Abstract:
A portable laptop support system including a laptop bag having a telescoping handle and a foldable stand pivotably secured to the telescoping handle. The foldable stand is pivotable to and from a use configuration and a stored configuration. The handle includes a grip with at least one receiving groove operable to receive a portion of the foldable stand when the foldable stand is in the stored configuration.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present inventive concept relates generally to stands and systems to support objects. More specifically, embodiments of the present inventive concept concern a portable support system being particularly suitable for integration into a laptop bag and use with a laptop. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Laptops are commonly transported in laptop bags throughout travel terminals such as airports, bus stations, train stations, and the like. Generally, such terminals only provide travelers with seating having no tables or other support structures necessary to comfortably and efficiently utilize a laptop. Consequently, if travelers wish to utilize their laptops, the travelers typically resort to placing their laptop on their lap, which is undesirable for a number of reasons. 
         [0005]    Using a laptop in one&#39;s lap restricts movement. Further, such generally prevents use of other materials in combination with the laptop, e.g., papers, magazines, and the like. Still further, prolonged use of the laptop in the one&#39;s lap may cause discomfort and may even lead to injury due to the awkward angle that one must position their head to view the laptop. 
         [0006]    Presently, there are no readily-available portable laptop support systems to aid travelers who desire to utilize their laptops. In view of the aforementioned problems, there is a need for a portable laptop support system that is easy to transport, easy to use, and is easily and economically manufactured. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following summary is provided to indicate the nature of the subject matter disclosed herein. While certain aspects of the present inventive concept are described below, the summary is not intended to limit the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a portable laptop support system that remedies the aforementioned problems, as set forth above, by providing an integrated laptop stand in a telescoping handle of a laptop bag. Additionally, the present inventive concept is easily and economically manufactured and easily installed. 
         [0009]    The present inventive concept provides, in its simplest form, a bag operable to house an electronic device, e.g., a laptop, having a handle, e.g., a telescoping handle, with a pivoting laptop stand operable to support the electronic device thereon. The present inventive concept is operable to support one or more of the electronic devices via the stand without interfering with or otherwise obstructing any and all openings/compartments in the bag. In this manner, the stand provides an additional degree of functionality to traditional bags. 
         [0010]    The aforementioned aspects may be achieved in one aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a portable laptop support system having a laptop bag having a telescoping handle and a foldable stand pivotably secured to the telescoping handle. The foldable stand may have and be pivotable to and/or from a use configuration and a stored configuration. 
         [0011]    The handle may include a grip with at least one receiving groove operable to receive a portion of the foldable stand when the foldable stand is in the stored configuration to maintain the foldable stand in the stored configuration. The foldable stand may be secured to the telescoping handle via tips. The tips may be operable to define an angle of the foldable stand with respect to the telescoping handle when the foldable stand is in the use configuration. 
         [0012]    The tips are at least partially received in the telescoping handle and are operable to engage an interior thereof to define the angle. The foldable stand may be made of a resilient wire such that the foldable stand is operable to (i) secure the foldable stand to the telescoping handle, (ii) permit pivoting of the foldable stand with respect to the telescoping handle, (iii) define an angle of extension from the telescoping handle, and/or (iv) be snap-fit into the telescoping handle. The telescoping handle may include a button operable to maintain the foldable stand in the stored configuration. 
         [0013]    The system may further include a base at a bottom of the telescoping handle. The base may be entirely or at least partially concealed by and/or within the laptop bag. The laptop bag may be a travel bag, a suitcase, and/or a purse. The handle may be a telescoping, folding, and/or a pivoting handle that moves relative to other elements of the laptop bag, e.g., a primary housing and/or an interior cavity of the laptop bag. The electronic device may be a laptop, a dvd player, a tablet computer, and/or a television, and/or may include an interactive electronic display screen. 
         [0014]    The aforementioned aspects may be achieved in another aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a method of forming a stand for a laptop using a laptop support system. The method may include the steps of providing a bag having a cavity operable to house a laptop, extending a telescoping handle from the bag, and/or pivoting a foldable stand downward from the telescoping handle from a stored configuration to a use configuration. 
         [0015]    The handle may include a grip with at least one receiving groove operable to nestably receive a portion of the foldable stand when the foldable stand is in the stored configuration. The foldable stand may be secured to the telescoping handle via tips. The tips may be operable to define an angle of the foldable stand with respect to the telescoping handle with the foldable stand is in the use configuration. The step of pivoting the foldable stand downward may include depressing a button on the telescoping handle to release the foldable stand from the stored configuration. 
