Abstract:
A portable utility shelf includes a first shell, a second shell, a latching member, a channel located on the first shell and an attachment object connected to the channel and the attachment object, such as a magnet or suction cup, is capable of connecting the shelf to a stationary object. The portably utility shelf is simple to manufacture via injection molding. The portable utility shelf is self supportive to aid a user in supporting a variety of objects, such as a laptop computer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a portable utility shelf, and more specifically to a portable utility shelf that provides a quick connect/disconnect means, to attach the shelf to an object, and provide a user with a hands free shelf to operate a laptop computer. The features and improvements of the present invention, as described herein, are achieved while providing a portable workspace for a user. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Laptop carriers are known in the art. Known laptop carriers require attachment to a user, such as a strap around the user&#39;s neck, or require a stand, such as a tabletop. For example, US2010/0038393A1 describes a laptop carrier including a case portion, a strap and a pair of clipping members. WO2010040754A2, describes a portable stand for a laptop computer to be used by a person who is sitting, lying or reclined, comprising an upturned U-shaped framework for supporting a laptop computer. Other examples include utility shelves that require permanent attachment to an object, such as described in US2006137937, which describes a utility shelf including a housing, a pair of brackets to secure to an object, such as a ladder, and a pair of extendable arms configured to receive large rolls of spooled items such as tape, paper towels, and the like. 
         [0003]    Thus, utility shelves known in the art must be permanently attached to an object and are thus, not portable, or the portable utility shelf requires attachment to the user or a bulky framework that isn&#39;t easily transported by a user for use in a variety of environments. 
         [0004]    The inventor of the present invention has discovered that there is a need for a portable utility shelf that allows a user to quickly and simply attach a utility shelf to an object and to enable a user to efficiently enter data into a laptop in a handsfree mode. Accordingly, if a user must hold a laptop computer in one hand, while being required to input data with the other hand, it is impossible to maintain efficient keyboard entry or perform other curser control (e.g., touch-pad, and attaching interrogation cables to an electric meter). Furthermore, if the user must perform a task (such write handwritten notes) during keyboard entry, it is not suitable to have the laptop connected to the user for use. 
         [0005]    The inventor of the present invention has also discovered that there is a need for a portable utility shelf that can easily be manufactured via an injection molding process, wherein only two molds are required to make the base utility shelf article. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, what is needed is a simple, easy-to-use, easy-to-transport, easy-to-manufacture, portable utility shelf that is self supportive to aid a user in supporting a laptop in a variety of environments and to perform a variety of tasks. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the principles of the present invention, in one embodiment, there is a portable utility shelf comprising, a first shell  100  with a front sidewall and a back sidewall, a second shell  200  with a front sidewall and a back sidewall, a latching member  118 , a channel  124  located on the front sidewall of the first shell  100 ; and an attachment object  400 , such as a magnet or suction cup, operatively connected to said channel  124  and the attachment object  400  is capable of easily and quickly connecting said shelf to an object. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the shelf is made of injection molded plastic. In other embodiment, the shelf consists essentially of two pieces of injection molded plastic. In other embodiment, the shelf further comprises a hinge stop  104 / 110  integrally connected to a bottom end of said shelf. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the utility shelf is made out of only one material. Thus, all of the materials to make the shelf (not including the attachment object) are composed of the same material. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the utility shelf is used as a portable holder for a laptop computer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The foregoing aspects and others will be readily appreciated by the skilled artisan from the following description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the first shell, front sidewall, of the portable utility shelf. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the inside of the first shell, back sidewall; of the portable utility. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the portable utility shelf in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the portable utility shelf in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the utility shelf, opposite side being a mirror image thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the portable utility shelf in an open position, showing the first and second shell back sidewalls. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the first shell and the second shell in an open position, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the first shell, front sidewall, of the portable utility shelf including an attachment object. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective front view of the first shell, front sidewall of the portable utility shelf in a closed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an alternative perspective view of the portable utility shelf in an open position, showing the first and second shell back sidewalls, which are mirror images thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
