Outdoor laptop computer protector

A laptop computer outdoor protector attached to a laptop computer support surface for protecting a laptop computer during outdoor operation with the monitor disposed vertically to reduce glare from sunlight or other high intensity ambient light and to protect the laptop computer from wind, rain, snow or other objects such as tennis balls or golf balls. The protector may also be folded and stored while connected to the top of the laptop support surface when not in use.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an outdoor laptop computer protector attached to a portable laptop computer support surface to provide a sunshade, weather protector and projectile protector when using a laptop computer outdoors.

2. Description of Related Art

The liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors of laptop computers, while being lightweight and having excellent picture clarity, often appear washed out or faded when exposed to sunlight or high intensity ambient light. The reduction in visibility of the LCD display reduces the user's ability to use the laptop computer outdoors as well as in rooms having direct sunlight or high intensity lighting. Currently, the prior art provides hoods and shades to inhibit exposure of desktop computer monitors to sunlight and other sources of bright light that may reduce visibility. Several bulky laptop computer hoods also exist in the prior art, however, there are no lightweight, portable sunshades specifically for use with laptop computers and which are easily collapsible to a small portable size.

Additionally, stemming from the recent trend of the mobile businessman and frequent traveler, the use of portable laptop computer stands has increased. These stands typically have telescopic stems with flat laptop rigid support surfaces resting on top of the stem. The user may then place his/her laptop computer on top of the flat support surface of the stand and operate the computer as if he/she were sitting at a desk. These portable laptop support stands are useful outdoors. However, the problem of glare still remains when using a laptop stand, as well as the problem of storage of the two computer accessories. Additionally, there is a problem with stabilization of a glare reducing device on a stand having no vertical sidewalls and a limited surface area.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,823, issued to Wong on Nov. 23, 1999, describes a collapsible laptop computer hood that relies on weight of the laptop computer to retain its shape and location. The user visibility is limited due to the front panel aperture.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,474, issued to Kirschner on Jun. 8, 1993, describes a visor for a video display terminal comprised of a U-shaped structure having hinged vinyl panels. A drawback in using the '474 invention with a laptop computer is the requirement that said visor be attached directly to the display monitor bezel of said laptop computer using hook-and-loop fasteners that must be glued or otherwise attached to the sides of the display monitor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,566, issued to Tao on Feb. 10, 1998, describes a shading device for a display screen of a laptop computer. The upper right and left panels are each connected by a separate hinge to a top panel bracket that engages the top portion of the laptop's display screen.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,546, issued to Giulie et al., on May 18, 1999, describes a visor for a laptop computer screen that is detachable and collapsible, and thus, portable. The '546 invention includes a top panel and two side panels for directly engaging the sides of the laptop computer display monitor. The installation and use is cumbersome.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,419, issued to Schmidt on Nov. 7, 2000, describes a collapsible glare reduction device for a video monitor, which includes hook-and-loop fastener strips for attaching the device to the monitor. The installation and use is cumbersome.

Laptop computers are frequently used outdoors. Portable laptop support tables are known for indoor and outdoor use for supporting laptop computers anywhere. Outdoor use of a laptop computer exposes the laptop computer to excessive sun glare, wind and bad weather and errant projectiles such as tennis and golf balls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An outdoor laptop computer protector attached to a laptop computer portable support surface for reducing the exposure of a laptop computer's liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor to sunlight, other sources of ambient outdoor bright light which reduce visibility of the images on said monitor for the user, and protection from outdoor elements such as wind, rain and objects such as tennis balls and golf balls. The protector is attached by a hinge to a laptop computer portable support surface and has two stable positions, a raised position for encompassing a laptop computer and a folded somewhat flat position on the laptop computer support surface. The laptop computer portable support surface and the protector operate as a single device. A portable laptop computer table or stand with adjustable or fixed legs having a laptop computer support surface is used with the protector.

