Multi-functional carrying case for laptops and like portable computers

• US 7,628,271 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Marton
• Original Assignee: Richard Marton
• Inventors: Marton, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUEST, DENE JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/503,039
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 206/576, 206/216, 206/549, 361/683, 361/610, 361/625, 361/FOR.106, 381/392
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/02 Briefcases or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A multi-functional carrying case includes a base section including a divider with a plurality of apertures. The base section has top and bottom portions bifurcated by the divider. A control panel seated within the lower section is electrically mated to an external power supply, and includes a power distribution panel and a surge protector provided with a ground-fault interrupt circuit. Phone and Ethernet input jacks are connected to the switch. The jacks and a power strip are disposed exterior of the base station and mounted to one side thereof. A plurality of power outlets is coupled to the control panel and electrically mated to the interrupt circuit. Retractable phone and power cords are anchored to the control panel and electrically mated to the surge protector. A multi-pencil storage member is coupled to an interior of the carrying case, and a clip board and calculator are housed therein.

Claims

1. A multi-functional carrying case for supporting a laptop and associated accessories, said multi-functional carrying case comprising:

a base section including a divider removably positioned therein, said base section further having top and bottom portions bifurcated by said divider such that said top and bottom portions are isolated within said base section when said divider is nested therein;

a control panel seated within said base section and being electrically mated to an external power supply source, said control panel including a power distribution panel and a surge protector provided with a ground-fault interrupt circuit electrically mated directly thereto, said ground-fault interrupt circuit canceling power to said power distribution panel when said control panel exceeds at least one of a threshold temperature and a voltage level respectively;

a phone input jack and an Ethernet input jack operably connected directly to said ground-fault interrupt circuit, said phone and Ethernet input jacks being disposed exterior of said base section and mounted to one side thereof;

a multi-outlet power strip disposed exterior of said base section and being directly mounted to said one side such that said phone and Ethernet input jacks are juxtaposed adjacent thereto;

a plurality of 110-volt power outlets directly coupled to said control panel and electrically mated to said ground-fault interrupt circuit;

a retractable phone cord and a retractable power cord anchored to said control panel and extending outwardly from said base section, said retractable phone and power cords being electrically mated to said surge protector;

a top section pivotally connected directly to said base section, said top section having first and second isolated storage portions provided with confronting outer edges respectively;

first and second zippers directly mated to said first and second storage portions of said top section such that a user may close said first and second storage portions during traveling conditions; and

a paper-holding clip pivotally anchored to said base section, said clip having monolithically formed first and second arms registered orthogonal to each other wherein said first arm extends vertically to said top section and said second arm pivots outwardly from said carrying case, said second arm having a longitudinal length greater than a longitudinal length of said first arm such that a paper document can be effectively supported therealong without interfering with a keyboard of the laptop seated in said base section, said clip being spring-actuated for allowing the user to quickly detached the paper document as needed without shaking said carrying case.

2. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed in said one side and juxtaposed adjacent to said multi-outlet power strip for directly connecting said retractable phone cord and said retractable power cords outwardly from said base section.

3. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of battery-holding straps directly mated to another side of said base section and disposed exterior of said base section.

4. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of speakers nested within said top section and said base section, each of said speakers including a plurality of impact-absorbing pads confronting thereabout for maintaining said speakers at substantially stable positions during traveling conditions.

5. A multi-functional carrying case for supporting a laptop and associated accessories, said multi-functional carrying case comprising:

a base section including a divider removably positioned therein, said base section further having top and bottom portions bifurcated by said divider such that said top and bottom portions are isolated within said base section when said divider is nested therein;

a control panel seated within said base section and being electrically mated to an external power supply source, said control panel including a power distribution panel and a surge protector provided with a ground-fault interrupt circuit electrically mated directly thereto, said ground-fault interrupt circuit canceling power to said power distribution panel when said control panel exceeds at least one of a threshold temperature and a voltage level respectively;

a phone input jack and an Ethernet input jack operably connected directly to said ground-fault interrupt circuit, said phone and Ethernet input jacks being disposed exterior of said base section and mounted to one side thereof;

