Abstract:
A device and method is provided for providing a notebook computer casing whose contour and outward features can be change by the user. The device includes a main body, at least one decorative piece that can be fixed on and detached from the main body at random. The main body includes a slot, set on its rims, and a first locking part, set inside the slot, at least one decorative piece that includes a first interlocking part can be locked into position with the first locking part. The decorative pieces are to be fixed on the main body to change the contour and outward features of the computer and, meanwhile, serve as buffers protecting the computer against impact damage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a casing for use with notebook computers, particularly one whose contour and outward features can be changed by the user.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Most manufacturers of notebook computer casings often have patterns, marks, etc. embossed or engraved on their casings to differentiate them from other makes and make them more visually appealing.  
         [0005]     But no matter how fancy a casing&#39;s outward design may be, the pleasure of looking at a fancy new design soon palls as it becomes familiar day by day. Furthermore, the uniform nature of factory-made casings does not allow a user to differentiate his computer from others of the same model.  
         [0006]     Some owners use stickers to differentiate, decorate, or personalize their own computers. But the stickers soon lose its luster and attraction, and even become an annoyance when they wear out, leaving the residual glue on the surface of the casing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In consideration of the above situation, the present invention aims to provide the user with a notebook computer casing whose contour and outward features can be changed any time anywhere.  
         [0008]     Also, the present invention aims to provide the user with a notebook computer casing whose outward decoration parts can be changed/replaced easily.  
         [0009]     Still another aim of the present invention is to provide the user with a notebook computer casing whose outward decoration parts may serves as buffers protecting the computer against impact damage.  
         [0010]     To achieve the above aim, the casing of the present invention comprises a main body and at least one decorative piece that can be fixed on or detached from the main body at random. The main body has an indented slot on its rims, with a first locking part set on the inner walls of the slot. The decorative piece comprises a second locking part that can be locked into position with the first locking part. Also, the two locking parts, when interlocked, stay within the slots, with the outer rim of the decorative piece protruding out of the slot of the casing main body. By the above design, the user will be able to change the contour and the outward features of his notebook computer without using any tools and protect it against unexpected impact.  
         [0011]     To let the examiners better understand the invention, we will give detailed descriptions, illustrated with drawings, of a few preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows the three dimensional view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is the exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows the cross-sectional view of the first decorative piece used in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows the cross-sectional view of the locking slot designed in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows the enlarged view of the second decorative piece used in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6A  shows the exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6B  shows the enlarged view of the A as illustrated in  FIG. 6A ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  shows the enlarged view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows the top view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  shows the cross-sectional view of the sliding lock mechanism, in its left first position, used in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  shows the cross-sectional view of the sliding lock mechanism, in its right second position, used in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The notebook computer  10  as disclosed in the present invention consists of two major parts: 1. the main body  12  on which the display screen and other electronic components such as the keyboards are installed; and 2. the decorative piece  14  that can be fixed on and detached from the main body  12 .  
         [0024]     Now, please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 . The main body  12  is a square object with a certain suitable thickness. On the front rim of the main body there is the first slot  20 , inside which the first locking part  20   a  is set, which is a dove-tail shaped slot extending along the lateral direction of the first slot  20 . Also, a pair of second slot  22  is set on the two side rims of the main body. Inside each of the two second slots a second locking part  22   a  is set, which is also a dove-tail shaped slot extending along the lateral direction of the second slot  22 . A pair of connecting slots  24  is made on the two outer corners of the main body  12  each positioned between the first slot  20  and a second slot  22  and with the cross section shaped like a rectangle.  
         [0025]     Please then refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 . The decorative piece  14  comprises a first decorative piece  40  and two second decorative pieces  42 . The first decorative piece  40  is of a pre-determined length, with its two rims curved outwards and the inside shaped like a dove-tail slot forming the first interlocking part  40   a  which can be interlocked with the first locking part  20   a.  The second decorative piece  42  is roughly L-shaped, with its two rims also curved outwards. On the inner side of the second decorative piece  42 , it forms a dovetail shaped second interlocking part  42   a  facing the main body&#39;s  12  side rims and a decorative piece locking part  42   b,  which is a protruding column with one end shaped like a hook, facing the main body&#39;s  12  front rim.  
