FR2803727A1 - Mobile office comprises briefcase with recesses in its base containing laptop computer, mobile phone with integral modem and printer which are protected by corresponding recesses in lid when it is closed - Google Patents

Abstract

The mobile office comprises a briefcase with recesses (9, 11, 13) in its base. A laptop computer (8), mobile phone (10) with integral modem and printer (12) fit into these and are protected by corresponding recesses (20, 21) in the lid when it is closed. The laptop and phone are connected by IR connectors.

Description

The present invention relates to a portable structure grouping together the main devices necessary to perform the functions useful during office work.

The evolution of technology is currently revealing various devices allowing remote work, for example mobile phones and portable microcomputers.

The connection of microcomputers with telephones and printers is commonly practiced in fixed installations of an office, to allow all the applications of microcomputing and telematics.

However, such connections have not been envisaged in mobile structures, because they pose problems of space and coupling.

The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new mobile structure making it possible to work with all the office elements outside of a fixed main office. The functions sought are essentially. word processing and printing, telephone, fax, image scanning, printing, messaging, connection to the global computer network.

The difficulty is both to limit the size and weight of the mobile assembly, to ensure compatibility of communication between the elements of the mobile office, to ensure good ergonomics to allow printing without discomfort, and authorize normal use of the mobile phone.

To achieve these and other objects, a mobile office according to the invention comprises - a carrying case having a lower part with cells and a folding cover, - a portable microcomputer, partially housed in a first suitable main cell of the lower part of the case, - a mobile telephone with integrated modem, partially housed in a second suitable main cell of the lower part of the case, - a printer connected to the portable microcomputer, partially housed in a third suitable main cell of the part lower case and comprising an internal source of electrical power, - infrared connection means between the portable microcomputer and the mobile telephone.

The cells ensure satisfactory maintenance of the relative positioning of the office elements, so that the wired and infrared links are always available. The infrared link also ensures the permanent availability of the mobile phone, which remains graspable and removable for its normal use as a telephone.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the case is generally rectangular, with a large anterior side, two lateral sides, and a large posterior side in which the hinged cover is articulated, the first main cell for accommodating a microcomputer being disposed in the vicinity of the front right bottom corner of the case, the second main cell of the mobile phone housing being arranged behind the first main cell in the vicinity of the large rear side, the third main cell of the printer housing being arranged along the small left side.

Preferably, the main cells are produced in an intermediate wall whose at least partial lifting leaves access to a lower compartment which is itself alveolate and shaped to receive and maintain accessories such as power supplies, a microphone, a helmet, printer cartridges, car power cords.

Economically, the cells can be made by forming foam plates substantially to the dimensions of the devices or accessories they receive. I1 is advantageous to use a relatively dense foam, ensuring a firm hold of the devices.

The first main cell is advantageously shaped in depth with lateral zones of zero or shallow depth, to allow access to the devices introducing floppy disks and discs of the portable microcomputer, and to allow infrared optical transmission between the infrared rear port. from the laptop and the corresponding infrared port on the mobile phone.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a mobile office according to the invention, open case; - Figure 2 is a front view in cross section of a mobile office according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the closed position and devices removed; - Figure 3 is a top view of the open case, intermediate wall removed; and - Figure 4 is a top view of the intermediate wall comprising the main cells.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, a mobile office according to the invention comprises a carrying case 1, of generally parallelepiped shape, the internal dimensions of which are approximately 40 to 60 cm in width, 35 to 45 cm in depth , 10 to 15 cm in height or thickness, having a lower part 2 with main cells and a hinged cover 3 hinged on the lower part 2 along a large rear side 4. Thus, seen from above, the carrying case 1 is generally rectangular, with a large front side 5, two lateral sides 6 and 7, and the large rear side 4 along which the hinged cover 3 is articulated. The case 1 can advantageously include a carrying strap, not shown.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the transport case 1 essentially contains a portable microcomputer 8, partially housed in a first main cell 9 suitable for the lower part 2 of the case, a mobile telephone 10 with integrated modem, partially housed in a second main cell 11 suitable for the lower part 2 of the case, a printer 12 connected to the portable microcomputer 8 and partially housed in a third main cell 13 suitable for the lower part 2 of the case. Infrared connection means ensure the transfer of data between the portable microcomputer 8 and the mobile telephone 10. For this, the portable microcomputer 8 and the mobile telephone 10 each comprise a respective infrared port, and communication software. appropriate recorded in their memories.

