Abstract:
A storage and security case for a personal computer comprises a housing with fold over side platforms which raise and lower a support platform within the case to cover a personal computer stored within the case or expose the personal computer. The side platforms provide additional functions such as a storage tray for various materials and a mouse platform.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,155 issued Mar. 5, 2002 for a Personal Computer Storage and Security Case for which priority is claimed.  
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
         [0002]    In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a storage and security case for a personal computer, laptop computer, or other desktop item which may be subject to theft and to which ease of access is desirable.  
           [0003]    Personal computers (laptops) have the capacity and capability of easy removal and transport from a desktop support arm or desktop support environment so that they may be transported by the user for use at a remote site. However, the removal of a personal computer (PC) and accompaniment thereof with its owner or user is not always desirable or practical. Thus, often a PC will be left at its desktop location or station while the owner is absent from that workstation. When the owner is not present, the personal computer is subject to theft. To overcome theft opportunities, various types of locking mechanisms have been developed to engage the personal computer and retain it at a workstation. For example, a cable lock is often attached to a computer case and locked into position at a workstation. To remove the personal computer, it is then necessary to use a key to access the lock, detach the cable and remove the computer and the attached cable from that station. Such security measures are useful and do provide a significant inhibition to personal computer theft. Nonetheless, there has remained the need for an improved method to enhance the security of personal computers maintained at a workstation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a storage and security case for a personal computer comprised of a generally rectangular parallelpiped enclosure including a base, front and back panels, as well as foldable side panels. The foldable side panels are designed to fold and fit over the top of a personal computer within the case. Folding or pivoting the side panels from a position which covers the personal computer to a position wherein the side panels extend laterally from the sides of the case exposes the interior of the case and simultaneously causes a base plate within the interior of the case to automatically rise thereby raising the personal computer from the case for easy access by its user. Additionally, the front panel of the storage case may include a wrist pad so that the front panel may fold outwardly to support the wrists of the user which seeks to use the computer that has been raised from the case. The case includes a solid base plate which may be easily integrated with or attached to a keyboard support arm. The case may be removable from the support arm so that it may be carried by the user to provide an extra degree of security and protection when transporting the personal computer. Additionally, the case may include a locking mechanism which holds the folding side panels in a closed position to retain the personal computer within the case.  
           [0005]    Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a storage and security case for personal computers which completely encapsulates and surrounds the personal computer in a protective environment and which may be locked, but which when unlocked, provides for easy accessibility to the personal computer.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved storage and security case for a personal computer which may be locked so as to retain the personal computer within the case protected from external access.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide a storage and security case for a personal computer which may be incorporated with and used in combination with a keyboard support arm.  
           [0008]    Yet another object and feature of the invention is to provide a storage and security case for a personal computer wherein a support plate within the case may operate to automatically raise the personal computer from within the case for easy access and use by the computer user.  
           [0009]    A further object of the invention is to provide a storage and security case for a personal computer wherein pivotal side platforms move between a position which enshrouds or covers the personal computer to a position which totally exposes the computer and wherein the side platforms extend laterally from the opposite sides of a base plate which supports the computer.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide laterally projecting side platforms for a storage and security case for a personal computer wherein the side platforms serve as a support for a mouse or other elements associated with control and operation of the personal computer or which may also serve as storage trays for materials being used in association with the use of the personal computer.  
           [0011]    Another object and feature of the invention is to provide an inexpensive yet highly secure and reliable and rugged security case for a personal computer which may be transported with the computer.  
           [0012]    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  
       [0013]    In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the personal computer storage and security case wherein portions thereof are partially cut away and wherein the security case is mounted on a keyboard support arm;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a first side platform associated with the assembly of FIG. 2;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the side platform of FIG. 3;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is an end view of the housing including the base plate utilized in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the housing of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    The storage and security case of the invention includes a housing  10  which comprises a planar, generally rectangular, base plate  12 , a back side plate  14  and a front side plate  16 . The base plate  12  is rectangular and is designed to be slightly larger than the profile defined by most personal computers. The size and configuration of the base plate  12 , however, may be customized for any particular shape and personal computer size. The front and back sides  14  and  16  are generally rectangular and have a height greater than the thickness of a closed personal computer wherein the top and bottom halves of the computer have been folded together. Thus, the housing  10  defines an enclosure into which a personal computer  11  may be fitted.  
         [0021]    A support plate  18  is positioned over the base plate  12 . Support plate  18  has a shape which is generally rectangular. The support plate  18  preferably has a profile which fits within the profile of the base plate  12 . Further, the support plate  18  typically includes a projecting aligning tab  20  along a back side which cooperates with a rib  22  on the inside of the back panel  14  to thereby retain the support plate  18  properly aligned within the cavity defined by the housing  10  as the support plate  18  moves vertically upwardly and downwardly in a manner to be described below. Again, the particular configuration and shape of the support plate  18  is optional. The function of the plate  18  is to support a personal computer  11  and to cause that personal computer  11  to rise in accord with the operation of the security case as described below. The utilization of a rib  22  and keyed projection or tab  20  as described also is optional and one or more of such keyed elements may be provided to facilitate alignment and movement of the base plate  18  over base plate  12 .  
