Patent Publication Number: US-11659907-B2

Title: Protective cover for laptop computer

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a protective cover for a laptop computer having a screen portion and an attached keyboard portion. The protective cover comprises a bottom shell for the keyboard portion of the computer, a top shell for the screen portion of the computer, or both a bottom shell for the keyboard portion and a top shell for the screen portion of the computer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The industry has produced laptop computers of various designs, including ones in which the screen can be rotated about the keyboard in a “tablet” mode. Many new laptops are 360 degrees foldable such that the screen can be folded back completely behind the keyboard. Such computers may be carried to and used wherever needed. However, the broad field of use of laptop computers subjects them to an increased risk of physical damage during transport and use, particularly for laptops that are fully foldable or have rotatable screens. 
     Covers designed for laptop computers are typically made from plastic moldings. The complex shape needed to accommodate various internal components and connectors for external cables and the like dictate that the plastic be readily moldable and dimensionally stable over an extended period of time. Plastics meeting these requirements tend to be somewhat brittle. As a consequence, dropping an unprotected laptop onto a hard surface may break its cover and damage internal components. 
     Laptop computers are commonly provided to students by schools. Schools often opt to protect the laptops from drops and impacts by installing protective covers that snap onto the laptops. These protective covers may have top and/or bottom shells with snaps or tabs around the perimeter to grip the display and/or keyboard portions of the laptop. However, such protective covers can be easily removed by students or the snaps or tabs may break if the computer is dropped on a hard surface, rendering the computer protection ineffective. New 360 degrees foldable laptops may also lack space and edges to adequately secure rear and side snaps or tabs on protective covers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,434, Howard Jr., discloses an improved protective case for a laptop computer that has a flexible hinge to accommodate opening and closing the computer and the case while the two remain attached to each other. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,414,833 discloses a case said to enable use of a laptop computer keyboard, display and ports located on a back edge of the computer while the computer remains in the case. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,817,457 discloses a reversible folio for a tablet computer having a shell with a cavity that removably receives the tablet computer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,643,274 discloses an exterior cover for a laptop computer, which includes a first rigid planar element for placement on an outside surface of the display portion and a second rigid planar element for placement on an outside surface of the keyboard portion. The first rigid planar element includes a raised edge along a perimeter of the first rigid planar element, and a plurality of tabs located on the raised edge, wherein each tab extends from the raised edge for gripping the display portion. The second rigid planar element includes a raised edge extending toward the keyboard portion, and a plurality of tabs for gripping the keyboard portion. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0139635 A1 discloses a protective case for a hybrid computer having a removable screen and a separable keyboard, where the case comprises a bottom shell, a top shell and a flexible hinge attached to the rear of the bottom shell. The top shell can remain attached to the removable screen and the bottom shell can remain attached to the keyboard when the removable screen is separated from the keyboard. 
     While the above cases and covers may work for their intended purposes, there is a continuing need for an improved protective cover for a laptop computer having a screen portion and an attached keyboard portion, particularly 360 degrees foldable laptops and laptops having a screen that can be rotated about the keyboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a protective cover for a laptop computer having a screen portion and an attached keyboard portion, said cover comprising at least one of: a) a planar bottom shell for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion, said bottom shell having front, left and right sides and a rear side that wraps around the rear of the keyboard portion to prevent it from moving backward, and at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the bottom shell when the keyboard portion is placed in the bottom shell, wherein the at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the bottom shell to internally lock the bottom shell to the keyboard portion; and b) a planar top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion, said top shell having front, left and right sides and a rear side that wraps around the rear of the screen portion to prevent it from moving backward, and at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the top shell when the top shell is placed on the screen portion, wherein the at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. 
     The invention also relates to a protective cover for a laptop computer having a screen portion and an attached keyboard portion, said cover comprising the above bottom shell for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion, and the above top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion. 
     In another embodiment, the invention relates to a protective cover for a laptop computer having a screen portion and an attached keyboard portion, said cover made of resilient plastic material and comprising the above bottom shell for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion, and the above top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion, wherein a tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the bottom shell to compress the at least one protruding flange to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion, and the tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a keyboard portion of a laptop computer inside a protective cover of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the protective cover for the keyboard portion of the computer of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged, cut away sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  1   , with a tool inserted into a slot in the bottom shell of the cover to compress protruding flanges of the removable locking clip to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion. 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  1   , with the locking clip removed to unlock the bottom shell of the cover from the keyboard portion. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a keyboard portion of a laptop computer inside another protective cover of the invention. 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is an enlarged sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  7   , with a removable screw inserted into a hole in the bottom shell of the cover to prevent a tool from being inserted into a slot in the bottom shell to compress a protruding flange of the removable locking clip and unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion. 
