Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/396,379, filed Mar. 2, 2009, which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/033,668, filed Mar.  4, 2008. These documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.    
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to the field of securing a laptop computer to a support frame in such a manner as to allow the user to operate other equipment that is attached to or in the vicinity of the support frame. It has particular use in enabling a musician to produce live and recorded music, especially when used with percussion instruments. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Many varieties of stands, desks, and mounts for supporting a laptop computer have been produced over the years and are prevalent in the art. Some designs have been narrowed for specific locations or uses such as in vehicles and in classrooms. 
         [0004]    These laptop support systems typically either are not portable or capable of multiple installations because they are anchored to the floor, as in a vehicle, or are free standing structures that tend to be unstable. In addition, these devices are not equipped with means for keeping the computer securely in place in case, for example, by merely providing a flat surface or an angled slope with a lip at the bottom in which the laptop rests. Others utilize straps or belts to hold the laptop in place, but these often interfere with the user&#39;s access to the keyboard and other ports and peripherals, and prevent the laptop from being fully closed. 
         [0005]    The development of smaller and lighter computers has caused laptop computers to become an essential tool in creating music. Everything from recording and running click tracks and loops, to teaching beginners and novices how to create music with educational software applications have all been greatly improved by the use of a computer. One of the greatest contributions the use of a computer has brought to the creation of music has been the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) system which allows electronic instruments and computers to communicate, control, and synchronize with one another to produce better a recording. Nearly all music that is recorded today uses some form of MIDI. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a support stand and mount capable of securely and safely holding a variety of sizes of laptop computers without blocking access to any peripherals or compromising the use of the computer while being securely attached to the musician&#39;s immediate workspace, namely a musical instrument such as a drum set. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a portable stand for securing a laptop computer. It comprises a mounting plate having a top surface for receiving a laptop computer, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and first and second side edges. An upstanding fixed clamping member is mounted on the top surface adjacent the first edge, the fixed clamping member being engageable with a first side of a laptop computer that is received on the top surface. An upstanding movable clamping member is mounted on the top surface adjacent the second edge, the movable clamping member being movable toward and away from the fixed clamping member and being engageable with a second side of a laptop computer that is received on the top surface. Adjustment means operating on the movable clamping member are provided for moving the movable clamping member toward and away from the fixed clamping member, whereby a laptop computer received on the top surface can be clamped on the top surface between the fixed clamping member and the movable clamping member. 
         [0008]    The present invention also provides a portable stand for securing a laptop computer comprising a mounting plate having a top surface for receiving a laptop computer, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and first and second side edges. An upstanding fixed clamping member is mounted on the top surface adjacent the first edge, the fixed clamping member being engageable with a first side of a laptop computer that is received on the top surface. A flange is mounted on the top surface adjacent the second edge, and a movable clamping member adjusting means is provided on the flange. A movable clamping member is attached to the movable clamping member adjusting means, and is movable toward and away from the fixed clamping member by the movable clamping member adjusting means. The movable clamping member is engageable with a second side of a laptop computer that is received on the top surface, whereby a laptop computer received on the top surface can be clamped on the top surface between the fixed clamping member and the movable clamping member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the support stand on which the laptop computer is placed while being used, including the fixed and adjustable clamping members used in securing the laptop. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the support stand further depicting a support post which is used to attach the stand to a musical instrument such as a drum set, or which can be inserted into a freestanding adjustable tripod. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a right side plan view of the support stand further depicting the adjustable clamping member and the adjusting bolt with the winged bolt removed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a left side plan view of the support stand showing the fixed clamping member. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view in enlarged scale of the side flange with winged lag bolt. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an additional top plan view of the stand depicting the flange holes, a mini-light, and an S-hook. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a left side plan view in enlarged scale of the multiple configurations for the fixed clamping member. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a right side plan view in enlarged scale of the adjustable clamping member with the adjustable knob and dual winged terminations configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is top plan view in enlarged scale of the adjustable clamping member with the adjustable knob configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the inventive laptop computer support stand attached to a cymbal stand of a drum set, with a laptop computer in place. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Computers have become an essential tool for musicians and particularly electronic percussion instruments where synthesized effects are an important performance feature. Laptop computers provide a convenient and easy way of bringing the computer and the musician closer together through the computer&#39;s smaller size and versatility. The illustrated embodiment of the invention solves the problem of maintaining a laptop close to the performer where it is needed, while still keeping it in a safe and secure location without the threat of it becoming damaged. The computer becomes in effect one of the musical instruments that the performer plays. 