The protector comprises four flat, sturdy, opaque panels pivotally attached to each other. The back panel is attached along one edge by a hinge to a laptop computer support surface. The light shade back panel has a substantially rectangular shape. The bottom edge of the back panel is attached to a hinge plate or mount. The opposing hinge plate or mount is connected to the rear area of the laptop computer support upper surface. A top panel also has a substantially rectangular shape and is pivotally attached to the top edge of the back panel through the use of attachments such as a hinge that allow the top panel to lie relatively flush against the back panel or fold outwardly away from the back panel. The left and right side panels are pivotally attached to respective side edges of the top panel through the use of attachments such as a hinge that allow the side panels to lie flush against the top panel or fold outwardly away from the top panel.

The back panel has sufficient height to extend from the laptop computer support surface to a location above the top edge of an open laptop computer monitor. The back panel has a width greater than a laptop computer and less than or substantially equal to the width of the portable laptop support surface. The top panel width is a substantially equal to the back panel width and has a height sufficient to cover a laptop computer sitting on the support surface. Each side panel has a width substantially equal to the height of the top panel. The height of the back edge of the side panels is substantially equal to the height of the back panel. Thus, the bottom edges of the side panels can be rectangular or angled downwardly from the back edge to the front edge to enlarge the height of the front user opening.

The protector is used in the raised position to enclose a laptop computer. In this position, the front side of the enclosure structure is open and the user's laptop computer can be used outdoors with the monitor raised vertically for viewing by the user.

The protector has a collapsed storage mode in which the user's laptop computer is removed from the enclosure. The back panel is first folded downwardly so that the back panel rests on top of and is flush against the portable laptop computer support surface. The top panel is folded such that the top panel rests on top of and somewhat horizontally against the back panel. One side panel is folded such that the side panel rests on top of and against the top panel. The other side panel is folded such that the other side panel rests on top of and against the opposite side panel. Thus, the protector can be folded somewhat horizontally in a stacked array on top of the portable stand support surface when not in use.

As used herein, a laptop computer includes a portable computer including a notebook computer.

Each opaque panel could be constructed of plastic, metal, heavy duty cardboard with a weather protective coating, fabric mounted in a rigid frame or other suitable material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shield or cover attached to a laptop computer support surface for outdoor use that prevents sunlight or other bright light from creating glare and fading the images displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen of a laptop computer monitor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an outdoor protector that is attached to a portable laptop computer support surface and requires no fasteners or securing devices affixed to the laptop computer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a laptop computer protector that can be set up or stored easily and quickly.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sunshade for a laptop computer support surface that can withstand wind, rain, snow or harmful objects such as golf or tennis balls from striking the laptop computer outdoors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a first embodiment. Outdoor laptop computer protector10is shown in-use in conjunction with a portable laptop computer stand12having a laptop computer support surface12aand laptop computer14. The laptop computer protector10is comprised of four opaque, rigid, flat, thin panels hinged together by bookbinder tape or other synthetic fabric like tape strips to provide two modes of operation, i.e. raised for protecting an enclosed laptop computer from sunlight, sun glare, wind, rain and stray projectiles such as golf and tennis balls and collapsed (without the laptop computer) for storage. The protector10has a back panel22that is pivotally secured by hinges30along one edge to a laptop computer support surface12athat is part of the portable computer stand12. A laptop computer14sits on support surface12a. Hook and loop releasable fasteners35attach second side panel18to laptop computer support surface12a. The hook and loop fasteners35may be secured by glue or other fasteners to both the computer stand12and panel18. Panel16is secured by similar releasable fasteners to the table12.

The protector10has an opaque rectangular flat rigid top panel20pivotally secured to the back panel22through the use of a bookbinder tape hinge26. The protector10has a first opaque side panel16which is secured to the top panel20through the use of a bookbinder tape hinge24. In this embodiment, the side panel edge42has a substantially equal length to the height of the back panel22. The hinge24allows the first side panel16to be manually moved to a vertical position and/or a horizontal position. The protector10has a second side panel18which is secured to the top panel20through the use of a bookbinder tape hinge28. The back panel edge34has a substantially equal length to the height of the back panel22. The hinge28allows the second side panel18to be moved to a vertical position or a horizontal position.

