and 43b, and a bottom edge 45 attached to band 17. The top edge 41 includes a curved in generally U-shaped portion 47. The band 17 comprises a central portion 53 attached between the first and second panels 13 and 15 and two side portions 55a and 55b that extend from opposite ends of the central portion 53. The two side portions 55a and 55b are bendable so that the band 17 can be bent into U-shapes of varying widths, such as the one shown in
Returning to
The adjustable computer sleeve 10 further includes a strap 71 extending from the top edge 41 of the second panel 15. The strap 71 is aligned with the curved in portion 47 of the second panel 15. Each curved in portion 37 and 47 has a width equal to or larger than the width of the strap 71 to allow the strap 17 to pass therethrough. The computer sleeve 10 further includes a loop-hook fastener for adjustably fastening the strap 71 to the first panel 13. The fastener comprises a hook portion 73 attached to the strap 71 and a loop portion 75 on the outer surface 29 of the first panel 13 (shown in
The operation of the adjustable computer sleeve 10 will now be described with reference to
The generally U-shape of the band 17 can form small spaces around the bottom edge and corners of the computer, which provide additional shock and impact absorption. This is illustrated in
As shown in
The adjustable computer sleeve according to the invention advantageously allows a person to adjust the computer sleeve to snugly fit computers of varying sizes in the computer sleeve. Advantages associated with the adjustable computer sleeve include the following. A store can stock the adjustable computer sleeve to accommodate customers with computers of various sizes. The adjustable computer sleeve allows a person to reuse the same computer sleeve when changing to computers of different sizes. The adjustable computer also allows a person to purchase a computer sleeve without having to know the size of the computer. This may occur, e.g., when the computer sleeve is purchased as a gift or the person purchasing the computer sleeve has forgotten to write down the dimensions of the computer.
While an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be covered. For example, the adjustable computer sleeve may comprise more than one strap, e.g., two straps spaced apart. Further, the panels may comprise rigid and/or semi-rigid plastic or other material. Further, the adjustable computer sleeve may comprise a padded flap that goes over the top of the sleeve. Further, the computer may be loaded into the adjustable computer sleeve on its side. In this case, the band is adjusted according to the height of the computer instead of the width of the computer. Further, the computer sleeve may be used to protectively transport personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other sensitive electronic equipment, e.g., DVD players.