Patent Publication Number: US-2007119735-A1

Title: Ornamental and protective sleeves for notebook LCD displays

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present application derives priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/725,048 filed 07 Oct. 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to protective/ornamental cases for computer notebooks and, more particularly, to an improved protective sleeve that provides a striking decorative appearance to the notebook while providing padding and insulation to protect the LCD screen without interfering with viewing thereof.  
      2. Description of the Background  
      Computer laptops and notebooks have become very commonplace these days; many owners considering themselves “road warriors” and carry their respective laptops with them wherever they go, at work, play and at home. Given the sometimes rough conditions of air, land and sea travel, as well as many home environments with children, laptop screens are very prone to inadvertent damage and some form of protection is a wise investment.  
      Laptop computers typically include a hinged body with an LCD screen portion joined together by a hinge to a keyboard portion. The keyboard portion acts as a support base for the pivoting LCD screen, which may be dimensioned within a range of from 12-16″ in diagonal width and is enclosed within a frame.  
      Like many other portable well-worn utilitarian devices, laptops have become a fashion statement: a reflection of the user&#39;s personality. This is exemplified by the current array of designer laptops bearing names like Porsche®, and the multitude of available colors, styles, feature options, and accessories that can be purchased. One accessory in particular is the laptop case. Originally developed as non-descript protective enclosures purely to prevent damage, laptop cases now come in a myriad of colors and styles. Many are quite innovative in some respect, either in their protective abilities or aesthetics.  
      For example, existing carrying cases for laptop computers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,267,236 to Seok, 5,775,497 to Krulik, 5,325,970 to Dillon, and others, all of which disclose various full enclosures for laptop computers (enclosing the entire laptop in a closed configuration). These and other laptop cases are generally molded boxes or sewn sleeves, with or without padding to protect the entire laptop. However, the prior art is void of any laptop enclosures that allow use of the laptop while still applied. Thus, existing laptop covers must be removed in order to use the laptop. Moreover, existing laptop enclosures do not add supplemental storage capability for accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives.  
      It would be greatly advantageous to provide a protective sleeve attachable around the LCD screen portion of an existing laptop/notebook that pivots with the LCD screen from its closed to any open position, providing effective padding and protection to the exterior of the LCD screen portion whilst at the same time giving an aesthetically unique and pleasing appearance, and which has a particular array of securable pockets for accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a protective sleeve attachable to the LCD screen portion of an existing laptop/notebook that provides a striking decorative appearance and further provides padding and insulation to protect the LCD screen.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a protective sleeve as described above that attaches easily, clings closely to the LCD screen, and pivots freely therewith from its closed to any open position.  
      It is a still further object of the invention to provide a protective sleeve as described above that comes in various designs and colors, allowing personalization of one&#39;s laptop.  
      It is a still further object of the invention to provide a protective sleeve as described above that contains an array of outward pockets for carrying laptop accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives.  
      It is a still further object of the invention to provide a protective sleeve as described above that is economical to manufacture.  
      The above objects are accomplished by providing an improved, attention-grabbing notebook/laptop sleeve that additionally cushions and insulates the LCD screen portion of a laptop to protect it from being dropped or bumped, etc. The protective sleeve generally comprises a soft pliable double-layer exterior fabric panel reinforced by a semi-rigid interior liner. The semi-rigid interior liner is contoured to conform to the curves of the laptop enclosure backing the LCD screen section, thereby helping to keep the exterior fabric panel flush. Dual-parallel straps are extended vertically across the exterior fabric panel, each strap running from top corner to bottom corner, and the straps may be looped around the sides of the LCD screen to suspend the exterior fabric panel taught and snug against the laptop enclosure. The exterior fabric panel bears embroidered, woven or silk-screen design(s) to increase the aesthetic value. The exterior fabric panel also bears a particular array of securable receptacles with pockets there behind for accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives. The receptacles are secured by flaps having magnetic closures.  
      The present laptop sleeve provides padding and insulation to protect the LCD screen, ample room for storage, and a useful and unique aesthetic 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2 , applied to the laptop, with the LCD screen portion in the open position.  
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2  as in  FIG. 1 , applied to the laptop, with the LCD screen portion in the open position.  
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2  as in  FIGS. 1-2 , applied to the laptop with the LCD screen portion in the closed position.  
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2  as in  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating the receptacles  10 ,  20  and pockets  14 ,  24 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention is a laptop protective sleeve attachable to the LCD screen portion of an existing laptop/notebook which accomplishes several objectives, namely: 1) providing a striking decorative appearance and the ability to individualize the appearance to one&#39;s tastes; 2) providing ample padding and insulation at the rear of the LCD screen portion to protect the LCD screen; and 3) clings closely to the LCD screen, pivoting freely therewith so as not to interfere with opening and closing, and which does not obstruct viewing of the LCD screen; and 4) provides an array of outward pockets for carrying laptop accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives. In addition to the foregoing, the design of the present laptop sleeve is simple and economical to manufacture.  
       FIGS. 1 through 4  show various views of a preferred embodiment of the laptop protective sleeve  2  attached to the LCD screen portion of an existing laptop/notebook. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4  is intended for a standard laptop with 12-16″ rectangular LCD screen.  
