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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bag, more particularly to a bag for a portable computer which can be easily used without removing the portable computer from the bag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional bag 1 for a portable computer 100 is shown to include: a first case body 12 for receiving a main housing 101 of the portable computer 100; a second case body 11 connected to and movable relative to the first case body 12 for receiving a display panel 102 of the portable computer 100; a zipper 13 having two zipper halves disposed fixedly and respectively along peripheries of the first and second case bodies 12, 11, and engaging detachably each other; and four positioning belts 14, two ones of which are disposed on an inner surface of the first case body 12 for binding two corners of the main housing 101 of the portable computer 100, and the other ones of which are disposed on an inner surface of the second case body 11 for binding two corners of the display panel 102 of the portable computer 100.
In use, the portable computer 100 can be received in the conventional bag 1 when in a closed state. As such, the conventional bag 1 allows a user to carry the portable computer 100. On the other hand, when the conventional bag 1 is in an open state, the conventional bag 1 allows a user to operate the portable computer 100 without removing the portable computer 100 from the conventional bag 1. However, in this case, an assembly of the conventional bag 1 and the portable computer 100 needs to be placed on a supporting surface, such as a table or the knees of a user, thereby resulting in inconvenience during use.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bag for a portable computer that allows a user to carry as well as operate the portable computer without removing the portable computer from the bag and that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to the present invention, there is provided a bag for a portable computer. The portable computer includes a main housing, and a display panel connected pivotally to the main housing. The bag comprises:
a foldable case body having a first wall portion, a second wall portion opposite to the first wall portion, and an intermediate third wall portion interconnecting integrally the first and second wall portions so that the first and second wall portions are movable relative to the intermediate third wall portion, the case body being operable between an unfolded state, and a folded state, where the first and second wall portions face each other such that the first and second wall portions cooperate with the intermediate third wall portion to define a receiving space thereamong adapted for receiving the portable computer therein;
a connecting unit for interconnecting the first and second wall portions of the case body when said case body is in the folded state such that the case body is maintained in the folded state;
a positioning unit adapted for positioning respectively the main housing and the display panel of the portable computer on the first and second wall portions of the case body; and
a hanging member disposed fixedly on an outer surface of the second wall portion of the case body so that the hanging member cooperates with the second wall portion of the case body to define an insertion space therebetween, the hanging member having one end disposed adjacent to the intermediating third wall portion and spaced apart from the outer surface of the second wall portion such that the end of the hanging member cooperates with the outer surface of the second wall portion to define an opening therebetween in spatial communication with the insertion space.
The insertion space is adapted to permit insertion of a supporting member thereinto via the opening such that an assembly of the bag and the portable computer is supported by the supporting member.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional bag for a portable computer when in an unfolded state;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment of a bag for a portable computer according to the present invention when a case body is in a fully unfolded state;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment when the case body is in a semi-unfolded state;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembly of the first preferred embodiment and a portable computer;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment when the case body is in a folded state;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the first preferred embodiment and the portable computer supported by a steering wheel of an automobile;
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating how the assembly of the first preferred embodiment and the portable computer is supported by the steering wheel;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the second preferred embodiment of a bag for a portable computer when in a state of use according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the second preferred embodiment when in another state of use; and
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating two shoulder straps of the second preferred embodiment when in another state of use.
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of a bag 2 for a portable computer 7 according to the present invention is shown to include a foldable case body 3, a connecting unit 4, a positioning unit 5, a carrying unit 6, and a hanging member 8. The portable computer 7 includes a main housing 71, and a display panel 72 connected pivotally to the main housing 71 (see FIG. 4).
The case body 3 has a rectangular first wall portion 31, a rectangular second wall portion 32 opposite to the first wall portion 31 and having the same size as that of the first wall portion 31, and a rectangular intermediate third wall portion 33 interconnecting integrally the first and second wall portions 31, 32 so that the first and second wall portions 31, 32 are movable relative to the intermediate third wall portion 33. The case body 3 is operable between an unfolded state (see FIG. 4), and a folded state, where the first and second wall portions 31, 32 face each other such that the first and second wall portions 31, 32 cooperate with the intermediate third wall portion 33 to define a receiving space 30 thereamong, as shown in FIG. 5. The receiving space 30 is adapted for receiving the portable computer 7. The first wall portion 31 is formed with a heat-dissipating hole unit, which has a single through hole 311 in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2. A net structure 34 is attached to an inner surface 314 of the first wall portion 31 for covering the through hole 311. The intermediate third wall portion 33 is formed with an opening 331 for providing access for a power cord (not shown), and has a flap 332 for covering the opening 331, as shown in FIG. 3.
