Patent Application
20100006384
This invention relates generally to the field of laptop computers, and relates, more particularly, to portable computing device carriers for transporting a laptop computer more efficiently through a security checkpoint and methods of using and selling the same.
In this age of mobile computing, working on personal computers almost anywhere and at any time has become a part of the daily lives of many individuals in many various occupations. Portable laptop computers are so named because they fit easily on one's lap, and allow a person to easily transport the computer between various locations.
To transport laptop computers from place to place, most people use computer cases (i.e., a portable computing device carrier). Computer cases provide protection from mechanical shock due to accidental impacts and also provide some degree of protection from environmental hazards, such as heat, light, and dust, for example. To provide adequate protection from this multitude of hazards, however, most computer cases are large and bulky, and are not designed for efficient access to the contents of the computer case.
Because of security threats at airports and other locations, frequent travelers must undergo security screenings with regularity. The security screening process can be lengthy, and cumbersome, and can be an annoying process that requires the traveler to separate many of her traveling items into numerous containers for security checks. Usually, a person is required to remove her personal effects, electronic devices, laptops from her bags and place them in separate containers to pass through an x-ray machine. After the security screening, the person must then repack her bags before leaving the security area and resume her travel itinerary.
Therefore, a need exists in the art to develop a portable computing device carrier for transporting a laptop computer more efficiently through a security checkpoint.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description of examples of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which:
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled but not be mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not be electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not be electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
“Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include coupling involving any electrical signal, whether a power signal, a data signal, and/or other types or combinations of electrical signals. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include mechanical coupling of all types.
The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.
In one embodiment, a portable computing device carrier can include: (a) a first section, the first section having: (1) a top portion; (2) a bottom portion; (3) a front portion; (4) a back portion; (5) an interior side; and (6) an exterior side, the top portion, the bottom portion, the front portion, the back portion, the interior side, and the exterior side defining a computing device carrier cavity, the computing device carrier cavity sized to removably receive and accommodate the portable computing device; and (b) a second section, the second section having: (1) a top portion mechanically coupled to the top portion of the first section to form a carrier top portion; (2) a bottom portion; (3) a front portion; (4) a back portion; (5) an interior side; and (6) an exterior side, the second section sized to accommodate one or more personal items. The interior side of the first section is removably attached to the interior side of the second section.
Turning to the drawings,
As illustrated in
Portable electronic device carrier 110 can additionally include personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130. Personal item section 120 can include: (a) exterior pocket 121; (b) exterior pocket pull tab 122 and associated exterior pocket zipper channel (not shown); (c) personal item section pull tabs 123 and 124; and (d) personal item section zipper channel 125. Mobile computing device section 130 can include mobile computing device section zipper channel 131.
Portable electronic device carrier system 100 can also include additional elements as described below in relation to
Portable electronic device carrier 110 can also be considered a device and/or a personal belongings carrier. In some examples, each of personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130 can have its own top portion, bottom portion, front portion, back portion, interior and exterior side walls. Each of the portions or sides can have a margin at an edge of the side or portion. In the same or different embodiments, personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130 are two completely separate sections that are mechanically coupled together at one of the sides and in comes embodiments, the sections are permanently mechanically coupled together at the side. In the other embodiments, personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130 share a common top.
In some examples, portable device carrier 111 can be approximately 33 centimeters (cm) in height and approximately 40 centimeters in width when in a closed position (i.e., margins of the personal item section 120 are adjacent to the margins of mobile computing device section 130). The depth of mobile computing device section 130 is approximately 5 cm. The depth of personal item section 120 is approximately 11.5 cm. When portable device carrier 111 is in the open configuration (i.e., only a margin of one of the sides of the personal item section 120 is adjacent to a margin of one of the sides of mobile computing device section 130), the height of portable device carrier 111 is approximately 66 cm.
In operation, device carrier zipper channel 113 and associated device carrier pull tab 112 can be configured to releasably couple the interior side of personal item section 120 to the interior side of mobile computing device section 130. As illustrated in
Referring again to the embodiment shown in
Personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130 can be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as, for example man-made or natural fibers including cotton, polyester, nylon, leather, and the like. In some embodiments, materials used to construct personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130 include a layer of padding between one or more layers of material described above, for example, foam material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), neoprene, and the like. In other embodiments, padding is not used.
