Harris, Philip Michael (Cedar Park, TX, US)
Castillo, Orlando S. (Spring, TX, US)

Plaque It!

10/426443

11/04/2004

04/29/2003

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(IPC1-7): B65D085/00

McHale & Slavin, P.A.,Michael A. Slavin (Suite 402, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33410, US)

1. A carrying case permitting visual inspection of the contents comprising webbing with a plurality of longitudinal elements and a plurality of horizontal tapes, each of said plurality of longitudinal elements and said plurality of horizontal tapes having opposite ends, said plurality of longitudinal elements perpendicular to said plurality of horizontal tapes, said plurality of longitudinal elements and said plurality of horizontal tapes connected together at said opposite ends, a carrying handle connected to each of said plurality of said horizontal tapes whereby said longitudinal elements may be folded approximately in half about the contents to place said plurality of horizontal tapes adjacent to each other and presenting said carrying handles to be gripped by one hand.

2. A carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bottom tapes having ends, said ends of said bottom tapes connected to said longitudinal elements, said bottom tapes extending perpendicularly from said plurality of longitudinal elements near the midpoint of said plurality of longitudinal elements.

3. A carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a closed loop of webbing, said closed loop having longitudinal portions and terminating in carrying handles, said closed loop of webbing connected to each of said plurality of horizontal tapes between said ends thereof, said longitudinal portions of said closed loop parallel to said longitudinal elements.

4. A carrying case of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of bottom tapes having ends, said ends of said bottom tapes connected to said plurality of longitudinal elements, said bottom tapes extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal elements, said closed loop connected to said bottom tapes between said ends.

5. A carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of elastic fasteners having opposite ends, said plurality of elastic fasteners each disposed near an end of said plurality of longitudinal elements, one of said opposite ends connected to one of said plurality of said longitudinal elements and the other of said opposite ends connected to one of said horizontal tapes, said plurality of elastic fasteners disposed at approximately 45 degrees to said plurality of longitudinal elements and said plurality of horizontal tapes.

6. In a combination of a laptop computer and a carrying case, the improvement comprising a carrying case permitting visual inspection of said computer comprising webbing with a plurality of longitudinal elements extending along the edges of said computer and a plurality of horizontal tapes extending across the width of the computer, each of said plurality of longitudinal elements and said plurality of horizontal tapes having opposite ends, said plurality of longitudinal elements perpendicular to said plurality of horizontal tapes, said plurality of longitudinal elements and said plurality of horizontal tapes connected together at said opposite ends, a carrying handle connected to each of said plurality of said horizontal tapes whereby said longitudinal elements may be folded approximately in half about said computer to place said plurality of horizontal tapes adjacent to each other and presenting said carrying handles to be gripped by one hand.

7. The combination of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of bottom tapes having ends, said ends of said bottom tapes connected to said longitudinal elements, said bottom tapes extending perpendicularly from said plurality of longitudinal elements near the midpoint of said plurality of said longitudinal elements, said bottom tapes extending across the width of said computer.

8. The combination of claim 6 further comprising a closed loop of webbing, said closed loop having longitudinal portions and terminating in carrying handles, said closed loop of webbing connected to each of said plurality of horizontal tapes between said ends thereof, said longitudinal portions of said closed loop parallel to said longitudinal elements.

9. The combination of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of bottom tapes having ends, said ends of said bottom tapes connected to said plurality of longitudinal elements, said bottom tapes extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal elements, said closed loop connected to said bottom tapes between said ends.

10. The combination of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of elastic fasteners having opposite ends, said plurality of elastic fasteners each disposed near an end of said plurality of longitudinal elements, one of said opposite ends connected to one of said plurality of said longitudinal elements and the other of said opposite ends connected to one of said horizontal tapes, said plurality of elastic fasteners disposed at approximately 45 degrees to said plurality of longitudinal elements and said plurality of horizontal tapes, said elastic fasteners engaging the corners of said computer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of personal computers, usually referred to as laptops, and, more particularly, to the carrying case used for manual transport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Since 9/11, the world of public transportation has changed significantly. In fact, there is now a government agency, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), that is responsible for the heightened security at airports and other facilities. The security measures taken by TSA personnel to check each passenger and all packages carried on board airplanes has resulted in long lines and increased pre-flight boarding times.

[0003] While the TSA personnel use sophisticated instruments to determine the absence of illegal compounds and objects, there remains a requirement for visual inspection of certain devices. Packages, boxes, carry-on bags must be opened for such visual inspections. Because the airlines have been permitting the passengers to carry on just about anything, opening and closing of these articles adds to the delays of clearing security points.

[0004] The laptop computer has become a normal accessory for many travelers, both for work and entertainment, during the trip. The conventional laptop has no integrated carrying devices and, therefore, usually is placed in a carry case. Most cases have various pockets and compartments to carry peripheral equipment and other things the owner may include with the computer. The carrying cases may be made of soft or hard materials which may be padded and completely enclose the computer for protection.

