Portable support for laptop computer

• US 20060237615A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George R. Thomas
• Original Assignee: George R. Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, George R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/346.10
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/043 adjustable, foldable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

A support for supporting a laptop computer has a top tray in cooperation with but not attached to a bottom tray. The top tray is moveable from an inclined working position to a flat storage position. The top tray has a top base having a lip proximal one end. The bottom tray has a bottom base having a flange extending upwardly proximal one end. The flange and/or the bottom base of the bottom tray has an aperture for accepting the lip of the top tray. The lip of the top tray may engage the top of the flange when the top tray is in the working position to prevent the top tray from sliding towards the opposite end of the bottom tray. The lip of the top tray engages the bottom base through the aperture when the top tray is in the storage position to limit sliding of the top tray toward the opposite end of the bottom tray. In the storage position, the support is readily packed together with the computer in the computer'"'"'s carrying case. In the working position, the support provides good protection from heat generated by the computer, provides cooling for the computer, improves a user'"'"'s sitting posture and reduces eye strain.

Claims

1. A support for supporting a laptop computer comprising a top tray in cooperation with but not attached to a bottom tray,

the top tray moveable from an inclined working position to a flat storage position,

the top tray comprising a top base having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and having a first lip proximal the first end,

the bottom tray comprising a bottom base having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and having a flange extending upwardly proximal the first end, the flange and/or the bottom base having an aperture for accepting the first lip of the top tray,

the first lip of the top tray engaging the bottom base through the aperture when the top tray is in the storage position to limit sliding of the top tray toward the second end of the bottom base when the top tray is in the storage position, and

the support comprising means for preventing the top tray from sliding towards the second end of the bottom base when the top tray is in the working position.

2. The support of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing the top tray from sliding towards the second end of the bottom base comprises the first lip of the top tray engaging a top of the flange when the top tray is in the working.

3. The support of claim 2, wherein the flange comprises a notch at the top of the flange within which the top base rests in the working position.

4. The support of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing the top tray from sliding towards the second end of the bottom base when the top tray is in the working position comprises a protuberance at a top of the flange inserted through a slit in the top base proximal the first end.

5. The support of claim 1, wherein the first lip comprises two spaced-apart lips and the aperture comprises two apertures separated by a reinforcing region of the flange.

6. The support of claim 1, wherein the bottom base comprises a notch or channel proximal the first end of the bottom base within which the first lip is engaged in the storage position.

7. The support of claim 1, wherein the top tray comprises a second lip proximal the second end which raises the top base off the bottom base in the working position and which engages the second end of the bottom base in the storage position to limit sliding of the top tray toward the first end of the bottom base.

8. The support of claim 1, wherein the bottom tray comprises a finger gap on a side edge of the bottom base to facilitate lifting the top tray off the bottom tray in the storage position.

9. The support of claim 1, wherein the top base comprises notches between and/or beside the first lip.

10. The support of claim 1 wherein the bottom tray comprises raised portions proximal corners of the first end where the flange meets the bottom base, and the top base comprises cut-outs to accommodate the raised portions.

11. The support of claim 1, wherein the top and/or bottom tray comprise magnetic shielding.

17. The support of claim 16, wherein the bottom tray comprises raised portions at corners of the rear end where the flange meets the bottom base, and the top base comprises cut-outs at corners of the rear end of the top base to accommodate the raised portions.

18. The support of claim 17, wherein the bottom tray comprises finger gaps on side edges of the bottom base to facilitate lifting the top tray of the bottom tray in the storage position.

19. The support of claim 18, wherein the bottom base has magnetic shielding inset into an upside thereof, and the top base has magnetic shielding inset into an underside thereof.

20. The support of claim 19, wherein the trays comprise a metal having a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0 watt cm⁻

1 K<sup>−

1</sup> at 273 K.

21. The support of claim 19, wherein the trays comprise a metal having a thermal conductivity greater than 1.3 watt cm⁻

1 K<sup>−

1</sup> at 273 K.

22. The support of claim 19, wherein the trays comprise anodized aluminum or magnesium alloy.

23. The support of claim 19, wherein the trays comprise an electrically conducting metal.

12. A support for supporting a laptop computer comprising a top tray in cooperation with but not attached to a bottom tray,

the top tray moveable from an inclined working position to a flat storage position,

the top tray comprising a top base having a rear end and a front end opposite the rear end, a downwardly depending rear lip at the rear end, and a downwardly depending front lip at the front end,

the bottom tray comprising a bottom base having a rear end and a front end opposite the rear end, and having an upwardly extending flange at the rear end, the flange having an aperture for accepting the rear lip of the top tray in the storage position, the flange having a notch at a top of the flange within which the top base rests in the working position,

the rear lip of the top tray engaging a top of the flange when the top tray is in the working position to prevent the top tray from sliding towards the second end of the bottom base when the top tray is in the working position, and

the rear lip of the top tray engaging the bottom base through the aperture when the top tray is in the storage position to limit sliding of the top tray toward the second end of the bottom base when the top tray is in the storage position.

13. The support of claim 12, wherein the rear lip comprises two spaced-apart lips, the aperture comprises two slots separated by a reinforcing region of the flange, and the two-spaced apart lips straddle the reinforcing region in the storage position.

14. The support of claim 13, wherein the front lip rests on the bottom base in the working position, and engages the front end of the bottom base to limit sliding of the top tray toward the rear end of the bottom base in the storage position.

15. The support of claim 14, wherein the bottom base comprises two notches at the rear end within which the spaced-apart lips engage the bottom base in the storage position.

16. The support of claim 15, wherein the top base comprises notches at the rear end beside and between the spaced-apart lips.