Abstract:
A case adaptable for multiple applications and, in particular, for supporting a laptop computer in a horizontal, open and unobstructed work mode and for securing the computer in a closed, upright carrying and storage mode. The case comprises a bottom wall for supporting the case in the work mode, a front wall, a rear wall for supporting the case in the carrying and storage mode, opposite side walls, an open upper end, an interior support tray spaced above the bottom wall so as to define a thermal insulating cavity therebetween and a door slidable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the door extends across the upper end of the case. In the open position the door is substantially disposed in the cavity between the bottom wall and the support tray, providing unobstructed access to the computer in the work mode.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a protective carrying case particularly adapted for portable personal computers, also known as laptop computers. Existing carrying cases for such devices are typically formed of a lightweight fabric material that provides relatively little protection for their contents. Other carrying cases that do provide protection for their contents are essentially rigid boxes that are cumbersome and heavy to carry and like the fabric cases, must be stored when the computer is in use. With the widespread and growing use of laptop computers by riders on mass transit vehicles, storage of the carrying case can present a problem. Laptop computers generate heat during use which can become uncomfortable to the user&#39;s lap under prolonged periods of use such as those encountered on long train or bus commutes where desk or tabletops are not available. These and other shortcomings in the currently available carrying cases for laptop computers are addressed by the present invention. 
         [0002]    Another application for which the present invention is particularly suited is the carrying and storage of fishing tackle. Fishing tackle boxes, like laptop computers, can also present a storage problem. Tackle boxes typically have a relatively large foot print and space on a small fishing boat is generally at a premium. Tackle boxes also create an organizational problem in view of the numerous different items that fisherman typically carry, the variations in the size and shape of many of those items and the desirability of segregating the items by genus and size. The result is a relatively large box housing at least one, and more typically, a plurality of vertically stacked compartmentalized trays on which individual items comprising the fishing tackle or collections of such items of the same size and style are contained and segregated. Locating a particular item of a given size on one of a plurality of stacked trays can be time consuming and frustrating. These and other shortcomings in currently available tackle boxes are also addressed by the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Briefly, the carrying case of the present invention is of a lightweight, generally rigid construction and includes a bottom wall, front, rear and side walls, an upper open end, an interior support tray spaced above the bottom wall and a slidably mounted door. In the closed position, the door extends across the upper end of the case, and in the open position, the door is substantially disposed out of view in the area between the bottom wall of the carrying case and the support tray. In laptop computer applications, the slidable door preferably is a tambour-type door and in the closed position, the door cooperates with the support tray to form a clam shell enclosure for the laptop computer, securing the computer in place within the case without the need for straps or other securement devices. In the closed position, the case can be stored in a stable upright disposition so as to occupy a minimal amount of flat space, or the case can rest on its bottom wall in a horizontal disposition. In the open position, the case is in a horizontal disposition and provides unobstructed and convenient access to the computer for use within the carrying case while providing a rigid support for the computer and thermal insulation protecting the user&#39;s legs. 
         [0004]    In preferred embodiments of the invention, the door is carried by and slidable along opposed elongated c-shaped tracks formed in the side walls of the case so as to avoid obstructing the interior of the case while defining exterior handholds for gripping and manipulating the carrying case in a horizontal working disposition. Openings are provided in the interior of the case proximate the rear wall thereof so as to cooperate with the interior fan of the computer to vent heated air from the carrying case during use while providing a pathway for additional electrical feeds into the case. 
         [0005]    In fishing tackle applications, the slidable door is preferably formed of a flexible transparent vinyl material to help render the case water resistant and to allow the user to view the contents therethrough while the door is in the closed position. The support tray for the fishing tackle defines a plurality of open compartments thereon for segregating the various items to be carried and is positioned such that when the sliding door is in the open position all of the compartments and their contents are visible and readily accessible, and in the closed position, the door extends across and closes each of the individual compartments such that the case can be stored on its rear end in an upright disposition with its contents secured in place. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention with the slidable door in a closed position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention with the door in an open position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention in an upright disposition. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a section view taken along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the first embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention with the slidable door and a guide track for the door being shown in dashed lines. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are partial perspective views of the front end of the first embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention illustrating the movement of the carrying handle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention with the slidable door in the open position and a laptop computer disposed within the case. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention with the slidable door in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention with the slidable door in an open position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another application of the carrying case of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view illustrating a tambour door configuration for use in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    A first embodiment of a carrying case  10  of the present invention is particularly adapted for laptop computers and comprises a bottom wall  12 , an interior computer support tray  13  spaced upwardly from wall  12 , side walls  14  and  16 , a front wall  18 , a rear wall  20  and a slidable door  22  that extends across the upper open end  24  of the carrying case  10  in the closed position. In this first embodiment of the present invention, door  22  is preferably a tambour-type roller door. The terminology used to describe the carrying case  10  is with reference to the case in the horizontal working or use position illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as opposed to the upright carrying and storage position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The door  22  is carried by and slides along a pair of opposed, elongated c-shaped guide tracks in the side walls  14  and  16  of the case  10  so as to be readily moveable between the closed position of  FIG. 1  and the open position of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0020]    While various materials and methods of construction could be employed to render case  10  durable, rigid and light in weight, in a preferred embodiment, the case is injection molded, using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other similar material. By so forming the case, the guide tracks  26  and  28  for the tambour-type roller door  22  can be molded into the side walls  14  and  16  of the case  10  so as to avoid any obstruction of the interior of the carrying case while forming handholds  30  on the exterior of the case side walls  14  and  16  for holding and maneuvering the case in the horizontal use position. 
