Abstract:
A heated case for protecting a laptop computer or other portable electronic device from damage that may be caused by cold ambient conditions. The case may be a laptop sleeve or a multi-compartment case including a compartment adapted to receive and contain a laptop computer. A heating element formed of resistive wires is disposed about the sleeve or laptop compartment. A thermostatic control unit controls the temperature. The heating element may draw electric power from a battery or a vehicle via a power cable connected to a power outlet in the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to cases for laptop computers, tablets and other portable electronic devices, and more particularly to heated sleeves and cases for use with such devices under cold weather conditions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The use of laptop computers, tablet computers, smart phones and other portable electronic devices has become widespread in recent years. These devices are often used away from the user&#39;s home or office, including in vehicles and on job sites. For example, a property inspector may use a laptop to enter information and generate reports onsite at a home or other building, or a contractor may use a tablet at a construction site to review plans or communicate by email or text. The device may be used outdoors, or used or kept in a vehicle for an extended period of time. As a result, the device may at times be exposed to cold temperatures. 
         [0003]    Cold weather can damage a laptop or similar device in multiple ways, from disabling the display and corrupting the hard drive to shattering the screen if it is warmed up too quickly. Both using and storing a laptop in a cold environment can cause problems. Computer manufacturers typically specify an operating temperature range of about 50° to 95° F. (10° to 35° C.). It is therefore generally advised that a laptop should be stored indoors in temperature-controlled climates whenever possible. It should not be left in a vehicle or other places where it will be exposed to extreme cold, even if it is in its case. The screen is especially vulnerable to damage, and a liquid crystal display can freeze if exposed to cold temperatures for too long. While this in itself may not ruin the screen, attempting to use a laptop after it has been in the cold for too long can cause dead pixels or even cause the screen to shatter. Cold temperatures may also significantly reduce battery life. 
         [0004]    It is, of course, possible to provide some protection against the cold by keeping the laptop in a case, but this will not by itself be sufficient in extremely cold conditions. Further, even with a case, a laptop may still be susceptible to moisture damage, including condensation that may occur when the device is warmed up. 
         [0005]    A need therefore exists for a temperature-controlled case for a laptop or other portable electronic device, which provides an appropriate level of heat to protect the device from cold ambient conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the invention, a temperature controlled case for a portable electronic device comprises a compartment adapted to receive and contain a portable electronic device, a heating element disposed about the compartment, a thermostatic control unit operably connected to the heating element, and means for connecting the control unit to an electric power source. 
         [0007]    In one aspect of the invention, the case is a sleeve for a laptop computer. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the invention, the case includes a bottom panel, left and right end walls extending upwardly from respective ends of the bottom panel, and front and rear walls extending upwardly from respective sides of the bottom panel and extending between the left and right end walls. The bottom, left and right end walls, and front and rear walls define at least one compartment, and a heating element is disposed on at least one of the walls which define the compartment. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the invention, the case includes a number of compartments, at least one of which is adapted to receive and contain a laptop computer. The case may include interior and exterior storage pockets. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, the power source is a vehicle and a power cable having a plug adapted for connection to a cigarette lighter or power outlet in the vehicle is provided. The case may include a pocket on the exterior of the case for storing the power cable when not in use. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, the power source is a battery. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, the control unit is preset to a predetermined temperature. Alternately, the control unit includes means for adjusting the temperature to a desired temperature, and may include a display of the selected temperature. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a heated laptop computer sleeve-type case in accordance with the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a heated laptop computer case in accordance with the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the interior compartments of the case of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a view of interior storage pockets of the case of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the case of  FIG. 2  showing details of the heating elements in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The case of the invention may take a variety of forms and configurations, and the size may be varied to accommodate particular portable electronic devices. Two illustrative embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. 
         [0019]    A laptop sleeve  10  is show in  FIG. 1 . Sleeve  10  includes a front wall  12 , a rear wall  14 , left and right end walls  16  and  18 , bottom panel  20  and top  22 . Front wall  12 , rear wall  14 , end walls  16 ,  18 , and bottom panel  20  generally define and form a compartment  24  configured to receive and contain a laptop computer or other portable electronic device. 
         [0020]    Top  22  is attached in a hinge arrangement to the upper edge of rear wall  14 . Top  22  forms a flap, so that when top  22  is closed, a portion extends between front wall  12  and rear wall  14 , and the rest extends down over part of front wall  12 , where it may be secured in a closed position by hook-and-loop fasteners or a clasp (not shown). Top  22  may be fully opened to permit easy insertion and removal of the laptop computer. 
         [0021]    Metal or plastic D-rings  26  are preferably attached at the top of end walls  16 ,  18 . A shoulder strap (not shown) may be attached to D-rings  26  with snaps or hooks. 
         [0022]    Front wall  12 , rear wall  14 , end walls  16 ,  18 , bottom panel  20  and top  22  are constructed of fabric material of a type commonly used for luggage, such as ballistic or Cordura nylon, polyester or canvas. Such materials are strong, durable and attractive. Bottom panel  20  may include a stiffener (not shown) either inside sleeve  10  or encased in fabric. The stiffener may be made of a rigid plastic, e.g., ABS. Other walls may include stiffeners, if desired. 
         [0023]    Preferably, compartment  24  is padded to provide protection for the laptop. The padding material, which may be for example foam or fabric, may be located inside sleeve  10  or may be encased in the fabric used for the walls of sleeve  10 . 
         [0024]    The size of sleeve  10  may be varied to accommodate particular devices. For a standard laptop computer, sleeve  10  is preferably about 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) long, 12 inches (30.5 cm) high and 1.5 inches (4 cm) wide. 
