Abstract:
Disclosed is a computer support device comprising a base, a rectangular support plate attached to the base in a manner that permits rotation of the support plate around a vertical axis in the center of the base, and a support construct that is moveably attached to the top surface of said support plate, wherein said construct is capable of being vertically elevated relative thereto.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a portable device for use in supporting laptop computers, and similar products. More particularly, it relates to a portable device for use in supporting laptop computers that enables a laptop computer positioned thereon to moved in a horizontal rotational and vertical up and down manner. 
   (2) Description of Related Art 
   In recent years laptop computers have become the computer of choice for many consumers. They have become ubiquitous for salespeople who spend a lot of time on the road, as orders can be entered instantly, and sent back to headquarters for processing, thereby saving much time and effort for the sales people. Attorneys also use laptop computers during trials to record and recall testimony. It is believed that laptop computers will become the dominant computers in a few short years, as improvements are made in battery life, memory capability, and screen brightness. One of the problems with laptop computers, however, is that they are not always easy to use when a person is on the road. In airplanes, for example, the computers have to be placed on the fold down trays located in the back of the seat in front of the passenger. This often is unsatisfactory for the laptop user, as the space is cramped, and the laptops often are difficult to read, as the screen is not properly situated for easy visibility. Moreover, the key pads are flat, and sometimes are difficult to access in that position. The angle of the keyboard often needs to be adjusted for efficient usage, but this is impossible with present laptops. U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,040, Dumond, describes a portable table for laptop computers having legs which are adjustable in a lateral and vertical direction. However, this product is inadequate in that it does not allow rotational movement. Moreover, it does not permit adjustment of the angle of the laptop keyboard relative to a flat surface. What is needed is a portable device that the laptop computer, or similar product, can be placed on that allows rotational movement and adjustment of the angle of the laptop keyboard easily. The present invention does just that. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a portable computer support device that a laptop computer or similar product can be placed on that permits horizontal rotational movement and vertical movement of the laptop keyboard while it is positioned on the device. This is accomplished in the manner set forth below. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top of the base plate. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bottom of the base plate. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the top surface of the support plate. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view from another angle of the top surface of the support plate. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bottom of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the support plate. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view from the top of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 10  A is a plan view of a component of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 10  B is a perspective view of an arm section of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view from the top of the device of the invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The laptop computer support device  10  of this invention is shown in its entirety in  FIG. 11 . It comprises several parts which interact together. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the first part (not seen in  FIG. 11 ) is a circular base plate  12 . The base plate  12  is preferably made of molded plastic, but can also be made of metal or wood. The base plate  12  has a hole  14  in the middle having a diameter sufficient for a screw or bolt to be inserted through it. 
   In the preferred embodiment the diameter of the hole  14  is about ⅜ of an inch. The top surface  16  of the base plate  12  has a raised circular flange  18  on it. It is concentric to the hole  14 . The purpose of the flange  18  will be described below. The preferred diameter of the base plate  12  is about 8 inches, and the circular flange  18  is preferably located about one and one quarter inches from the outer edge of the base plate  12 . The flange  18  projects about ⅛ inch vertically for the surface  16  of the base plate  12 .  FIG. 2  shows the bottom surface  20  of the base plate  12 . It has a series of concentric strengthening ribs  22  molded into it, and a number of intersecting ribs  24  which radiate out from the center of the plate  12 . There is a small concentric rib  26  molded into the plate  12  at the center surrounding the hole  14 . The concentric rib  26  defines a circular space  28  with a flange  30  wide enough to receive a washer (not shown). The bottom surface  20  of the base plate  12  also has a plurality of non skid pads  32  situated at various locations close to the edge of the plate  12 . The non skid pads  32  are situated in recesses  34  molded into the bottom surface  20  of the plate  12 . Desirably, the non skid pads  32  are located close to the edge of the bottom surface  20  of the base plate  12 , and are positioned so that they provide uniform support on a flat surface to the base plate  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , there are four non skid pads  32 , one located at each of the apexes of a imaginary rectangle toward the outer ends of the ribs  24  which intersect with the small concentric rib  26  surrounding the hole  14  in the plate  12 . The non skid pads  32  can be made of felt, Velcro, or similar material. The number of non skid pads is variable. As shown, the base plate is circular in configuration, but the shape is substantially immaterial. That is, it could be square or rectangular, or some other shape. What is important is that it have a hole  14  at or near the center thereof, and an elevated circular flange  18  on the top surface  16 . 
   Positioned above, and overlying the base plate  12  is a support plate  36 . The support plate  36 ,  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , is generally rectangular in configuration. It has an elevated ledge  38  projecting upward at the lower end, to provide a stop for a laptop computer that may be positioned on it. That is, a laptop computer would be stopped from sliding off of the device  10  and support plate  36  by the ledge  38 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the ledge  38  extends across the entire width of the base. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the ledge has a gap  40  in the middle, so as to provide access to wires, connections, and the like that some laptop computers have in the front thereof. If desired, a non slip material  42  such as rubber can be applied to the face  44  of the ledge  38  to prevent sliding of a laptop computer that may be resting against it. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in particular, the support plate  36  has a number of slots in it. One set of slots  46  is located at the end opposite the ledge  38 . Each slot  46  has a pair of ears  48  projecting upward from the sides thereof, and a round axle  50  spanning the space between the ears  48 . Below each of the slots  46  is a rectangular recessed area  52  molded into the face  44  of the support plate  36 . A second pair of slots  54  is located at an intermediate point on the support plate  36  about ⅔ of the distance from the bottom edge. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 9 , each of the slots  54  has a cowl  56  projecting upward from the outer edge thereof, and a set of teeth  58  projecting upward adjacent the inner edge thereof. The teeth  58  are molded onto the top surface or face  44  of the support plate  36 , and provide a ratchet mechanism, as will be described below. The number of teeth  58  can be variable, but preferably, there are 9 spaced apart teeth on each side of the support plate  36 , and the teeth are about ⅛ inches in height. The space between the teeth  58  defines a recess  60  or groove into which an axle is situated, as described below. 
