U.S. patent application number 12/380053 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-26 for decorative display cover.
Invention is credited to Dave Berry, Lisa Fuellenbach.
Application Number | 20100212790 12/380053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42629892 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100212790 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berry; Dave ; et
al. |
August 26, 2010 |
Decorative display cover
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a decorative display cover. The display
cover is made of a ring of fabric having a first stretchable
element integrated at an inner edge and a second stretchable
element integrated at an outer edge, the ring being wide enough to
cover at least part of the front and back of a bezel of a flat
panel display. In one aspect, the ring contains a hole placed to
allow a webcam integrated into the display to see through the ring
of fabric. In another aspect, ornaments can be attached to the
ring, such as ornaments that emit light or produce sound. The ring
can contain a slit to allow computer-readable media to enter and
exit a media reader integrated into the display. A portion of the
ring of fabric can be partially translucent. The front and rear
sides of the ring can be of different types of fabric.
Inventors: |
Berry; Dave; (Washington,
UT) ; Fuellenbach; Lisa; (St. George, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ryan Connell Durham
10415 Southern Maryland Boulevard, Suite 100
Dunkirk
MD
20754
US
|
Family ID: |
42629892 |
Appl. No.: |
12/380053 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
150/165 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1607
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/165 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02 |
Claims
1. A decorative display cover comprising: a ring of fabric having a
first stretchable element integrated at an inner edge and a second
stretchable element integrated at an outer edge, the ring being
wide enough to cover at least part of the front and back of a bezel
of a flat panel display.
2. The display cover of claim 1, wherein the ring contains a hole
placed to allow a webcam integrated into the display to see through
the ring of fabric.
3. The display cover of claim 2, further comprising a moveable flap
to obscure the hole.
4. The display cover of claim 3, wherein the flap is opaque.
5. The display cover of claim 4, wherein the flap is freely
removable and attachable to the ring.
6. The display cover of claim 1, further comprising ornaments
attached to the ring.
7. The display cover of claim 6, wherein the ornaments emit
light.
8. The display cover of claim 6, wherein the ornaments produce
sound.
9. The display cover of claim 1, wherein the ring contains a slit
placed to allow a computer-readable medium to enter and exit a
media reader integrated into the display.
10. The display cover of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the
ring of fabric is partially translucent.
11. The display cover of claim 1, wherein a front side is made of a
first type of fabric and the rear side is made of a second type of
fabric.
12. The display cover of claim 1, wherein an outer side is made of
a first type of fabric and an inner side is made of a second type
of fabric.
13. The display cover of claim 1, wherein the first and second
stretchable elements are adjustable to different sizes.
14. The display cover of claim 1, further comprising one or more
pocket attached to the ring.
15. The display cover of claim 1, further comprising a display
attached to the ring.
16. The display cover of claim 1, wherein the ring of fabric is
scented.
17. The display cover of claim 1, further comprising one or more
privacy flap.
18. A method for decorating a monitor, the method comprising:
covering a perimeter of a monitor with a ring of fabric having a
first stretchable element integrated at an inner edge and a second
stretchable element integrated at an outer edge, the ring being
wide enough to cover at least part of the front and back of a bezel
of a flat panel display.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to computer and other displays
and more specifically to decorative covers therefor.
[0003] 2. Introduction
[0004] Computer monitors and other displays are increasingly common
in every day life. As little as two decades ago, the average person
could go weeks without using a computer, if indeed a computer was
necessary at all. Today, however, computers are an integral part of
most people's lives. Often, individuals spend a significant portion
of their work or school day operating a computer and looking at a
computer screen. Most computer monitors are not very aesthetically
appealing. Although styles and trends change from year to year, the
same basic color schemes come and go, black, white, silver, gray,
beige, etc. Current computer monitors do not offer users sufficient
stylish customization or personalization options, if they are
offered at all. This same problem applies to other increasingly
pervasive displays, such as digital photo frames and flat panel
televisions. Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an improved
way to personalize computer and other displays.
SUMMARY
[0005] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other
features of the present invention will become more fully apparent
from the following description and appended claims, or may be
learned by the practice of the invention as set forth herein.
