Abstract:
A portable riser for supporting a laptop computer or other article at an angle to a supporting surface. The riser includes a base and lid attached to each other by a double hinge. Arc shaped legs deploy form the riser when the lid is moved from a closed position to an deployed position a position where the lid rests against the opposite side of the base. The legs are formed by deforming a sheet of flexible material that lies between the base and a cover plate. The lid and the sheet of flexible material are coupled to each other so that when the lid is moved from the closed to the deployed position, the sheet of material is deployed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/156,784, filed Mar. 2, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention is computer accessories, more particularly, laptop accessories. 
     2. Background Art 
     This invention relates to laptop risers, devices that allow a laptop computer to be raised above or positioned at an angle to a surface such as a desk or lap. Users of laptop and other portable electronic devices have found that it is desirable to position the device at an angle with respect to the horizontal. For instance, such angle may provide more comfort when typing on a laptop keyboard, or better viewing of a display screen on the device. In the case of a tablet computer or other touch screen device, the laptop riser can provide an improved angle for writing on the touch screen. The laptop riser of the invention may also be used as a work surface, or support for other devices and articles. For instance, the laptop riser could be used to support a book at an angle to the users lap or table top, thus placing the book at a convenient angle for reading. 
     As laptop computers and other portable electronic devices have become more powerful, they tend to generate more heat. The heat generated can result in discomfort for the user if the device is resting on the users lap. Additionally, the heat is can be detrimental to the device. Hence, it is beneficial to separate the device from the users lap for benefit of the user and the device. 
     To aid in dissipating the heat from the device, it is preferred that the structure elevating the laptop have vents or other structures to permit heat to flow from the laptop, particularly if the laptop has an internal fan venting to the bottom of the laptop. To improve comfort of the user, it is also preferable that the users lap is shielded from the vented heat of the laptop. In the configuration described herein, the deployable legs are positioned between the user&#39;s lap and the vents provided in the laptop supporting structure or base of the laptop riser. 
     Since laptop computers are portable, it is also desirable that the laptop riser be portable and of compact size to be easily transportable. Thus, the laptop riser described herein has a first configuration to be compact for transport, and a second configuration wherein the legs, risers, or supports are deployed to allow support of the laptop computer at an angle to the users lap, or other working surface, such as a desktop. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device described herein is a laptop riser or support, capable of supporting a laptop computer or other device, at an angle to the users lap or other work surface. The laptop riser includes deployable legs that selectively deploy from the riser. When deployed, the legs allow the laptop riser to be positioned at an angle to the users lap. 
     The laptop riser is generally planar prior to deployment of the legs. The legs are formed by deforming a plastic sheeted material to form arcs. The legs or structure formed by the sheeted material is remarkably strong in the arc shape. When positioned at one end of a platform or other laptop support surface, the arcs form a light-weight wedge shaped structure to elevate a Laptop at an angle for comfortable viewing or typing. The arcs also form air channels which allow air to flow help to keep the laptop cool. The arcs deform slightly with the weight of a laptop to distribute the weight comfortably across a person&#39;s lap. The support surface can include vents to allow the laptop to dissipate heat more effectively than if there were no vents. 
     In the most basic form, the laptop riser includes a surface to support the laptop, and downwardly extending legs to selectively elevate the platform at an angle. In such a configuration, the base includes an upper surface to support the laptop, and a lower surface from which the legs deploy. The legs may be formed by deforming a plastic sheet material into arc shaped legs. The plastic sheet material is slideably sandwiched between a cover plate attached to the lower surface of the base. The plastic sheet material is attached to the base so that when it is displaced toward the attachment to the base, the legs rise up and deploy. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic sheet is attached near or at the perimeter edge of the base. It is preferable that the plastic sheet be securable in position so that the legs may selectively remain deployed. As further described herein, the laptop riser may contain other features. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the laptop riser includes a lid to cover the deployable legs when the legs are not deployed, such as in a storage configuration. The cover is hingedly attached to a base member that includes the deployable legs. The lid and the base member are generally coextensive. The lid and base member may latch together in the storage configuration and unlatch for deployment. 
     The deployable legs are formed from a thin plastic sheet that is sandwiched between the base member, and a cover sheet. The cover sheet allows the thin plastic sheet to slide between the cover sheet and the base. The thin plastic sheet is attached to the base or the cover sheet or both, near the hinge connecting the base member and the lid. 
     A flexible fabric strap, such as nylon webbing, is used to lift the arcs through a pulling process. The strap is attached to the lid, preferably at a point approximately 1 inch above the hinge and to a slot in the deforming sheeted material. The act of opening the lid and rotating it 360-degrees provides the pulling force and travel needed to pull on the plastic sheet material in the direction of its attachment to the base. The tension forces the plastic sheet to lift and “deform” into the arc shaped legs. 
