U.S. patent application number 12/488816 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-08 for carrying case for tablet computer.
Invention is credited to Steve Dayton, Wang Yong Dong, Doug Harrison, Zhang Shu Shuai, Huang Wei Zhen.
Application Number | 20100084291 12/488816 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42074934 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100084291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dayton; Steve ; et
al. |
April 8, 2010 |
CARRYING CASE FOR TABLET COMPUTER
Abstract
A carrying case for a tablet computer, said case including a
support surface for supporting a tablet computer; a first and
second holder for securing the tablet computer to a top-oriented
face of said support surface, and a handle for carrying said case
arranged with a bottom-oriented face of said support surface. Said
first holder is attached to a first edge portion of the support
face and said second holder is attached to a second edge portion of
the support face such that said first holder and second holder are
oriented respectively to engage adjacent sides of the tablet
computer secured therein, and at least one of said holders is
slidably attached to an edge portion of the support surface such
that said holder can be extended outwards from the edge portion to
allow the support surface to be adapted to support varying tablet
computer sizes.
Inventors: |
Dayton; Steve; (Harrisburg,
PA) ; Harrison; Doug; (Tower City, PA) ; Zhen;
Huang Wei; (Wuxi, CN) ; Dong; Wang Yong;
(Wuxi, CN) ; Shuai; Zhang Shu; (Wuxi, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF GERARD F. DUNNE, PC
156 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 1223
NEW YORK
NY
10010
US
|
Family ID: |
42074934 |
Appl. No.: |
12/488816 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61074189 |
Jun 20, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 3/02 20130101; A45C
2013/025 20130101; A45C 13/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/320 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support
surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder
for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said
support surface, said first and second holders respectively
attached to an edge portion of the support surface; and a handle
for carrying said case. said handle arranged with the
bottom-oriented face of the support surface.
2. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of
said holders comprises an extension, said extension extending from
the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said extension is
adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the tablet
computer.
3. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first
holder is attached to a first edge portion of the support surface
and said second holder is attached to a second edge portion of the
support surface, such that said first holder and said second holder
are oriented respectively to engage adjacent sides of the tablet
computer secured therein.
4. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support
surface further comprises an internal rigid support concealed
between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face of said
support surface.
5. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of
said holders is constructed of an elastic material.
6. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of
said holders is slidably attached to an edge portion of the support
surface such that said slidably attached holder can be extended
outwards from the edge portion to allow the support surface to be
adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes.
7. A carrying case as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of
said holders further comprises an extension, said extension
extending from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said
extension is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the
tablet computer.
8. A carrying case as set forth in claim 6, wherein said slidably
attached holder comprises a retractable end, said retractable end
adapted to fit slidably within the support surface such that, when
retracted, the retractable end is concealed within the support
surface between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face
of said support surface.
9. A carrying case as set forth in claim 6, wherein said
retractable end is adapted to slide along a recessed guide path
within an interior rigid support, said interior rigid support
concealed between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented
face of the support surface.
10. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support
surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder
for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said
support surface, said first and second holders respectively
attached to an edge portion of the support face; and a handle for
carrying said case arranged with the bottom-oriented face of said
support surface; wherein said first holder is attached to a first
edge portion of the support face and said second holder is attached
to a second edge portion of the support face such that said first
holder and second holder are oriented respectively to engage
adjacent sides of the tablet computer secured therein; and wherein
at least one of said holders is slidably attached to an edge
portion of the support surface such that said holder can be
extended outwards from the edge portion to allow the support
surface to be adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes.
11. A carrying case as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one
of said holders comprises an extension, said extension extending
from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said extension
is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the tablet
computer.
12. A carrying case as set forth in claim 10, wherein said slidably
attached holder comprises a retractable end, said retractable end
adapted to fit slidably within the support surface such that, when
retracted, the retractable end is concealed within the support
surface between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face
of said support surface.
13. A carrying case as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least one
of said holders further comprises an extension, said extension
extending from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said
extension is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the
tablet computer.
14. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support
surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder
for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said
support surface, and a handle for carrying said case arranged with
the bottom-oriented face of said support surface; wherein at least
one of said holders includes an adhering material for removable
attachment to a respective adhering material included on the
bottom-oriented face of the support surface; wherein said
bottom-oriented face includes a plurality of adhering surfaces such
that the adhering surface on said holder can be attached to the
bottom-oriented face in varying positions to allow the support
surface of the carrying case to be adapted to support varying
tablet computer sizes.
15. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support
surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder
for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said
support surface, a first and second strap for respectively securing
said first and second holders to the support surface; and a handle
for carrying said case; said handle arranged with the
bottom-oriented face of the support surface; wherein said straps
have a first end and a second end, said first end attached to the
bottom-oriented face of the support surface and said second end
including an adhering material on one side; when said second end is
passed through an opening in the holder, the adhering material is
secured to a respective strip of adhering material on the strap.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a carrying case for a
tablet computer that offers protection for the tablet computer
while allowing easy ergonomic access to the touch screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tablet computers are becoming more popular and there is a
demand for convenient carrying cases which offer easy access as
well as protection for the computer. A tablet computer has a
touchscreen technology which allows the user to operate the
computer with a stylus or digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a
keyboard or mouse. Traditional protective cases for tablet
computers store the computer with one side of the case open to
allow the user full access to the touchscreen while the computer
remains in the case. However, typical cases have not offered easy
adjustability to be used easily with tablet computers of varying
sizes, and to also allow easy attachment and detachment of the
computer from the case, while also providing ease of carrying,
ergonomic use, and adequate protection for the computer while in
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to the present invention, a carrying case for a
tablet computer includes a case with a plurality of holders to
secure the tablet computer to the case allowing easy mobility,
access and ergonomically comfortable use of the tablet computer
while the computer is secured in the case. The carrying case can be
further adapted such that at least one of the holders can be either
slidably or elastically extended and retracted for easily attaching
and detaching a tablet computer of varying size to the case. The
case is formed to fit a tablet computer snugly and protect the
computer ports while having an open front face to allow easy access
to the touch screen. In one embodiment, the holders can be adapted
to secure the carrying case to the lock-slot commonly found on
tablet computers. Universal lock-slots have become standard on
personally computers, and the holders can be adapted with an
extension that will engage a universal lock-slot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment illustrating
the slidability of the holders;
[0008] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 7 is and exploded view of one embodiment for a support
surface used in the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of one corner of the support surface
for an alternate embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for
a holder used in the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of one corner of the support
surface for an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] As shown in FIG. 1 through 4, a carrying case 10 has a
support surface 20 which has a top-oriented face 21 for supporting
a tablet computer that can be secured to the carrying case 10 and a
bottom-oriented face 22 for securing a handle 41 for the user to
carry the case, or in the alternative, attaching a strap to buckles
42.
[0016] Holders 31 are attached to the support face 20. Holders 31
engage the tablet computer thereby securing the tablet computer on
the top-oriented face 21 of the support surface 20. The user can
hold the carrying case 10 in an ergonomically comfortable position
by sliding one hand into handle 41, leaving the other hand free to
interact with the screen of the secured tablet computer.
[0017] In preferred form, at least one of the holders 31 is
slidably fitted within mating openings in support surface 20. In
such an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, holders 31 can be extended
to new positions 31a; and preferably all three illustrated holders
31 are slidably fitted within support surface 20. Alternatively,
holders 31 can be constructed of an elastic material.
[0018] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the inward-facing
surface 37 of holder 31 and the bottom-oriented face 22 of support
surface 20 can be fitted with respective adhering material 36. Such
adhering material 36 would preferably be conventional hook-and-loop
material. The bottom-oriented surface 22 is fitted with a plurality
of strips of adhering material 36 such that the respective adhering
material 36 on holder 31 can be attached in varying locations
enabling the support surface 20 of the carrying case 10 to be
adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes. Alternatively, as
shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, adhering material 36, can be used with
strap 39 which is secured to bottom-oriented face 22 of support
surface 20. In such an embodiment, holders 31 have opening 38 such
that strap 39 can be passed through opening 38, and the adhering
material 36 on strap 39 secures holder 31 in place in a selected
position.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, holders 31 can also be adapted
to attach to the tablet computer by the addition of extension 35 to
the inward-facing surface 37 of holder 31. Extension 35 is adapted
to engage the a universal lock-slot present on a tablet
computer.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a construction for the support surface 20 which
includes a top-oriented face 21, a bottom oriented face 22, and an
interior rigid support 23. On one side, two of the holders 31 are
attached in a fixed position between the bottom-oriented face 22
and the interior rigid support 23, and on the adjacent and opposing
sides three additional holders 31 have a retractable end 34 which
is adapted to be slidably secured between the bottom-oriented face
22 and the interior rigid support 23. Holders 31 may also be
further secured by support brackets 33.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a similar embodiment which provides an
additional interior rigid support 23, wherein the holders 31 are
secured between the top-oriented face 21 and the interior rigid
support 23. An additional support plate 40 can also be secured to
the bottom-oriented face 22 to provide additional support for
securing buckles 42, or handle 41.
[0022] FIG. 7 depicts an alternate embodiment for the construction
of a support surface 20. Support surface 20 is constructed of three
portions, top-oriented surface 21, bottom oriented surface 22, and
interior rigid support 23. Holders 31 are slidably secured on
opposing sides of support surface 20, wherein the holders 31 have
retractable ends 34 adapted to slide along recessed guide path 35
within interior rigid support 23.
[0023] The embodiments shown depict two through five holders 31,
however the number and location of the holders 31 may vary
according to expected requirements of the size and expected loads
of the carrying case. Holders 31 may also have additional pockets
32 for easy access to stored items and computer accessories, as
shown in FIG. 1. In preferred form, top-oriented surface 21, and
bottom oriented surface 22 are provided with padding for additional
ergonomic comfort.
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