[0006] Disclosed herein is a decorative display cover. The display
cover is made of a ring of fabric having a first stretchable
element integrated at an inner edge and a second stretchable
element integrated at an outer edge, the ring being wide enough to
cover at least part of the front and back of a bezel of a flat
panel display. In one aspect, the ring contains a hole placed to
allow a webcam integrated into the display to see through the ring
of fabric. In another aspect, ornaments can be attached to the
ring, such as ornaments that emit light or produce sound. The ring
can contain a slit to allow computer-readable media to enter and
exit a media reader integrated into the display. A portion of the
ring of fabric can be partially translucent. The front and rear
sides of the ring can be of different types of fabric.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited
and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained,
a more particular description of the invention briefly described
above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof
which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that
these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention
and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope,
the invention will be described and explained with additional
specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a front-view of an example display
cover;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear-view of an example display
cover;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a side-view of an example display
cover;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a top-view of an example display
cover;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates an angled view of an example display
cover;
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a front-view of an example display cover
with a hole for a webcam;
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a side-view of an example display cover
with a hole for an optical disk drive;
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a side-view of an example display cover
with a hole for other connections;
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates a front-view of an example flat panel
television cover; and
[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates a rear-view of an example flat panel
television cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Various embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail
below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be
understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A
person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other
components and configurations may be used without parting from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
[0019] In one aspect of the invention, a decorative display cover
is a ring of fabric with a first stretchable element integrated at
an inner edge and a second stretchable element integrated at an
outer edge. The stretchable elements can be, for example, elastic,
spandex, lycra, or other suitable stretchy material. The
stretchable elements can be sewn into the fabric or can be
otherwise attached to or within the fabric. In one aspect of the
invention, the stretchable elements can be user adjustable to suit
different sizes of monitors, similar to a drawstring in a pair of
sweatpants. The fabric can be any kind of cloth but can also
include plastic or other films. The ring can include one or more
types of stretchable elements and fabrics sewn together in a
patchwork or as layers over each other. The ring can be wide enough
to cover at least part of the front and back of a bezel of a flat
panel display. The ring of fabric can be as large or as small as
necessary to fit a particular monitor or range of monitor
sizes.
[0020] In one example of typical usage, a user stretches the ring
to a size slightly larger than the monitor the user desires to
cover. The user positions the ring around the monitor and releases
the ring. The elastic or stretchable elements in the ring contract
to embrace the frame of the monitor and hold the ring in place.
[0021] In one aspect, the ring of fabric includes decorations,
embellishments, or ornaments attached to the ring. For instance, a
Christmas themed ring of fabric can include small snowflakes sewn
on to the fabric, reindeer attached with a thread to dangle from
the bottom of the monitor, small bells, and other decorations. A
Fourth of July themed ring of fabric can include flags, stars, and
ribbon stripes. In one embodiment, the ornaments emit light, such
as miniature Christmas lights or LED fireworks. The fabric ring can
include a switch to enable and disable the light emitting elements
and/or otherwise control the pattern of light emissions or the
brightness thereof. In another embodiment, the ornaments or other
parts of the ring of fabric produce sound. Some examples of sound
producing elements include a speaker with a processor and memory
for reproducing audio. The memory can be user programmed to produce
any desired sound. The memory can be removable media. The fabric
ring can, in this case, include a volume control mechanism and/or
an on/off mechanism controlling the sound. The ornaments which emit
light and/or produce sound can be powered by an internal power
source, such as a battery, or by an external power source, such as
a power cable or a universal serial bus (USB) cable.
[0022] The fabric ring can further include one or more pocket.
Pockets can be open or include attachable covers, such as with
buttons, Velcro, or snaps. Pockets can even be entirely enclosed
without an easy access. In these cases, the pockets can include
objects such as power supplies, electronic components, scented
candles, and other objects. Pockets can be of various shapes and
sizes to hold specific objects, such as pencils, computer mouse,
keys, ID badges, and so forth. The fabric ring can incorporate a
display to show images, text, or other graphics. One of skill in
the art will appreciate the various known display types and how to
incorporate a display, controlling circuitry, computer-readable
media storing software to control the display, and/or power source
into the ring. All or part of the fabric making up the ring can
also be scented.
[0023] In yet another embodiment, the ring making up the display
cover includes one or more privacy flap. The privacy flaps can fold
out to the side, top, and/or bottom of the display to obscure
certain parts of the display to neighboring individuals. This
feature is especially desirable in public locations, such as a
library or university computer lab. The privacy flaps can also fold
inwards to hide the display itself when a user does not want others
to observe the display. This feature can be useful, for example,
when a user leaves the display for a brief time and does not want
others to see the display. One added benefit of the display cover
is that it hinders dust accumulation on the display itself. The
privacy flaps can be detachable from the display cover, such as
with a zipper, Velcro, buttons, or magnets (in the case of non-CRT
displays).