         [0021]    The opposed door guide tracks  26  and  28  are of identical configuration and each define relatively tight turns at the rearward ends thereof (only the rearward end  26   a  of guide track  26  is visible in the drawings—see  FIG. 7 ). Tambour door  22  can be comprised of a plurality of interlocking slats  30 . As seen in  FIG. 13 , each slat  30  defines an outer surface  30   a , an inner surface  30   b , a channel  31  extending along one side thereof and a cylindrical bead  33  extending along the other side of the slat parallel to the central axis of channel  31 . Bead  33  is joined to the slat by a thin web  35  and is sized to be slidably received in the channel  31  of an adjacent slat. Each channel  31  is provided with a lateral opening  37  so as to accommodate the web  35  of the adjacent slat to define the interlocking door structure and allow sufficient relative rotation of the beads  33  within the channels  31  of adjacent slats to enable the door to negotiate the turns defined by the guide tracks with the end portions of the slats being disposed within and riding along the two tracks. By making such a relatively tight turn, the door  22  can slide from its closed position extending across the upper end  24  of the case into the area  32  between bottom wall  12  and tray  13  where the door is out of sight, does not in any way obstruct access to or use of a laptop computer positioned on support tray  13  and does not require separate storage while the computer is in use. For reasons to be explained, support tray  13  preferably is inclined downwardly from front to rear and merges at its forward end  13   a  into a rounded interior upstanding wall surface  34 . 
         [0022]    An elongated opening or slot  36  is provided at the upper end of wall surface  34 . Slot  36  cooperates with tracks  26  and  28  to receive the perimeter forward end and side portions of the tambour door  22  when the door is in the closed position. An upwardly projecting flange  38  extends transversely across the door proximate the forward edge thereof to facilitate sliding movement of the door. Flange  38  is rearwardly disposed from the forward edge of the door such that the end portion can extend into the interior slot  36  in the forward end of the case. A suitable locking mechanism  39  is preferably provided in the forward end of the case for cooperating with the forward end portion of the door and/or flange  38  to lock the door in the closed position. 
         [0023]    A rear tray wall  40  extends upwardly between side walls  14  and  16  across the rear end of tray  13 . Wall  40  is forwardly spaced from the rear wall  20  of the carrying case  10  and cooperates with side walls  14  and  16  and the forward wall surface  34  to contain a laptop computer  100  on tray  13 . Spaced openings  42  are preferably provided in the rear tray wall  40  to cooperate with the exhaust fan (not shown) in the laptop computer for venting heated air through openings  42  and area  32 , about the portion of door  22  therein and out of the case and away from the user&#39;s lap. Openings  42  also provide a pathway for external electrical feeds to the computer. A plurality of openings (not shown), covered by suitable plugs can be provided in a side wall of the case to provide access to the computer for the electrical feed(s) through one of the openings  42  in tray wall  40 . By spacing the rear tray wall  40  forwardly of the rear wall  20  of case  10 , a storage area  47  is provided therebetween in which computer-related accessories and/or supplies can be stored. A pivotally or otherwise movably mounted cover  48  is provided for storage area  47  to secure the contents therein. 
         [0024]    Through the aforesaid configuration, a lightweight, extremely durable and highly versatile case is provided for one&#39;s laptop computer. The case is preferably sized to accommodate the conventional laptop sizes such that in the closed position with the computer resting on or adjacent to support tray  13 , the four sides of the computer are substantially adjacent the forward wall surface  34 , rear tray wall  40  and the side walls  14  and  16  that project upwardly from tray  13 . So positioned, the forward inclination of the support tray effects a pinching or clam shell securement of the computer between the tray  13  and the interior surface of the tambour roller door. While other door configurations could be employed, such as a flexible sheet of vinyl or other suitable material, the above-described tambour-type door construction provides additional protection for the contents of the case by providing cushioning space in the individual slats comprising the door and flexibility in the door itself. This flexibility results from the hinged slot construction previously described wherein any inward pressure on the door is partially absorbed by the flex in the slat and their individual hinge connections. This combination of the cushioning and flexibility in the door  22  provides enhanced protection for the goods within the case. 
