Patent Application
20130221180
This invention relates generally to a document/notebook holder for use with portable computers such as a netbook or a laptop as an accessory to hold either a document or a notebook in front of a user of a portable computer.
In our this new information age, computers such as netbooks or laptops are present almost everywhere, e.g., in schools, workplaces and homes so typing has become an integral part of daily living for most people including students and workers.
In some of above set forth situations, typing may be done from existing or already written up content. And normally such typing is generally done by people by constantly looking sideways at their self-created content on a paper/document or in a notebook. For example, most school going kids type their hand written notes including stories and projects etc. on a portable computer, e.g., a netbook or a laptop computer in a similar fashion that involves continuous moving of their necks.
However, such typing being done by repetitively looking sideways on the hand written notes makes the neck or back of a typist hurt with a pain due to the strain that results from constantly turning the neck to a side for reading what to type on the netbook or the laptop computer.
The following presents a simplified summary of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects thereof. It is neither an exhaustive overview of the invention nor intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate its scope. Its sole purpose is to act as a prelude to detailed description set forth later. This invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing, the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a portable holder is provided for use with a portable computer having a keyboard and a display screen with an edge. The portable holder includes a first arm having a first distal end and a first arm end with a first attachment. The portable holder further includes a second arm having a second distal end and a second arm end with a second attachment. The portable holder further includes a first connector coupled to the first distal end of the first arm, wherein the first connector may be disposed in a first orientation relative to the first and second arms. The first connector may be adapted to removably hold at least one of a document or a notebook. The portable holder further includes a second connector coupled to the second distal end of the second arm, wherein the second connector may be disposed in a second orientation relative to the first orientation of the first connector. The second connector may be adapted to removably mount to the display screen of the portable computer. The first attachment of the first arm may be coupled to the second attachment of the second arm such that the first arm is movably connected to the second arm.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a portable document/notebook holder is provided for use with a netbook or a laptop computer having a keyboard and a display screen with a top edge. The portable document/notebook holder includes a first arm having a first distal end and a first arm end with a first attachment. The portable document/notebook holder further includes a second arm having a second distal end and a second arm end with a second attachment. The portable document/notebook holder further includes a first clip coupled to the first distal end of the first arm, wherein the first clip may be disposed in a first orientation relative to the first and second arms. The first clip may be adapted to removably hold at least one of a document or a notebook having a given user created or existing content. The portable document/notebook holder further includes a second clip coupled to the second distal end of the second arm, wherein the second clip may be disposed in a second orientation relative to the first orientation of the first clip. The second clip may be adapted to removably mount to the display screen of the portable computer such that, in use, the first orientation of the first clip and the second orientation of the second clip enable the at least one of the document or the notebook to face a given typist present in front of the netbook or the laptop computer when being attached to the first clip and while the second clip is attached to the display screen. The portable document/notebook holder further includes a folding assembly configured and arranged to movably couple the first attachment of the first arm to the second attachment of the second arm such that the first arm is capable of folding against the second arm in a closed position and the first arm is capable of maintaining an open position relative to the second arm when the first aim is at least one of partially or not folded against the second arm. The first arm may have a first predefined length and the second arm may have a second predefined length. The first and second predefined lengths may be selected to position the at least one of the document or the notebook at a desired location relative to the top edge of the display screen.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of holding at least one of a document or a notebook on a portable computer having a keyboard and a display screen with a top edge is provided. The method includes providing a holder including first and second arms that are movably coupled to each other and each of the first and second arms having a clip attached thereto, wherein one of the clips is adapted and oriented to removably hold the at least one of the document or the notebook and other one of the clips is adapted and oriented to removably attach to the top edge of the display screen. The method further includes enabling the first arm to fold against the second arm in a closed position. The method further includes enabling the first arm to maintain an open position relative to the second arm when the first arm is at least one of partially or not folded against the second arm.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described below. The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.
