GB2492129A

GB2492129A - Portable electronic device carrying case with privacy screens

Info

Publication number: GB2492129A
Application number: GB201110589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-22
Filing date: 2011-06-22
Publication date: 2012-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-22
Also published as: GB2492129B; GB201110589D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a carrying case for portable electronic devices, such as notebook or laptop computers. The case has two sections 4, 6 and a pair of privacy screens 10, 12. The privacy screens are moveable via openings 24, 26 in the case, between a retracted position in which the privacy screens are contained in the lower section and a deployed position in which the privacy screen extend along the opposing sides of the upper section. Guide means 14, 16 extend from within the lower section to the opposing sides of the upper section for assisting with the deployment of the privacy screens. The screens may be made from a flexible resilient plastic. The guide means may be a slot or channel in which the edge of the screen is held and can move between the retracted and deployed positions.

Description

A CARRYING CASE FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

[001] The present invention relates to a carrying case for a portable electronic device, such as a carrying case for a portable computer or a similar device having a display screen.

[002] Many electronic devices are available which are designed to be portable for use away from the office or home, such as when travelling or commuting to and from work.

Such portable electronic devices include laptop, notebook and tablet computers, portable video players and games. Herein "portable electronic device" means any such device having a display screen, typically a liguid crystal display screen.

[003] By their nature, portable electronic devices are often used in public areas, such as on trains, at airports, in coffee shops, and so on. However, this can raise privacy issues for the user, in that they may not wish passers-by, fellow travellers, or other members of the public to be able to view the display screen of their device. Whilst in some circumstances it may be possible for the user to position themseif to hide the display screen of their device, for example by moving tables in a coffee shop, this may not be possible in other circumstances, for example when travelling on a train or aeroplane.

[004] Attempts have been made to provide privacy screens for portable electronic device. For example, US patent number 5,877,896 describes a privacy and light shade accessory for the display screen of a laptop computer in its viewing position, having a base member directly or indirectly mountable on the laptop computer provided with pivotal shade panels movable between a folded storage position and an unfolded operative screen shielding position. In two embodiments of the invention, the shade panels are pivotally attached directly to a base member comprising a cover of a laptop computer carrying case. In a third embodiment, the base member and shade panels are releasably attached to an outer rear surface of the screen member of the computer.

[005] A problem with some privacy screens for portable electronic devices is that they are cumbersome and complicated to use. A portable electronic device must be simple and convenient to use in a variety of different locations for limited periods of time. For example, on a relatively short train journey a user may not have time, or indeed space, to deploy a complicated folding screen arrangement.

[006] There is thus a need for a privacy screen for a portable electronic device which is simple and convenient to use in a variety of different locations, which takes seconds to deploy and can be used in a restricted space, such as on a train or aeroplane.

[007] According to the present invention there is provided a carrying case for a portable electronic device which comprises: a first section and a second section which can be arranged in open and closed positions; a plurality of privacy screens which are movable via openings in the first section between a retracted position in which the privacy screens are contained within the first section, and a deployed position in which the privacy screens extend along opposing sides of a face of the second section to at least partially screen from view the face of the second section when the case is in the open position; and guide means for moving the privacy screens between the retracted and deployed positions, the guide means extending from within the first section to said positions on opposing sides of the face of the second section.

[008] The present invention thus provides a carrying case for a portable electronic device which comprises privacy screens for at least partially screening from view a face of the case when the case is open, and which thus at least partially screens from view the display screen of any portable electronic device which is positioned against that face of the case. The privacy screens are conveniently contained within the first section when the case is closed (the retracted position), for example when it contains a portable electronic device, and may be easily and simply deployed by opening the case and moving the privacy screens from within the first section along the guide means to positions on opposing sides of the face of the case (the deployed position), as desired by the user.

[009] The case of the present invention is preferably of the general type which are used for carrying portable electronic devices. Thus, the case may have a carrying handle or a shoulder strap, and can be opened and closed for removing a portable electronic device from within the case and replacing it inside the case after use. The case may further comprise pockets, compartments, and the like, as are conventional in the art. The case may be made from substantially rigid or flexible material, or a combination of materials, as appropriate. However, the case is preferably sufficiently rigid so that it does not deform under the weight of a portable electronic device placed on the case in use to the extent that the privacy screens are pinched within the first section and cannot be deployed without difficulty.

