Patent Publication Number: US-2012024200-A1

Title: Multifunction Computer Table and Carrier

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This continuation-in-part application claims benefit under 35 USC 120 of commonly invented and copending, U.S. nonprovisional utility patent application Ser. No. 12/729,121 filed Mar. 22, 2010, named Portable Computer Table With Clear Reading and Writing Surface, incorporated by reference in its entirety and claims benefit of commonly invented Provisional Patent Application No. 61/184,952 entitled “Portable Computer Table With Clear Reading and Writing Surface” filed on Jun. 8, 2009, which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and claims the benefit of the provisional&#39;s filing date under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to tables and personal carriers for portable computers and other work tools. 
     Whether it is for work or for recreation, many people require a workspace or ‘office on the go’ when they are away from their conventional desks where the obvious answer is to replace the desk legs with a wide lap tray type device (while preserving the work space) or make the work space smaller and work less efficiently. 
     People carrying this ‘office on the go’ are a familiar sight: carrier bags and portable computers are a familiar site in commuter situations and unfortunately the damage to computers from bouncing around inside these bags and from sources outside the bag also are a familiar situation. The obvious answer would be a bulked-up bag, but space is tight and bulk is heavy for a commuter and not being able to spread out means not being able to access necessary materials and get more work done. 
     The present invention is not the obvious answer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a Multifunction Computer Table and Carrier (‘MCTC’). Users of the MCTC benefit over prior art by the addition of a secondary horizontal work surface doubling available workspace without increasing the footprint of the table allowing commuters and others to work more easily in tight work areas (17′ wide or less like a typical airline coach seat). Users of the MTC also benefit over prior art by reusing the primary and secondary work surfaces as a protective barrier during storage and transport allowing safer transportation of the computer and other work tools without adding unnecessary additional bulk to the carrier bag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective drawing of the Multifunction Computer Table and Carrier (‘MCTC’) with an open portable computer placed on the lower table top. This use of the MCTC is referred to as the Elevated Work Surface (‘EWS’) configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective drawing of the MCTC with an open portable computer placed on the upper table top. This use of the MCTC is referred to as the Elevated Computer Surface (‘ECS’) configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective drawing of MCTC rotated to a storage and carrier position. This use of the MCTC is referred to as the Computer Storage Transport (‘CST’) configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective drawing of the MCTC inside a carrier bag with a computer and printer placed inside the inner protected area of the MCTC. This use of the MCTC is referred to as the Computer Storage Transport (‘CST’) configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings  FIG. 1-4  wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements. 
     The Multifunction Computer Table and Carrier (‘MCTC’) advances its field by providing the user of an ‘office on the go’ more total horizontal working space (or a work space and storage space) without taking up a wider area of space and without adding a lot of weight and providing better protection for the work tools comprising the ‘office on the go.’ 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a Multifunction Computer Table and Carrier (‘MCTC’)  10  is comprised of a plurality of multi-functional surfaces and configurations. We define the Elevated Work Surface (‘EWS’) configuration as a lower table top  4  with a commuter width of 15-17″ that provides a primary horizontal work surface for a work tool such as a portable computer  40 ; an upper table top  1  secondary horizontal work surface for secondary purposes such as writing or storing articles such as a printer or personal articles; a pair of vertical inner sides  6  support the upper table top  1  and combine with a upper table bottom  2  and the lower table top  4  to form a partial enclosure to restrict movement of the work tool  40  during use; and a plurality of securing slots  30  provide for the use of zero or more securing straps to hold the work tool or the storing articles during use of the MCTC. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , the MCTC  10  is comprised of a plurality of multi-functional surfaces and configurations. We define the an Elevated Computer Surface (‘ECS’) configuration where the upper table top  1  with a commuter width of 15-17″ provides for the primary horizontal work surface for storage and operation of the work tool (in this case a portable computer  40 ); the pair of vertical inner sides  6  combine with an upper table bottom  2  and the lower table top  4  to form a rigid partial inner enclosure  20  for protective storing of the articles during use of the MCTC. Zero or more securing slots  30  provide for the use of zero or more securing straps to hold the work tool  40  or the storing articles during use of the MCTC  10 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the MCTC  10  is comprised of a plurality of multi-functional surfaces and configurations. We define the a Computer Storage and Transport (‘CST’) configuration where the upper table top  1 , the lower table bottom  3  and a pair of vertical outer sides  5  combine to form a rigid outer protective barrier for protecting the work tool and the storing articles during storage and transport where this configuration can be rotated for easier carrying; the plurality of securing slots  30  provide for the use of zero or more securing straps to hold the work tool or the storing articles during storage and transport of the MCTC  10 . 
     The MCTC  10  may be made of any clear, strong, rigid material. The present invention may set on a table, lap, pillow, legs, or other surface or means of vertical support that provides the necessary stability and user access. 
     The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the present invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the present invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this present invention, it is not desired to limit the present invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.