Patent Publication Number: US-2010110629-A1

Title: Laptop cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Progress in miniaturization of computer components has led to the development of computers of sufficiently small size and weight that they are truly portable and can be operated on one&#39;s lap, leading to a new generation of computers known as “laptop computers.” These computers generally have a base section containing a keyboard, disk drives, and power supply. An upper or screen section is generally attached to the base section by a hinge, so that the screen can be pivoted upwardly during use. When the computer is not in use, the screen section may be folded flat against and latched to the base section, forming a compact closed housing. The two sections are often made of polymer to offer some level of protection against impact, spilled liquids, and other adverse environmental conditions. However, the hard housing itself is subject to abuse, such as chipping, scratching, etc. 
     To protect the laptop computer and its housing, various computer cases have been used. Known cases generally zip open to receive the computer with cloth or foam padding on some or all sides. Often, such computer cases have handles or carrying straps. Such cases have certain disadvantages. For example, the case must be zipped open and the computer removed before it can be used. Power and peripheral cables generally must be disconnected before placing the computer in the case, and then reconnected as needed before use. In addition, such a case offers no protection to the computer when the computer is not in the case. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cover or case for portable laptop computers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the laptop cover of the invention from the inside. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment laid flat, also from the inside. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment laid flat, from the outside. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment taken through the plane  44 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to the same elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  a cover  1  for a laptop computer. Cover  1  comprises a generally rectangular top panel  10  and a generally rectangular bottom panel  20 , with those panels having a gap  30  between them and being joined to each other by two resilient hinges  15  at the innermost corners of top panel  10  and bottom panel  20 ; hinges  15  are preferably formed from elastic straps. Gap  30  provides cable plug access to the rear of the computer. Bottom panel  20  has a cutout area  40  flanked by two smaller cutout areas  35   a  and  35   b  to facilitate cooling of the laptop computer during operation. The two smaller cutout areas  35   a  and  35   b  are covered by mesh  45 . Top panel  10  and bottom panel  20  each have sleeves  50  on their respective outermost corner into which the four outermost corners of the laptop computer fit. Sleeves  50  are preferably resiliently secured to the respective outermost corners of top panel  10  and bottom panel  20  by short sections of elastic strap  55 . Bottom panel  20  is preferably provided with footpads  60  on its outer side proximal to the two innermost and two outermost corners; footpads  60  are preferably of a height sufficient to create an airspace under bottom panel  20  when the laptop cover is placed on a flat surface, further promoting cooling of the computer. 
     To secure the cover to a laptop computer, the laptop computer is opened and the two outermost corners of the top or screen portion are simply inserted into sleeve  50  of top panel  10 , followed by inserting the two outermost corners of the bottom or keyboard portion through sleeve  50  of bottom panel  20 . Alternatively, the order of insertion of the laptop computer&#39;s corners may be reversed. Because of the resilient hinges  15  and the resilient straps  55  of sleeves  50  and the “give” in the mesh sections  45 , the cover may be stretched to fit over the laptop computer and provides a snug fit once the stretching tension on the hinges  15  and the sleeve straps  55  is released. 
     The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.