Special receptacle or package – For a household appliance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-05-01
Gehman, Bryon P. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a household appliance
C174S034000, C361S689000, C361S800000, C361S816000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223896
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to electronic device carriers, specifically to improve weight reduction and shielding while maximizing the volume inside of the case and the case's functionality by providing cases with and without built in adapters.
II. Description of the Related Art
“Laptop” and “notebook” computers, that is, personal computers so reduced in size and weight as to be conveniently carried and employed while traveling, have enjoyed widespread acceptance of late. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make notebook computers compact while at the same time making them rugged enough to withstand being dropped or otherwise subjected to shock. The small size of today's laptop computers leaves little or no room inside for shock absorbing materials to protect the vulnerable parts of the computer, such as the LCD screen, the bard drive, the plastic outer case, and the various connectors.
The effect of being dropped or hit is measured in G's, which represents an acceleration of 32 feet/sec
2
. Each computer manufacturer's design is different, so there is no universally safe level of shock for laptop computers and circuits. However, the manufacturers of hard drives typically specify that their drives can withstand shocks in the range of 75-to-200 G. The manufacturers of LCD screens, on the other hand, guarantee their screens to withstand shocks of only about 50 G's, a level which can be reached by dropping a laptop computer from a height of only six inches. Most manufacturers of carrying cases for notebook computers incorporate into their cases foam padding ranging in thickness from about one-half to about three inches. Foam padding will protect the computer until completely compressed, which is typically half of the thickness of the foam pad. Tests have shown that carrying cases having only two inches of foam padding need only receive a shock that is the equivalent to an eight inch fall to exceed the 50 G threshold for LCD screens. A carrying case offering superior protection against shocks is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,119 which is marketed by PORT Computer Cases of South Norwalk, Conn., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,754 invented by Dale Hollingsworth use a suspension system to provide the laptop cases in which the empty space below the suspension sling, to the bottom of the case, provides twice as much protection as a equivalent amount of foam rubber padding in a fall. Most laptop users are aware that if they drop their laptop computer while holding it in a standing or seated position they may cause detriment to their computer. There are several problems that are readily apparent in the laptop case industry. 1- Most laptop users are more concerned with the bumps, jostling and shocks that their laptop computers routinely receive while walking through a busy area such as an airport terminal. 2- Current laptop cases that provide adequate protection are filled with padding, which obviously restricts the volume inside of the case. 3- Most importantly, many laptop users frequently complain about the weight of their cases, especially when peripherals such as CD's, a power supply and a mouse is also carried in the case. Fabric cases are available, however they offer very limited protection and many are not very resistant to liquid penetration.
One laptop case developed in approximately 1997, in Japan, which was not patented, was developed by Lines Ltd., of Tokyo. This case used polyurethane foam sandwiched between outside and inside fabrics. This sandwich was then heated and cold molded to form a lightweight encasement that has superior shock resistance. This case's inside lining was sewn such that the case would only open approximately 35-to-40°, thus when picked up the case would not spill its contents. This however presents an obvious problem to U.S. laptop users who frequently open and use their laptops without removing them from the case.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved carrying case, which is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved carrying case is provided, which includes a first side, the first side having a front and a back, a second side, the second side having a front and a back, the first and second sides connected by a hinge, two handles, a strap for securing the associated equipment, a zipper for selectively securing the case, a flexible shield, the flexible shield comprising a polyethylene layer and a fastening layer, the flexible shield increasing in width from the front of the first side to the zipper, the flexible shield increasing in width from the front of the second side to the zipper, an adapter, an adapter cord, and a cord retractor.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the flexible shield includes a elastically deformable material, the material increasing in width from the associated front of the associated first side to the associated back of the associated first side, the material increasing in width from the associated front of the associated second side to the associated back of the associated second side, wherein the elastically deformable material is a polymer, preferably polyethylene, and the flexible shield is a shell lining the associated carrying case.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the case includes a first side, the first side having a front and a back, a second side, the second side having a front and a back, attaching means for attaching the first side and the second side, a flexible shield, the flexible shield comprising a elastically deformable layer, a fastening layer, the flexible shield increasing in width from the front of the first side to the attaching means, the shield increasing in width from the front of the second side to the attaching means, the case being capable of being opened at least 90°, preferably to substantially 180°, a strap for securing the associated equipment, and protective pads fastened to the fastening layer.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention the case includes a first side, the first side having a front and a back, a second side, the second side having a front and a back, the first and second sides being connected together, an adapter, an adapter cord, a cord retractor, a side wall, and an adapter port, the adapter port located in the side wall, the adapter port allowing the adapter cord to pass through the carrying case without opening the case.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting electronic and other delicate equipment includes the steps of providing a carrying case, the carrying case having first and second sides, the sides each having a front and a back, lining the carrying case with a flexible shield, the shield increasing in width from the front of the first side to the back of the first side, the shield increasing in width from the front of the second side to the back of the second side, and providing a strap for securing the associated equipment.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for recharging electronic equipment without removing the equipment from an associated carrying case includes the steps of providing an adapter, an adapter cord, an adapter port, and a cord retractor, pulling the cord through the adapter port, plugging the cord into a power source, recharging the associated equipment, unplugging the cord from the power source, and retracting the cord.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the flexible shield includes the elastically deformable material decreasing in density from the associated front of the associated first side to the associated back of the associated first side, and the material decreasing in density from the associated front of the associated second side to the associated back of the associate
Bell William C.
Hayashi Mayumi
Iizumi Masami
Emerson Roger D.
Emerson & Skeriotis
Flex Shield Inventors Trust
Gehman Bryon P.
Thomson Daniel A.
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