Computer portfolio with lap-top computer releasably secured to brackets

A computer portfolio includes two side panels of soft material secured along a fold line for folding between an open position and a closed position in which the panels are face to face to form an enclosure. One of the side panels has a rigid base plate secured in a pocket between inner and outer layers of the panel, and mounting brackets project from the base plate through the inner layer. A lap-top computer is releasably secured to the mounting brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a portfolio or casing for 
carrying and using a lap-top or portable computer. 
Carrying cases for computers and similar electronic equipment have been 
proposed in the past for use by people when travelling on business, for 
example. These have generally been relatively large and cumbersome, adding 
to the load of luggage which must often be carried by hand during at least 
part of a journey. 
One example of a computer carrying case is described in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,837,590 of Sprague, for example. This carrying case has a rigid outer 
shell and sufficient internal space to support a lap-top computer, printer 
and printer paper, cellular telephone, and multiple chamber collapsible 
file folder. The computer is secured to a raised platform in the base by a 
plurality of screw fasteners which are not readily accessible after 
installation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,776 describes another carrying case for 
data processing equipment having a raised platform for supporting a 
computer, another platform for a printer, storage space for printer paper, 
as well as various pockets for carrying supplies and other equipment. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved case 
or portfolio for carrying a computer. 
According to the present invention, a computer portfolio is provided, which 
comprises a casing of soft material having two side panels hingedly 
secured together along a fold line for folding between a flat, fully open 
position and a closed position in which the panels are face to face to 
form an enclosure between their opposing faces, and a releasable fastener 
mechanism such as a zipper for releasably securing the panels together in 
the closed position. A rigid base plate is enclosed in a pocket in one of 
the side panels, and has a pair of upstanding mounting brackets which 
extend inwardly through the innermost wall of the pocket. A portable, 
lap-top computer is releasably mounted on the brackets. The computer has 
an outer shell or housing having downwardly depending side walls which are 
releasably secured to the respective brackets via screw fasteners or the 
like. 
Preferably, the internal components of the computer are enclosed in a thin, 
lightweight metal outer frame or housing rather than the usual plastic 
shell, to reduce RFI problems. The video screen is pivotally mounted on 
the upper wall of the frame so that it can be positioned at any desired 
angle for use. 
This arrangement provides a thin, lightweight, soft material portfolio for 
carrying and protecting a computer when not in use, which at the same time 
can be used to form a working base for the computer while travelling, via 
the rigid base plate sheathed in one of the side panels of the portfolio. 
The computer can be detached from the casing quickly and easily if 
required for maintenance or other purposes, simply by unfastening it from 
the side flanges. A notebook may be mounted on the other side panel of the 
casing for making notes while working at the computer. The casing 
dimensions are slightly larger than those of the computer itself. Pockets 
for carrying various materials such as computer discs and the like may be 
suitably secured inside the casing, for example to the side panel opposite 
the computer or in pockets provided on a separate divider wall or panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate a computer portfolio 10 for carrying a lap-top 
computer 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The 
portfolio 10 basically comprises a casing of soft material such as 
leather, soft plastic or soft fabric material having side panels 14, 16 
hinged together along integral, central fold line or region 18 for 
movement between the fully open position illustrated in FIG. 1 and the 
closed position illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the panels are face to face 
to form an enclosure 20. 
Each panel has a raised rim or peripheral wall 22, 24 extending around its 
three free peripheral edges, and a zipper 26 extends around the uppermost 
edges of the walls 22, 24 to allow the panels to be releasably secured 
together when in the closed position of FIG. 2. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the side panels are integrally formed 
from two layers of suitable material sewn or otherwise secured together to 
form an outer wall or layer 27 and an inner wall or layer 28 with a pocket 
30 in each panel between the layers in which layers 32 of padding material 
such as foam are inserted. Additionally, a base plate 34 of rigid material 
such as sheet metal is inserted in pocket 30 of side panel 14, as 
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7. Upstanding mounting brackets 36, 38 are cut 
out and bent up adjacent opposite side edges of plate 34 and extend 
upwardly through suitable slits in inner wall 28. 
