Patent Publication Number: US-2004045864-A1

Title: Dual function portable computer bag

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] The present application is a continuation of co-pending and allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/947,794 filed Sep. 6, 2001 and entitled DUAL FUNCTION PORTABLE COMPUTER BAG. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Portable computers, e.g., laptop and notebook computers, provide advantage in their portability, but require certain additional accessories to enhance portability. Among such accessories, portable computer users often carry power supply or transformer devices and mouse or pointer input devices. In addition, some portable computer users carry peripheral devices such as external disk drives, CDROM drives, modems, and a broad spectrum of additional auxiliary equipment often used and carried with a portable computer. As such, portable computer users often carry, in association with their computer and accessories, a bag or carrying case. In some instances, the user dedicates a conventional briefcase or other similar carrying device as a conveyance for their portable computer and associated accessories. In other instances, the user obtains a special purpose bag or case particularly constructed and designed for portable computers and the typical accessories carried therewith.  
       [0003] Thus, people in their portable or mobile use of computing devices, likely transport such portable computing devices in a bag or carrying case. This is especially true for persons traveling with their portable computer. In use, the person finds an available work site, e.g., a chair and table, and sets up their computer by removing the portable computer and accessories from the bag and making the necessary connections for power and communication therebetween. While the portable computer is in use, the bag remains at hand but serves no useful purpose until the user returns the portable computer and accessories to the bag for transport.  
       [0004] Because the user often seeks out whatever available work site can be found, such work environments typically do not provide the user with a comfortable or ergonomic work environment. Nevertheless, such computer users often find it necessary to work extended hours at such ergonomically unacceptable temporary workstations. For example, consider a portable computer user traveling and finding need to set up a portable computer at an available location not typically designed for such use. Such user seeks out the nearest table and chair, e.g., a conference room or a hotel room chair and table. The user suffers ergonomically, i.e., endures an unacceptably uncomfortable work environment not matching their needs. As a result, the user may not be as productive as possible and may not be capable of enduring such ergonomically unacceptable work conditions for sufficient time to complete a given task.  
       [0005] Thus, portable computer users suffer from fatigue due to poor ergonomic working positions assumed while doing work out of the home or office, e.g., while traveling and staying at a hotel and the like. A significant contributing factor to such poor ergonomic working positions is the need to select for use a chair and table not typically intended for a computer user.  
       [0006] It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a portable computer user with improved ergonomic working conditions without requiring modifications at the work site, i.e., allowing the portable user to make use of whatever work site can be found such as typical chairs and tables often the only temporary work environments made available for the portable computer user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] A dual function portable bag according to the present invention includes and interior compartment suitable in size to accommodate a portable computing device. An opening relative to the interior compartment provides access to the interior compartment for placing and removing a portable computing device. The exterior surface of the bag presents a contour having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a thickness less than the second portion. In a first use of the bag, a portable computing device is carried in the bag in conventional fashion. In a second use of the bag, however, while using the portable computing device, the bag converts an ergonomically unacceptable work site into an ergonomically acceptable work site by placing the bag in a lumbar-supporting position relative to the user. More particularly, the first portion of the bag is positioned below the second portion of the bag and the second portion of the bag, i.e., the thicker portion, provides lumbar support for the user.  
       [0008] The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation of the embodiments that accord with the invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] For a better understanding of the claimed invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a dual function portable computer bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 illustrates use of the bag of FIG. 1 as a lumbar support.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 illustrates use of the bag of FIG. 1 as a lumbar support while making use of a portable computer at a conventional table and chair.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates in cross section the bag of FIG. 1 as taken along lines  4 - 4  of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0014]FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a travel bag  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, travel bag  10  includes a main body  12  and a carrying handle or strap  14 . A top flap  16  covers an opening (not shown in FIG. 1) providing access to the interior of bag  10 . As will be described more fully hereafter, bag  10  serves as a travel bag for a portable computer, e.g., a laptop or notebook portable electronic device. As may be appreciated, flap  16  opens to allow ingress and egress of a portable computer and accessories relative to the interior of bag  10 . Strap  14  allows a user to carry bag  10  along with its contents, i.e., a portable computer and various accessories associated therewith. In this aspect, bag  10  serves the conventional function of transporting and protecting a portable computer and associated accessories.  
