Patent ID: 12232601

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

FIG.1shows a user10with a laptop computer50supported on a laptop support device100according to a non-limiting example. The user10may be in a sitting position, for example, on a chair20. A main body110of the laptop support device100may rest on a lap13of the user10, and a tension support strap160extending from the main body110may wrap around a lower back15of the user10. Alternatively, the tension support strap160may be structured to additionally or alternatively wrap around other portions of the user10(e.g., neck12, shoulders18, etc.). The laptop computer50may be supported by an upper surface120of the main body110of the laptop support device100. A backstop structure130extending upward from the upper surface120may abut a rear portion of the laptop computer50.

When the user10is in a sitting position as shown inFIG.1, the lap13of the user10tends to slope downward towards knees14of the user10. Thus, a laptop computer50resting directly on the lap13of the user10may risk sliding down towards the knees14, and risks falling off of the lap13. While the user10may lift the knees14to avoid this, doing so may result in an unnatural position for the user10and may result in strain on the user10. The user10may also place an object on the lap13near the knees14to lift the rear portion of the laptop computer50such that the laptop computer50is angled towards the user10. However, this results in an unnatural bending of the wrists16and, furthermore, may cause a cramped configuration for the wrists16, the arms17, and/or the shoulders18of the user10. Further, the user10may be required to bend the neck12and/or the back to unnatural positions. These unnatural positions may result in fatigue and/or injury for the user10.

According to one or more embodiments, as shown inFIG.1, the laptop computer50is supported by the laptop support device100such that the base thereof is parallel to the lap13of the user10. Thus, the keyboard and/or the screen of the laptop computer50may be angled away from the user10. This is a natural and comfortable position for the user10, preventing unnatural bending of the wrists16or unnatural positions of the wrists16, arms17, shoulders18, and/or neck12. While a gravitational force acts on the laptop computer50towards a direction of the knees14of the user10, the backstop structure130abuts the rear portion of the laptop computer50to prevent sliding of the laptop computer50. Furthermore, while the gravitational force acting on the laptop computer50and the laptop support device100biases the laptop computer50and the laptop support device100towards the direction of the knees14of the user10, the tension support strap160extending from the upper surface120of the main body110of the laptop support device100and wrapped around the lower back15of the user10prevents the laptop computer50and the laptop support device100from sliding. As shown inFIG.1, the tension support strap160may be wrapped around the lower back15of the user10so as to be substantially parallel to the main body110. This configuration of the tension support strap160may prevent unwanted moments acting on the main body110that could flip the body110, resulting in damage to the laptop computer50and/or injury to the user10. Furthermore, the laptop support device100may position the laptop computer50on the lap13of the user10such that a base portion of the laptop computer50(e.g., the keyboard) is angled away from the user10. Because laptop computers50generally allow a display to fold to form an angle with the base portion between 0° and 90°, the laptop support device100may allow the angle to be adjusted such that the display is substantially perpendicular to the user10.

FIGS.2-5show a laptop support device100according to one or more embodiments. The laptop support device100defines a forward direction F, a rearward or backward direction B, a leftward direction L, a rightward direction R, an upward direction U, and a downward direction D. The laptop support device100has a main body110that is a substantially planar structure that defines a forward edge111, a rear edge113, a left edge115, a right edge117, a lower surface119, and an upper surface120. The forward edge111, the rear edge113, the left edge115, and the right edge117may be curved without any sharp edges or corners such to prevent injury to the user10during use.

The main body110may be formed of plastic, carbon fiber, aluminum, or any other material known in the art that has sufficient strength to support the weight of a laptop computer50. According to one or more embodiments, the main body may be formed of multiple layers of different materials. As a non-limiting example, an uppermost layer may be formed of a thermally conductive material to dissipate heat away from the laptop computer50. As a non-limiting example, an uppermost layer may be formed of a material that prevents the laptop computer50from sliding, e.g., rubber. As a non-limiting example, a lowermost layer may be formed of a material that prevents the laptop support device100from sliding off of the lap13of the user10, e.g., rubber. Alternatively, one or more gripping structures made of, for example, rubber, may be formed on the upper surface120of the main body110. As a non-limiting example, a lowermost layer may be formed of a material with low thermal conductivity so that heat from the laptop computer50is not conducted to the lap13of the user10. As a non-limiting example, the lowermost layer may be formed of a soft and/or cushioning material for comfort of the user10. As a non-limiting example, the main body110may also include an intermediate layer that provides strength to the main body110, for example, plastic, carbon fiber, aluminum, or other materials known in the art.

