AU2002100289A4 - Computer device - Google Patents

Description

ERA EDITORIAL NOTE: This description starts on page 2.

2 COMPUTER DEVICE The present invention relates to a computer device operable for the enhancement of the appearance of a computer monitor or for the convenient storage of office related items, or both.

Computer monitors typically are of dull appearance and it is often the case that the monitor user will place decorative items on top of the monitor and/or will attach items, such as photographs for example, to the side faces of the monitor, by way of adhesive tape or the like.

Additionally, computer monitors and the hard drive and other computer equipment can take up valuable space of a desk or workstation, which reduces the amount of space available for other office related equipment or items.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can be attached to a computer monitor which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the above drawbacks.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a decorative device for a computer monitor, said device being of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an external periphery and having a central opening of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an internal periphery, said opening having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of a computer monitor screen to which it is suitable to decorate, so that when said device is attached to a computer monitor, said screen is fully viewable, said device including attachment means extending from a rear side of the device for attaching said device to a computer monitor in position with said opening overlying the screen of the monitor, said device between said internal and external peripheries defining a surface to which a decorative appearance is applied on a front side of the device, said decorative appearance being operable to enhance the overall appearance of the computer monitor.

A decorative device according to the present invention can substantially improve the aesthetic appearance of a computer monitor and thereby improve the general working environment in which the monitor is disposed, which could result in improved productivity. The device can be customised, say to relate to the logo or trade get-up of an employer and different departments of an employer may be issued with particular decorative styles. Alternatively, each W:\SHAROAndrwlnnoaticns\666165 spec.doc 3 monitor user may choose his or her own decorative style, for maximum aesthetic improvement.

A decorative device according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously can discourage the ad hoc application of personal effects to computer monitors, by providing an aesthetically pleasing monitor decoration, which can, if desired, be uniformly applied throughout an office.

The external periphery of a device according to the invention could be other than generally square or rectangular, and could be otherwise shaped, such as round or oval, or irregularly shaped or asymmetric. In this respect, the device maybe limited in respect of its downward extent, so that it may have only a shallow extent adjacent the lower edge of the monitor screen, but may have a greater extent on either side of the screen, and along the top edge. The device could for example, simulate the leaves of a flower on the sides and top edge of the computer monitor, but be say straight along the bottom edge thereof and this can still result in a device of generally square or rectangular external periphery.

The central opening which defines the internal periphery will generally only take a square or rectangular shape as that is the standard for computer monitors. A device according to the invention may be provided in a variety of opening sizes to suit the different screen sizes available commercially.

The attachment means according to the invention can take any suitable form, and may include an arm or tab which depends from the rear side of the device and which includes facility to cooperate either with monitor itself, or with a connection facility which can be applied to the monitor. Accordingly, the attachment means may be provided in two parts, whereby a first of the two parts attaches to the monitor, and the other part extends from the rear of the device. The two parts thereafter will be cooperable as required to complete their connection.

In one arrangement, the attachment means includes cooperating hook and loop fastener sections, wherein one of the sections is applied to a surface of the monitor, and the other is applied to the arm or tab extending from the device. Thereafter, the attachment means will be operable when the two hook and loop parts are pressed together.

W:\SHAROAndrew\lnnovatins\666165 spec.doc 4 Any number of attachment means may be applied between the device of the invention and the monitor, as required to securely attach the device to the monitor. In a preferred arrangement, a pair of spaced apart attachment means are provided for engagement with the top surface of the monitor, whereby the weight of the device maintains the attachment means in engagement with the monitor.

The attachment means may permit the device to be shifted away from the front face of the monitor, so that any controls which are formed in the front face can be accessed as necessary. In one arrangement, the attachment means may allow the device to pivot away from the front face of the monitor for this purpose. Typically, controls which are formed in the front face of the monitor are used on an irregular basis, so that employment of this aspect of the attachment means is not required on a regular, or even a day-to-day basis.

The device between the internal and external peripheries preferably is of generally flat plastic, cardboard, MDF (medium density fibreboard), or lightweight pressed metal, while the decorative appearance which is applied to a device according to the invention can be two or three dimensional as desired.

A two dimensional design can be applied directly to the device between the internal and external peripheries, such as by a screen printing method, or a fabric material (including paper material) may be applied to the device between those peripheries. If a three dimensional pattern is to be employed, then the device may be plastic moulded so that the three dimensional pattern forms part of the moulding process. Alternatively, the three dimensional pattern forms part of the moulding process. Alternatively, the three dimensional pattern may be affixed to the device between the internal and external peripheries as a further step in the production of the device. Still alternatively, the device may be produced without the three dimensional pattern applied to it, with a variety of patterns made available to the customer for their choosing and later application.

In this respect, the device may be sold in kit form, for complete construction at a later stage.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage or support device for a computer monitor, said device being of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an external periphery and having a central opening of generally square or rectangular configuration W:\SHAROAndrwlnnoaticns\666165 spec.doc defining an internal periphery, said opening having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of a computer monitor screen to which it is suitable for application to, so that when said device is attached to a computer monitor, said screen is fully viewable, said device including attachment means extending from a rear side of the device for attaching said device to a computer monitor in position with said opening overlying the screen of the monitor, said device between said internal and external peripheries including means facilitating storage or support of office related items.

Many of the features of a device according to the second aspect of the invention can take the same form, or similar form, to that of the first aspect of the invention. For example, the external periphery of the second aspect of the invention can also take a form which can be other than actually rectangular (thereby being generally rectangular), while the attachment means can be of the same form as that described for the first aspect.

The major difference between the first and second aspects, is that the second aspect of the invention includes means for facilitating storage or support of office related items. Such items can take the form of business cards, pens, pencils, paperclips, mobile phones, adhesive notes, etc. In one particular preferred form of this aspect of the invention, the device between in the internal and external peripheries is magnetic and the means facilitating storage or support of office related items includes holders of any suitable form suitable for holding office related items. For example, a holder could be of cup form, and include a magnetic connector to connect the cup to the magnetic part of the device, whereafter pens, pencils etc can be placed into the cup and withdrawn therefrom as necessary. Conveniently, pens and pencils or the like can therefore be neatly stored without misplacement. Likewise, the device can include magnetic clips for clipping business cards thereto and other magnetic connectors to suit other office related items.

A device according to the invention can have both a decorative and a storage or supporting capability, so that the first and second aspects of the invention can each be embodied in a single device. In this respect, decorative items may be formed with magnetic connectors, for connection to the magnetic part of a device, so that the device has both a storage capability and a decorative capability.

W:\SHAROAndrwlnnoaticns\666165 spec.doc 6 The attached drawings show devices according to the different aspects of the invention of the foregoing kind. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a computer monitor 10 and a device 11 according to the first aspect of the invention. The computer monitor 10 includes a rectangular screen 12 and it is clear from Figure 1, that the device 11 includes an opening 13, which is of rectangular shape and which is of a size complementary to the rectangular shape of the screen 12. The opening 13 therefore permits full viewing the entire screen 12, while providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance by way of the decoration which his provided between the internal periphery 14 of the opening 13 and the external periphery Because of space constraints, the section 16 of the device 11, adjacent the lower edge of the screen 12 typically will be required to have a relatively restricted downwardly vertical extent. However, it will be appreciated that the side sections 17 and the top section 18 can have a much greater extent side ways and vertically upwardly, in the absence of other restraints.

Figure 2 is an alternative version of a device according to the first aspect of the invention. The device 20 of Figure 2 is shown from the side, so as to illustrate suitable attachment means for attaching the device 20 to a computer monitor 21.

The attachment means 22 includes a fabric loop 23 which depends from a rear side of the device 20 and which is connected to a plastic tap 24 which includes one part 25 of a hook and loop fastener. The other part 26 of the hook and loop fastener is affixed to an upper surface 27 of the monitor 21 and when the respective parts 25 and 26 of the hook and loop fastener are brought together, the attachment means firmly attaches the device 20 to the monitor 21.

It will be appreciated that the attachment means illustrated in Figure 2 is provided at spaced apart locations along the top surface 27 of the monitor 21, preferably adjacent each side edge. With attachment means of this kind applied in a spaced apart relationship, no further attachment means attached to the other parts of the monitor are required.

It can be seen from Figure 2, that the decorative appearance of the device 20 is different from that of the device 11 and in Figure 2, the face 28 of W:\SHAROAndrew\lnnovatins\666165 spec.doc 7 the device 20 between the inner periphery 29 and the external periphery includes a three dimensional pattern. The pattern formed on the face 28 can be a moulded pattern formed integrally with the face 28, or it can be applied thereto such as by adhesive.

Figure 3 shows a device according to the second aspect of the invention.

Like Figures 1 and 2, the device 31 of the invention is attached to a computer monitor of the kind shown in Figure 2. Additionally, attachment means like that shown in Figure 2 can be assumed to have been applied to the device 31, to attach it to the computer monitor.

The device 31 includes an opening 32 which defines an internal periphery 33 which is rectangular. The device further includes an external periphery 34 which is also rectangular in shape.

Between the internal periphery 33 and external periphery 34, the device includes an attachment section 35, which is magnetic for attachment of items thereto which have a magnetic connector. The attachment 35 has attached to it, decorative flowers 36 which include a magnetic connector on the rear side thereof, while a pair of magnetic cards 37, and a magnetic picture frame 38 are also attached thereto. The device 31 therefore can be employed in a decorative manner, and also a functional manner. Additionally, customised holders, say to hold pens, pencils and other office related items, could also be magnetically attached to the attachment section The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

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Claims (5)

1. A decorative device for a computer monitor, said device being of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an external periphery and having a central opening of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an internal periphery, said opening having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of a computer monitor screen to which it is suitable to decorate, so that when said device is attached to a computer monitor, said screen is fully viewable, said device including attachment means extending from a rear side of the device for attaching said device to a computer monitor in position with said opening overlying the screen of the monitor, said device between said internal and external peripheries defining a surface to which a decorative appearance is applied on a front side of the device, said decorative appearance being operable to enhance the overall appearance of the computer monitor.

2. A decorative device according to claim 1, wherein said device between said internal and external peripheries is of generally flat plastic, cardboard, MDF or lightweight pressed metal and said decorative appearance is applied by the application of a decorative fabric material extending between said internal and external peripheries or a three dimensional pattern.

3. A storage or support device for a computer monitor, said device being of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an external periphery and having a central opening of generally square or rectangular configuration defining an internal periphery, said opening having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of a computer monitor screen to which it is suitable for application to, so that when said device is attached to a computer monitor, said screen is fully viewable, said device including attachment means extending from a rear side of the device for attaching said device to a computer monitor in position with said opening overlying the screen of the monitor, said device between said internal and external peripheries including means facilitating storage or support of office related items. W:\SHAROAndrew\lnnovatins\666165 spec.doc 9

4. A device according to claim 3, said device between said internal and external peripheries being magnetic for attachment thereto of items or supporting devices by magnetic connector.

5. A device according to claim 4, said supporting devices including magnetic holders for holding office related items such as pens and pencils, and/or business cards. DATED: 15 April, 2002 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: TIMOTHY VERO W:\SHARON\Andrew\lnnovaticns\666165 spec.doc