Armored peripheral case

• US 20030217940A1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Guy Koch, Christophe Philippe, Chu, Benjamin, Russell, Paul G., Simmons, Michael L., Hebold, Daren W., Bradley, Christopher M., Edwon, John Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/34 Stays or supports for holding lids or covers open
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/02 Briefcases or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A protective carrying case for a computer includes a top portion and a bottom portion for supporting the computer. The top portion is configured to close over the computer and mate with the bottom portion to form a complete enclosure around the computer, with padding to protect the computer. The bottom portion advantageously provides a low peripheral profile, allowing access to peripheral ports disposed on the sides of the computer while the computer is disposed thereon. The case may also include enlarged cushioned corners for providing additional protection to the comers of the computer, and an openable back portion, configured to selectively expose the computer'"'"'s external connector ports, to allow connection of the computer to external components while the computer remains substantially enclosed within the case.

Claims

1. A protective carrying case for a computer, comprising:

a) a bottom portion, configured to support the computer;

b) a top portion, configured to close over the computer and mate with the bottom portion to form a complete enclosure therearound;

c) padding components, disposed within the bottom portion and top portion; and

d) a base support, attached to the bottom portion, configured to support the computer,

e) wherein the bottom portion has a low peripheral profile, allowing access to peripheral ports disposed on at least one side of the computer while the computer is disposed thereon.

2. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base support includes airflow passageways, configured to allow circulation of cooling air to an underside of the computer.

3. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the padding components are configured to substantially prevent the computer from moving within the case when it is closed.

4. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the computer is removably attached to the base support.

5. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising support feet, disposed on the bottom portion, configured to support the bottom portion on a support surface.

6. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top portion is hingedly connected to the bottom portion.

7. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising enlarged cushioned corners, disposed on the top portion and the bottom portion.

8. A carrying case in accordance with claim 7, wherein the enlarged cushioned corners on the bottom portion comprise support feet, configured to support the bottom portion on a support surface.

9. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an openable back portion, configured to selectively cover or expose external connector ports associated with the computer, to allow connection of the computer to external components while the computer remains substantially enclosed within the case.

10. A carrying case in accordance with claim 9, wherein the top portion comprises forward and rearward sections, and the openable back portion comprises:

a) a connector port cover, comprising the rearward section of the top portion; and

b) a hinge, hingedly connecting the connector port cover to the forward section of the top portion, whereby the connector port cover may be selectively moved between an open position, wherein the external connector ports are exposed, and a closed position, wherein the external connector ports are covered.

11. A carrying case in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a retainer mechanism, associated with the forward and rearward sections of the top portion, configured to selectively retain the connector port cover in the open and closed positions, respectively.

12. A protective carrying case for a computer having external connector ports, comprising:

a) a bottom portion, configured to support the computer, having enlarged cushioned corners and a low peripheral profile, allowing access to peripheral ports disposed on a side of the computer while the computer is disposed thereon;

b) a top portion, having enlarged cushioned corners, and configured to close over the computer and mate with the bottom portion to form a complete enclosure therearound;

c) padding components, disposed within the bottom portion and top portion; and

d) said top portion including an openable back portion, configured to expose the external connector ports, to allow connection of the computer to external components while the computer remains substantially enclosed within the case.

13. A carrying case in accordance with claim 12, further comprising support feet, disposed on the bottom portion, configured to support the bottom portion on a support surface.

14. A carrying case in accordance with claim 12, wherein the enlarged cushioned corners on the bottom portion comprise the support feet.

15. A carrying case in accordance with claim 12, wherein the top portion comprises forward and rearward sections, and the openable back portion comprises:

a) a connector port cover, comprising the rearward section of the top portion; and

b) a hinge, hingedly connecting the connector port cover to the forward section of the top portion, whereby the connector port cover may be selectively moved between an open position, wherein the external connector ports are exposed, and a closed position, wherein the external connector ports are covered.

16. A carrying case in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a retainer mechanism, associated with the forward and rearward sections of the top portion, configured to selectively retain the connector port cover in the open and closed positions, respectively.

17. A carrying case in accordance with claim 12, wherein the computer is removably attached to the bottom portion, and the bottom portion includes airflow passageways, configured to allow circulation of cooling air to an underside of the computer.

18. A protective carrying case for a computer having peripheral ports disposed on at least one side thereof, comprising:

a) a substantially rigid bottom portion, configured to support the computer, having a low peripheral profile, allowing access to the peripheral ports while the computer is disposed thereon;

b) a substantially rigid top portion, hingedly connected to the bottom portion, configured to close over the computer and mate with the bottom portion to form a complete enclosure therearound; and

c) padding components, disposed within the bottom portion and top portion, whereby the computer is substantially prevented from moving within the case and protected from damage when the case is closed.

19. A carrying case in accordance with claim 18, wherein the bottom portion includes airflow passageways, configured to allow circulation of cooling air to an underside of the computer.

20. A carrying case in accordance with claim 18, wherein the computer is removably attached to the bottom portion;

and further comprising support feet, disposed on the bottom portion, configured to support the bottom portion on a support surface.