         [0026]     Again, please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 . When assembling, the user first push the first decorative piece  40  from one end of the connecting slot  24  into the first slot  20 , with the inner side of the first decorative piece  40  covering the whole area of the first slot  20 , and the first interlocking part  40   a  is completely locked with the first locking part  20   a;  he then pushes the two second decorative pieces  42 , from both end of the main body&#39;s  12  front rim, into their corresponding second slots  22 , causing each second interlocking part  42   a  be firmly locked with each second locking part  22   a,  and each second decorative piece  42  completely covers each second slot  22 . Thus the locking parts  42   b  of the decorative pieces are firmly locked with the connecting slots  24  of the main body  12 , enabling the first decorative pieces  40  be firmly locked in position.  
         [0027]     Please then refer to  FIG. 6A , which shows another way the decorative pieces  18  are fixed on the main body  16  of the notebook computer  10 .  
         [0028]     Please refer to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 10 . On the main body  16 , there is a first slot  60  that surrounds the four sides of the main body  16 . A pair of second slots  62  is set on the two sides of back side of the main body  16 . A pair of sliding locks  64 , pushed by springs  64   a,  can be moved between the left first position and the right second position and are each set inside their corresponding second slots  62 . On each of the sliding locks  64  there is a ring-shaped main body locking part  64   b.    
         [0029]     Please refer to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 10 . The decorative pieces  18  comprise a first decorative piece  80  and two second decorative pieces  82 . The first decorative piece  80  is of a predetermined length, with a ring-shaped first locking part  80   a  on each end. The second decorative piece  82  is roughly U-shaped, and, when fixed on the main body  16 , extends along the front, side, and back rims of the main body  16 . Inside the end of its section facing the front rim of the main body  16 , there is a column shaped second interlocking part  82   a.  And on the inner side of its section facing the back rim of the main body  16 , there is a decorative piece locking part  82   b,  which is shaped like a protruding column with a hooked bottom end.  
         [0030]     Again, please refer to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 10 . When assembling, the user fist pushes the first decorative piece  80  into the first slot  60 , at the position facing the front rim of the main body  16 . Then the user pushes the two second interlocking parts  82   a  on each of the second decorative piece  82  into their corresponding second interlocking part  82   a.  Then, using each of the second interlocking part  82   a  as a pivot and swiveling the second decorative piece  82 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , position each of the decorative piece locking part  82   b  to its corresponding second slot  62 , holding the edge of the main body locking part  64   b  at the left first position by its hook, and remaining fixed by the tension of the springs  64   a.    
         [0031]     Again, please refer to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 10 . When the user wants to change the decorative pieces  18 , he can pushes the sliding locks  64  toward the right second position, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , pressing the springs  64   a  to release the main body locking part&#39;s  64   b  edge from the end of the decorative piece locking part  82   b.  Thus, the second decorative piece  82  can be detached from the main body  16 , keeping both ends of the first decorative piece  80  free that the user can pry them up with fingers easily.  
         [0032]     Again, please refer to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 10 . Although in the embodiment described above, there is just a first slot  60  surrounding the main body&#39;s  16  rims, in practice, the width of the first slot  60  can be extended to the surface or bottom of the main body  16 , or, instead, the first slot  60  can be positioned on the surface or bottom of the main body  16 . We can even dispense with the design of the first slot  60 , and apply on the outer rims of the main body  16  the main body connecting slot  24  and decorative piece locking part  42   b  etc., shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 . All of them can achieve the aims of changing the outward features of the notebook computer by easy-to-fix/detach decorative pieces  18  as disclosed by the present invention and thus should be considered as belonging to the same technical means as disclosed by the present invention.  
         [0033]     Also, please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6A . The main body  12 ,  16  as described in the above embodiment of the present invention is the part, of a notebook computer, that hosts the keyboard and can be placed on top of a desk. But in practice the same mechanism can be applied on the part, of a notebook computer, that hosts the screen and can be flipped open.  
         [0034]     In summary, the construction of the present invention as disclosed above can let the user change the contour and outward features of a notebook computer Without using any tools. Furthermore, as the decorative pieces  14 ,  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6A , will be available in various colors, patterns and shapes, even with names and personalized logos, the user will be able to differentiate his computers from others of the same make an incentive strong enough to motivate consumers&#39; buying decision.  
         [0035]     Although the present invention is disclosed as the preferred embodiment described in the above, the description is by no means meant to limit the scope of the invention&#39;s applications. As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present invention is an illustration, rather than a limiting description, of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.