         FIG.  10    is an enlarged sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  7   , with a removable screw removed from a hole in the bottom shell of the cover so a tool can be inserted into a slot in the bottom shell to compress a protruding flange of the locking clip and unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion. 
         FIG.  11    is an enlarged sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  7   , with a tool inserted into a slot in the bottom shell of the cover to compress a protruding flange of the locking clip and unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion. 
         FIG.  12    is an enlarged sectional view of part of the keyboard portion and protective cover of  FIG.  7   , after a tool inserted into a slot in the bottom shell of the cover has compressed a protruding flange of the locking clip and unlocked the bottom shell from the keyboard portion. 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a screen portion of a laptop computer inside another protective cover of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The protective cover of the present invention is designed to protect a laptop computer having a screen portion and an attached keyboard portion, particularly laptops that are fully foldable or have rotatable screens, from damage during transportation, storage and use. The cover provides such protection without interfering with normal operation of the computer. 
     In one embodiment, the protective cover comprises a planar bottom shell for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion of the laptop computer. The bottom shell has front, left and right sides and a rear side that wraps around the rear of the keyboard portion to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the bottom shell when the keyboard portion is placed in the bottom shell. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the bottom shell to internally lock the bottom shell to the keyboard portion. The at least one protruding flange is typically made of a resilient, flexible plastic material. Since the bottom shell is internally locked to the keyboard portion, it cannot be easily removed by users and has no exposed retaining snaps or tabs that may break if the computer is dropped. This internal locking feature is particularly useful on 360 degrees foldable laptops that lack space and edges to secure conventional protective shells or covers having rear and side snaps or tabs around the perimeter to grip the computer. 
     In another embodiment, the protective cover comprises a planar top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion of the laptop computer. The top shell has front, left and right sides and a rear side that wraps around the rear of the screen portion to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the top shell when the top shell is placed on the screen portion. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. The at least one protruding flange is typically made of a resilient, flexible plastic material. Since the top shell is internally locked to the screen portion, it cannot be easily removed by users and has no exposed retaining snaps or tabs that may break if the computer is dropped. This internal locking feature is particularly useful on 360 degrees foldable laptops that lack space and edges to secure conventional protective shells or covers having rear and side snaps or tabs around the perimeter to grip the computer. 
     In another embodiment, the protective cover comprises both the above bottom shell for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion, and the above top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion. Both the bottom shell and the top shell can be separably attached to the computer. The screen portion of the computer, with or without the top shell attached, can be raised or lowered without interfering with the keyboard portion with the bottom shell attached. Similarly, the screen portion of the computer with the top shell attached can be raised or lowered without interfering with the keyboard portion, with or without the bottom shell attached. The bottom shell can also be separated from the keyboard portion while the top shell remains attached to the screen portion, and the top shell can be separated from the screen portion while the bottom shell remains attached to the keyboard portion, all while the screen and keyboard portions remain attached. The bottom shell and/or top shell can be quickly and easily removed or attached to the computer while it remains in assembled mode. 
     The protective cover, including its bottom shell and/or top shell and at the least one removable locking clip, is typically made of a resilient plastic material that helps protect the computer if it is dropped onto a hard surface or a heavy object is placed on top of it. The protective cover may further comprise structural components having a rigid layer, a resilient layer, and/or fabric layer(s). A rigid layer helps maintain the flat configuration if the computer is dropped onto a hard surface or a heavy object is placed on top of it. A resilient layer absorbs energy if the computer is dropped onto a hard surface. A fabric layer(s) provides convenient means of construction, by sewing, and a durable outside surface material. 
     Other advantages of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings. It should be noted that terminology referring to or suggesting orientation of either a laptop computer or the protective cover describes orientation with respect to the position of a user, who has positioned the computer on his/her lap or on a work area in front of himself/herself. 
