GB2541645A

GB2541645A - Improvements in laptop cases

Info

Publication number: GB2541645A
Application number: GB1514185.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jones Simon; Anthony Hampson John; Rodell William
Original assignee: KNOGNO Ltd
Current assignee: KNOGNO Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-11
Filing date: 2015-08-11
Publication date: 2017-03-01
Also published as: GB201514185D0

Abstract

A laptop case with a chamber for housing a laptop, the chamber defined by a front wall 2 able to support a laptop, a back wall 3 with a recess or indentation for the thigh of a user, a base portion (5, figure 3) and side walls (4a, 4b, figure 3). The case acts as a lap support for a laptop for a seated user, the users legs being located in recesses. The recesses may be formed by deforming the back wall 3. The back wall may be provided with a reinforced plate 8 with an arcuate opening 13, which may be covered by a deformable covering 9. The base may be deformable and may deform by concertinaing walls 15c. The base may be provided with a reinforcement structure (11c, 11d, figure 8) which may have an opening (12, figure 8). There may be a single or two recesses.

Description

Improvements in Laptop Cases

The present invention relates to improvements in laptop cases.

Many people use laptop cases to transport laptops and often to support laptops when the laptop is in use.

However, balancing a laptop on a laptop case in order to work can be difficult particularly in transport scenarios such as on trains.

The present invention seeks to address this issue.

According to the present invention there is provided a laptop case comprising: a chamber for housing a laptop, the chamber being defined at least in part by opposing front and rear walls, a base portion and two opposing side walls; wherein the front wall is suitable for supporting a laptop when the laptop is in use; the rear wall comprises at least one recess for receiving a leg of a user.

In some embodiments the rear wall is deformable to mould to a leg of a user.

In some embodiments there is provided a recess into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

In some embodiments a recess is at ieast in part formed by the rear wall comprising an opening into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

In some embodiments a recess is in part formed by the base comprising an opening into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

In some embodiments a recess is formed by at least part of the rear wall deforming into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

In some embodiments the rear wall comprises at least one rigid section to define a shape of an opening to a recess and a deformable covering over the opening.

In some embodiments an opening in a rigid section of the rear wall extends from adjacent the base.

In some embodiments the shape of an opening in the rear wall is arcuate.

In some embodiments a deformable covering over an opening in the rear wall is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

In some embodiments at least part of the base is deformable.

In some embodiments at least part of the base deforms by concert!naing.

In some embodiments the base comprises at least one rigid section to define a shape of an opening to a recess and a deformable covering over the opening.

In some embodiments an opening in the base extends between the rear and front walls.

In some embodiments the shape of an opening in the base is substantially rectangular.

In some embodiments the rear wall comprises at least one moulded recess.

In some embodiments the rear wall comprises a single recess.

In some embodiments a single recess is adapted to house one leg of a user.

In some embodiments a single recess is adapted to house two legs of a user.

Preferably a single recess is substantially centrally located on the rear wall between the side walls.

In some embodiments the rear wall comprises two recesses each adapted to house one leg of a user.

Preferably two recesses are substantially symmetrically arranged on the rear wall.

In some embodiments the side walls of the laptop case are deformable when the laptop case is empty such that the laptop case forms a wedge shape.

In some embodiments the side walls comprise substantially rigid portions to define a wedge and a deformable covering.

In some embodiments the covering of the side walls deforms by concertinaing.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a view of a first side of a laptop case made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of a second side of the laptop case of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the laptop case of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view of the base of the laptop case of Figure 1 when the case contains a laptop and its second side is not deformed;

Figure 5 is a view of the base of the laptop case of Figure 1 when the case does not contain a laptop and its second side is deformed to create a recess;

Figure 6 is a view of the side of the laptop case of Figure 1 when the case does not contain a laptop and its side walls are collapsed to a wedge shape; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the laptop case of Figure 1 to illustrate its general construction;

Figure 8 is a view of a part forming the front wall of the laptop case of Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a view of the laptop case of Figure 1 in use supporting a laptop and balanced on a leg of a user.