Considering the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, seen from above, the first main cell 9 for housing a portable microcomputer 8 is arranged in the vicinity of the right front corner 14 of the lower part 2 of the case; the second main cell 11 for housing the mobile phone 10 is disposed behind the first main cell 9 in the vicinity of the large rear side 4 the third main cell 13 for housing the printer 12 is arranged along the small left side 6.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the main cells 9, 11 and 13 are produced in a foam plate conformed substantially to the dimensions of the devices it receives such as the portable microcomputer 8, the mobile telephone 10 and the printer 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in front view in section, the interior structure of the case in which there is, in the lower part 2 of the case, a bottom plate 15, surmounted by at least one plate with cells of main compartment 16 shaped to constitute the main cells 9, 11 and 13, and, in the case cover 3, an upper plate 17.

Figure 4 illustrates, in top view, the main compartment cell plate 16 shaped to form the main cells 9, 11 and 13. For example, the first main cell 9 may have a dimension close to 31 cm in width by 26 cm deep. The second main cell 11 has the general dimension of a mobile phone, for example about 13 cm in width by 5 cm in depth, and it is slightly offset to the left relative to the first main cell 9 as illustrated in the figure 4, the left side of the second main cell 11 being approximately 30 mm from the left side of the first main cell 9. The third main cell 13 has a dimension of about 11 cm in width by 30 cm in depth.

Preferably, the main cells 9, 11 and 13 respectively holding the portable microcomputer 8, the mobile telephone 10 and the printer 12 are produced in an intermediate wall whose at least partial lifting leaves access to a lower compartment 24 itself honeycombed and shaped to receive and maintain accessories such as power supplies, a microphone, headphones, printer cartridges, car power cords. In the advantageous embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the intermediate wall is entirely removable, consisting of the cell plate of the main compartment 16 made of plastic foam, stiffened by gluing on a rigid lower plate 18, for example made of bakelite. We can thus move the intermediate wall with the devices it carries, without interfering with or interrupting their operation. Side recesses 22 (FIG. 4) facilitate gripping of the intermediate wall for its lifting. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the cells 19 of the lower compartment 24 are produced in the bottom plate 15, which can advantageously be made of plastic foam glued in the lower part 2 of the case.

A possible embodiment of this bottom plate 15 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The cells such as the cell 19 are shaped to the dimensions of the accessories to be contained.

In the cover 3, the upper plate 17 can advantageously be made of plastic foam and also comprises upper cells such as, for example, a first upper cell 20 for storing documents or printer sheets, and a second cell upper 21 double storage for computer disks and floppy disks. The first upper cell 20 is partially closed by a flexible plate 20a retained by its front edge and by an intermediate transverse elastic band 20b allowing its partial lifting for the engagement or gripping of sheets by the free posterior zone 20c. The disks or floppy disks can advantageously be retained in the second upper cell 21 by transverse fastening strips of the type of that known under the brand "VELCRO".

The first and second main cells 9 and 11 may have a height of less than approximately 10 mm, to allow access to the introducers of discs and floppy disks of the portable microcomputer 8, and to allow infrared optical transmission between the infrared port. rear of the microcomputer 8 and the corresponding infrared port of the mobile telephone 10. Alternatively, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the main cells can have a higher height, but it is then expected that the first and second main cells 9 and 11 include peripheral passages such as passages 9a, 9b, 9c, which constitute lateral zones of zero or shallow depth. The passage 9a allows access to the disc player. The passage 9b allows infrared optical transmission between the infrared rear port of the portable microcomputer 8 and the corresponding infrared port of the mobile telephone 10. The passage 9c allows access to the floppy disk drive. A complementary rear recess 9e can be provided to allow the connection of the microcomputer 8 to certain peripherals or other external organs.

The wired connection between the printer 12 and the microcomputer 8 can be facilitated by providing a transverse groove 9d between the main cells 9 and 13, and by providing a lower recess 13a in the bottom of the third main cell 13 for housing excess printer connection cable.

