Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment, a glare shield for a portable display screen, the display screen having a display surface with a top edge and first and second sides, the shield including: a material substantially surrounding the top edge and the first and second sides of the display surface and extending from the display surface, the shield being being constructed so as to be deformable in the event of the application of an external force, so as to absorb at least a portion of the external force to protect the display screen therefrom; and the glare shield being removable from the display screen and foldable substantially flat when not in use.

Description:
This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 08/430,867, filed Apr. 28 1995, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to computers generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel shield for computer screens which is particularly useful with laptop computers and similar devices. 
     2. Background Art 
     Portable computers, data displays, “paperless newspapers,” and similar devices have become very popular because of their ease of portability and because recent advances in computer and communication technology have resulted in some quite versatile machines. 
     A problem with such devices is that the low-power display screens employed in connection therewith can be difficult to read when the devices are used outdoors, for example, partly because of the level of ambient illumination and partly because of glare from light sources. The same problem can exist, to some extent, also, when the devices are used indoors in brightly lighted locations. 
     A number of shields, or hoods, have been developed to address the above problem; however, none of these is completely satisfactory for one or more of a number or reasons. First, many of such shields are rigid, thus transmitting to the display screen any external force that is applied to the shields. Second, none of the shields can be folded or easily disassembled to be substantially flat. Although portable computers and similar devices are usually relatively compactly arranged when not in use and can be put in small carrying cases, the rigid hoods cannot be placed in the carrying cases with the computers. Additionally, in many cases, attachment of the shields requires that something be glued or otherwise relatively permanently attached to the display screens. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a shield for a portable computer display screen or similar devices that can absorb forces applied thereto so as to insulate the display screen therefrom. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a shield for a display screen which can be folded or disassembled to be substantially flat so that it can be carried in a portable computer carrying case. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a shield for a display screen which does not require attachment of a fixture to the display screen. Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, a glare shield for a portable display screen, said display screen having a display surface with a top edge and first and second sides, said shield comprising: a material substantially surrounding said top edge and said first and second sides of said display surface and extending from said display surface, said shield being being constructed so as to be deformable in the event of the application of an external force, so as to absorb at least a portion of said external force to protect said display screen therefrom; and said glare shield being removable from said display screen and foldable substantially flat when not in use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Understanding of the present invention and the various aspects thereof will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing figures, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, on which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a display screen shield according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the shield of FIG. 1 installed on a display screen of a portable computer. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the shield of FIG. 2 absorbing an external force. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view indicating how the shield of FIG. 1 is folded. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the shield of FIG. 1 folded substantially flat. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the material of construction of the shield of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating the method of forming the hinge portions for the shield of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded, isometric view illustrating the construction of another embodiment of a display screen shield according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the shield of FIG. 8 folded substantially flat. 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged, isometric view illustrating a tapered edge of the shield of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view illustrating a further embodiment of a display screen shield according to the present invention, arranged for installation on a display screen. 
     FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the shield of FIG. 11 preparatory to folding the same. 
     FIG. 13 is an isometric view illustrating the screen of FIG. 11 being folded. 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view illustrating the screen of FIG. 11 folded substantially flat. 
     FIG. 15 is an isometric view illustrating yet another embodiment of a display screen shield according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is an isometric view illustrating the shield of FIG. 15 in the process of being folded. 
     FIG. 17 is an isometric view illustrating the shield of FIG. 15 folded substantially flat. 
     FIG. 18 is an isometric view illustrating yet a further embodiment of a display screen shield according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is an isometric view illustrating the shield of FIG. 18 folded substantially flat. 
     FIG. 20 is a top plan view illustrating a single sheet of material from which the shield of FIG. 18 can be constructed. 
