Patent Application
20190265755
This invention relates to laptop carrying cases, platforms, and structures that support documents, books, working tools, and other objects on the lap of a user and, more particularly, to a portable device being a laptop carrying case that provides an easy and comfortable presentation of supported articles by the use of (a) built-in movable platform(s).
Computers first became portable by combining the computer, monitor and keyboard into a single unit. The first portable computers were created in the late 1970's. None of these early prototypes were ever marketed to the public. The first portable computers did not become commercially available until seven years later, in 1983. Early laptops were not convenient to transport because of their size and weight. It was not until the late 1980's that laptops became lightweight and compact enough to be convenient to transport. Since that time, laptops have become more lightweight and their components have become smaller, allowing for skinnier and smaller transport devices' designs.
As laptops have become increasingly lightweight, their portability has increased dramatically, which has led to the advent of the laptop case. The primary purpose of the laptop case is to carry a laptop, which increases its portability. The two important secondary purposes are to protect the laptop from damage and to provide security from theft. Laptop cases vary greatly in how well they succeed in those secondary purposes.
Laptop cases typically are padded to reduce bumps, scratches and drops to the laptop while it is being transported. Most laptop cases are also manufactured from water resistant or waterproof materials and are designed to hold the laptop somewhat isolated from the surrounding environment. Laptop cases vary dramatically in size and storage space. Some cases only have room for the laptop itself. Most cases, at a minimum, have storage capacity for the laptop's power cable. Larger cases have room for a substantial array of accessories and documents, thus serving the dual role of laptop case and briefcase. A laptop case commonly comprises of a case for holding the laptop and a carrying means, which is generally a shoulder strap and/or a handle. The past few years have seen an explosion in the types of laptop carrying devices which have become commercially available. The two common styles of laptop bags are shoulder bags and backpack-style bags. The options include simple laptop sleeves, backpacks, totes, messenger bags and briefcases. The materials are usually leather, cloth, aluminum, nylon, polypropylene and/or other polymers.
Novelty laptop bags have established a marketing niche and set themselves apart from the more common types of laptop bags. The minimalist version of a laptop carrying device on the market is not a bag at all. It is a looped shoulder strap that is used to carry a laptop. A length of the strap is placed above the keyboard of an open laptop, so that when the laptop is closed, the laptop can be carried by the strap. The strap is marketed as a quick way to take a laptop through airport security.
Another unusual laptop case design is a cardboard laptop case made from a pizza box lined with foam. This design's primary purpose is to reduce the risk of theft by disguising the laptop. “Green” laptop cases made of recycled cardboard or carpet strips are also being marketed. Recently, a Japanese company has entered the high end market with a wooden laptop case.
A briefcase is a box-type case that opens into two hinged compartments, much like a small suitcase. Briefcases often comprise of a lock, increasing their security in comparison to other types of bags. Traditionally, leather or vinyl was stretched over a rigid frame to create a hard-sided briefcase. More recently, briefcases have also been manufactured from plastics, rigid polymers and aluminum, as well as leather.
The traditional hard-sided rectangular briefcase provides protection and security for its contents and is ideal as a carrying case for a laptop. The only real drawback of the hard-sided briefcase is the potential resulting weight of the laptop and the case. As laptops have gotten lighter, the use of impact-resistant briefcases as laptop cases has become feasible.
There are multiple stands on the market. Some are capable of carrying a laptop and combine the feature of being both a laptop case and a portable laptop stand, while others are more stationary and are not portable and/or are incapable of carrying a laptop.
Lap desks have long existed to hold media and other objects. These include breakfast trays, book frames, writing desks, wedges, bean bag pillows, etc. These units have been designed to be used either on or above users' laps. Most lap desks offer a single flat or angled surface to support objects, such as books, documents, and the like.
These different inventions differentiate from the present invention in several ways. They all lack at least one of the combined features of the present invention. These features include the ability to be lightweight, slim, portable, and the ability to function as a laptop carrying case, and provide a platform for utility.
The present invention combines the structural features and functionality of a laptop case and a lap desk or table into a single slim easily portable lightweight unit. The present invention consists of a laptop case with a movable attached platform to either of the short sides of the case, left or right, or to both of the short sides of the case, that initially sit(s) within the case when folded or within the top or bottom housing(s) of the case when in the resting position, and lay(s) flat directly beside the case when unfolded or when slid out in the use position. The exterior housing of the laptop case consists of either a hard durable material, or a softer fabric or fabric-like material. The interior of the laptop case housing consists of either a fabric or fabric-like soft material or any other material that provides protection to a laptop sitting within the case. The movable attached platform(s) consist(s) of a hard durable material that can support a variety of electronics and media. This/these platform(s) is/are attached to the case either continuously with a structurally durable material that can fold in on itself or directly, using a hinge or any other connecting device between the platform and either directly with or inside the laptop case or to another similar durable structure integrated into the bottom of the laptop case at either the left or right short side of the case.
It is a primary objective of the present invention to combine the functionality of a lap desk or table with the convenience and portability of a laptop case, resulting in a single device that can protect and transport a laptop and obviate the need for a table or separate laptop stand.
NOTE: For simplicity of drawings, zippers, hinges, and other laptop case and platform components may be omitted from some or all of the drawings as they are obvious and known to those with skill in the art. When they are shown, it is purely for illustrative purposes and not intended to capture all embodiments of the invention disclosed. Please also note that drawings of hinges are purely for demonstrative purposes of the mechanism of the disclosed invention and are not solely the type or the only type of hinge or connecting device that is used for this invention. Platform size and case size may also lack proportionality as again, these drawings are only for demonstrating how the disclosed invention functions and how it may roughly look.
The various embodiments and variations thereof illustrated in the accompanying Figures and/or described herein are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous variations of the invention have been contemplated as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure. Rather, the scope and breath afforded this document should only be limited by the claims provided herein while applying either the plain meaning to each of the terms and phrases in the claim or the meaning clearly and unambiguously provided in this specification.
The terms and phrases as indicated in parenthesis (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this section applied to them throughout this document including the claims unless clearly indicated otherwise in context.
The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive meaning “either or both”.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment”, “embodiments”, “variations”, “a variation” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) or variation(s) is included in at least an embodiment or variation of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in one variation” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or variation.
The term “couple”, “coupled”, “connected”, “joined”, “welded”, “glued”, “attached” or “fixed” as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.
An Embodiment of a Unique Laptop Case with a Movable Attached Platform:
An embodiment of a laptop case with a movable attached platform in the open position 1 is illustrated in
An embodiment of a laptop case with a movable attached platform in the closing position using a flap or flap-like mechanism 2 and an embodiment of a laptop case with a movable attached platform in the opening position using a flap or flap-like mechanism 3 are illustrated in