Referring to the drawings a laptop case 1 has a substantially cuboid storage chamber for storing a laptop defined by a front wall 2 and an opposing rear wall 3, two opposing side walls 4a, 4b, a base 5 and an opposing top wall 6.

As best illustrated in Figure 7, opposing side wall coverings 15a, 15c, base covering 15c and opposing top wall 6 are formed in one piece from a composite material that is of a concertina construction such that is collapsible.

Top wall 6 has attached to it a metal tab 7 that runs substantially the full length of top wall 6 and is located adjacent rear wall 3, which comprises a plurality of magnets configured to magnetically attach to metal tab 7.

When laptop case 1 is in use metal tab 7 may be moved by a user towards front wall 2 so as to collapse top wall 6 and gain access to the laptop storage chamber of laptop case 1. Once a laptop has either been removed or inserted from laptop case 1 a user may then reattach metal tab 7 to the plurality of magnets

Front wall 2 is formed in one piece from a rigid plastics material and has a main rectangular panel 10 and a substantially perpendicular peripheral wall 11 on three sides.

Peripheral wall 11 is housed within laptop case 1 when assembled and comprises four distinct sections 11a, 11b, 11c, lid. Sections 11 a and 11 b are located adjacent and lie flat against side wall coverings 15a, 15b respectively such that together the section 11a and covering 15a form side wall 4a and together section 11 b and covering 15b form side wall 4b.

Sections 11c and lid are located adjacent and lie flat against base covering 15c such that together sections 11c, lid and base covering 15c form base 5.

Peripheral wall sections 11c and lid are each substantially rectangular in shape. Peripheral wall section 11c is joined to section 11 and peripheral wall section 11 d is joined to section 11 b.

Peripheral wall sections 11c and lid are spaced apart from each other by a gap that is substantially rectangular in shape.

The gap between sections 11c and lid forms a rectangular opening 12 into the chamber of laptop case 1 that extends between rear wall 3 and front wall 2 when laptop case 1 is assembled. Opening 12 is covered by collapsible base covering 15c.

Together peripheral wall sections 11c, lid and opening 12 them are of the same rectangular dimensions of base covering 15c.

Peripheral wall sections 11a and 11b are triangular in shape and taper from the full width of side walls 4a, 4b adjacent peripheral wall sections 11c, lid towards respective vertices at the corners of laptop case 1 where front wall 2 meets top wall 6.

Rear wall 3 of laptop case 1 is formed of rigid section 8 and deformable covering 9.

Rigid section 8 is of the same rectangular dimensions as rectangular panel 10 of front wall 2, but comprises adjacent base 5 an indentation that is arcuate in profile. Indentation forms an opening 13 into the chamber of laptop case 1 that extends from adjacent base 5 towards top wall 6 when laptop case 1 is assembled. Opening 13 is covered by deformable covering 9, which is bonded to rigid section 8.

Deformable covering 9 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, but may of course be formed of any suitable deformable material.

When laptop case 1 is assembled opening 12 section 11c of base 5 along with opening 13 in rear wall 3 join each other such that together openings 12, 13 effectively form a single opening that extends through base 5 and rear wall 3.

As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6, laptop case 1 also comprises elastic straps 14a, 14b. Straps 14a, 14b extend from rear wall 3 and diagonally over front wall 2 at corners of laptop case 1 where sidewalls 4a, 4b meet top wall 6.

Elastic straps 14a, 14b rest within gaps formed in a peripheral lip on the outer face of front wall 2.

Elastic straps 14a, 14b may be unsecured by a user so as to allow access to the storage chamber of laptop case 1 via top wall 6. When secured around corners of laptop case 1 elastic straps 14a, 14b keep laptop case 1 securely closed, and when a laptop is rested on front wall 2 allow a user to attach the laptop securely to laptop case 1.

Turning now to laptop case 1 in use, and Figures 1 to 4, which illustrate how laptop case 1 is substantially cuboid in shape when a laptop is stored therein. However, when a laptop is removed from laptop case 1 the features discussed above provide functionalities different from prior art laptop cases.

