Bag for a portable computer

Abstract

The invention relates to a bag (1) for a portable computer (2), comprising two bag walls (10, 11) which are connected along the respective rear edge (105) thereof and which can be connected at the side edges (100, 110) adjoining the rear edge (105) via first openable connecting means (13) to form the bag (1), leaving an opening (14) along the respective front edge (101, 111), wherein side walls (16) which can be folded out (10, 11) are provided on the inner side of one of the bag walls (10, 11) and, when the first connecting means (13) are open, can be connected to the side edges (100, 110) via second connecting means (15) in order to form, together with the bag walls (10, 11), an anti-glare and privacy screen for the portable computer (2), wherein in the use position one bag wall (10) forms a base part and the other bag wall (11) forms a cover part of the anti-glare and privacy screen, wherein a bag wall (10) forming the base part has, on the inner side, a wall extension which can be folded out over the front edge (101), and the side walls (16) are designed with a corresponding side extension which can be folded out and which can be detachably connected to the wall extension via the second connecting means (15).

Description

[0001]

[0002] Saskia Schwartz

[0003] 53340 Meckenheim

[0004] Bag for a portable computer

[0005] Description:

[0006] The invention relates to a bag for a portable computer, comprising two bag walls connected along their respective rear edges, which can be connected to the bag at the side edges adjacent to the rear edge by means of first openable connecting means, leaving an opening along the respective front edge, wherein on the inside of one of the bag walls foldable side walls are provided which, when the first connecting means are opened, can be connected to the side edges via second connecting means, in order to form, together with the bag walls, a glare and privacy shield for the portable computer, wherein in the position of use one bag wall forms a base part and the other bag wall a lid part of the glare and privacy shield.

[0007] Bags of the aforementioned type, which can be used not only to transport a portable computer but also as a glare and privacy shield, are known, as exemplified by US 2005 / 0205444 A1, US 11 846 982 B1, and WO 2011 / 037556 A1. These bags, often converted into glare and privacy shields, frequently serve to enable the most color-accurate viewing of the computer display, even in strong sunlight. This is important, for example, for photographers and for anyone working outdoors with a portable computer. Furthermore, such a glare and privacy shield can make it more difficult or impossible for others to view the information displayed on the portable computer, for instance, when the portable computer is used in public, such as on a train or airplane.The design of a bag that can be used not only to transport the portable computer but also as a glare and privacy shield eliminates the need to carry a separate glare and privacy shield in addition to a bag for the portable computer.

[0008] The problem with previously known bags with such a dual function as a glare and privacy screen hood is that the glare and privacy screen surfaces provided on the bag are either very compact, but then only provide small shading areas and performance, or they form a very voluminous glare and privacy screen hood, which, although they offer excellent shading function, often does not fit in confined spaces, e.g. on standard folding tables in trains and airplanes, and is therefore unusable in these environments.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a bag of the type mentioned above in such a way that it enables the safe transport of the portable computer and can be quickly and easily converted into a glare and privacy screen, the size of which can be flexibly adapted to the needs and the space available at the installation site.

[0010] To solve the problem posed, the invention proposes the design of a bag according to the features of claim 1.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] The inventive proposal provides that the pocket wall forming the base part has a wall extension preferably attached to the inside and foldable over the front edge, and that the side walls are formed with a corresponding foldable side extension which can be detachably connected to the wall extension via the second connecting means.In this way, depending on the degree of opening of the second connecting means, it is possible to use only the correspondingly compact base part together with the corresponding side walls and the lid part, or, in case of increased need for enclosure and / or a larger available installation area, to unfold the wall and side extensions formed on the base part and the side walls to enlarge the base part and the side walls and accordingly also to enlarge the formed glare and privacy screen hood, without changing the dimensions of the pocket that can also be formed from these parts.

[0013] An extension of the base part and the side walls can be provided, but preferably the wall extension and the side extensions are divided into a corresponding number of foldable modules, for example at least two such modules each, which extend the base part or the side wall adjacent to and successively.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the modules of the side extensions can be hinged to allow them to be folded together, with the hinges having a pivoting range limited to 180°. The modules of the base part can be connected to each other via fabric or film hinges.

