Abstract:
A media tablet carrying assembly has a frame adapted to receive the media tablet therein and a support strap attached to said frame. The support strap is suitable for extending around a portion of a user&#39;s body such that the frame and the received media tablet are positioned away from the eyes of the user. A rotation mechanism is connected to the frame so as to allow the media tablet to be rotated to a desired orientation. A tilt adjustment mechanism is connected to the frame and to the support strap so as to allow the user to orient the media tablet with a desired angle relation to horizontal.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/974,009, filed on Apr. 2, 2014, and entitled “MEDIA TABLET SUPPORT” 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to the field of media tablets. More particularly, the present invention relates to a media tablet support allowing users to carry the media tablet, and to switch orientations from portrait to landscape. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
         [0007]    Laptop and notebook computers have become ubiquitous. More recently, as electronic technology has developed, media tablet computers have been developed. These tablet computers, or media tablets, have the computing capacity of a much larger laptop or desktop computer, while allowing users to more easily transport their media tablets. These media tablets are used for a wide variety of tasks. They are often used during travel, and may also be used in tasks which are preformed in the field and which require the user of the tablet to be standing without the benefit of a desk or other support for the tablet. Thus, there is a recognized need to provide support which is wearable by the user to support the media tablets. 
         [0008]    Various patents have issued in the past relating to devices allowing a user to carry an electronic device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,615, issued on Sep. 3, 1996 to McIntosh, describes a neck harness. The single strap-support neck harness for suspending a scanner or other electronic device from a user&#39;s neck includes a housing for receiving a scanner to be suspended, a rigid brace arrangement, and an elongated flaccid neck strap. The rigid brace arrangement comprises two rigid V-shaped angular support members, with each support member attaching to opposite sides of the housing and having converging portions projecting upwardly from the housing. Ends of the strap attach to the separate ends of the projecting converging portions of the support members and, when worn about the neck, the strap suspends the brace arrangement and housing oriented with one end of the housing engaging the user&#39;s torso to extend the scanner to face the user at an upward incline from the user&#39;s torso for easy viewability of the scanner. Furthermore, the support members are angled so that a gravitational torque tends to force one end of the housing upward and into the torso of the user for stabilized suspension of the housing during movement by the user. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,225, issued on Mar. 3, 1998 to Hrusoff, teaches a laptop computer carry tray. The device is constructed and arranged for the support and stabilization of the laptop computer or notebook type computer unit when directly positioned in front of, or before, the user in order to permit the maximum amount of stability and thus allowing the operator to freely stand, sit, walk, carry, or move about with the computer unit intact when in an upright position with little or no stress. The instrument, when in its operational position, has an over the shoulder or over the neck strap, connecting the central computer carrying tray directly before or perpendicular to the user&#39;s body. Because the instrument is arranged perpendicularly to the body, the user has maximum stability of the entire computer unit and access to its operational surface. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,049, issued on Aug. 24, 2010 to Baranoski, describes a body support for a portable computer. It has shoulder pads and allows access to all ports (front, back and side). In particular, it allows access data ports, power ports as well as disk drives. The system according to the &#39;049 patent comprises only straps and little strap hardware so that it can fold up and fit into any type of laptop carrying case. The support does not block the ventilation fan(s) on the bottom of the computer. 
         [0011]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0044406, published on Apr. 18, 2002 to Shimoda, teaches a structure for carrying electronic apparatus. A strap mounting space is formed around a boss formed on an upper cover and a lower cover making up the apparatus. Each boss has a free end, and a slit formed around two bosses in abutment against each other makes up the strap mounting space. The upper cover and the lower cover are each formed integrally with the boss. A screw is inserted into each boss, and therefore a sufficient strength of the boss can be secured. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,375, issued on Feb. 16, 1993 to Plonk, describes a body supporter holder for electronic devices. The body supported combination holder and writing surface is used with hand held computers used in the field of utility meter reading, and provides for the retention of such a computer within a channel of the holder. The computer is retained within the channel by channel extensions which extend slightly over the edges of the computer, and by retaining clips within the bottom of the channel. The keyboard of the computer is fully accessible through the open upper side of the channel, and the writing surface is essentially coplanar with the keyboard of the computer when such a computer is installed within the holder. The membrane keyboard typical of such computers permits the writing surface to extend across the relatively narrow face of the computer in order to provide a larger writing surface area. The holder may be supported by retaining pins inserted within holes provided in the device, or in an alternate version by an extension insertable within the trouser waistband of the user, thus leaving both of the user&#39;s hands free. One or more storage compartments may be included by enclosing the space immediately below the writing surface. Relatively minor modifications of the holder permit its use with a variety of similarly configured electronic devices. 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0043545, published on Apr. 18, 2002 to Tang, teaches a holder for a portable electronic device. The holder for a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone includes a carrier with a neck strap connected thereto. A microphone and an earphone are electrically connectable to a mobile phone or other portable electronic device by means of an electrical connector provided on a connector at the base of a pocket in which the phone is located. The pocket has a strap extending therefrom with a clip at one end with male connectors thereon which cooperate with female connectors on the connector part to retain the phone in the pocket. 