     FIG. 21 is an isometric view illustrating the method of constructing the shield of FIG. 18 from the sheet of material of FIG.  20 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference should now be made to the drawing figures, on which similar or identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout the various figures thereof, and on which parenthetical references to figure numbers direct the reader to the view(s) on which the element(s) being described is (are) best seen, although the element(s) may be seen also on other views. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a display screen shield according to one embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral  30 . Shield  30  includes first and second side walls  32  and  34 , respectively, a top wall  36 , and a short front wall  38  depending from the front edge of the top wall. Side walls  32  and  34 , top wall  36 , and front wall  38  are cojoined by means of frictionally interleaved projections, as at  40 , formed along adjacent edges of the walls. Referring for a moment to FIG. 4, shield  30  also includes a back wall  50  attached to top wall  36  by means of a hinge portion  52  and attached to first and second side walls  32  and  34  by means of hinge portions  54  and  56 , respectively. Front wall  38  is joined to top wall  36  by means of a hinge portion  58 . Hinge portions  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  permit the walls of the shield to be rotated to the assembled positions shown on FIG.  1 . Also shown on FIG. 4 are first and second horizontal elastic straps  60  and  62 , respectively, disposed near the lower and upper edges of back wall  60 , respectively. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates shield  30  installed on a display screen  70  which, for illustrative purposes only is shown as being associated with a portable computer  72 . It will be understood that display screen  70  could, as well, be associated with any small, portable computational or communications device. Shield  30  is yieldingly held in place on display screen  70  by means of elastic strap  60  being stretched around the display screen. It will be understood that elastic strap  62  (FIG. 4) is similarly stretched around display screen  70 . So placed, shield  30  greatly reduces the effects of ambient lighting and glare and renders display screen  70  much easier to use. 
     Shield  30  is constructed of a highly yieldable material so as to absorb external forces and prevent damage to display screen  70 . This is illustrated on FIG. 3 where the material of shield  30  is seen to be highly deformable so as to absorb the external force. Additional yielding of shield  30  may be afforded, if necessary to absorb the force, by the separation of projections  40  and/or the stretching of elastic straps  60  and/or  62 . Thus, screen  70  is protected against having damaging external forces applied to it through shield  30 . 
     Another desirable feature of shield  30  is that it can be folded substantially flat for convenient insertion in carrying case. This is illustrated on FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows shield  30  with side walls  32  and  34 , top wall  36 , and front wall  38  with interleaved projections  40  separated. Now, top wall  36  can be folded against the rear surface of back wall  50  and side walls  32  and  34  can be folded against the front surface of the back wall. Such as folded configuration is illustrated on FIG.  5 . 
     Shield  30  is constructed of a material that is highly deformable, yet has sufficient rigidity to retain its form when not subjected to external forces. A preferred material is illustrated on FIG.  6  and comprises a composite having a 3-mm thick core  80  of a closed cell, extruded polyethylene foam material, such as Ethafoam as furnished by Dow Chemical &amp; Plastics Company, with outer 2-mm thick layers  82  and  84  of flocked polyurethane attached thereto with a suitable adhesive. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the method of forming hinge portions  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58 . Here, heated plates  90  and  92  of suitable metallic material, such as aluminum, are applied to opposite sides of the composite material of FIG.  6  and pressed together for a brief period of time. When plates  90  and  92  are removed, the composite material will retain the shape shown on FIG. 7, thus forming a relatively thin, flexible hinge. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates another display screen shield constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral  100 . Shield  100  includes a top wall  102  and first and second side walls  104  and  106 . Side wall  106  has a strip of hook-and-loop fabric  110  wrapped around the upper edge thereof and is releasably attached to top wall  102  by engagement of strip  110  with a complementary strip of hook-and-loop fabric  112  disposed on the lower surface of top wall  102  near one edge thereof. A similar strip of hook-and-loop fabric  114  is wrapped around the upper edge of side wall  104  and releasably engages a similar complementary strip of hook-and-loop fabric (not shown) disposed near the other edge of top wall  102 . First and second elastic bands  120  and  130  are attached to and extend between side walls  104  and  106 . When assembled, shield  100  can be placed on a display screen in a manner similar to shield  30  on display screen  70  (FIG.  1 ), with elastic straps  120  and  122  encircling the display screen. The hook-and-loop fabric attachment arrangement permits some horizontal leeway in accommodating different display screens of different widths. 
     The material of construction of shield  100  is the same as that of shield  30  (FIGS. 1-6) and will deform to absorb an external force applied thereto. Additionally, one or both hook-and-loop attachments may separate under the external force and stretching of elastic straps  120  and  122  will further absorb the force. 
     Shield  100  may be folded substantially flat by removing side walls  104  and  106  from top wall  102  and reattaching them in the positions shown on FIG.  9 . 
