Protecting cover

- INVENTEC CORPORATION

The present invention is to provide a protecting cover for wrapping a UMPC (ultra mobile PC) and a keyboard. The protecting cover includes a main body having a bend portion adapted to be bent, a first containing portion disposed on a first surface of the main body and connected to the bend portion for receiving the UMPC therein, and a second containing portion disposed on a second surface of the main body and connected to the bend portion for receiving the keyboard therein. When the bend portion is bent, the first containing portion is able to be positioned over the second containing portion, so that the UMPC and the keyboard are encapsulated in the protecting cover. In such a way, the UMPC and the keyboard are easy to be packed and taken which greatly promotes the portable convenience thereof.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protecting cover, more particularly to a protecting cover including a main body having a bend portion adapted to be bent, a first containing portion disposed on a first surface of the main body for receiving an ultra mobile PC (UMPC) therein and a second containing portion disposed on a second surface of the main body receiving a keyboard therein, which enables the first containing portion to be positioned over the second containing portion when the bend portion is bent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Among current various high-tech products, computer products are more welcome to the consumers. Therefore, computer products with variety of figures and sizes are continuously marketed by the manufacturers for satisfying demands of the consumers and attracting prospective consumers, and thereby becoming a leader in the market. One kind thereamong that is so called ultra mobile PC (UMPC) is featured of slimness, portable convenience, and data processing. A UMPC is normally larger than a personal digital assistant (PDA) and smaller than a notebook computer in size. It also combines functionalities of PDA, personal mobile player, and digital walkman. The UMPC can also have an operation system that is compatible to a notebook computer installed therein. Being slim and slight, and even having many new functions added thereto, UMPC products become appealing to prospective consumers.

A conventional UMPC, as shown in FIG. 1, is composed of a main body 10 and a stand 11. The main body 10 further includes a touch display panel 100 configured at a front side thereof, and a plurality of functional buttons 101 distributed at two sides of the touch display panel 100. The functional buttons 101 allow a user to perform an input or control operation to the UMPC 1. The stand is hinged to a bottom of the main body 10, for supporting the main body 10 to stand up on a table or the like. Typically, the UMPC 1 can be operated by inputting data or instructions via the touch display panel 100. Further, an external keyboard 13 may also be provided to the UMPC 1 so as to allow the user input faster.

However, such a conventional UMPC 1 has some disadvantages in use that disturb the users. For example, in order to stand the main body on a plane, a stand 11 is a must to be hinged to the main body 10, which unfortunately increases the thickness and structural complexity of the UMPC 1, as well as production cost thereof. Further, when the keyboard 13 is desired to be used together with the UMPC 1, poor portable convenience of the UMPC 1 plus keyboard 13 also disturbs the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the conventional UMPC of increased structural complexity and thickness caused by the purpose of standing the main body on a plane, as well as the poor portable convenience, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience to conduct extensive researches and experiments and finally invented a protecting cover.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a protecting cover for wrapping a UMPC and a keyboard. The protecting cover includes a main body having a bend portion adapted to be bent, a first containing portion and a second containing portion configured on the main body. The first containing portion is disposed on a first surface of the main body. The first containing portion is connected to the bend portion, and is adapted for receiving the UMPC therein. The second containing portion is disposed on a second surface of the main body. The second containing portion is connected to the bend portion, and is adapted for receiving the keyboard therein. When the bend portion is bent, the first containing portion is able to be positioned over the second containing portion, so that the UMPC and the keyboard are encapsulated in the protecting cover. In such a way, the UMPC and the keyboard are easy to be packed and taken which greatly promotes the portable convenience thereof

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects, as well as many of the attendant advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional UMPC;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a protecting cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic view of a protecting cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a protecting cover in a bending state according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a protecting cover in another bending state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a protecting cover for wrapping a UMPC 3 and a keyboard 4 therein. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the protecting cover includes a main body 2, a first containing portion 21 and a second containing portion 23. The main body 2 includes a bend portion 20, the bend portion 20 being adapted to be bent. The first containing portion 21 is disposed at a first surface 220 of the main body 2, and is connected to the bend portion 20. The first containing portion 21 is adapted for receiving the UMPC therein. The second containing portion 23 is disposed at a second surface 222 of the main body 2. The second containing portion 23 is connected to the bend portion 20, and is adapted for receiving the keyboard 4. In such a way, the protecting cover can be laid on a supporting plane, so that the keyboard 4 can be used for inputting data to or controlling the UMPC 3, or otherwise the bend portion 20 can be bent so that the first containing portion 21 is settled over the second containing portion 23, whereby both the UMPC 3 and the keyboard 4 are wrapped within the protecting cover.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the protecting cover further includes a first plate member 24 disposed on the main body 2. A first end 240 of the first plate member 24 is secured to a third surface 28 of the main body 2, the third surface 28 being opposite to the first surface 220. A second end 242 of the first plate member 24 extends along a fourth surface 29 of the main body 2 out of the main body 2, the fourth surface 29 being opposite to the second surface 222. When the bend portion 20 is bent so as to configure a specific angle between the first surface 220 and the supporting plane, the first containing portion 21 and the UMPC 3 received therein are supported on the supporting plane by the first plate member 24, and the second containing portion 23 is flatly laid down on the supporting plane. As such, when viewing the UMPC 3, the user can simultaneously input data or control the UMPC 3 with the keyboard 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the bend portion 20 is bent so as to position the first containing portion 21 and the second containing portion 23 face to face in contact, the UMPC 3 and the keyboard 4 are encapsulated in the main body 2. In such a state, the second end 242 of the first plate member 24 is adapted to be turned over the third surface 28 and the fourth surface 29 and thus being attached and secured to the first end 240 of the first plate member 24. The first end 240 and the second end 242 of the first plate member 24 are connected one to another in this way so as to prevent the main body from unintended opening and thus avoiding the UMPC 3 from dropping off from the first containing portion 21 and avoiding the keyboard 4 from dropping off from the second containing portion 23.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the bend portion 20 is bent so as to position the third surface 28 and the fourth surface 29 face to face in contact, a portion of the first plate member 24 between the first end 240 and the second portion 242 is bent and received between the third surface 28 and the fourth surface 29. In this manner, if the second containing portion 23 is laid down on the supporting plane, the UMPC 3 received in the first containing portion 21 is outwardly exhibited allow the user to view. As such, the protecting cover according to the present invention not only enables a user to conveniently take the UMPC 3 and the keyboard 4, but also eliminates the necessity to buy an extra stand for supporting the UMPC 3.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the protecting cover further includes a second plate member 27 straddling on the fourth surface 29. The second end 242 of the first plate member 24 is configured to trespass between two ends of the second plate member 27 and further extend out of the fourth surface 29 of the main body 2. Further, the first plate member 24 further includes a supporting plate 241 disposed adjacent to the first end 240, by which the first plate member 24 is adapted to be bent at a position adjacent to the first end 240. When the bend portion 20 is bent so as to configure a specific angle between the first surface 220 and the supporting plane, the first plate member 24 is then bent so that the first plate member 24 supports the first surface 220 on the supporting plane. Then, the second end 242 of the first plate member 24 slides from the fourth surface 29 of the main body 2 to where between the two ends of the second plate member 27. As such, the first containing portion 21 and the UMPC 3 are supported on the supporting plane by the supporting plate 241, while the portion between the first end 240 and the second end 242 of the first plate member 24 is maintained bent by the second plate member 27. In such a way, the first containing portion 21 and the UMPC 3 are securely supported on the supporting plane.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the first containing portion 21 is composed of a first frame 211 and a first fixing unit 213. The first fixing frame 211 includes a first lateral side and a second lateral side that are opposite one to another. The first lateral side is adjacent to a top side of the main body 2, and the second lateral side is adjacent to a bottom side of the main body 2. The first fixing frame 211 further includes two first connecting units 212 extending respectively from the first lateral side and the second lateral side. The two first connecting units 212 are connected to the first surface 220 of the adjacent main body 2 so that the first fixing frame 211 is fixed on the first surface 220 of the main body 2, and the first fixing frame 211 is kept a certain distance away from the first surface 220. As such, the UMPC 3 is secured between the first fixing frame 211 and the main body 2. The first fixing unit 213 is configured between a third lateral side of the first fixing frame 211 adjacent to the bend portion 20 and the first surface 220 of the main body 2. As such, the UMPC 3 is prevented from dropping out from the first containing portion 21 by a combination of the first fixing frame 211, the first connecting units 212, and the first fixing unit 213, while allowing the user to view or operate the UMPC 3 through the first fixing frame 211.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, and referring to FIG. 2, the second containing portion 23 is composed of a second fixing frame 231 and a second fixing unit 233. The second fixing frame 231 also includes a first lateral side and a second lateral side that are opposite one to another. The first lateral side is adjacent to a top side of the main body 2, and the second lateral side is adjacent to a bottom side of the main body 2. The second fixing frame 231 further includes two second connecting units 232 extending respectively from the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the second fixing frame 231. The two second connecting units 232 are connected to the second surface 222 of the main body 2 so that the second fixing frame 231 is fixed on the second surface 222 of the main body 2, and the second fixing frame 231 is kept a certain distance away from the second surface 222. As such, the keyboard 4 is secured and received in the second containing portion 23. The second fixing unit 233 is configured between a third lateral side of the second fixing frame 231 adjacent to the bend portion 20 and the second surface 222 of the main body 2. As such, the keyboard 4 is prevented from dropping out from the second containing portion 23 by a combination of the second fixing frame 231, the second connecting units 232, and the second fixing unit 233, while allowing the user to operate the keyboard 4 and thereby to control the UMPC 3 or input data through the second fixing frame 231.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, and further referring to FIG. 2, the first fixing frame 211 further includes a third connecting unit 281 configured at a fourth lateral side thereof opposite to the bend portion 20, and the main body 2 further includes a fourth connecting unit 282 at the first surface 220. The third connecting unit 281 and the fourth connecting unit 282 are adapted to be jointly connected one to another. When the UMPC 3 is received in the first containing portion 21, jointly connecting the third connecting unit 281 and the fourth connecting unit 282 prevents the UMPC 3 from dropping from the first containing portion 21. Further, the second fixing frame 231 further includes a fifth connecting unit 283 configured at a fourth lateral side thereof opposite to the bend portion 20, and the main body 2 further includes a sixth connecting unit 284 at the second surface 222. The fifth connecting unit 283 and the sixth connecting unit 284 are adapted to be jointly connected one to another. When the keyboard 4 is received in the second containing portion 23, jointly connecting the fifth connecting unit 283 and the sixth connecting unit 284 prevents the keyboard 4 from dropping from the second containing portion 23.

