Mounting apparatus for securing a device to a flat monitor

#The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for holding a computer peripheral device securely and/or conveniently to a flat screen monitor. The present disclosure also relates to a set-up of a portable computer and its peripheral devices for convenient use, particularly in close quarters. This present disclosure still further relates to a method of securing a computer peripheral device to a flat screen monitor. It is also noted that this disclosure relates to security and privacy with the use of laptop computers and their peripheral devices.

#Laptop computers enable users to operate computers in a wide variety of environments from ski cabins to airplane cabins, from the coffee house to the clubhouse. The freedom that laptop offers does not always also provide adequate free space to operate the laptop and all the desired peripheral devices in a convenient and secure manner. This is not a new problem, such a problem has existed since the first portable computer and associated peripheral device were introduced. In short time many solutions have been offered to solve this problem; however, each is inadequate for various reasons. Presented below are a selection of admirable attempts to solve the problem of securing a peripheral device to a flat screen monitor and a brief summary of the inadequacy of each attempted solution.

#U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,374 entitled, “Apparatus for mounting a computer peripheral device at selectively variable locations on a display monitor,” issued Jun. 11, 1998, discloses apparatus and method of attaching a peripheral device to a desktop cathode-ray-tube-type monitor. A screw-type mechanism for attaching the apparatus is disclosed. Although the inventor address a similar problem U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,374 lacks specific adaption for laptop flat screen monitors and lacks the convenience of a hanging attachment. Furthermore, the disclosed invention is not intended for portable use.

#FIG. 1 is a drawing that depicts the mounting apparatus (1), as embodied in Example 1, securing a device (3) to a flat monitor (2);

#FIG. 2 is a drawing that depicts the mounting apparatus (1), as embodied in Example 1, in a position on the flat monitor (2) where a camera (4) is not obscured.

#FIG. 3 is a drawing that depicts the mounting apparatus (1), as embodied in Example 1, in a position on the flat monitor (2) where a camera (not shown) is obscured.

#Definitions

#As used herein the terms “camera” “built-in camera” and “webcam” are used interchangeably and are used to describe the permanent digital camera that is common to most laptop computers. Such built-in cameras are most commonly located on the monitor side of the top lid of a laptop below the top edge of the case and above the top edge of the monitor. Most cameras are centered on the top edge; however, offset cameras are not uncommon.

#As used herein the term “inch” means the English unit of measure for distance. As used herein, a single inch is defined as 2.54 cm. The unit inch is often abbreviated by the symbol—″—referred to as double quotation marks or double prime marks.