     The preferred embodiment includes two deployable arc shaped legs. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the teachings used to deploy two legs can be used to deploy a single leg, or a plurality of legs. For instance, the two arc shaped legs shown in the preferred embodiment are created by deforming a single plastic sheet. By judicious selection of the size and shape of the sheet, as well as the cover plate or other structure to retain the sheet, a single leg could be formed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the laptop riser in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 1A  is a bottom close up view of the latch in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of the laptop riser in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 1C  is a bottom close up view of the larch in an unlatched configuration. 
         FIG. 1D  is a sectional view of the laptop riser in an unlatched configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of the laptop riser in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the laptop riser in a partially open configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the laptop riser in a partially open configuration, with the lid rotated 180 degrees from the closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the laptop riser in a nearly fully open position, with the legs deployed. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the laptop riser in use. 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 8  is a close up view of the vents on the laptop riser in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 9A  is a close up partial cutaway view of the hinge of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the strap attachment to the plastic sheet of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the strap attached to the plastic sheet of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 10B  is a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the strap attached to the plastic sheet of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 10C  is a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the strap fully attached to the plastic sheet of the laptop riser. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective close up view of the strap being attached to the H shaped slot in the lid of the laptop riser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With respect to the Figures, the laptop riser  10  of the preferred embodiment includes a lid  20  and a base  30  hingedly attached by at least one double hinge. In the preferred embodiment, three double hinges  40   a - c  are used. 
     The lid  20  and base  30  are generally coextensive and overlay each other. The lid  20  includes a latch  50  that includes tabs  51   a  and  51   b . In the closed or latched position, the tabs  51   a  and  51   b  engage the base  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The cross sectional views of  1 A and  1 D are simplified and do not show all structures.  FIG. 7  provides a more comprehensive cross sectional view. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , in the closed position, the double hinge  40   b  forms an angle alpha with respect to the horizontal. In the preferred embodiment, the angle alpha is 45 degrees. Placing the double hinge at an angle allows a slimmer profile than if the double hinge were positioned at 90 degrees to horizontal. The base  20  includes stop  60   b  in close proximity to the double hinges  40   b  to prevent over-rotation of the double hinges  40 . In the latched configuration, the double hinge  40   b  is in contact with the stop  60   b . Over-rotation of the hinge is undesirable as it would allow easy disengagement of the latch  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , movement of the hinge  40   b  and the latch  50  in the direction of the arrows allows the latch  50  to close. Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 1D , movement of the hinges  40  and latch  50  in the direction of the arrows in that figure results in the unlatching of the lid  20  from the base  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1D , the hinge forms angle beta with respect to horizontal, and angle beta is less than angle alpha. Such movement of the hinge  40  allows separation G from the stop  60 . 
     The lid  20  may be rotated 360 degrees about the hinges to transition from a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  to an open position. The transition is shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . As the lid  20  and base  30  separate, a strap  70  attached to the lid  20  pulls on a plastic sheet  80  to deploy legs  100   a  and  100   b  from a first stowed position to a second deployed position. 
     When in the open position, the base  20  forms the laptop support surface. The laptop support surface may include non-slip pads  26  to help secure the laptop on the angled surface of the laptop riser  10 . 
     With reference to the exploded view in  FIG. 9 , the legs  100   a  and  100   b  are formed by rising arcs made by deforming the plastic sheet  80 . The plastic sheet  80  is preferably made of polypropylene, but may be any deformable material. It is preferred that the plastic sheet  80  is polypropylene and approximately 2.0 mm to 0.8 mm in thickness. It is most preferred that the plastic sheet  80  is 1.0 mm in thickness. The plastic sheet  80  is positioned to slide between the base  30  and a cover plate  110 . The cover plate  110  is attached to the base  30 , in a parallel plane, but offset or elevated from the base at spacing equal to the thickness of the plastic sheet. Bosses  112  are used to elevate the cover plate  110 . This offset space allows the plastic sheet  80  to slide there between so as to allow portions not retained by the cover plate  110  to deform and rise away from the base  30 . The legs  100   a  and  100   b  of the plastic sheet  80  are attached to the base  30  near the hinges  40   a - c . The cover plate  110  is not coextensive with the plastic sheet  80 , and does not overlay the legs  100   a  and  100   b , thus allowing the legs to deploy when the plastic sheet  80  is pulled by the strap  70 . The cover plate  110  in the preferred embodiment is “T” shaped. One skilled in the art will recognize that other structures could be used in place of the cover plate  110  in order to retain the plastic sheet  80  in a slidable relationship with the base  30 . For instance, the lateral edges of the plastic sheet  80  could be retained and slide in channels or slots formed in a raised perimeter of base  30 . Further the cover plate  110  could be integrally formed with the base  30 . 