Lap-top computer 12 comprises a base housing 46 having downwardly depending 
side walls 44 and a video display unit 48 pivotally mounted on base 
housing 46 via pivot hinge 50. The base housing is open at its lower end 
and is releasably mounted on brackets 36, 38 via suitable screw fasteners 
42 extending through aligned openings in the brackets and downwardly 
depending side walls 44 of the computer housing 46. The internal 
electronic components of computer 12 are of a conventional nature as used 
in standard lap-top computers, but instead of the standard plastic housing 
for such computers, the components are housed in housing 46 which is of 
sheet metal and which may be covered by a suitable fabric, leather or 
plastic coating on its outer surfaces, for example to match the material 
of casing 10. The video display screen 48 is of a conventional 
construction and is pivoted to housing 46 via pivot 50 so that it can be 
supported at any desired angle of inclination. Screen 48 is also 
preferably housed in a sheet metal enclosure suitably covered in a similar 
material to the base housing 46. The base housing includes a standard 
keyboard 52 and is of a similar shape and dimensions to standard lap-top 
computers, but has suitable slots in its bottom wall 53 for engaging over 
mounting brackets 36 and 38 and mounting onto the base plate 34. 
Alternatively, the computer housing may be open at its lower end. The 
overall assembly can be made relatively thin and compact, and the computer 
can be easily used either attached to the portfolio or separate from it. 
An additional divider wall or panel 54 is secured to the inner wall of the 
assembly along fold line 18, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. This may 
have a plurality of superimposed pockets 56 of various sizes on one of its 
faces 58 for carrying various materials such as paper, computer discs, 
batteries, pens and so on, while the opposite face may have a single 
pocket 62 for carrying a notebook 64, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 
1. 
The casing may have a suitable carrying handle, for example as illustrated 
in dotted outline in FIG. 2. This arrangement provides a casing for easily 
carrying and storing a small, lap-top computer while travelling. The 
casing is relatively soft, compact and lightweight and thus does not add 
excessive load to the amount of luggage a traveller must transport. The 
computer can be easily detached from the base when necessary for 
maintenance or other purposes, and the base of the computer housing is 
effectively enclosed in one side panel of the casing itself, so that the 
overall casing can be made as thin as possible, and the computer is made 
an integral part of the casing itself. The rigid base plate in panel 14 
also forms a base support for the computer when placed on a person's lap, 
for example. 
FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention in which 
portfolio 70 is designed for carrying lap-top computer 12. Lap-top 
computer 12 is similar to that of the previous embodiment, and like 
reference numerals have been used where appropriate. 
Portfolio 70 comprises integrally formed side panels 72, 74 joined together 
along fold line 76. Each side panel has a raised rim 77, 78 extending 
around its three free peripheral edges, and the opposing panels can be 
secured together when the panel 74 overlies panel 72 in a closed position 
via a reversible or double zipper 80 extending around the three peripheral 
edges. The panels are formed from inner and outer layers 82, 84 of 
suitable material such as leather or plastic. A layer 86 of padding 
material is provided between layers 82 and 84 of the side panel 74, and a 
rigid backing plate 88 of metal sheet material is provided between layers 
82 and 84 of side panel 72. Ears or mounting brackets 90 project inwardly 
from opposite sides of plate 88 through inner layer 82 and the bottom wall 
of the computer housing, and the computer 12 is releasably mounted on 
brackets 90 via suitable screw fasteners 92 extending through aligned 
openings in brackets 90 and side walls 44 of the computer housing. Thus, 
side panel 72 of the portfolio effectively forms a rigid base on which the 
computer can be used. 
A handle loop or band 94 is provided on the inner side of side panel 74. 
The pivot or hinge line 76 between the panels has sufficient flexibility 
to allow the panel 74 to be doubled back completely into a reversed 
position so that its outer face is face to face with the outer face of 
panel 72, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this position, reversible 
zipper 80 can also be closed to secure panels 72 and 74 together to form a 
cushioned base for the computer as it is used, while handle loop 94 can be 
grasped to support the unit if no surface is available for resting the 
computer. 
This embodiment is more slim line than the first embodiment since the 
pocket panel is eliminated. It provides a computer and integral case which 
is small enough to be carried in a separate enclosure such as a standard 
briefcase or suitcase. 
The computer portfolio described above provides a compact carrying case for 
a computer which can be used conveniently when travelling or at other 
times to store and protect a slim-line computer. The computer is attached 
to a rigid base plate enclosed within one side panel of the portfolio 
itself, making the computer an integral part of the casing but allowing 
the computer to be detached easily when necessary for maintenance, for 
example. This also further reduces the dimensions of the casing, which may 
have a thickness of as little as 2 to 3 inches and overall dimensions of 
the order of those of a standard notebook, or slightly larger than a 
slim-line, lap-top computer, for example of around 13 inches by 141/2 
inches when closed. 
Since the computer components are enclosed in an outer shell of metal 
rather than plastic, radio frequency interference (RFI) is reduced, and 
the metal shell can be covered with a coating layer of a material matching 
the material of the portfolio itself, for example leather or plastic. 
Although some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been 
described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those 
skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed 
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is 
defined by the appended claims.