         [0016]    The method may further include the step of providing a base at a bottom of the telescoping handle, the base operable to maintain the bag in an upright position. The base may be entirely concealed by the bag. 
         [0017]    The aforementioned aspects may be achieved in another aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a method of manufacturing a laptop support system, the method including the steps of providing a bag having a cavity operable to house a laptop and a telescoping handle, and/or securing a foldable stand to the telescoping handle. The foldable stand may have a stored configuration and a use configuration. The handle may include a grip with at least one receiving groove operable to nestably receive a portion of the foldable stand when the foldable stand is in the stored configuration. 
         [0018]    The foldable stand may be secured to the telescoping handle via tips. The tips may be operable to define an angle of the foldable stand with respect to the telescoping handle when the foldable stand is in the use configuration. The telescoping handle may include a depressible button operable to maintain the foldable stand in the stored configuration. 
         [0019]    Other aspects and advantages of the present inventive concept will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0020]    Embodiments of the present inventive concept are described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a laptop support system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept illustrating a laptop stand integrated into a bag with the laptop stand in a use configuration; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the laptop support system illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the laptop stand in a stored configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a magnified front perspective view of the laptop support system illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the laptop stand in a stored configuration; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of another laptop support system in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventive concept illustrating a laptop stand integrated into a bag with the laptop stand in a use configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the laptop support system illustrated in  FIG. 4  with the laptop stand in use and supporting a laptop; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the laptop support system illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the laptop support system illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a base support structure integrated into an interior of the bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The present inventive concept is susceptible of embodiment in many forms. While the drawings illustrate, and the specification describes, certain embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. The principles of the present inventive concept are not limited to the particular disclosed embodiments. 
         [0029]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a portable laptop support system  10  is generally illustrated in an exemplary embodiment. The system  10  generally includes a laptop stand  12  that is integrated into a bag  14 . In the exemplary embodiment, the bag  14  is of appropriately sized and shaped for use as a “carry-on bag” for traveling on an airplane or the like. It is foreseen, however, that the bag  14  may be of any size or shape without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0030]    The bag  14  includes an interior cavity  16  that is sized and shaped to selectively receive and store a plurality of objects including, but not limited to, a laptop, a dvd player, a television, a tripod, and/or the like. The cavity  16  is accessed via an opening  18  in a top  20  of the bag  14 . The opening  18  is operable to be selectively opened and closed via a zipper or the like. The bag  14  further includes a telescoping handle  24  extending from and secured to a rear  24  of the bag  14 . The handle  24  includes upper, middle, and lower arms,  26 ,  28 ,  30  that extend vertically with respect to the bag  14  when the bag  14  is in an upright position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    The upper arms  26  are operable to be received in the middle arms  28 , and the upper and middle arms  26 ,  28  are operable to be received in the lower arms  30 . The middle and lower arms  28 ,  30  respectively have, on an interior thereof, upper and lower supplemental support arms  36 ,  38  that increase the structural integrity of the handle  22 . 
         [0032]    At an uppermost end  40  of the handle  22  is a horizontal grip  42  that connects the upper arms  26  and provides a gripping surface. At an uppermost end  46  of the supplemental upper arms  36  are fasteners  48  extending between and connecting the supplemental upper arms  36  and the middle arms  28 . The fasteners  48  are bolts in the exemplary embodiment, but it is foreseen that the fasteners  48  may be any suitable connection means without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0033]    Also at the uppermost end  46  of the supplemental upper arms  36  are receivers  54  that receive tips  56  of the laptop stand  12  therethrough so that the laptop stand  12  is integrated with the handle  22  of the bag  14 . In the exemplary embodiment, the receiver  54  are apertures of equal size that are formed in and equally spaced from the uppermost end  46  of the supplemental upper arms  36 . The tips  56  of the laptop stand  12  are curved or angled with respect to side arms  60  of the laptop stand  12  to impart a folding ability to the laptop stand  12  with respect to the handle  22 . In the exemplary embodiment, the tips  56  are angled upward with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the side arms  60  when the laptop stand  12  is in a use configuration, as illustrated by  FIG. 1 . The tips  56  are preferably angled upward between 70° and 90° and most preferably at approximately 80° with respect to the horizontal plane defined by the side arms  60  so that the tips  56  extend slightly toward a direction of extension of the side arms  60  with respect to the handle  22 . In this manner, the tips  56  are operable to abut an interior  62  of the supplemental upper arms  36  when the laptop stand  12  is in the use configuration and, thereby, define an angle of extension of the laptop stand  12  with respect to the handle  22 . It is foreseen, however, that the tips  56  may be angled at any angle, e.g., 90°, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0034]    Each of the side arms  60  includes an angled extension  64  that connects the side arms  60  to the tips  56  of the laptop stand  12 . The extensions  64  extend outwardly from each other to define a width of the laptop stand  12  or distance between the side arms  60  that is sufficient to securely support an object on the laptop stand  12 . Additionally, the extensions  64  are angled to cause, in cooperation with the tips  56 , the laptop stand  12  to be securely engaged to and locked with the handle  22 . The extensions  64  also position the side arms  60  to at least partially abut the upper supplemental arms  36  when the laptop stand  12  is in a stored configuration, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0035]    The laptop stand  12  extends from the receiver  54  of the handle  22  at angle between 0° and 60° with 0° being perpendicular to the handle  22 , which is defined by the tips  56 . Preferably, the laptop stand  12  extends downward with respect to perpendicular and at a downward angle between 30° and 60° with respect to perpendicular. In this manner, an object may be placed on and supported by the laptop stand  12  while biased against an end support  70  via gravity. The object may be an electronic device having an electronic display such as, but not limited to a laptop, a dvd player, a television, and/or the like, as will be further discussed hereafter. 
