Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to carrying bags and components for holding portable computers, such as laptop computers.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Various carrying bags and cases are known in the art for carrying laptop computers and similar electronic equipment. Such bags are frequently fashioned out of a durable but flexible fabric, and include multiple compartments, at least one of which is designed to securely hold a laptop computer. Although such bags are useful indeed for carrying computers, they are often constructed in a fairly uniform utilitarian manner, and are less aesthetically pleasing or fashionable than many general-purpose carrying bags. In addition, the plurality of pockets and compartments in such bags are useful, but often increase the cost, weight, and bulk of the bag.  
         [0005]     General-purpose carrying bags, on the other hand, are usually available in a wide variety of styles and fashions to suit different consumer tastes, but are seldom designed for carrying electronic equipment such as laptop computers. For example, women&#39;s handbags and purses, men&#39;s handbags, and unisex handbags may be provided in a variety of styles and fashions. Such bags are often provided with a single large compartment large enough for a laptop computer. Placing the computer in the large compartment with smaller articles that the bag is also needed to hold may cause damage to both the smaller articles and the computer. In addition, it may be difficult to fully insert the computer into the carrying bag because of the presence of other items in the bottom of the bag.  
         [0006]     It is desirable, therefore, to provide the consumer the greater selection and fashion afforded by general-purpose carrying bags, without sacrificing key functional aspects of more utilitarian computer cases.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention overcomes limitations of conventional carrying cases for computers or similar electronic devices and of general-purpose carrying bags, while retaining the advantages of both.  
         [0008]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a computer-carrying insert is provided for a general purpose carrying bag, such as a woman&#39;s handbag or other style of handbag. The insert may be attached in a permanent or semi-permanent fashion to the carrying bag, or may be designed to be readily removable from the carrying bag. The insert comprises two spaced-apart separator panels and a base along lower edges of both panels. The separator panels may be designed slightly larger than the largest area of the computer or other device they are intended to hold. They may be spaced a uniform distance apart so as to accommodate the maximum thickness of the laptop computer or other device. Side ends of the insert may be left generally open, or covered with a fabric material. Its top end should be left open, or provided with a removable closure, for insertion and removal of the computer. The separator panels and base may be comprised of a durable semi-rigid material, such as fabric-reinforced card stock, plastic, or leather materials.  
         [0009]     Optionally, the insert may be provided with a lifting strap connected to a pull tab for lifting the computer out of the insert. The pull tab may be located near the top side of the insert, and may also be configured to act as a closure for the insert. Pulling on the tab places tension on the lifting strap, lifting the computer up from the bottom of the insert.  
         [0010]     The insert base may be configured to fit against the bottom panel of an accompanying general-purpose carrying bag. For example, the base may be generally rectangular in shape, with rounded or beveled corners, and not wider than the bottom of the carrying bag. Optionally, the base may be stitched or adhered to the bottom of a carrying bag. In the alternative, the insert may be provided with a hook-and-loop or other fastener for removable attachment to the bottom of a carrying bag. The base may be made wider than the insert, thereby providing spaces between each separator panel and an adjacent wall of the carrying bag, for carrying smaller articles. The base may also provide stability for the bag, so that it may be placed upright on a flat surface without tipping over.  
         [0011]     A more complete understanding of the computer-holding insert for a carrying bag will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing bottom and left sides of an exemplary computer-holding insert according to the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing top and right sides of the insert shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing bottom and left sides of a second exemplary computer-holding insert according to the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing top and right sides of the insert shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary insert in a carrying bag, with a computer fully inserted and a pull tab in a retracted position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing the insert of  FIG. 5 , with the pull tab extended, lifting the computer partially out of the carrying bag and insert. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     The present invention provides an insert for a general-purpose carrying bag, wherein the insert is adapted for holding an electronic device such as a computer, that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. In the detailed description that follows, like element numerals have been used to indicate like elements in one or more of the figures.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show opposite perspective views of a first exemplary embodiment for an insert  100  according to the invention. Insert  100  comprises a pair  102  of spaced-apart panels  104 ,  106  having major surfaces  108 ,  110  substantially parallel to each other so as to define an interior volume  112  for holding a rectangular prism-shaped object, for example, a laptop computer. Insert  100  further comprises a base  114  joined to the pair of spaced-apart panels adjacent to lower edges  116 , 118  of each panel.  
         [0020]     Base  114  is provided with at least one tab  120  substantially perpendicular to panel  104 , extending outward from the pair  102  of panels as shown. A second tab  122  may be provided on a side of the pair  102  of panels opposite to tab  120 , also substantially perpendicular to, and extending outward from, the pair of panels. Tabs  120  and  122  may be formed integrally with base  114 , or may comprise separate pieces of material (not shown) attached to the base or near the base. Tabs  120  and  122  serve to stabilize insert  100  inside a central compartment of a general-purpose carrying bag. Base  114  may also serve to stabilize the bottom of a carrying bag, so that it may be placed upright on a flat surface without tipping over.  
         [0021]     Accordingly, tabs  120 , 122  may be constructed of a semi-rigid material that is stiff enough to hold its shape and support the insert  100  away from the sidewalls of the carrying bag, without being too stiff or too hard so as to be uncomfortable to carry or unduly heavy. Base  114  and panels  104 ,  106  may be comprised of similar materials. Suitable materials may include, for example, fabric-reinforced paper or cardboard, plastic, leather, heavy fabric, metal, and various laminates or other combinations of the foregoing materials, as known in the art for use with carrying bags and articles of luggage. Each tab  120 ,  122  preferably extends outward of the panel pair  102  a distance of between about 0.25 and 3 inches, depending on the size of carrying bag the insert is designed for.  
         [0022]     Base  114  may be attached to an interior bottom of a carrying bag, such as by stitching or using an adhesive. In the alternative, a lower surface  124  of the base  114  or tabs  120 ,  122 , or a portion of the lower surface, may comprise a suitable detachable fastener. or fabric for attaching or improving adhesion between the base  114  and an adjoining bottom panel of a carry bag. For example, a suitable detachable fastener may include hook fabric or loop fabric of a hook-and-loop fastener system, one or more snaps, clips, or hooks, or a tacky coated fabric.  
         [0023]     Panels  104 ,  106  may be attached together a distance away from base  114 , so as to maintain the panels in substantially parallel relation. In the illustrated embodiment  100 , connecting bands  126 ,  128  are attached to both panels  104 ,  106  at opposite sides of the panel pair  102 . Bands  126 ,  128  may be fastened to panels  104 ,  106  using any suitable method, for example, by stitching, rivets, or adhesive. In the alternative, a removable fastening system, such as a clasp, snap, or hook-and-loop fabric may be used.  
         [0024]     In the illustrated embodiment, the sides of the panel pair  102  are left open between bands  126 ,  128  and base  114 . Advantageously, leaving the sides open permits the interior volume  112  to be readily cleared of debris or small articles prior to insertion of a larger object such as a laptop computer. In the alternative, but less preferably, the sides of the pair  102  may be closed using a side panel of fabric or other suitable material.  
         [0025]     Insert  100  may further be provided with a lifting strap  130 , an upper portion  132  of which may also function as a closure for the upper end of the panel pair  102 . As such, the upper portion  132  may be provided with a suitable fastener for use in closing the interior volume of the insert. In the illustrated embodiment, a piece of loop fabric  134  is attached to the upper portion  132 , for removable attachment to a corresponding piece of hook fabric  136  attached adjacent to an upper edge of panel  106 . Other suitable fasteners, for example, hooks, clasps, snaps, or buttons may also be used instead of hook-and-loop fabrics  134 ,  136 . Operation of the upper portion  132  as a closure should be apparent from inspection of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0026]     The lifting strap  130  may also perform the function of lifting a relatively heavy object, such as a laptop computer, out of the interior volume  112 . To this end, the upper portion  132  may be threaded from the interior volume  112  to the exterior of the panel pair  102  through a guide slot  140 , so as to function as a pull tab for a lower portion of the lifting strap. Although not visible in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , because it is obscured by panels  104 ,  106 , the lower portion of the lifting strap may be wider than the end portion  132  so as to better lift an object contained in the interior volume of the insert. In general, strap  130  may be constructed of material similar to panels  104 ,  106 , but preferably thinner and more flexible to facilitate pulling through slot  140  and flexure in the interior volume around an object to be lifted. For example, leather, fabric, plastics, and laminates or composites thereof may be suitable. Further details of the lifting strap are described below in connection with  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a second embodiment of an insert  200 . Insert  200  may be constructed essentially similar to insert  100 , except for having a different orientation of the panel pair  202 . Many laptop computers comprise rectangular prism-shaped objects, having two long edges and two short edges. Insert  200  is configured to hold a rectangular prism-shaped object of the same size as insert  100 , except insert  200  is designed to accommodate long edges of a rectangular prism parallel with the base and top edges of the insert. In comparison, insert  100  is designed to hold the same object with the short edges parallel to the base  114  and upper end. Either insert  100  or insert  200  may be used to carry the same object, depending on the desired style of carrying bag. It should further be apparent that inserts similar to inserts  100  or  200  may be provided in different sizes, to hold smaller or larger objects.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show cross sectional views of an exemplary insert  300  similar to inserts  100  and  200 , inside of a compartment  350  of an exemplary carrying bag  352 . Bag  352  may comprise additional components and details (not shown) as known in the art. Insert  300  may be inserted in compartment  350 , with the base disposed and attached against a bottom side of the compartment. Tabs  320 ,  322  extend away from the side panels of insert  300 , to stabilize the insert in a central portion of the compartment and thereby divide the compartment into two spaces  356 ,  358  on opposite sides of insert  300 . A rectangular prism-shaped object  354 , representing a laptop computer, is inserted into an interior volume of insert  100 .  
         [0029]     Insert  300  comprises a lifting strap  330  having an upper portion  332  and a lower portion  338 . The upper portion  332  is threaded through a guide slot  340  in a first side panel of insert  300 , and the lower portion is attached to the opposite side panel about one-fifth to one-quarter of the panel length away from the base.  FIG. 5  shows the object  354  fully inserted into insert  300 , pushing the lower portion  338  of the lifting strap to base  314 . From this position, pulling on the upper portion  332  will partially lift object  354  out of insert  300 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . This may enable easier removal of the object  354  from the insert, while lessening any tendency to remove the insert itself from the compartment. Optionally, the entire insert  300  may also be removed from the compartment  350 , such as when it is desired to use the carrying bad for some other purpose.  
         [0030]     Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the computer holding insert for a carrying bag, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the within system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, an insert using hook-and-loop fasteners has been illustrated, but it should be apparent that the inventive concepts described above would be equally applicable to inserts with other types of fasteners,. including snaps, clips, or buttons. The invention is further defined by the following claims.

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