         [0023]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the context of a portable utility shelf for a laptop computer. The skilled artisan will readily appreciate, however, that the materials and methods disclosed herein will have application in a number of other contexts where a portable utility shelf may be used in a variety of different environments to hold a variety of different objects. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a front view of the first shell  100 , front sidewall  100   a,  of the portable utility shelf. The utility shelf comprises a second shell  200  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) which may be comprised of the same material as the first shell  100 . The first shell  100  and second shell  200  may be comprised of different configurations, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The inventor of the utility shelf found that the configuration of the first shell  100 , front sidewall  100   a,  enables a user to create an adjustable, hands free workstation for an object, such as a lap top. Alternatively, the second shell  200  may have the same configuration as the first shell  100 , and thus, the first and second shells may be mirror images thereof, as shown in  FIG. 10 . This configuration allows the manufacturer to use one mold, twice, thus it may result in a lower cost solution to make the utility shelf. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the utility, shelf can be comprised of any suitable material known in the art. In one embodiment, the utility shelf is comprised of an injection molded polymeric material. The polymeric material may be selected from a plastic material, such as, a polypropylene homopolymer material. Other plastic materials which would be suitable for fabricating the shelf include PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), and foamed polypropylene. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the utility shelf may contain a pivot shaft  106  to function as a half of a snap hinge and a half sleeve  108  to function as the other half of a snap hinge. In another embodiment, the hinge(s) are integrally molded with and made of the same material as the utility shelf. Any type of hinge known in the art may be used, so long as it is possible to manufacture the hinge via injection molding or the like for production purposes. There are several other methods and types of hinges that can be utilized such as a simple metal hinge, pinned hinge or snap hinge. The hinge system  106 / 108  allow for the first and second shells to rotate from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the utility shelf may contain a handle  116 . In one embodiment, the handle  116  is integrally molded with and made of the same material as the utility shelf. The handle  116  may be molded into the first shell  100  and the second shell  200  of the utility shelf during the manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the handle is formed when the first and second shells are in the closed position. The handle  116  can be configured in any shape, preferably an oval shape. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2 , there is shown a front view of the first shell  100 , back sidewall  200   a,  of the portable utility shelf. Further to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  shows a plurality of vertical ribs  126  which may be added for strength and support and/or a plurality of horizontal ribs  128  which can be added for strength and support. Accordingly, since the ribs increase the strength and support of the sidewalls, it is possible to use less material in the manufacturing process, thus, resulting in a thinner, lighter weight utility shelf. Furthermore, the ribs may provide a dual function of also creating secure compartments to hold small objects, such as fittings, washers, nuts electrical connecters, etc. In one embodiment, the ribs  126 / 128  are integrally molded with and made of the same material as the utility shelf. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  there is shown the utility shelf may contain a snap latch, comprised of a first half  118  located on an outer lip  120  of the top of the first shell  100 . The other half of the snap latch  118   a,  shown in  FIG. 9 , is integrally molded on the top of the second shell  200 . The snap latch functions to secure the first shell  100  and the second shell  200  together. In one embodiment, the snap latch is a pressure latch, however, any latch known in the art may be used such as, a push button latch, hasp latch, bolt latch etc. In one embodiment, the first half and the second half of the latch system are integrally molded with and made of the same material as the utility shelf. Also shown in  FIG. 4 , is an outer lip  120  which can function to align parts together when the utility shelf is closed. The outer lip  120  may also be integrally molded with and made of the same material as the utility shelf. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5 , there is shown a side view of the utility shelf in a closed position. The shelf may contain a hinge stop ( 104 / 110 ). The stop may be configured as any stop known in the art. The stop functions to inhibit rotation of the hinge system on the first and second shells past a certain point. Thus, in one embodiment, when a user opens the utility shelf, the first and second shells will open at a 90 degree angle. In other embodiments, it is possible for a user to configure the stops so that the first and second shells open at other angles, such as, for example, 180 degrees, 145 degrees, 120 degrees, 100 degrees, 45 degrees or 25 degrees. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows the utility shelf open at a  90  degree angle and stops  104  and  110  adjacent to one another. In one embodiment, the hinge stops ( 104 / 110 ) are integrally molded with and made of the same material as the utility shelf. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8 , there is shown the first shell  100 , front sidewall  100   a,  including at least one attachment object  400   a.  In another embodiment, a second attachment object  400   b,  may be included. The attachment object  400   a / 400   b  is any object which can attach the shelf to a stationary material. In another embodiment, the attachment object is capable of a quick connect attaching means to an object. In another embodiment, the attachment object is capable of a quick dis-connect from an object. In another embodiment, the attachment object is Capable of a quick connect and dis-connect from an object. In one embodiment, the attachment object is a magnetic material. In another embodiment, the object is a magnet. In another embodiment, the attachment object is a suction cup. The attachment object can be configured to hold any type of weight. In one embodiment, the magnet is a  90  lb pull magnet. In another embodiment, the stationary material is made of metal or an alloy thereof. In another embodiment, the stationary object is any material a suction cup can adhere to, such as glass, metal, or plastic. 