         [0020]    The support stand  10  of the invention is illustrated in perspective in  FIG. 10  attached to a cymbal stand  10   a,  with a laptop computer  10   b  locked in position. Looking now to  FIG. 1 , support stand  10  is rectangular in shape and is large enough to accommodate the foot print of laptop computers that have a width of approximately 17 inches or less. Support stand  10  includes a rectangular base plate  11  comprised of a lightweight material such as aluminum, graphite or a hard plastic composite. A pair of upstanding flanges  12  are attached to the side edges of base plate  11 . Flanges  12  are made of the same material as base plate  11  and can be either be coupled to the base plate  11 , or are an integral extension of base plate  11  itself, e.g. base plate  11  and flanges  12  may be fabricated as a stamped sheet and then bent upward. The embodiment of  FIG. 1  shows base plate  11  as extending between flanges  12 , but it is also contemplated that the part of the material of base plate  11  between flanges  12  may be removed to allow air circulation to the underside of computer  10   b.    
         [0021]    Base plate  11  also can be provided with several slots  22 - 30  which allow ventilation, especially for those computers that have exhaust ports on the underside. It is to be understood that although slots  22 - 30  have been shown as symmetrically defined into base plate  11 , they may also be asymmetrically defined there through to accommodate computers of different widths or ventilation port configurations. Having a clear or unobstructed air path through the base plate  11  for these computers prevents overheating and other heat damage while the laptop is in the mounting surface. It is to be understood that the open slots  22 - 30  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are for illustrative purposes only and that any configuration, placement, and number of slots can be used without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  further shows a non-slip rubber layer  20  disposed on the top surface of base plate  11 , to provide a nonslip surface to prevent the laptop from moving or sliding on base plate  11 . Non-slip rubber layer  20  may be smooth in appearance or contain small ridges or grooves which will increase the surface friction and further decrease the likelihood of slippage. The non-slip rubber layer  20  is also disposed on the inside of the elements that contact the sides of the computer. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , movable clamping member  13  is covered with non-slip rubber and is coupled to bolt  34 , which is mounted on the right flange  12 . The left side flange  12 , which constitutes a fixed clamping member, has a rubber layer  20 . 
         [0023]    A similar size piece of non-slip rubber layer  20  is placed on clamping member  13  as shown in  FIG. 5 . A screw threaded element such as a lag bolt  34  is embedded or captured in clamping member  13  or, in another embodiment, clamping member  13  may be omitted and bolt  34  captured directly in non-slip rubber layer  20 . For a laptop computer to be securely held on base plate  11 , the left side of the laptop is placed against the left fixed flange  12 . Adjustable right side flange  12  is then manipulated to place non-slip rubber layer  20  of the right side flange  12  against the right side of the laptop. Winged termination  18  is manually turned, advancing lag bolt  34  through right side flange  12  to clamp member  13  and layer  20  against the front edge of the laptop placed between flanges  12 . It is to be expressly understood that winged termination  18  is only one of many different forms of equivalent terminations that may be used, such as a knob  44  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , keys, levers, wheels and the like. The lag bolt  34  may be of any size as long as its threaded diameter engages a threaded hole made in material on the right side flange  12 . The length of lag bolt  34  is long enough so that it reaches the right side of a laptop computer, which in the illustrated embodiment may be 12 inches across as measured from flange  12  and still has enough length left to thread the hole in right side  12  and be adjusted by winged termination  18  to snuggly clamp the computer. 
         [0024]    The reverse side or bottom plan view of base plate  11  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The base plate  11  has no rubber layering underneath and is left exposed as the laptop is placed on the top of the mounting surface  10  only and no rubber is needed on the reverse side. 
