GB2400023A

GB2400023A - A transport case for a computer which converts into an easel upon which the computer can be supported for use.

Info

Publication number: GB2400023A
Application number: GB0402949A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John George Andrews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-26
Filing date: 2004-02-11
Publication date: 2004-10-06
Also published as: GB0402949D0; GB0306883D0

Abstract

A transport case for a computer which converts to an easel upon which the computer can be supported for use comprises; a lid 1 having a front edge, a raised rear end at 90{ to the plane of the lid and two side edges with support members being provided at the intersections of the rear end and the side edges, a base section 4 having two raised sides 5 and a raised front end 6, all of which are at 90{ to the plane of the base and a rear edge, three detents 8 located in each of the raised sides of the base towards the intersection of the raised sides and the front end with each of the detents on one raised side being in line with their opposite number on the other, a support strut 3 with a first hinge 9 at one end and a second hinge 10 at the other, the first hinge being connected to a cut-out in the front edge of the lid and the second hinge being connected to the rear edge of the base, wherein in use, the lid is movable from a closed, transport case, configuration in which the lid and the base are secured together to an open, easel, configuration by rotating the lid by approximately 270{ about the first hinge so that the support members locate in a pair of the detents in the raised sides and the first edge of the lid is supported by the support strut. Mechanical fasteners may be provided upon a hinged flap 2 attached to the front end of the base which secure the base and the lid together when in the transport case configuration. The lid may be movable to an intermediate, semi-open configuration in which the lid and the support strut are freestanding at substantially 90{ to the base by rotating the lid and strut in combination about the second hinge so that items may be placed within, or removed from, the transport case. A support flange 7 may be provided on that edge of each raised side which is furthest from the base, towards the rear edge of the base, so as to support the lid when in the transport case configuration.

Description

Transport Case The invention relates to a transport case which can be

converted into an adjustable stand capable of supporting a laptop or notebook style computer, book or document at a more suitable ergonomic height when in its open position.

The case also allows items such as a keyboard, mouse, documents or laptop or notebook style computer or other items to be stored within when in its closed position.

However in order to utilise a computer in this manner, an additional keyboard and mouse are normally utilised. Therefore when the computer is to be moved from one workplace to another (i.e. taken from the workplace to the home or vice versa) the stand, keyboard and the mouse are normally required to be transported with it. The invention reduces the amount of items to be transported with the computer from three or more, to one, and also reduces the number of items on the user's desk, or workstation when not required.

The invention improves on existing designs because; it has the facility to store items within a compartment when in the closed configuration; in the easel configuration it can be set at several different angles; it allows the user to adopt an improved ergonomic posture; it is adaptable to the individual using it; and it is

portable.

According to the invention there is provided a transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported comprising, a base section, a lid section and a support strut, the support strut includes at least two parallel hinge means each substantially located at opposite first and second ends of the support strut, the support strut being attached at the first end to the base section and attached at the second end to the lid section, where in use the lid section, the base section and the support strut are movable from a closed, transport case, configuration in which the lid section and the base section form a transport case in which items can be placed, to an open, easel, configuration by rotating the lid section and the support strut about the at least two parallel hinge means such that the lid section engages with the base section so as to provide an inclined surface upon which an item can be supported.

The base and lid section may include releasable engagable retaining means and arranged such that in use the releasable engagable retaining means provide the engagement between the lid section and the base section. The releasable engagable retaining means preferably comprise a plurality of detents located in the base section and at least one support lug protruding from the lid section. Also the plurality of detents may be arranged such that in use the angle of inclination of the inclined surface is adjustable.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the stand and storage unit in its closed position. In this position the unit will store the required articles inside.

Figure 2 shows in plan and elevations, the stand and storage unit in its closed position.

Figure 3 shows in perspective, the stand and storage unit in its semi open position. In this position the lid supports itself open unaided, thus allowing the contents to be easily accessed and or removed.

Figure 4 shows in perspective, the stand and storage unit in its open position. In this position the unit is ready to support a laptop or notebook style computer and or document at a more ergonomic height.

Figure 5 shows in perspective an exploded view, the lid, base and support strut.

Figures 6 & 7 demonstrate the operations involved in configuring the case from the closed position to the open position.

Referring to the figures the embodiment of the invention comprises a base section 4, a lid section 1 and a support strut 3.

The base section has two raised sides 5 which are at 90 to the plane of the base, a hinged front end 6, a hinged flap 2 and a rear edge. The hinged flap 2 is attached to the hinged front end 6 of base 4. A support flange 7 is provided on the edge of each raised side 5 which is furthest from the base, towards the rear edge of the base, so as to support the lid 1 when in the closed transport case configuration.

The lid has a front edge, a rear end at 90 to the plane of the lid and two side edges. Support lugs 11 are provided at the rear end of the lid section 1 for engagement with detents 8 when in the open easel configuration. The lid section 1 has cut outs 12 which cooperate with support flanges 7 to aid in securing the case in the closed transport case configuration. Cut outs 13 are provided in the lid section 1 to allow the lid section 1 to sit within the raised sides 5 when in the open easel configuration.