         [0014]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0056061, published on Mar. 25, 2004 to Yang, describes a neck strap for a portable apparatus. A quick release unit is linked between the neck and the portable apparatus. When an external stretching force exceeds a safety range, the quick release unit is quickly released from the neck strap to protect the user. The quick release unit is not in contact with the neck of the user, such that the user will not feel uncomfortable for wearing the neck strap. 
         [0015]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0080186, published on Apr. 12, 2007 to deLeon, describes a neck strap for mobile electronic device. The neck strap for a mobile electronic device includes a flexible loop arrangeable around the neck of a user and a connector whereby said flexible loop is connectable to said mobile electronic device. Furthermore, one section of said flexible loop includes at least one securing element, whereby a cable is securable to said at least one section of the flexible loop. In this way, a cable, such as an earphone cable, may be secured to the flexible loop, thereby organizing the cable and reducing tangling of the cable. 
         [0016]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0232179, published on Nov. 25, 2004 to Chauhan, describes a neck strap with integrated wire. A strap for carrying a portable electronic apparatus, such as a telephone, around the neck of a user is disclosed. The strap has an elongate element for positioning around the neck of the user. The elongate element has a longitudinal channel shaped to releasably retain a wire connecting an accessory to the apparatus. 
         [0017]    None of the prior art patents and patent publications are particularly suitable for use with an media tablets. The media tablets present unique issues related to portability and adaptability. 
         [0018]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a media tablet support which allows for hands-free support of a media tablet. 
         [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a media tablet support which prevents tired hands, wrist and finger fatigue problems associated with the extended use of a media tablet. 
         [0020]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a media tablet support which permits both portrait and landscape viewing. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a media tablet support which is adjustable to the various sizes of a user. 
         [0022]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a media tablet support which is angularly adjustable for clear view in all lighting. 
         [0023]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a media tablet support which allows for secure carrying and easy transport of the media tablet. 
         [0024]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrying case for a media tablet. 
         [0025]    Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a table stand for a media tablet. 
         [0026]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    A media tablet carrying assembly comprising a frame adapted to receive the media tablet therein and a support strap attached to the frame. The support strap is suitable for extending around a portion of a user&#39;s body such that the frame is supported in a desired orientation away from the eyes of the user. 
         [0028]    The frame includes a plurality of support cups. The support cups are adapted to receive corners of the media tablet therein. A rotation mechanism is connected to the frame so as to allow a rotation of the frame. The rotation mechanism includes a hub support assembly affixed to the frame and extending thereacross. The hub support assembly includes a first support belt having ends attached respectively to top and bottom portions of the frame and extending across the frame. The hub support assembly also includes a second support belt having ends attached respectively to opposite side portions of the frame. The first support belt crosses the second support belt. A pivot pin is affixed to the first and second support belts at the crossing thereof. A belt assembly support is rotatably mounted to the pivot pin. The belt assembly support has at least one strap attachment affixed thereto. The strap attachment releasably receives the support strap therein. The strap attachment includes a first strap receptacle positioned in spaced relation to a second strap receptacle. The belt assembly support includes a rigid panel extending across portions of the first support belt and the second support belt. 
         [0029]    The frame has a tilt adjustment element on a surface thereof. The tilt adjustment element includes a first hook-and-loop material section affixed on one portion of the frame and a second hook-and-loop material section affixed to the frame in spaced relation to the first hook-and-loop material section. The support strap has a connector at an end thereof. The strap attachment is releasably affixed to the connector. The connector includes a first connector at one end of the support strap and a second connector at an opposite end of the support strap. A tilt adjustment strap extends from the support strap. The tilt adjustment strap has an end engaged with the tilt adjustment element of the frame. The tilt adjustment strap includes a first tilt adjustment strap affixed to the support strap in spaced relation to one end of the support strap and a second tilt adjustment strap affixed to the support strap and spaced relation to an opposite end of the support strap. The first tilt adjustment strap has a complementary section of hook-and-loop material adjacent and end thereof opposite the support belt. The complementary section of hook-and-loop material is releasably affixed to the first hook-and-loop material section on the frame. The second tilt adjustment strap has another complementary section of hook-and-loop material adjacent an and thereof opposite the support belt. The another complementary section of hook-and-loop material is releasably affixed to the second hook-and-loop material section of the frame. The tilt adjustment strap has an adjustable length extending from the support strap. 
