US20120273499A1

US20120273499A1 - Sturdy notebook carrying case

Info

Publication number: US20120273499A1
Application number: US13/458,916
Authority: US
Inventors: Billy Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-29
Filing date: 2012-04-27
Publication date: 2012-11-01

Abstract

A carrying case is described. The case includes a base, multiple sides having inner and outer faces connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom to form a housing to hold an electronic device, and an access port on one side wherein the access port is adapted to allow a cable to pass through.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/480509, filed on Apr. 29, 2011.

BACKGROUND

Many users of electronic devices have a need to transport and/or protect such devices. In addition, such devices generally include internal batteries that must be charged regularly. Thus, there is a need for a storage case that is able to protect the devices during storage or transport while also allowing the user to access and charge the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the invention provide a way to store, transport, and/or charge various electronic devices. Some embodiments may include a carrying case that is able to securely house one or more electronic devices. Such devices may be held in place using straps, pockets, and/or bands, as appropriate.
Some embodiments of the case may include various connections, cables, inductive elements, and/or other resources to allow charging of the electronic devices while secured inside the case. In some embodiments, multiple cases may be connected together such that a single internal or external power source may be shared among multiple cases.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a carrying case having: a base; multiple sides having inner and outer faces connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom to form a housing to hold an electronic device; and an access port on one side where the access port is adapted to allow a cable to pass through.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a carrying case adapted to store and transport a set of electronic devices, the case including an interior mounting system adapted to secure one or more of the electronic devices in the set of electronic devices; an access port having a sliding door, the port adapted to allow access to the set of electronic devices if the case is closed; and a charging element adapted to receive power from a power source and supply power to at least one of the electronic devices from the set of electronic devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a carrying case according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of two carrying cases before being enjoined together;

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of three carrying cases enjoined together;

FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of three carrying cases enjoined together;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an open case;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an open case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generally provides a carrying case. More specifically, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a sturdy carrying case for electronic devices, where the case may be set vertically on tables and other surfaces for carrying and charging various electronic devices (e.g., laptops, tablet devices, smartphones, etc.).
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a carrying case 10 may include a base, a plurality of sides, and an access port 22. The sides may have inner and outer faces connected to the base and may extend upwardly therefrom to form a housing 12 to hold an electronic device. The access port 22 may be located on one side and may be adapted to allow a cable to pass through the access port 22.
The carrying case 10 may further include latches 18 adapted to hold the case closed and to lock the carrying case 10. The latches may have a female part 18 a and a male part 18 b. Alternatively, the latches may be formed by “U”-shaped members that may further be adapted to hold a handle for carrying the case.
The carrying case 10 may further include interior straps 26 or customizable reinforced elastic bands 32 to help secure the electronic devices in place inside the carrying case. The reinforced bands 32 may employ a lock-and-release pin system where if the band is secured into a hole 34 in the grid floor 36 or ceiling of the case 10, the band may be un-tethered by simply pressing the band's release button located at either end of the band. The bands 32 or straps 26 may be provided in a variety of lengths and/or colors. The carrying case may have a plurality of hinges whereby users may open the carrying case in various angles.
The carrying case 10 may further include vents 23 what may open or close like shades or blinds on a window strategically placed on topside, bottom side, and back area in the vertical position (three most common areas users may access to connect an AC adapter).
Alternatively, the case may have sliding doors 25 that hide inside the wall of the case to act as the access port 22 to power sources. In addition, some embodiments may include a cable 30 for “daisy-chaining” several cases together. Such a cable may attach to a corresponding connector on a different case. In this way, multiple cases may share a single power source.
Different embodiments of the present invention may have different sizes to accommodate various electronic devices (e.g. a seventeen inch model, a fifteen inch model, a ten inch model, etc.).
A carrying case may be made by taking a standard electronic device of a desired size and creating a rectangular plastic mold around it that may house the device and be able to hinge like a briefcase, for example. The actual product may be a little bigger than the electronic device as to make room for larger devices and/or smaller devices and/or items.
In one exemplary embodiment, the carrying case 10 may serve as a way to protect an electronic device, for example, if users transport the device from one place to another. The carrying case may have various shapes and completely house and protect the device. The carrying case may snap or lock in the front and may have a rubber casing 40 along the edges of the case 10 or built-in thin rubber grips 20, for example, or a collapsible handle 16 to make it easier and more stable to carry around. Some embodiments may include a removable handle that may be able to be removed and kept in an interior pocket of the case for convenience. In another exemplary embodiment, the carrying case may be designed to protect the device in rainy weather so that no water gets on or in the device.
An exemplary embodiment may be able to be connected to another same sized carrying case either in the flat horizontal or vertical position via connectors 24 or cable 30. The connector 24 may include a male component 24 a and a female component 24 b. The cable 30 may include a male or female component on one end, as appropriate, and may be connected to the case at the other end. Users may thus charge devices in several cases at once.
In some embodiments, users may place multiple devices (e.g., a notebook computer, a cell phone, a Smartphone, a handheld game system, a tablet device, a mp3 player, an e-reader, a netbook, a portable DVD/media player, a portable digital compact TV, a portable GPS, a digital camera, etc.) in a single case. Smaller devices may be placed in pockets 28 of the carrying case, allowing charging of multiple items. And these items can be further secured for storage or charging by utilizing the grid-like interior straps 26 or reinforced bands 32 and interior grid. The straps 26 or bands 32 may be loosened or tightened to a user's preference, and may be located in the inner top half and/or bottom half of the case, as appropriate.
The carrying case may further be used to store other items (e.g., pens, pencils, paper, small books and magazines, sticky notes, calculators, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray DVDs, memory cards, USB sticks, small hard drives, small headphones and earbuds, Bluetooth headsets, wireless and USB mouse, game controllers, etc.) cables (e.g., USB cables, Ethernet cables, HDMI cables, AV cables, etc.) either freely or with built-in pockets placed inside the case. Some embodiments may include removable pockets 38 or sets of pockets that may be changed as desired.
Some embodiments of the case may include upgradeable slots which provide the option of attaching a long strap that one would connect to the slots, thus allowing the user the option of carrying the laptop case over the shoulder in the same manner someone as an over-the-shoulder duffle bag or tote.
The carrying case may include locking mechanisms that can be used to completely lockdown the case thus keeping unwanted people out of it and keeping valuables safe and secure.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have a solar panel or multiple miniature solar panels built within the top of the carrying case. The solar panel may absorb and store solar energy which may allow users to charge their laptop by connecting their laptop to the solar charged circuitry within the case via a short USB cord, for example.
Some embodiments of the carrying case may have an inductive charging capability (e.g., an inductive charging mat built-in to the bottom of the case), enabling the case to charge items that are stored therein. In such a case, the electronic devices do not need to be connected to a power source using a cable to be recharged.
Some embodiments of the case may utilize an internal charging system. Electronic devices may be charged via a removable internal battery located inside the case. Various on-board connectors (e.g., a thirty-pin connector, a Micro-USB connector, a Mini-USB connector, etc.) may be used to connect devices to the internal charging system. In addition, some embodiments may include a USB port that may be used to charge any USB-powered devices utilizing a cable associated with the device. The internal charging system may also include a power input port, such that the charging system may be connected to an external power source. In some embodiments, the power input port may be connected to a cable 30 output of a different case to allow multiple cases to share a single power source.
Users may use the carrying case by putting one or more devices in the carrying case and placing the case on a solid surface or carrying the case. In addition, some embodiments of the case may be wall-mountable and stored and/or utilized as such.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A carrying case comprising:

a base;

a plurality of sides having inner and outer faces connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom to form a housing to hold an electronic device; and

at least one access port on at least one side from the plurality of sides, wherein the access port is adapted to allow a cable to pass through the housing.

2. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising:

a set of interior straps adapted to secure the electronic device; and

a set of interior pockets.

3. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising:

an input connector adapted to receive power from an external source and provide power to the electronic device; and

an output connector adapted to pass power from the external source to an external device.

4. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a set of locking latches adapted to secure the case in a closed position.

5. The carrying case of claim 1, wherein external surfaces of the base and sides of the case are at least partially covered by a protective rubber casing.

6. A carrying case adapted to store and transport a set of electronic devices, the case comprising:

an interior mounting system adapted to secure one or more of the electronic devices in the set of electronic devices;

an access port having a sliding door, the port adapted to allow access to the set of electronic devices if the case is closed; and

a charging element adapted to receive power from a power source and supply power to at least one of the electronic devices from the set of electronic devices.

7. The carrying case of claim 6, the charging element comprising:

an input connecter adapted to be able to couple to the power source;

a set of output connecters, each output connector adapted to couple to an electronic device from the set of electronic devices; and

a battery adapted to store power received from the power source and provide power to the set of electronic devices.

8. The carrying case of claim 7, wherein the set of output connectors comprises at least one of a thirty-pin connector, a Micro-USB connector, and a Mini-USB connector.

9. The carrying case of claim 6, wherein the interior mounting system comprises:

a grid having a plurality of mounting holes;

a set of elastic bands, each elastic band having at least one lock-and-release connector adapted to be able to be secured to a mounting hole from the plurality of mounting holes; and

a set of removable pockets, each pocket adapted to secure an electronic device from the set of electronic devices.

10. The carrying case of claim 6, wherein the set of electronic devices includes at least one of a notebook computer, a smartphone, and a tablet device.