         [0025]    Heating element  30  consists of a network of insulated resistive wires  32 . Wires  32  are preferably located between an outer fabric layer and an inner fabric layer of rear wall  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternately, heating element  30  may be located in front wall  12 , or heating elements may be provided in both front wall  12  and rear wall  14  to provide heat for both the battery side and the display side of the laptop computer. 
         [0026]    Resistive wires  32  may be in the form of a rope heater, namely, a heating element consisting of a very fine electric conductor wire wound around a core which is typically made of glass fibers. Wires  32  may be stitched or otherwise attached either directly to one of the layers of a wall of sleeve  10  or onto a substrate made of felt or similar material which is then sandwiched between fabric layers forming the wall. The substrate bearing the heating element may be covered by a pair of vinyl sheets, one on each side of the felt, with the vinyl sheets being adhered together by adhesive or heat sealing at their peripheral edges to provide a water tight enclosure. Alternately, the entire heating element  30  may be covered by an insulating layer of PVC to prevent contact with the electrically live wire. The rope heater is typically of a diameter of about one eighth (⅛″) of an inch. 
         [0027]    As an alternative to wires  32 , heating element  30  may be in the form of a flexible, electrically-conductive sheet or other suitable type of heating device. 
         [0028]    Heating element  30  is connected to a thermostatic control unit  34 , which may be located at any convenient position on or in sleeve  10 . Control unit  34  senses the temperature in compartment  24  and varies the amount of current through wires  32  to vary the amount of heat generated and thus control the temperature in compartment  24 . The desired temperature may be preset and fixed, or a controller may be provided to allow a user to adjust the temperature setting manually. The controller may be a simple rheostat with a rotatable knob or an up-and-down switch with or without a temperature display. If the temperature is preset and fixed, the temperature should not be less than the lower limit of the operating range for the laptop computer, i.e., about 50° F. (10° C.). If the temperature is adjustable, the controller may permit adjustment in a range from the lower limit of the laptop computer&#39;s operating range to roughly normal room temperature, e.g., about 50° to 75° F. (10° to 24° C.). Control unit  34  may also be programmed with an upper temperature limit which cannot be exceeded, to prevent damage to the laptop computer that might be caused by overheating. 
         [0029]    Heating element  30  and control unit  34  are connected to a power source, which may be a battery pack, either external or located in sleeve  10 , or an external power source such as a vehicle. A pocket  36  is preferably provided on sleeve  10  for storing a power cord for connection to the power source. 
         [0030]    An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . Case  40  includes front wall  42 , rear wall  44 , left and right end walls  46  and  48 , bottom panel  50  and top panel  52 . A pair of zippers  54 A and  54 B are provided in top panel  52 , running the length of top panel  52  and extending partially down end walls  46  and  48 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when zippers  54 A,  54 B are opened, two compartments  56 A,  56 B are made accessible and expand when opened. An interior center compartment  58  is provided inside compartment  56 B for receiving and containing a laptop computer or other electronic device. Padding is provided on both sides of center compartment  58  to protect the laptop computer. Center compartment  58  may optionally include a suspended cradle to protect the laptop computer against shock and impact. 
         [0031]    Handles  60  are attached on both sides of case  40 . A pair of D-rings  62  are attached at the top of end walls  46 ,  48  to permit attachment of a shoulder strap. Exterior pockets  64  are provided on front wall  42  and rear wall  44 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , large and small pockets  66  and  68 , respectively, are preferably provided inside side compartments  56 A,  56 B. One or more of pockets  66 ,  68  may have zipper or hook-and-loop closures. 
         [0032]    The size of case  40  and center compartment  58  may be varied to accommodate particular electronic devices. For a standard laptop computer, case  40  is preferably about 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) long, 14 inches (35.5 cm) high and 7 inches (18 cm) wide. 
         [0033]    Heating element  70  consists of a network of insulated resistive wires  72  which are located between fabric layers which form the walls of center compartment  58  as shown in  FIG. 3 . As previously described, wires  72  may be stitched or otherwise attached either directly to one of the layers of the walls or onto a substrate made of felt or similar material which is then sandwiched between fabric layers of the walls. Heating element  70  may also be sealed in PVC as described above. 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , heating element  70  may be located between an outer fabric layer and an inner fabric layer of front wall  42  and rear wall  44  of case  40 , instead of, or in addition to, being provided in the walls of center compartment  58 . 
         [0035]    Heating element  70  is connected to a thermostatic control unit  74 , which is preferably located on one end wall of case  40  as shown in  FIG. 5 , but may be located at any convenient position on or in case  40 . The desired temperature may be preset and fixed, or a controller may be provided to allow a user to adjust the temperature setting manually, as described above. 
         [0036]    In the case of using a vehicle as the power source, a power cable  80  with a plug  82  for insertion in a cigarette lighter or other vehicle power outlet is provided. Cable  80  may be permanently connected to control unit  74 , or may be provided with a plug for connection to a power jack on case  40 . A pocket  84  may be provided on case  40  for convenient storage of power cord  80 . If a battery pack is provided, it may be charged while power cord  80  is connected to a vehicle power source. 
         [0037]    The manners of use of both sleeve  10  and case  40  are similar. The user simply places the laptop or other electronic device in compartment  24  of sleeve  10  or center compartment  58  of case  40 , connects the power source (battery or power cable  80  connected to a vehicle), and adjusts the temperature setting as appropriate using control unit  34  or  74 . Heating element  30  or  70  will be thermostatically activated as necessary to maintain a desired temperature in compartment  24  of sleeve  10  or center compartment  58  of case  40 , thus protecting the laptop computer from exposure to extreme cold. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements, and such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be covered by the following claims.