     [0015] Bag  10  differs from conventional design, however, in its general shape and resiliency and in important ergonomic features provided thereby. More particularly, body  12  includes an upper portion and a lower portion that differ in their respective thicknesses. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower portion  12   b  of body  12  is somewhat thicker than the upper portion  12   a.  Also, and as will be discussed more fully hereafter, body  12  of bag  10  presents a generally padded exterior configuration and serves as back support for a portable computer user while the user is using a portable computer.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 illustrates schematically use of bag  10  as a padded back support. In FIG. 2, a person  20  sits at a chair  22  with bag  10  therebetween to convert a conventional chair  22  into an ergonomically comfortable workstation. More particularly, bag  10  has been flipped from its orientation as illustrated in FIG. 1 to locate the portion  12   a  in a lower position and to locate the portion  12   b  in an upper position. As such, portion  12   a  of bag  10  rests against the upper-facing portion of chair  22  at seat  22   a.  This positions portion  12   b  adjacent to lumbar region  20   a.  Portion  12   b  of bag  10  thereby rests against the lateral-facing back  22   b  of chair  22 . Bag  10  sits between person  20  and chair  22  and provides at the lower or lumbar region  20   a  of person  20  ergonomic support relative to chair  22 . The shape of bag  10 , i.e., having portion  12   b  of greater thickness relative to portion  12   a,  supports user  20  in an ergonomically desirable fashion to make chair  22  substantially more comfortable as a workstation for person  20 , especially when the person is sitting at chair  22  for an extended period of time.  
     [0017] More particularly, user  20  should desirably sit in an upright position as indicated in FIG. 2 in a “working position” differing from a “relaxing” position one might otherwise assume when making use of a conventional chair  22 . As may be appreciated, bag  10  encourages such upright working position by its location as illustrated in FIG. 2 urging user  20  into an appropriate posture. Thus, bag  10  converts chair  22  from its normal intended use, i.e., as a sitting or relaxing chair, into a workstation chair having an ergonomically appropriate support for person  20  at lumbar region  20   a.    
     [0018]FIG. 3 illustrates use of bag  10  as a lumbar support for a portable computer user  30  sitting in a chair  32  and making use of a portable computer  40  resting on a table  42 . User  30  has taken a position at chair  32  and table  42  to operate portable computer  40 . In other words, user  30  has found chair  32  and table  42  and taken the opportunity to set up a temporary work site making use of computer  40  at that location. Even though chair  32  and table  42  are not particularly well suited as a computer work site, i.e., not ergonomically desirable for a portable computer user such as user  30 , bag  10  serves the important ergonomic function of providing user  30  with support in the lower back or lumbar region  30   a.  The relatively smaller body portion  12   a  rests in a lower position against the seat  32   a  while the relatively larger body portion  12   b  assumes the upper position engaging lumbar region  32   a.  Thus, bag  10  is captured between user  30  at the lumbar region  32   a  and the seat  32   a  and back  32   b  of chair  32 .  
     [0019] As may be appreciated, bag  10  also carries portable computer  40 . Thus, user  30  has available bag  10  for use as a back support when making use of portable computer  40 . Normally, a computer carrying bag lacks utility while the portable computer is being used. In FIG. 3, however, the portable computer carrying bag, e.g., bag  10 , serves an important ergonomic function making user  30  more comfortable and allowing user  30  to more productively make use of portable computer  40 .  