         [0030]    The support strap is adapted to extend over a neck of the user. The support strap has a neck portion. This neck portion has an adjustable length. The frame is formed of a belt material. The belt material is formed into a U-shape. An interior of the U-shape is adapted to receive a periphery of the media tablet therein. 
         [0031]    This forgoing Section is intended to describe, with particularity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is understood that modifications to this preferred embodiment can be made within the scope of the present claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. As such, this section should not be construed, in anyway, as limiting of the broad scope of the present invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and there legal equivalents. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a rear view of the media tablet support of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  shows an isolated view of the straps of media tablet support of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a first side view of the media tablet carrying case of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a second side view, partially transparent, of the media tablet carrying case of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of the media tablet table stand of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    Frame  1  shows a support assembly that supports a media tablet. The support assembly fits around the periphery of the tablet and is preferably horizontally and vertically adjustable. In the preferred embodiment, frame  1  is formed from an elastic strap material and includes four corner cups formed by gathering portions of the strap material on opposing sides and stitching the gathered portions together with a short lateral stitch. This construction facilitates secure attachment of the frame  1  to a media tablet by directing corners of the tablet into the corner cups formed thereby. 
         [0038]    Hub support assembly  2  provides means to rotatably support the belt assembly hub  4 , hereinafter described in greater detail. Hub support assembly  2  comprises a first support belt  2   a  attached at respective ends thereof to top and bottom portions of frame, and a second support belt  2   b  attached at respective ends thereof to left and right portions of frame. When a media tablet is attached to frame  1 , hub support assembly  2  will lay adjacent to the bottom face of the tablet. First and second support belts  2   a ,  2   b , preferably cross each other at the center of the bottom face of the tablet. First support belt  2   a  is preferably vertically adjustable and second support belt  2   b  is preferably horizontally adjustable. In the preferred embodiment first and second support belts  2   a ,  2   b  are formed from an elastic strap material. 
         [0039]    A pivot pin  3  is disposed in the crossing portions of first and second support belts  2   a ,  2   b . First and second support belts  2   a ,  2   b  may alternatively be attached to frame in an X-shaped configuration with respective ends thereof attached substantially at the corners of the frame. 
         [0040]    Belt assembly hub  4  is a stiffened, substantially rectangular construction, rotatably attached at its center to the pivot pin  3 . In the preferred embodiment pivot pin  3  extends through belt assembly hub  4 , first support belt  2   a  and second support belt  2   b  and is held in place in a secured manner. In the preferred embodiment belt assembly hub  4  is a closed pocket  4   a  having stiffening means  4   b , e.g. particle board, disposed therein. Tilt adjustment strap hub attachment means  4   c  are disposed on the outward face of belt assembly hub  4  to each side of pivot pin  3 . In the preferred embodiment tilt adjustment strap hub attachment means  4   c  comprises respective swatches of the loop portion  4   c  of hook and loop tape for selective engagement with the hook portion  5   h ,  5   i  of hook and tape disposed on the tilt adjustment strap  5   d ,  5   e  as herein after described. In an alternative embodiment, tilt adjustment strap hub attachment means  4   c  comprises the female member of a snap fastener for selective engagement with the male member of a snap fastener disposed on the tilt adjustment strap  5   d ,  5   e . Respective female portions  5   l ,  5   m  of the locking clips as hereinafter described in greater detail, are attached to sides of the belt assembly hub  4  on opposing sides of pivot pin  3 . 
         [0041]    Body support strap assembly  5  provides means for hands-free support of a media tablet at a forward and/or slide portion of a user&#39;s body. Body support strap assembly  5  is selectively attachable to the belt assembly hub  4  as hereinafter described. In the preferred embodiment body support strap assembly  5  includes a neck support strap  5   a  that extends around a user&#39;s neck. In an alternative embodiment body support strap assembly  5  includes a waist support belt that extends substantially around a user&#39;s waistline. Rigid arms extend forwardly from the waist support belt and selectively attach to the belt assembly hub  4 . 
