Patent Application
20140263936
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(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical field of supporting bases for machines. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of supporting bases affording improved heat dissipation in supported machines. Still more particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of supporting bases affording improved heat dissipation in supported laptop computer.
(b) Background Art
Design and placement of a functional and efficient cooling fan discharge has long been a challenge of the mechanical design of devices and machines that generate a notable amount of heat during their operation. The generation of heat during operation is a problem common to many of the machines that modern humans experience in daily life including, but not limited to motor vehicles, televisions, refrigeration units, and computers. While common to both mechanical and electronic machines, the problem is particularly apparent in electronic machines due to the tendency of these machines to be placed in tight places such as bookshelves, entertainment cabinets, and computer desks, wherein cooling fan discharge and, therefore, outflow, is inhibited. In no singular case is the problem more apparent than the modern laptop computer wherein the cooling fan discharge is frequently located on the bottom of the computer housing, the aspect of the laptop computer that is specifically designed to be flush against the lap of a user or, otherwise, a tabletop, desktop, or other impermeable surface. Where there is a problem, technology will develop to provide a solution and, true to this statement, many inventors and inventions have attempted to address the problem of proper spacing of mechanical devices, particularly laptop computers, from impermeable surfaces to allow for proper cooling fan outflow from the device.
Accordingly, stands, pads, supports and devices utilized to improve the ability of a machine, and particularly a laptop computer, to dissipate heat generated during the operation of the machine are well known in the prior art. Occurring with particular frequency in the prior art are inventions improving the ability of a laptop computer to dissipate heat by separating the laptop cooling fan discharge from an impermeable surface upon which it would otherwise be situated.
An early seen commonality among the prior art improving the ability of a laptop computer to dissipate heat by separating the laptop cooling fan discharge from an impermeable surface upon which it would otherwise be situated is the positioning of the laptop computer upon an inventive panel either itself separating the computer from a lap, desktop, tabletop, or the like, or the panel utilizing some design characteristic such as channeling, wedging, or propping, to specifically facilitate cooling fan outflow from the base of the laptop computer. Examples of this approach to the problem may be found in MacEachern U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,040 granted Jan. 27, 2004 disclosing a heat dissipating laptop computer stand with adjustable tilt, Saad United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0243878 published on Nov. 2, 2006 disclosing a ventilation support for laptop computers, Panziera United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0061207 published Mar. 13, 2008 disclosing a support pad for a laptop computer, Richter United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0090834 published Apr. 9, 2009 disclosing a support box for supporting a laptop computer, Huang U.S. Pat. No. 8,052,109 granted Nov. 8, 2011 disclosing a cooling stand, and Hu U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,124 granted Dec. 6, 2011 disclosing a supporting stand with heat dissipation device. While each of these disclosures likely aptly solve the problem at hand, each may be characterized by a common shortcoming—the invention is typically large, cumbersome, and, in most cases, at least the size of the laptop computer itself. In this sense, the aforementioned inventions impose upon a user the further burden of storing and transporting a cumbersome and inconvenient panel or large rigid stand, an inconvenience that arguably renders the purported convenience of a the laptop computer itself moot.
Undoubtedly responsive to the above identified shortcoming in the prior art, inventors have attempted to address the problem of the storing and transport of a cumbersome and inconvenient panel or large rigid stand in one of two ways. First, the prior art has attempted to manage the problem of inconvenient storage and transport of a cumbersome panel or large rigid stand by producing the same in such way that it may be folded, broken down, or contracted for easier storage and/or transport. Examples of this approach to the problem may be found in Marceau United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0262485 published Dec. 30, 2004 disclosing a portable rest device for laptop computer, Sullivan U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,872 granted Apr. 25, 2006 disclosing a universal laptop computer mount, Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,540 granted Apr. 24, 2007 disclosing a portable support for laptop computer, Marceau U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,747 granted Jul. 31, 2007 disclosing a portable rest device for laptop computer, Freebairn United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0054149 published Mar. 6, 2008 disclosing a collapsible computer platform, Lee U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,736 granted Oct. 13, 2009 disclosing a lockable notebook stand, and Huang United States Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0214737 published Aug. 26, 2010 disclosing an extendable heat-dissipating base set for notebook computers. While these examples are no doubt an improvement upon the cumbersome and inconvenient panel or large rigid stand, the result of breaking down and/or folding or collapsing a bulky stand is that a user is left with a smaller, but nonetheless, bulky stand or competent part of an otherwise bulky stand. In this sense, the component parts or a bulky stand or a bulky stand having a significantly reduced spatial footprint are still nonetheless large, cumbersome, and sizable when compared to the spatial footprint of most modern laptop computers. Accordingly, a user must account not only for storage of the portable laptop computer, but also storage and transport of the component parts of the bulky stand or the reduced size bulky stand itself. This remains an unnecessary inconvenience frequently encountered with the examples in the prior art.
The second way in which inventors have attempted to address the problem of the storing and transport of a cumbersome and inconvenient panel or large rigid stand is through minimalist design. Examples of this approach include Hsu U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,758 granted Apr. 30, 1996 disclosing a folding stand for notebook computers, Lord U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,241 granted Mar. 4, 2003 disclosing an apparatus for cooling a laptop computer, Lord United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0179131 published Jul. 16, 2009 disclosing a laptop cooling stand with fan, Leung U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,730 granted on Oct. 13, 2009 disclosing a portable computer stand, and Petrie United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0321605 published on Dec. 31, 2009 disclosing a laptop stand. The cited Lord disclosures makes excellent progress in reducing bulk of the laptop computer stand through the abandonment of bulky paneling as a base structural feature of the stand, but even the Lord minimalist designs leave a stand of substantial enough size that the stand must be specifically negotiated during storage or transfer. Likewise, the cited Petrie disclosure is very successful in terms of minimalist design, however, the feature that the device breaks into separate parts and must be stored as such between uses always raises the concern that parts may be lost, thus, rendering the device inoperable.