         [0036]    The end support  70  extends from the side arms  60  and is operable to be received by at least partially received by grooves  72  formed at least partially about the grip  42 , that is, in a side surface  78  and a top surface  80  of the grip  42 . The laptop stand  12  is formed of a resilient material, such as wire or the like, to permit the laptop stand  12  to be flexibly received and snap-fit into the grooves  72 , thereby forming a secure engagement therewith. A depressible button  84  is provided on the handle  22  and partially extends from the grip  42 . The button  84  is required to be depressed to permit the end support  70  to pass over the handle  22  when engaging and disengaging the grooves  72 . In this manner, the button  84  provides an obstacle, which further prevents the laptop stand  12  from undesired disengagement from the grooves  72 . 
         [0037]    When the laptop stand  12  is in the stored configuration, the laptop stand  12  is substantially flush with the vertical plane defined by the handle  22  and is operable to be simultaneously compressed with the handle  22 . Additionally, the grooves  72  in the grip  42  prevent the laptop stand  12  from interfering with the grip, for instance, when a user is utilizing the handle  22 . 
         [0038]    Turning to  FIGS. 4-6 , another embodiment of a laptop stand  92  is illustrated. The laptop stand  92  includes a planar support  94  of mesh material or the like with end supports  96 . The planar support  94  and end supports  96  are hinged to a base  98  via hinges  100 , which are operable to cause the planar support  94  to be positioned at one of a plurality of angles with respect to the base  98 . A selectively-positionable stand  102  is rotatably secured to the base  98  via receivers  104 . To position the planar support  94 , the stand  102  is rotated and positioned within one of a plurality of grooves  110  arranged along dual securement strips  111  secured to a bottom of the planar support  94 . In this manner, an object to be supported via the laptop stand  92 , that is, on the planar support  94 , for example, an electronic device such as, but not limited to laptop  112 , a dvd player, having a keyboard  113 A and/or an electronic display  1136 , is operable to be positioned at various angles, such as, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20° or the like. The laptop  112  is similarly useable with laptop stand  12 . 
         [0039]    Depending from the base  98  is a backstop  114  operable to abutably engage the middle arms  28  when the laptop stand  92  is configured to its use configuration, as illustrated by  FIG. 5 . The backstop  114  in cooperation with a rear  118  of the stand  102  secures the laptop stand  92  to the handle  22 . Additionally, the backstop  114  is operable to impart an additional degree of angle to the laptop stand  92  in cooperation with the stand  102 , which may be between 0° and 60° with 0° being perpendicular to the handle  22 . Preferably, the laptop stand  92  extends downward with respect to perpendicular and at a downward angle between 30° and 60° with respect to perpendicular. In this manner, an object may be placed on and supported by the laptop stand  92  while biased against the end supports  96  via gravity. 
         [0040]    Concealed within the bag  14  and at a base of the lower arms  30  of the handle  22  are base supports  120 , each having vertical and horizontal sections  122 ,  124 . The base supports  120  are operable to maintain the laptop support system  10  in an upright position in use. 
         [0041]    In this manner, the laptop support system  10  is integrated into the bag  14  and operable to provide a support for objects such as the laptop  112  or the like and is easily and economically manufactured, and is easy to use. 
         [0042]    The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be used in a limiting sense to interpret the scope of the present inventive concept. Modifications to the exemplary embodiments, set forth above, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. 
         [0043]    The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present inventive concept as it pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.