US20100084291A1

US20100084291A1 - Carrying case for tablet computer

Info

Publication number: US20100084291A1
Application number: US12/488,816
Authority: US
Inventors: Steve Dayton; Doug Harrison; Huang Wei Zhen; Wang Yong Dong; Zhang Shu Shuai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Codi Inc
Priority date: 2008-06-20
Filing date: 2009-06-22
Publication date: 2010-04-08

Abstract

A carrying case for a tablet computer, said case including a support surface for supporting a tablet computer; a first and second holder for securing the tablet computer to a top-oriented face of said support surface, and a handle for carrying said case arranged with a bottom-oriented face of said support surface. Said first holder is attached to a first edge portion of the support face and said second holder is attached to a second edge portion of the support face such that said first holder and second holder are oriented respectively to engage adjacent sides of the tablet computer secured therein, and at least one of said holders is slidably attached to an edge portion of the support surface such that said holder can be extended outwards from the edge portion to allow the support surface to be adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a carrying case for a tablet computer that offers protection for the tablet computer while allowing easy ergonomic access to the touch screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tablet computers are becoming more popular and there is a demand for convenient carrying cases which offer easy access as well as protection for the computer. A tablet computer has a touchscreen technology which allows the user to operate the computer with a stylus or digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a keyboard or mouse. Traditional protective cases for tablet computers store the computer with one side of the case open to allow the user full access to the touchscreen while the computer remains in the case. However, typical cases have not offered easy adjustability to be used easily with tablet computers of varying sizes, and to also allow easy attachment and detachment of the computer from the case, while also providing ease of carrying, ergonomic use, and adequate protection for the computer while in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a carrying case for a tablet computer includes a case with a plurality of holders to secure the tablet computer to the case allowing easy mobility, access and ergonomically comfortable use of the tablet computer while the computer is secured in the case. The carrying case can be further adapted such that at least one of the holders can be either slidably or elastically extended and retracted for easily attaching and detaching a tablet computer of varying size to the case. The case is formed to fit a tablet computer snugly and protect the computer ports while having an open front face to allow easy access to the touch screen. In one embodiment, the holders can be adapted to secure the carrying case to the lock-slot commonly found on tablet computers. Universal lock-slots have become standard on personally computers, and the holders can be adapted with an extension that will engage a universal lock-slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment illustrating the slidability of the holders;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is and exploded view of one embodiment for a support surface used in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of one corner of the support surface for an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for a holder used in the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of one corner of the support surface for an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 through 4, a carrying case 10 has a support surface 20 which has a top-oriented face 21 for supporting a tablet computer that can be secured to the carrying case 10 and a bottom-oriented face 22 for securing a handle 41 for the user to carry the case, or in the alternative, attaching a strap to buckles 42.
Holders 31 are attached to the support face 20. Holders 31 engage the tablet computer thereby securing the tablet computer on the top-oriented face 21 of the support surface 20. The user can hold the carrying case 10 in an ergonomically comfortable position by sliding one hand into handle 41, leaving the other hand free to interact with the screen of the secured tablet computer.
In preferred form, at least one of the holders 31 is slidably fitted within mating openings in support surface 20. In such an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, holders 31 can be extended to new positions 31 a; and preferably all three illustrated holders 31 are slidably fitted within support surface 20. Alternatively, holders 31 can be constructed of an elastic material.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the inward-facing surface 37 of holder 31 and the bottom-oriented face 22 of support surface 20 can be fitted with respective adhering material 36. Such adhering material 36 would preferably be conventional hook-and-loop material. The bottom-oriented surface 22 is fitted with a plurality of strips of adhering material 36 such that the respective adhering material 36 on holder 31 can be attached in varying locations enabling the support surface 20 of the carrying case 10 to be adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, adhering material 36, can be used with strap 39 which is secured to bottom-oriented face 22 of support surface 20. In such an embodiment, holders 31 have opening 38 such that strap 39 can be passed through opening 38, and the adhering material 36 on strap 39 secures holder 31 in place in a selected position.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, holders 31 can also be adapted to attach to the tablet computer by the addition of extension 35 to the inward-facing surface 37 of holder 31. Extension 35 is adapted to engage the a universal lock-slot present on a tablet computer.
FIG. 5 shows a construction for the support surface 20 which includes a top-oriented face 21, a bottom oriented face 22, and an interior rigid support 23. On one side, two of the holders 31 are attached in a fixed position between the bottom-oriented face 22 and the interior rigid support 23, and on the adjacent and opposing sides three additional holders 31 have a retractable end 34 which is adapted to be slidably secured between the bottom-oriented face 22 and the interior rigid support 23. Holders 31 may also be further secured by support brackets 33.
FIG. 6 shows a similar embodiment which provides an additional interior rigid support 23, wherein the holders 31 are secured between the top-oriented face 21 and the interior rigid support 23. An additional support plate 40 can also be secured to the bottom-oriented face 22 to provide additional support for securing buckles 42, or handle 41.
FIG. 7 depicts an alternate embodiment for the construction of a support surface 20. Support surface 20 is constructed of three portions, top-oriented surface 21, bottom oriented surface 22, and interior rigid support 23. Holders 31 are slidably secured on opposing sides of support surface 20, wherein the holders 31 have retractable ends 34 adapted to slide along recessed guide path 35 within interior rigid support 23.
The embodiments shown depict two through five holders 31, however the number and location of the holders 31 may vary according to expected requirements of the size and expected loads of the carrying case. Holders 31 may also have additional pockets 32 for easy access to stored items and computer accessories, as shown in FIG. 1. In preferred form, top-oriented surface 21, and bottom oriented surface 22 are provided with padding for additional ergonomic comfort.