         [0022]    Another optional feature of the housing  10  relates to the front panel  16 . The panel  16  may be hinged to the base plate  12  so that it will pivot outwardly as depicted by the arrows in FIG. 1. Appropriate stops may be provided to limit the pivot movement of the front panel  16 . The inside of the front panel  16  may include a wrist rest  24  shown in phantom in FIG. 1. Thus, the front panel  16  may be pivoted outwardly and partly downwardly, if desired to expose the wrist rest  24  so that a personal computer  11  retained within the case can be accessed and operated easily by an operator who will rest his or her wrists on the wrist rest  24 . Front panel  16  may be actuated by a linkage or a cam mechanism linking side platforms  40 ,  70  (described below) to effect pivotal motion between a closed and open position.  
         [0023]    The base plate  12  further includes a first side edge  26  and a second, parallel side edge  28  which extend between the front panel  16  and the back panel  14 . The side edges  26  and  28  terminate at each end with upwardly extending hinge members  30  and  32  that include pivot pin openings  34  and  36  respectively. The hinge members  30  and  32  are thus integral with the front panels  16  and the back panel  14 , although, in the event the front panel  16  is designed to be hinged to the base plate  12 , then the hinge members  30  remain fixed and extending upwardly from the base plate or panel  12 .  
         [0024]    A first side platform  40  is attached to the upwardly extending hinge members or sections  30  and  32  and thus is attached to the housing  10 . More specifically, a first side panel  40  is depicted in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 and includes a flat planar platform member  46 , a depending side section  48 , an inwardly extending cam member  50  and downwardly extending hinge sections  52  and  54  at the opposite ends thereof. As depicted in FIG. 4, the platform  46  also includes outwardly projecting stop members  56  and  58  which are designed to engage against the top edge of panels  16  and  14  respectively, when the platform  40  is in the position shown in FIG. 3 and before pivoting to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0025]    The first side platform  40  thus includes a platform section  46  which extends approximately one-half of the distance over the base plate  12  and support plate  18 . Hinge pins attach the hinge members  52  and  54  through the hinge openings  34  and  36  so that the first platform  40  may be pivoted between a position which covers the base plate  12  and a position where it is fully open with respect to the base plate  12  as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Note that the edge of the side surface  48  engages against the edge  26  of the base plate  12  to limit the pivotal motion of the first platform  40  toward an open position. The component parts may be reinforced to rigidly hold these component parts in position. Additionally, the angle which the platform  40  forms with the base plate  12  may be controlled or adjusted by the position of the edge  26  and the side panel  48 .  
         [0026]    A second side platform  70  comprises a mirror image of the first platform  40  is provided for cooperation with the hinge members  30 ,  32  associated with the side edge  28  of the base  12  and operates in a similar fashion. The second platform  70  thus covers the left hand side of the base plate  12  and support plate  18 . Support plate  18  is engaged by the camming face or surface  50  so that when the first platform  40  and second platform  70  are moved to the open position, the support plate  18  is raised by a camming action to thereby raise a personal computer  11  positioned on the support plate  18 . The inward extension camming surface  50  also encloses a space or gap associated with the edges  26  and  28  between base  12  and platforms  40 ,  70  when the platforms  40  and  70  are in the closed position.  
         [0027]    Projecting tabs  56  and  58  of platforms  40 ,  70  may be gripped or engaged by a lock  74  to hold the platforms  40  and  70  in the closed position. In this manner, the case defined by the described members comprises a security housing for the personal computer  11  precluding access and removal thereof. In practice, the base  12  may include downwardly projecting locking studs  80  which fit into a support platform  82  associated with a computer support arm assembly  84 . Thus, the security case of the invention may be permanently affixed to a computer keyboard support platform. Alternatively, a locking mechanism may be associated with the studs  80  so that the case may be removed from the support arm  84  for transport of the case and its contents.  
         [0028]    There has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments incorporated in the features of the described invention may be provided. The construction of the caming surface, the shape and depth of the base plate  12 , the shape and extent of the platforms  40  and  70 , the position and construction of the lock  74 , and the construction of the front panel  16  and whether it is hinged or unhinged may all be varied 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.  80  which fit into a support platform  82  associated with a computer support arm assembly  84 . Thus, the security case of the invention may be permanently affixed to a computer keyboard support platform. Alternatively, a locking mechanism may be associated with the studs  80  so that the case may be removed from the support arm  84  for transport of the case and its contents.  
         [0029]    There has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments incorporating in the features of the described invention may be provided. The construction of the camming surface, the shape and depth of the base plate  12 , the shape and extent of the platforms  40  and  70 , the position and construction of the lock  74 , and the construction of the front panel  16  and whether it is hinged or unhinged may all be varied 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.