Assembly for carrying and protecting a tablet computer or similar item

• US 8,611,086 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl G. Magnusson, Nick Tzuyung Shen
• Original Assignee: Carl G. Magnusson, Nick Tzuyung Shen
• Inventors: Magnusson, Carl G., Shen, Nick Tzuyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US13/024,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 36167955-67956, 361/679.59, 455/575.8, 224/270, 224/578, 224/584, 224/930, 206/320, 9867955-67956, 986/795.9
• US Class Current: 361/679.59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203

Abstract

A carrying assembly for a tablet computer that protects the periphery of the tablet computer from impact, yet does not cover the face surface of the tablet computer. Accordingly, the tablet computer can be operated while still being bound within the carrier assembly. The carry assembly has a frame structure with four side elements, four corners and an open central region. The tablet computer is mounted to the frame structure so that the bottom of the tablet computer rests upon the side elements. At least two mounting connectors are provided, wherein one of the mounting connectors extends upwardly from each of the corners of the frame structure. The mounting connectors have locking fingers that receive and engage the corners of the tablet computer with a snap fit, therein mechanically attaching said frame structure to the tablet computer.

Claims

1. A carrier assembly for a tablet computer, comprising;

a frame structure having four side elements, and four corners that include a first corner, a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner, wherein said four side elements and said four corners define a periphery around an open central region that extends through said frame structure, wherein said first corner and said third corner are positioned at diagonally opposed positions along said periphery and said second corner is interposed between said first corner and said third corner along said periphery, and wherein each of said side elements has an inside edge that faces said open central region and an outside edge that faces away from said open central region;

a strap running along said periphery between said first corner and said third corner, wherein said strap is anchored to said first corner, anchored to said third corner and guided by said second corner, therein forming a first loop structure between said first corner and said second corner, and a second loop structure between said second corner and said third corner; and

four mounting connectors, wherein one of said mounting connectors extends upwardly from each of said corners of said frame structure, wherein said mounting connectors are sized to receive and engage the tablet computer, therein mechanically attaching said frame structure to the tablet computer.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said strap has two free ends and wherein said free ends are anchored to said frame structure at at said first corner and at said third corner.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein a strap guide is formed at said second corner.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said strap extends through said strap guide.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outside edge of each of said straight side elements is wider than said inside edge, therein producing a sloped surface.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said frame structure is unistructurally molded from an elastomeric material.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said mounting connectors is a snap-fit connector having a locking finger that snaps in place over an edge of the tablet computer, therein locking the tablet computer into place.

8. An assembly, comprising;

a tablet computer having a face surface;

a frame structure having four side elements, and four corners that include a first corner, a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner, wherein said four side elements and said four corners define a periphery around an open central region that extends through said frame structure, wherein said first corner and said third corner are positioned at diagonally opposed positions along said periphery and said second corner is interposed between said first corner and said third corner along said periphery, wherein each of said side elements has an inside edge that faces said central region, an outside edge that faces away from said central region, and a sloped top surface that slopes from said outside edge down toward said inside edge; and

a plurality of locking fingers extending upwardly from said frame structure, wherein said locking fingers have protrusions that pass over said face surface of said tablet computer, therein locking said tablet computer between said protrusions and said sloped top surface of said frame structure.

9. The assembly according to claim 8,

further including a strap, wherein said strap runs along at least some of said periphery of said frame structure.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said strap has two free ends and wherein said free ends are anchored to said frame structure at said first corner and said third corner, respectively.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein a strap guide is formed in said second corner.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said strap extends through said strap guide.

13. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said outside edge of each of said straight side elements is wider than said inside edge, therein producing said sloped top surface.