Briefcase computer

• US 6,442,018 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dinkin, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/452,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686-687, 361/681-682, 361/796, 361/390-395, 361/700-710, 361/692-697, 361/674-680, 364/708, 364/708.1, 364/709, 364/710, 219/130.01, 211/41.26, 211/59.4, 248/917-923, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.2, 345/905, 345/168-169, 345/903, 206/320, 206/305, 206/576, 400/715, 190/108-111
• US Class Current: 206/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A carrying case (and an integrated briefcase computer including the carrying case) includes a housing having first and second container portions which are selectively opened and closed, the first and second container portions being coupled together, a computer including central processing unit (CPU) integrally housed in one of the first and second container portions of the housing, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen located in the other of the first and second container portions of the housing, and a keyboard, removably housed in the one of the first and second container portions, for communicating with the LCD screen.

Claims

1. A carrying case comprising:

a housing having first and second container portions which are selectively opened and closed, said first and second container portions being coupled together and at least one of the first and second container portions having a hinged wall member movable in first and second positions including a wrist rest integrated into an inside face thereof,

a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) integrally housed in one of said first and second container portions of said housing;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen located in the other of said first and second container portions of said housing; and

a keyboard, removably housed in said one of said first and second container portions, for communicating with said LCD screen,

wherein said housing comprises a recessible carrying handle in said hinged wall member.

2. The carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal display (LCD) screen has a size substantially the same as an interior dimension of the other of said first and second container portions of said housing.

3. The carrying case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a folder holder foldably attached to said one of said first and second container portions for covering said LCD screen.

4. The carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said keyboard comprises a wireless keyboard connecting to the CPU via an infrared connection.

5. The carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinged wall member is foldable from said one of said first and second container portions at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

6. The carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wrist rest comprises at least one of silicone, rubber, padded leather, and an interior material of said housing.

7. The carrying case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of retractable wheels located on an exterior edge of the housing; and

a telescopic handle formed in said housing.

8. The carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a predetermined space for accommodating business and non-business items of a user of said carrying case.

9. The carrying case according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery stored in said one of said first and second container portions and for being coupled to said computer.

10. The carrying case according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said housing includes at one least one of an insulation material and a heat dissipating material.

11. An integrated briefcase computer comprising:

a housing having first and second container portions which are selectively opened and closed, said first and second container portions being coupled together and at least one of the first and second container portions having a hinged wall member movable in first and second positions including a wrist rest integrated into an inside face thereof;

a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) integrally housed in one of said first and second container portions of said housing;

a display located in the other of said first and second container portions of said housing; and

a keyboard, removably housed in said one of said first and second container portions, or communicating with said display,

wherein said housing comprises a recessible carrying handle in said hinged wall member.

12. The integrated briefcase computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen having a size substantially the same as an interior dimension of the other of said first and second container portions of said housing.

13. The integrated briefcase computer as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a folder holder foldably attached to said one of said first and second container portions for covering said display.

14. The integrated briefcase computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said keyboard comprises a wireless keyboard connecting to the CPU via an infrared connection.

15. The integrated briefcase computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein hinged wall member is foldable from said one of said first and second container portions at an angle of 90 degrees.

16. The integrated briefcase computer according to claim 11, wherein said housing has a predetermined space for accommodating business and non-business items personal to a user of said briefcase computer.

17. A briefcase comprising:

a housing having first and second container portions which are selectively opened and closed, said first and second container portions being coupled together and at least one of the first and second container portions having a hinged wall member movable in first and second positions including a wrist rest integrated into an inside face thereof;

a computer integrally formed within said housing and including a central processing unit (CPU) integrally housed in one of said first and second container portions of said housing;

a display located in the other of said first and second container portions of said housing; and

a keyboard, removably housed in said one of said first and second container portions, for communicating with said display,

wherein said housing comprises a recessible carrying handle in said hinged wall member.