The laptop support device100may further include a backstop structure130extending upward from the upper surface120of the main body110. Alternatively, the backstop structure130may extend from the rear edge113of the main body110. As shown inFIGS.2-5, the backstop structure130may include a base portion131attached to the upper surface120of the main body110and a vertical portion133extending in the upper direction U from the base portion131. The vertical portion133may be spaced from the rear edge113or, alternatively, may be positioned to be flush with the rear edge113. According to one or more embodiments, as shown inFIG.7, the backstop structure130may omit the base portion131such that the vertical portion133may extend directly upward from the upper surface120of the main body110. The backstop structure130may be a separate structure from the main body110that is attached thereto or, alternatively, may be formed integrally with the main body110.

The laptop support device100may further include a first attachment structure140and a second attachment structure150on the upper surface120of the main body110. The first attachment structure140may include a first base portion141that is attached to the upper surface120of the main body110via a first fastener142(e.g., a screw) and a first ring portion143extending upward from the first base portion141. The second attachment structure150may include a second base portion151that is attached to the upper surface120of the main body110via a second fastener152(e.g., a screw) and a second ring portion153extending upward from the second base portion151. The second attachment structure150may further include a ring155attached to the second ring portion153and a removable clasp structure157attached to the ring155. The removable clasp structure157may be, for example, a snap hook. Alternatively, the second ring portion153may be sufficiently large to directly accommodate the removable clasp structure157such that the ring155may be omitted. The first base portion141of the first attachment structure140and the second base portion151of the second attachment structure150may be stationary or may be rotatable about the first and second fasteners142,152. WhileFIGS.1-6show the first attachment structure140and the second attachment structure150being attached to the upper surface120of the main body by first and second fasteners142,152, as shown inFIG.7, the first ring portion143of the first attachment structure140and the second ring portion153of the second attachment structure150may be formed directly on the upper surface120of the main body110. According to one or more embodiments, the first ring portion143of the first attachment structure140and the second ring portion153of the second attachment structure150may be formed integrally with the main body110.

According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the first attachment structure140and/or an entirety of the second attachment structure150may be disposed on a rear 20% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the first attachment structure140and/or an entirety of the second attachment structure150may be disposed on a rear 10% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the first attachment structure140may be disposed on a right 20% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the first attachment structure140may be disposed on a right 10% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the second attachment structure150may be disposed on a left 20% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the second attachment structure150may be disposed on a left 10% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the backstop structure130may be disposed on a rear 20% of the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, an entirety of the backstop structure130may be disposed on a rear 10% of the upper surface120.

The laptop support device100may further include a tension support strap160. The tension support strap160includes a strap body161that extends between a first attachment ring163and a second attachment ring165. The first attachment ring163may be attached to the first ring portion143of the first attachment structure140. The user10may wrap the tension support strap160around the lower back15as shown inFIG.1and attach the removable clasp structure157to the second attachment ring165as shown inFIG.6. According to one or more embodiments, as shown inFIG.2, the removable clasp structure157may instead stay on the second attachment ring165such that, after wrapping the tension support strap160around the lower back15, the user10may attach the removable clasp structure157onto the ring155or the second ring portion153. The tension support strap160may further include a length adjustment mechanism162disposed on the strap body161that is structured to allow the user10to adjust the length of the strap body161.

FIG.8shows a schematic side view of laptop support device100according to one or more embodiments. As shown inFIG.8, the backstop structure130may include a vertical portion133attached to the top surface120of the main body110via a hinge132such that the vertical portion133is foldable from a vertical position shown in solid lines a folded position shown in dashed lines. In the folded position, the vertical portion133may be substantially parallel to the upper surface120. According to one or more embodiments, because the vertical portion133shown inFIG.8is foldable, the vertical portion133may be made taller than in the embodiments shown inFIGS.1-7.

FIG.9shows a schematic front view of laptop support device100according to one or more embodiments. As shown inFIG.9, the laptop support device100may include a right stopper structure170on the right edge117or on the upper surface120at or near the right edge117. The right stopper structure170may include a vertical portion173attached to the top surface120of the main body110via a hinge172such that the vertical portion173is foldable from a vertical position shown in solid lines a folded position shown in dashed lines. In the folded position, the vertical portion173may be substantially parallel to the upper surface120. The laptop support device100may include a left stopper structure180on the left edge115or on the upper surface120at or near the left edge115. The left stopper structure180may include a vertical portion183attached to the top surface120of the main body110via a hinge182such that the vertical portion183is foldable from a vertical position shown in solid lines a folded position shown in dashed lines. In the folded position, the vertical portion183may be substantially parallel to the upper surface120. The right stopper structure170and/or the left stopper structure180may prevent the laptop computer50from sliding off of the upper surface120of the main body110in the rightward and leftward directions R, L.

The terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The term “or” means “and/or” unless clearly indicated otherwise by context. Reference throughout the specification to “an aspect”, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, step, or characteristic) described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other aspects. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various aspects.

When an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Unless defined otherwise, technical, and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.