[0024] FIGS. 1-10 demonstrate various embodiments of the decorative
display cover. While some figures depict computer monitors and
others depict flat screen televisions, each of the embodiments in
the figures is also applicable to other various types of displays
besides the one shown in the particular figures, including
all-in-one computer and monitor combinations. FIG. 1 illustrates a
front-view of an example display cover 101. The fabric of the
display cover 101 can be partially translucent to allow light from
monitor indicators to shine through the fabric. Often, these lights
are integrated into a power button. If light from such buttons can
shine through the fabric, a user can easily locate the power button
or other buttons. Because the cover 101 is made of fabric, a user
can easily push most monitor buttons through the cover. Portions of
the fabric can be translucent or the entire fabric can be
translucent.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear-view of an example display cover
201. In one aspect, the cover 201 is made up of one type of fabric
on the front side and another type of fabric on the back side. This
reversible cover arrangement allows a user to quickly remove,
rotate, and replace the display cover 201 so that the user sees a
different view of the ring. One example application of this is a
monitor cover 201 made of green material on the front side and
purple material on the back side. As the user's mood changes, she
can quickly and easily change the color of the section of the
display cover 201 which faces the user. The same reversible
principle can be further extended to not only include different
front and rear fabrics, but also inside and outside fabrics. A user
can turn the ring or cover 201 inside out to reveal yet another
type of fabric. Such a reversible cover can provide four or more
different views which are easily and quickly user changeable.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a side-view of an example display cover
301. FIG. 4 illustrates a top-view of an example display cover 401.
FIG. 5 illustrates an angled view of an example display cover 501.
FIG. 6 illustrates a front-view of an example display cover 601
with a hole 602 for a webcam integrated into a computer monitor. In
one aspect, the hole 602 is placed so as to allow a webcam
integrated into the display to see through the ring of fabric of
the display cover 601. In order to promote privacy, the display
cover 601 can include a moveable flap (not shown) to obscure the
hole 602. The flap can be fabric, plastic, metal, or other suitable
opaque or substantially opaque material. The movable flap can
attach in place to cover and/or expose the webcam, such as with
Velcro. In one aspect, the moveable flap is freely removable and
attachable to the ring, such as with magnets integrated into the
flap and the display cover 601.
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a side-view of an example display cover
701 with a hole 702 for an optical disk drive. The hole 702 can be
slit-shaped. The hole 702 can slit allow computer-readable media to
enter and exit a media reader integrated into the display. One
example of a display which includes such an optical disk drive is
an Apple iMac.TM.. Other monitors may not include an entire
computer, but include memory card readers, for example. The display
cover 701 can include a hole 702 designed to allow removable media,
such as Secure Digital flash cards, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, etc.,
to freely pass through the display cover 701 and enter a media
reader. FIG. 8 illustrates a side-view of an example display cover
801 with a hole 802 for other connections. This hole 802 can allow
USB devices, for example, to plug in to USB ports integrated into
the display, or can allow devices integrated into the monitor, such
as antennas or cables, to protrude through the hole 802.
[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates a front-view of an example flat panel
television cover 901. FIG. 10 illustrates a rear-view of an example
flat panel television cover 1001. A television cover may hinder
remote control sensors which operate using infrared or other
wireless technology requiring line of sight between the sensor and
the remote control. Thus, a display cover for a television may
include a hole or infrared-transparent sections which can be
aligned over the sensor to allow remote controls to function
properly.
[0029] The display covers described herein can be used with any
flat panel display of any type or size. One distinct feature of
such covers is that displays do not require any modification to put
the cover on or take it off. The display does not require any
hooks, Velcro, magnets, or any other attaching means. Further,
because the cover is made of fabric, a user can still operate
buttons for power, standby, volume control, switching video input,
etc. without problem, even when covered.
[0030] Some example applications for display covers include
displays in airports, information kiosks, and visitors' centers.
Advertisers can include logos, corporate colors, or other
advertising material as part of the fabric and/or ornaments. For
example, Delta can use such display covers on computer displays at
airport check-in counters to provide a pleasing view to customers
and to subtly advertise the Delta brand. An Internet service
provider can customize display covers for customers to include
basic contact information in case the customer has questions or
problems, somewhat similar to a mouse pad. Fabric for display
covers can include patterns and paraphernalia licensed from sports
teams or other organizations.
[0031] The various embodiments described above are provided by way
of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the
invention. For example, the principles herein may be applied to
computer monitors, digital picture frames, flat panel televisions,
laptop screens, and even portable devices such as netbooks,
electronic book readers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various
modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention
without following the example embodiments and applications
illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the
true spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *