Abstract:
A computer accessory case comprises a rectangular center board with removable pouches positioned on at least one side of the board in a manner which defines a trough extending vertically between the removable pouches to thereby enable placement of the case within a luggage item of the type having a telescoping centrally located handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a carrying case especially adapted for carrying of accessories and materials useful in the operation of a computer, and in particular, a personal computer. Nowadays, many business travelers transport their personal computer wherever they may be traveling. Most typically, the personal computer is carried in some type of protective case or valise so that the rigors of travel will not adversely impact upon the computer and to facilitate the ease of transport of the computer. Thus, there have developed numerous types of cases for the storage and transport of personal computers. Often, it is necessary to include auxiliary or ancillary storage capability in such cases for the inclusion of additional batteries and other paraphernalia useful in association with the operation of a personal computer and also useful for the performance of office type activities or entertainment type activities. That is, many personal computers are used for entertainment purposes in that DVD&#39;s or software programs may be installed for purposes of personal entertainment.  
         [0002]     Thus, there has developed a need for a computer accessory case or organizer which will facilitate the storage and transport of a computer and, in particular, a personal computer in, for example, a wheeled computer case or luggage item. Such a case should include numerous storage pockets or pouches as well as means to be incorporated easily in a wheeled case or luggage item. Further, such an organizer or case should have the capability of being removable from a wheeled computer case so that its contents may be easily accessed and so that the contents may be stored safely and preferably transported independently from the wheeled case.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Briefly, the present invention comprises a computer accessory case which may be used by itself to carry various accessory items associated with a personal computer, but which also may be easily incorporated into and included as part of a wheeled carrying case of the type which would typically include a telescoping handle to facilitate transport of the case. The accessory case comprises an element or item which is designed for placement within a carrying case or which may be independently carried and transported. The accessory case includes a generally rectangular center support sheet or board which, in the preferred embodiment, is rigid or semi rigid and includes a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral side and an opposite or second lateral side with a front and a back side. The back side is arranged to define a number of discrete sections including an elongate, generally central section which extends from the upper edge to the lower edge with side sections positioned on opposite sides of the central section. Auxiliary pouches or cases are attachable to and detachable from the back side of the center support sheet. Typically, the sections are arrayed on opposite sides of the central section of the support sheet so that when the sheet is positioned within a carrying case of the type including a telescoping handle, the center section or trough like center section of the sheet will fit over and tightly against the telescoping handle assembly with the auxiliary pouches positioned on the opposite sides thereof fitted adjacent to the lateral sides of the telescoping handle assembly. The opposite side of the carrying case central sheet may include pockets, pouches and integral storage pockets. The carrying case may also include various straps which will facilitate maintaining items within the carrying case. A handle attached generally along the top edge of the computer accessory case enables the accessory case to be carried independently, for example, of a wheeled telescoping handle type carrying case.  
         [0004]     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved computer accessory case.  
         [0005]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a computer accessory case which is designed and constructed in a manner which enables it to compatibly fit within a larger carrying case of the type which includes a center or centrally positioned telescoping handle and which optionally includes wheels.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved computer accessory case capable of holding and transporting various ancillary items useful, particularly with personal computers wherein the accessory case is removable from or positionable inside of a larger wheeled case.  
         [0007]     A further object of the invention is to provide a carrying case which is a computer accessory case which is economical, rugged and which may be constructed in a manner where it is compatible with any of a number of types and sizes of larger carrying cases.  
         [0008]     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the computer accessory case or organizer of the invention as viewed from a front side;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the computer accessory case of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the opposite or back side;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of the computer accessory organizer or case of  FIG. 1  wherein the auxiliary pouches and component parts of the case are depicted as removed from mounting on the main central mounting sheet or board of the carrying case;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  as viewed from the opposite side of the auxiliary or computer accessory case;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view of the carrying case of  FIG. 4  wherein the component parts of the carrying case are assembled; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the carrying case of the previous figures positioned within a larger wheeled carrying case with a telescoping handle.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     Referring to the figures, the computer accessory case of the invention comprises a generally rectangular center sheet or board  10  which includes a generally linear straight top edge  12  and a generally linear straight parallel bottom edge  14 . The sheet  10  further includes a first lateral side edge  16  and an opposite lateral side edge  18  again generally parallel to the first lateral side edge  16 . The sheet  10  includes a front side generally depicted as the front side  20  and a back side generally depicted as the back side  22 . A handle  24  attached by end straps  26  and  28  is, in the preferred embodiment, attached or sewn to the top edge  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the main or generally rectangular center support sheet or board is preferably rigid or semi rigid. For example, the sheet or board  10  may be constructed from a polyethylene sheet which is encapsulated, by way of example, in between sheets of fabric.  