The case can also be padded. The case may be supplied with and/or be intended for use with a particular portable electronic device, or could be intended for use with any portable electronic device which can be carried therein. An advantage of the case of the present invention is that it is usable with any portable electronic device which may be carried therein, regardless of whether or not it is specifically designed for use with a particular make and/or model of device.

[0010] The case of the present invention comprises first and second sections which can be arranged in open and closed positions. The case will typically open like a laptop computer, with the first section forming a base which will rest upon a work surface. However, the case of the present invention may be employed in any configuration desired by the user. For example, the second section could equally form the base which will rest upon a work surface.

[0011] The first and second sections may be releasably joined by suitable fastening means which extend around sufficient of the periphery of the case such that when the fastening means is released the first and second sections may be opened. For example, ±f the case is substantially rectangular then the fastening means may typically extend around three sides of the rectangle, leaving one side about which the first and second sections can hinge open and closed. Suitable fastening means are well known in the art and include a zip, hook or loop type material, pressing-studs, and the like. Typically, the first and second sections are releasably joined together by a zip fastener.

[0012] The case of the present invention comprises a plurality of privacy screens which are movable via openings in the first section between a retracted position in which the privacy screens are contained within the first section, and a deployed position in which the privacy screens extend along opposing sides of a face of the second section to at least partially screen from view the face of the second section when the case is in the open position. The case preferably comprises two privacy screens, for deployment on opposing sides of a face of the second section.

[0013] Thus, when the case is closed the privacy screens are contained within the first section out of sight of a user.

The privacy screens are preferably contained within separate compartments within first section, to restrict interference between privacy screens when they are being moved between the retracted and deployed positions. For example, the first section could be compartmentalised horizontally or diagonally.

[0014] The privacy screens are preferably formed from sheet material, and are preferably thin and lightweight for portability. The privacy screens are preferably flexible, and preferably resilient, such that they can lie flat within the first section in the retracted position, can be bent through an arc during deployment, and can return to lie flat within the first section on returning the privacy screens to the retracted position. Preferably, the privacy screens are formed from a flexible resilient sheet of plastics material.

[0015] The purpose of the privacy screens is for at least partially screening from view a face of the case when the case is open, and thus at least partially screening from view the display screen of any portable electronic device which is positioned against that face of the case. The privacy screens are thus preferably opaque, or at least sufficiently translucent to prevent details displayed on a display screen positioned as described from being visible through the privacy screens from the outside. The outer surfaces of the screens when in the deployed position, i.e. the surfaces of the screens which would be visible to a person sitting adjacent the user, for example on a train or aeroplane, may conveniently be used to display information, such as a trade mark, trade name, logo, similar marketing information, or indeed any other commercial or aesthetic image.

[0016] The privacy screens may comprise a handle or other means by which they may be easily moved from the first section for deployment. For example, the privacy screens may comprise an integral moulded handle or a loop of material on their outermost edges which a user can grasp to slide the privacy screens from the first section for deployment. The privacy screens may comprise attachment means for attaching each privacy screen to the second section of the case when in the deployed position, such as a press-stud, or hook or loop type material, to retain the privacy screens in position relative to the second section. However, an advantage of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which the privacy screens are formed from a flexible and resilient material is that the privacy screens themselves will hold the second section in position, through the guide means which are attached to the second section.

[0017] The privacy screens may be any suitable shape for at least partially screening from view a face of the case when the case is open when in the deployed position. For example, many cases for laptop computers are rectangular, with two longer sides and two shorter sides. In such embodiments, the privacy screens may preferably have a corresponding shape, i.e. with two longer and two shorter sides, for convenient storage within the first section when in the retracted position. However, when privacy screens having this shape are in the deployed position a portion of the privacy screens will remain within the first section, since the longest dimension of the privacy screens is greater than the length of the sides of the second section. In such embodiments, the privacy screens must be formed from a flexible material, so that they may bend through substantially a right-angle from within the first section to positions on opposing sides of a face of the second section.