Generally, a portable holder is provided to attach a document/notebook to a portable computer such as a netbook or a laptop computer when it is mounted thereon for positioning the document/notebook in front of a typist who wishes to transfer content, e.g., type content present in them on to the portable computer according to various embodiments of the present invention. For example, various embodiments of the present invention generally provide a document/notebook holder for use with portable computers such as a netbook or a laptop as an accessory to hold either a document or a notebook at a desired position by mounting on a portable computer to locate the document or notebook in front of a user of the portable computer Several embodiments of a portable holder are provided for transferring existing or user created content such as by typing hand written notes to create them in an electronic form such as a computer file. Among others, the portable holder solves the problem of keeping documents positioned while typing them so that one can avoid neck and back pains that come from straining to read from the side of the desk. One purpose of the portable holder called herein a TYPE-O-BUDDY™ is to let people type on a netbook or a laptop computer from hand written pages or a notebook much faster and comfortably without repetitive turning of the neck sideways. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portable document/notebook holder named herein TYPE-O-BUDDY™ includes two aims with a sliding type clip attached to each of them at their ends and a folding assembly. The folding assembly may be disposed in between the lengths of two arms such that they get attached to each in a manner so that one of the arms can be folded over the other arm. A top clip may be attached at a distal end of a first arm having an arm end. Likewise, a bottom or lower clip may be attached at a distal end of a second arm having an arm end. The folding assembly may be coupled to the arm end of the first arm and the arm end of the second arm for enabling these two arms to fold together. For example, the two arms may be connected at their arm ends to each other in the same way a netbook or a laptop computer display screen is foldable over to an associated netbook or a laptop computer keyboard. The folding assembly may be configured and arranged such that when the two arms are in an open position they can hold their position. The folding feature of the two arms makes the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ very compact and portable. Since the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ has sliding type clips it is very easy to handle so even school going kids can use it. Because of the design's simplicity of the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ as it requires only two clips, two arms, and a folding assembly, this product is very affordable.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this disclosure may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a portable holder which is of a durable and reliable construction. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a portable holder which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such portable holder economically available to the buying public. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a portable holder which provides in the systems and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Referring to
As per one embodiment of the instant invention, the portable holder 100 may include a first arm 105a having a first distal end 110a and a first arm end 115a with a first attachment 120a. The portable holder 100 may further include a second arm 105b having a second distal end 110b and a second arm end 115b with a second attachment 120b. The portable holder 100 may further include a first connector 125a coupled to the first distal end 110a of the first arm 105a. The first attachment 120a of the first arm 105a may be coupled to the second attachment 120b of the second arm 105b such that the first arm 105a is capable of folding against the second arm 105b in a closed position. Likewise, the first arm 105a may be capable of maintaining an open position relative to the second arm 105b when the first arm 105a is either partially or not folded against the second arm 105b.
The first connector 125a may be disposed in a first orientation 130a relative to the first and second arms 105a, 105b. The first connector 15a may be adapted to removably hold either the document or notebook 101. The portable holder 100 may further include a second connector 125b coupled to the second distal end 110b of the second arm 105b. The second connector 125b may be disposed in a second orientation 130b relative to the first orientation 130a of the first connector 125a. The second connector 125b may be adapted to removably mount to the display screen 103 of the portable computer 102. In one embodiment, the first orientation 130a and the second orientation 130b are same, i.e., they may be configured and arranged to latch onto an object by sliding in the same direction, e.g., a downward direction. So if the first and second connectors 125a, 125b are clips with respective open mouths, the two open mouths will be pointing downward.
According to an alternate embodiment, the first and second attachments 120a, 120b to be configured and arranged relative to each other such that the first arm 105a and the second arm 105b may be movable relative to one another, e.g., they can glide against each other frictionally to retract/expand and hold a given position to provide a varying length to the portable holder 100. In this way, different sizes of the document or notebook 101 may be accommodated. In this case, a telescopic structure similar to one shown in
Examples of the first and second connectors 125a, 125b include clips such as a spring loaded clip or a resilient clip. One skilled in the pertinent art would recognize that without undue experimentation other structures to provide the first and second connectors 125a, 125b functionality are also readily possible and they are contemplated by the present invention without deviating from scope and spirit of the present invention. In one example, the first and second connectors 125a, 125b may be made of a metal or an alloy or plastic etc. The first and second arms 105a, 105b may be made of a metal, alloy or plastic.
In one embodiment, the folding assembly 135 may be disposed in between the lengths of the first and second arms 105a, 105b such that they get attached to each other in a manner so that one arm of them can be folded over the other arm. As one example, the first connector 125a, e.g., a top clip may be attached at a distal end of the first arm 105a having an arm end. Likewise, the second connector 125b, e.g., a bottom or lower clip may be attached at a distal end of the second arm 105b having an arm end. The folding assembly 135 may be coupled to the arm end of the first arm 105a and the arm end of the second arm 105b for enabling these two arms to fold together. For example, the first and second arms 105a, 105b are connected at their arm ends to each other in the same way a netbook or a laptop computer display screen is foldable over to an associated netbook or a laptop computer keyboard. The folding assembly 135 may be configured and arranged such that when the first and second arms 105a, 105b are in an open position they can hold their position.