Carrying handle 111 is mechanically coupled to the top portion of portable electronic device carrier 110. Carrying handle 111 can be permanently, mechanically coupled to the top portion of portable electronic device carrier 110 using any suitable method, such as, for example via a fabric loop, stitching, or other coupling mechanisms. Carrying handle 111 can be located and configured to allow a user to grasp carrying handle 111 and carry portable electronic device carrier 110. Carrying handle 111 can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as, for example metal, metal alloy, various plastics such as an elastomer, thermoplastic compound, or rubber, man-made or natural fibers including cotton, canvas, polyester, nylon, leather, and the like.
Carrying strap 115 can be removably coupled to carry strap connector 116. In some examples, carrying strap 115 can be attached to personal item section 120 for example via a fabric loop, stitching, or other coupling mechanisms. In other examples, carrying strap 115 can be coupled to mobile computing device section 130.
Carrying strap 115 can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as, for example man-made or natural fibers including stitched fabric or webbing or strips of materials such as leather. Carrying strap 115 can include carrying strap pad 118 to provide added comfort for a user. Carrying strap pad 118 can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as, for example cotton, foam, rubber, leather, and the like. In various embodiments, portable electronic device carrier system 100 can include one or more additional carrying straps (not shown) that are similarly coupled to personal item section 120. Carry strap connector 116 can be manufactured from any suitable materials such as, for example metal, metal alloy, various plastics such as an elastomer, thermoplastic compound and the like.
Device carrier zipper channel 113 includes two strips of fabric tape. Each strips of fabric tape can include tens or hundreds of specially shaped metal or plastic teeth. One strip of fabric tape can be coupled to an exterior edge of the interior side wall of personal item section 120, and the other strip of fabric tape can be coupled to an exterior edge of the interior side wall of mobile computing device section 130. The teeth of device carrier zipper channel 113 can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as, for example metal, metal alloy, various plastics such as an elastomer, thermoplastic compound and the like.
Device carrier pull tab 112 can be a slider and include a channel (e.g., a Y-shaped channel). Device carrier pull tab 112 meshes together or separates the opposing rows of teeth, depending on the direction of its movement. Device carrier pull tab 112 in combination with device carrier zipper channel 113 and the associated strips of fabric tape allow a user to separate and join personal item section 120 and mobile computing device section 130 to one another. Device carrier pull tab 112 can be manufactured from any suitable materials such as, for example metal, metal alloy, various plastics such as an elastomer, thermoplastic compound and the like.
Personal item section 120 can be a defined portion of portable electronic device carrier 110 where a user temporarily stores personal items. Personal items can include anything that is not an integral part of her laptop computer, such as, for example writing utensils, MP3 players and associated accessories, software (e.g., CDs and DVDs), reading material, food, and the like. Exterior pocket 121 is an exterior storage area for a user to store items, such as personal items.
Exterior pocket pull tab 122 and associated exterior pocket zipper channel define an access point to exterior pocket 121 and further allow a user to secure the contents of exterior pocket 121. In other embodiments, the edges of the flap closing the opening of exterior pocket 121 are mechanically coupled to one another using various other techniques, such as, for example fabric hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro® fasteners and the like) assembly, snap fastener assembly, button fastener assembly, clasp assembly, and the like. In some embodiments, exterior pocket 121 can be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as, for example man-made or natural fibers including cotton, polyester, nylon, leather, and the like.
Personal item section zipper channel 125 and personal item section pull tabs 123 and 124 define an entry point into a cavity (see
Mobile computing device section 130 can be a defined portion of portable electronic device carrier 110 where a user temporarily stores her mobile computing device. Mobile computing device section zipper channel 131 and associated pull tabs (illustrated in
In operation, portable electronic device carrier 110 is configured such that the mobile computing device is separated from the rest of the user's belongings to allow for a more efficient screening by security personal. Using this configuration, the mobile computing device will likely not have to be removed from portable electronic device carrier 110 during security screening. Additionally, portable electronic device carrier 110 is configured such that a user can hand carry portable electronic device carrier 110 or carry portable electronic device carrier 110 using the shoulder strap whether or not the interior wall of personal item section 120 is mechanically coupled to the interior wall of mobile computing device section 130. This configuration allows a user to retrieve her portable electronic device carrier 110 from a security checkpoint and resume her travel itinerary in a more efficient manner.
Turing to
As shown in
Turning to
In some embodiments, interior side wall 435 is manufactured from a clear material that allows a security official to view the contents within mobile computing device section 130 of portable electronic device carrier 110. In such embodiments, interior side wall 435 can be manufactured from any suitable material allowing viewing of the contents of mobile computing device section 130, such as, for example thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) plastic, a sufficiently perforated material such as an elastic mesh or screen, and the like. In other embodiments and described in
Personal item section 120 can include a personal item cavity 526. Personal item cavity 526 can be defined by interior wall 527 of personal item section exterior's side wall. In some embodiments, interior wall 527 includes pockets for storing various user items and personal item cavity 526 defines and area for a user to store additional personal items.
