Abstract:
A system and method for cooling the underside surface of a portable computer device having a casing and at least one connector for releasable engagement with a portable computer device. The casing has an upper surface, a lower surface and space therebetween whereby so that the lower surface of the portable computer device is adjacent to the upper surface of the system casing. The system may also include a fan.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/533569 entitled “Cooling and Securing Device for Notebook Computers” filed on Sep. 12, 2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The embodiments described herein relate to systems for managing the thermal envelope surrounding an electronic device. More particularly, the embodiments described herein thermally manage the underside surface of a laptop or notebook computer. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  with the top cover body of the device removed to expose to components inside ( FIG. 1 .) 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary personal computing device (notebook computer) attached to the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  depicts the magnified area A of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  depicts the magnified area B of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  with a tripod receiving recess . 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7  with a tripod attached thereto. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Personal portable computers, such as notebook or laptop computers often generate excessive heat while they are being used. Because of their light weight and easy portability, users often place these devices in their laps during use. The user&#39;s clothing or surrounding materials such as a pillow or bedding, causes the ventilation system within a computer to become ineffective because the clothing or bedding blocks the vents and prevents air discharge from the device. This may result in a system crash or decreased performance because of the device&#39;s inability to effectively ventilate the heat created during use. 
         [0015]    In addition, the heat can cause severe discomfort to the user when these devices are touched or held on the lap for any extended period. Overheating in portable computers and similar devices increases the risk of the user getting burned when placing these devices on the lap. For these reasons, the embodiments of the present invention provide for an effective system for creating a surface that can be placed on a user&#39;s lap that allows a portable computer to effectively ventilate while providing a comfortable surface for the user to contact. 
         [0016]    There are a number of existing systems directed at cooling the portable computer itself In addition there are a few systems that provide a barrier between the portable computer and the user. However, these devices are bulky and do not allow users to fixedly attach the portable computer to the barrier device. Accordingly, they limit the portability of the portable computer. The embodiments of the present invention provide protection from excessive heat while increasing mobility and usability of the portable computer. 
         [0017]    The first embodiment  10  of the present invention is shown generally in  FIG. 1 . The first embodiment  10  includes a casing  12  made of a rigid material such as a plastic or metal or wood. The casing may be shaped to accommodate different shaped portable devices. The casing has front, rear, left and right sides ( 12 A,  12 B,  12 C and  12 D respectively). A front latch  11  extends upwardly from the casing  12  at a point, preferable in the middle, on the front side  12 A of the casing  12 . Similarly there is a rear latch  16  located at a point on the rear side  12 B of the casing  12 . The front  11  and rear latches  16  are designed to connect the first embodiment  10  to the portable computer or other device. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  also shows a top cover  23  that extends across some or all of the surface of the casing  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the top cover  23  has vents  30 . The vents  30  are designed to be adjacent to the lower surface of a portable computer or other device (not shown in  FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 1  also shows a charging plug  15  for attaching to a power source to power the first embodiment  10 . In addition, the first embodiment  10  has a USB power plug  14  to alternatively attach to a power source to power the first embodiment  10 . These functions will be explained in detail below. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows the first embodiment  10  with the top cover  23  removed. This reveals the powered cooling system which includes an electric fan  19 , a battery  18  and a power controller  17 . The fan  19  is connected to an air flow guide  13  which directs the propelled air from the fan to an air flow guide outlet  13 A. Air flow opening  31  is located along the rear side  12 B of the casing  12  on the opposed side of the rear latch  16 . Air flow opening  31  helps to vent the air from within the casing  12  volume externally even when the fan  19  is not operating. When the fan is operating, the air flow opening  31  serves to draw cool external air through the opening from and into the space between the casing  12  and the top cover  23 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary portable computer device  32  attached to the first embodiment  10 . The lower surface  33  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the computer device  32  is received onto the top cover  23  of the first embodiment  10 . The front  11  and rear latches  16  extend upwardly to removeably attach the body of the computer device  32  thereto. The portable computer device  32  has an upper screen portion  38  and a lower keyboard portion  39 . The upper screen portion  38  is typically hinged to the lower keyboard portion so that when the device  32  is not in use, the user may close the upper portion  38  down upon the lower portion  39  for storage and transport. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the front latch  11  includes an upwardly extending member  34  and a lip  35 . The lip  35  engages a front portion of the computer device  32  and holds the device adjacent to the casing, as shown in detail in  FIG. 5 . Similarly, the rear latch  16  includes rear protruding member  36 . The rear protruding member  36  is tortuous in cross section. This is designed to accommodate the top cover  23  of the first embodiment  10  without resulting in a larger device than is necessary. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the rear protruding member extends upwardly beyond the lower surface  33  of the portable computer device  32 . A rear lip projects horizontally forward to engage with the lower surface  33  of the computer device  32 . The rear latch  16  engages with the computer device  32  in a manner so as to enable the hinged upper portion  38  of the computer device to move freely without interference from the rear latch. 
