Patent Publication Number: US-2006007645-A1

Title: Foldable computer cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a foldable computer cover and, more particularly, to a multifunctional foldable computer cover for a portable computer, such as a tablet PC, a web pad, a PAD, etc.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Currently, a tablet PC provides portability with a handwriting touch control screen; however, the handwriting recognition software support in this device is not very helpful, and users usually connect the tablet computer to a keypad for extended writing sessions.  
      The prior art tablet computer is connected to the keypad via a USB plug, or with standard infrared technology. Because the tablet computer has no support structure, the user may need to assemble an external support. In order to protect and carry the tablet computer, the typical tablet computer comes with a bag to store and carry any peripheral equipment. However, the assembly process may increase the chances of dropping the tablet computer.  
      Therefore, it is desirable to provide a foldable computer cover to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In order to improve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a foldable computer cover. When a user wants to open the cover, he or she opens all of the panels and places the bottom of the portable computer along one of the stop ridges of the saw-toothed shaped stop on the third panel to hold the portable computer upright. The user can choose different stop ridges for placement of the portable computer at different viewing angles. Consequently, the portable computer can be combined with the cover for display purposes.  
      The foldable computer cover comprises: a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, a fourth panel, and a fifth panel, wherein a front end of the fifth panel is foldably connected to a back end edge of the fourth panel, a front end of the fourth panel is foldably connected to a back end edge of the third panel, and so on, so all the panels are connected together. These five panels all are composed of an internal hard panel such as iron, aluminum, hard board or any other equal hard panel, covered with a soft cover such as plastic cloth, rubber cloth, cloth or any other equal soft materials. Furthermore, the fifth panel comprises at least one clasping element on an inside face corresponding to a attaching element on the back face of the first panel, and the attaching element of the first panel and the clasping element of the fifth panel are capable of locking to each other.  
      The user can open the first panel and fold it to support the portable computer, and places the bottom of the portable computer along one of the stop ridges of the saw-toothed shaped stop on the third panel to hold the portable computer upright. The user can choose different stop ridges for placement of the portable computer at different viewing angles.  
      Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view showing the preferred embodiment in a closed condition according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view showing the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a system structure drawing of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, a foldable computer cover is composed of five panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 , which all comprise an internal hard panel  290  covered by a soft cover  291  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). For example, the internal hard panel  290  is made of plastic, and the soft cover  291  is made of leather to provide a more appealing texture.  
      In this embodiment, a front edge  211  of the first panel  21  has two fastening portions  213  at two sides of its front end edge; the fastening portions  213  protrude from an edge of an inside face  201  of the first panel  21 , and are used for receiving a portable computer. In this embodiment, a tablet computer  5  is used as the portable computer. Another side of the first panel  21  further comprises a back end edge  212 , and two attaching elements  216  on its back face  202 . The first panel  21  also comprises a middle fold-line  210  placed between the front end edge  211  and the back end edge  212 . The first panel  21  can be folded along the middle fold-line  210  so that the bottom of the tablet computer  5  can be placed against a stop  234  on the third panel  23 . In this manner the tablet computer  5  is held still on the third panel  23  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
      Each fastening portion  213  of the first panel  21  further comprises a slot  215 . The slot  215  has an outer opening  214 . A pivot  51  is disposed on each of two sides of the tablet computer  5 , and passes through the respective opening  214  to correspondingly engage with the slot  215 . The tablet computer  5  can thus be rotated relative to the first panel  21  around the pivots  51 .  
      In this embodiment, a front end edge  221  of the second panel  22  is foldably connected to the back end edge  212  of the first panel  21 , and the second panel  22  further comprises a back end edge  222 .  
      A front end edge  231  of the third panel  23  is foldably connected to the back end edge  222  of the second panel  22 , and the third panel  23  further comprises a back end edge  232  and a stop  234  on its inside face  233 . The stop  234  of the third panel  23  comprises at least two stop ridges to form a saw-toothed shaped stop  234 , which provides different viewing angles for the tablet computer  5 . In this embodiment, the stop  234  is made of rubber or plastic so as to avoid scratching the tablet computer  5 . Additionally, the third panel  23  has a keypad  235 , a touch tablet or other equivalent input device.  
      A front end edge  241  of the fourth panel  24  is foldably connected to the back end edge  232  of the third panel  23 , and the fourth panel  24  further comprises a back end edge  242 .  
      A front end edge  251  of the fifth panel  25  is foldable connected to the back end edge  242  of the fourth panel  24 , and the fifth panel  25  further comprises two clasping elements  253  on its inside face  252  corresponding to the two attaching elements  216  on the back face  202  of the first panel  21  to close the entire cover and to provide for easy carrying (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The clasping elements  253  and the attaching elements  216  are respective male and female push bottom capable of locking to each other. Furthermore, the inside face  252  of the fifth panel  25  further comprises a touch pad  254  or another equivalent input device.  
      When a user wants to open the cover, he or she opens all of the panels and places the bottom of the tablet computer  5  along one of the stop ridges of the saw-toothed shaped stop  234  on the third panel  23  to hold the tablet computer  5  upright. The user can choose different stop ridges for placement of the tablet computer  5  at different viewing angles (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). Consequently, the tablet computer  5  can be combined with the cover for display purposes.  
      As shown in the above description, the foldable computer cover has the following benefits: 
          (1) Different stop ridges provide different viewing angles for the tablet computer (portable computer).     (2) Reduced chances of dropping the tablet computer (portable computer).     (3) Easy operability and storage of the tablet computer (portable computer).     (4) Increased convenience and safety when displaying the tablet computer (portable computer).     (5) Increased operational convenience.        

      Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.