Special receptacle or package – For a household appliance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-01-30
Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a household appliance
C206S592000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179122
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to cases, covers, and the like for protecting and storing various articles therein, and more specifically to a holder for securing and protecting an electronic device, such as a portable personal computer (i.e. laptop, notebook, hand-held personal computers, palm pilots et al.), wireless telephones and communicators, answering machines, hand-held games and the like. More particularly, the present invention provides a protective holder comprising a resilient container which closely conforms to the electronic device about the bottom and all sides while leaving the top of the electronic device with its data entry means (e.g. a keyboard) and screen exposed for use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Advances in electronics have led to the development of electronic devices which are sufficiently small, light weight, portable, and economical as to be carried and used virtually everywhere and in virtually any line of work or activity. Examples of such electronic devices include portable personal computers, wireless telephones and communicators, handheld games, and the like. Often times, these portable devices are used and exposed to relatively harsh operating environments, such as outdoor locales, industrial locations restaurants, automobiles, airplanes, and various trade shops, to name a few. While these portable electronic devices are designed to withstand normal wear and tear, they nevertheless are fragile when it comes to contamination by foreign matter, particularly liquids. Even at the most benign locations, such as the home or office, inadvertent and accidental spillage can often lead to damage to such electronic devices.
Electronic devices are susceptible to damage not only from their top surface (i.e. the data entry means or display portions, but also from their side and particularly bottom surfaces. For example, the spilling of a soft drink or other liquid on the same surface upon which the computer is resting, can allow the liquid to flow beneath the computer, whereupon it “wicks up” into the computer by capillary action, through the small crevices between access panels and through screw holes and such in the bottom of the machine.
Another disadvantage in using such relatively small and light weight computers is that their bottom surfaces generally are constructed from a smooth plastic material having a relatively low coefficient of friction. When a so-called “laptop” computer is used in the way its generic name implies, it can very easily slide from the lap of the user and fall and be damaged.
The prior art is replete with various cases and containers to protect portable computers and similar electronic devices while they are in storage and are not being used. However, there has been very little development with respect to the protection of such electronic devices, particularly a small laptop or palmtop type portable computer, while it is in use or at least while it is exposed on a flat work surface or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,574 issued May 25, 1993 to Bo E. Chang, titled “Portable Computer Housing In Combination With A Portable Computer,” describes a case having a hinged lid, with all components of the case being formed of a hard, rigid material, the case also providing storage for peripheral components, such as a printer. The Chang case differs substantially from the present invention in several respects. First, the protective holder of the present invention securely contains the electronic device (e.g. portable computer) as it is a unitary, monolithic device constructed from a flexible, resilient plastic material that fits closely about the electronic device. In addition, the present holder does not include a cover or lid to completely enclose a computer for storage when it is not in use, but rather protects the computer to a great extent when the computer is in use. Further, the protective holder of the present invention can remain on a portable computer and be placed in the Chang case for non-operational storage. Moreover, while the Chang case includes various passages for access to various ports on the computer, it does not provide any closure means for the passages, as may be provided with the present holder. Also, the rigid, hard bottom surface of the Chang case is not disclosed to provide any form of high friction, to reduce any tendency for the computer to slide from the lap or other work surface, whereas the high friction bottom surface of the present holder serves well to reduce such slippage. In addition, the protective holder of the present invention is designed to provide the user with a better ergonomical work angle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,119 issued on Jun. 8, 1993 to Dale Hollingsworth, titled “Carrying Case For Laptop Computer,” describes a generally rectangular case having rigid, hard walls with a suspension system therein for cradling a computer therein. The computer cannot be used operatively while contained within the Hollingsworth case. Thus, Hollingsworth provides only a storage device for a personal computer, rather than a protective holder for a portable computer while the computer is in use, as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,922 issued on Jan. 23, 1996 to Robert A. Butcher, titled “Portable Computer Carry Case Assembly,” describes a case formed of hard, inflexible panels having a hinged lid and a single port or passage in the side of the case for connection of an external power cord to an integrally disposed power supply for the computer. Unlike the present invention, no other passages through the case are provided for access to disc drives, RS-232 ports, and/or for the connection of the computer to any other peripherals. In addition, the Butcher case is sufficiently solid and heavy as to be provided with luggage rollers or wheels, which is well beyond the scope and operational environment of the present holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,157 issued on Feb. 27, 1996 to Douglas J. Golenz et al., titled “Computer Bag With Side Accessible Padded Compartments,” describes another carrying case having a rigid frame with additional flexible panels adapted to enclose a computer completely therein. Most significantly, the Golenz et al. case differs from the protective holder of the present invention because the computer must be removed completely from the case prior to its use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,754 issued on Jun. 11, 1996 to W. Dale Hollingsworth, titled “Carrying Case For Notebook Computer,” describes a rigid case having a resiliently suspended sling therein for holding a computer for transport and storage. The device is substantially similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,119 discussed above and does not permit the computer to be operated while contained within the case, unlike the present holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,780 issued on Nov. 5, 1996 to Douglas C. Miller, titled “Portable Computer Carrying Case,” describes a hard case having a plurality of inflatable bladders therein. When the computer is closed within the case, the bladders are somewhat pressurized to provide shock protection for the computer. The Miller case also differs from the present invention in that it does not permit operation of the computer while the computer is enclosed therein, as no access is provided when the case is completely closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,054 issued on Mar. 4, 1997 to W. Dale Hollingsworth, titled “Folio Carrying Case For A Notebook Computer,” describes a case which completely encloses a computer for storage therein and which opens to provide operational access to the stored computer stored therein. While the Hollingsworth case does offer protuberances for supporting the rear of the computer at an angle for working, no high friction coefficient surface is provided to preclude slippage of the case upon a working surface (the foam pads of the protuberances face inwardly to cushion the sides of the computer when it is enclosed in the case, and do not provide any grip for the lower surface of the case) as does the protective holder of the present invention. In addition, the Hollingsworth case does
Maxwell Dorsey W.
Moncrief Michael L.
Borsari Peter A.
Bui Luan K.
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