According to an embodiment of the present invention and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first plate member 24 further includes a first sticky element 291 configured on a surface of the first end 240 that is opposite to the main body, and a second sticky element 292 configured on a surface of the second end 242 that faces the main body. When the first containing portion 21 and the second containing portion 23 are positioned to attach one to another, the first plate member 24 can be turned over so that the second end 242 of the first plate member 24 rounds the main body 2 and jointly connects the first end 240 of the first plate member 24. In such a way, the first end 240 and the second end 242 of the first plate member 24 are jointly connected to each other by the first sticky element 291 and the second sticky element 292 that are adapted to stick to each other. As such, the first containing portion 21 and the second containing portion 23 are more securely wrapped within the main body 2. When the first sticky element 291 and the second sticky element 292 are detached one from another, and after the opening the main body 2, the UMPC 3 received in the first containing portion 21, and the keyboard 4 received in the second containing portion 23 are ready for operation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 2, the third connecting unit 281 and the fourth connecting unit 282 respectively further include a third sticky element 293, and a fourth sticky element 294 respectively configured on surfaces thereof facing to each other. The third sticky element 293 and the fourth sticky element 294 are adapted for sticking one to another, by which the third connecting unit 281 and the fourth connecting unit 282 are jointly connected thus avoiding the UMPC 3 from dropping out from the first containing portion 21. The user can take the UMPC 3 out from the first containing portion 21 when the third sticky element 293 and the fourth sticky element 294 are detached one from another. Furthermore, the fifth connecting unit 283 and the sixth connecting unit 284 respectively further include a fifth sticky element 295, and a sixth sticky element 296 respectively configured on surfaces thereof facing to each other. The fifth sticky element 295 and the fourth sticky element 296 are adapted for sticking one to another, by which the fifth connecting unit 283 and the sixth connecting unit 284 are jointly connected thus avoiding the keyboard 4 from dropping out from the second containing portion 23. The user can take the keyboard 4 out from the second containing portion 23 when the fifth sticky element 295 and the sixth sticky element 296 are detached one from another.