The walls of the case 1 are devoid of any electrical connection passing through them. In this way, the risk of overheating of the devices contained in the case 1 is avoided, the latter being necessarily open and ventilated when energy is introduced from the external electricity supply network.

For correct operation, the portable microcomputer 8 contains recorded automatic callback access software, and fax transmission software compatible with the modem driver of the mobile telephone 10. In operation, the callback access software automatic, of a type known per se, detects a telephone call coming from outside and wishing to access the resources of the portable microcomputer 8. I1 recognizes a code which the caller must communicate, then he cuts the communication to then call back the caller himself by dialing an appropriate pre-recorded telephone number corresponding to said caller. This prevents third parties from organizing untimely access to the confidential internal resources of the portable microcomputer 8.

The fax transmission software can be of a known type, for example having a "fax box" type system for receiving faxes.

The printer 12 comprises a paper outlet oriented towards the portable microcomputer 8, and a guide ramp 23 is provided between the printer 12 and the portable microcomputer 8, for guiding the outgoing paper and directing it. above the laptop 8.

According to one embodiment, the portable microcomputer 8 can comprise a recorded program of the type of that sold under the Windows 98 brand, and it comprises, according to its rear side, an infrared communication port. The mobile telephone may be of a type comprising an infrared port, for example a telephone sold by the company Ericsson under the reference SH 888. The printer 12 may be a printer of the type sold by the company Canon under the reference BJC 50. Each of these devices includes its own source of electrical energy, in the form of a rechargeable electric accumulator having an appropriate capacity.

Preferably, the printer 12 comprises a removable scanner head, which can be adapted in place of the print cartridge for an image scanning operation, and which is then replaced in an appropriate cell of the lower compartment 24.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (1)

 CLAIMS 1 - Mobile office comprising: - a carrying case (1) having a lower part (2) with cells (9, 11, 13, 19, 20, 21) and a hinged cover (3), - a microcomputer portable (8), partially housed in a first main cell (9) suitable for the lower part (2) of the case, - a mobile telephone (10) with integrated modem, partially housed in a second main cell (11) suitable for the lower part of the case (2), - a printer (12) connected to the portable microcomputer (8), and partially housed in a third main cell (13) suitable for the lower part (2) of the case and comprising an internal source power supply, - infrared connection means between the portable microcomputer (8) and the mobile telephone (10). 2 - mobile office according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying case (1) is generally rectangular, with a large anterior side (5), two lateral sides (6, 7), and a large posterior side (4) according to which the hinged cover (3) is articulated, the first main cell (9) for housing a portable microcomputer (8) being arranged in the vicinity of the right front corner (14) of the lower part (2) of the case, the second main cell (11) for accommodating a mobile telephone (10) being disposed behind the first main cell (9) in the vicinity of the large rear side (4), the third main cell (13) for housing the printer ( 12) being arranged along the small left side (6). 3 - mobile office according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the main cells (9, 11, 13) are formed in an intermediate wall whose at least partial lifting leaves access to a lower compartment (24 ) itself dimpled and shaped to receive and maintain accessories such as power supplies, a microphone, headphones, printer cartridges, car power cords. 4 - mobile office according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cells (9, 11, 13, 19, 20, 21) are produced by forming foam plates (15, 16, 17) substantially the dimensions of the devices or accessories they receive. 5 - mobile office according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the portable microcomputer (8) contains recorded software for automatic call back access, and fax transmission software compatible with the pilot of mobile phone modem (10). 6 - mobile office according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first and second main cells (9, 11) include peripheral passages (9a, 9b, 9c), to allow access to the introducer devices diskettes and disks of the portable microcomputer (8), and to enable infrared optical transmission between the rear infrared port of the portable microcomputer (8) and the corresponding infrared port of the mobile telephone (10). 7 - mobile office according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the printer (12) comprises a paper outlet oriented towards the portable microcomputer (8), and a guide ramp (23) is provided between the printer (12) and the portable microcomputer (8) to guide the outgoing paper and direct it above the portable microcomputer (8). 8 - mobile office according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the printer (12) comprises a removable scanner head.