Collapsible Carrying Strap

Abstract

A handle/strap device is disclosed that is suitable for original or retrofit installation onto edge surfaces of portable devices such as notebook computers and portable DVD players and the like. The handle/strap is made up of a base plate to which a pair of complementary upper and lower channel shaped leaf elements are pivotally attached at respective ends thereof. A longitudinal cavity is created in between the folded channel shapes when the device is in the shape of a handle. However, the upper channel can be unlatched from the lower channel so as to release the extendable/adjustable strap contained therein.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 61/020,073, filed Jan. 14, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strap to carry briefcase-like objects such as a notebook computer, covered writing pad, etc.

2. Background

The present invention is directed at improving upon existing ways of carrying briefcase-like objects, most notably notebook computers. The great advantage of notebook computers is their convenient portability. However, there hasn't been a satisfactory device to carry notebook computers to this date, forcing people to make an extra purchase of a shoulder bag, or other much bulkier surround, with which to carry them around. While a carrying handle such as those used for brief cases would be convenient, and some notebook computer includes such single fold handles, carrying a notebook computer by an extended handle is not a style that goes well with the image of notebook computer. A shoulder strap would be more acceptable style to carry notebook computers especially for young people who seem to have many things to carry. But, having a permanent shoulder strap that is cumbersome when not in use also destroys the neat and brief image of notebook computers, therefore rendering it undesirable. A retractable shoulder strap similar to the mechanism used for tape rulers could be considered. However, this design will take up much of the precious inner space of the notebook computer in the same way as a single fold handle.

The purpose of this invention is to provide method and apparatus to carry notebook computers that is convenient to use and yet acceptable in style. A further purpose of this invention is to provide such a device without sacrificing the precious inner space of the computer, and at an affordable manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible shoulder strap that attaches externally to a notebook computer shell and conveniently folds/unfolds against the shell.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a handle assembly is secured to the body of a notebook computer, on any one of its front, rear, or side edge surfaces. The handle assembly comprises a base plate, a bottom leaf, a top leaf, a latch mechanism and a shoulder strap that connects the open ends of the bottom leaf and the top leaf. The top leaf can be unlatched to allow the handle to unfold to form a loop to function as a carrying shoulder strap. The shoulder strap can be easily folded back and latched to form a handle. As a simple handle, it can be readily used for short and brief movements of the computer. For a longer distance carrying of the notebook computer, the handle can be easily unfolded to be used as a shoulder strap.

The foregoing summary of the invention is only a brief introduction of the invention. In order to fully appreciate the objects of the invention and the invention itself and also manifest other advantages and features of the invention, the following detailed description and claims should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings shown illustrate a preferred structural embodiment of the present invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a notebook computer with a handle/strap according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a notebook computer according to the present invention with its handle unfolded to form a shoulder strap.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the handle assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a handle/strap that can be retrofit to an otherwise self-contained portable device such as a notebook computer, portable DVD player, enclosed writing notebook, etc.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the identical or similar parts throughout the several views: A notebook computer equipped with a handle/strap in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and is designated generally by the reference number 10. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a handle assembly is secured to the body of the notebook computer 10 either on the front edge surface or the rear edge surface by suitable means such as rivets or securing screws 12. Alternatively, the handle/strap could be secured to edge surfaces of the device as well and even placed within a shallow recess along an edge of the device.

As shown in FIG. 4 as well as in FIG. 3, the handle assembly comprises a base plate 14, a generally upwardly directed channel-like bottom leaf 16, a generally downwardly directed channel-like top leaf 18, a first intermediate strap 20 and a second intermediate strap 22. A first protrusion 24 and a second protrusion 26 are integrally made on each end of the base plate 14 to accommodate mounting of hinging/pivoting hardware for the respective top and bottom leaf elements.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a circular bore 28 is made in the top portion of the first protrusion 24 along the length of the base plate 14 to receive a compression spring 30 and a latch 32. The latch 32 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a generally rectangular protrusion 34 integrally made along its length. One end of the rectangular protrusion 34 has a slanted surface 36 whose function will be described later. The latch 32 is made by similar manufacturing process and of similar material as bolts for door locks. The top end of the circular bore 28 has an open slot 38 along its length to receive the rectangular protrusion 34 of the latch 32. After the compression spring 30 and the latch 32 are inserted into the circular bore 28, a securing pin 40 is pressure-fit through openings 42 across the circular bore 28 to keep the compression spring 30 and the latch 32 in their places. The first protrusion 24 also has parallel side surfaces 44 to receive the tail ends 46 of parallel sidewalls 48 of the bottom leaf 16. A securing pin 50 is provided to rotatably mount the bottom leaf 16 on the first protrusion 24, and extends through the clearance bores in the tail ends 46 and the body of the first protrusion 24.

The second protrusion 26 also has two parallel side surfaces 52 to receive the tail ends 54 of parallel sidewalls 56 of the top leaf 18 (FIG. 3). A securing pin 58 is provided to rotatably mount the top leaf 18 on the second protrusion 26, and extends through the clearance bores in the tail ends 54 and the top portion of the second protrusion 26. A platform 60 is provided in the second protrusion 26 for the open end 62 of the bottom leaf 16 to rest on when the shoulder strap is folded to form a handle (FIG. 3).