[0015] Furthermore, it may be provided that the fold-out wall extension of the base part is attached along the front edge of the base part with an openable and closeable fastening means, for example with a zipper on the base part, whereby in the folded-in state of the wall extension a pocket can be formed by opening the fastening means, into which, for example, a portable computer can be inserted for transport purposes.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, the first and second connecting elements are also formed by zippers. In a further embodiment of the invention, the pocket wall forming the lid part of the glare and privacy hood has a lid extension that can be pivoted along the front edge and folded over the opening of the pocket when the first connecting elements are closed and the pocket is formed.

[0017] The lid extension can also be divided into several foldable module sections.

[0018] Furthermore, according to another proposal of the invention, the lid extension and / or its module sections can be detachably locked at any swivel angle relative to each other by means of a lockable locking mechanism.

[0019] The bag described above can be made from a wide variety of materials as a hard or soft case, with recycled leather goods or plastics being considered suitable examples, especially fabrics made from recycled PET.

[0020] Further embodiments and details of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing illustrating an exemplary embodiment. The drawing shows:

[0021] Figure 1a shows a perspective view of a bag according to the invention;

[0022] Figure 1b shows the top view of the fully opened bag as shown in Figure 1a;

[0023] Figure 2 shows the bag as shown in Figure 1a, partially opened.

[0024] Condition;

[0025] Figure 3a shows a glare and privacy screen formed from the pocket according to the invention in a first possible configuration; Figure 3b shows the glare and privacy screen formed from the pocket according to the invention in a second possible configuration;

[0026] Figure 3c shows the glare and privacy protection hood formed from the bag according to the invention in a third possible configuration;

[0027] Figure 4 shows a partially cut-away side view of the glare and privacy screen hood according to Figure 3a;

[0028] Figure 5 shows the use of the glare and privacy screen hood according to Figure 3a.

[0029] Figure 1a shows an embodiment of a bag 1 for transporting a portable computer, for example a laptop or a tablet computer.

[0030] The bag 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, two substantially congruent bag walls 10, 11 made of a suitable material, for example a plastic fabric, which are connected to each other along a rear edge (105) to form a bottom area of ​​the bag and can be detachably or openably connected to each other along the side edges 100, 110 adjacent to the rear edge by means of first connecting means 13, for example a zipper running along the entire length of the side edges 100, 110, so that in the connected state shown a bag 1 with an interior is formed.This interior space is accessible via an opening 14 running between the respective front edges 101,111 of the pocket walls 10,11, unless it is closed via a lid extension 112 adjoining the front edge 111 of the pocket wall 11 and which can be attached to the other pocket wall 10 via the opening 14 in the opposite direction of arrow K.

[0031] Figure 1b shows a top view of the bag 1 when the connecting means 13 are fully open and the bag walls 10, 11 are fully unfolded around the rear edge 105, lying completely flat on a surface. In this open position, which is not normally used, it can be seen that the lid extension 112 is attached to the bag wall 11. On the inner side of the other bag wall 10, facing upwards in the illustration of Figure 1b, a wall extension 102a, 102b formed from hinged modules and, resting on them, side walls 16 with corresponding hinged side extensions 160a, 160b are visible, folded in a parallel position. One of the side walls 16 is already positioned in a use position perpendicular to the bag wall 10, as indicated by the arrow. Along the front edge 101 of the bag wall 10, the adjacent wall extension 102b is secured by an openable and closeable fastening means 17, e.g.a zipper is attached to the bag wall. When this fastener 17 is opened, a slip pocket 103 is revealed between the bag wall 10 and the wall extension 102b, 102a, into which, for example, a portable computer 2 can be inserted when the bag is in use.

[0032] The bag 1 shown in Figure 1a is therefore suitable for transporting a wide variety of items and is opened by first unfolding the lid extension 112 as shown in the arrow K to make the opening 14 accessible.

