Abstract:
A portable desktop is described. The portable desktop includes an openable container having a cover and a bottom housing. The cover is hingedly connected with the bottom housing. A prop is hingedly connected with the cover for adjusting an opening of the openable container. Additionally, the bottom housing has notches therein for allowing the prop to adjust the opening by affixing with the notches. A ledge is attached with the first cover to prevent an object from sliding off the cover. When closed, the cover and bottom housing operate as a container to hold objects therein. When opened, a user may place an object against the cover to use the cover as a desktop.

Description:
[0001]     PRIORITY CLAIM  
         [0002]     The present application is a non-provisional application, claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/730,442, filed on Oct. 24, 2005, titled, “Portable Desktop.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     (1) Field of Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention relates to a work surface and, more particularly, to a case that is openable to operate as a portable desktop  
         [0005]     (2) Description of Related Art  
         [0006]     Desks have long been known in the art. Desks are typically large, furniture-like structures. The structures are often used as a work space with a writing surface thereon and a storage compartment therein. Existing desks do not allow for portability and placement of the desktop upon a user&#39;s lap.  
         [0007]     Thus, a continuing need exists for a portable desktop that can be placed upon a user&#39;s lap to function as a work surface.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention relates to a portable desktop. The portable desktop has an openable container with a cover and a bottom housing. The cover is hingedly connected with the bottom housing. A prop is hingedly connected with the cover by a prop hinge for adjusting an opening of the openable container. The bottom housing has multiple notches therein for allowing the prop to adjust the opening by affixing with the multiple notches. When closed, the cover and bottom housing operate as a container to hold objects therein. When opened, a user may place an object against the cover to use the cover as a desktop.  
         [0009]     In another aspect, the portable desktop has a ledge attached with the cover. The ledge prevents objects from sliding off the cover.  
         [0010]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a retention mechanism and a retention mechanism spring connecting the retention mechanism with the cover. A user may lift the retention mechanism away from the cover and place objects between the retention mechanism and the cover; the retention mechanism spring then causes the retention mechanism to force said objects against the cover and hold said objects rigidly in place.  
         [0011]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a cover outer-raised portion and a cover outer-recessed portion. The cover outer-raised portion and the cover outer-recessed portion form a shelf, allowing a user to place media in the cover outer-recessed portion such that said media rests against the cover outer-raised portion.  
         [0012]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a media crossbar that spans the cover outer-recessed portion. A user may place media in the cover outer-recessed portion and brace said media with the media crossbar to, for example, hold open the pages of bound books.  
         [0013]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a handle connected with the cover. A user may grip the handle and carry the portable desktop like a briefcase when the portable desktop is closed.  
         [0014]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a securing mechanism, for example a latch, connected with the cover. The securing mechanism has a securing mechanism release mechanism. A securing mechanism slot is also formed in the bottom housing. A user can insert the securing mechanism into the securing mechanism slot, preventing the portable desktop from coming open when it is closed and selectively operate the securing mechanism release mechanism to open the portable desktop.  
         [0015]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop&#39;s securing mechanism release mechanism is operated whenever a user presses the retention mechanism against the cover.  
         [0016]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a second prop hingedly connected with the cover by a second prop hinge. A second set of multiple notches is formed in the bottom housing for affixing with the second prop. Additionally, a prop crossbar is connected with the prop and the second prop. The user can simultaneously engage the prop and the second prop with multiple notches.  
         [0017]     In yet another aspect, the portable desktop has a bottom housing recessed portion and a bottom housing raised portion. The multiple notches are formed therein in the bottom housing raised portion. A cover inner-raised portion and a cover inner-recessed portion are also formed in the cover. Further, a cover groove portion is formed in the cover inner-raised portion. The openable container is delimited by the cover inner-raised portion and the bottom housing raised portion, and a user can store the prop in the cover groove portion when closing the portable desktop.  