The hinged flap 2 includes a plurality of detents 8 for engagement with support lugs 11 when in the open easel configuration and fastening means for engagement with associated fastening means provided on the lid section 1 when in the closed transport case configuration. The hinged flap 2 also includes cut outs 14 which allow hinged flap 2 to sit within the raised sides 5 when in the open easel configuration.

The support strut 3 has a first hinge 9 at one end and a second hinge 10 at the other. The support strut 3 is connected to a cut-out in the front edge of the lid 1 by the first hinge 9 and to the rear edge of the base 4 by the second hinge 10.

In use, the lid is movable from a closed, transport case, configuration in which; the lid 1 and the base 4 are secured together by mechanical fasteners located on the hinged flap 2 to a semi-open position in which the lid 1 and the strut 3 are freestanding at 90 to the base by rotating the lid 1 and strut 3 in combination about the second hinge 10. The device may be further manipulated into an open, easel, configuration by rotating the lid about the first hinge 9 so that the two support lugs 11 locate in a pair of detents 8 and the first edge of the lid is supported by the strut 3.

In the open easel configuration the lid section 1 provides an inclined surface on which a laptop computer, book, document or any other item can be supported and presented in suitable orientation for easy visibility of the user.

The angle of the lid section 1 can be adjusted by varying which pair of detents 8 the support lugs 11 are located in.

The transport case may be manufactured from any suitable material or materials, for example plastics, metals, wood, laminates, composites, etc. Referring to Figures 6 & 7 the sequence of events to configure the transport case from the closed to the open position are as follows; 1. Disengage mechanical fasteners and hinged flap 6 away from lid 1.

2. Lift lid 1 until approximately 90 to base 4 the lid 1 will sit unaided.

3. Remove any contents.

4. Fold the hinged side 6 so that it is positioned along the same plane as the base 4, now fold hinged flap 2 back in towards the base 4 so that it rests above and parallel to the hinged side 6 and base 4. The slot 8 are now ready to locate with the support members 11.

5. Rotate lid 1 about hinge 9 on support strut 3, hinge 10 between support strut 3 and base 4 will also be manipulated during this event.

The lid 1 is rotated until its support members 11 are in a position to locate with slots 8.

6. Locate support members 11 into one of the slots 8, now unit is in the easel type position.

7. Identify the required series of slots 8 required to be utilised in order to achieve required angle.

To close the unit the steps described are carried out in reverse sequence.

Claims

Claims I) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can

be supported comprising; I a) a lid having a front edge with a cut out at the center, a raised rear end at 906 to the plane of the lid and two side edges with support members being provided at the I intersections of the rear end and the side edges, ; b) a base section having two raised sides which are at 9( to the plane of the base and a rear edge, a hinged front and a hinged flap at the front edge, c) a support strut with at least one hinge at one end and at lease one hinge at the others I the first hinge being connected to a cut-out in the front edge of the lid and the second hinge being connected to the rear edge of the base, and d) releasably engagable support member retaining means provided in the hinged flap.

wherein in use, the lid is movable from a closed, transport case, configuration in which the lid and the base are secured together to an open, easel, configuration by rotating the lid by approximately 270'\t about the first hinge so that the support members releasably engage with the support member retaining slots so that the first edge of the lid is supported by the support strut.

2) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to claim I wherein the releasably engagable support member retaining slots comprise a plurality of detents located in the hinged flap each of the detents in the hinged flap being in line with their opposite number, and the support members comprise at least one lug protruding form the lid at each intersection of the rear end and the side edges.

3) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to claim 2 in which the position in which the computer may be supported may be varied depending upon which of the releasably engagable support member retaining slots the support I members are located within.

4) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according; to claim I wherein the releasably engagable support member retaining slots comprise slots in the hinged flap which is hingedly attached to the hinged front end which is hingedly attached to the front edge of the base, the series of hinges allowing the hinged flap to be positioned in such a manner as to releasably the engagement of the support members in the lid with the slots in the hinged flap, 5) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to claim 4 in which the position in which the computer may be supported may be varied depending upon which of the releasably engagable support member retaining slots in the hinged flap the support members in the lid is located within, 6) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to any preceding claim having mechanical fasteners provided upon a hinged flap attached to the hinged front end of the base which secure the base and the lid together when in the transport case configuration.

S

7) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to any preceding claim having lid which is movable to an intermediate, semi-open configuration in which the lid and the support strut are free standing at substantially 9(6to 1 the base by rotating the lid and strut in combination about the second hinge so that items may be placed within, or removed from, the transport case f or a computer which converts an easel.

8) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to any of the preceding claims having a support flange provided on that edge of each raised side which is furthest from the base, towards the rear edge of the base, so as to support the lid: when in the transport case configuration.

9) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported according to claim 8 wherein the lid has means at the intersection of the 90 it bend to interlock with the support flanges in the raised sides when in the transport case configuration. ! 10) A transport case which converts to an easel upon which items can be supported substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.