As illustrated in
In some examples, when interior side wall 435 is manufactured from a clear material, interior side wall 435 may allow a security official to view the contents within mobile computing device section 130 of portable electronic device carrier 110 without having to remove the contents. Accordingly, portable electronic device carrier system 700 help decrease the time and hassle of the security screening process. Also in some examples, interior side wall 728 defines the interior boundary of personal item cavity 526 of personal item section 120.
In
Mobile device securing window 837 is located within mobile computing device cavity 836 and is mechanically couple to interior side wall 835 of mobile computing device section 130. In some examples, mobile device securing window 837 is coupled to interior side wall 835 using any commercially feasible methodology, such as, for example chemical adhesive, sonic welding and the like. In other embodiments, mobile device securing window 837 is mechanically coupled to other portions defining mobile computing device cavity 836.
In some embodiments, mobile device securing window 837 is manufactured from a clear material that allows a security official to view the contents within mobile computing device section 130 of portable electronic device carrier 110. In such embodiments, mobile device securing window 837 can be manufactured from any suitable material allowing viewing of the contents of mobile computing device section 130, such as, for example thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) plastic, a sufficiently perforated material such as an elastic mesh or screen, and the like. In these embodiments, the mobile device section's interior wall (not shown in
In some examples, to store a mobile computer device (e.g. laptop 201) in portable electronic device carrier system 800, the user unfastens a portion of interior wall 834 from mobile computing device section 130 and wraps the unfastened portion of interior wall 834 over personal item section 120. The user then slides a mobile computer device (e.g. laptop 201) under mobile device securing window 837 and into mobile computing device cavity 836 via mobile device access slot 838 and refastens interior wall 834 in the closed position.
When the user arrives at a security checkpoint, the user just unfastens a portion of interior wall 834 from mobile computing device section 130 and wraps the unfastened portion of interior wall 834 over personal item section 120 and enters the security checkpoint. With this configuration, the security personnel can see what is in mobile computing device section 130 without having to remove the contents. After the security check of mobile computing device section 130, the user can wrap the unfastened portion of interior wall 834 back over mobile computing device section 130 to close mobile computing device section 130. If the security personnel want to view the contents of personal item section 120 (
Upon completion of the security check, the user can grasp portable electronic device carrier 810 by carrying handle 111 and vacate the security checkpoint in an efficient manner. This configuration allows a user to travel efficiently through a security checkpoint because the user does not have to unpack the contents of portable electronic device carrier system 800.
Method 900 of
Method 900 in
Next, method 900 in
Method 900 in
Next, method 900 in
In other examples, method 900 does not include activities 951 and/or 952. In the same or different embodiment, method 900 does not include activities 953 and/or 954.
Method 900 of
Referring to
Next, activity 955 in
In other examples, the user unfastens a portion of interior wall 834 (
Activity 955 continues with a procedure 1062 of security screening the personal item section and any items in the personal item section. As an example, the user can open personal item cavity 526 (
In the same of different embodiment, after opening portable electronic device carrier system in procedure 1061, portable electronic device carrier system can be placed in an x-ray machine and the contents examined with the x-ray machine. In these embodiments, the portable electronic device carrier system allows for a security screen to occur without have to remove the contents of the portable electronic device carrier system from the portable electronic device carrier system.
In some examples, x-raying the contents of portable electronic device carrier system can be performed instead of or in addition to procedures 1061 and 1062. In various embodiments, the x-raying can be the security screening of the mobile computing device section, the personal item section, and the contents of both sections.
Activity 955 continues with a procedure 1063 of closing portable electronic device carrier system. As an example, a user can pick-up portable electronic device carrier system by grasping by carrying handle 111, and portable electronic device carrier system self-closes. In some examples, the user can also zip mobile computing device section 130 to personal item section 120 for extra security, but the zipping together these sections is not necessary. After procedure 1063, activity 955 and method 900 are complete.
Method 1100 of
Method 1100 of
Method 900 in
Although aspects of the subject matter described herein have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the subject matter described herein and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the subject matter described herein shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. To one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the devices and method discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and may disclose alternative embodiments.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the subject matter described herein and claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/077,071 filed on Jun. 30, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61077071 | Jun 2008 | US |