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows an optional feature of the first embodiment  10  in the form of a tripod screw mount  20  in the lower surface of the casing  12 . The tripod screw mount  20  receives a tripod assembly  24  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0022]    To use, the user first attaches the first embodiment  10  to a portable computing device  32 . This is achieved by ensuring that the lip  35  of the front latch  11  contacts the upper surface of the portable computer device  21 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . This results in the forward portion of the portable computer device  21  to be received into the lip  35  and rest upon the top cover  23 . Similarly, the user attaches the rear lip  37  of the rear latch  16  onto a recessed portion of the portable computing device. This results in the rear lip  37  pulling the lower surface of the portable computer device  21  downward so that it rests upon the top cover  23 . Once assembled, the space created within the first embodiment  10  between the top cover  23  and the casing  12  creates an air pocket which insulates the heat created in the portable computer device  32  from the user&#39;s lap when the first embodiment  10  is attached to the portable computer device  32 . To create further cooling, the user may choose to operate the fan  19 . This is accomplished by a switch  25  or the like located on the side of the casing. The fan may be automatically switched on and its speed varied as programmed by the power controller  17 . 
         [0023]    A second embodiment  40  is shown in  FIG. 9 . All items similarly structured are represented by similarly numbered items as described above. The second embodiment  40  includes vent plugs  42 . The vent plugs  42  may be removeable pieces as shown in  FIG. 10  where each piece is placed within the vent  30  openings in the top cover  23 . Alternatively, it is contemplated that the vent plugs  42  may be slidingly engaged with the top cover so as to rotate within the casing  12  to obstruct part or all of the vent  30  openings. A third embodiment  44  is shown in  FIG. 11 . This embodiment shows a top cover  26  with no vent. 
         [0024]    The invention conducts heat away from the notebook computer to lower the temperature of the notebook computer in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the device also uses convection through the use of an optional electric fan inside the device, allowing faster heat dissipation. 
         [0025]    The operation of the second  40  and third  44  embodiments is similar to the first embodiment  10 . The second embodiment  40  may have the vent plugs  42  in or out when in use. Alternatively, if the vent plugs were slidingly revealed, the level of closure may be adjusted by the user. The user would also operate the fan in the same fashion with a switch located on the side of the casing  12 . It is understood that while the embodiments of the present invention have been discussed relative to portable computers, such as notebook and laptop computers, it is envisioned that other portable electronic devices would also work in connection with these embodiments. These include but are not limited to tablets, such as the Apple iPad® computing device, portable book tablets and other similar devices such as notebook, laptop, portable video players, portable books such as the Nook® tablet and the like. 
         [0026]    It will be appreciated that the embodiments herein are described generally and that there a numerous alternative ways in which a number of features of the described embodiments may function. For example, with regard to the front or rear latch, one alternative embodiment may be a “pull down latch” where the latch would engage with an edge of the portable electronic device. Once the latch is fastened, the electronic device would be held securely to one of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0027]    It will also be appreciated that the terms “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “right,” and “left” are for the purposes of description only and are not intended to be limiting in any manner Similarly, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, the term “a computing device” or “a top cover” is intended to include both the singular and plural forms of these terms unless specifically stated otherwise.