JP7792269B2 - Laptop cover - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cover for a laptop computer.

Protective structures for protecting laptop computers from shocks and other impacts while in use are known. Patent Document 1 discloses an integrated cover that covers the back of the laptop computer's main body and the back of its display.

JP 2012-79809 A

Although laptops are often used on their own, sometimes an additional keyboard is connected to improve operability. In this case, the laptop's operating surface is usually not in use, so documents and other items may be placed on the operating surface to allow for work within the limited desktop space. However, when documents and other items are touched with hands or writing implements, there is a risk that operating elements such as the keyboard or touchpad may be unintentionally operated, which could interfere with operability.

The present invention aims to provide a means for reducing the risk of erroneous operation of the operation unit when the notebook computer is in use but the operation unit is not in use.

The present invention provides a laptop cover for covering the operating surface of a laptop computer when the laptop computer is open and has a main body with an operating surface . The laptop cover has a first corner facing the right front corner of the main body, a second corner facing the right rear corner of the main body, a third corner facing the left front corner of the main body, a fourth corner facing the left rear corner of the main body, a first side surface connecting the first corner surface and the second corner surface, and a second side surface connecting the third corner surface and the fourth corner surface. The first and second sides have a plurality of easy-to-tear portions that can be cut to form openings.

This invention provides a means for reducing the likelihood of erroneous operation of the operation unit when the laptop is in use but the operation unit is not in use.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a notebook computer cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the notebook computer cover as seen from the back side. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a notebook computer cover. 1A and 1B are schematic front and rear views of a notebook computer cover. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a notebook computer cover. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a notebook computer cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
An embodiment of a notebook computer cover of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, W denotes the width direction of the notebook computer, D denotes the depth direction of the notebook computer, and H denotes the thickness direction of the notebook computer. FIG. 1(a) shows a notebook computer 21 to which a notebook computer cover (hereinafter referred to as cover 1) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached, and FIG. 1(b) shows a method for attaching the cover 1 of this embodiment to the notebook computer 21. The notebook computer 21 has a main body 22 equipped with a keyboard 25A and a touchpad 25B, and a display 23 rotatably attached to the main body 22. The keyboard 25A and the touchpad 25B are referred to as the operation unit 25, and the surface of the main body 22 on which the operation unit 25 is provided is referred to as the operation surface 24. During use, the display 23 is rotated relative to the main body 22, exposing the operation surface 24.

The cover 1 covers the operating surface 24 of the notebook computer 21 when the notebook computer 21 is open. The cover 1 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape similar to the main body 22, and completely covers the main body 22. Specifically, the cover 1 has a first corner 2A facing the right front corner 26A of the main body 22, a second corner 2B facing the right rear corner 26B, a third corner 2C facing the left front corner 26C, and a fourth corner 2D facing the left rear corner 26D. The cover 1 also has a main surface 3 that covers the operating surface 24 of the notebook computer 21, and first to fourth side surfaces 4A to 4D connected to the main surface 3. The opposite side of the main surface 3 is an opening 5. The first side surface 4A connects the first corner portion 2A and the second corner portion 2B, the second side surface 4B connects the third corner portion 2C and the fourth corner portion 2D, the third side surface 4C connects the first corner portion 2A and the third corner portion 2C, and the fourth side surface 4D connects the second corner portion 2B and the fourth corner portion 2D. The first side surface 4A and the second side surface 4B are generally parallel to the depth direction D of the notebook PC, and the third side surface 4C and the fourth side surface 4D are generally parallel to the width direction W of the notebook PC. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the operating surface 24 can be covered by simply lowering the cover 1 with the opening 5 facing downward and placing it over the operating surface 24. Since the cover 1 covers not only the operating surface 24 but also the sides of the notebook PC 21, it also serves to protect the notebook PC 21.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cover 1 as viewed from the back side (opening 5 side). The cover 1 has a first cover member 1A and a second cover member 1B arranged in the width direction W of the notebook computer 21. Figure 2(a) shows the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B separated, while Figure 2(b) shows the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B combined. The first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B can be formed from a variety of materials, including resins such as acrylic, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PVC, as well as metal, wood, and glass. Since the operating surface 24 of the notebook computer 21 does not usually need to be viewed, the color is not particularly limited and can be colored, transparent, or translucent. A gap in the thickness direction H can be created between the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B, allowing documents, photographs, calendars, etc. to be inserted into this gap. In this case, it is preferable that the upper cover member (the second cover member 1B in this embodiment) be transparent. Additionally, to increase the strength of the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B, recesses 11A (or protrusions), ribs 11B, etc. can be provided on the main surface 3. The ribs 11B may be the same thickness as the surrounding area, or may be thicker than the surrounding area. If the cover 1 is made of resin, the recesses 11A and ribs 11B can be easily formed during molding. Although not shown, a lattice-shaped protrusion may be provided on the front or back surface of the main surface 3.

