COMBINATION DUST COVER PRIVACY SCREEN AND LIGHT SHIELD FOR A COMPUTER MONITOR ALSO SERVING AS A PORTABLE BRIEFCASE

ECRAN DE CONFIDENTIALITE PROTECTEUR ET ANTI-EBLOUISSEMENT POUR ECRAN D'ORDINATEUR, POUVANT AUSSI SERVIR DE VALISE

English Abstract

A combination dust cover, privacy screen and light shield for a computer monitorhaving an adjustable frame which attaches around the front outside edge of the
monitor and is adjustable in both width and height in order to accommodate
various monitor sizes.Two front doors are attached with hinges to the front sideedges of the frame. The doors may be positioned through a range of 270 degrees,
and because of the hinge placed vertically, when positioned in intermediate
positions, ( Fully closed) the doors act as a privacy screen and/or light shield for
the monitor. In a fully opened position, where they exptend to the rear of the
monitor, they are out of the view of the screen and can function as copy and
accessory holders. A rear door is attached with hinges to the back top or bottomedges of the frame and, when the frame is attached to the monitor, can extend
horizontally over the top of the monitor, can be removed and folded into a
portable briefcase. Attachments are provided for a handle on the top or the bottom
of the frame and openings are provided in the doors for attaching thongs or other
mounts by those skilled in the art for fastening the doors closed for serving asaccessory holders.

French Abstract

L'invention porte sur un dispositif faisant office à la fois de pare-poussière, de cloison d'isolement et d'écran anti-éblouissement pour un écran d'ordinateur, lequel est constitué d'un bâti réglable qui se fixe sur le périmètre de l'écran et peut être réglé en largeur et en hauteur pour s'adapter aux écrans de toutes dimensions. Deux portes avant sont retenues par des charnières aux bords latéraux avant du bâti. Les portes peuvent être ouvertes jusqu'à 270 degrés, et les charnières suivant un axe vertical, lorsque les portes sont partiellement ouvertes, elles tiennent lieu de cloison d'isolement et/ou d'écran anti-éblouissement. Lorsqu'elles sont complètement ouvertes, c'est-à-dire lorsqu'elles sont rabattues vers l'arrière de l'écran, elles sont hors de la vue de qui travaille à l'écran et peuvent servir de porte-copie ou de porte-accessoire. Une porte arrière est retenue par des charnières au sommet ou au bord inférieur arrière du bâti et, lorsque le bâti est fixé à l'écran, celle-ci peut être déployée horizontalement au-dessus du moniteur, retirée et repliée en un porte-documents portatif. Des accessoires sont fournis, tels qu'une poignée au-dessus ou au-dessous du bâti, et les portes sont percées d'ouvertures pour que des personnes versées dans l'art puissent fixer des lanières ou d'autres dispositifs de façon que les portes fermées puissent servir de porte-accessoires.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilige is claimed are
defined as follows,
1. A device for attaching to a monitor having a screen and side portions, comprising:
a rectangular frame having front and back edges in fitting engagement to said side
portions of the monitor; means for adjusting the width and height of said frame in
order to allow the frame to fit onto various sizes of monitor;
at least one front door pivotally attached to a front side portion of said frame for
positioning in a fully closed position where it covers the screen of the monitor, or
in a fully opened position where it extends back along a side of the monitor, or in
any position in between.
2. The device claimed in claim 1. wherein said at least one front door comprises two
doors, one of which is attached to each side of the frame.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1. or 2. including a back door pivotally attached to
a back top or bottom portion of the frame.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3. wherein said back door is attached to a back top
portion of the frame and when the device is attached to a monitor the back door
extends horizontally over the top surface of the monitor.
5. The device as claimed in claim 3. or 4. including means to attach a handle to a top
or to a bottom portion of the frame and wherein said device can be removed from
said monitor and used as a portable briefcase with all of the doors fixed in closed
positions, said handle being used to carry the device.
6. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1. to 5. wherein the frame is comprised
of sections and a corner plate inset into the sections for securing the frame.
7. The device as claimed in claim 5 including fastening means attached to the front
and back doors;
8. A device for attachment to a monitor having a screen and side portions,
comprising:
a rectangular frame having front and back edges in fitting engagement to said side
portions of the monitor;
a first door pivotally attached to a back top edge of the frame:
at least one second door pivotally attached to a front side edge of the frame;
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wherein, attachment to a monitor, said first door of the device rests in an openposition on a top sill portion of the monitor and the second door may extend from a
fully closed position covering the screen of the monitor, and may then extend to an
open position extending back along one side of the monitor and wherein
detachment of the device from the monitor, the doors may be closed to form a
closed container with the frame.
9. The device as claimed in Claim 8 including means for adjucting the width and height of
the frame in order to allow the frame to fit onto various sizes of monitor.
10. The device as claimed in claims 8 or 9 wherein said at least one second door comprises
two doors, one of which is attached to each side of the frame.
11. An enclosure frame to surround a monitor having a screen, top, bottom and side faces,
said enclosure frame having upright side portions disposable opposite each other and top
and top and bottom portions,
each said portion having generally rectangular panels with opposite panels facing and
interior therebetween and having a front edge forward of said screen,
means for attachment to adjacent panels to permit altering the size of the interior between
the panels,
at least one closure panel hingedly attached to the front edge of the panel of a side portion
of said enclosure frame for positioning in a fully closed position when the screen
of the monitor is covered and in an open position when the screen is visible.
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Description

