Folio carrying case for a notebook computer

• US 5,607,054 A
• Filed: 03/14/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Targus Group International Incorporated (Targus International LLC)
• Original Assignee: Port, Inc. (Targus International LLC)
• Inventors: Hollingsworth, W. Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LASTER, TARA L
• Application Number:
  US08/404,628
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/305, 206/576, 206/524, 206/38, 206/37, 206/45.18, 206/45.2, 206/45.21, 206/45.22, 206/45.23, 206/45.24, 364/705.01, 364/705.06, 364/708.1, 361/683
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A carrying case for a notebook computer includes front and back panels configured to cover opposite sides of the notebook computer, a top panel flexibly connecting top edges of the front and back panels, a bottom panel flexibly connected to a bottom edge of the back panel, a closure flap flexibly connected to a bottom edge of the bottom panel and overlapping a bottom edge of the front cover when the carrying case is in a closed position folded around the notebook computer, and a pair of tabs depending from opposed lateral edges of the front panel toward the back panel when the carrying case is in a closed position. In the closed position, the carrying case serves as a folio to protectively cover the notebook computer and, in an open position, can also serve as a computer stand supporting the notebook computer in an ergonomic position.

Claims

1. A carrying case for a notebook computer comprising

front and back panels configured to cover opposite sides of the notebook computer;

a top panel flexibly connecting top edges of said front and back panels;

a bottom panel flexibly connected to a bottom edge of said back panel;

a closure flap flexibly connected to a bottom edge of said bottom panel, said closure flap overlapping a bottom edge of said front panel when said carrying case is in a closed position folded around the notebook computer; and

a pair of rigid tabs depending from opposed lateral edges of said front panel toward said back panel when said carrying case is in the closed position;

wherein said front panel can be rotated underneath said back panel such that said tabs extend away from said back panel to form legs for tilting the notebook computer.

2. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 1 and further comprising closure means for detachably connecting said closure flap with said front panel when said case is in the closed position.

3. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said back panel is configured to mate with the notebook computer.

4. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 3 wherein said back panel carries a post that engages characteristic features of the notebook computer.

5. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 3 wherein said back panel carries a plurality of posts that engage characteristic features of the notebook computer.

6. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 3 wherein said back panel includes a retaining wall along peripheral edges of said back panel to prevent the notebook computer from sliding when the case is tilted.

7. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 3 and further comprising a mounting plate removably mounted on said back panel.

8. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 3 wherein ventilation holes are formed in said back panel.

9. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein front and back panels include stiffening members.

10. The carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 9 wherein at least one of the said front and back panels includes padding.

11. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 10 wherein said closure flap includes a stiffening member and padding.

12. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said tabs are located near an upper edge of said front panel.

13. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 12 wherein said tabs are semicircular.

14. A carrying case for a notebook computer comprising

front and back panels configured to cover opposite sides of the notebook computer;

a top panel flexibly connecting top edges of said front and back panels;

a bottom panel flexibly connected to a bottom edge of said back panel;

a closure flap flexibly connected to a bottom edge of said bottom panel, said closure flap overlapping a bottom edge of said front panel when said carrying case is in a closed position folded around the notebook computer; and

a pair of tabs depending from opposed lateral edges of said from panel toward said back panel when said carrying case is in the closed position, wherein said front panel can be rotated underneath said back panel such that said tabs extend away from said back panel to form legs for tilting the notebook computer; and

closure means for detachably connecting said closure flap with said front panel when said case is in the closed position;

wherein, in an open position, said closure flap can be folded against said bottom panel to form a palm rest, and further comprising means for fastening said closure flap to said bottom panel when said closure flap and said bottom panel are folded against one another.

15. A carrying case for a notebook computer as recited in claim 14 wherein said fastening means includes strips of hook and loop material affixed to inner surfaces of said closure flap and said bottom panel.

16. A carrying case for a notebook computer comprising

front and back panels configured to cover opposite sides of the notebook computer, wherein said back panel is configured to mate with the notebook computer;

a top panel flexibly connecting top edges of said front and back panels;

a bottom panel flexibly connected to a bottom edge of said back panel;

a closure flap flexibly connected to a bottom edge of said bottom panel, said closure flap overlapping a bottom edge of said front panel when said carrying case is in a closed position folded around the notebook computer;

a pair of tabs depending from opposed lateral edges of said front panel toward said back panel when said carrying case is in the closed position; and

a mounting plate removably mounted on said back panel;

wherein said front panel can be rotated underneath said back panel such that said tabs extend away from said back panel to form legs for tilting the notebook computer; and

wherein said back panel includes opposed pockets configured to receive opposite edges of said mounting plate.