[0018] The first section comprises openings positioned such that the privacy screens can be moved from the retracted position within the first section to the deployed position on opposing sides of a face of the second section when the case is open. For example, in rectangular embodiments of the case the openings are preferably laterally along the shorter sides of the first section as the user faces one of the longer sides when in use. More preferably, the openings are in the upwardly facing face of the first section when positioned as described in use. The openings can be openable and closable using conventional means, such as a zip fastener or hook or 1oop type material.

[0019] The case of the present invention further comprises guide means for moving the privacy screens between the retracted and deployed positions, the guide means extending from within the first section to positions on opposing sides of a face of the second section. In this way, correct positioning of the privacy screens is ensured every time the privacy screens are deployed for the convenience of the user.

[0020] Preferably, each of the plurality of privacy screens is provided with a separate guide means. In this way, interference between privacy screens is minimised when they are being moved between the retracted and deployed positions.

Thus, preferred embodiments of the case of the present invention comprising two privacy screens preferably also comprise two guide means, one for each privacy screen.

[0021] The guide means may conveniently be a slot or channel which holds the privacy screen in position, guiding it between the retracted and deployed positions. In preferred embodiments in which the privacy screens are formed from a flexible sheet of material the guide means is preferably a slot or channel in which an edge of the sheet is held and can move along between the retracted and deployed positions.

[0022] The guide means extends from within the first section to positions on opposing sides of a face of the second section. In preferred embodiments, the case comprises two guide means, a first guide means which extends from a first side of the first section and along a first side of a face of the second section, and a second guide means which extends from an opposing second side of the first section and along an opposing second side of a face of the second section. In these embodiments, the separate guide means preferably overlap within first section, such that the guide means lie one on top of the other within the first section, as do the privacy screens held by the guide means when in the retracted position.

[0023] The guide means may preferably be formed from a rigid material such as plastics or metal, so as to ensure reliable deployment of the privacy screens.

[0024] Each guide means may comprise a stop at its opposite extremity to the first section, so as to prevent the privacy screen from extending beyond the end of the guide means in the deployed position in normal use. However, the stops may be removable so that the privacy screens can be completely removed from the case, for example for replacement or cleaning.

[0025] A preferred embodiment of the case of the present invention is substantially rectangular, having two longer sides and two shorter sides, of the type well known in the art for carrying laptop computers. The case may have a carrying handle and/or a shoulder strap. The case can be opened to remove a portable electronic device, and placed on a work surface, either during or after removal of the portable electronic device, with the first section lying flat on the surface forming a base, and the second section raised to an upright position with a face of the second section facing the user. The portable electronic device can lie upon the first section with its display screen upright. For example, with a laptop computer the keyboard section can lie upon the first section with the display screen upright.

[0026] Should the user require privacy, the openings in the first section can be opened, for example by zip fasteners, and the privacy screens can be slid out of the first section, for example via a handle or loop of material, and along the guide means to positions on opposing sides of the face of the second section against which the display screen of the portable electronic device can rest, i.e. to the deployed position, thus at least partially screening the display screen from view. When privacy is no longer required, the user can simply slide the privacy screens back along the guide means into the first section through the openings, i.e. into the retracted position, and close the openings.

[0027] An advantage of the present invention is that, depending on the circumstances, all, one, or none of the privacy screens may be deployed, as required. For example, if sitting in a left side window seat of an aeroplane, the user may only need to deploy a privacy screen on the right hand side of the case for privacy purposes, whereas if seated in a middle or aisle seat the user may wish to deploy privacy screens on both sides.

-10 - [0028] The case of the present invention can thus act as a normal carrying case for a portable electronic device, but can also provide privacy screening on either or both sides of the display screen as required. Of course, the privacy screens of the case can be deployed for reasons other than privacy, for example as a sun shade.

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in the closed position; Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in the open position with the privacy screens in the retracted position; Figure 3 shows the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 in the open position with the privacy screens partially deployed; and Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 in the open position with the privacy screens fully deployed.

[0030] Turning to the Figures, Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the carrying case of the present invention in the closed position.

[0031] The case 2 comprises a first section 4 and a second section 6. As shown in Figure 1, the first section 4 lies on a work surface forming a base. The first 4 and second 6 sections are reieasably joined by a zip fastener 8. The case has a handle 28 and a pocket 30 as is conventional in the art (which for clarity are not shown in the other Figures) The case 2 is made from any conventional material, and is sufficiently rigid so that it does not deform under the -11 -weight of a portable electronic device placed on the case 2 in use, to the extent that the privacy screens 10 and 12, described further below, are pinched within the first section 4 and cannot be deployed without difficulty. The case 2 can also be padded.

