Laptop transport and support system for mobile environments

• US 6,659,319 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Purpura, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/940,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 224/576, 224/577, 224/153, 224/578, 224/579, 224/580, 224/581, 224/582, 224/585, 224/586, 224/628, 224/630, 224/270, 224/275, 206/576, 206/305, 206/449
• US Class Current: 224/576
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/262 for wheeled luggage
• 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 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/04 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A laptop computer transport and support system for a mobile environment such as an airplane, bus or train is embodied as a wheeled clamshell style backpack carrying case with a retractable handle. The system is employed by unzipping three case edges and lifting a hinged protective cover thereby exposing a computer. The backpack straps unhook from the cover and secure to a user'"'"'s seatback or around a user'"'"'s headrest while strap posts at an opposite backpack strap end extend from the case and prevent strap interference with the user. A foldable or detachable handle permits retractable handle posts to extend on each side of the user and support the system against the seatback instead of the user when the system is used. Optionally, computer peripherals within a compartmentalized base are connected within the base to a docking station port and provide the computer with quick access to the peripherals.

Claims

1. A transport and support system for a portable computing device for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a base portion for supporting the computing device during use thereof;

a cover secured to the base portion to enclose the computing device within said system when said computing device is not in use;

at least one strap element secured to one of said base portion and said cover, and adapted to have a portion thereon secured to a first portion of a component of said vehicle adjacent to where a user is positioned on said vehicle;

a retractable handle assembly adapted to be substantially enclosed within one of said base portion and said cover when said system is not in use, and to be extended into an operative position to engage a second component of said vehicle, to thereby assist in supporting said base portion and said computing device in front of said user for convenient use.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said strap element is secured to at least one of a seat back and a headrest of a seat carried on-board said vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said retractable handle assembly is positioned against a portion of a seat carried on-board said vehicle when said handle assembly is in said operative position, to thereby assist in supporting said system from said seat in a position wherein said computing device can be conveniently used by said user when said user is seated in said seat.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of strap elements for engaging said first portion of said component of said vehicle;

wherein said first component comprises a seatback of a seat; and

wherein said handle assembly includes at least one member adapted to engage a portion of said seat when said handle assembly is extended into its operative position;

said system operating to provide a work surface suspended from said seat.

5. A laptop transport and support system for mobile environments comprising:

a base portion and a cover portion, said base portion and said cover portions being connected by a hinge to secure said cover portion to said base portion;

a first handle rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first handle rod retractable into said base portion;

a second handle rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second handle rod retractable into said base portion;

a handle connecting said second end of said first handle rod and said second end of said second handle rod, said handle comprising a first handle piece and a second handle piece, said first handle piece and said second handle piece being detachable from each other;

a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each of said first and second shoulder straps having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first and said second shoulder strap connected to said cover portion, said second end of said first and said second shoulder strap connected to said base portion; and

a first “

C”

hook at said first end of said first shoulder strap and a second “

C”

hook at said first end of said second shoulder strap, said first and said second “

C”

hooks to facilitate the hanging of said cover portion and said base portions during laptop use.

6. The laptop transport and support system of claim 5 further comprising:

a detachable pie-shaped shield having a first edge and a second edge, wherein said first edge attaches to said cover portion and said second edge attaches to said base portion, said shield providing viewing privacy for a laptop user.

7. The laptop transport and support system of claim 5 further comprising:

a docking station for the laptop or other computing device.

8. The laptop transport and support system of claim 5 further comprising:

a work tray retractable into said base portion, said work tray providing a surface for use of a pointing device or a general work area.

9. The laptop transport and support system of claim 5 wherein said cover portion contains a recession to accommodate a laptop to protect the laptop during transport.

10. The laptop transport and support system of claim 5 wherein said cover portion comprises a plurality of storage pockets for storage of computer accessories.

11. A laptop transport and support system for mobile environments comprising:

a base portion and a cover portion, said base portion and said cover portions being connected by a hinge to secure said cover portion to said base portion;

a first handle rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first handle rod retractable into said base portion;

a second handle rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second handle rod retractable into said base portion;

a handle connecting said second end of said first handle rod and said second end of said second handle rod, said handle comprising a first handle piece and a second handle piece, said first handle piece and said second handle piece being detachable from each other;

a first strap rod and a second strap rod, said first and second strap rods retractable relative to said base portion wherein said first strap rod connects with said second end of said first shoulder strap and said second strap rod connects with said second end of said second shoulder strap;

a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each of said first and second shoulder straps having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first shoulder strap and said first end of said second shoulder strap connected to said cover portion and said second end of said first shoulder strap is connected to said first strap rod and said second end of said second shoulder strap is connected to said second strap rod; and

a first “

C”

hook at said first end of said first shoulder strap and a second “

C”

hook at said first end of said second shoulder strap, said first and said second “

C”

hooks to facilitate the hanging of said cover portion and said base portion during system use.

12. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 11 further comprising:

a viewer shield attachable and detachable with said cover portion and said base portion to provide privacy for a laptop user.

13. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 11 further comprising:

an on-board docking station for mating with the ports of the laptop.

14. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 11 further comprising:

a work tray retractable into said base portion, said work tray providing a surface for use of a pointing device or a general work area.

15. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 11 wherein said cover portion contains a recession to accommodate a laptop when said cover portion is mated to said base portion.

16. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 11 further comprising:

a set of wheels attached to the system to facilitate movement of the system when said handle is pulled by a user.

17. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 11 wherein said first handle rod and said second handle rod provide standoff for the system when the system is in its use position.

18. A laptop transport and support system adaptable to any seatback secured to a stationary object or a seatback within a mobile environment such as a plane, bus, automobile or other vehicle, the system comprising:

a base portion and a cover portion, said base portion and said cover portions being connected by a ratcheting piano hinge to secure said cover portion to said base portion, said base portion further comprising;

a plurality of compartments to accommodate peripheral devices, said compartments providing a not-in-use storage location and an in-use location for such devices;

a plurality of externally accessible slots in said compartments to permit accessories to connect inter-compartmentally with one another or directly to said laptop or other computing device;

a first handle rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first handle rod retractable into said base portion;

a second handle rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second handle rod retractable into said base portion;

a handle connecting said second end of said first handle rod and said second end of said second handle rod, said handle comprising a first handle piece and a second handle piece, said first handle piece and said second handle piece being detachable from each other;

a first strap rod and a second strap rod, said first and second strap rods retractable relative to said base portion wherein said first strap rod connects with said second end of said first shoulder strap and said second strap rod connects with said second end of said second shoulder strap;

a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each of said first and second shoulder straps having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first shoulder strap and said first end of said second shoulder strap connected to said cover portion and said second end of said first shoulder strap is connected to said first strap rod and said second end of said second shoulder strap is connected to said second strap rod; and

a first “

C”

hook at said first end of said first shoulder strap and a second “

C”

hook at said first end of said second shoulder strap, said first and said second “

C”

hooks to facilitate the hanging of said cover portion and said base portion during system use.

19. The laptop transport and support system of claim 18, wherein said peripheral devices consist of a power converter, extra batteries, CD-ROM drives, floppy disk drives, and other computer-related components.

20. The laptop transport and support system of claim 18 further comprising:

a retractable docking station to interface with the laptop or other computing device, said retractable docking station having a modular interface to connect a desired hardware connector.

21. The laptop transport and support system for mobile environments of claim 18 further comprising:

a zippered interface between said cover and said base portions.