Handheld Lightweight Carrier for a Laptop Computer or Similar Item

Abstract

A lightweight carrier is provided for an item such as a laptop computer. The lightweight carrier is substantially open to the elements and while desirable in many intended usages, benefits from a rain jacket stowed in a cavity of the lightweight carrier. Adjusters provide a means for a user to selectively determine a dimension of the lightweight carrier. The lightweight carrier also facilitates the attachment of accessory carriers.

1 . A lightweight carrier comprising:
 a loop, the loop being substantially oval with a long dimension and a short dimension and folded on an axis parallel to the short dimension, the loop further comprising;
 a handle formed at one end of the long dimension; and 
 a load bearing surface formed at the fold; and 
   a ring attached to the loop and operable to laterally support an item to be carried.   
     
     
         2 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjuster operable to selectively determine the length of at least one portion of the lightweight carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover attached to a portion of the lightweight carrier;   a cavity partially defined by the cover and portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover; and   an opening to the cavity defined by at least one of the cover and the portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover.   
     
     
         4 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the opening is further defined by a slit in at least one of the cover and said portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the opening is further defined by:
 the surface of the cover facing the portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover;   the surface of the portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover; and   two attachment points attaching the cover to the portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover.   
     
     
         6 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 3 , further comprising user operable closure to selectively attach the cover to the portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover. 
     
     
         7 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 3 , further comprising a rain jacket operable to be stowed in the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the rain jacket is attached to at least one of the cover and portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover 
     
     
         9 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory attachment member operable to secure an accessory for common portage with the lightweight carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the cover attached to the portion of the lightweight carrier is attached to the ring;   a first carrier opening bounded by (i) the portion of the ring proximate to the cover when the cover is otherwise in a closed position and (ii) the cover in an open position; and   a second carrier opening bounded by (i) a portion of the ring not proximate to the cover when the cover is in a closed position and (ii) the cover in a closed position;   wherein the first carrier opening and second carrier opening are substantially the same size.   
     
     
         11 . A method of carrying an item, comprising:
 placing the item in a lightweight carrier to engage the fold of a folded oval of supporting material;   providing a lifting force to handles formed at ends of the long axis of the folded oval; and   laterally supporting the item over the fold with a ring attached to the folded oval.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of placing the item in the lightweight carrier further comprises:
 deploying a rain jacket stowed in a cavity defined partially by a portion of the lightweight carrier; and   securing the item to be carried in the rain jacket.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of securing the item to be carried is performed simultaneously with the step of placing the item in the lightweight carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of deploying further comprises opening a cover to access the rain jacket stowed in the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the item is a laptop computer. 
     
     
         16 . A lightweight carrier, comprising:
 a portion of the lightweight carrier;   a cover for the portion of the lightweight carrier;   a cavity partially defined by the adjacent surfaces of the cover and the portion of the lightweight carrier; and   an opening to the cavity partially defined by at least one of the cover and the portion of the lightweight carrier.   
     
     
         17 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 16 , further comprising a number of user attachment points to selectively secure the cover to the portion of the lightweight carrier. 
     
     
         18 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the opening is further defined by a slit through one of the cover and the portion of the lightweight carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the opening is further defined by,
 the surface of the cover facing the portion of the lightweight carrier; 
 the surface of the portion of the lightweight carrier facing the cover; and 
   two attachment points attaching the cover to the portion of the lightweight carrier.   
     
     
         20 . The lightweight carrier of  claim 19 , wherein:
 a first carrier opening bounded by (i) the portion of the lightweight carrier proximate to the cover when the cover is otherwise in a closed position and (ii) the cover in an open position; and   a second carrier opening bounded by (i) a portion of the lightweight carrier not proximate to the cover when the cover is in a closed position and (ii) the cover in a closed position;   wherein the first carrier opening and second carrier opening are substantially the same size; and   a rain jacket operable to accept an item being placed in the lightweight carrier when the cover is in an open position.