Claims

1. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said support surface, said first and second holders respectively attached to an edge portion of the support surface; and a handle for carrying said case. said handle arranged with the bottom-oriented face of the support surface.

2. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said holders comprises an extension, said extension extending from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said extension is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the tablet computer.

3. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first holder is attached to a first edge portion of the support surface and said second holder is attached to a second edge portion of the support surface, such that said first holder and said second holder are oriented respectively to engage adjacent sides of the tablet computer secured therein.

4. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support surface further comprises an internal rigid support concealed between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face of said support surface.

5. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said holders is constructed of an elastic material.

6. A carrying case as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said holders is slidably attached to an edge portion of the support surface such that said slidably attached holder can be extended outwards from the edge portion to allow the support surface to be adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes.

7. A carrying case as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of said holders further comprises an extension, said extension extending from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said extension is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the tablet computer.

8. A carrying case as set forth in claim 6, wherein said slidably attached holder comprises a retractable end, said retractable end adapted to fit slidably within the support surface such that, when retracted, the retractable end is concealed within the support surface between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face of said support surface.

9. A carrying case as set forth in claim 6, wherein said retractable end is adapted to slide along a recessed guide path within an interior rigid support, said interior rigid support concealed between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face of the support surface.

10. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said support surface, said first and second holders respectively attached to an edge portion of the support face; and a handle for carrying said case arranged with the bottom-oriented face of said support surface;

wherein said first holder is attached to a first edge portion of the support face and said second holder is attached to a second edge portion of the support face such that said first holder and second holder are oriented respectively to engage adjacent sides of the tablet computer secured therein; and

wherein at least one of said holders is slidably attached to an edge portion of the support surface such that said holder can be extended outwards from the edge portion to allow the support surface to be adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes.

11. A carrying case as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of said holders comprises an extension, said extension extending from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said extension is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the tablet computer.

12. A carrying case as set forth in claim 10, wherein said slidably attached holder comprises a retractable end, said retractable end adapted to fit slidably within the support surface such that, when retracted, the retractable end is concealed within the support surface between the top-oriented face and the bottom-oriented face of said support surface.

13. A carrying case as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least one of said holders further comprises an extension, said extension extending from the inward-facing face of said holder, wherein said extension is adapted to engage the universal lock-slot on the tablet computer.

14. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said support surface, and a handle for carrying said case arranged with the bottom-oriented face of said support surface;

wherein at least one of said holders includes an adhering material for removable attachment to a respective adhering material included on the bottom-oriented face of the support surface; wherein said bottom-oriented face includes a plurality of adhering surfaces such that the adhering surface on said holder can be attached to the bottom-oriented face in varying positions to allow the support surface of the carrying case to be adapted to support varying tablet computer sizes.

15. A carrying case for a tablet computer, including a support surface for supporting a table computer; a first and second holder for securing the tablet computer to the top-oriented face of said support surface, a first and second strap for respectively securing said first and second holders to the support surface; and a handle for carrying said case; said handle arranged with the bottom-oriented face of the support surface;

wherein said straps have a first end and a second end, said first end attached to the bottom-oriented face of the support surface and said second end including an adhering material on one side; when said second end is passed through an opening in the holder, the adhering material is secured to a respective strip of adhering material on the strap.