STENOGRAPHER POUCH

Abstract

A pouch having one or more internal compartments that contain the excess length of wires, cords, or cables leading from a stenography machine to a laptop computer and other peripheral devices. Each of the internal compartments is accessed by a resealable slit opening. The pouch itself is specially sized to fit underneath a court reporter's stenography machine, and is attached thereto by attachment means.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stenographers use a variety of devices to assist them in recording various judicial and non-judicial proceedings. Regardless of whether they record these proceedings using a stenography machine or voice recognition software, computer and electronic recording technology is used extensively, including laptops and a variety of peripherals. Although use of wireless technology may be used to connect portable computers and peripherals at a job site—whether in a courtroom, office, conference room, or auditorium—court reporters typically still have to manage a large number of wires, cords, or cables to these peripheral devices.

This can often be a significant inconvenience and can take up valuable time, since court reporters are usually under time pressure to have their equipment set up, tested, and ready prior to a proceeding getting underway and also need to be able to pack up their equipment quickly after a proceeding is complete. Managing peripheral wires, cords, or cables is also important because at many job sites, court reporters are operating in relatively confined areas, where many people are walking around. This means that these wires, cords, or cables present a trip hazard.

There is therefore a need for an apparatus that will allow court reporters to manage the numerous cables that are typically used in their job, that facilitates quick setup and break down of their equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is a pouch having one or more internal compartments that contain the wires, cords, or cables leading from a stenography machine to a laptop computer and other peripheral devices. Each of the internal compartments is accessed by a resealable slit opening. The pouch itself is specially sized to fit underneath a court reporter's stenography machine, and is attached thereto by attachment means. In the preferred embodiment, zippers are used to reseal the slit opening, and hook and loop fasteners were found to be the ideal attachment means, although other well-known means for attachment exist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B shows the top side and bottom side, respectively, of the preferred embodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 2 shows the invention's placement under a stenography machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the preferred embodiment of the invention is a pouch containing one or more internal cavities for storing wires, cords, or cables used to connect recording and stenography equipment with associated peripherals. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pouch is made of nylon, but may be made of any suitable material known to the art.

FIG. 1A shows the top side of the invention. The top side 1 of the invention is generally flat and contains rigid or semi-rigid inserts made of thin polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, cardboard, or other materials that are sandwiched between the fabric layers defining the top side. Fastening means 5 is permanently affixed to top side 1 using means known to the art.

In the preferred embodiment, fastening means 5 is comprised of hook and loop fastening material approximately 3 cm wide, and is symmetrically disposed along the length of the long axis of top side 1. This hook and loop fastening material engages with complimentary hook and loop fastening material that is permanently affixed to the underside of stenography machine 6. Fastening means 5 may however encompass a variety of means other than hook and loop fasteners that are well known to the art.

A loop handle 4 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is attached to the pouch at the junction of top side 1 and bottom side 2 allows the pouch to be more easily attached and detached from stenography machine 6 and carried. The loop handle may be made out of any suitable strong and flexible material known to the art, is at least 1-2 cm wide, and is long enough to permit a person's fingers to fit within the loop—typically between 10-20 cm.

FIG. 1B shows bottom side 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, there are three resealable openings 7, each opening corresponding to an internal compartment within the pouch. Each internal compartment is defined by placing one or more partitions inside the pouch. In the preferred embodiment, zippers 3 are used to seal openings 7, although other methods of resealing such openings are well known to one skilled in the art. The number of internal compartments may vary, depending on space limitations.

The pouch's length and width may vary; however, because it is desirable to have the pouch's bulk fit entirely under machine 6, a length of no more than 25 centimeters, width of no more than 12 centimeters was found to be ideally suited to almost all stenography machines. Bottom side 2 ideally extends no more than 10 centimeters below machine 6 to allow for leg room.

FIG. 2 shows the pouch in place beneath a court reporter's stenography machine 6. To use the invention, the court reporter aligns fastening means 5 under the corresponding fastening means attached to machine 6 and applies pressure sufficient to engage the fastening means. Once fastening means 5 has engaged and the pouch is secure, the zippers 3 are unsealed to allow access to the internal compartments and the cables contained within the pouch. Only as much length of cable as is needed is removed from the pouch; any excess length remains inside the pouch which alleviates the problem of excess cable on the floor, which is both unsightly and a trip hazard. When the court reporter has finished the job, the disconnected cables are simply placed back into the appropriate internal compartment and zipper(s) 3 are used to reseal the openings.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

A pouch having a top side, a bottom side, and one or more internal compartments; said top side being generally flat and having attachment means thereon; said bottom side being generally curved and having one or more resealable slit openings corresponding to each said internal compartment; and

A loop handle attached near the junction of the top and bottom sides.

Wherein said top side is removably attached to the underside of a stenography machine using said attachment means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of said top side is approximately 25 centimeters by 12 centimeters, and bottom side extends approximately 10 centimeters below said stenography machine.

3. A method for managing wires, cords, or cables associated with stenography equipment, comprising the steps of:

Affixing a pouch to the underside of a stenography machine by engaging attachment means with corresponding attachment means located on the underside of a stenography machine, said pouch having a top side, a bottom side, a loop handle attached near the junction of the top and bottom sides, and one or more internal compartments; said top side being generally flat and having attachment means thereon; said bottom side being generally curved and having one or more resealable slit openings corresponding to each said internal compartment; and

Storing the excess length of wires, cords, or cables within said one or more internal compartments.