Based on one particular embodiment, the first and second attachments 120a, 120b may include one or more coin structures each of which having a hole in the center. Such coin structures for the first and second attachments 120a, 120b may be configured and arranged such that they engage with each other in a manner that all of their holes get aligned. In one embodiment, the folding assembly 135 may include a stick that is threaded through the holes of the coin structures of the first and second attachments 120a, 120b such that the first and second arms 105aa, 105b are engaged movably and can be positioned relative to each other due to the friction generated in a joint formed by the coin structures and the stick.
In the portable holder 100 of
Consistent with one embodiment, in the portable holder 100, the first arm 105a may have a first predefined length 140a and the second arm 105b may have a second predefined length 140b. The first and second predefined lengths 140a, 140b may be selected to position either the document or the notebook 101 at a desired location 145 relative to the edge 104 of the display screen 103. For example, the first and second predefined lengths 140a, 140b may be dimensioned such that the portable holder can hold a legal letter pad with 8.5 in×11 in size paper or A4 size paper. In one embodiment, the first and second predefined lengths 140a, 140b may be same. As one example, the first and second predefined lengths 140a, 140b may be 6 in-7 in long. In one embodiment, the first arm 105a may have a first predefined width 142a and the second arm 105b may have a second predefined width 142b. In one embodiment, the first and second predefined widths 142a, 142b may be same. As one example, the first and second predefined widths 142a, 142b may be 0.5 in-1 in wide.
Consistent with one embodiment, the first and second arms 105a(1), 105b(1) may be made of strong and light material such as a metal, alloy, or plastic. The first and second clips 125a(1), 125b(1) may include an open-ended resilient member and a soft material layer that covers the resilient member. The resilient member may be made of a resilient material such as a suitable metal or alloy. For example, it may comprise steel and the soft material layer may be synthetic leather. In one embodiment, the first and second clips 12541), 125b(1) may be similar in structure and functionality to a clip that is part of a cell phone case being provided to enable retaining of a cell phone by a user on a belt worn on his waist.
More particularly, according to one embodiment, the second clip 125b(1) may include a second flexible resilient member 150b(1) having a first portion 155b(1) with a first free end 160b(1) and a second portion 165b(1) with a second free end 170b(1).
Consistent with one embodiment, in the portable document/notebook holder 100(1), the first portion 155b(1) may have a first predefined length 157b(1) and the second portion 165b(1) may have a second predefined length 167b(1). In one embodiment, the first and second predefined lengths 157b(1), 167b(1) may be same. In one embodiment, the first portion 155b(1) may have a first predefined width 159b(1) and the second portion 165b(1) may have a second predefined width 169b(1). In one embodiment, the first and second predefined widths 159b(1), 169b(1) may be same. The first and second predefined lengths 157b(1), 167b(1) and the first and second predefined widths 159b(1), 169b(1) may be selected so that the second clip 125b(1) is capable of retaining/holding either the document or the notebook 101(1) at a desired location relative to the top edge 104(10) of the display screen 103(1). For example, the first and second predefined lengths 157b(1), 167b(1) and the first and second predefined widths 159b(1), 169b(1) may be dimensioned such that the second clip 125b(1) can securely hold on to the top edge 104(I) of the display screen 103(1) of the laptop 102(1) when a legal letter pad with 8.5 in×11 in size paper or A4 size paper is hung from the first clip 125b(1). As one example, the first and second predefined lengths 157b(1), 167b(1) may be 0.5 in 1.5 in long and the first and second predefined widths 159b(1), 169b(1) may be 0.5 in-1 in wide.
In one embodiment, the first portion 155b(1) of the second flexible resilient member 150b(1) may be resiliently folded against the second portion 165b(1) of the second flexible resilient member 150b(1) such that the first free end 160b(1) of the first portion 155b(1) and the second free end 170b(1) of the second portion 165b(1) together define a second open mouth through which a top edge 104(1) of a display screen 103(1) of a netbook or a laptop computer 102(1) having a netbook or the laptop computer keyboard(1) is able to slide in and out so that, in use, the top edge 104(1) stays attached when sufficiently inserted in the second open mouth.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second clip 125b(1) may further include a second soft material sheet 175b(1) that covers at least a portion of the second flexible resilient member 150b(1) such that, in use, the second soft material sheet 175b(1) contacts the top edge 104(1) of the display screen 103(1).
