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US 6,109,434 AGranted
Protective case for portable computer
OwnerWilliam E. Howard, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved protective case for a portable, or laptop, computer is described. In particular, a protective case designed such that the computer may be kept therein during transport, storage, or use, is described. The protective case provides flexible hinge means to accommodate opening and closing the computer and case while the two remained attached to each other. The protective case contains means for protecting the computer from damage that may result from physical shock. The protective case provides for convenient access to all four sides of the portable computer, where necessary user interfaces, such as cable connectors, accessory ports and disk drives, are typically found, when the protective case is open, and protection therefor when the protective case is closed.
Claims31
A protective case for a portable computer, comprising:
- a) a base panel, having a front, a rear, a left side and a right side;
- b) a lid, having a front, a rear, a left side and a right side;
- c) flexible hinge means, attached to the rear of the lid, and having a left side, a right side and a rear;
- d) two side walls, a left side wall connecting the left side of the base panel to the left side of the flexible hinge means, and a right side wall connecting the right side of the base panel to the right side of the flexible hinge means, each side wall having a front and a rear;
- e) three lid gussets, a left lid gusset attached to the left side of the lid and having a front and a rear, a right lid gusset attached to the right side of the lid and having a front and a rear, and a front lid gusset attached to the front of the lid and having a left side and a right side, wherein the front of the left lid gusset is attached to the left side of the front lid gusset and the front of the right lid gusset is attached to the right side of the front lid gusset;
- f) at least one rear flap, flexibly connected to the rear of the flexible hinge means and separably connected to the rear of the base panel;
- g) separable connecting means, whereby the front of the left side wall is separably connected to the rear of the left lid gusset, the left lid gusset is separably connected to the left side of the base panel, the front lid gusset is separably connected to the front of the base panel, the right lid gusset is separably connected to the right side of the base panel, and the right side wall is separably connected to the rear of the right lid gusset;
- wherein the base panel, the lid, the flexible hinge means, the side walls, the lid gussets, and the rear flap each has an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- and
- wherein the protective case additionally comprises separable means for attaching the interior surface of the lid to a lid of the portable computer and separable means for attaching the interior surface of the base panel to a bottom of the portable computer.
7 more elements
A protective case for a portable computer;
- wherein said computer comprises:
- a base, having a bottom, left and right sides, front and rear portions and a top surface, and having a keyboard incorporated in the top surface thereof;
- a lid, having a top, left and right sides, front and rear portions and a bottom surface, and having an imaging screen incorporated in the bottom surface thereof;
- and
- hinge means for pivotably securing the rare portion of the rear portion of the base;
- wherein the computer may be disposed in a closed condition in which access to the keyboard and imaging screen is precluded by the close proximity of the keyboard to the imaging screen;
- and
- wherein the computer may be alternatively disposed in an open condition which provides access to the keyboard and imaging screen;
- said protective case comprising:
- a base panel, having left and right sides, front and rear portions, an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a lid, having left and right sides, front and rear portions, an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- connecting means for flexibly joining the rear portion of the lid to the rear portion of the base panel, wherein the connecting means comprises a flexible structure that provides bending and wrinkling therein;
- and
- separable means for securing the computer within the protective case by securing the interior surface of the lid of the protective case to the top of the lid of the computer and for securing the interior surface of the base panel of the protective case to the bottom of the base of the computer;
- wherein the flexible structure of the connecting means provides for the computer to remain secured within the protective case when the computer is disposed in its open and closed conditions, and during redisposition therebetween.
12 more elements
A combination of a portable computer and a protective case therefor, comprising:
- a portable computer, comprising
- a base, having a bottom, left and right sides, front and rear portions and a top surface, and having a keyboard incorporated in the top surface thereof;
- a lid, having a top, left and right sides, front and rear portions and a bottom surface, and having an imaging screen incorporated in the bottom surface thereof;
- and
- hinge means for pivotably securing the rear portion of the lid to the rear portion of the base;
- wherein the computer may be disposed in a closed condition in which access to the keyboard and imaging screen is precluded by the close proximity of the keyboard to the imaging screen;
- and
- wherein the computer may be alternatively disposed in an open condition which provides access to the keyboard and imaging screen;
- a protective case, comprising
- a base panel, having left and right sides, front and rear portions, an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a lid, having left and right sides, front and rear portions, an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- connecting means for flexibly joining the rear portion of the lid to the rear portion of the base panel, wherein the connecting means comprises a flexible structure that provides bending and wrinkling therein;
- and
- separable means for securing the computer within the protective case by securing the interior surface of the lid of the protective case to the top of the lid of the computer and for securing the interior surface of the base panel of the protective case to the bottom of the base of the computer;
- wherein the flexible structure of the connecting means provides for the computer to remain secured within the protective case when the computer is disposed in its open and closed conditions, and during redisposition therebetween.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.