[0033] Furthermore, in the open state according to Figure 1a, the first connecting means 13 connecting the respective side edges 100,110 of the bag walls 10,11 can also be opened to the rear edge of the bag walls 10,11, so that the bag wall 11, as shown in Figure 2, can be raised from its congruent position on the bag wall 10, pivoting around the rear edge 105.

[0034] This pivoting movement makes accessible the side walls 16 located inside the bag 1 and fixed to the inside of the bag wall 10 by second connecting means 15. These side walls can then be erected in an orientation perpendicular to the bag wall 10. The second connecting means 15 are formed, for example, by further zippers running parallel to the first connecting means 13, starting from the front edge 101 along the entire side edges 100 of the bag wall 10 to the rear edge, and from there continuing onto the bag wall 11 along the entire side edges 110 to the front edge 111.

[0035] It is therefore possible to position the side walls 16 between the first pocket wall 10 and the second pocket wall 11 at right angles by closing the second connecting means 15. This transforms the pocket 1 into a glare and privacy shield for a portable computer, as shown in Figures 3a to 3c, 4 and 5, where the pocket wall 10 forms a base part on which, according to Figure 5, the portable computer 2 is placed, and the pocket wall 11 forms a lid part above the pocket wall 10 and the portable computer 2 that can be placed on it, which are connected on both sides by the erected side walls 16.

[0036] The lid extension 112 adjoining the front edge 111 of the pocket wall 11 can also serve as a further protective cover above the base part formed from the pocket wall 10, as shown in Figure 5.

[0037] A key feature of the glare and privacy screen formed from the pocket walls 10, 11 and side walls 16 is that each side wall 16 and the pocket wall 10 forming the base part each have modularly foldable extension elements. Specifically, the side walls 16 have the side extensions designated 160a and 160b, and the pocket wall 10 has the wall extensions designated 102a and 102b. These can be folded out correspondingly on the side walls 16 and the pocket wall 10 to extend them. When all side extensions 160a and 160b and corresponding wall extensions 102a and 102b are folded out, the glare and privacy screen formed from the pocket 1 reaches its maximum extent, as shown in Figure 3a, and thus provides maximum shading while simultaneously requiring the most space.

[0038] If only one side extension 160b and wall extension 102b directly adjacent to the side wall 16 or the pocket wall 10 is used, while the other side extension 160a and wall extension 102a remain folded in unused, the configuration shown in Figure 3b results, in which the glare and privacy screen hood that can be formed from the pocket 1 has its average extent and correspondingly average shading with at the same time average space requirement.

[0039] If, on the other hand, all side extensions 160a, 160b and associated wall extensions 102a, 102b are left in their folded, unused position, the configuration shown in Figure 3C results, in which the glare and privacy screen hood that can be formed from pocket 1 has its minimum extent and correspondingly minimal shading while requiring minimal space.

[0040] The number of side extensions 160a, 160b and wall extensions 102a, 102b used in the respective configuration, and thus modularly expandable, is determined by the position of the second connecting elements 15, which for this purpose are preferably designed as a double zipper. Depending on the open or closed state, the individual side extensions 160a, 160b and wall extensions 102a, 102b, which modularly extend the side walls 16 and the base part, can be incorporated into the glare and privacy screen hood or remain unused in a folded position.

[0041] It is therefore possible to flexibly adapt the glare and privacy shield hood that can be formed from pocket 1 to the respective conditions and the available space, whereby the setting is determined exclusively by the position of the second connecting means 15 and can be changed in a very short time.

[0042] The wall extensions 102a, 102b are preferably connected to each other and to the pocket wall 10 in a pivotable manner, as is the connection of the pocket walls 10, 11 at the rear edge, via the material of the pocket wall 10 which runs as a film or fabric hinge along the axes L1, L2.

[0043] The side extensions 160a, 160b, on the other hand, are preferably connected to each other and to the side wall 16 by hinges along the pivot axis S1, S2, which have a pivot range limited to 180°, which facilitates the handling of the vertically erected side walls 16 including the possibly unfolded side extensions 160a, 160b.