As discussed above with regard to the second clip 125b(1), consistent with one embodiment, the first clip 125a(1) may include a first flexible resilient member similar to the second flexible resilient member 150b(1) having a first portion similar to the first portion 155b(1) with a first free end similar to the first free end 160b(1) and a second portion similar to the second portion 165b(1) with a second free end similar to the second free end 170b(1). The first portion of the first flexible resilient member may be resiliently folded against its second portion such that the first free end of the first portion and the second free end of the second portion together define a first open mouth through which either a document or a notebook 101(1) is able to slide in and out so that, in use, the document or notebook 101(1) stays attached when sufficiently inserted in the first open mouth. The first clip 125a(1), in accordance with one embodiment, may further include a first soft material sheet, e.g., similar to the second soft material sheet 175b(1), that covers at least a portion of the first flexible resilient member such that, in use, the first soft material sheet contacts the document and notebook 101(1).
In one embodiment, the first portion of the first flexible resilient member 150a(1) may have a first predefined length and the second portion of the first flexible resilient member 150a(1) may have a second predefined length similar to the second flexible resilient member 50b(1). In one embodiment, this first portion may have a first predefined width and this second portion may have a second predefined width similar to the second flexible resilient member 150b(1). As one example, these first and second predefined lengths may be 0.5 in-1.5 in long and the first and second predefined widths may be 0.5 in-1 in wide. In one embodiment, the first and second predefined lengths and the first and second predefined widths of the first flexible resilient member 150a(1) may be dimensioned such that the first clip 125b(1) can hold a legal letter pad with 8.5 in×11 in size paper or A4 size paper.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the length of the first and second arms 105a(1), 105b(1) may be adjustable. For example, they can include a telescoping structure which can be shortened or lengthened as desired based on the size of the document or notebook 101(1).
Referring to
According to one specific embodiment, in the portable document/notebook holder 100(2), the above set forth configuration may be a telescopic configuration in which the first portion 18042) of the first arm 105a(2) is capable of frictionally sliding relative to the second portion 180b(2) of the first arm 105a(2). By doing this, a length of the first arm 105a(2) may be suitably shortened or lengthened based on a particular size of the document or notebook 101(1).
Consistent with one contemplated embodiment of the present invention, just like the first arm 105a(2), the second arm 105b(1) may have similar first and second portions as discussed above. These first and second portions of the second arm 105b(1) may be configured and arranged in a configuration in which the first portion of the second arm 105b(1) is capable of positioning at first and second locations relative to the second portion of the second arm 105b(1) such that, in use, when positioned at the first location the second arm 105b(1) having a third length and when positioned at the second location the second arm 105b(1) having a fourth length. The third length may be different than the fourth length. For example, the third length may be greater than the fourth length. Its configuration may also be similar to a telescopic configuration shown for the first arm 105a(2) in which the first portion of the second arm is capable of frictionally sliding relative to the second portion of the second arm 105b(1).
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referring back to
Referring to
Referring to
In operation, for example, when a paper is clipped on the first clip 125a(1), i.e., the top clip and the second clip 125b(I), i.e., the bottom or lower clip attached to the netbook or the laptop computer display screen 103(1) the paper gets hung in front of the person who is typing on the netbook or the laptop computer keyboard(1). Use of the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ allows a typist to look at the hand written draft with ease while continuing typing. As the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ mounts on the top edge 104(1) of the netbook or the laptop computer display screen 103(1), i.e., right in front of the typist, repetitively turning of the neck sideways is not required to read the hand written notes instead only moving of eyeballs upward and downward is needed. This avoids straining of neck or back, making the typing much faster and a comfortable task.
The feature of folding of the first and second arms 105a(1), 105b(1) makes the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ very compact and portable. Since in one embodiment, the TYPE-O-BUDDY™ has the first and second clips 125a(1), 125b(I) as sliding type clips it is very easy to handle so even school going kids can use it. Because of the design's simplicity of the portable document/notebook holder 100(1) as it requires only two clips, two arms, and a folding mechanism, this product is very affordable.
Other advantages or features of the portable document/notebook holder 100(1) includes having the first and second clips 125a(1), 125b(1) as sliding type clips to attach to the netbook or the laptop computer 102(1) and the document/notebook 101(1) so easily attachable/detachable and useable with any netbook or the laptop computer. Since the portable document/notebook holder 100(1) has a folding design it is very compact so can be easily stored and carried along, for example, in a netbook or a laptop computer carrying bag. In one embodiment, the portable document/notebook holder 100(1) being only about one inch wide and about one foot long provides a slim footprint that makes it very portable and easy to handle. Additionally, the portable document/notebook holder 100(1) saves desk space because it mounts on the top edge 104(1) of the netbook or the laptop computer display screen 103(1). Furthermore, the portable document/notebook holder 100(1) allows for flipping of pages of a notebook from which one is typing without its repetitive removal and remounting after completion of typing of each page of a multiple page document/notebook.
