Abstract:
A laptop computer transport and support system for a mobile environment such as an airplane, bus or train is embodied as a wheeled clamshell style backpack carrying case with a retractable handle. The system is employed by unzipping three case edges and lifting a hinged protective cover thereby exposing a computer. The backpack straps unhook from the cover and secure to a user&#39;s seatback or around a user&#39;s headrest while strap posts at an opposite backpack strap end extend from the case and prevent strap interference with the user. A foldable or detachable handle permits retractable handle posts to extend on each side of the user and support the system against the seatback instead of the user when the system is used. Optionally, computer peripherals within a compartmentalized base are connected within the base to a docking station port and provide the computer with quick access to the peripherals.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a laptop computer storage and transportation device, and more specifically to a personal transportation, handling and support system for a portable computing device adaptable to a mobile environment.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Laptop computer carrying cases exhibit a broad range of features related to ease of carrying, storage capability, and functionality. However, while current laptop computer carrying cases have generally proven to be satisfactory for their applications, each is associated with its share of limitations. One major limitation with many current carrying cases for laptop computers and related computing devices is their inability to provide a fold-down work area that permits a laptop computer or other computing device to remain in the carrying case while the laptop computer or computing device is in use. The need to remove the laptop computer from its carrying case during use necessitates the laptop&#39;s placement on a separate work area and requires a separate storage space for the carrying case.  
           [0003]    Another problem of carrying devices lies in their inability to adapt to a seatback when a user desires to operate his or her computer in a mobile environment, such as while on an airplane, automobile, bus, train, etc. This problem has been indirectly addressed by the prior art through the incorporation of “service trays” that store in seatbacks of seats positioned in front of users, and, which fold down to permit travelers to eat, write, read, etc. However, the typical airline seatback service tray was not designed for a laptop computer, so their use is one of adaptation and not specific design.  
           [0004]    The problems associated with service trays are many. First, the service tray does not angularly adjust when the seatback, to which the service tray is attached, reclines. Second, when the service tray must be stowed to permit an adjacent passenger to exit the same row as the computer user, the computer must be lifted with one hand while the service tray is restored to its stowed position with the user&#39;s remaining hand. This creates a cumbersome situation for the computer user.  
           [0005]    Another limitation with current computing device carrying cases is their lack of a hard surface which can serve as a work area. Current computing device carrying cases do not provide such a feature and require the user to locate an alternate hard surface such as a table or chair when such a surface is desired. Alternatively, the user may rest the device on their lap which is unsatisfactory due to its weight and heat build-up. In this regard, the user is presented with poor access to the keyboard because of the resulting proximity to the user&#39;s body.  
           [0006]    Still yet another limitation of current computing device carrying cases is their inability to employ external computing devices while the devices are connected and concealed within the carrying case. The prior art has minimally addressed the accommodation of external devices by supplying compartments and pockets in which to store external devices but the prior art does not permit those devices to be utilized in conjunction with the computing device while the devices are in their stowed positions within a carrying case.  
           [0007]    Another limitation with current computing device carrying cases lies in their lack of a docking port to quickly provide access to on-board peripheral devices and a power source. The prior art solution to connecting to external devices requires individually connecting the devices to the computer.  
           [0008]    Still yet another limitation with current computing device carrying cases lies in the lack of an on-board privacy screen. The prior art solution to any necessary privacy, with regard to carrying cases, involves simply closing the case cover to shield the contents on the computer screen. The problem with this approach to privacy is that it is cumbersome to invoke and actually requires the computer user to stop working when the case top is closed.  
           [0009]    What is needed then is a device that does not suffer from the above limitations. This in turn, will provide a mobile computing device carrying case with a self-supporting fold-down user work area which does not directly impact a users physical condition while operating such devices. In addition this invention will provide a method of adjustable support from a user seat for the carrying case and fold-down work area, a hard surface work area, a docking port and means to accommodate external or spare devices while stored in the case, and privacy for the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a laptop computer transport and support system (LCTSS) for mobile environments is disclosed. The system provides a mobile carrying case containing detachable backpack straps that are capable of securing to a laptop user&#39;s seatback. Additionally, the system provides a base portion hinged with a cover portion permitting the user to position the cover portion wherever he/she desires relative to the base. Furthermore, the system provides dual pull-out carrying handle rods that also serve as standoff rods to provide a user with sufficient horizontal clearance to comfortably operate a laptop with the support system in place. Finally, the system provides optional, retractable docking station ports to permit the laptop to be quickly plugged into a power source and peripheral devices in a compartmentalized system base.  