     The front edge of top wall  102  is finished with a strip of hook-and-loop fabric  130  and the front edges  132  and  134  of side walls  104  and  106  are finished with a taper. The latter feature is shown on FIG.  10 . The taper may be produced by applying hot-melt adhesive and clamping force to the edge of the composite material or it may be produced using a procedure similar to that illustrated on FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a display screen shield constructed according to a further embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral  150 . Shield  150  includes a top wall  152  hingedly attached to a back wall  154 , a left side wall comprising upper and lower panels  156  and  158  joined at a hinge portion  160 , and a right side wall comprising upper and lower panels  166  and  168  joined at a hinge portion  170 , the side walls being hingedly joined to the back wall. An elastic strap  176  extends horizontally along the lower edge of back wall  154 . In its upright position, shown on FIG. 11, shield  150  can be placed on a display screen in a manner similar to shield  30  on display screen  70  (FIG.  1 ). 
     The panel members of shield  150  are fabric covered, resilient cardboard and the hinge members are sections of the fabric covering under which there is no cardboard substrate. Thus, when an external force is received by shield  150 , the cardboard can yield, the hinges can yield, and the elastic band can stretch, all absorbing the force and protecting the display screen. 
     Shield  150  can be folded substantially flat, as is illustrated on FIGS. 12-14. On FIG. 12, shield  150  has been positioned with back wall  154  disposed horizontally. Then, hinge portions  160  and  170  are pressed inwardly, as illustrated on FIG.  13 . Finally, top wall  152  is folded downwardly to a nearly horizontal position. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a display screen shield constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral  200 . Shield  200  includes a top wall  202  hingedly joined to a back wall  204 , a short front wall  206  hingedly joined to the top wall, first and second intermediate side walls  208  and  210 , respectively, hingedly joined to the sides of the top wall, and first and second primary side walls  212  and  214 , respectively, hingedly joined to the sides of the back wall. First and second horizontal elastic straps  220  and  222 , respectively, are disposed along the inner surface of back wall  204  near the lower and upper edges thereof, respectively. The panel members and hinge portions of shield  200  are constructed similarly to the panel members and hinge portions of shield  150  (FIG.  11 ). 
     Referring also to FIG. 16, shield  200  is assembled by bending front wall  206  and first and second intermediate side walls  208  and  210  orthogonally to top wall  206  and releasably joining hook-and-loop fabric circles  230  and  232  on front wall  206  to hook-and-loop fabric circles  234  and  236  on intermediate side walls  208  and  210 , respectively. Then primary side walls  212  and  214  are bent orthogonally to back wall  204  and a hook-and-loop fabric circle  240  on intermediate side wall  210  is releasably joined to a hook-and-loop fabric circle  242  on primary side wall  214 . Likewise, a hook-and-loop fabric circle  244  on intermediate side wall  208  is releasably joined to a hook-and-loop fabric circle  246  on primary side wall  212 . In addition to the external force absorbing properties described above with reference to display screen shields  30  (FIG. 1) and  150  (FIG.  8 ), the various hook-and-loop fabric circles of shield  200  are easily released to provide further shock absorbing action. 
     Shield  200  may be folded substantially flat as is illustrated on FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 18 illustrates a display screen shield constructed according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral  250 , the shield being constructed of a single sheet of lightweight cardboard. Shield  250  includes a top wall  252  hingedly attached to a back wall  254 , a short front wall  256  hingedly attached to the top wall, and first and second side walls  258  and  260 , respectively, hingedly attached to the back wall. FIG. 19 illustrates shield  250  folded substantially flat. 
     As shown on FIG. 18, top wall  252 , front wall  256  and side wall  260  are joined by means of the frictional, releasable insertion of a tab  270  formed on one end of the front wall and a tab  272  formed on one edge of the top wall into a slot  274  defined in the upper edge of side wall  260 . Similarly, with reference to FIG. 21, a tab  280  formed on the other end of front wall  256  and a tab  282  formed on the other edge of top wall  252  are frictionally, releasably inserted in a slot  284  defined in the upper edge of side wall  258 . In addition to the bending of the panels of shield  250  in the event of an external force applied thereto, many external forces will also cause the partial or complete disassembly of the shield to further protect a display screen from the external force. Score lines, as at  290 , a re provided to assist in the fabrication of shield  250 . Side panels  258  and  260  and front panel  256  are formed by folding and gluing together the elements shown, with the material forming slots  274  and  284  of side walls  260  and  258 , respectively, remaining unglued. 
     FIG. 20 illustrates how a s ingle sheet of lightweight cardboard may be die cut from a single sheet of material. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those elucidated in, or made apparent from, the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction with out departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawing figures shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.