As illustrated in Figure 6, when laptop case 1 is empty, top wall 6 and side walls 4a, 4b collapse owing to their concertina construction. Laptop case 1 is held in this collapsed configuration owing to elastic straps 14a, 14b acting to compress front wall 2 towards rear wall 3.

However, although top wall 6 may be substantially fully collapsed, the provision of triangular wall sections 11a, 11b around the periphery of front wall 2 results in side walls 4a, 4b collapsing to a corresponding triangular (or ‘wedge’) shape.

Thus a user that wishes to use laptop case 1 as a support for their laptop is provided with an ergonomic work surface that slopes towards them to aid use of the laptop.

Furthermore, and as illustrated by Figures 5 and 9, owing to openings 12, 13 in rear wall 3 and between sections 11c, 11d of peripheral wall 11 at base 5, deformable covering 9 is able to deform into the storage chamber of laptop case 1. Simultaneously, base 5 may collapse to an arcuate profile within the rectangular opening 12 between sections 11c, 11d of peripheral wall 11.

Thus a leg of a user may be received by a recess formed by the deformation of rear wall 3 and the collapse of base 5 such that the leg of the user is retained within space that is occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber of laptop case 1.

This results in laptop case 1 resting in a stable position on the leg of a user, particularly when the user has crossed their legs, as shown in Figure 9 so as to assist in the support of a laptop 16.

It will be apparent that in other embodiments a recess for receiving one or more legs of a user might be moulded in to the base of a laptop case.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A laptop case comprising: a chamber for housing a laptop, the chamber being defined at least in part by opposing front and rear walls, a base portion and two opposing side walls; wherein the front wall is suitable for supporting a laptop when the laptop is in use; the rear wall comprises at least one recess for receiving a leg of a user.

2. The laptop case of claim 1 wherein the rear wall is deformable to mould to a leg of a user.

3. The laptop case of claim 1 or 2 wherein there is provided a recess into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

4. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein a recess is at least in part formed by the rear wall comprising an opening into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

5. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein a recess is in part formed by the base comprising an opening into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

6. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein a recess is formed by at least part of the rear wall deforming into space occupied by a laptop when a laptop is stored in the chamber.

7. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein the rear wall comprises at least one rigid section to define a shape of an opening to a recess and a deformable covering over the opening.

8. The laptop case of claim 8 wherein an opening in a rigid section of the rear wall extends from adjacent the base.

9. The laptop case of claim 7 or 8 wherein the shape of an opening in the rear wall is arcuate.

10. The laptop case of any of claims 7 to 9 wherein a deformable covering over an opening in the rear wall is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

11. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein at least part of the base is deformable.

12. The laptop case of claim 11 wherein at least part of the base deforms by concertinaing.

13. The laptop case of claim 11 or 12 wherein the base comprises at least one rigid section to define a shape of an opening to a recess and a deformable covering over the opening.

14. The laptop case of claim 13 wherein an opening in the base extends from between the rear and front walls.

15. The laptop case of claim 14 wherein the shape of an opening in the base is substantially rectangular.

16. The laptop case of claim 1 wherein the rear wall comprises at least one moulded recess.

17. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein the rear wall comprises a single recess.

18. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein a single recess is adapted to house one leg of a user.

19. The laptop case of any of claims 1 to 17 wherein a single recess is adapted to house two legs of a user.

20. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein a single recess is substantially centrally located on the rear wall between the side walls.

21. The laptop case of claims 1 to 16 wherein the rear wall comprises two recesses each adapted to house one leg of a user.

22. The laptop case of claim 21 wherein two recesses are substantially symmetrically arranged on the rear wall.

23. The laptop case of any preceding claim wherein the side walls of the laptop case are deformable when the laptop case is empty such that the laptop case forms a wedge shape.

24. The laptop case of claim 23 wherein the side walls comprise substantially rigid portions to define a wedge and a deformable covering.

25. The laptop case of claim 24 wherein the covering of the side walls deforms by concertinaing.

26. A laptop case substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.