           [0011]    In one preferred embodiment, the LCTSS for mobile environments includes a base portion and a cover portion. Along one edge of each portion a ratcheting piano-type hinge permits the case to open, close and maintain any open position without support rods or other devices. The balance of the mating portion closes with a zipper. Additionally, the LCTSS provides a sliding or retractable hard surface to accommodate an external pointing device or to provide work space. Dual sliding rods attached to a handle permit a user to pull the LCTSS on built-in wheels. Furthermore, the LCTSS includes adjustable shoulder straps permitting the LCTSS to be carried as a backpack, or which can be used as adjustable support straps when the LCTSS is attached to a user&#39;s seatback while in use as a support system. Finally, when the LCTSS is in use as a support system, the retractable handle rods are user adjustable and provide clearance between the computing device and the user.  
           [0012]    In another preferred embodiment, the LCTSS includes a compartmentalized peripheral device area capable of housing peripheral computing devices, power dividers, computer cables and cords or other computer components. The compartmentalized peripheral area replaces the standard base of the above-described embodiment.  
           [0013]    In yet another preferred embodiment, the LCTSS includes a retractable docking port permitting the laptop or computing device to be quickly plugged thereinto in order to access an optional compartmentalized base portion. The retractable docking port permits the laptop to be coupled to a battery and a charging system, and a host of computer peripherals such as a CD-ROM, floppy disk drives, battery or additional computer related devices.  
           [0014]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laptop computer transport and support system for mobile environments shown in its open position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laptop computer transport and support system for mobile environments in its open position showing an optional compartmentalized base;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a laptop computer transport and support system for mobile environments shown with support straps in backpack mode in its closed position showing an optional compartmentalized base, wheels, and retractable handle;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a laptop computer transport and support system for mobile environments in its closed position showing detachable backpack straps in seat-support mode, wheels, and retractable handle;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an optional compartmentalized base showing compartments for computer peripherals;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a side view of a laptop computer transport and support system for mobile environments attached to a seatback in one of its in-use positions;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a rear view of a seatback showing how the support strap C-hooks interlock behind a headrest of the seatback;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a hinge with a representative pawl and sector ratcheting system;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a retractable docking station showing computer docking ports;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a side or rear of a computer showing representative computer docking ports; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a side view of a laptop computer transport and support system for mobile environments in its closed position and being transported as a backpack. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0028]    With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a laptop computer transport and support system (LCTSS)  10  for mobile environments is depicted. The LCTSS  10  provides a system for transporting and employing a computing device such as a laptop computer  12 . It should be noted that while a laptop computer  12  is shown and discussed as the device used in conjunction with the principles of the present invention, virtually any personal electronic device such as an entertainment unit or personal computer can be adapted for use with the LCTSS  10 . The LCTSS  10  exhibits a cover  14  and a base  16  which pivots about a hinge  18  which runs along the length of one juncture between the cover  14  and base  16 . FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the hinge  18  which possesses a ratcheting mechanism  20 . The ratcheting mechanism  20  is comprised of a biased pawl  22  and a sector  24 . The pawl may be biased using a metal with sufficient resilient or elastic characteristics, or a spring  26  located internally or externally to the pawl  22  may bias the pawl  22 . However biased, the pawl  22  biases into the sector  24  yet permits cover  14  rotation clockwise and counter-clockwise under user-supplied hand forces. Furthermore, sufficient force is provided by the pawl  22  to restrain cover  14  movement when the cover  14  is under its own weight or when the cover  14  is in an in-use arrangement with storage pockets  28  and  30  full of diskettes or other supplies. Regardless of the cover&#39;s open position or the items stored in the cover  14 , pivoting will not occur unless an external force is applied. When the LCTSS  10  cover  14  is closed, or the LCTSS  10  is being transported, a zipper  32  running along the non-hinged edges of the cover  14  and base  16  is normally in its mated position as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0029]    With continued reference to FIG. 1 additional features of the LCTSS  10  will be explained. The basic system of the LCTSS  10  supports a personal electronic device such as laptop computer  12  in a central location on the base  16 . An associated recess  34  in the cover  14  encompasses the laptop  12  and provides protection when the cover  14  is in its closed position of FIG. 3. The LCTSS  10  additionally possesses sliding shelves  36  and  38  located on each side of the base  16  to serve as a location for a mouse or other pointing device or simply as additional user work space. The laptop computer  12  typically secures to the base  16  with bottom-mounted Velcro® strips  40  and  42 , shown in phantom, or securing straps (not shown).  
