Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Seat associated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-08-14
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Seat associated
C108S044000, C224S277000, C224S282000, C224S929000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273310
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to automotive and computer accessories, and more particularly to a portable laptop computer workstation adapted for use in a vehicle by the driver.
2. Description of Related Art
The vehicle armrests and vehicle consoles of interest in the parent application, of which this application is a continuation in part (Ser. No. 09/159,981), are structures located intermediate the left and right front seats of an automobile for passenger comfort, convenience, and safety. Some include a beverage container holder. Others are outfitted with a change holder, cassette holder, storage compartment, and so forth.
Although they can be somewhat handy, existing armrest and console structures can also be somewhat complicated, expensive, and limited in functionality. Thus, a need exists for improved accessories of this type. Vehicle manufacturers and owners seek better designs and some way to conveniently and inexpensively retrofit existing vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The parent application (Ser. No. 09/159,981) addresses the concerns outlined above by providing an accessory for an automobile that fits on an armrest, console, or auxiliary box where it pivotally holds and selectively covers a laptop computer. A top portion rests atop the armrest, console, or box and holds a pad of paper on a movable panel. A side portion extends downwardly alongside the armrest where it provides one or more pockets for articles, including, for example, a beverage container, pair of eye glasses, mobile telephone, pencil, pen, tape recorder, calculator, camera, wallet, and so forth. The accessory also includes a pivotal support for a laptop computer, and an auxiliary box may be used to support the valet intermediate backseat passengers as a dummy armrest structure that also serves as a cooler.
This continuation-in-part application describes and claims an additional embodiment that functions as a portable laptop computer workstation suitable for use by a driver in the driver's seat (i.e., the front seat on the left side of the automobile). To paraphrase some of the more precise language appearing in the claims, a portable laptop computer workstation constructed according to the invention includes a case adapted to hold a laptop computer upon the front seat of an automobile in a position located to the right of a driver occupying a driver's seat in the automobile. A lower portion of the case includes a support structure adapted to hold the laptop computer pivotally in order to enable the driver to pivot the laptop computer relative to the lower portion of the case to a desired operating position of the laptop computer on support structure. An upper portion of the case is hinged to the lower portion in order to enable the driver to move the upper portion between a closed position in which the upper portion covers the laptop computer on the support structure and an open position in which the upper portion exposes the laptop computer on the support structure to the driver.
The upper portion of the illustrated embodiment is adapted to hold a pad of writing paper so that the pad of writing paper faces downwardly toward the laptop computer on the support structure when the upper portion is in the closed position and so that the pad of writing paper faces upwardly and rearwardly when the upper portion is in the open position. In addition, the upper portion an upwardly opening storage compartment and the upper portion includes a movable cover over the storage compartment. Means are included for locking the upper portion of the case in the closed position, and the lower portion of the case defines a compartment adapted to hold a computer printer. A carrier harness with shoulder straps facilitates transportation of the accessory to and from the automobile.
Thus, the embodiment described in the instant continuation-in-part application extends the inventive concepts described in the parent application to provide a functional laptop computer workstation that is particularly suited for use in patrol cars and emergency vehicles in addition to its intended use in civilian vehicles. The following illustrative drawings and detailed description make the foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention more apparent.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4909159 (1990-03-01), Gonsoulin
patent: 5092507 (1992-03-01), Szablak et al.
patent: 5551616 (1996-09-01), Stitt et al.
patent: 5881934 (1999-03-01), Hung
patent: 5973917 (1999-10-01), White
Brevard Maerena W.
Cronin Stephen K.
Hanson Loyal McKinley
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