         [0017]     The front side of the sheet  10  is constructed in the manner depicted, for example, in  FIG. 1 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the sheet  10  includes a zipper pouch  40  along the side edge  18 . The pouch  40  is fastened to the sheet  10  and includes a zipper  42  for access to the pouch  40 . An elastic or mesh pocket  44  is also provided below or adjacent the lower edge  14  of the sheet  10 . A center section  46  of the sheet  10  includes a series of pockets, such as pockets  48  and  50 , into which paper folders or the like may be stored. The first side edge  16  includes or is adjacent to section of the front side  20  of the sheet  10  which includes a pocket or pouch  52  having an access zipper  54 . A mesh pocket  56  is provided beneath the pouch  52 . Preferably the sheet  10  is divided into equally sized vertical sections. Thus, the pouch  40  and mesh pocket  44  comprise approximately one third of the coverage over the front side  20  of the sheet  10 . The pockets, such as pockets  48  and  50 , comprise a vertical section of the sheet  10  which is equal to approximately one third of the lateral width of the sheet  10 . Likewise, the pouch  52  and mesh pocket  56  comprise approximately one third vertical section of the sheet  10  and more particularly the front side  20  of the sheet  10 . This arrangement of the pockets and their size facilitates maintenance of balance of the computer accessory case when it is being carried, for example, by the handle.  
         [0018]     The opposite or back side  22  of the case as illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , is likewise divided into vertical sections which are approximately one third of the width of the sheet  10 . Thus, a first vertical section  60  is provided along one side. The first vertical section  60  includes a removable pocket assembly  62  which is retained on the sheet  10  by means of hook and loop fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners  64  and  66  in  FIG. 3  which are compatible with or engage hook and loop fasteners such as the hook and loop fastener  68  in  FIG. 4 . In a similar fashion a central elongate pouch  68  may be provided for placement on the middle third of the back side of the sheet  10 . The central pouch  68  includes hook and loop fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners  70  compatible with or engageable with similar fasteners located on the central portion  72  of the back side  20  of the sheet  10 . Horizontal cross straps, such as straps  74  and  76 , are positioned over the central section  72 . These cross straps are useful for retaining cords, such as cord  78 , in position in the central section  72  of the back side  20  of the sheet  10 . A permanently affixed pouch  80  is provided beneath the auxiliary removable pouch  62 . In similar fashion, on the opposite one third of the back side  20  of the sheet  10 , a removable auxiliary pouch  82  is provided for mounting above a section comprising an auxiliary permanently attached pouch  84 . In use then, the central section  72  may include a pouch  68  or the pouch  68  may be eliminated and not included in the assembly.  
         [0019]     Typically, each of the sections of the front side and back side comprise approximately one third of the lateral width of the sheet  10 , although various other combinations of sizing may be utilized. Various additional removable pockets may also be utilized. In practice, the configuration and arrangement of the computer accessory case is preferably as set forth in  FIG. 2 . This enables use of the accessory case in combination with a telescoping handle wheeled case, for example, as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Thus, removal of the center pouch  68  for placement within a case  90  separate from the sheet and computer accessory case  10  enables placement of the case or sheet  10  snuggly in the telescoping handle wheeled case. That is, the telescoping handle  92  is retained within a handle housing  94  generally centrally located along one side of case  90 . The auxiliary pouches, such as pouches  62 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  in  FIG. 2 , may then be fitted into the grooves or channels  96  and  98  on opposite sides of the center section  84 . In this manner, the computer accessory case is easily positioned within the larger case  90  in a manner which facilitates adequate and constructive use of the space within the case  90 . In this event, as previously mentioned, the central large pouch or auxiliary case  68  may be removed from the sheet  10  and positioned, for example, within the larger case  90 .  
         [0020]     Thus, lateral side sections of the sheet  10  are spaced one from the other, and, in combination, define a trough therebetween which fits around the telescoping handle. The trough extends from the top side of the sheet  10  to the bottom side  14 . All of the pockets on sheet  10  may be chosen in terms of their size and thickness to enhance the storage capacity of the larger case, such as case  90 . The use of hook and loop fastening mechanisms (also known as Velcro fasteners) enables a high degree of utility by the accessory case. Again, the sections of the case on the opposite sides of the trough, for example, are on the opposite sides of the central section of the front side and are chosen to enhance the balance of the case and thus are generally symmetrical about a center line axis between the top edge and bottom edge of the sheet  10 . This promotes stability and ease of access to the contents of the case and further facilitates the placement of such an auxiliary computer accessory case easily within a wheeled item of luggage. Nonetheless, it is possible to vary the construction and size of the various pouches and mesh pockets, removable pockets and sections from one side or the other of the sheet  10  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.