     [0020]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of bag  10  as taken along lines  4 - 4  of FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, bag  10  contains portable computer  40  along with an assortment of accessories, e.g., a mouse  40   a,  transformer  40   b,  power cord  40   c,  and peripheral device  40   d.  As may be appreciated, peripheral device  40   d  as illustrated herein represents any one or more of a variety of peripheral devices, e.g., disk drives, modems and the like. Furthermore it will be understood that the contents of bag  10 , in addition to portable computer  40 , may include a variety of items as are typically found in association with a person traveling and making use of portable computer  40 . Furthermore, it will be understood that bag  40  may be accommodated with additional storage compartments (not shown) and the like particularly suited for a specific portable computer  40  accessory components.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 illustrates the basic structural components of a particular embodiment of bag  10  including an internal molded flexible plastic structure  50  establishing the basic overall shape of bag  10 , i.e., establishing a portion  12   a  of less thickness relative to portion  12   b.  As seen in the view of FIG. 4, this particular embodiment of bag  10  assumes a generally “figure eight” shape with portion  12   a  assuming a relatively smaller loop portion of the “figure eight” shape and body portion  12   b  assuming a relatively larger loop formation of the “figure eight” shape. It will be understood, however, that the particular shape adopted for this embodiment of the present invention is not a limiting aspect of the invention. A structural aspect of the present invention includes differentiation in thickness and an ability to provide a padded lumbar support. In other words, the distance across portion  12   b  is greater than the distance across portion  12   a.  An overall smooth contoured ergonomically appropriate back support permits user  30  to place the relatively larger-dimensioned body portion  12   b  in the lumbar region  30   a  for appropriate back support with the relatively smaller body portion  12   a  in a lower position, i.e., below portion  12   b,  when in use as a lumbar support and as illustrated in FIG. 3.  
     [0022] Structure  50  includes and opening  50   a  adjacent flap  16  and permits access to the interior of bag  10 . The remainder of structure  50  provides a generally contoured smooth shape as indicated to produce an ergonomically appropriate and comfortable overall shape including the thickness differential provided relative to portions  12   a  and  12   b.  Exterior cover material  52  may be of a variety of compositions, e.g., leather, soft plastic, cloth, and the like. A foam padding  54  lies intermediate exterior material  52  and structure  50  and establishes a padded relationship between a user and structure  50  for comfort and for establishing a generally soft and contoured support at the lumbar region of the user.  
     [0023] Thus, the present invention proposes a dual function portable computer bag converting a conventional chair into an ergonomically appropriate workstation chair providing for the user lumbar support while using a portable computer at a conventional chair and table. A bag according to the present invention is preformed into an ergonomically appropriate shape with materials stiff enough to provide support, yet flexible enough to establish a contoured and ergonomically appropriate support for the user which fits well with the user&#39;s back when seated in a conventional chair. The portable computer user makes use of the bag while using the portable computer. Normally the bag has no use whatsoever when the portable computer is in use. In accordance with the present invention, however, the bag finds an important function in addition to its transport function, i.e., converts a conventional chair into an ergonomically appropriate workstation by supporting the user in their lower back or lumber region while making use of a portable computer at a conventional chair and table.  
     [0024] While illustrated herein as having a “figure eight” shape, it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a broad variety of geometries. Important lumbar support functions may be provided in such variety of geometries having bag portions of differing thickness whereby a relatively thicker portion may be positioned against a user&#39;s lumbar back region and the relatively thinner portion providing a base or resting structure against a chair seat and accommodating the contour of the users lower back region.  
     [0025] Generally, a travel bag in accordance with the present invention includes a left side, a right side, a front side, a back side, a left side, a right side, a top side, and a bottom side. The front side and back side each may be considered as having an upper portion and a lower portion. The front-to-back separation between the upper portion of the front side and the upper portion of the back side is less than the front-to-back separation between the lower portion of the front side and the lower portion of the back side. In other words, a travel bag that accords with the present invention includes a variation in thickness to create a relatively thicker portion accommodating a user&#39;s lumbar back region for ergonomic support thereof. In one particular embodiment, this thickness variation is accommodated by a generally “figure eight” shape of the left side and right side.  
     [0026] The internal molded flexible plastic structure  50  includes sufficient structural integrity to receive and support the lumbar region of the user, and possesses sufficient resiliency to present a comfortable structure as captured between the lumbar region and a chair back. As may be appreciated, the amount of resiliency provided by structure  50  in combination with the amount and character of padding  54  establishes a comfortable back support. A greater amount of padding  54  may be provided when a relatively less resilient structure  50  is employed. Similarly, a more resilient structure  50  requires less padding  54 , but may deform unacceptably under certain conditions. The particular combination of resiliency in structure  50  and character of padding  54  may be adjusted to achieve a desired overall product configuration.  
     [0027] It will be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described and illustrated, and that variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as found in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.