The first cover member 1A has first and second corner portions 2A and 2B, and the second cover member 1B has third and fourth corner portions 2C and 2D. Figures 3(a) to 3(d) show cross-sectional views along lines A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D in Figure 1(a). Figure 4(a) is a front side view of the cover 1 as seen from direction E (front side) in Figure 1(a), and Figure 4(b) is a rear side view of the cover 1 as seen from direction F (rear side) in Figure 1(a) (the display 23 is not shown). The first cover member 1A is located below the second cover member 1B, and the depth dimension X1 of the outer surface of the first cover member 1A is slightly smaller than the depth dimension X2 of the inner surface of the second cover member 1B. This allows the first cover member 1A to slide inside the second cover member 1B. Therefore, the distance between the first and second corner portions 2A, 2B and the third and fourth corner portions 2C, 2D in the width direction W of the notebook computer 21 can be adjusted. Also, the first cover member 1A is fixed in the width direction W relative to the second cover member 1B by the frictional force between the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B. This function is used for adjusting the width dimension of the cover 1 in accordance with the width dimension of the notebook computer 21. While sliding and frictional force are used to adjust the positions of the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B in this embodiment, this is not limiting as long as a similar function can be achieved. For example, the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B may each be provided with a rack, and the racks may be engaged with each other. Alternatively, multiple holes may be provided on the third side surface 4C of each of the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B, and a member such as a pin may be passed through one selected hole on the third side surface 4C of each of the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B to secure the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B together.

The third side 4C faces the front side 27 of the main body 22 of the notebook computer 21, and the fourth side 4D faces the boundary 28 between the main body 22 and the display 23. A large notch 6 is formed in the fourth side 4D to avoid interference with the main body 22. That is, the fourth side 4D has a strip-shaped portion 7 extending in the width direction W of the notebook computer 21 between the second corner portion 2B and the fourth corner portion 2D, and a notch 6 formed below the strip-shaped portion 7. The notch 6A of the first cover member 1A is formed continuously from the vicinity of the second corner portion 2B to the opposite end in the width direction W. The notch 6B of the second cover member 1B is formed continuously from the vicinity of the fourth corner portion 2D to the opposite end in the width direction W. As a result, the notch 6 of the cover 1, whose widthwise length has been adjusted, is formed across almost the entire width of the fourth side 4D. The strip-shaped portion 7 formed between the notch 6 and the main surface 3 functions, together with the third side surface 4C, as a guide member when sliding the first cover member 1A and the second cover member 1B relative to each other. Furthermore, the provision of the strip-shaped portion 7 increases the rigidity of the cover 1, further reducing the risk of erroneous operation of the operating unit 25.

The height of the band-shaped portion 7 is lower than the height of the third side surface 4C. The bottom of the third side surface 4C is aligned with the bottoms of the first side surface 4A and the second side surface 4B. The third side surface 4C, along with the first and second sides 4A and 4B, is supported by the desk on which the notebook computer 21 is placed, and the fourth side surface 4D is supported by the operating surface 24 of the notebook computer 21. Depending on the height of the notebook computer 21, the main surface 3 may be tilted, but this does not pose a functional problem. Because the cover 1 has the first through fourth sides 4A through 4D, it is highly rigid and does not deform significantly even when a substantial weight is placed on it. A gap G is maintained between the cover 1 and the operating unit 25 (or operating surface 24). This reduces the possibility of the operating unit 25 being accidentally operated by placing an object on or touching the cover 1. Furthermore, the object placed on the cover 1 is not limited to documents, but may also be a drink. Even if a drink is spilled, the operating surface 24 is protected by the cover 1, so the notebook computer 21 is unlikely to be adversely affected. Even if a small animal such as a cat sits on the operation surface 24, the operation surface 24 is protected by the cover 1, so the notebook computer 21 is less likely to be adversely affected or to be operated incorrectly.