[0044] The lid extension 112 adjoining the front edge 111 of the pocket wall 11 can also be divided into several modules, each of which can be detachably locked at any swivel angle to each other and to the pocket wall 11 along the connections D, D1 by means of a suitable lockable locking mechanism in order to ensure an adjustable shading effect, for example in the case of changing sunlight.

[0045] If the glare and privacy shield formed by the bag 1 is to be reconfigured and the bag 1 is to be used in its original configuration for transporting the portable computer 2, the second connecting elements 15 are first opened sufficiently to allow any unfolded side extensions 160a, 160b and wall extensions 102a, 102b to be folded in and placed against the inside of the side wall 16 or bag wall 10, respectively. The side panels 16 are then placed on the inside of the bag wall 10. The portable computer 2 can be inserted into the pocket 103 formed between the bag wall 10 and the wall extensions 102a, 102b. The bag wall 11 is then placed flat against the bag wall 10, and the first connecting elements 13 are closed up to the front edge 101, 111 of the bag walls 10, 11 to form the bag 1 with opening 14.The lid extension 112 is then pivoted against the pocket wall 10 via the opening 14, contrary to arrow K in figure 1a.

[0046] Switching between the bag and the glare and privacy cover can therefore be easily accomplished in just a few steps.

[0047] Reference symbol list:

[0048] 1: Bag

[0049] 2: portable computer

[0050] 10: Pocket wall

[0051] 11: Pocket wall

[0052] 13: first connecting elements

[0053] 14: Opening

[0054] 15: second connecting means

[0055] 16: Side wall

[0056] 17: Sealing agents

[0057] 100: Side margin

[0058] 101: front edge

[0059] 102a: Wall extension

[0060] 102b: Wall extension

[0061] 103: Slip pocket

[0062] 105: rear edge

[0063] 110: Page margin

[0064] 111: front edge

[0065] 112: Lid extension

[0066] 160a: Page extension

[0067] 160b: Page extension

[0068] D: Connection

[0069] D1: Connection

[0070] K: Swivel direction

[0071] L1 : Axis

[0072] L2: Axis

[0073] S1: Swivel axis

[0074] S2: Swivel axis

Claims

Patent claims:

1. A case (1) for a portable computer (2), comprising two case walls (10, 11) connected along their respective rear edges (105), which can be connected to the case (1) at the side edges (100, 110) adjacent to the rear edge (105) by means of first openable connecting means (13) by means of the case walls (100, 110) leaving an opening (14) along the respective front edges (101, 111), wherein on the inside of one of the case walls (10, 11) fold-out side walls (16) are provided which, when the first connecting means (13) are opened, can be connected to the side edges (100, 110) via second connecting means (15) in order to form, together with the case walls (10, 11), a glare and privacy shield for the portable computer (2), wherein in the position of use one case wall (10) forms a base part and the other case wall (11) a Forming the lid part of the glare and privacy screen hood, characterized by:that the pocket wall (10) forming a base part has a wall extension on the inside that can be folded out over the front edge (101) and the side walls (16) are formed with a corresponding fold-out side extension which can be detachably connected to the wall extension via the second connecting means (15).

2. Bag (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the wall extension and the side extensions are divided into a corresponding number of foldable modules (102a, 102b; 160a, 160b).

3. Bag (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the modules (160a, 160b) of the side extensions are hingedly connected by hinges (161, 162), wherein the hinges have a pivot range limited to 180°.

4. Bag (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fold-out wall extension of the bag wall (10) forming the base part is attached along the front edge (101) of the same with an openable and closeable closure means (17), wherein in the folded-in state of the wall extension a slip pocket (103) can be formed by opening the closure means (17).

5. Bag (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first and second connecting means (13, 15) are formed by zippers.

6. Bag (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bag wall (11) forming the lid part of the glare and privacy hood has a lid extension (112) pivotable along the front edge (111), which can be folded over the opening (14) of the same when the first connecting means (13) are closed and the bag (1) is formed.

7. Bag according to claim 6, characterized in that the lid extension (112) is divided into several foldable module sections.

8. Bag according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the lid extension (112) and / or its module sections can be detachably locked at any swivel angle relative to each other by means of a lockable locking mechanism.

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