GB2334206A

GB2334206A - Carrying case convertible into a support surface

Info

Publication number: GB2334206A
Application number: GB9803149A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-13
Filing date: 1998-02-13
Publication date: 1999-08-18
Also published as: GB9803149D0

Abstract

A carrying case 10 has a first body portion 14b with a cushion portion and a hingedly connected second body portion 16a, which body portions can move between a closed configuration in which they are fastened together to enclose a contents carrying space, and an open configuration in which the first body portion can be folded undemeath the second body portion to provide a cushioned support surface on the lap of a user. The cushion portion may comprise polystyrene beads. The second body portion may include a stiff panel and stiff side walls. The case may include article securing means such as elasticated straps.

Description

Convertible Carrying Case The present invention relates to a convertible carrying case and is concerned particularly with a carrying case which is convertible into a work surface or tray for mounting on the lap.

When travelling, for example by train or car, it is often necessary to do paperwork which requires a flat, stable work surface. Furthermore such a surface is useful as a temporary table on which to place a meal. Often a case, such as a briefcase, can be made to serve as a makeshift work surface and/or dining table when balanced on the lap.

However, whilst a briefcase may, if it is rigid, provide a surface which is flat, the surface is usually far from stable when the briefcase is balanced on the lap. This is largely due to the unevenness of the user's lap, which makes contact with the flat side of the case in only a few places.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carrying case comprising first and second body portions hingedly connected together for movement between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the first body portion comprising a cushion portion located on an interior surface thereof, wherein in the closed configuration the body portions enclose a space for carrying contents and may be fastened together by releasable fastening means, and in the open configuration the first body portion is foldable beneath the second body portion, so that the cushion portion faces away from the second body portion for positioning on the lap of the user.

The first body portion may comprise a relatively stiff first panel which is substantially co-extensive with the second body portion for positioning on the lap of the user.

S The first body portion may comprise a relatively stiff first panel which is substantially co-extensive with the cushion portion and is located exterior thereto. The first panel may be located between the cushion portion and the second body portion when the first body portion is folded beneath the second body portion.

Preferably the first body portion comprises a relatively flexible first side wall extending around the periphery of the first panel.

Preferably the second body portion comprises a relatively stiff second panel, one side of which may be used as a support surface when the first body portion is folded beneath the second body portion and the case is mounted in the lap of a user.

The second body portion may comprise a relatively stiff second side wall extending around the second panel.

In a preferred arrangement, the cushion portion comprises at least one cushion located within a pocket in the first body portion. The or each cushion preferably comprises a bead-filled cushion.

The case preferably includes securing means for securing an article against at least one interior surface of the case. The securing means may comprise one or more elasticated straps.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but an embodiment will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically in front perspective view a carrying case according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed configuration, Figure 2 shows the case of Figure 1 in an open configuration, and Figure 3 shows the case of Figures 1 and 2 in an open, folded configuration.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, this shows generally at 10 a carrying case of a similar size and shape to a conventional briefcase. The case 10 comprises a generally rectangular box-like body of plastics covered in nylon canvas, with a carrying handle 12 secured on a top side thereof.

Referring also to Figure 2, the case 10 comprises first and second body portions 14 and 16 connected by a hinge 18 of nylon material and releasably fastenable around their edges by a zip-fastener 20 which extends around the entire periphery of the case except from the part where the hinge 18 joins the portions 14 and 16.

The first body portion 14 comprises a stiff plastics panel 14a covered in nylon canvas and has a flexible side wall 14b of canvas around its periphery. The body portion 14 has a cushion portion 22 on an inside surface thereof comprising two polystyrene bead-filled cushions (not shown) inside a pocket integrally formed in the body portion 14.

The second body portion 16 comprises a stiff plastics panel 16a covered on the outside with nylon canvas and covered on the inside with thermally insulating wipe-clean nylon. A stiff side wall 16b extends around the periphery of the panel 16a. On the panel 16a are located elasticated securing straps 24 which connect together by means of a clasp 26 to secure items (not shown) against the panel 16a. Further securing straps (not shown) are located on the inside of the side wall 16b.

Turning to Figure 3, this shows the case 10 in a folded configuration in which the first body portion 14 is folded beneath the second body portion 16 so that the cushion portion 22 faces downwardly away from the second body portion 16. The side wall 14b of the first body portion 14 being flexible folds easily under the second body portion 16. In addition, the track of the zip-fastener 20 curves gently downwards on the side walls towards the rear of the case as shown, to further facilitate easy folding of the body portions 14 and 16 in the manner depicted in Figure 3.

In this configuration, the case 10 may be positioned on the lap of a user to serve as temporary desk or, for example, dining table. The surface 16a is more stable than would be provided by a conventional open briefcase due to the deformable cushion portion 22 which accommodates the shape of the users lap. The stiff panels 14a and 16a ensure that the case retains the necessary rigidity for this purpose. When the case 10 is in the closed configuration shown in Figure 1 the cushion portion faces inwardly and may help to secure items (not shown) inside the case against movement, together with the straps 24.

Claims

Claims 1. A carrying case comprising first and second body portions hingedly connected together for movement between an open configuration and a closed ccfiguration, the first body portion comprising a cushion portion located on an interior surface thereof, wherein in the closed configuration the body portions enclose a space for carrying contents and may be fastened together by releasable fastening means, and in the open configuration the first body portion is foldable beneath the second body portion, so that the cushion portion faces away from the second body portion for positioning on the lap of a user.
2. A carrying case according to claim 1 wherein the first body portion comprises a relatively stiff first panel which is substantially co-extensive with the second body portion for positioning on the lap of the user.
3. A carrying case according to claim 2 wherein the first panel is substantially co-extensive with the cushion portion and is located exterior thereto.
4. A carrying case according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the first panel is located between the cushion portion and the second body portion when the first body portion is folded beneath the second body portion.
5. A carrying case according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the first body portion comprises a relatively flexible first side wall extending around the periphery of the first panel.
6. A carrying case according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the second body portion comprises a relatively stiff second panel, one side of which may be used as a support surface when the first body portion is folded beneath the second body portion and the case is mounted in the lap of a user.
7. A carrying case according to claim 6 wherein the second body portion comprises a relatively stiff second side wall extending around the second panel.
8. A carrying case according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the cushion portion comprises at least one cushion located within a pocket in the first body portion.
9. A carrying case according to claim 8 wherein the or each cushion comprises a bead-filled cushion.
10. A carrying case according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the case includes securing means for securing an article against at least one interior surface of the case.
11. A carrying case according to claim 10 wherein the securing means comprises one or more elasticated straps.
12. A carrying case substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.