         [0033]    The attachment object  400   a / 400   b  may be secured to the utility shelf via a slot  112  adjacent a channel  124 . In one embodiment, the channel is recessed. In another embodiment, the slot  112  is recessed within the channel  124 . The attachment object  400   a / 400   b  can be secured by any means that affords the attachment object the ability to be slidably adjustable along the slot  112 . For example, the attachment object may be secured with a bolt and nut. The channel  124  may be located on the first shell  100 , front side  100   a,  on the second shell  200 , front side, or on both the first and second shell front sides.  FIG. 6  shows a utility shelf having channels on only one shell  100 .  FIG. 10  shows an alternative embodiment  300  where the first shell  100  and the second shell  200  are mirror images thereof and thus channels are located on the both the first shell front sidewall and the second shell front sidewall. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the channel  124  is configured in a horizontal orientation. In one embodiment, the channel  124  is configured in a vertical orientation. In yet another embodiment, the channel  124  is configured in a both a horizontal and vertical configuration in a T-shape. The horizontal and vertical channel(s)  124  may or may not be formed as one continuous configuration. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a perspective front view of the first shell  100 , front sidewall  100   a  of the portable utility shelf in a closed position showing a possible configuration of a snap latch  118 / 118   a.    
         [0036]      FIG. 10  is an alternative perspective view of the portable utility shelf  300  in an open position, showing the first shell and second shell having front and back sidewalls  300   a / 300   b,  which are mirror images thereof for ease of manufacturing. 
         [0037]    The utility shelf may be manufactured by an injection molding process or any process known the art. In one embodiment, the front shell and the second shell are injection molded in only two molds, which are snap fitted together. Accordingly, the two molds may be fitted together via the hinge stops  104 / 110  attached at opposite ends of the bottom of the first shell  100  and second shell  200 . 
         [0038]    The portable utility shelf can be utilized in several ways and applications. In a preferred embodiment, it is used in the electric utility industry to provide a hands free, safe workplace to operate a laptop computer in the field. Accordingly, the utility shelf can quickly attach to an electric meter. In other embodiments, it can be used in a variety of other industry and/or trades for a variety of uses. For example, by the U.S. Military, to attach a laptop computer to a vehicle during an operation. It can also be used to set ammunition on, to clean a weapon, do paperwork, to use as a lunch table. Contractors can use it for paperwork, lunch table or laptop use when out in the field and want to be outside their vehicle to watch crews. For home use, the utility shelf could be attached to windows for painting, to hold plants, or knickknacks, clothes, pictures, whatever the user prefers. The automotive industry can utilize the portable utility shelf for a work table for putting tools on while working under a vehicle. For example, the utility shelf could be attached to a fender of a car or a door sill to set up tools. EMS/law enforcement personnel can utilize the portable utility shelf to aid in an investigation or aid in treatment, when something has to be off the ground. The medical field could utilize this device for a portable utility shelf in an operating room where there is a need for extra space to hold surgical equipment or the like. 
         [0039]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the sprit and scope of the disclosure, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.