         [0018]     Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the portable desktop described herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front view illustration of the portable desktop in an open position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a front view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in an open, inclined position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3B  is a side-view illustration of portable desktop in an open, inclined position with the cover and bottom housing made partially transparent to emphasize how the user seats the prop in the multiple notches;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3C  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in an open, inclined position with the cover made partially transparent to emphasize how media would be placed in the cover outer-recessed portion;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover and bottom housing made partially transparent to emphasize how the prop is stored when the portable desktop is in a closed position;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover and bottom housing made partially transparent to emphasize how the securing mechanism interacts with the securing mechanism slot to keep the portable desktop closed;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5B  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover and bottom housing made partially transparent to emphasize how the securing mechanism interacts with the securing mechanism slot when opening the portable desktop; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 5C  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover and bottom housing made partially transparent to emphasize that the securing mechanism is independent of the retention mechanism spring, allowing the user to selectively hold and release media regardless of whether the securing mechanism is affixed in the securing mechanism slot. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     The present invention relates to a work surface and, more particularly, to a case that is openable to operate as a portable desktop. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as, a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.  
         [0031]     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.  
         [0032]     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.  
         [0033]     Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.  
         [0034]     Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.  
         [0035]     (1) Description  
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a front view illustration of the portable desktop in an open position.  
         [0037]     The portable desktop is an openable container comprising a cover  100  and a bottom housing  102 . The cover  100  is attached with the bottom housing  102  through a hinge  104 , allowing the cover  100  and bottom housing  102  to pivot around the hinge  104 . A prop  106  is attached with the cover  100  via a prop hinge  108 . It should be noted that the prop  106 , the cover  100 , and the bottom housing  102  are separately formed and attached with each other using standard hinging techniques.  
         [0038]     As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the prop  106  can be any suitable adjustment mechanism for allowing a user to adjust the width of the angle between the cover  100  and the bottom housing  102 .  
         [0039]     Multiple notches  110  are formed in the bottom housing  102  so that the prop  106  can be positioned against any of the multiple notches  110 . A user can selectively place the prop  106  within any of the multiple notches  110  to maintain the cover  100  in an inclined position with respect to the bottom housing  102 .  
         [0040]     A bottom portion of the retention mechanism  112  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) includes a securing mechanism  114 . The securing mechanism  114  is formed so that when the portable desktop is in a closed position, the securing mechanism  114  fits inside the securing mechanism slot  116  on the bottom housing  102 . When closed, the securing mechanism  114  becomes affixed within the securing mechanism slot  116  to secure the cover  100  against the bottom housing  102 .  
         [0041]     A handle  118  is formed on the bottom housing  102 . When the portable desktop is in a closed position, the handle  118  allows a user to carry the portable desktop like a briefcase. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the handle  118  can be attached to any portion of the portable desktop provided it allows the user to carry the portable desktop in a balanced position when closed. In particular, the handle  118  could be attached to the cover  100 .  
         [0042]     The bottom housing includes a bottom housing recessed portion  120  and a bottom housing raised portion  122  surrounding the bottom portion recessed portion  120 . The multiple notches  110  and the securing mechanism slot  116  are formed in the bottom housing raised portion  122 .  
         [0043]     The cover includes a cover inner-raised portion  124  and a cover inner-recessed portion  126 . The cover inner-raised portion  124  includes a cover groove portion  128  (not shown in  FIG. 1  for clarity). The cover groove portion  128  extends out from the cover inner-raised portion  124  substantially perpendicular to the cover  100 . The prop  106  can be rotated inside the cover groove portion  128  via the prop hinge  108  such that, when the portable desktop is closed, the cover inner raised portion  124  and the bottom housing raised portion  122  make contact against one another without interference -from the prop  106 .  
         [0044]     The portable desktop is depicted here as having a prop crossbar  130 . One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the cover groove portion  128  must accommodate the prop crossbar  130 ; for example, the cover groove portion  128  could be made with slots or notches where the prop crossbar  130  would otherwise contact the cover groove portion  128 .  