         [0025]    As a result of the above-described construction, the computer is securely held within the case and well protected by the interior wall and door surfaces therein and the tambour door  22 . The outwardly projecting surfaces  14   a  and  16   a  on the side walls of the case formed by the molding of the interior door tracks  26  and  28 , function as bumpers to enhance the protection of the computer. Similarly, the rear end of the computer is adjacent the rear tray wall  40  which is spaced inwardly from the rear wall  20  of the case  10  and the forward end of the computer is adjacent the rounded interior wall surface  34  extending upwardly from the forward end of the tray which, as seen in the drawings, is inwardly spaced from the forward outer surface of the case  10 . Support tray  13  is also inwardly spaced from the bottom wall  12 . The result is a well cushioned and very secure environment for the laptop computer during transportation. 
         [0026]    By spacing the bottom of the computer from the bottom wall  12  of the carrying case  10 , the support tray  13  not only contributes to the isolation of the computer from the outer surfaces of the carrying case, it also cooperates with the bottom wall  12 , as noted above, to define an area  32  for receiving the tambour door that is out of sight, does not interfere in any way with the access to or use of the computer, and avoids the need to store the case while the computer is in use. In addition, the area  32  with the door disposed therein during the use of the computer provides heat insulation between the computer and the bottom surface of the case to protect the user&#39;s lap while operating the computer for a prolonged period of time on his or her lap. The case  10  also provides a comfortable support surface  50  for the user&#39;s wrists and, by virtue of the inclination of tray  13 , both raises the keyboard on the computer for easy access and allows for variations in the elevation of the keyboard. Support tray  13  can position the computer within the case such that when the case, with the computer therein, is placed on the floor or other horizontal surface in an upright position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the center of gravity of the combined case and computer is positioned along the vertical center line of the computer to enhance the stability of the case in the upright position. A foldable handle  52  is preferably provided on the upper end of the case  10  to facilitate carrying of the case in the upright or brief case-like mode, while allowing the handle to be pivoted into a recess  54  formed in the upper end of the computer to facilitate storage as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . It is to be understood that the case  10  could be constructed of a variety of different materials, including aluminum, and be particularly configured to carry a variety of different items in a secure environment. 
         [0027]    Another application for which the present invention is particularly well suited is for carrying fishing tackle. A second embodiment of the present invention tailored for such an application is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . As seen therein, the carrying case  100  differs from case  10  in that the tambour door configuration of the prior embodiment has been replaced with a slidable door  122 , preferably formed of a transparent and color tinted vinyl. The guide tracks in the side walls  114  and  116  of case  100  are sized and configured to accommodate the lateral end portions of the door  122  so as to provide the same sliding movement of the door between the closed and open positions described above with respect to door  22 . The use of a sheet of vinyl material both allows the users to view the contents of the case while the door is in a closed position and assists in rendering the case  100  water resistant. 
         [0028]    The support tray  113  in case  100  is provided with a plurality of upstanding wall sections  115  so as to provide a plurality of individual open-ended compartments  117  to segregate the various items of fishing tackle. The wall sections  115  preferably define an elevation slightly less than the distance between the support tray  113  and the sliding door  122  when the door is in the closed position. As a result, even the smaller fishing tackle items could be loosely stored in the various open-ended compartments  117  and held therein by the door when the carrying case  100  was disposed in the upright storage position illustrated in  FIG. 10  as the door  122  effectively closes or seals the open ends of the individual compartments  117 , securing the contents therein. Accordingly, case  100  substantially facilitates the location and access of the individual fishing tackle items when disposed in the horizontal position of  FIG. 11 , while defining a small footprint in its upright storage position (not shown). While the carrying case  100  is described and illustrated as having a transparent flexible door, solid doors, including tambour doors could also be employed. As with the first embodiment, the case  100  could be formed of ABS or, aluminum, or any other suitable rigid material. In addition, a filet cutting board (not shown), preferably formed of a suitable antibacterial plastic material, such as high density polyethylene, can be inset in the bottom wall  112  of the case  100 . Also, the cutting board material can be impregnated with a germ fighting agent such as zinc oxide. 
         [0029]    Yet another application for which the present invention is particularly well suited is that of a camera case (see  FIG. 12 ). The small footprint defined by the case in the upright storage mode, the improved organization provided by the case for its contents and the enhanced protection afforded the contents of the case are features particularly well suited for carrying cameras with their assortment of lenses and various attachments. To effect the isolation of and further cushion the various individual camera components and attachments, a foam padding with cutout compartments therein is preferably disposed on the support tray. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the carrying case of the present invention is not limited to the specific applications described herein. Also, various changes and modifications could be made in carrying out the present invention for the above-described and other applications. Insofar as such changes and modifications are within the purview of the appended claims, they are to be considered as part of the present invention.