     A keyboard portion of a typical laptop computer  10  is shown in  FIG.  1   . In one example, when closed, the computer is about 11.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches top-to-bottom by 0.5 inches thick. The size of the protective cover of the invention can be adjusted to accommodate larger or smaller laptop computers. The computer  10  is comprised of two major components, a bottom  12  which houses a keyboard portion  14  (keys not shown) and may house other components, cable connectors and disk drives, and a screen portion (not shown), which houses the display screen and may house other components and connectors of the computer. The bottom and screen portion of the computer are connected by a suitable hinge, as known in the art. 
     The laptop computer  10  can be effectively operated while it is inside a protective cover of the invention, such as protective cover  30  shown in  FIG.  1   . The protective cover  30  comprises a planar bottom shell  32  for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion  14 . The bottom shell  32  has a front side  33 , a left side  34 , a right side  35 , and a rear side  36  that wraps around the rear of the keyboard portion  14  to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the bottom shell when the keyboard portion is placed in the bottom shell. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the bottom shell to internally lock the bottom shell to the keyboard portion. In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 6   , the protective cover  30  comprises two removable corner locking clips  50  that have protruding flanges  52  that insert into slots  54  in the front, left and right sides of the bottom shell to internally lock the bottom shell to the keyboard portion. 
     The protective cover  30  typically further comprises a planar top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion of the laptop computer. The top shell has a front side, a left side, a right side, and a rear side that wraps around the rear of the screen portion to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the top shell when the top shell is placed on the screen portion. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. In one example, the protective cover  30  comprises two removable corner locking clips, such as locking clips  50 , that have protruding flanges, such as protruding flanges  52 , that insert into slots, such as slots  54 , in the front, left and right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. 
     In another embodiment, a tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the bottom shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion, and/or the tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. In the example shown in  FIGS.  3 - 6   , tool  60  can be inserted into slots  54  in the front, left and right sides of the bottom shell to compress the protruding flanges  52  of the removable locking clips  50  to unlock the bottom shell  32  from the keyboard portion  14 . The same tool or a different tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. The tool may, or may not, be integrated into the protective cover for the laptop computer. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a keyboard portion of a laptop computer  110  inside another protective cover  130  of the invention. The laptop computer  110  can be effectively operated while it is inside the protective cover  130 , as shown in  FIG.  7   . The protective cover  130  comprises a planar bottom shell  132  for placement on a bottom surface of the keyboard portion  114 . The bottom shell  132  has a front side  133 , a left side  134 , a right side  135 , and a rear side  136  that wraps around the rear of the keyboard portion  114  to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the bottom shell when the keyboard portion is placed in the bottom shell. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the bottom shell to internally lock the bottom shell to the keyboard portion. In the example shown in  FIGS.  7 - 12   , the protective cover  130  comprises two removable corner locking clips  150  that have protruding flanges  152  that insert into slots  154  in the front, left and right sides of the bottom shell to internally lock the bottom shell to the keyboard portion. 
     The protective cover  130  typically further comprises a planar top shell for placement on a top surface of the screen portion of the laptop computer. The top shell has a front side, a left side, a right side, and a rear side that wraps around the rear of the screen portion to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the top shell when the top shell is placed on the screen portion. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. In one example, the protective cover comprises two removable corner locking clips, such as locking clips  150 , that have protruding flanges, such as protruding flanges  152 , that insert into slots, such as slots  154 , in the front, left and right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. 
     In another embodiment, a tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the bottom shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion, and/or the tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. In the example shown in  FIGS.  11 - 12   , tool  160  can be inserted into slots  154  in the front, left and right sides of the bottom shell to compress the protruding flanges  152  of the removable locking clips  150  to unlock the bottom shell  132  from the keyboard portion  114 . The same tool or a different tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. The tool may, or may not, be integrated into the protective cover for the laptop computer. 
     In another embodiment, the protective cover further comprises at least two holes in the bottom shell that hold removable screws that prevent the tool from being inserted into the at least one slot in the bottom shell to compress the at least one protruding flange to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion, and/or at least two holes in the top shell that hold removable screws that prevent the tool from being inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9   , removable screws  162  can be inserted in holes  164  in the bottom shell  132  of the cover to prevent a tool from being inserted into slots in the bottom shell to compress the protruding flanges of the locking clips  152  to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion.  FIGS.  10 - 12    show one screw  162  removed from hole  164  in the bottom shell of the cover so tool  160  can be inserted into slot  154  in the bottom shell to compress the protruding flange  152  of locking clip  150  to unlock the bottom shell  132  from the keyboard portion  114 . After tool  160  has compressed the protruding flange of the locking clip to unlock the bottom shell from the keyboard portion, the tool can be removed, as shown in  FIG.  12   . 