[0032] Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in the open position. The first section 4 contains two privacy screens and 12, which are shown in Figure 2 contained within the first section 4, in the retracted position. The privacy screens 10 and 12 each comprise a loop of material 11 and 13 respectively on their outermost edges which a user can grasp to slide the privacy screens 10 and 12 from the first section 4 for deployment. The privacy screens 10 and 12 are formed from a flexible and resilient opague plastics material such that they can lie flat within the first section 4 in the retracted position, can be bent through an arc during deployment as shown in Figures 2 to 4, and can return to lie flat within the first section 4 on returning the privacy screens 10 and 12 to the retracted position.

[0033] In this embodiment, the privacy screens 10 and 12 are rectangular, with two longer sides and two shorter sides, corresponding to the shape of the case 2.

[0034] The privacy screens 10 and 12 are contained in the first section 4 within separate compartments (not shown in the Figures) [0035] The outer surfaces of the privacy screens 10 and 12 when in the deployed position, i.e. the surfaces of the screens which would be visible to a person sitting adjacent the user, may conveniently be used to display information, such as a trade mark, trade name, logo, similar marketing information, or indeed any other commercial or aesthetic -12 -image, as indicated in Figure 4 with an X".

[0036] The case 2 also comprises two guide means 14 and 16 corresponding to the two privacy screens 10 and 12 respectively. The guide means 14 and 16 comprise channels which extend from within the first section 4 to positions on opposing sides of a face 18 of the second section 6. In Figure 2 the parts of the guide means 14 and 16 which extend along the sides of the face 18 of the second section 6 are labelled 14a and 16a respectively, and those parts of the guide means 14 and 16 which are within the first section 4 are labelled 14b and 16b respectively. The parts of the guide means 14b and l6b within the first section 4 overlap as shown. It is however to be noted that the gap between the parts of the guide means 14b and 16b shown in Figures 2 to 4 is greater than would be used in practice, for the purposes of clarity in the Figures.

[0037] In this preferred embodiment, the case 2 thus comprises two guide means 14 and 16, the first guide means 14 extending from the left hand side of the first section 4 as shown and along the left hand side of the face 18 of the second section 6, and the second guide means 16 extending from the right hand side of the first section 4 and along the opposing right hand side of the face 18 of the second section 6. The guide means 14 and 16 are formed from a rigid plastics material.

[0038] The guide means 14 and 16 comprise stops 20 and 22 respectively at their opposite extremities to those contained within the first section 4. The stops 20 and 22 are to prevent the privacy screens 10 and 12 from extending beyond the end of the guide means 14 and 16 in the deployed position in normal use. However, the stops 20 and 22 may be removable so that the privacy screens 10 and 12 can be -13 -completely removed from the case 2, for example for replacement or cleaning.

[0039] The first section 4 comprises openings 24 and 26 such that the privacy screens 10 and 12 can be moved from the retracted position within the first section 4 to the deployed position on opposing sides of a face 18 of the second section 6 when the case is open. As shown in Figures 2 to 4 the openings 24 and 26 are positioned laterally along the shorter sides of the first section 4 in the upwardly facing face of the first section 4.

[0040] In this embodiment, the case 2 is substantially rectangular, having two longer sides and two shorter sides, and may be of the type well known in the art for carrying laptop computers. The case 2 may have a carrying handle and/or a shoulder strap. The case 2 can be opened to remove a portable electronic device, and placed on a work surface, either during or after removal of the portable electronic device, with the first section 4 lying flat on the surface forming a base, and the second section 6 raised to an upright position with a face of the second section 6 facing the user as shown in Figure 2. The portable electronic device can lie upon the first section 4 with its display screen upright. For example, with a laptop computer the keyboard section can lie upon the first section 4 with the display screen upright.