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SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to a manually operated plastic constructed computer appliance which serves as both
a portable briefcase, a dust cover and privacy appliance when mounted on a computer monitor.
What is generally intended to be improved in the general embodiment of the invention is personal
convenience, privacy, and working space at the computer terminal, as well as transit between terminals.
There are previous practices in the computer dependent lifestyle which are improved by this invention.
Data displayed on computer terminals is often visible to the public in small businesses.
Dust collects on computer monitors relatively quickly.
Space for accessories is limited by the keyboard, mouse pad and monitor on the desktop, often displacing
papers, pens, notes, or conflicting with them during use.
As for students and professioanls who move between more than one terminal at home or work, the invention
conveniently converts to a unit which transports most of fice accessories required in this kind of work day.
Should the data on a computer terrninal require more privacy from unauthorized viewing than is addressed
by this appliance, in combination with the standard "screen saver" software program installed on most
Co~ )ut~l~, this would be overcome by housing the unit inside a secure office location. This appliance
addresses the more common office space improvement issues, and privacy issues from the perspective of
users who are generally more mobile, and are using multiple stations, daily or weekly.
An aspect of the invention comprises a device for attaching to a monitor and side portions. comprising a
rectangular frame having front and back edges in fitting engagement to said side portions of the monitor;
means for adjusting the width and height of said frame in order to allow the frame to fit onto various sizes of
the monitor; at least one front door hingedly attached to a front side portion of said frame for positioning in
a fully closed position where it covers the screen of the monitor, or in a fillly opened position where it
extends back along a side of the monitor, or in any position in between.
Another aspect of the invention comprises a device for attachment ot a monitor having a screen and side
portions, comprising a rectangular frame having front and back edges in fitting engagement to said side
portions of the monitor, a first door hingedly attached to a back edge of the frame; at least one second door
pivotally attached to a front side edge of the frame; wherein, in attachment to the monitor, said first door of
the device rests in an open position on a top sill portion of the monitor and the second door may extend
from a fully closed position covering the screen of the monitor, and may then extend to an open position
extending back along one side of the monitor and wherein detachment of the device from the monitor, the
doors may be closed to form a closed container with the frame.
The best way of putting this invention into operation is as follows in the Drawings and List attached

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In drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention, Figure I is
the embodiment of the whole appliance, Figure 2 is the detail of the frame
which is the foundation of the appliance, Figure 3 is the detail of the size
adjustment of the frame, Figure 4 is the accessories applied to the invention.
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SPECIFICATION
Figure 1 is made up of 1, the frame, 2, the side doors? 4, the main briefcase
handle, 5, the back door, 6, the thong mounting openings.
Figure 2 detail of frame: 1 shows solid molded form of frame, 7, shows
hinge attachment for rear doors, 4, shows depth of rame from front face to
back face.
Figure 3 shows detail of the frame size adjustment mech~ni~m; 3 corner
with slip plate, 8, screws to tighten slip plate to frame, 3. channel in which
the slip plate and wing nut are set into, 4, view of other corner showing 3,
8, 4, assembled together.
Figure 4 is made up of 10, the handle which aff1xes to the top through two
openings, I 1, the thongs which fasten the front and back doors closed to
the unit, 12, the thongs which will serve as the pencil and accessory
holder, 13, the things which will hold larger accessories eg, the computer
mouse.
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The appliance illustrated comprises a portable security frame with panels, as well as a unit
which folds and secures into a briefcase for carrying Figure 1. This appliance is placed
around the average sized computer monitor. The side doors7 -2 have a 270 degree range of
motion and can be closed over the screen, or left partially open to provide privacy, or,
opened fully at the sides of the monitor.
In the form shown the appliance side and rear doors are open and the handle-4 is shown by
a curved line at the top of the unit. The handle may also be placed in guide holes at the
bottom of the unit.
A further aspect of the invention comprises an enclosure frame to surround a monitor having a
screen, top, bottom and side faces, said enclosure frame having upright side portions disposable
opposite each other and top and bottom portions, each said portion having generally rectangular
panels with opposite panels facing an interior therebetween and having a *ont edge forward of
said screen, means for attachment to adjacent panels to permit altering the size of the interior
between the panels, and at least one closure panel hingedly attached to the front edge of the
panel of a side portion of said enclosure frame for positioning in a fully closed position when
the screen of the monitor is covered and in an open position when the screen is visible.
Figure 2 shows the frame without the doors, where half of the hinges-7 are mounted to
affix the back-5 and side doors-2 to the unit. The frame-l, and the doors, contain
strategically located guide holes-6 for all of the thongs shown in Figure 4, which function
to hold the unit securely closed, and provide locations for storage of office accessories such
as pens, paper clips, mouses.
Both sides of the side and back door surfaces are capable of having notepaper adhered to
them, by tape or adhesive. The back door is designed to swing upward as the unit is
mounted on the computer monitor. In the horizontal position it will provide significant dust
protection as well as a horizontal storage surface. The side doors provide privacy while in
use (half open or closed), and further will reduce excessive light form reaching the screen
while in use, where this can often be a problem.
Figure 3 shows the corner plate-3 which insets into a channel at the open ends of the frame.
This provides adaptability to a wide range of monitors, for height and width. The corner
plate sits flush in the channel, and there is a groove noted as the black line in Figure 3 item
4. This groove receives at any point along its length, the thickened end of screws-8 which
will secure by friction underneath a lip in the groove. As the screws are secured, the corner
plates are then also secured to the frame, Figure 3, items 3, 4, 8. Figure 3, item 3 shows the
opening in the corner slip plates. The "screw wing nuts" pass half way through this
opening and the nut is turned to lock in place.
Figure 4 shows the main accessories to the unit which complete its last functions.
Item 1 is to convert the unit into a portable briefcase. Items I 1 through 13 accommodate a
variety of of fice accessories as described above.
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Representative Drawing