According to an embodiment of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 2, the protecting cover further includes a transparent plate 214 configured at the first fixing frame 211. A margin of the transparent plate 214 is connected with an edge of the first fixing frame 211. As the UMPC 3 being received within the first containing portion 21, the transparent plate 214 is adapted for protecting the UMPC 3, and even allows the user to view or touch to control the UMPC 3 via the transparent plate 214.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A protecting cover, adapted for wrapping an ultra mobile PC (UMPC) and a keyboard, comprising:

a main body, having a bend portion;
a first containing portion, disposed on a first surface of the main body, wherein the first containing portion is connected to the bend portion, and is adapted for receiving the UMPC therein; and
a second containing portion, disposed on a second surface of the main body, wherein the second containing portion is connected to the bend portion, and is adapted for receiving the keyboard therein, wherein the bend portion of the main body is adapted to be bent so as to have the first containing portion settled over the second containing portion.

2. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a first plate member disposed on the main body, the first plate member having a first end secured to a third surface of the main body, and a second end extending along a fourth surface of the main body out of the main body, wherein the third surface is opposite to the first surface, and the fourth surface is opposite to the second surface.

3. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a second plate member straddling on the fourth surface, wherein the second end of the first plate member trespasses the second plate member and further extends out of the main body.

4. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first plate member further comprises a supporting plate disposed adjacent to the first end of the first plate member.

5. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first containing portion comprises:

a first fixing frame having a first lateral side and a second lateral side that are opposite one to another, wherein the first lateral side is adjacent to a top side of the main body, and the second lateral side is adjacent to a bottom side of the main body, wherein the first fixing frame further comprises two first connecting units configured respectively on the first lateral side and the second lateral side, and the two first connecting units are connected to the first surface; and
a second fixing unit, configured between a third lateral side of the second fixing frame adjacent to the bend portion and the second surface of the main body.

6. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 5, wherein the second containing portion comprises:

a second fixing frame having a first lateral side and a second lateral side that are opposite one to another, wherein the first lateral side is adjacent to a top side of the main body, and the second lateral side is adjacent to a bottom side of the main body, wherein the second fixing frame further comprises two second connecting units configured respectively on the first lateral side and the second lateral side, and the two second connecting units are connected to the second surface; and
a first fixing unit, configured between a third lateral side of the first fixing frame adjacent to the bend portion and the first surface of the main body.

7. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first fixing frame further comprises a third connecting unit configured at a fourth lateral side thereof opposite to the bend portion, and the main body further comprises a fourth connecting unit at the first surface, wherein the third connecting unit and the fourth connecting unit are adapted to be jointly connected one to another.

8. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second fixing frame further comprises a fifth connecting unit configured at a fourth lateral side thereof opposite to the bend portion, and the main body further comprises a sixth connecting unit at the second surface, wherein the fifth connecting unit and the sixth connecting unit are adapted to be jointly connected one to another.

9. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first plate member comprises a first sticky element configured on a surface of the first end that is opposite to the main body, and a second sticky element configured on a surface of the second end that faces the main body, wherein when the first end and the second end are touched to each other, the first sticky element and the second sticky element are then jointly connected to each other.

10. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 8, wherein the third connecting unit and the fourth connecting unit comprises a third sticky element, and a fourth sticky element respectively configured on surfaces thereof facing to each other, wherein when the third connecting unit and the fourth connecting unit are touched to each other, the third sticky element and the fourth sticky element are then jointly connected to each other.

11. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 8, wherein the fifth connecting unit and the sixth connecting unit comprises a fifth sticky element, and a sixth sticky element respectively configured on surfaces thereof facing to each other, wherein when the fifth connecting unit and the sixth connecting unit are touched to each other, the fifth sticky element and the sixth sticky element are then jointly connected to each other.

12. The protecting cover as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first fixing frame further comprises a transparent plate, and a margin of the transparent plate is connected with an edge of the first fixing frame.

Patent History
Publication number: 20080202959
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 28, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2008
Applicant: INVENTEC CORPORATION (Taipei)
Inventor: Ping-Chang Chu (Taipei)
Application Number: 11/711,803
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: For A Household Appliance (206/320)
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);