         [0030]    A major advantage of the LCTSS  10  is that it possess adjustable shoulder straps  44  and  46  which allow the LCTSS  10  to be carried as a backpack, as shown in FIG. 11. With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, features of the shoulder straps  44  and  46  will now be explained. Shoulder strap  44  possesses a C-hook  48 . A C-hook  50  also resides at an end of shoulder strap  46 . C-hooks  48  and  50  attach and detach to U-rings  52  on the base  16  by means of a quick connector  54 , commonly known in the art.  
         [0031]    Continuing with reference to FIG. 11, the C-hook  50  of the shoulder strap  46  generally conforms to the shoulder  56  of a user  58  making the LCTSS  10  easily transportable. Additionally, the C-hook  50  serves a dual purpose of generally conforming to a seatback  60  (FIG. 6) to secure the LCTSS  10  when in use, but also may interface behind a headrest  62  of the seatback  60  by interlocking the C-hooks  48  and  50  as shown in FIG. 7. Interlocking C-hooks  48  and  50  behind the headrest  62  of the seatback  60  may be necessary in the event a user&#39;s seat is mounted against a wall, or the seatback portion is slanted or contoured in such a way that the C-hooks cannot be accommodated over the seatback  60 .  
         [0032]    Turning to the end of the shoulder straps  44  and  46  opposite the C-hooks, FIG. 1 shows strap rods  64  and  66 . Turning to strap rod  66 , shoulder strap  46  attaches to and pivots about strap rod  66 . Furthermore, strap rod  66  retracts within base  16  when the LCTSS  10  is being carried as a backpack as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 but extends to the position shown in FIG. 1 when the laptop computer  12  of the LCTSS  10  is being used in one of its intended positions as shown in FIG. 6. The extension of strap rod  66  during laptop use permits the shoulder strap  46  to be used as a support strap and remain outside of a user&#39;s immediate work area. Furthermore, the extension of strap rod  66  permits the LCTSS  10  to be used in conjunction with a detachable privacy screen  68 . When the privacy screen  68  is in use, the strap rod  64  is in an extended position so the strap  44  will not interfere with the view of the laptop computer  12 . Additionally, a privacy screen attaches to the opposite side of the LCTTS  10 . If privacy is not necessary or desired, the privacy screen is detachable and storable in compartment  70 . The privacy screen  68  attaches by any of a number of methods such as Velcro®, zippers, etc. Alternatively, the privacy screen  68  could be permanently attached to the LCTSS  10  and not detachable.  
         [0033]    Turning to FIGS. 1, 4 and  11 , the LCTSS  10  includes a retractable handle  72  having retractable handle rods  74  and  76 . Handle rods  74  and  76  each have a handle portion  78  and  80  which connect at the end of the handle rods  74  and  76 . Additionally, the handle portions  78  and  80  connect to each other using a quick connection mechanism (not shown). Upon detaching handle portions  78  and  80 , each folds against and becomes parallel to its respective handle rod via hinges  82  and  84 , respectively. Alternatively, each handle portion  78  and  80  may detach from its respective handle rod  74  and  76 .  
