Patent Application
20110272305
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to laptop computer protection, and more particularly to a laptop computer protector system utilizing a fluid bladder system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Accidents such as dropping a laptop computer account for a significant amount of all notebook related insurance claims. Business travelers and students commonly place laptops in a laptop case or a school bag that has a laptop compartment during transportation. The cases or compartments generally utilize thick foams that protect the laptop computers. However, the protection offered may be deficient when the bag is accidentally dropped or slammed against hard floor, doors, or desk corners.
The shock-absorbing materials used range from Open Cell Foams to Closed Cell Foams to Dual Density Foam. According to White Mountain Precision Backpacks, a backpack manufacturer based in Melbourne Australia, “while the (Open Cell Foam) padded straps may look great and feel wonderfully soft at the time of purchase, this will not be the case when the backpack is under full load.” (http://www.whitemountain.com.au/backpack_construction/material_faqs.html) Open Cell Foam is highly compressible and can cause the shoulder and hip belts to over compress under heavy loads, providing minimum comfort. Thus, it does not provide a very good solitary padding material for backpacks or laptop cases.
Closed Cell Foam, e.g. Ensolite® foam, prevents full compressibility. Ensolite® has rubber based materials and completely encapsulates air chambers for excellent insulation. Although Ensolite® is used by many better to high end backpack and laptop case designers for comfort at the shoulder, hip, and lower portion of the back; and, sometimes used in laptop compartments, Ensolite® still fails to effectively protect the computer laptop when the bag is accidentally dropped to the ground or slammed against desk corners or walls.
Another material used by laptop case and backpack manufacturers is a combination of Ensolite and Open Cell Foam, which is known as Dual Density Foam. Dual Density Foam is more compressible, therefore, softer. Backpacks and laptop cases with Dual Density Foam capitalize on the advantages of both foams, placing the cell foam against the body and the Ensolite® against the load. Although Dual Density Foam offers both comfort and ease on loads, it is still not sufficient to offer complete protection to the laptop. Furthermore, none of the manufacturers, brands, or designers utilize this Dual Density Foam material specifically in the laptop compartment for the purpose of protecting the laptop computer.
These are the three materials commonly used by better to high-end backpack manufacturers, however, none of the brands or manufacturers has innovated any features similar to the present invention for the purpose of providing more complete protection of the laptop. The present invention is a multipurpose innovation to help protect the laptop by more completely absorbing shocks, lessening the impact when the bag is accidentally dropped to the ground, hit against walls, or slammed against table corners. The inventive principles disclosed herein offer comfort to the shoulder, lower back, and hip while the bag is transported.
There are numerous patents that have issued that have involved innovations in the field of computer protection and storage. These include, for example, the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,992, entitled “Backpack for Carrying a Laptop Computer,” discloses a backpack for carrying a laptop computer comprising: flexible front, rear, bottom and side panels the interior surfaces of which define the interior of the backpack, wherein the side panel extends along each side and across the top of the backpack and the front, rear and side panels are joined together along their perimeters; a compartment for storing a laptop computer in the interior of the backpack; a first closure means extending longitudinally along the side panel and transversely across the top to control access to the compartment; at least one adjustable interlocking assembly joined to the backpack so as to bridge the first closure at the bottom half of the backpack whereby pivotal separation of the first closure along the side and the top panels is restricted to a predetermined interval when the closure means is opened; and, a pair of adjustable shoulder straps connected to the exterior of the rear panel for carrying the backpack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,223, entitled “Business Case,” discloses a business case including a front compartment, middle compartment, an expandable rear compartment, a removable portable computer carrying case designed to carry a portable computer, and a suit carrier. The bag member can be dropped into one of two panels located on the front face of the front compartment. The panels additionally allow for easy access to a portable computer and related accessories stored within the carrying case. Alternatively, the carrying case can be closed and stored in the expandable rear compartment when the suit carrier is stored in the front compartment of the case. The middle compartment is sized to hold clothing and travel related items for business trips and is equipped with pouches for smaller items. Furthermore, the middle compartment of the housing may include wheels, handles, and feet for easily moving and balancing the case.
These prior systems include complicated, expensive systems and/or utilize materials discussed above that do not provide adequate computer protection.
In one broad aspect, the present invention is a laptop computer protector system. It includes a fluid bladder system including fluid bladders. Fluid pressurization means is operatively associated with the fluid bladders for inflating them. A sleeve is positioned about the fluid bladder system. The fluid pressurization means includes some type of air pump and fluid conduits for fluidly interconnecting the fluid bladders.
The present invention protects laptops (or many other breakable objects) from being damaged when dropped from even a 5-6 foot height, slammed against other hard objects such as table corners, walls, or office desks; or, shifted during transportation.
Additionally, when fully inflated and placed inside a backpack, the present invention, which will be marketed under the trademark AEROTEK™, also offers cushion against the user's back to reduce stress on the upper and lower back, shoulders and hips. It can reduce pain in the upper and lower back, shoulder, and hips. It shifts the weight to preferred locations of the back to help reduce future disc rupture.
The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings are designated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elements bear a prime designation.
Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon,
Referring now to
The main bladder 20 preferably includes anchor patches 36 for stabilizing the shape of the bladder. Each of the four anchor patches 36 may be formed of silicon latex or rubber.
It is noted that the sleeve 16 of the laptop computer protector system may include additional features for ease in use, for example, a handle 38, pouches 40, VELCRO® attachments 42, and latch 44; all best seen in
Referring now to
Instead of squeeze bulb air pump other suitable pressurization means can be used. For example, referring now to
Although the inventive features herein have discussed relative to their application with a laptop computer they can apply equally well with other sensitive objects that are desired to be transported, such as desktop monitors, china, ceramics, glass, crystals, etc.
Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