The present inventor regards the cited Leung and Hsu disclosures as the best solutions known in the prior art to the combined problem of (i) improving the ability of a laptop computer to dissipate heat by separating the laptop cooling fan discharge from an impermeable surface upon which it would otherwise be situated and (ii) storing and transport of a cumbersome and inconvenient panel or large rigid stand. The Leung invention separates the cooling fan discharge of a typical laptop computer from an impermeable surface upon which the laptop might rest and does so utilizing a device that collapses to a relatively small size. However, the fact that the Leung invention is intended to only prop the rear bottom portion of a laptop computer, thus better exposing the cooling fan discharge, is problematic in that a device that only props the rear of a laptop computer and does not provide for support of the front bottom of the computer is ill-suited for use in the lap of a user or under any condition wherein the front bottom of the laptop is not resting on a relatively even surface. As opposed to the Leung invention, the Hsu invention is specifically designed to support the entirety of the laptop computer base and still is designed to collapse to a relatively small size. However, both the Leung and Hsu disclosures are further limited in that the respective inventions may only be reduced in size for purposes of storage and transport in one dimension—lateral length of the device. Further, in terms of materials, composition and structure, both the Leung and Hsu disclosures appear to contemplate inventions having many composite parts and molded pieces and appear to contemplate inventions that, therefore, would be costly to manufacture.
The cited prior art references go a long way to address the problem of improving the ability of a laptop computer to dissipate heat, but there remains need for devices that solve the problem while minimizing the spatial footprint of the device without sacrificing function. There is a specific need for a device that solves the problem of improving the ability of a laptop computer to dissipate heat while providing stable support for the laptop computer and remaining functional in use and in storage and transport.
The present invention is an apparatus designed to improve the ability of a machine, particularly a laptop computer, to dissipate heat by separating the machine cooling fan discharge from a nearby impermeable surface. In its broadest form, the inventor now presents the apparatus comprised from a base member that is minimalist in design and that is able to be contracted in size in at least two (2) differing dimensions (e.g., length and width, etc.). More specifically, the inventor now presents the apparatus comprised from a base member constructed from a system of elongated horizontal supports integrated with a plurality of footing members, the component parts of the base member having integrated means whereby the whole base member may be contracted in size in at least two (2) differing dimensions (e.g., length and width, etc.).
For the purposes of this utility patent application, the phraseology “elongated horizontal support” shall mean a horizontally oriented support of rigid material, or a support comprising component parts formed from a rigid material, having a length being at least twice the thickness of the horizontally oriented support. The material composition of the horizontally oriented support or the component parts comprising a support shall be any material sufficiently rigid as to not deform under the weight of a machine contemplated to be supported by the device disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, iron, steel, aluminum, plastic, ceramic, carbon composite, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or the like.
For the purposes of this utility patent application, the phraseology “footing member” shall mean any member comprised of a material sufficiently durable to sustain the wear and tear of repeated use of the disclosed device to which an elongated horizontal support is attached that provides constant contact with a surface during use and, in fact, supports at least one elongated horizontal supports above said surface. Though a “footing member” may be made of any material sufficiently durable to sustain the wear and tear of repeated use of the disclosed device, it is specifically contemplated that a “footing member” may be made from a substantially slip-resistant material for purposes of stability of the device during use.
With more specificity, the present invention is contemplated to be a base member upon which a machine, particularly a laptop computer, may rest, the base member being expressly not constructed utilizing a panel, solid plane of material, or flat surface as the primary structural component, but rather being comprised of a system of interconnected elongated horizontal supports and footing members, thus making the device far less bulky than the disclosures found in the prior art. It is further contemplated that any elongated horizontal support will be capable of contraction by means integrated within the elongated horizontal support, including, but not limited to telescopic means integrated within the elongated horizontal support that allow for the telescoping of the support and/or hinge means integrated within the elongated horizontal support that allow for the folding of the support. By the telescopic or folding contraction of the elongated horizontal supports, the base member itself is afforded the capacity to telescopically contract or contract by folding in at least two (2) varying dimensions.
It is a present object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that serves to space the cooling fan discharge of a mechanical or electronic device away from a surface that may obstruct the discharge and impede the outflow of heated air, thus allowing the cooling system of the mechanical or electronic device to operate with greater efficiency.
It is a further object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that serves to space the cooling fan discharge of a laptop computer away from a surface that may obstruct the discharge and impede the outflow of heated air, thus allowing the cooling system of the laptop computer to operate with greater efficiency.
It is a further object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that is convenient to store and transport.
It is a further object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that has the capacity to expand and contract as needed to accommodate a large number of varying shapes, contours and sizes of laptop computer.
It is a further object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that has the capacity to expand and contract without sacrificing the utility of the apparatus in serving to space the cooling fan discharge of a laptop computer away from a surface that may obstruct the discharge and impede the outflow of heated air, thus allowing the cooling system of the laptop computer to operate with greater efficiency.
It is a further object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that may be contracted to a relatively small spatial footprint, thus facilitating ease of storage, transport and handling, generally.
It is a further object of the now disclosed invention to provide an apparatus that may be manufactured cost effectively.
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Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