         [0025]    Also depicted on the reverse side of base plate  11  by  FIG. 2  is the support post  32  which is used to position the mount and laptop in a fixed position in the user&#39;s immediate workspace. Support post  32  is coupled to base plate  11  by a weld or otherwise fixed to or in it, and extends vertically downward from the base plate  11  as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In a separate embodiment, the support post  32  is angled at approximately 15 degrees with respect to the base plate  11  above. The angle of support post  32  may be increased or decreased as needed to increase accessibility. The angled support post  32  effectively holds the secured laptop computer at an angle which increases the accessibility of the keyboard of the computer to a user who is sitting down next to the device. The support post  32  may be made of any lightweight strong material such as aluminum or graphite and may be of any diameter sufficient enough to support the weight of the mounting surface and laptop computer without breaking or bending. It is to be expressly understood that support post  32  may be placed anywhere on the underside of base plate  11  without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in the preferred embodiment, support post  32  may be mounted near one edge of base plate  11  so that the distance between the distal end of support post  32  and a clamp (not shown) used to fix mount  10  to a musical instrument or drum set rail is minimized. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show the right and left side of the mount  10 , respectively. These figures clearly show that non-slip rubber  20  is disposed on top of mount  10  and that support post  32  extends vertically downward. Also shown by these figures are the relative sizes of flanges  12  to the rest of the width of base plate  11 . Flanges  12  do not extend along so much of the width of the base plate  11  that any of the peripheral ports or access doors normally positioned on the side of the laptop computer are obstructed. Having the peripheral ports such as the USB port, headphones jack, CD access door, and internet jack available lets the user of the mount  10  take full advantage of the capabilities of the computer and its peripherals without having to compromise for the stability that mount  10  provides. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment of the invention, support rod  32  is coupled to a drum set via the use of a multi-clamp or double-ended clamp which is well known to those in the art. The multi-clamp attaches to support post  32  on one end and is then attached anywhere to an existing drum set or drum set rail as preferred by the user on the other end. In addition to providing a non-slip surface on the mounting surface, the rubber layer  20  also acts as a shock absorber. The rubber layer thus may be comprised of an energy-absorbing foam material in addition to having a nonslip upper surface. Shock waves caused by the drums being played will travel up support post  32  but will be decreased by the layer of rubber  20  that covers the base plate  11  and flanges  12  thus protecting the laptop computer from vibrations. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment of the invention, multiple holes  36  are placed along the outside edges of base plate  11  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Different models of laptop computers have their peripheral ports located in different positions on the unit. The holes  36  allow the flanges  12  to be detachable and be placed in any configuration along the sides of the base plate  11  according to the model of the computer that the user is employing in order to guarantee access to the desired peripheral ports.  FIGS. 7 and 8  show a side view of the multiple configurations of the detachable flanges  12 . Each flange  12  has at least one lag bolt  34  embedded or coupled to it. To place the detachable flanges  12  in base plate  11 , the user threads the lag bolt(s)  34  through the hole(s)  36  in base plate  11 . Winged termination(s)  18  are then manually tightened on the lag bolt(s) until the winged termination(s) is flush against the base plate  11 , thus locking the flanges  12  into place. It is to be expressly understood that the number and location of the lag bolts  34  as depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8  are for illustrative purposes only. Any number of lag bolts  34  may be placed in the flanges  12  at any position so as to fit the holes  36  in base plate  11  without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  further depicts that holes  36  also allow the use of an S-hook  40  that is well known the art to be placed in the base plate  11 . Once S-hook  40  is placed in base plate  11  in any of the holes  36  provided, it is used to support and hold additional peripheral devices such as headphones  42  that aid the user in creating music. Also depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  is a mini-light  38  which aides the user in viewing the keyboard and other components of the laptop computer. The mini-light  38  is well known in the art and couples to base plate  11  by a standard clamp. 
         [0030]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, support rod  32  is inserted into a freestanding adjustable tripod. The term “tripod” carries all of the common meanings and definitions as applied to the prior art and expressly includes all known designs for free standing fixtures without regard to the number of feet or details of structure. The tripod is adjustable so that a guitar player or keyboardist may use a laptop computer while standing, and yet so that a lighting, sound, or video playback operator may use the same computer and mounting surface combination while sitting in a chair. 
         [0031]    With regard to the use of this invention in the music field, the stand advantageously can be provided with a finish and/or materials to fit with the “hardware look” of the existing drum market, so that it aesthetically appears as if were an originally intended accessory. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to such a field, but can be used in any environment where laptop computers are utilized in conjunction with other apparatus or machinery. 
         [0032]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments.

Technology Category: 2