      However, one skilled in the art will readily understand that the laptop protective sleeve  2  of the present invention can be made in varying sizes and shapes to accommodate all styles of laptops or notebooks without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2  applied to the laptop with the LCD screen portion in the open position. The laptop protective sleeve  2  generally comprises a soft double-layer fabric panel  4  comprising inner and outer fabric layers  4 A &amp;  4 B, layer  4 A being an ornate outer fabric layer  4 A folded over along its margins, and layer  4 B being an unadorned inner fabric layer  4 B likewise folded over at the margins and sewn along the margins to the outer layer  4 A. The outer layer of fabric panel may be formed of leather, denim, cotton, etc, as a matter of design choice. The inner layer of fabric panel  4  may be virtually any shear fabric, although a wicking fabric is preferred to wick moisture away from the LCD screen. A semi-rigid interior liner  5  is sewn inside the two exterior panel  4  layers. A semi-rigid interior liner  5  is sewn between the opposing layers  4 A,  4 B of fabric panel  4 . The interior liner  5  helps to keep the shape of the cover. The semi-rigid interior liner  5  may be plastic sheet or a section of plastic mesh that is preferably contoured to conform to the curves of the laptop enclosure backing the LCD screen section. This helps to keep the exterior fabric panel  4  taught and snug-looking, and additionally provides a hard line of protection for the LCD screen. The outer layer of fabric panel  4  is preferably a heavy denier fabric to pad the LCD screen, although lighter-weight fabrics may be used provided that a sheet of additional padding is sewn therein. Both of the two layers of fabric panel  4  as well as the interior liner  5  may be sewn together around their marginal periphery to provide a semi-rigid and padded backing for the LCD screen portion.  
      Dual-parallel straps  6 A and  6 B are extended vertically across the fabric panel  4 , each strap  6 A and  6 B running from top corner to bottom corner. Preferably, the ends of the dual-parallel straps  6 A and  6 B are sewn between the two layers of fabric panel  4 , anchoring them therein. The length of the dual-parallel straps  6 A and  6 B remains unattached, thereby allowing one strap  6 A to be looped around the LCD screen portion on one side, and the other strap  6 B to be looped around the LCD screen portion on the other side, effectively suspending the fabric panel  4  taught and snug against the laptop enclosure backing the LCD screen.  
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2  as in  FIG. 1 , applied to the laptop, with the LCD screen portion in the open position. Since the dual-parallel straps  6 A &amp;  6 B span the LCD screen frontally at the outermost sides, they do not interfere with the laptop hinges which are generally offset 1-2″ inwardly of the sides of the LCD screen. Likewise, the position of the dual-parallel straps  6 A &amp;  6 B avoids interference with a frontal view of the LCD screen, although both are preferably formed of a substantially transparent elastic material, and transparent polyurethane is preferred. This completely minimizes the visual effect of the straps  6 A &amp;  6 B.  
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the fabric panel  4 , with laptop in the closed position. The fabric panel  4  bears embroidered, woven or silk-screen design to increase the aesthetic value. These designs  30  may be ornamental patterns, monograms or logo designs in accordance with the personal tastes of the laptop user.  
      The fabric panel  4  also bears a particular array of securable receptacles for accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives. Specifically, the receptacles include a small flash drive receptacle  10  with closure  12 , and a battery charger receptacle  20  with closure  22 . Like the exterior panel  4 , each receptacle  10 ,  20  is formed by dual matching fabric layers (ornate outer fabric layer folded over along its margins, and an unadorned inner fabric layer likewise folded over at the margins and sewn along the margins to the outer layer). The receptacles  10 ,  20  are formed as enclosures prior to attachment to the exterior panel  4 , e.g., each is provided with its own backing. The receptacles  10 ,  20  are then attached to the exterior panel  4  by sewing along the margins of their respective backing. This configuration affords additional storage space behind receptacles  10 ,  20  in the form of pockets  14  and  24 . Preferably, the receptacle  20  is dimensioned to provide ample storage space for a typical charger and in accordance with the pocket  24  there behind so that pocket  24  will accommodate a CD-ROM jewel case (approximately 4″×4″). Receptacle  10  is dimensioned to provide ample storage space for a typical flash drive and in accordance with the pocket  14  there behind so that pocket  14  will accommodate a memory stick or other small accessory (1″×2.5″).  
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the laptop protective sleeve  2  as in  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating the receptacles  10 ,  20  and pockets  14 ,  24 . As can be seen, each receptacle  10 ,  20  is closed by a flap  12 ,  22 , respectively, that may be secured to the receptacle by a magnetic closure  40 . This configuration effectively provides four discrete storage spaces for accessories, two of which are highly secure.  
      It should now be apparent that the above-described laptop protective sleeve is easily attachable to the LCD screen portion of an existing laptop/notebook, provides a striking aesthetic and the ability to personalize the appearance to one&#39;s tastes, provides ample padding and insulation at the rear of the LCD screen portion to protect the LCD screen, clings closely to the LCD screen, pivoting freely therewith so as not to interfere with opening and closing, does not obstruct viewing of the LCD screen at all, and provides on-board storage for carrying laptop accessories such as CD-ROMS, chargers, and flash drives. Moreover, the design of the present laptop sleeve is simple and economical to manufacture.  
      Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.