         [0034]    An exemplary use of the LCTSS  10  will now be explained with primary reference to FIGS. 1, 4,  6 , and  8 - 11 . Typically, the user  58  (FIG. 11) will carry the LCTSS  10  on his or her back, or alternatively, the LCTSS  10  may be transported using its retractable handle  72  and on-board wheels  86  and  88  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When desiring use of the LCTSS  10 , a user simply sits into a seat  90  as shown in FIG. 6 and slides strap rods  64  and  66  from their retracted positions of FIG. 4 outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1. Continuing with reference to FIG. 4, the C-hook  50  of shoulder strap  46  is detached from the base  16  using its quick connector  54  and C-hook  50  is secured over the seatback  60 . The same is done with shoulder strap  44  and C-hook  48  using the quick connector  54 . In the event a seatback  60  will not accommodate the C-hooks  48  and  50 , they may alternately be placed around headrest  62  and interlocked as shown in FIG. 7. Next, handle portions  78  and  80  are disconnected to make handle rods  74  and  76  available for extension to provide support and a desired amount of standoff. Standoff  92  is depicted in FIG. 6 as the distance between a seatback  60  and a front surface  94  of the LCTSS  10 . The amount of standoff  92  will depend upon user preference and the position of seatback  60 . When the LCTSS  10  is suspended as depicted in FIG. 6, the handle rods  74  and  76  permit the LCTSS  10  weight to act against the seatback  60  as opposed to a user (not shown) if the handle portions  78  and  80  were not removed or disconnected.  
         [0035]    Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 5, another embodiment of the LCTSS  10  includes an optional compartment base  96  that is interchangeable with the base  16  of FIG. 1. The compartment base  96  consists of a series of inter-connected compartments A-F that may house computer related devices, accessible through a plurality of zipper slots  98 , one for each compartment. The compartment base  96  shown in FIG. 5 contains six compartments, however, those skilled in the art will realize that the compartment base  96  may contain as many compartments as are necessary to fulfill the desired use. Utilizing compartments A-F may take on a variety of scenarios and permit the LCTSS  10  to realize multiple capabilities. The compartment devices capable of filling the compartments may comprise, but are not limited to, a power supply, storage batteries, a CD-ROM, a tape drive, a floppy disk drive, and a battery charger. The compartments A-F are interconnected so device cords and cables may be routed in the compartment base  96  via wire access holes  100  to minimize exterior cables routed from compartment to compartment or from a compartment to the laptop computer  12 . Since no components of the system  10  are actually part of the compartment base  96  itself, components are easily interchangeable and easily upgradeable with changing technology. Compartment base  96  is easily interchangeable with the base  16  by utilizing a plurality of mounting holes  102  with a standard fastener.  
         [0036]    Still yet another embodiment of the system involves further integration of compartment base  96 . This embodiment is similar to the embodiment above in that it utilizes the compartment base  96 , however this embodiment utilizes a flip-up docking station port  104  resident above the compartment base  96  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. FIG. 9 shows that the docking station port  104  typically has representative docking plugs  106  and  108  enabling a user to simply flip up the docking station port  104  and slide computer plugs  110  and  112  (FIG. 10) of the laptop computer  12  into docking plugs  106  and  108 . The docking station port  104  is modular so that accommodation of various brands of laptop plug configurations is possible by utilizing a standard adapter (not shown). In this embodiment, the compartment base  96  also has interconnected compartments A-F as shown in FIG. 5, so no cables or cords need exit the compartments through the zippered slots  98  along the sides of the compartment base  96 . Power to all internal devices is supplied by a power supply with cords routed through wire access holes  100 . However, a user could utilize external cords if necessary. Additionally, the peripheral devices connect within the compartment base  96  to the docking station port  104  so the laptop computer  12  may simply be pushed into the docking station port  104  to access all devices. This eliminates the need for a user to connect individual cables to their respective ports on the laptop computer  12 . To successfully conduct communications of any type between the laptop computer  12  and the docking station port  104 , the laptop computer  12  itself is again held firmly to the compartment base  96  with straps or Velcro® strips to assure signal integrity across the docking station port  104 . Also, because of the compartment base  96 , a resident power supply will permit standby re-charge of two storage batteries, one in the laptop and one in a compartment A-F, as long as the system is connected to an external power source. “Seat power” is that AC or DC power supplied at a seat location in an airplane, bus, or any other mobile environment. “Automobile power” is typically DC power supplied to the interior of an automobile, traditionally through a cigarette lighter, well known in the art.  
         [0037]    The laptop computer  12  may remain in place and plugged into the docking station port  104  in the LCTSS  10  to retain full expanded capabilities, or simply be removed from the LCTSS  10  and hand carried for use as a traditional, low weight laptop computer with reduced capabilities. If removed, when the laptop computer  12  is returned to the LCTSS  10 , expanded capabilities are again available via the docking station port  104  which permits access to the devices resident in compartments A-F of compartment base  96 .  
         [0038]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.