Laptop accessory

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention pertains to the field of accessories for portable computers. More particularly, the invention pertains to attachments for supporting a laptop computer while the computer is on the user's lap or another surface.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Laptop computers have become commonplace in recent years. In order to make the time of the user a more pleasant one, numerous accessories have been developed for the laptop. Some of the most important of these are the accessories that elevate and support the laptop while the user has the laptop on their lap or on another surface.

[0006] Laptops have a flat bottom that always rests on a surface when the laptop is in use. A channel of air cannot get between the bottom surface of the laptop and surface upon which it is resting on. Plus, when the computer is on the user's lap, the computer gives off heat that warms the legs to a considerable extent, which is bothersome to the user and is potentially damaging to the computer. Furthermore, the bottom of the laptop is constantly being worn and scratched when it is always being moved around and placed on hard surfaces, such as a table or desk.

[0007] Setting a laptop flat on a table or other surface introduces other problems. It is ergonomically desirable in many cases to have the keyboard at a slight angle, either with either the front or back edge higher. While keyboards for desktop computers often have feet which allow the rear to be lifted, few laptops have such feet built in. In some cases, there is a problem with liquid crystal displays, which have limited vertical angles of view. If one does not have the screen within this viewable angle of incidence then screen image may be hard to read. Prior art laptop accessories have tried to compensate for this by making the angle adjustable for the user when the laptop is on the table or another hard surface.

[0008] There are various laptop accessories in the prior art. For example, Hayford's “Video Game Control Console,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,603, issued on Mar. 10, 1987, shows a lap-tray designed to support a video gaming console on one's lap using straps. Another example, Juster's “Resilient Keyboard Rest and Lap Adapter,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,341, issued on Sep. 1, 1992, shows a rest for the lap made of foam with channels cut out to provide air circulation and to allow cables such as the power cable to pass through underneath. Anderson's “Article Securement Device,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,423, issued on Nov. 23, 1993, shows a device that is fitted to and attaches the laptop to the leg. The device is secured using straps having Velcro. The device also folds for storage. Hale's “Support Device for a Laptop Computer,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,985, issued Aug. 16, 1994 exhibits a “V” shaped support for a laptop that is fastened by Velcro to the bottom of the laptop. When the device is not in use it folds for storage. Leibowitz's “Laptop Computer Case and Stand,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,094, issued Feb. 16, 1999, shows a laptop case cover that turns into a stand. Stirling's [Rach, Inc.] “Leg Supported Platformn for Laptop Computers,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,765, issued Aug. 17, 1999, shows a rigid platform that has a cut out for the user's leg. The platform is secured to the leg using straps. The cut out has non-slip surfaces so as to provide friction. Ranta's “Portable and Adjustable Table with Improved Leg Assembly,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,050, issued Feb. 1, 2000, shows a table for a laptop computer and other things that has adjustable legs.

[0009] The Middleton Group, Inc, of Cincinnati, Ohio, markets an expandable, compact lap desk made of aluminum, that supports the laptop computer on the user's lap under the trademark JACK OF ALL TRAYS™. Another product that is marketed is the Laptop Soft-Seat, which is made by Ray Novotny of Wauconda, Ill., that is a seat for a laptop that is made of aluminum that distributes heat, has a non-scratch pad, and is padded on the bottom.

[0010] The invention is a modern laptop accessory comprising at least one support that is attached to the bottom of the laptop by hook-and-loop fastener material (sold under the trademark Velcro®) or other means. The body of the support has louvers, with support pins, which provide an amount of space to allow air circulation. The support has at least one leg which can be extended to raise one side of the laptop. In the preferred embodiment, the accessory comprises a pair of supports, running from front-to-back on each side of a laptop.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the laptop side of the accessory.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the bottom of the accessory.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the laptop side with one of the pivoting feet extended.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the bottom with one of the pivoting feet extended.

[0015] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the bottom of the accessory.

[0016] FIG. 6 shows a side cut-away view of the accessory along lines 6—6 in FIG. 5.

[0017] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the laptop side of the accessory.

[0018] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of the bottom of the accessory along lines 8—8 in FIG. 7.

[0019] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a laptop computer having the accessory installed.

[0020] FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of a laptop computer having the accessory installed.

[0021] It will be understood that while the accessory could be used with only one support unit, in a preferred embodiment, two units will be used, as is shown in FIG. 10, in which a laptop (30) is shown with support units (31) and (32). As can be seen in that figure, it is preferable to attach the support units (31) and (32) to the bottom of laptop (30) with mating pieces of hook and loop fastener material (sold under the trademark Velcro®) (33) or some other easily removable fastening material. If desired, however, glue or double-sided adhesive tape or some other more permanent attachment could be used, although, as can be seen in the figure, this might impair access to battery compartments or other covers in the laptop.

[0022] FIG. 9 shows a laptop (30), with the screen (35) raised into viewing position. One of the support units of the laptop accessory of the invention (31) can be seen between the laptop (30) and the table (36) on which it rests. The front leg (34) of the accessory has been lowered, raising the front of the laptop (30) for ergonomic positioning of the user's wrists.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, one support unit of the laptop accessory is shown with the laptop side up. The support unit consists of a support (10) with openings (16) allowing air circulation. The openings (16) are formed by louvers (15), which are placed adjacent to a central strip (12) in the support on both the left and right sides. On top of the louvers (extending toward the bottom surface of the laptop when in use) are pins (15), which contact the bottom surface of the laptop and keep the louvers from bending and preventing the proper air circulation.

[0024] Connected to the central strip (12) is half of the hook and loop material (11). The other half of the material is placed on the laptop at the corresponding positions (FIG. 10, (33)). On the ends of the support device (10), there are four dowel shape protrusions (13), which form hinges for the pivoting legs (22).

[0025] In FIG. 2, the bottom of the laptop accessory (i.e. the part which rests on the table top or lap) is seen. On the bottom of the central strip (12), two concave depressions (21) are present. On the pivoting legs (22), two convex bulges (20) have been made, to aid the user in moving the leg (22) from its folded or storage position shown in FIG. 1 to its operational or extended position shown in FIG. 3. There are preferably two legs (22) on each support unit, so that either the front or the back of the laptop can be raised in use, depending on the user's wishes. This also allows the support units to be symmetrical, and thus there is no “front” or “back” to worry about in attaching the units to the laptop.

[0026] In FIG. 3, the laptop side of a support unit of the accessory is seen, as in FIG. 1. The leg (22) is seen in the using position (30). The leg (22) attaches to the dowels (13) at the end of the support (10).

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the accessory with one of the legs (22) extended to the using position (30). To move the leg (22) from the storage position (23) to the using position (30), on the leg (22) there is a convex bulge (20) that in conjunction with the depression (21) in the central strip (12) allows the user to move the leg (22) to either the storage position (23) or the using position (30). Pivotal motion is seen when the leg (22) is moved from storage position (23) to using position (30) and alternatively from using position (30) to storage position (23).

[0028] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the bottom of the support (10) with the legs (22) attached in storage position (23).

[0029] FIG. 6 is a side cut-away view of the end of the support (10) when the leg (22) is attached, along the lines 6—6 of FIG. 5.

[0030] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the laptop side of the support (10) with one leg (22) on and one leg (22) off.

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the support with the legs (22) in storage position (23), along lines 8—8 of FIG. 7.

[0032] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.