       FIG.  13    shows a screen portion  116  of laptop computer  110  inside protective cover  130 . The laptop computer can be effectively operated while it is inside the protective cover. Protective cover  130  comprises a planar top shell  140  for placement on a top surface of screen portion  116 . The top shell  140  has a front side  143 , a left side  144 , a right side  145 , and a rear side (not shown) that wraps around the rear of the screen portion  116  to prevent it from moving backward. The protective cover further comprises at least one removable locking clip that attaches to the front, left or right side of the top shell when the screen portion is placed in the top shell. The at least one removable locking clip has at least one protruding flange that inserts into at least one slot in the front, left or right side of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. In the example shown in  FIG.  13   , the protective cover  130  comprises two removable corner locking clips  150  that have protruding flanges  152  that insert into slots  154  in the front, left and right sides of the top shell to internally lock the top shell to the screen portion. 
     As described above, a tool can be inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange of the at least one removable locking clip to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. For example, a tool such as tool  160  can be inserted into slots  154  in the front, left and right sides of the top shell to compress the protruding flanges  152  of the removable locking clips  150  and unlock the top shell  140  from the screen portion  116 . As described above, the protective cover may further comprise at least two holes, such as holes  164 , in the top shell that hold removable screws, such as screws  162 , that prevent the tool from being inserted into the at least one slot in the top shell to compress the at least one protruding flange to unlock the top shell from the screen portion. 
     To further resist damage to the computer if it is dropped onto a hard surface or a heavy load placed on top of the computer, the top shell and the bottom shell of the protective cover may be comprised of a rigid layer and a resilient layer. For the bottom shell, a rigid layer may be nearer to the interior of the protective cover than a resilient layer. For other components, a resilient layer may be nearer to the interior. The bottom shell may be so designed because some laptop computers have ventilation ports through the bottom surfaces of their bottoms. A resilient layer adjacent to the bottom of such a computer might obstruct the ventilation ports. Otherwise, having a resilient layer adjacent the computer offers cushioning against shock should the computer be dropped. A flexible layer of polymeric material, such as polystyrene, for example, about 0.01 inches thick, may be inserted between rigid and resilient layers. 
     The materials employed in manufacturing the protective cover can be selected for light weight, durability and resistance to moisture. The material for rigid layers may be rigid polypropylene sheeting. Other materials, such as corrugated polymeric material, compressed wood fiber or metal sheet, may be employed. The material for resilient layers may be a polymeric foam material, such as polyethylene or polyurethane foam, e.g., a fairly dense grade of polyethylene foam. A fabric layer on the exterior of the protective cover may be a heavy-duty fabric, typically made of nylon, polyester or polyvinyl chloride. It may be bonded to a thin polymeric foam backing, which improves durability and water tightness. In one example, the cover has a ballistic nylon exterior to provide a high degree of protection and a rugged appearance. A vinyl exterior fabric may be used for a more fashionable appearance or to allow the cover to be wiped clean more easily. A lightweight, tightly woven nylon fabric may be used on the interior of the protective cover. In another embodiment of the invention, natural leather, synthetic leather or a sheet polymeric material such as polyvinyl chloride may be substituted for either or both of the fabric layers. 
     While the present invention may include a fabric layer, together with rigid and/or resilient layers, a protective cover could be constructed from a rigid shell, with resilient materials incorporated inside the shell. It would also be possible to fabricate such a protective cover from molded polyethylene foam with cloth coverings bonded to both sides. 
     Means for carrying the protective cover, and a laptop computer therein, may include a handle attached to bottom shell  32  of protective cover  30 . A shoulder strap may also be attached to the bottom shell of the cover. An elastic strap, attached to the exterior surface of the bottom shell at the front and back and/or left and right may be provided to secure the computer and protective cover to one wrist of the user, while he/she operates the computer with the other hand. 
     In another embodiment, the invention relates to a combination a laptop computer as described above and a protective cover as described above. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereby. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications in the design and construction of a protective cover for a laptop computer, as described herein, lie within the spirit and scope thereof, and all such variations and modifications fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims.