Pop-up electronic equipment enclosure

Abstract

A collapsible electronic equipment enclosure surrounds portable or tabletop electronic equipment, such as laptop computers, with opaque protective sheeting supported by flexible struts. An opening is provided that may include a transparent window and provision for hand entry to permit use of the contained equipment while it is protected from environmental hazards. Provision is made for equipment display visibility in bright sunshine and lighting. Restricting visibility of the equipment display enhances privacy. The enclosure collapses to store in a narrow space, is lightweight, and can be used to transport the contained equipment either by a carry handle or as a backpack. The enclosure can be anchored to a tabletop for motion protection. It can also be locked closed and the contained equipment fastened by a security cable and lock to provide theft and tamper protection for the contained equipment and the enclosure when unattended.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A collapsible equipment enclosure comprising: 
 a. a tension frame comprising an independent flexible first strut with a first end and a second end and an independent flexible second strut with a first end and a second end, said first strut resiliently bent into a conic shape arc and said second strut resiliently bent into a conic shape arc and said first strut and said second strut positioned to cross each other at the apex of their respective arcs with the ends of the struts positioned in the down direction;    b. a flexible sheeting bottom portion configured to substantially form a rectangular periphery with four corners, an inside surface, and an outside surface;    c. a flexible, substantially opaque, sheeting upper portion with an inside surface and an outside surface, including at least one opening, said sheeting upper portion joined to and contiguous to the bottom portion at the bottom periphery such that said sheeting bottom portion inside surface and said sheeting upper portion inside surface completely surround the enclosure interior with the sheeting upper portion configured to substantially form a conic shape with a substantially rectangular shape forming a front, back, left, and right sides at the attachment to the bottom;    d. said tension frame arranged within the sheeting upper portion with the ends positioned on the inside surface of the sheeting bottom portion at said four corners, the resilience of said first and second struts providing a tension force against the sheeting inner surface which maintains the sheeting substantially in a conic dome shape with four corners so that the frame struts may be moved relative to each other to permit folding the sheeting upper portion sides and bottom portion to a substantially flat position while the frame struts maintain tension on the sheeting to permit unfolding the enclosure substantially to the original shape; and    e. an opening in said sheeting upper portion front side arranged to allow entry and positioning of said tension frame and said equipment.    
     
     
         2 . The collapsible equipment enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a. a handle attached to said sheeting upper portion arranged to permit carrying the enclosure;  
 b. a flexible sheeting flap removably covering said sheeting upper portion front opening, said flexible sheeting flap positioned by an opening closure device arranged to permit applying a lock to secure the flap in the closed position; and  
 c. a cable entry opening on said sheeting upper portion arranged opposed to said sheeting upper portion front opening so that a cable may enter the enclosure through the sheeting back piece.  
 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible equipment enclosure of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of fasteners attached to the outside of said sheeting bottom portion and arranged to allow securing the enclosure to a horizontal surface.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible equipment enclosure of  claim 3  wherein said sheeting upper portion opening includes a transparent viewing window for viewing the enclosure interior.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible equipment enclosure of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a. an elastic equipment transport belt attached to said sheeting upper portion inside surface configured opposite said sheeting upper portion opening and arranged to retain said equipment against the sheeting inside surface when transporting the enclosure;  
 b. a plurality of attachment devices arranged to detachably install backpack straps to the enclosure;  
 c. a plurality of collapsed position retainer straps attached to said sheeting bottom portion rear outside surface each arranged with attachment devices wherein the retainer straps engage attachment devices on said sheeting upper portion front;  
 d. a side collapsed position retainer comprising a plurality of attachment devices arranged to maintain said sheeting left and right sides in a folded position.  
 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible equipment enclosure of  claim 5  further including: 
 a. a hand entry comprising a flexible flap arranged with a straight upper edge attached to the lower portion of said flexible sheeting flap covering having a substantially curved lower and left and right side edges forming an inverted U shape which is removably attached to said flexible sheeting flap covering allowing entry of the hands into the enclosure, and  
 b. a glare guard comprising a flexible sheeting piece configured to form a rectangular periphery with four corners, an inside surface, and an outside surface flexibly and adjustably mounted at the four corners to said tension frame struts wherein said glare guard is adjustably mounted to allow viewing of the equipment in the enclosure while shielding the portion of the equipment above said glare guard from light reflected from the portion of the equipment or said hands or other body part positioned below said glare guard.  
 
     
     
         7 . A pop-up backpack configured to operatively contain a portable electronic device and protect said device from environmental hazards comprising: 
 a. flexible sheeting arranged as a conic section dome portion with an exterior side and an interior side and a rectangular bottom portion arranged to provide a front, rear, left side, and right side;    b. a plurality of independent tension struts to support said flexible sheeting arranged to permit collapsing the enclosure to a flattened position; and    c. said sheeting conic section dome portion contains an opening arranged to permit assembly of the struts.    
     
     
         8 . The pop-up backpack of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a. a flexible sheeting closure flap arranged to securely cover said conic section dome sheeting portion opening;  
 b. a cable entry opening arranged opposing said conic section dome sheeting portion opening on the rear, wherein cables enter the enclosure for attachment to said device;  
 c. a flexible sheeting closure flap arranged to cover said cable entry opening;  
 d. a handle arranged on the exterior upper portion of said conic section dome sheeting portion whereby said enclosure and backpack may be carried by hand;  
 e. an elastic equipment transport belt arranged in the interior of said flexible sheeting conic section dome portion whereby said device may be retained against the flexible sheeting by the belt;  
 f. a plurality of fasteners attached to the exterior of said sheeting and arranged to permit attachment of at least two straps configured to allow a person to comfortably wear the backpack;  
 g. a plurality of collapsed position retainer straps attached at the exterior of said sheeting bottom rear side and arranged so that the straps may be removably attached to a plurality of collapsed position retainer strap attachment points on said dome section adjacent to the sheeting bottom front side to maintain the backpack in the collapsed position; and  
 h. a plurality of side collapsed position retainers arranged on said sheeting conic section dome portion adjacent to the bottom portion sides wherein said retainers are used for maintaining the backpack in a collapsed position.  
 
     
     
         9 . The pop-up backpack of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of fasteners attached to said sheeting bottom portion exterior and arranged to allow securing the enclosure and backpack to a horizontal surface.  
     
     
         10 . The pop-up backpack of  claim 9  further comprising a transparent viewing window arranged in the upper portion of said sheeting conic section dome opening.  
     
     
         11 . The pop-up backpack of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a. a hand opening arranged below said transparent viewing window wherein said device may be manipulated while observing said device in the transparent viewing window; and  
 b. a glare guard adjustably mounted to the struts and arranged wherein it shades the display from light reflected from the hands, arms and trunk of the user manipulating said device through said hand opening.