a multi-outlet power strip disposed exterior of said base section and being directly mounted to said one side such that said phone and Ethernet input jacks are juxtaposed adjacent thereto;

a plurality of 110-volt power outlets directly coupled to said control panel and electrically mated to said ground-fault interrupt circuit;

a retractable phone cord and a retractable power cord anchored to said control panel and extending outwardly from said section, said retractable phone and power cords being electrically mated to said surge protector;

a multi-pencil storage member directly coupled to an interior of said carrying case;

a clip board and calculator removably housed within said carrying case;

a top section pivotally connected directly to said base section, said top section having first and second isolated storage portions provided with confronting outer edges respectively;

first and second zippers directly mated to said first and second storage portions of said top section such that a user may close said first and second storage portions during traveling conditions; and

a paper-holding clip pivotally anchored to said base section, said clip having monolithically formed first and second arms registered orthogonal to each other wherein said first arm extends vertically to said top section and said second arm pivots outwardly from said carrying case, said second arm having a longitudinal length greater than a longitudinal length of said first arm such that a paper document can be effectively supported therealong without interfering with a keyboard of the laptop seated in said base section, said clip being spring-actuated for allowing the user to quickly detached the paper document as needed without shaking said carrying case.

6. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed in said one side and juxtaposed adjacent to said multi-outlet power strip for directing said retractable phone cord and said retractable power cord outwardly from said base section.

7. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 5, further comprising:

a pair of battery-holding straps directly mated to another side of said base section and disposed exterior of said base section.

8. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of speakers nested within said top section and said base section, each of said speakers including a plurality of impact-absorbing pads confronting thereabout for maintaining said speakers at substantially stable positions during traveling conditions.

9. A multi-functional carrying case for supporting a laptop and associated accessories, said multi-functional carrying case comprising:

a base section including a divider removably positioned therein, said base section further having top and bottom portions bifurcated by said divider such that said top and bottom portions are isolated within said base section when said divider is nested therein;

a control panel seated within said base section and being electrically mated to an external power supply source, said control panel including a power distribution panel and a surge protector provided with a ground-fault interrupt circuit electrically mated directly thereto, said ground-fault interrupt circuit canceling power to said power distribution panel when said control panel exceeds at least one of a threshold temperature and a voltage level respectively;

a phone input jack and an Ethernet input jack operably connected directly to said ground-fault interrupt circuit, said phone and Ethernet input jacks being disposed exterior of said base section and mounted to one side thereof;

a multi-outlet power strip disposed exterior of said base section and being directly mounted to said one side such that said phone and Ethernet input jacks are juxtaposed adjacent thereto;

a plurality of 110-volt power outlets directly coupled to said control panel and electrically mated to said ground-fault interrupt circuit;

a retractable phone cord and a retractable power cord anchored to said control panel and extending outwardly from said base section, said retractable phone and power cords being electrically mated to said surge protector

a multi-pencil storage member directly coupled to an interior of said carrying case;

a clip board and calculator removably housed within said carrying case;

a top section pivotally connected directly to said base section, said top section having first and second isolated storage portions provided with confronting outer edges respectively;

first and second zippers directly mated to said first and second storage portions of said top section such that a user may close said first and second storage portions during traveling conditions; and

a paper-holding clip pivotally anchored to said base section, said clip having monolithically formed first and second arms registered orthogonal to each other wherein said first arm extends vertically to said top section and said second arm pivots outwardly from said carrying case, said second arm having a longitudinal length greater than a longitudinal length of said first arm such that a paper document can be effectively supported therealong without interfering with a keyboard of the laptop seated in said base section, said clip being spring-actuated for allowing the user to quickly detached the paper document as needed without shaking said carrying case.

10. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed in said one side and juxtaposed adjacent to said multi-outlet power strip for directing said retractable phone cord and said retractable power cord outwardly from said base section.

11. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 9, further comprising:

a pair of battery-holding straps directly mated to another side of said base section and disposed exterior of said base section.

12. The multi-functional carrying case of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of speakers nested within said top section and said base section, each of said speakers including a plurality of impact-absorbing pads confronting thereabout for maintaining said speakers at substantially stable positions during traveling conditions.