         [0042]    The preferred embodiment of body support strap assembly  5  generally comprises an adjustable neck supported strap  5   a , first and second hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c  and first and second tilt adjustment straps  5   d ,  5   e . The hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c  are attached to the neck supported strap  5   a  via rectangular rings  5   f ,  5   g  disposed at respective ends of neck supported strap  5   a . Tilt adjustment straps  5   d ,  5   e , are attached at one end thereof to the hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c . Tilt adjustment straps  5   d ,  5   e , have the hook portion  5   h ,  5   i  of hook and loop tape attached to the distal ends thereof. The hook portion  5   h ,  5   i  of tilt adjustment straps  5   d ,  5   e  selectively engage the loop portion  4   c  of the tilt adjustment strap hub attachment means  4   c  of belt assembly hub  4 . 
         [0043]    First and second hub connecter straps  5   b ,  5   c  are preferably formed from and elastic material. The male portion,  5   j ,  5   k  of the lock clips are attached at the distal ends of the hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c  and selectively engage the female portion  5   l ,  5   m  of locking clips attached to the sides of the belt assembly hub  4 . 
         [0044]    To support a media tablet using the body support strap assembly  5 , the neck support strap  5   a  is placed around a user&#39;s neck, the respective male portions  5   j ,  5   k  of locking clips at the ends of the hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c  are engaged with the female portions  5   l ,  5   m  of locking clips attached to the belt assembly hub  4 , and the hook portion  5   h ,  5   i  of hook and loop tape attached at the distal end of tilt adjustment straps  5   d ,  5   e  are engaged with the loop portions  4   c  of hook and loop tape attached to belt assembly hub  4 . The media tablet is thereby disposed in a downward position so that the touch screen of the media tablet can be read and/or operated. 
         [0045]    An upright tablet support assembly  6  is also provided in the preferred embodiment to permit the tablet to be secured in an upright position adjacent to the user&#39;s body. Upright tablet support assembly  6  includes securing detents  6   a ,  6   b  disposed on a forward portion of hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c  above the attachment of tilt adjustment straps  5   d ,  5   e  to hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c . Locking tabs  6   c ,  6   d  are disposed above the securing detents  6   a ,  6   b  on a forward portion of hub connector straps  5   b ,  5   c . Tab engagers  6   e ,  6   f  are disposed on opposing sides of top portions of the frame  1 . The securing detents  6   a ,  6   b , locking tabs  6   c ,  6   d  and tab engagers  6   e ,  6   f  in the preferred embodiment are formed from hook and loop tape. The tab engagers  6   e ,  6   f  on the frame  1 , extend across the full lateral width of the frame material, and thus when a media tablet is disposed in frame  1  the tab engagers  6   e ,  6   f  are disposed on a forward side of the frame  1 , a top edge of frame  1  and a rearward side of the frame  1 . When the media tablet is pivoted upwardly against the body of a user the tab engagers  6   e ,  6   f  on the forward side of frame  1 , engage the securing detents  6   a ,  6   b . The upright media tablet is thereby secured in its upright position. The upwardly extending locking tabs  6   c ,  6   d  are then engaged with the portion of tab engagers  6   e ,  6   f  on the top edge of frame  1  and the rearward side of frame  1  to lock the media table in the upright position. 
         [0046]    Tablet carrying case  7  is substantially a drawstring bag  7   a , sized to receive a media tablet disposed in a frame  1 . Carrying case  7  further includes a media tablet cleaning cloth  7   b , attached to an inside portion of the drawstring bag  7   a . In the preferred embodiment the cleaning cloth  7   b  is a clean room wipe of the type used in controlled environments, medical, electronics and aerospace uses. Moreover, carrying case  7  further includes a pocket  7   c , formed in the inside portion of the drawstring bag  7   a.    
         [0047]    Tablet table stand  8  permits portrait and landscape viewing of a media tablet disposed in the frame  1  that sits on a flat surface. Tablet table stand  8  includes a slot  8   a  formed in the top thereof. The slot  8   a  fits over the first or second support belts  2   a ,  2   b  of hub support assembly  2 , and the portions  8   b ,  8   c  of stand  8  to each side of the slot  8   a  fit under the frame  1 . The bottom portion of the stand  8  includes a substantially v-shaped slot  8   d  that facilitates minor lateral deformation of stand  8 , to provide an angled contact with a flat surface and thereby decrease the likelihood stand  8  sliding or tipping. Stand  8  is preferably stored in the pocket  7   c  of the carrying case  7 . 
         [0048]    The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the described invention can be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.