In this way, by covering the operating surface 24 with the cover 1 while the notebook computer 21 is in use, the upper part of the operating surface 24 can be used for placing documents, etc., allowing for effective use of desktop space, thereby improving productivity. Because the notebook computer 21 can be covered with the cover 1 even when the notebook computer 21 is closed, there is no need to secure a separate storage space for the cover 1, and by appropriately decorating the cover 1, it can also be used as a piece of interior décor to decorate the desktop. Furthermore, because it is expected to provide a dustproof effect while the notebook computer 21 is in use, it can also protect the notebook computer 21 when used outdoors or in dusty places.

Figure 5(a) is a right side view of the cover 1 as viewed from the G direction (front side) of Figure 1(a). The left side view has the same configuration as the right side view, so illustration and description are omitted. Openings 8 are formed in the first side 4A to match the positions of various terminals 29 of the notebook computer 21. This prevents interference between the cover 1 and cables (not shown) connected to the terminals 29. Figure 5(b) shows the initial state of the first side 4A. The first side 4A has multiple easy-to-sever sections 9 formed therein, which can be cut to form openings 8. The easy-to-sever sections 9 consist of multiple straight lines surrounding areas 10 of a certain size and can be easily cut with a cutter or by hand. Preferably, multiple areas 10 are formed continuously over almost the entire length of the first side 4A. Since the position and number of terminals 29 vary depending on the notebook computer 21, appropriate areas 10 can be selected to match the terminals 29 to form the openings 8. As shown in Figure 5(c), the easy-to-sever sections 9 can be grooves. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the easy-to-tear portions 9 may be intermittent connections (perforations). As shown in FIG. 2(a), the easy-to-tear portions 9 surrounding a certain area 10 may also be provided on the third side 4C. Since some notebook computers 21 do not have terminals on the front, it is possible to create notebook computers 21 with and without easy-to-tear portions 9 on the third side 4C, allowing the user to select between them.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5( a) of a cover 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The cover 1 has a first opening 12A extending from the first corner 2A to the second corner 2B and a second opening (not shown) extending from the third corner 2C to the fourth corner 2D. Because both the left and right sides of the notebook computer 21 are open, there is no need to form openings 8 at the easily tearable portions 9. Although not shown, portions that do not require openings may be covered with a cover member. Furthermore, although not shown, either or both of the third side 4C and the fourth side 4D may be omitted. In this case, the cover 1 is supported by the main surface 3 and supports provided at the four corners of the main surface 3.

1. Laptop cover (cover)
1A to 1B First and second cover members 2A to 2D First to fourth corner portions 4A to 4D First to fourth side surfaces 6 Notch 7 Belt-shaped portion 8 Opening 9 Easy-to-tear portion 12A First opening 21 Notebook computer 22 Main body of personal computer 24 Operation surface of personal computer

Claims (5)

A notebook computer cover for covering an operation surface of a notebook computer having a main body with an operation surface in an open state of the notebook computer ,
a first corner portion facing the right front corner portion of the main body portion;
a second corner portion facing the right rear corner portion of the main body portion;
a third corner portion facing the left front corner portion of the main body portion;
a fourth corner portion facing the left rear corner portion of the main body portion;
a first side surface connecting the first corner portion and the second corner portion;
a second side surface connecting the third corner portion and the fourth corner portion;
and
The first and second side surfaces have a plurality of easy-to-tear portions that can be cut to form openings . 2. The notebook computer cover according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second corner portions and the third and fourth corner portions in the width direction of the notebook computer is adjustable. 3. A cover for a notebook computer as described in claim 2, comprising a first cover member and a second cover member that are slidable relative to each other in the width direction of the notebook computer, the first cover member having the first and second corner portions, and the second cover member having the third and fourth corner portions. 4. The notebook computer cover according to claim 3 , wherein the first cover member and the second cover member are slidable one inside the other. 5. A notebook computer cover as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, having a third side facing the front side of the main body of the notebook computer and a fourth side facing the boundary between the main body and the display, the fourth side having a strip-shaped portion extending in the width direction between the second corner portion and the fourth corner portion and a notch formed below the strip-shaped portion, and the height of the strip-shaped portion is lower than the height of the third side.