The first intermediate strap 20 and the second intermediate strap 22 are secured to the bottom leaf 16 and the top leaf 18 respectively by suitable means such as rivets 64. A length adjustment clip 66 is provided at the end of the second strap 22 in this preferred embodiment of the present invention although it could be on the first strap 20 instead. The open end of the second strap 22 goes through a rectangular clearance bore 68 and comes out of another rectangular clearance bore 70. The open end of the second strap 22 is then sewed to the body of the second strap 22. The open end of the first strap 16 tightly goes through the rectangular clearance bore 68 and again tightly comes out of the other clearance bore 70. As it is well known, the length adjustment clip 66 serves to maintain and adjust the total length of the shoulder strap to the individual user's body structure. Semi stiff strips 72 are secured to the first strap 20 and the second strap 22 by suitable means such as rivets or glue. The semi stiff strips 72 serves the first and second straps 20 and 22 so as to be easily and readily folded at the right places when needed.

To fold the handle assembly to form a handle, the lower leaf 16 is rotated toward the second protrusion 26 until its open end 62 rests on the platform 60 of the second protrusion 26. Approximately the first half of the first intermediate strap 20 with its semi stiff strip 72 is then folded into the bottom leaf 16 upwardly directed channel between its opposed side walls 48. The approximately second half of the first intermediate strap 20 will be folded onto its first half. Likewise, the second strap 22 with its semi stiff strip 72 will be folded onto the second half of the first strap 20. Afterwards, the top leaf 18 will be rotated toward the first protrusion 24 until its open end 74 comes in contact with the slanted surface 36 of the latch 32. Further rotation of the top leaf 18 will force the slanted surface 36 of the latch 32 to retreat against the compression spring 30. After the open end 74 clears the slanted surface 36 and rests on the flat top surface of the first protrusion 24, the latch 32 comes back over the open end 74 of the top leaf 18 by the resilience of the compression spring 30 to keep the top leaf 18 from moving upwards (FIG. 3). The bottom corner ends 76 of the tail ends 54 of the top leaf 18 comes in contact with the top surface of the open end 62 of the bottom leaf 16 to keep it from moving upwards. It should be noted that there are more than one way of folding a given shoulder strap into the longitudinal cavity created between the complementary channel shapes of the respective top and bottom leaf elements.

When it is desired to unfold the handle assembly for long carrying of the notebook computer, the rectangular protrusion 34 of the latch 32 is pushed manually against the compression spring 30 to clear the open end 74 of the top leaf to allow the first strap, the second strap and the bottom leaf to readily and rapidly unfold.

The handle/strap herein described could also be shaped to form an edge extension of an underlying portable device. The respective protrusions could be styled as continuations of the overall style and shape of the so equipped portable device with the upper channel or top leaf appearing as the actual edge of the device. However, upon release of the latch 32, the top leaf 18 would pivot outwardly and the contained folded strap would be revealed. In addition to the foregoing, the strap may take many forms including somewhat elastic versions, foamed rubber shoulder elements, Velcro length adjustment, etc. I.e., all of the characteristic knowledge and applicable features of conventional straps could likewise be incorporated.

The present invention is not limited to the particular features or to the details of the preferred embodiment specified in the foregoing. It is therefore understood that upon reading and understanding the specifications and claims of this invention, those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications, omissions, changes, and substitutions in the preferred embodiment, in the forms and details of the instrument, and in its operation, as long as they fall within the scope of present invention.

Claims

1. A handle assembly for carrying portable objects, comprising:

a first protrusion secured to a first surface of said object;

a second protrusion secured to said first surface at a spaced distance from said first protrusion;

a bottom leaf, one end of said bottom leaf mounted to said first protrusion so as to rotate toward said second protrusion to a handle forming position spanning said spaced distance so to form a lower portion of a handle to enable carrying of said portable object, said bottom leaf, when lifted from said second protrusion, being able to rotate in an opposite direction to form a 1st element of a shoulder strap;

a top leaf, one end of which is mounted to said second protrusion so to rotate toward said first protrusion to a handle forming position and latching securely to said first protrusion so as to form an upper portion of said handle, and creating a longitudinal cavity between said top and bottom leafs, and to rotate in an opposite direction to form a 2nd element of said shoulder strap;

flexible strap means for carrying said portable object, said flexible strap means connecting between respective free ends of said bottom leaf and said top leaf so as to be folded into said cavity between said bottom leaf and said top leaf when configured in said handle forming position.

3. A handle assembly as in claim 1, wherein:

said strap means is separated into two pieces that are connected by a length adjustment means for adjusting an overlapping condition between separate elements of said strap means.

4. A handle assembly as in claim 1, wherein:

said first surface of said object is recessed within an edge of said object.

5. A handle assembly as in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second protrusions are each formed on respective ends of a longitudinal base plate that is, itself, attached to said first surface of said object.

6. A handle assembly as in claim 1, wherein:

said strap means includes a plurality of semi stiff panels to guide a folding sequence of said strap means into said cavity for containment of said strap means when said leafs are configured in a handle position.