[0041] Should the user require privacy, the openings 24 and 26 in the first section 4 can be opened, for example by zip fasteners (not shown in the Figures), and the privacy screens and 12 can be slid out of the first section 4 using the loops of material 11 and 13, and along the guide means 14 and 16 to positions on opposing sides of the face 18 of the second section 6 against which the display screen of the -14 -portable electronic device can rest, i.e. to the deployed position, thus at least partially screening the display screen from view. This operation is illustrated by Figure 3, in which the privacy screens 10 and 12 are partially deployed, and Figure 4, in which they are fully deployed.

[0042] The privacy screens 10 and 12 are formed from a flexible and resilient plastics material, and thus and hold the second section 6 in position, through the guide means 14 and 16 which are attached to the second section 6, as shown in Figure 4.

[0043] As is also shown in Figure 4, because the privacy screens 10 and 12 used in this embodiment have a rectangular shape a portion of each of the privacy screens, labelled lOa and 12a respectively in Figure 4, remains within the first section 4, since the longest dimension of the privacy screens and 12 is greater than the length of the sides of the second section 6. As described, the privacy screens 10 and 12 are formed from a flexible material, so that they may bend through substantially a right-angle from within the first section 4 to positions on opposing sides of a face of the second section 6 as shown.

[0044] When privacy is no longer reguired, the user can simply slide the privacy screens 10 and 12 back along the guide means 14 and 16 into the first section 4 through the openings 24 and 26, i.e. into the retracted position, and close the openings 24 and 26, for example using zip fasteners (not shown in the Figures) [0045] As described, both, one, or neither of the privacy screens 10 and 12 may be deployed, as reguired.

Claims

-15 -CLAIMS1. A carrying case for a portable electronic device which comprises: a first section and a second section which can be arranged in open and closed positions; a plurality of privacy screens which are movable via openings in the first section between a retracted position in which the privacy screens are contained within the first section, and a deployed position in which the privacy screens extend along opposing sides of a face of the second section to at least partially screen from view the face of the second section when the case is in the open position; and guide means for moving the privacy screens between the retracted and deployed positions, the guide means extending from within the first section to said positions on opposing sides of the face of the second section.
2. A case according to claim 1 which comprises two privacy screens.
3. A case according to claim 1 or 2 wherein when the case is closed the privacy screens are contained within the first section out of sight of a user.
4. A case according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the privacy screens are contained within separate compartments within first section
5. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens are formed from sheet material.
6. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens are flexible.-16 -
7. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens are resilient.
8. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens are formed from a flexible resilient sheet of plastics material.
9. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens are opaque, or sufficiently translucent to prevent details displayed on a display screen positioned against the face of the second section from being visible through the privacy screens.
10. A case according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the privacy screens comprises display information.
11. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens comprise a handle or other means by which they may be easily moved from the first section for deployment.
12. A case according to claim 11 wherein the privacy screens comprise an integral moulded handle or a loop of material on their outermost edges.
13. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens comprise attachment means for attaching each privacy screen to the second section of the case when in the deployed position.
14. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the privacy screens are substantially rectangular with two longer sides and two shorter sides.-17 -
15. A case according to claim 14 wherein when privacy screens are in the deployed position a portion of the privacy screens remains within the first section
16. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the case is substantially rectangular and the openings in the first section are positioned laterally along the shorter sides of the first section as the user faces one of the longer sides when in use.
17. A case according to claim 16 wherein the openings in the first section are in the upwardly facing face of the first section when the first section is lying upon a work surface as the user faces one of the longer sides when in use.
18. A case according to any preceding claim wherein each of the plurality of privacy screens is provided with a separate guide means.
19. A case according to claim 18 comprising two privacy screens and two guide means.
20. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the guide means comprises a slot or channel.
21. A case according to claim 20 wherein the privacy screens are formed from a flexible sheet of material and the guide means comprises a slot or channel in which an edge of the sheet is held and can move along between the retracted and deployed positions.
22. A case according to any preceding claim which comprises two guide means, a first guide means which extends from a first side of the first section and along a first -18 -side of a face of the seoond section, and a second guide means which extends from an opposing second side of the first section and along an opposing second side of a face of the second section.
23. A case according to any preceding ciaim which comprises a plurality of separate guide means which overlap within first section.
24. A case according to any preceding claim wherein the guide means is formed from a rigid material.
25. A case according to any preceding claim wherein each guide means comprises a stop at its opposite extremity to the first section
26. A case according to claim 25 wherein the stops are removable.
27. A case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.