InFIG. 2, the protector10is shown in the open and upright position as it would be in-use (without a laptop computer14for clarity). The back panel22is shown with a cutout section or area for air flow there through to reduce wind pressure on the protector. A pair of hinges30is shown at the bottom edge of the back panel22. Hinges30are used to firmly attach pivotally the back panel22to a laptop support surface12aso that the entire protector10is anchored securely to the support surface12a.FIG. 2shows the shade device10in its upright and open state with the back surface22vertical and upright, the top panel20extending horizontally forward from the top edge of the top panel20, the first side surface16extending vertically downwardly from the top panel20while resting on support surface12a, and the second side surface18extending hanging vertically downwardly from the top panel20while resting on support surface12a. Hinge26is connected between the back panel22and the top panel20. Hinge24is connected between the top panel20and the first side panel16, and hinge28is connected between the top panel20and the second side panel18. In this embodiment, the lengths of the front edges40and32of either side panels16,18may be equal to the back edges34,42.

Referring toFIG. 3, in this embodiment the laptop protector10is shown with all four panels folded outwardly and laid flat detached from the laptop support surface12afor illustration purposes only. The top panel20is shown as a rectangular shape. The first side panel16is shown as secured to the top panel20through the use of a bookbinder tape hinge24. The front edge40, the back edge42, and the bottom edge38are shown on the first side panel16. The second side panel18is shown secured to the top panel20by bookbinder tape hinge28. The front edge32, the back edge34, and the bottom edge36of the second side panel are shown. The back panel22is shown secured to the top panel20through the use of bookbinder hinge tape26. The back panel22has a section22acut out to permit air flow through the device. The hinges30secure the back panel22to the laptop computer support surface12ashown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Hinges30can be attached by glue or conventional screw fasteners. Other types of hinges can be also used including hinges such as those with removable pins or sliding removable hinges, or others which permit easy removal of the apparatus when desired. Because the protector10is used primarily outdoors to protect a laptop computer from not only the glare of sunlight, but also the elements such as wind, rain, snow, and objects such as golf balls and tennis balls, it is essential that the back panel22be firmly attached to the laptop computer support surface12a(FIGS. 1 and 2).

FIG. 4shows a rear elevational view of the protector10in the partially collapsed storage position with panels20and22folded and laid on top of each other and panels16,18partially folded in a specific order. The back panel22pivots downwardly toward the flat surface of a laptop computer support surface12aon a portable computer stand12by connecting hinges30which secure the back panel22to the support stand12. The top panel20folds backwardly towards the back panel22through the use of the hinge26which secures the top panel20to the back panel22. The first side panel16folds downwardly toward the top panel20through the use of a hinge26. The second side panel18folds downwardly toward the first side panel16through the use of a bookbinder tape hinge28. As depicted in theFIG. 4, in the collapsed storage state, the back panel22rests flat on top of the portable computer stand. The top panel20rests flat on top of the back panel, the first side panel16rests flat on top of the top panel20, and the second side panel18rests flat on top of the first side panel16.

Referring now toFIG. 5, the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as a laptop computer protector110that is securely attached to a laptop computer support surface112aby a hinge130that is connected to back panel122. In the preferred embodiment, the back panel122is not perpendicular to the stand support surface12a. In the preferred embodiment, the side panel118is enlarged along one edge to increase the viewing space available to the user. The opposite side panel (not shown) is made in a similar configuration. In this embodiment, the hook and loop fasteners137aand137binclude at least two hook and loop fasteners137bthat are secured to the outside of panel118and a pair of corresponding hook and loop fasteners137athat are secured to the bottom of laptop computer support surface112. The opposite side of the protector110(not shown) includes the same hook and loop fasteners. By allowing for a higher opening, the visibility of the user is increased when the laptop computer is in place on the inside of protector110by having the front edge longer and higher.

Referring now toFIG. 6, the panels116,118,120and122are all connected together by hinges such as bookbinder tape hinges as shown inFIG. 1. However, referring back toFIG. 5, instead of the side panels118and116resting on top of laptop computer support surface112aas inFIG. 1, inFIG. 5, the hook and loop fasteners137aand137bare attached such that the side panels116and118are flush with the side of the support surface112aon each side.

The portable laptop computer protector and support surface can be used outdoors to reduce sunlight glare in an enclosure that protects the laptop computer on a portable stand that is easily set up or stored.