Carrying case with laptop tray elevating member

Abstract

Carrying cases used to transport and elevate laptop computers are disclosed. The carrying cases include a laptop tray elevating device including a laptop tray to support the laptop computer and a laptop tray elevating member. A hook member is coupled to the laptop tray to prevent the laptop computer from sliding off the laptop tray when elevated. The laptop tray elevating member includes a plurality of folding panels, a webbing, and a webbing gripping member. The webbing is pulled to displace one or more of the folding panels against the laptop tray and to orient one or more of the folding panels vertically to elevate the laptop tray at an angle. The webbing gripping member can selectively grip and release the webbing.

1 . A laptop carrying case, comprising:
 a case comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; and   a laptop tray elevating member disposed with the lower portion and comprising:
 a laptop tray comprising a work surface to support a laptop computer, wherein the laptop tray is elevatable at an angle relative to the lower portion; 
 an elevating portion comprising:
 a first folding panel coupled to the laptop tray; 
 a second folding panel coupled to the first folding panel, wherein the first folding panel is disposed between the laptop tray and the second folding panel; 
 a third folding panel coupled to the second folding panel; and 
 a fourth folding panel coupled to the third folding panel, wherein the third folding panel is disposed between the second folding panel and the fourth folding panel; 
 
   a hook member coupled to the laptop tray to prevent the laptop computer from sliding off the laptop tray;   a webbing coupled to the fourth folding panel to displace the fourth folding panel relative to the laptop tray; and   a webbing gripping member selectively coupleable to the webbing to retain the laptop tray in an elevated state.   
     
     
         2 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the elevating portion is configured to elevate the laptop tray to an angle ranging from minus 2 degrees to 60 degrees relative to an inner surface of the lower portion. 
     
     
         3 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1  further comprising a strap coupled to an inner surface of the lower portion and the second folding panel to limit an angle between the second folding panel and the inner surface of the lower portion to 70 degrees when the laptop tray is in the elevated state. 
     
     
         4 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the second folding panel and an inner surface of the lower portion ranges between zero degrees and 70 degrees when the laptop tray is in the elevated state. 
     
     
         5 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth folding panels are configured to slidingly couple with a bottom surface of the laptop tray. 
     
     
         6 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the elevating portion further comprises:
 a first pulley coupled to the first folding panel; and   a second pulley coupled to the fourth folding panel;   wherein the webbing extends from the fourth folding panel to the first pulley, from the first pulley to the second pulley, and from the second pulley to the hook member.   
     
     
         7 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the hook member comprises:
 a body portion;   a first hook extending vertically from the body portion adjacent a first end of the body portion;   a second hook extending vertically from the body portion adjacent a second end of the body portion; and   a webbing channel disposed in a bottom surface of the body portion and configured to slidingly receive the webbing.   
     
     
         8 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , further comprising a mouse pad removably coupled to an interior surface of the case. 
     
     
         9 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lower portion comprises an outer shell and an inner shell disposed within the outer shell,   wherein the inner shell comprises:
 a circumferential side wall defining a cavity, 
 a shelf extending inwardly from the circumferential sidewall within the cavity, and 
 a recess disposed radially inward of the shelf. 
   
     
     
         10 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the shelf is sized to support the laptop tray when in a non-elevated state, and   wherein the recess is sized to receive the elevating portion.   
     
     
         11 . The laptop carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the webbing gripping member comprises a cam buckle. 
     
     
         12 . A laptop elevating device comprising:
 a laptop tray elevating member comprising:
 a laptop tray comprising a work surface to support a laptop computer; 
 an elevating portion comprising:
 a first folding panel coupled to the laptop tray; 
 a second folding panel coupled to the first folding panel, wherein the first folding panel is disposed between the laptop tray and the second folding panel; 
 a third folding panel coupled to the second folding panel; and 
 a fourth folding panel coupled to the third folding panel, wherein the third folding panel is disposed between the second folding panel and the fourth folding panel; 
 
   a hook member coupled to the laptop tray configured to prevent the laptop computer from sliding off the laptop tray;   a webbing coupled to the fourth folding panel and configured to displace the fourth folding panel relative to the laptop tray; and   a webbing gripping member selectively coupleable to the webbing and configured to retain the laptop tray in an elevated state.   
     
     
         13 . The laptop elevating device of  claim 12 , wherein the elevating portion is configured to elevate the laptop tray to an angle ranging from minus 2 degrees to 60 degrees relative to an inner surface of a lower portion of a carrying case. 
     
     
         14 . The laptop elevating device of  claim 12 , wherein the third and fourth folding panels are configured to slidingly couple with a bottom surface of the laptop tray. 
     
     
         15 . The laptop elevating device of  claim 12 , wherein the elevating portion further comprises:
 a first pulley coupled to the first folding panel; and   a second pulley coupled to the fourth folding panel;   wherein the webbing extends from the fourth folding panel to the first pulley, from the first pulley to the second pulley, and from the second pulley to the hook member.   
     
     
         16 . The laptop elevating device of  claim 12 , wherein the hook member comprises:
 a body portion;   a first hook extending vertically from the body portion adjacent a first end of the body portion;   a second hook extending vertically from the body portion adjacent a second end of the body portion; and   a webbing channel disposed in a bottom surface of the body portion and configured to slidingly receive the webbing.   
     
     
         17 . A method of elevating a laptop computer, comprising:
 placing a laptop computer on a laptop tray of a laptop elevating device, wherein a portion of the laptop computer is disposed against a hook member;   pulling on a webbing to displace a fourth folding panel relative to and in parallel with the laptop tray;   pulling of the webbing to fold a third folding panel from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation;   pulling on the webbing to fold the third folding panel from the vertical orientation to an orientation in alignment with the fourth folding panel; and   pulling on the webbing to fold a second folding panel to a vertical orientation, wherein the laptop tray is displaced to an elevated state.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the laptop tray, when in the elevated state, includes an angle relative to a first folding panel of the laptop elevating device ranging between minus 2 degrees and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising opening a webbing gripping member to allow the webbing to displace the fourth folding panel when pulled. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising closing a webbing gripping member to grasp the webbing and hold the laptop tray in the elevated state.