         [0045]     When the portable desktop is in a closed position, the bottom housing recessed portion  120  and the cover inner-recessed portion  126  form a substantially-closed container for storing any items that the user may wish to store.  
         [0046]      FIG. 2  is a front view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position. A cover outer-raised portion  132  surrounds a cover outer-recessed portion  134 . Media may be placed in the cover outer-recessed portion  134  for recreational purposes, examples of which include but are not limited to reading, writing, drawing, and painting.  
         [0047]     A media crossbar  136  spans the cover outer-recessed portion. Shorter media can be supported by the media crossbar  136  alone. The retention mechanism  112  includes a retention mechanism spring  138  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) that pulls the retention mechanism  112  towards the cover  100 . Taller media can be supported or held when a user lifts the retention mechanism  112  and places the media under the retention mechanism  112  such that the retention mechanism  112  holds the media against the cover outer-recessed portion  134 .  
         [0048]     A ledge  140  extends from the cover  100 . Items can be placed on the ledge  140  when the portable desktop is in an open position, whereby the ledge  140  prevents such items from falling or rolling off the portable desktop.  
         [0049]     A securing mechanism release mechanism  142  is incorporated with the retention mechanism  112 . A user can activate the securing mechanism release mechanism  142  while the securing mechanism  114  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) is affixed in the securing mechanism slot  116  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ); this allows the user to lift the cover  100  and bring the portable desktop to an open position. The securing mechanism release mechanism  142  is independent of the retention mechanism spring  138 . Thus, the user can activate the securing mechanism release mechanism  142  to open the portable desktop, even while media is held by the retention mechanism  112  as described above.  
         [0050]      FIG. 3A  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in an open, inclined position.  
         [0051]      FIG. 3B  is a side-view illustration of portable desktop in an open, inclined position with the cover  100  and bottom housing  102  made partially transparent to emphasize how the user seats the prop  106  in the multiple notches  110 . As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, both the positions of the multiple notches  110  and the length of the prop  106  can be formed to give an arbitrary set of incline angles in which the portable desktop can be used. It will further be appreciated that, although the number of multiple notches  110  is depicted here as four, that number is arbitrary.  
         [0052]      FIG. 3C  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in an open, inclined position with the cover  100  made partially transparent to emphasize how media would be placed in the cover outer-recessed portion  134 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 4A  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position.  
         [0054]      FIG. 4B  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover  100  and bottom housing  102  made partially transparent to emphasize how the prop  106  is stored when the portable desktop is in a closed position. The prop  106  is contained within the cover groove portion  128 , allowing the cover inner raised portion  124  and the bottom housing raised portion  122  to make contact against one another without interference from the prop  106 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 5A  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover  100  and bottom housing  102  made partially transparent to emphasize how the securing mechanism  114  interacts with the securing mechanism slot  116  to keep the portable desktop closed. As an example of a specific securing mechanism,  FIG. 5A, 5B , and SC show a retractable securing mechanism pin  144  engaging a portion of the securing mechanism slot  116 ; note that the securing mechanism release mechanism  142  is not depressed with respect to the retention mechanism  112 . As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, many such securing mechanisms are well known, and this example using a retractable securing mechanism pin does not limit the portable desktop.  
         [0056]      FIG. 5B  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover  100  and bottom housing  102  made partially transparent to emphasize how the securing mechanism  114  interacts with the securing mechanism slot  116  when opening the portable desktop. Note that the securing mechanism release mechanism  142  is depressed with respect to the retention mechanism  112 , and, accordingly, the retractable securing mechanism pin  144  is retracted. This creates clearance between the securing mechanism  114  and the securing mechanism slot  116 , allowing the user to easily open the portable desktop.  
         [0057]      FIG. 5C  is a side-view illustration of the portable desktop in a closed position with the cover  100  and bottom housing  102  made partially transparent to emphasize that the securing mechanism  114  is independent of the retention mechanism spring  138 , allowing the user to selectively hold and release media regardless of whether the securing mechanism  114  is affixed in the securing mechanism slot  116 .