Patent Publication Number: US-9848682-B2

Title: Computer case strap retention system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to cases for laptop computers and the like and, in particular, to an improvement comprising pair of strap guides through which elastic side retention straps are respectively journaled to prevent the straps from interfering with the closure of the case. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , computer cases including laptop cases generally have a bottom cover  102  and a top cover  104  that close with a zipper  106 , for example, to encase the computer. It is also common to have elastic side retention straps  110  that connect the bottom of the case to the top of the case to hold the top of the case against the display portion  112  of the computer  114  when it is opened for use. A long-standing problem with the traditional design described above is that the side straps  110  get caught in the computer, or the zipper, when the case is closed. 
       FIG. 1B  shows how the strap  110 , no longer stretched, can get caught in the hinged keyboard and display portions of the computer  114 , and  FIG. 1C  illustrates how the strap  110  can get caught in the zipper  106 , causing the user to push the strap back into the case to continue closing the case. Indeed, straps  110  often get caught in the hinge of the laptop or the zippers when closing. If the strap is caught in the computer, it may cause damage to the computer or may not allow it to go to sleep. If caught in the zipper, the strap can tear or ruin the zipper if pulled too hard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to cases for laptop computers and the like and, in particular to an improvement comprising pair of strap guides through which elastic side retention straps are respectively journaled to prevent the straps from interfering with the closure of the case. 
     In particular, the invention is applicable to a case for a computer such as a laptop computer having a display portion hinged to a keyboard portion. The invention is not limited in this regard and applies equally well to other types of portable electronic devices such as tablets. The case comprises a bottom cover having an inner surface with a periphery and front, back, right and left sides corresponding to the keyboard portion of the computer; and a top cover having an inner surface with a periphery and front, rear, right and left sides corresponding to the display portion of the computer. The top and bottom covers are hinged in the rear of the case, and a closure mechanism such as a zipper is provided for closing the top and bottom portions of the case. 
     Right and left elastic retaining straps respectively connect the top and bottom portions of the case, and the right and left elastic retaining straps pass through respective strap guides, each attached to the inner surface of the top portion of the case, to prevent the retaining straps from being caught in the hinged portions of the computer or the closure mechanism as the case is closed. 
     Each elastic retaining strap has a flat surface defining a width and, in the preferred embodiment, the strap guides are wider than the retaining straps so that the flat surfaces of the straps slide against respective right and left inner surfaces of the top cover as the case is opened and closed. 
     Each elastic retaining strap has a first end attached to the inner surface of the top cover; and a second end attached to the bottom cover. At least the bottom cover may be attached to a side portion with a peripheral seam, whereby the second end of each strap may be sewn into a different portion of the peripheral seam. As such, each elastic retaining strap twists from where it is sewn into the peripheral seam to where it enters a strap guide. In an alternative embodiment, the strap guides are sufficiently long to cover the ends of the elastic retaining straps where they attach to the inner surface of the top cover of the case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a drawing of a prior-art computer case illustrating a side retention strap; 
         FIG. 1B  shows how a side strap, no longer stretched, can get caught in the hinged keyboard and display portions of the computer; 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates how a side strap can get caught in the zipper, causing the user to push the strap back into the case to continue closing the case; 
         FIG. 2  is drawing that illustrates a preferred embodiment of a computer case as seen by a user, but without the computer for the sake of clarity; and 
         FIG. 3  shows how the strap guides may cover more of the upper portions of the straps and may, indeed, cover the areas where the straps attach to the inner surface of the top cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention solves strap retention problems associated with portable computer cases by providing strap guides, which may be in the form of loops of longer channels, to keep the side straps from being caught in the computer or closure. 
       FIG. 2  is drawing that illustrates a preferred embodiment of a computer case  202  as seen by a user, but without the computer for the sake of clarity. The case  202  includes a bottom cover  204  having an inner surface  206  with a periphery and front, back, right and left edges ( 208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 , respectively) corresponding to the base or keyboard portion of the computer, and a top cover  224  having an inner surface  226  with a periphery and front, rear, right and left edges ( 228 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 ) corresponding to the display portion of the computer. The top and bottom covers are hinged at  240  in the rear of the case, and a closure mechanism is provided for closing the top and bottom covers. Typically the closure is a zipper that runs along the front, right and left sides of the top and bottom covers. 
     In accordance with the invention, right and left elastic retaining straps,  250 ,  252 , respectively, connect the top and bottom covers of the case. In the preferred embodiment the straps have a width on the order of ¾″, though other smaller and larger widths are possible, including ½″ and 1 inch or more. Each of the straps  250 ,  252  strap has a first end fastened in a region on a respective right and left side of the inner surface of the top cover at a few inches above or away from the bottom of the hinge. Such fastening regions, depicted at  254 ,  256 , may be about 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 inches or more from the spine or bottom of the case. In the preferred embodiment, these regions are in the range of 5 to 6 inches to the spine, and proximate to, if not at, the right and left edges of the top cover. 
     Each retention strap  250 ,  252  has a second end  258 ,  260  attached to the bottom cover near or at the left and right side edges, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the preferred embodiment, each strap  250 ,  252  is further guided through respective right and left strap guides  270 ,  272  attached to the inner surface of the top portion of the case on opposing sides. These strap guides, unique to the invention, prevent the retaining straps from being caught in the hinged portions of the computer or the closure mechanism as the case is closed. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the second ends  258 ,  260  of the side straps are sewn into the seam that attaches the bottom cover to left and right sides portions of the case to which the zipper is attached. When sewn in this way, the ends  258 ,  260  are more or less vertical where they attach, but twist before going through the strap guides such that the straps against the inner surface  226  of the top cover  224 . As seen in the drawing, the straps twist by up to 90 degrees from the lower portion of the case to strap guides. Alternatively the straps  250 ,  252  may be sewn straight and flat directly to the bottom cover without a twist. That is, in this embodiment each strap will enter straight or flat into its respective strap guide. 
     The strap guides may vary in length along the inner surface of the top portion of the case. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the strap guides  302  may cover more of the upper portions of the straps as compared to  FIG. 2  and may, indeed, cover the areas  304  where the straps attach to the inner surface of the top cover.