Tablet or laptop support cushion

• US 9,578,941 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: Select Comfort Corporation
• Inventors: MacLachlan, Lori, Karnes-Toth, Rebecca, Blazar, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANO, ERNESTO ARTURIO
• Application Number:
  US14/518,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20150108188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/760
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 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

Abstract

A support cushion comprising a first member comprising a first support surface and a second member coupled to the first member, the second member comprising a second support surface. The second member is configured to move relative to the first member between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first support surface of the first member and the second support surface of the second member are configured to cooperatively support a first electronic device when the second member is in the first configuration, and the first support surface of the first member is configured to support a second electronic device when the second member is in the second configuration.

Claims

1. A support cushion comprising:

a first member comprising a first support surface; and

a second member comprising a second support surface;

a third member comprising a third support surface;

a fourth member;

wherein the second, third, and fourth member are connected to form a triangular prism structure that is hingedly coupled to the first member so as to pivot between first and second configurations in which the triangular prism structure has a triangular prism shape in the first configuration and substantially retains the triangular prism shape in the second configuration;

wherein the second, third, and fourth members have respective second, third, and fourth back surfaces that define a substantially hollow area with the second back surface angled with respect to the third and fourth back surface, the third back surface angled with respect to the second and fourth back surface, and the fourth back surface angled with respect to the second and third back surfaces; and

wherein the first support surface of the first member and the second support surface of the second member are configured to cooperatively support a first electronic device when the second member and the third member are in the first configuration, and the first support surface of the first member and the third support surface of the third member are configured to support a second electronic device when the second member and the third member are in the second configuration.

2. The support cushion of claim 1,

wherein the second member is configured so that the second support surface is at an angle from 120°

to 130°

relative to the first support surface when the second member is in the first configuration.

3. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a stop projecting from the first support surface of the first member, wherein the stop is configured to support an edge of the first electronic device when the second member is adjacent the first member in the first configuration.

4. The support cushion of claim 3, wherein the stop extends from the first support surface by between about ⅛

inch and about ¾

inch and wherein the stop is resiliently compressible.

5. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising an elastic strap having first and second strap ends attached to edges of the third member and configured to secure the second member and the third member to the first member by wrapping around the first member when the second member is in the first configuration.

6. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a pocket in the first member, wherein the pocket is positioned on the first support surface of the first member and the pocket sized to store a tablet computing device such that an opening of the pocket is exposed in the second configuration and concealed in the first configuration.

7. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the third member and the fourth member are both hingedly connected to the first member at a common joint such that the first support surface is positioned against the third surface and the second member is angled with respect to the first support surface when the second and third members are folded to the first configuration, and the third member is spaced from and angled with respect to the first member when the second and third members are pivoted to the second configuration.

8. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device comprises a tablet computing device or an electronic reader.

9. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

10. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the first member comprising a resilient foam, wherein the resilient foam comprises a polyurethane having a thickness of about 1 inch that is configured to provide a heat shield between at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device and a user.

11. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the third surface of the third member is configured to support a display of a laptop computer when the second and third members are in the second configuration.

12. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a fabric material covering at least the first member and a stop defining a ridge extending laterally along the first support surface of the first member at a location suitable for inhibiting the edge of the tablet computing device or electronic reader from sliding along the first support surface, wherein the stop comprises a cord wrapped in the fabric material that covers at least the first member.

13. The support cushion of claim 12, wherein the stop is spaced from an edge of the second member by a gap between about 0.37 inches and about 0.43 inches when the second and third members are folded to the first configuration.

14. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the first support surface defines a larger exposed surface area when in the second configuration and defines a smaller exposed surface area when in the first configuration.

15. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein the second member is connected to the third and fourth members at ends of the third and fourth members, the third member is connected to the second and fourth members at ends of the second and fourth members, and the fourth member is connected to the second and third members at ends of the second and third members in both the first and second configurations.

16. The support cushion of claim 1, and further comprising a fabric casing covering each of the first, second, third, and fourth members and that forms fabric joints between the first and fourth member, between the second and fourth member, and between the second and third member.

17. A support cushion comprising:

a base member;

a triangular prism having a second member, a third member, and a structural member that combine to form the triangular prism with a storage compartment that is defined by back surfaces of the second, third, and structure members extending longitudinally through the triangular prism, wherein the triangular prism is pivotably connected to the base member at a joint that connects to both an end of the third member and an end of the structural member so as to allow the triangular prism structure to pivot between first and second configurations; and

wherein a base support surface of the base member and a second support surface of the second member are configured support a first electronic device resting on the base and second support surfaces when the triangular prism is in the first configuration with a third surface of the third member is in contact with the base surface of the base member, and wherein the base support surface of the base member and the third surface of the third member are configured to support a second electronic device when the triangular prism is in the second configuration with the third surface spaced from the base support surface.

18. The support cushion of claim 17, further comprising at least one storage pocket positioned within the storage compartment and having material separating an interior of the storage pocket from space in the storage compartment that is exterior of the storage pocket.

19. A support cushion comprising:

a base member comprising a first support surface; and

a device support member coupled to the base member, the device support member comprising a second support surface;

wherein the device support member has a cross section with a substantially triangular-shaped outer perimeter and a substantially triangular shaped inner perimeter bounding a passage extending longitudinally through the device support member;

wherein the device support member is configured to move relative to the base member between a first configuration and a second configuration with the device support member retaining its same cross-section in both the first and second configurations;

wherein the first support surface of the base member and the second support surface of the device support member are configured to cooperatively support a tablet computing device or electronic reader resting on the base member and the device support member with the base member supporting an edge of the tablet computing device or electronic reader when the device support member is in the first configuration,

wherein the base member includes a stop positioned on the first support surface of the base member at a location suitable for inhibiting the edge of the tablet computing device or electronic reader from sliding along the first support surface, and

wherein the first support surface of the base member is configured to support a bottom of a laptop computer when the device support member is in the second configuration.

20. The support cushion of claim 19, and further comprising:

a netting material attached to an inner surface of the device support to define a storage compartment between the netting material and the inner surface, and

a device pocket positioned on the first support surface of the base member,

wherein an opening to the storage compartment is accessible in the first and second configuration and an opening to the device pocket is substantially concealed by the device support member in the first configuration.