     The lid  20  and base  30  are attached to each other by a plurality of double hinges  40   a - 40   c . The hinges are attached to the base  30  and lid  20  by rods  41  and  42 . 
     The strap  70  is attached to the lid  20  approximately 1 inch from the hinge  40   b . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the strap  70  is inserted into to a slot  120  in the plastic sheet  80  and attached back onto itself by stitching or glue. Similarly, the strap  70  is attached to the lid  20  by inserting the end of the strap  70  through a pair of slots  121  and  122  and attached back onto itself. The strap  70  should be taught when the laptop riser  10  is in the closed position, so as to allow a pulling action on the plastic sheet  80  when the lid  20  is rotated about the hinges  40   a - c . In the open position with the legs deployed, the strap  70  also acts to secure the legs  100   a  and  100   b  in the deployed position. 
     The legs  100   a  and  100   b  include areas of attachment  101   a  and  101   b  to the base  30 . The areas of attachment  101   a  and  101   b  are folded under the legs, so that the leg  100   a  or  100   b  overlays the attachment area  101   a  or  101   b . Such positioning is shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  7 . The legs  100   a  and  100   b  preferably each include a hinge  102   a  and  102   b  linking the areas of attachment  101   a  and  101   b  to legs  100   a  and  100   b . The use of the hinges allow for better storage and deployment of the legs  100   a  and  100   b . The hinges  102   a  and  102   b  may be living hinges formed of the plastic sheet  80 , and need not be separate components attached to the plastic sheet  80 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there is a portion of the legs  100   a  and  100   b  that is in contact with the users lap, or other work surface, when the legs are deployed. Those portions of the legs  100   a  and  100   b  may include a non-slip coating, insert, attachment, surface treatment, or co-molding, or other substance to aid in secure positioning of the laptop riser, as the polypropylene used for the sheet may be slick. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lid  20  includes vents  25  and the base  30  includes vents  35 . When the laptop riser is in the deployed configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the lid vents  25  overlay the base vents  35 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the vents may be positioned in orientations that are different from each other. For instance, the lid vents  25  may be oriented 90 degrees from the base vents  35 . It is preferable that the lid vents  25  and base vents  35  are positioned over the deployed legs  100   a  and  100   b , to allow the legs to shield the users lap from heat dispersed by the vents. Such placement also allows the air to flow in and out of channels formed by the arc shaped legs. 
     In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10A-10C  and  11 , the strap  70  is constructed so that there is a loop on a first terminal end and a plug on the second terminal end. Such a construction allows the laptop riser to be assembled more easily, without the need to sew or glue loops in the strap  70  after the strap is threaded through slots. The loop on the first terminal end is not shown in  FIG. 10 , but is shown in  FIG. 11 . The loop and the plug need not be used together. For instance, the strap  70  may include the plug  173  at the second terminal end  172 , but no loop at the first terminal end  171 . In such an instance, the strap  70  would attach to the lid by threading the strap  70  through two slots as previously described. 
     When the plug  173  is used, it is preferable to use a construction that will lock or secure the strap  70  on the plastic sheet  80  so that the strap  70  does not easily detach. As shown in  FIGS. 10A-C , the plastic sheet includes an arrangement of slots. A first slot  191  is sized to accept the plug  173 . A second slot  192 , third slot  193 , and forth slot  194 , are spaced apart from each other and the first slot  191 , and are sized to accept the strap  70 , but not the plug  173 . The first slot  191  and forth slot  194  are located on a first portion  181  of the plastic sheet, and the second slot  192  and third slot  193  are located on a second portion  182  of the plastic sheet. A fold line or hinge  200  lies between the two portions of the plastic sheet, allowing the second portion  182  to fold about the hinge  200  to underlie the first portion  181 . In such a configuration, the first slot  191  and the second slot  192  are aligned, and the forth slot  194  and the third slot  193  are aligned. The alignment allows the first terminal end  171  to be threaded into a first slot  191  and second slot  192 , then through the third slot  193  and forth slot  194 . The strap  70  is pulled until the plug  173  is in contact with the first portion  181  of the plastic sheet and allowing the plug to reside in the first slot  191 , as shown in  FIG. 10C . 
     The first end  171  of the strap  70  having a loop  175  is then worked onto an H-shaped cutout  210  in the lid  20 . The horizontal part  211  is offset so that the strap loop  175  can be first sleeved and bunched onto the tabs  212  and  213  then un-bunched. It is preferable is one of the tabs  212  or  213  is longer than the other. Such arrangement allows a more secure attachment of the loop  175 . 
     The examples described herein are only examples, and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.