[0005] Akins, U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,001, discloses a carry case made of thin flexible material with pockets that fits about a laptop like a glove. The case has openings for attaching power cords and other peripherals but completely encloses the computer.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,497 to Krulik discloses a cradle for a laptop that has two major planar pads connected by Velcro tabs. The pads are placed on each side of the computer for protewction during movement.

[0007] Holter et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,505, discloses a harness with shoulder straps and waist belt that can be attached to a rigid case for carrying the case. Certain modifications of the case are required to provide attachment points for the harness.

[0008] Therefore, what is needed is a device for carrying a laptop computer that permits visual identification and is easily mounted and dismounted from the computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The instant invention is a carrying case for use in combination with a laptop computer. The carrying case permits visual inspection of the computer by use of a case formed from webbing having a plurality of longitudinal elements extending along the edges of the computer and a plurality of horizontal tapes extending across the width of the computer. Each of the longitudinal elements and horizontal tapes have opposite ends, the longitudinal elements are perpendicular to the horizontal tapes and are connected together at the opposite ends. A carrying handle is connected to each of the horizontal tapes whereby the longitudinal elements may be folded approximately in half about the computer to place said the horizontal tapes adjacent to each other and presenting said carrying handles to be gripped by one hand.

[0010] Thus, an objective of this invention is to provide a lightweight webbing for carrying a laptop that would allow travelers to simply place the laptop on the moving belts of the security machines in airports and retrieve them without having to open any bags, pockets or other containers.

[0011] Another objective of this invention is to provide a one piece harness which includes carrying handles that can be attached to a laptop without any modifications of the computer case or use of any tools.

[0012] Still another objective of this invention is to provide a carrying case that allows opening of the computer without removal from the webbing.

[0013] A further objective of this invention is to provide a harness that allows the use of the computer without removal.

[0014] Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a laptop contained within the webbing of this invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of this invention; and

[0017] FIG. 3 is a detail view of elastic fasteners for attaching the webbing to a laptop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0019] In FIG. 1 , the webbing 10 is shown attached to a laptop 11 with the carrying handles 12 and 13 positioned to be gripped by the user. The webbing 10 may be of any suitable material having the requisite strength and non-toxic properties to electronic parts and human contact. For example, leather, polyethylene, cellulose acetate, rayon or nylon webbing may be used though any other polymer may be suitable. The webbing may be woven, knitted or film with or without apertures in the film. The webbing 10 fits about the laptop 11 in a manner that leaves the normal portals free from obstruction to permit use of the computer.

[0020] As seen in FIG. 2 , the harness or webbing 10 is formed in a rectangular grid. The longitudinal elements 14 are connected to horizontal tapes 15 at each cross over point 16 . The connections 16 may be mechanical fasteners, such as brads, grommets, or stitches, or chemical, such as adhesives, autologous bonding by heat and pressure or solvents, or combinations thereof. The longitudinal elements and the horizontal tapes may be integrally molded or otherwise formed. The left marginal longitudinal element 17 is connected at one end to an end of a horizontal tape 18 which extends perpendicular to the element 17 . The other end of the marginal longitudinal element 17 is connected to an end of another horizontal tape 19 . The right marginal longitudinal tape 20 is connected at one end to the other end of horizontal tape 18 and at the other end to horizontal tape 19 . The horizontal tapes are shorter than the longitudinal elements resulting in a rectilinear form.

[0021] Carrying handles 12 and 13 are formed by a loop of webbing with left longitudinal portion 21 and right longitudinal portion 22 parallel with left and right marginal longitudinal elements 17 and 20 . The left portion 21 and the right portion 22 are connected to the horizontal tapes 18 and 19 at the cross over points.

[0022] Near the center of the left and right marginal longitudinal elements 17 and 20 , a pair of bottom tapes 23 and 24 extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal elements and the left and right longitudinal portions of the carrying handles. The bottom tapes are connected to the marginal elements and the carrying handles at the cross over points. The bottom tapes 23 and 24 are located on opposite sides of an imaginary center line bisecting the marginal longitudinal elements. The spacing between the tape 23 and the tape 24 is approximate to the thickness of a laptop folded for carrying. The bottom tape 31 is disposed inside the closed computer during transport.

[0023] While the marginal longitudinal elements and the left and right longitudinal portions of the carrying handles have been described as continuous, it is possible that the area between the bottom tapes 23 and 24 could be reinforced or made of a different material.

[0024] The harness 10 is mounted on the laptop by elastic loops 25 , 26 , 27 and 28 located at the four corners of the rectilinear form. The elastic loops are oriented at approximate 45 degrees angle to the four corners. The opposite ends 29 and 30 of the elastic loops are each connected to a marginal longitudinal element and a horizontal tape. The materials of the elastic loops may be the same as the webbing and the connection to the webbing may be the same as used in the webbing.

[0025] It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.