   The top surface  62  of the support plate  36  has a circular elevated section  64  substantially in the middle thereof, intermediate the two rows of teeth  58 . The elevated section  64  has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the outer edge of the flange  18  on the top surface of the base plate  12 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 6 , the bottom side  66  of the support plate  36  has spacers  68  molded into the four corners thereof, and has a circular indentation  70  that corresponds in diameter to the elevated ring  64  on the surface  62  thereof. The slots  46  and  54  described above with reference to the top surface of the support plate  36  are also shown. A plurality of open faced cups  72  are molded into the bottom surface  66  of the support Plate  36 , situated around the periphery of the circular indentation  70 . Each of the cups  72  holds a ball bearing  74  which facilitates rotational movement of the support plate  36  on the base plate  12 , as described below. 
   A downwardly projecting screw receiving post  76  is located at the center of the indentation  70 . The diameter of the post is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole  14 .  FIG. 5  shows the base plate  12  mounted to the bottom of the support plate  36 . The annular flange  18  on the top surface  16  of the base plate  12  fits into the indentation  70  in the bottom of the support plate  36 . When properly situated, the post  76  projects through the hole  14 , but is sufficiently loose so that rotation of the support plate  36  with respect to the base plate  12  can be achieved. Before the base plate  12  is fastened to the support plate  36 , the ball bearings  74  are placed in the cups  72 . A portion of the ball bearings  74  projects beyond the edge of the cups  72  so as to provide a movable surface against which the base plate  12  rests. The base plate  12  is affixed to the support plate  36  by a screw  78  inserted through the hole  14  and screwed into the post  76 . The screw  78  is restrained from passing through the hole  14  by a washer  80  under the head thereof which is larger than the diameter of the hole  14  and rests against the flange  30  in the recess  28 . The ball bearings  74  in the cups  72  come into contact with the upper surface  16  of the base plate  12 . The support plate  36  is thus rotationally moveable around the axis of the post  76  and screw  78  while the base plate  12  stays stationary. The diameter of the circular flange  18  of the base plate  12  is lightly smaller than the diameter of the indentation  70  in the bottom of the support plate  36 , thus when the screw  78  is tightened, the flange  18  fits within the peripheral confines of the indentation  70 , thereby restricting movement of the support plate  36 , other than rotational movement. 
   A moveable support construct  86  is affixed to the top surface of the support plate  36 . As seen in FIGS.  7 , 8   9 , and  10 A and  10 B, the construct  86  comprises an irregularly shaped essentially flat molded piece  88  having a generally straight rounded upper edge  90 , and two parallel legs  92  separated by an arcuate shaped cutout  94 . 
   The rounded upper edge  90  of the molded piece  88  has axle like extensions  96  on each side, and smaller slotted axles  98  extending therefrom. Each leg  92  has a slot  100  at the foot thereof, and an axle  102  at the very bottom thereof which extends outwardly. The axles  102  are of a size that they fit into the grooves  60  between the teeth  58 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . 
   An arm  104  attaches to the axles  98  of each side of the molded piece  88 . Each arm  104  has an open mouth  106  at one end, and a head  108  with circular configuration defining a circular opening  110  at the other end. When assembled, the open mouth of the arm  104  fits over the axle  50  in the support plate  36 , and engages it, while the head  108  fits over the axle  98  on the molded piece. 
   Thus is obtained a moveable support construct, that is rotatable about the horizontal axis of the molded piece  88  extending through axles  98  and the axis of axles  50  of the support plate  36 . The axles  102  on the legs  92  of the molded piece  88 , fit into the groves  60  formed between the teeth  58 . Thus a type of ratchet mechanism is achieved. Depending on the degree of elevation desired, the support construct  86  can be lowered or raised vertically by repositioning the axles  102  at the bottom of legs  92  in the grooves  60  formed between the teeth  58 . The legs  92  are held in place by the ends of the axles  102  extending into the space formed under the cowl  56 . When fully extended, the construct  86  lays essentially flat against the support plate  36 , thus enabling the device  10  to be placed in a briefcase or laptop carrier, and easily transported. 
   A laptop computer or other device placed on the device of the invention can be moved in a rotational direction, or one end elevated in a vertical direction, or both, as desired. The degree of elevation is controlled by the moveable support construct  86 , which can be raised or lowered vertically by repositioning the axles  102  in the grooves  60  between the teeth  58 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thus the angle of a laptop keyboard resting on the device  10  can be easily adjusted by rotating the support plate  36  on the base plate  12 , or raising the rounded upper edge of the support construct  86  to the desired height, or both. 
   An added advantage is that the device of the invention enables air to circulate freely around and underneath a computer, thus preventing excessive heat buildup, and thereby increasing battery life. 
   While this invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclose as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.