The connecting unit 4 interconnects the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3 when the case body 3 is in the folded state such that the case body 3 is maintained in the folded state. In this embodiment, the connecting unit 4 includes a zipper 41 and two auxiliary fasteners 42. The zipper 41 has two zipper halves 411 that are disposed fixedly and respectively along peripheries of the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3, as best shown in FIG. 2, and that engage detachably each other. Each auxiliary fastener 42 has a first fastener part 421 disposed fixedly on an outer surface of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3, and a second fastener part 422 disposed fixedly on an outer surface 320 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 and engaging detachably each other. Each auxiliary fastener 42 is a Velcro fastener, wherein the first and second fastener parts 421, 422 are a loop fastener part and a hook fastener part, respectively. In other embodiments, for each auxiliary fastener 42, the first fastener part 421 can be one of female and male fasteners, and the second fastener part 422 can be the other one of the female and male fasteners.
The positioning unit 5 is adapted for positioning respectively the main housing 71 and the display panel 72 of the portable computer 7 on the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3. In this embodiment, the positioning unit 5 includes two rigid positioning belts 51 and two resilient positioning belts 52. The rigid positioning belts 51 are disposed fixedly on the inner surface 314 of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3 (see FIG. 2) so that two corners of the main housing 71 of the portable computer 7 are bound respectively by the rigid positioning belts 51, thereby positioning the main housing 71 of the portable computer 7 to the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3 (see FIG. 4). The resilient positioning belts 52 are disposed fixedly on an inner surface 324 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 (see FIG. 2) so that two corners of the display panel 72 of the portable computer 7 are bound respectively by the resilient positioning belts 52, thereby positioning the display panel 72 to the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 (see FIG. 4).
In this embodiment, the carrying unit 6 includes two handles 61 disposed fixedly and respectively on free sides 312, 322 of the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3 so that the handles 61 are aligned with each other when the case body 3 is in the folded state, as shown in FIG. 5. Each handle 61 has a reinforcing portion 611, which is in the form of a metal sheet, embedded in a corresponding one of the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3 (see FIG. 2).
Referring further to FIGS. 6 and 7, the hanging member 8 is disposed fixedly on the outer surface 320 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 so that the hanging member 8 cooperates with the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 to define an insertion space 80 therebetween (see FIG. 3). The hanging member 8 has one end 82 disposed adjacent to the intermediate third wall portion 33 of the case body 3 and spaced apart from the outer surface 320 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 such that the end 82 of the hanging member 8 cooperates with the outer surface 320 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 to define an opening 83 therebetween in spatial communication with the insertion space 80, as shown in FIG. 3. The insertion space 80 is adapted to permit insertion of a supporting member, such as a steering wheel 9 of an automobile, thereinto via the opening 83, as shown in FIG. 7, such that an assembly of the bag 2 and the portable computer 7 is supported by the steering wheel 9, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the hanging member 8 is formed with a zippered pocket 81 (see FIG. 3).
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the second preferred embodiment of a bag 2′ for a portable computer 7 according to this invention, which is a modification of the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the carrying unit 6′ further includes a ring unit disposed on the case body 3, and two shoulder straps 64 connected detachably to the ring unit.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the ring unit includes two pairs of anchoring rings 62, two first auxiliary anchoring rings 63, and two second auxiliary anchoring rings 66. The anchoring rings 62 of each pair are spaced apart from each other and are disposed pivotally on the free side 312, 322 of a corresponding one of the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3. The first auxiliary anchoring rings 63 are disposed pivotally and respectively on one of opposite lateral sides 313 of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3 and one of opposite lateral sides 323 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 distal from said one of the lateral sides 313 of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3. The second auxiliary anchoring rings 66 are disposed pivotally and respectively on opposite lateral ends of the intermediate third wall portion 33 of the case body 3.
Each shoulder strap 64 includes a strap body 641, and two quick release connectors 642 disposed pivotally and respectively on opposite ends 640 of the strap body 641.
In use, when the case body 3 is in the folded state, the quick release connectors 642 of one of the shoulder straps 64 are connected detachably and respectively to one of the anchoring rings 62 on the free side 312 of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3, and one of the anchoring rings 62 on the free side 322 of the second wall portion 32 of the case body 3 distal from said one of the anchoring ring 62 on the free side 312 of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3, as shown in FIG. 8, so that a user (not shown) is capable of carrying the bag 2′ with said one of the shoulder straps 64 across the shoulder of the user.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the bag 2′ further includes a cushioning member 65 connected detachably to the case body 3 and disposed between one of the first and second wall portions 31, 32 of the case body 3 and the user when the user carries the bag 2′ with said one of the shoulder straps 64. In this embodiment, the cushioning member 65 includes a cushioning body 651, and two quick release connectors 652 disposed pivotally and respectively on opposite ends of the cushioning body 651 and connected detachably and respectively to the first auxiliary anchoring rings 63. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the case body 3 is in the unfolded state, the quick release connectors 642 of each of shoulder straps 64 are connected detachably and respectively to the second auxiliary anchoring ring 66 on a corresponding lateral end of the intermediate third wall portion 33 of the case body 3 and a corresponding one of the anchoring rings 62 on the free side 312 of the first wall portion 31 of the case body 3 so that a user is capable of carrying an assembly of the bag 2′ and the portable computer 7 with the shoulder straps 64 intersecting each other across the shoulder and back of the user (see FIG. 10). Therefore, the bag 2′ allows the user to carry as well as operate the portable computer 7.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.